CATCA 2025

Rejoignez-nous pour une session ludique et pratique dédiée aux enseignants de la 4e à la 6e année, où vous découvrirez comment exploiter le potentiel d’un album jeunesse pour enseigner des concepts clés en français, en maths et en sciences. Join us for a fun, hands-on session dedicated to teachers of grades 4-6, where you'll discover how to harness the potential of a children's album to teach key concepts in French, math and science.

This session will demonstrate formative assessment strategies that will enhance student learning and provide teachers with valuable feedback about their teaching practice. This information can guide instruction and will benefit all students; however, it will particularly have a positive impact on low-achievers. This is a valuable session because it will introduce teachers to a range of formative classroom assessment techniques, how to use them, how to analyze the data that they gather, and how to share that data with students. The takeaways from this session are very practical and could be smoothly incorporated into any classroom regardless of teaching situation or teaching style.

We know that tests and traditional grading are not necessarily the most effective for assessing and reporting student learning, but how to make the transition from what we’ve always done to what we want to do? This session will share ideas and resources for tracking student progress, setting up an outcome based gradebook and reporting achievements in a way that meaningfully describes what students know and can do.

This presentation is an overview of an action research project on the effects of having students mark their own formative quizzes upon their level of metacognition, attitude and academic achievement. In addition, the reliability of student self-grading, and the potential benefits upon the instructor’s time were also evaluated. Come to this session to hear about how this action research was conducted and the takeaways from this project.

Discover the transformative power of esports in education through my firsthand experience of launching and scaling esports programs in middle and high schools across our division. Learn how Esports can foster student engagement, enhance social-emotional learning, and create a dynamic, inclusive school community. Join me in exploring strategies for implementing a thriving esports program that prepares students for future success both in and out of the game.

Finding Nemo. How to Train Your Dragon. Apollo 13. There are big ideas and big moments in big movies: ideas that can pinpoint key instances of learning and transfer. We’ll examine these moments (and more) and bridge them into classroom learning. Teachers will learn about transfer theory and ways to use movies to explicitly teach for transfer of understanding. This session includes a support package of takeaways, teaching tips, and graphic organizers teachers can use in their classrooms.

Up all night worrying about how you are going to create amazing instructional activities for the new Alberta curriculum? Feeling overwhelmed by outcomes and objectives? Put those bothersome worries to bed for good by exploring the power of Computational Thinking (CT) and Scratch! Come see why the Scratch visual block coding language is a PERFECT FIT for cross-curricular instruction infused with Computational Thinking and Computer Science (CS). This session will walk you through simple activities that operationalize CS objectives with cross-curricular outcomes from the NEW Alberta Programs of Study. Use a CT (B.O.S.S.) framework to add a new layer of community building, engagement and fun to your cross-curricular instructional design with Computational Thinking and coding in Scratch!

Here’s a great entry point for thinking, speaking and problem solving! Riddles and unsolvable problems contain clues, mysteries, and thought-provoking opportunities seen as ‘play’, but in reality they encourage complex cognitive investment. Along with developing valuable language-manipulation skills, riddles and unsolvable puzzles support higher level thinking, literacy and numeracy competencies, and promote subject-specific skills. Teachers will walk away with a number of riddles and puzzles that encourage students to engage in oral language, problem solving, and critical thinking. Join us for a puzzlingly good time!

Comprehensive Sexual Health Education (CSHE) has been deemed a human right by the U.N. According to Action Canada, most Canadian youth do not currently receive best practice CSHE. Many teachers receive little to no support in how to implement CSHE effectively. In this interactive online session, teachers will learn what makes sexuality education comprehensive and why it's so important. We will cover creating safe environments, navigating different beliefs and values systems, meeting Alberta curriculum and best practice benchmarks and how to answer student questions.
Teachers will leave with a pocket full of evidence-based resources to support their unit design, and the confidence to tackle this topic and meet best practice standards.

Forest bathing, or Shinrin-yoku, began in Japan in the 1980s as a government initiative to help reduce stress among citizens. There was even had a name for it - Karoshi, or “death by overwork”. Since then, research has demonstrated the benefits of being in nature on physical and mental health and forest bathing (or forest therapy) has become more mainstream.

Students today are spending less and less time outdoors and forest bathing is a way to help bring them into the natural environment they so desperately need. This session will describe the practice of forest bathing and its benefits. It will also include easy-to-implement strategies for the classroom, including ways to enjoy the benefits of forest bathing when getting outdoors isn’t practical or possible. Come prepared to participate and learn about this wellness practice for yourself and your students!

