Middle Years Council
Alberta Teachers' Assocation
www.myc.teachers.ab.ca
Banff
April 25-27, 2013
Thursday April 25, 2013
Thursday
Evening
Schedule of Events
REGISTRATION
5:00 - 9:00 pm
Mezzanine Level
Amazing Race – DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
Note: Most “racers” will be
starting between-
Meet in the GLACIER SALOON sometime between 7:00 & 9:00 pm to start! (Staggered Start!!)
Check out the amazing sights of Banff and challenge yourself, your friends, and other teacher colleagues!!
7:00pm and 9:00pm
Race takes approximately
1.5 hrs.

YOU NEED:
Teams of 4-6 required! If you do not have a team, you will be put on one! This is no time to be shy!!

Each team needs a digital camera (Note: Cell phone is fine)

A few dollars for incidental expenses!!

Comfortable shoes

A sense of humor!!
Run the race, and then meet at the GLACIER SALOON at 11 pm where the 2013 Amazing Race Champions will be crowned!!
9:00 pm – 12:00 am
Amazing Race Social - GLACIER SALOON!!
Friday April 26, 2013
7 : 3 0 a m
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Breakfast - GLACIER SALOON
Registration
5
Opening Remarks – Chris McCullough
0
Dr. Phil McRae
The Alberta Teachers’ Association
“Creating Great Schools for All Students in Times of Radical Change”
INCLUSION
1 0 : 3 0
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1 0 : 4 5
Coffee Break & Networking
1 0 : 4 5
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1 2 : 0 0
Dr. Pamela Winsor
The University of Lethbridge: Literacy & Middle Years Students
LITERACY
1
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0
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Lunch
LOCATION
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ASSINIBOINE (150)
SUMMIT (250)
Intercultural Awareness
101
Doug Parsons
Patrick Bohnet
iPads in the Classroom
WILLOW (40)
DEN BOARDROOM (40)
PINE (40)
BIRCH (40)
Jesse McLean
Making Learning Public
Barb Vezina
Teaching Through
Problem Solving
CASTLE (150)
LYNX (86)
MAPLE (40)
5
Laura Wellman
Alberta Health Services
Mental Health of
Students
Dr. Shawn Marshall
Climate Change & Water
in Western Canada
Jason Moline
Boys
Sheila Fowler-Greene
What Do You Do With
the Student Who is
Always Done Early
CEDAR (40)
Mardi
Bernard
Teens and
Anxiety
ASPEN (40)
Claudia
Scanga /
Trish Spink
Getting F’s ~
Does This
Mean We’re
Getting it
Right for
Today’s
Learners?
F
2
2
r
:
:
1
3
i
5
0
d
a
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y
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3
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l
2
6
,
0
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1
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.
C
o
n
t
i
n
u
e
d
Coffee Break & Networking
ASSINIBOINE
SUMMIT
PINE
BIRCH
Doug Parsons
Culture in Our
Classrooms
Patrick Bohnet
Flipped Classroom
Chris McCullough
Creativity
Barb Vezina
WILLOW
DEN BOARDROOM
CASTLE
Pamela Winsor
Literacy Breakout
Robert Morrow
Astronaut … Tomatonaut
…
Why NOT?
Canadian Space Agency
MAPLE
5
Marlis Eaton
We All Live Downstream
From One Another
CHINOOK RESTAURANT
Ken Lalecheur
Ted Hutchings
Graeme Daniel
Middle School
Administration
Roundtable
Alternative
Assessment in Math
Mike Ettrich
ESL / EAL Teaching
LYNX
CEDAR
ASPEN
Sheila Fowler-Greene
Teaching Gifted
Students in the Inclusive
Classroom: Monday
Morning Strategies
John
Williamson
Supporting
K&E Students
Jerry
Salmon
Adolescent
Reading
Strategies
2
:
3
0
OUTDOOR / ACTIVE SESSIONS
4
:
0
0
Kristie McCullough
GEO-CACHING
MAIN ENTRANCE
Tina Chadwick
HIKING
Driving Range Only
Middle Years Council (MYC)
GENERAL MEETING
- GLACIER SALOON All Delegates Welcome
Executive Elections
Prizes!!!
8 : 0 0
–
W h e n e v e r ! !
