CATCA 2023: Full Schedule

CATCA recognizes that convention is situated on Treaty 7, South of Red Deer River, the traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuu T’ina, and Stoney Nakoda peoples, and that the North of Red Deer River Treaty 6, traditional Métis, Cree, and Saulteaux territory. We honour the First Peoples who have lived here since time immemorial, and we give thanks for the land.

The POST CONVENTION VIDEOS are going to be available until May 30th, and here is the link: CLICK HERE

9:00am MST

Engaging Students Through a Restorative Approach

Engagement begins with building relationships with and among your students. Doing ‘with’ students instead of doing ‘to’ or ‘for’ also contributes to increased levels of engagement. These are two cornerstones of restorative practice. This session will focus on the ‘why’ and the ‘how’. Participants will leave with practical strategies to strengthen relationships and ‘do with’ students. This session is appropriate for all grade levels.

Speakers

Caroline Gosling

International Institute for Restorative Practice

Caroline is a retired educator with over 30 experience in a variety of roles. Her work has always focused on supporting children, youth and families considered vulnerable and creating welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments. For the last 20 years, Caroline has... Read More →

Thursday February 23, 2023 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-2301

Fostering Effective Relationships (TQS/LQS 1), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K) | School Leadership (LQS 1-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K)

9:00am MST

Radically Shift What You Do To Excel

It is believed that when two people are grieving, they cannot support each other. If this is true, then how can we best support each other in a time when we are all grieving? Your health, thought processes, and well-being may be reflected in the success or failure of your students. Since recent world events have challenged our personal well-being, it is even more relevant today to examine how we are dealing with our own traumas and losses.
Ensuring we can identify the struggles experienced by those we are committed to leading first requires an internal awareness of self. This is not just experienced on an emotional level – it is a multi-dimensional process. The brain and nervous system are impacted, the mind is involved, and the body responds, then our spirit lights up or shuts down. Trauma, loss, and grief can be identified and addressed by our having a keen awareness of body language, word use, and medical conditions. This proactive approach will provide you with learning, joy, and fun while discovering simple tools available to help you excel more effectively and efficiently each day. You are more than your condition.

Speakers

Janine Brisebois

Janine Brisebois BSc, M-NLP, RMT is an award-winning educator who specializes in trauma and grief recovery. She concentrates on the body’s response to navigating stress and change related to leadership and personal wellness. Janine’s presentations, often described as transformational... Read More →

Thursday February 23, 2023 9:00am - 11:20am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-2205

Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 1 (Gr 1-3) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 1 (Gr 1-3) | Health and Wellness (TQS 3), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 1 (Gr 1-3)

9:00am MST

Ten things no one taught you about teaching!

The first year(s) of teaching can be a survival struggle. If you are struggling with wanting to help all students succeed AND having enough time to prepare, this workshop will help you take a breath, fix some problems and take home some engaging activities to use in your classroom.
First year teachers can be overwhelmed by everything they have to do - often they don't know what they don't know and they are very busy trying to do it all. These ten things will help your year run more smoothly, so that you can enjoy teaching!

Speakers

Susan Carter

How to Teach Humour for Stress Relief, Life Skills and Fun

Susan Carter holds a B.Ed. from the University of Regina and has taught in four provinces. In 1993 she decided to act upon a long-time dream of doing standup comedy! Susan shows you how to deal with all the changes involved in our teaching world with a laugh. Creative coping ideas... Read More →

Thursday February 23, 2023 9:00am - 11:20am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-2302

Health and Wellness (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 1 (Gr 1-3) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 1 (Gr 1-3)

10:20am MST

How to Engage Students Through Classroom Design - Presented by CDI Spaces

Low student engagement has always been a pain point for educators and is increasingly concerning in the post-pandemic environment. In this session, CDI Spaces classroom design experts will teach you how to transform your educational spaces to generate optimal student engagement for all learners. This interactive session features real classroom examples where you will discover flexible and agile physical setups using your current furniture solutions. You will learn about trends in student-centered classroom design and learning zones that accommodate independent and group work and support an inclusive learning environment. Ultimately, you will walk away from this session inspired and confident to create a learning environment for your students that will visibly impact their engagement and success.

