Session Information | Middle Educators Conference

Please remember to bring a water bottle!! After morning coffee and snacks water will be the only drink option.

Session A: 10:30 – 12:00

A01: Inspiring Inquiry with Discovery Education Science Techbook

Presenter: TBA (Discovery Ed)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: Discovery Education Science Techbook™ is a digital resource that puts inquiry at the heart of instruction! Participants will explore how this rich library of resources can inspire scientific investigation. Participants will be immersed in a multimodal inquiry experience designed to highlight how media can engage and support student learning. Participants will, through guided exploration be introduced to features of Science Techbook™.

A02: Howe to use Discovery Education Techbook if You Don’t Teach Science

Presenter: Dean Shareski and Jason Buccheri (Discovery Ed)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: Science Techbook isn’t just for science. Discovery Education provides a wealth of resources, strategies and learning experiences suitable for any subject and grades. This session will showcase some practical ideas for educators including strategies, virtual field trips, virtual reality and literacy ideas.

A03: Creating a Makerspace in your classroom

Presenter: Dereck Dirom (Abby Sr)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: Participants in this workshop will learn how the MakerEd movement with a STEAM focus is an effective way to integrate the Applied Design, Skills and Technology (ADST) curriculum into their classroom or school. We will explore the various buzzwords, resources, tools, technologies and potential assessment strategies found in classroom based makerspaces. Participants will have a hands on opportunity to explore littleBits technology and discuss strategies on how to connect ADST to a language arts/aboriginal unit.

A04: Starbucks in Your Classroom

Presenter: Terri Straiton (District Helping Teacher)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: In this workshop we will explore a variety of ways to create a safe and caring learning environment. We will also look at how flexible learning environments in middle school can support our social emotional learning (SEL) goals and self- regulation.

A05: BreakoutEDU

Presenter: Graeme Kemp (Abby Middle)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: Breakout EDU uses “teamwork and critical thinking to solve a series of challenging puzzles in order to open the locked box”. All content area can be taught using the 8 C’s of engagement – competition, challenge, curiosity, controversy, choice, creativity, cooperation and connections. More information – www.breakoutedu.com.

A06: IEP Foundations

Presenter: Michelle Gehring (District Helping Teacher)

Audience: All Staff, including EAs

Description: Individual Education Plans are in virtually every classroom, and involve staff at every level. This session will review how IEPs are developed, and will explore practices to ensure that data collection around objectives is effective and meaningful in the classroom.

A07: Empowerment Through Learning Targets

Presenter: Faye Junos (Howe Middle)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: We will be learning about how learning targets and success criteria drive our students learning forward through self assessment. We will also be looking at how using learning targets foster an environment for success and empower students to be advocates of their own learning.

A08: myBlueprint – Your One-Stop Shop for Career Education, Reflecting on Core Competencies and Student Portfolios

Presenter: Sierra Holtzheuser (myBlueprint)

Audience: All Teachers and Support Staff

Description: myBlueprint is an inquiry-based, curriculum-aligned career education resource that will also be the platform used for digital portfolios and self-reporting on the core competencies. Using this engaging, visual and interactive tool, watch your students showcase their plans, strengths and growth and leave with an understanding of how to easily implement this one-stop shop resource in your classrooms.

A09: Google Classroom – A power tool for blended learning

Presenter: Bryon Carpenter (AVS)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: Google Classroom helps teachers save time, keep classes organized, and improve communication with students. During this hands on workshop you will play alongside others in a Google Classroom as students and see what is possible. You will need your Learn34.com, your teacher laptop and enthusiasm for a full session of Googling

A10: How to Support and Foster Self-Assessment of the Core Competencies

Presenter: Karl Wodtke (Eugene Reimer)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: This session provides suggestions, examples, and strategies around how to create opportunities to include the Core Competencies in learning, and how to nurture student self-assessment. Teachers can collaboratively share ideas around the Core Competencies in their classroom and gather new strategies around supporting student self-assessment.

Session B: 1:00 – 2:15

B01: Generating Inquiry through Centres with Discovery Education Science Techbook

Presenter: TBA (Discovery Ed)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: Inquiry is fueled by curiosity! Generate and cultivate student inquisitiveness as well as conceptual knowledge through a unique centres-based teaching and learning approach. During the workshop, participants will be introduced to centres and use the experience to generate deeper inquiry into the concept being studied. Teachers will investigate how to craft as well as implement learning centres.

B02: Howe to use Discovery Education Techbook if You Don’t Teach Science

Presenter: Dean Shareski and Jason Buccheri (Discovery Ed)

Audience: All Teachers (REPEAT of A02)

B03: STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math

Presenter: Rob Heppner (Howe Middle)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: STEAM is an educational approach that uses different subject areas to guide students through inquiry and critical thinking. In this session, you will be shown some examples that have been used in the classroom and will also do a hands on Gravity Car Challenge.

B04: Climate Change: A Cross-Curricular Project Based Learning Approach

Presenter: Maria Sanchez and Joel Van Meer (Chief Dan)

Audience: Science, ELA, Gr. 6 -8 Teachers

Description: Are you looking for a ready to implement, Project Based Learning assignment that reflects the New Curriculum? Look no further! We will present a cross-curricular grade 7 Science and English Language Arts project on Climate Change that you can immediately use in your classroom and modify to suit your teaching needs.

B05: Aboriginal Drum making and Middle School Math

Presenter: Connie Serviss (Howe Middle)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: Explore and make the connection between First Nation drum making and Mathematics. This is an opportunity to learn while making a drum. There are many teachings and Math lessons to discover along the way. Everyone must be willing to have an open mind, share and learn together. In addition, Tyler Horner will share how he has used drum making in his Art and Social Studies classes.

B06: IEP Foundations

Presenter: Michelle Gehring (District Helping Teacher)

Audience: All Staff, including EAs (REPEAT Session)

B07: A Deeper Look at Standards-Based Report Cards

Presenter: Perry Smith (Director of Curriculum)

Audience: All Teachers

Description: This session will be a look into our districts new standards-based report card system. Participants will learn how the new reporting system will align with the redesigned curriculum. A walk through an overview of how the new system works will be provided to all that attend.

B08: Service as Action Project

Presenter: Kelly Grant and Tara Landry (Abby Middle)

Audience: All Gr. 6 -8 Teachers

Description: Are you interested in exploring inquiry-based service as action projects for your students? The successes and challenges of implementing, organizing, and managing a grade-wide service project will be shared. The project’s objectives: investigating; planning; taking action; reflecting will also be discussed.

B09: Middle School Science/Math Think Tank

Facilitated by: Paul Giesbrecht and Pat Murphy (Howe Middle)

Audience: Middle School Science and Math Teachers

Description: Round Table Discussion/Open Forum on implementing the redesigned curriculum in classrooms. Teachers are encouraged to share ideas and successes around PBL/IBL and the shift in pedagogy. Participant are encouraged to bring lessons/ideas to share.

B10: Middle School ELA/SS Think Tank

Facilitated by: TBA

Audience: Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies Teachers

B11: Middle School ADST/Arts Education Think Tank

Facilitated by: Joel Noftle

Audience: Middle School Exploration Teachers

B12: Middle School Library Learning Commons Think Tank

Facilitated by: Zhi Su

Audience: Middle School Learning Commons Teachers