Banff Springs G.&C.C
(Weather Permitting)
GOLFING
Friday Night Social
8:00 – Whenever
SUMMIT / ASSINIBOINE / CASTLE
Saturday April 27, 2013
7 : 4 5
-
8 : 4 5
Breakfast
ASSINIBOINE (150)
8 : 4 5
9 : 4 5
–
-
9 : 4 5
Robert Morrow
Astronaut …
Tomatonaut …
Why NOT?
Canadian Space
Agency
(Repeat)
SUMMIT (250)
SUMMIT (250)
Kristie McCullough
Curricular
Discussions
Literacy
Inclusion
Technology
Chris McCullough
Struggling Students
DEN BOARDROOM (40)
CASTLE (150)
CEDAR (40)
ASPEN (40)
Julia Rheaume
Cooperative Learning
Mardi Bernard
Educating
Traumatized
Children & Youth
Sandi Berg
Math CARC
Gillian Hallam
K&E
Technology in
the K&E
Classroom
1 0 : 0 0
Coffee Break / Networking
1 0 : 0 0
-
1 1 : 3 0
Closing Keynote: Shelley Wright
Who Owns Learning: Student Centred Classrooms
See you next year in...
www.myc.teachers.ab.ca
Middle Years Council
Conference 2013
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
Banff 2013
April 25, 26, & 27 – 2013
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: FRIDAY APRIL 26, 2013
Dr. Phil McRae:
Biography
“Creating Great Schools for All Students in Times of Radical Change”
Dr. Phil McRae is an Executive Staff Officer with the Alberta Teachers’ Association and Adjunct Professor within the Faculty of
Education at the University of Alberta where he earned his Ph.D. He was the Director of the Alberta Initiative for School
Improvement (AISI) at the University of Alberta from 2005-2009, and taught several graduate courses in the Master of Education in
Educational Studies program. Phil has worked in many secondary and post-secondary educational contexts while living and teaching
in the Middle East (United Arab Emirates), Asia (Japan), Europe (Spain), and in Alberta, Canada with the Lethbridge Public School
District and on the Blood (Kainai) Reservation.
Phil is the past winner of the Alberta Excellence in Teaching Finalist Award, the University of Alberta’s Queen Elizabeth II Doctoral
Scholar Award, Minister of Education's Innovation Award, and the ATA Provincial Educational Research Award. He represents the
teaching profession and field of education on several provincial and national committees and boards including the Media Awareness
Network of Canada (MNET), University of Alberta Research Ethics Board (EEASJ), the Critical Thinking Consortium (TC2), Alberta
Education's School Technology Advisory Committee (STAC), Parkland Institute, and the Research Advisory Committee of the Alberta
Centre for Child, Family and Community Research (ACCFCR).
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: FRIDAY APRIL 26, 2013
Dr. Pamela Winsor (University of Lethbridge
Urgently Needed! Literacy Teachers Across the Middle Years Curriculum
Pamela Winsor is a professor of Language and Literacy in the Faculty of Education, University of Lethbridge. She teaches
undergraduate and graduate courses and supervises student teachers in all levels of practicum. Her teaching focuses on
student literacy development in the early years and across curriculum in later years. In addition to her teaching at the
University of Lethbridge, she is involved in international teacher education programs sponsored by CODE. Currently, she is
consultant to Reading Ghana, a professional development program in the Ashanti region of Ghana, West Africa.
Pamela and her colleague, Beth Cormier, were awarded a 2012-13 ATA Trust grant for development of a global micro-library.
The library will support elementary and middle year’s students’ reading of multicultural literature representing the seven
continents. Development of the microlibrary represents their belief that all students benefit from both being read to and
engaging in wide independent reading.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2013:
Shelley Wright: Who Owns the Learning: Student Centered Classrooms
Shelley Wright is the High School Learning Consultant for Prairie South Schools in Moose Jaw, Sask. She works with teachers to implement and support projectbased learning and inquiry in their classrooms. Shelley believes student-centred learning is the key to empowering and engaging students, while technology
provides the opportunity for students to collaborate and connect. She is currently working on her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at the U of R, with a focus
on neuroplasticity, play-based learning and technology.
Who owns the learning? student-centred classrooms – While embedded technology presents the opportunity to empower our students to learn, nothing is
more powerful than a student-centred classroom where students take control and responsibility for what they learn, how they learn and how they show their
learning. However, often before this can happen many of our students need to unlearn the rules of the industrial education system that has been ingrained in
them from a young age. How do we begin this transformation? What will it require of us as teachers? What stumbling blocks might we encounter along the
way? This presentation will look at Shelley’s own journey towards creating a student-centred classroom, some of the pedagogical & practical shifts that
occurred along the way, as well as first steps teachers can take to begin this shift in their own classroom.