Speakers

Craig Ward

Student Centered Classroom Consultant, CDI SPACES

We at CDI Spaces like to help with designing your classroom so it is attractive and functional. When designing we like to consider grade/age level appropriateness, the type of classroom activities you will be implementing, and your particular style. For example, we consider the various... Read More →

Thursday February 23, 2023 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-1435

Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Inclusive Education (TQS/LQS 4), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

10:20am MST

OMG! What if I really AM the best person?

Why does it matter that women’s voices still account for well less than a third of those who hold power, set agendas and exert influence? And what can educators do about it? When a country's public conversations fail to accurately reflect the experiences and priorities of a big portion of the population, everybody suffers. In this keynote presentation, Shari Graydon marries research, humour and stories to illuminate the causes and consequences of the gender gap, and to inspire educators to speak up to make the world we share more equitable.

Speakers

Shari Graydon Author and Women’s Advocate

The founder and catalyst of Informed Opinions, she’s an award-winning author and women’s advocate. Since 2010, she has helped amplify the voices of more than 2,500 women in diverse fields and sectors across Canada, supporting them in sharing their insights and analysis with a... Read More →

SHARI GRAYDON - Speaker. Author

Thursday February 23, 2023 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-Art Centre Main Stage

10:20am MST

Math Therapy: A Crash Course in Becoming a Math Therapist

Did you know that anyone who thinks they're "not a math person" typically has math trauma they haven't worked through? Ready to dig deep? This crash course in math therapy is for you! Through teaching math we can empower students to believe they are capable of anything and that everything is possible - starting with math. Add "Math Therapy" to your list of teachable and change the lives of your students far beyond the classroom!

Speakers

Vanessa Vahkaria "The Math Guru"

Friday, 9:00 am & 10:20 am

Known as the Lady Gaga of math education, Vanessa is the founder and director of The Math Guru, a super cool boutique math

Thursday February 23, 2023 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-MP Theatre Room 1400

Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

11:40am MST

Pulse of the Profession: Creating New Spaces for Hope and Resilience

While we can maintain our connections with the past, we must always find ways to pull away from it and move towards a healthier and more hopeful future. In this conversation Dr. McRae will explore what we are learning in the field of education through the global pandemic, a current pulse of the profession of teaching in Alberta, and how teachers and school leaders might draw on these experiences to create more hopeful futures for Alberta schools, our students and communities of learning.

Speakers

Phil McRae

Associate Coordinator, Research • Government, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Dr. Philip McRae is Executive Staff Officer and Associate Coordinator, Government-Research with the Alberta Teachers’ Association and Adjunct Professor within the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta where he earned his Ph.D. Phil is the past winner of the Alberta Excellence... Read More →

Thursday February 23, 2023 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-Art Centre Main Stage

1:00pm MST

Using Online Simulations to Improve Conceptual Understanding in Math and Science

Learn how online simulations help teachers take advantage of research-proven instructional strategies and help students of all ability levels develop conceptual understanding in math and science. Teachers can supplement and enhance instruction with powerful interactive visualizations of concepts. Students can manipulate key variables, generate and test hypotheses, and engage in extensive “what-if” experimentation.

Speakers

Josee Desmeules

Implementation Coordinator, ExploreLearning

Josée Desmeules has over 25 years of experience in education. She began her career in Montreal as a special education teacher, then as an educational consultant, before moving to Alberta in 2005. She taught math and science for a few years and became the Educational Technology... Read More →

Thursday February 23, 2023 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-B501 (Basement)

Science (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 1 (Gr 1-3) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 1 (Gr 1-3) | Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 1 (Gr 1-3)

9:00am MST

Evidence-Based Strategies for Deep Learning

Cognitive Science has uncovered numerous practices that have been proven to help with deep and durable learning in any subject and for learners of every age. Participants will explore these practices as they implement new curricula into their classrooms to maximize learning and will leave with numerous specific strategies for implementing them in their classrooms. Practices included are: retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving, feedback-driven metacognition, elaborative interrogation, concrete examples and dual coding