FRIDAY APRIL 26, 2013
SESSION A
1:00 - 2:15
Assiniboine:
Doug Parsons: Intercultural Awareness 101: What do I need to know as a Teacher?
With the growing need to hire permanent and temporary International workers in Alberta, a buzz word you have no doubt heard of
is “Culture’ and ‘Intercultural Awareness’. Culture is the unwritten rules of behaviour of a culture. In Canada, we are taught at an
early age how to act, behave and experience success as a result of our actions. Intercultural Awareness delves into these rules of
behaviour and takes the time to look at similarities and differences in cultures from around the world. Understanding these
similarities and differences are taught and discussed. It is important to find similarities without minimizing differences. Talking about
culture allows us to learn about where we come from and how we learn to adapt without losing cultural and language identities.
Intercultural Awareness 101: A Ground floor look at Culture and its meaning will provide you with an introductory look at Culture
and how Intercultural Awareness training will benefit everyone. We will look at:
 similarities/differences all cultures have in common
 bridging language and culture
 obstacles to full learner participation
 establishing a welcoming atmosphere for discussion
Let’s take the theory and make it practical to you and your school.
Summit:
Patrick Bohnet: Flipped Classroom! How to create more time for projects and Differentiated Instruction
We know that the teacher has the greatest impact on student learning. Busy teachers with large class loads need time to monitor
and differentiate learning for their students. What could you do if you had more class time with your students? If you could have
more face to face time to support your students individually, in collaborative projects or to give them more time to demonstrate
their understanding would you? If your students could do their homework with a computer, an ipad or from their cell phone would
they?
If your answer to any of these questions is yes then this workshop will get you started. The workshop will model strategies of the
“Flipped Classroom” that you can use with your students. Accessing a variety of online and digital tools Pat will demonstrate a
variety of ways to adapt your instruction to the flipped instruction model.
Biography:
Patrick Bohnet is the Curriculum Implementation Support Consultant for the Central Alberta Regional Consortium. With over 25
years of instructional experience in K-12 schools, Patrick has always integrated technology in instruction. As a PD provider in a wide
variety of topics, 21st Century Learning has become a regular focus for workshops being delivered. Patrick has completed his MEd
Tech and has presented workshops at a district level, provincial level and international level at a variety of ATA Conventions, ATLE
and FETC.
Pine:
Jesse McLean: Making the Learning Public: Using Technology to Share with our Parents, Colleagues and Community
At Greystone Centennial Middle School in Spruce Grove, Alberta, the staff has been doing great work in the areas of inquiry, critical
thinking and assessment. Working together with the Galileo Educational Network, the staff is bringing powerful project based
learning experience to the students. There is a focus now on sharing the work that is being done, and to make the learning public.
The staff is using tools including blogs, Evernote, Facebook, and Twitter to share with their parents and community as well as with
educational colleagues all over Alberta, Canada and the world. During this session we will look at how these tools are used to share
all that goes on within the walls of Greystone.
Birch:
Barb Vezina: Teaching Through Problem Solving
The new math curriculum has brought a paradigm shift in the way problem solving is to be presented to students. We want to make
the experience authentic and challenging so students can build a tool box of strategies that work for them. In this session, we will
look how the pedagogy has changed and how to make the process powerful within your classroom. Barb will share research and
techniques to experiment with and then we will explore a number of different resources on the Internet.
Castle:
Jason Moline: Dealing With Difficult Parents
Lynx:
Sheila Fowler-Greene: Gifted Learners in Middle School or How to Educate Sheldon Cooper. BAZINGA!
We will discuss the learning styles and characteristics of gifted students and the importance of meeting their needs in the inclusive
classroom.
Teaching techniques will be explored as well as an introduction to some activities that engage the advanced learner.
Cedar:
Mardi Bernard: Teens & Anxiety
Teachers will learn about how to best deal with teens, and anxiety.
Aspen: Claudia Scanga & Trish Spink
Getting F’s ~ Does This Mean We’re Getting it Right for Today’s Learners?
Goals
Participants will be provided with specific examples of how we have created an innovative, engaging school learning community
through our focus on:
Family of Learners
Flexible Schedules and Groupings to allow for Inquiry Learning
Feedback for Growth
Participants will see the evidence of success our students and staff are experiencing and the quality of learning and engagement
through the sharing of student surveys, stories and examples of classroom learning and teacher collaboration.
Rationale
The best learning is possible when we have established relationships of trust. Students feel supported in taking risks with their
learning as there is an expectation that feedback and assessment practices are about supporting the growth of all learners.
Challenging times in education require our teachers to work together to design engaging learning for students. Teachers are only
able to do this if they can collaborate and are supported to take risks as learners, too.
SESSION B
2:30 - 3:45
Assiniboine:
Doug Parsons:
Cultural problems arise and must be addressed in the classroom. If the 'problems' are not addressed in a timely manner, they can
have a significant impact on productivity and learning within the classroom.
In your school, have you noticed . . .
 misunderstandings between first and second language speakers of English?
 mistakes due to lack of clarification of techniques and language?
 misunderstandings due to cultural perspectives?
 lack of teamwork due to different cultural expectations for teams?
 tensions between new and native-born Canadians due to different levels of communicative skill and a clash of cultural
values?
In this workshop, we will look at intercultural awareness lesson activities you can use within your classroom as you strive towards
‘aha moments’. Lesson activity ideas involve the 4 work-related values that all cultures share. The work-related values include (1)
communication style, (2) hierarchy, (3) power distance and (4) concept of time.
Summit:
Patrick Bohnet: Session Description:
We know that the teacher has the greatest impact on student learning. Busy teachers with large class loads need time to monitor
and differentiate learning for their students. What could you do if you had more class time with your students? If you could have
more face to face time to support your students individually, in collaborative projects or to give them more time to demonstrate
their understanding would you? If your students could do their homework with a computer, an ipad or from their cell phone would
they?
If your answer to any of these questions is yes then this workshop will get you started. The workshop will model strategies of the
“Flipped Classroom” that you can use with your students. Accessing a variety of online and digital tools Pat will demonstrate a
variety of ways to adapt your instruction to the flipped instruction model.
Biography:
Patrick Bohnet is the Curriculum Implementation Support Consultant for the Central Alberta Regional Consortium. With over 25
years of instructional experience in K-12 schools, Patrick has always integrated technology in instruction. As a PD provider in a wide
variety of topics, 21st Century Learning has become a regular focus for workshops being delivered. Patrick has completed his MEd
Tech and has presented workshops at a district level, provincial level and international level at a variety of ATA Conventions, ATLE
and FETC.
Pine:
Chris McCullough – Creativity
Description: The complex social, emotional and cognitive challenges of tomorrow’s world will require thinking that is flexible,
adaptable and original; children and youth who can think in these creative contexts will be well-prepared to meet the challenges of
our future. Based on Howard Gardner’s book, Five Minds for the Future, the Creativity Works: Engaging Creative Teaching and
Learning workshop explores the philosophy behind creative teaching and learning, and assists participants to develop strategies that
engage students in the creative teaching and learning process. Gardner sees the preschool period of life offering children infinite
opportunities to develop their personal, creative thinking process. He believes the challenge for educators is to keep alive the
sensibilities to reflect on creativity as a concept, engage in the personal creative process, and develop strategies to engage students
in a creative teaching and learning environment across the developmental spectrum. Also addressed will be how perpetuallyevolving technology can support the creative process in schools. The workshop is suitable for all levels and can be adapted for fulland half-day professional development.
Birch:
Barb Vezina:
Alternative Assessment in Math
A paper and pencil test does not always give students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the math outcomes.
Giving the students a variety of different assessments and many opportunities will help a teacher determine exactly what that
student knows and needs to be successful. In this session, we will look at journaling, portfolios, transfer tasks, peer and selfassessment.
Maple:
Mike Ettrich:
This session will provide a general overview of ESL in Alberta and the many ESL resources that are available to teachers. The session
will also include information about the number of English language learners in the province, what countries newcomers are coming
from and the languages that many English language learners speak at home, and ESL resources available for teachers, which includes
a tour of the Supporting English Language Learners website and a very general discussion about what the Alberta K-12 ESL
Proficiency Benchmarks are and what they are used for but no actual training on how to use them.
Willow:
Marlis Eaton:
We All Live Downstream From One Another
Join the City of Calgary Parks and Agrium and learn to slow down and reflect upon the exciting discoveries students can have in
natural areas.
Den Boardroom:
Pamela Winsor: Picturebooks as Mentor Texts in Middle School
Picturebooks can be powerful teachers in writing classrooms and across curriculum. Come explore their capacities. After speeddating exemplary titles, you just might want a long-term relationship!