Speakers

John Williamson

Association Instructor, Alberta Teachers' Association

John Williamson, PhD, is a K – 12 Coordinating Teacher of Diverse Learning Services, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Education, spoken word and “page” poet, and ATA Association Instructor. His award-winning PhD Dissertation, The Case of the Appearing / Disappearing Slow Learner... Read More →

Friday February 24, 2023 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-B501 (Basement)

Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K)

9:00am MST

Trauma-Informed Leadership

Trauma-Informed Leadership is simply about understanding that each team member has an individual set of experiences outside of work which may impact their work. These experiences change from day to day and leaders create an environment that acknowledges this. Trauma and stress affect our body, mind and behaviours. Understanding the nervous system and managing our own response to stress and trauma is essential for leaders and staff. When we begin to understand the nervous system, we can then explore our own wellness and self-care. Participants will understand the conscious and unconscious impact trauma and stress have on themselves and others. We will work through the 6 principles of trauma-informed care as they apply to leadership. We then explore the skills to implement a trauma-informed approach into practice and leadership through relevant and engaging learning. Throughout, we will explore their own wellness and self-care through the Canadian Red Cross Psychological First Aid Personal and Protective Plan.

Speakers

Rochelle Galeski

Owner/Operator, Little Rock Professional Development

Rochelle Galeski is a Psychological First Aid Instructor through the Canadian Red Cross and has 15 years of experience working with vulnerable populations including immigrants and refugees, individuals without homes, families living in poverty and incarcerated adults.Rochelle owns... Read More →

Friday February 24, 2023 9:00am - 11:20am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-1328

School Leadership (LQS 1-9), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Health and Wellness (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

9:00am MST

2SLGBTQ+ Inclusive Education

In this workshop participants will explore concepts and terminology regarding gender and sexual diversity. We will look at best practices for teachers to create a safer and more welcoming school for all students as well as strategies for addressing homophobia and transphobia in their classroom. Teachers will also discuss methods for developing allyship skills within their school as well as the community at large.

Speakers

Alexandra Emily Marshall

Education Coordinator, University of Alberta

Alexandra Marshall (she/her) is the Rural Education Coordinator for the Fyrefly Institute at the University of Alberta. She lectures pre-service teachers on creating inclusive classrooms, delivers professional development for in-service teachers and admin regarding best practices... Read More →

Friday February 24, 2023 9:00am - 11:20am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-913A

10:20am MST

Supporting the Anxious Child in School

This presentation is geared towards those working with elementary and middle school-aged children, but the information can be adapted to high school-aged students as well. Information will be presented, some tools will be practiced, and there will be time for discussion. The focus will include: • Common types of anxiety in children • Ways anxiety manifests in children • Understanding the anxiety cycle • On-hands strategies/tools for managing anxiety o Shifting Self-Talk o Mindfulness Practice (Focus/Awareness) o Body Relaxationo Breathing o Externalizing o Empowering o Anxiety Toleranco Retraining/Relearning through Exposureo Positive Reinforcement • Determining what is helpful and what is enabling• Working with the parents

Speakers

Ashley Jordan

Friday February 24, 2023 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-2602

10:20am MST

Care and Connect—Social and Emotional Learning: Series

Now, more than ever, there is a need to look at practices and systems that nurture the social and emotional health of all members of the school community. This workshop was developed to enhance the social-emotional skills of adults within a school environment so that they can more effectively model and teach SEL to their students. This interactive workshop can be facilitated over a series of sessions in which participants will learn and apply practical, powerful strategies to enhance social and emotional competence within themselves and their students.

Speakers

Jennifer Smith

Teacher

Jennifer Smith may be one of the most common names you ever hear, however, this Jennifer is anything but common. Jennifer enjoys sewing quilts without using math, uncomfortable situations, and half an hour in the morning before anyone is up. Always up for a challenge, Jennifer moved... Read More →

Friday February 24, 2023 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-2600

Health and Wellness (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K)

11:40am MST

The Science of Reading for French Immersion Teachers

This session will go into the basics for research based practices for teaching reading in a French immersion or second language context. We will look at the "Simple View of Reading", first proposed by Gough and Tunmer in 1986, and look at it's implications for teaching reading in a second language context. Next, we will discuss the skills required for skilled reading and strategies for teaching these skills. Finally, we will provide resources in order to help you get started on your Science of Reading journey.

Although this session will be geared towards French immersion teachers, it will provide many strategies for teaching reading in a second language context, relevant to teachers teaching ELL students. The session will be held in English so that it is accessible to all.

Speakers

Catherine Loor

Catherine is currently a grade 1 and 2 French immersion teacher in Red Deer, AB. She has been a primary French Immersion teacher for most of her teaching career. One of the things she loves most about teaching primary students is the progress and excitement they show as they learn... Read More →

Lauren Slywka

Lauren has been teaching in EAL, FSL, and Early Childhood for most of her career. In 2014, she began teaching in French Immersion with the Red Deer Public School District. She found herself constantly looking for resources and professional development specifically for French Immersion... Read More →

Friday February 24, 2023 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-811

English Language Learning (TQS/LQS 4), Division 1 (Gr 1-3) | French & International Languages (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3) | Language Arts (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 1 (Gr 1-3)

1:00pm MST

Teaching that Sticks: A Workshop on How the Human Brain Learns Best

Classroom teachers expect students to remember and apply what they've been taught. But with the competing demands on attention, interest and time, we know that a lot of what students have been taught may quickly be forgotten. What can be done to minimize forgetting, enhance memory and lead to better learning and comprehension? Can teachers really see a significant improvement in what their students remember? Yes.
The Science of Learning is a growing field and teachers around the world are benefitting from new findings in the science of learning about how the human brain handles new information, retains and recalls it, how teaching methods can interrupt forgetting and cause information to be deeply encoded in memory, how to teach self-regulation and learning mindsets and more. This workshop provides teachers with the latest in high quality research on learning and provides several practical take-aways that can be immediately applied in the classroom to enhance learning.

Speakers

Chris Mattatall

Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Inclusion, University of Lethbridge

Dr. Chris Mattatall is the Board of Governor's Teaching Chair (2023-2025) for the University of Lethbridge, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Inclusion in the Faculty of Education, and a researcher in reading acquisition and intervention.

Friday February 24, 2023 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-2602

1:00pm MST

The Hunger Games: That Kid’s Just Looking for Attention…

Everywhere around us kids are just “looking for attention” starved for connection & positive adult relationships. This session speaks to the biological, psychological and developmental reasons kids seek our attention & uses theory & humor to look at the behaviors & brains of these kids & the survival games they play. Participants will learn the "Vitamin C" approach to attention seeking behavior & explore practical ways to nourish children & youth with the time & attention they seek…and deserve.

THERE WILL BE A POST-CONVENTION VIDEO FOR THIS SESSION UNTIL MAY 30TH.

Speakers

Ariel Haubrich

Consultant/ Trainer/ Private Practitioner, Learning Network

Ariel Haubrich works in school

Friday February 24, 2023 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-1437

Professional Issues (TQS 6), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6) | Counselling & Student Support (TQS/LQS 4), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6)

1:00pm MST

Chaos to Calm - Tackling the Challenge of Classroom Management

Use your own energy and confidence to take the chaos of a room full of students to a calm learning environment. Learn how to troubleshoot your classroom management challenges and feel better equipped to handle what may come your way. This is an interactive workshop where we access the collective wisdom in the room and incorporate team-building with our colleagues. You will walk away with a simple action plan to support you in spending more time teaching and learning with your students and less time on behaviour management.

Speakers

Carman Murray

Spherical Healing

Carman's mission is to help teachers and educators fuel their minds, body, and spirit so they can live life unapologetically, both in and out of the classroom.She has spent the last 20 years learning to shift her own life priorities into alignment with the gifts she has to offer others... Read More →

Friday February 24, 2023 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST
Red Deer Polytechnic-B501 (Basement)

Fostering Effective Relationships (TQS/LQS 1), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6) | Health and Wellness (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6) | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6)