Castle: Robert Morrow:
Astronaut…Tomatonaut…Why Not? Canadian Space Agency
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is involved in the projected long-term space voyage for humans to Mars. One of the areas of
focus for CSA is the provision of food for this 27-month adventure as well as all of the aspects related to space vehicles and living on
Mars as a “closed environment system”. Tomatosphere is an educational science program which does research on Tomato seeds
but with a unique perspective; as well as the usual research projects, Tomatosphere involves students in Canadian schools – more
than 14 000 classes are involved. Robert Morrow - Project Manager – provides an overview of Canada’s role in space and specific
aspects related to the implementation of Tomatosphere. Teachers will receive a package of space “goodies” that will be of value in
both grade 3 (plants) and grade 6 (space).
Lynx: Sheila Fowler-Greene
SLAM DUNK! Game Winning Activities for Advanced Learners
Session participants will engage in several activities designed for advanced learner. All participants will explore and discuss dozens
of activities for gifted learners. Bring a tablet, smartphone or laptop if possible as I will be sharing links to view the files.
Aspen:
Jerry Salmon:
Session Title: Adolescent Reading Strategies
Description: Do you have a student falling further behind? Whether your students are effective or struggling readers, this session will
provide you with strategies that can be used to guide students towards comprehension of texts.
Biography:
Jerry Salmon was a middle school teacher for several years and struggled to help students with reading problems “keep up”. Now, as
a Learning Services Coordinator for his school division and as a participant in the “Advancing Adolescent Reading Initiative” put on
by the University of Alberta, Alberta Education and the JP Das Center on Developmental and Learning Disabilities, Jerry is helping
middle and high school teachers increase their foundational understanding of reading in order to effectively apply instructional
strategies that make a difference to students.
Cedar:
John Williamson: Supporting K & E students
Biography: John Williamson is a K & E teacher and Diverse Learning Coordinating Teacher Bishop Grandin High School and a PhD
Candidate in the Faculty of Education University of Calgary.
This session is about the Knowledge and Employability Series of Classes and K & E students. I will look informatively but critically at
the informal educational label of "slow learner" which is roughly describes the levels of intellectual / acedemic functioning K & E
candidates are said to have. I will describe and critique K & E policy and I will discuss what we've found to be some best practices for
supporting our large population of K & E students at Bishop Grandin High School.
Birch:
Barb Vezina: Alternative Assessment in Math
A paper and pencil test does not always give students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the math outcomes.
Giving the students a variety of different assessments and many opportunities will help a teacher determine exactly what that
student knows and needs to be successful. In this session, we will look at journaling, portfolios, transfer tasks, peer and self
assessment.
Would it be possible for me to stay in the same room for both sessions? I see that I am scheduled for 2 different locations.
Chinook Restaurant: Ken Lalacheur, Ted Hutchings, Graeme Daniel
Middle School Administration (Roundtable Discussion)
SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2013
8:45 – 9:45
Assiniboine:
Robert Morrow: Astronaut…Tomatonaut…Why Not?
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is involved in the projected long-term space voyage for humans to Mars. One of the areas of
focus for CSA is the provision of food for this 27-month adventure as well as all of the aspects related to space vehicles and living on
Mars as a “closed environment system”. Tomatosphere is an educational science program which does research on Tomato seeds
but with a unique perspective; as well as the usual research projects, Tomatosphere involves students in Canadian schools – more
than 14 000 classes are involved. Robert Morrow - Project Manager – provides an overview of Canada’s role in space and specific
aspects related to the implementation of Tomatosphere. Teachers will receive a package of space “goodies” that will be of value in
both grade 3 (plants) and grade 6 (space).
Summit:
Curriculum Discussions
Literacy, Inclusion, Technology – An organic, and informal chat about our titles!
Maple:
Julia Rheaume: Cooperative Learning
Castle:
Mardi Bernard: Educating Traumatized Youth
Lynx:
Sandi Berg: Math During this hands-on session, we will be playing with a variety of manipulatives that will help students develop
deeper conceptual understanding. You will be given ideas for leading students from concrete manipulation to pictorial
representation to abstract development.
Sandi Berg, CARC’s Mathematics Lead Teacher/Facilitator works with K-12 teachers across Central Alberta, exploring a variety of
techniques for implementing the philosophy of the Math curriculum.