Here is a link to follow along with the resources: https://tinyurl.com/fbathinghandouts

Aristotle is one of the most pre-eminent thinkers of all time. Come to this session to learn about his biography and his compelling ideas about happiness! This session will also link Aristotle’s account of happiness to teaching to show how it can be a source of hope in a time of increasing demands and stresses both inside and outside of the classroom.

Whether you are a new covered member or not, this session can help you learn about the wide range of benefits, programs and services we offer.
In this presentation you will discover how to get the most from your coverage, our different tools and platforms, the benefits of spending accounts and more!

Educators face the challenge of maintaining classroom calm amidst constant distractions—busy students, loud bells, and tight schedules.

By developing mindful skills, teachers can achieve internal balance, fostering a more peaceful classroom environment.

Participants will gain:

The ability to distinguish between being distracted and staying present with themselves and their students.
Five steps to clear mental clutter, even in chaotic settings.
A powerful technique for cultivating inner peace.
Skills to quickly regain calm after disruptions.
Practical tools to model emotional regulation, promoting a supportive learning atmosphere.
These skills will enhance classroom dynamics and contribute to a more effective teaching and learning experience.

Retirement can no doubt be both exciting and daunting. Between all the paperwork and planning, let us make one of the items on your checklist a little easier!
During this presentation, you will learn the ins and outs of your health benefits during retirement. From eligibility requirements to different types of coverage, ASEBP has got you covered—literally

Do you lose sleep on Sunday nights because your to-do list is running through your head? Do you start the week feeling exhausted? This session will highlight 7 research-based practices to help you start every week feeling more calm, connected, and confident. This all may sound easier said than done since teachers often carry their work and their care for students into their personal time, but fear not! We will explore a framework that is easy to implement and includes strategies for days when you only have a small amount of time for self-care. Many of the ideas will also translate into activities you can incorporate into wellness activities for students. Don't just survive...thrive!

A look at how students can be brought to an awareness of the dangers involved in using drugs both legal and illegal without telling them not to do them. Through first hand experience and the knowledge of and a presenter that is an Addictions Specialist that was  a drug user and trafficker for 22 years of his life. Mike Ryan brings 58 years of experience to classrooms and auditoriums where he has spoken to more than half a million students and adults and continues the work that is badly needed to prevent more wasted lives.

Are you a high-performing teacher feeling overwhelmed by the relentless demands of your professional and personal life? As a parent, teacher, and multitasker extraordinaire, it's easy to find yourself at the bottom of your own priority list, constantly striving to meet the needs of others while neglecting your own well-being.

In this transformative presentation, we address the all-too-common experience of high-performing teachers who feel stretched thin, anxious, and perpetually behind. Drawing from real-world experiences and expert insights, we unveil the 5 essential keys to reclaiming ownership of your needs and your life, granting yourself guilt-free permission to rise to the top of your own to-do list.

Students require specialized skills to be able to cope with the demands of disciplinary text. As students move up in secondary grades, the language of the texts they engage with becomes more specialized and precise, and the language more academic. Academic vocabulary (often referred to as Tier 2 Academic Words) is problematic for students to master, as academic vocabulary can take on dramatically different meanings depending on the usage. As the knowledge students engage with becomes more formalized and complex, so too do the patterns of language that construct that knowledge. This session will take a look at patterns of language and some of the problems with academic vocabulary. Teachers will come away with practical and useful tools that students can use to visualize, organize and structure their thinking to improve their reading, writing and communicating across all subject areas.

The ability to read and summarize a text is an essential skill. A good summary needs to do more than pick out the big ideas and simplify the text. A good summary helps students to identify and analyze key points in the text and then relate those points to the overall structure of the text. Teaching summarization that is linked to text-structure improves both the quality of the written summaries and students’ overall comprehension of the text. Join Dr. Hartson to explore this powerful method of summarizing text. You’ll walk away with examples, graphic organizers, and materials you can use in your class tomorrow.

In this engaging and practical session, we will delve into a variety of collaborative learning strategies that enhance student engagement and foster a safe, productive learning environment. The session will focus on Jigsaw Learning, educational games, and whiteboard activities, to empower students to work together, improve critical thinking, and take ownership of their learning.

"Be Positive is the worst thing to Hear"

The statement challenges traditional wisdom by highlighting the limitations of simplistic positivity in fostering genuine growth and resilience among students. While positivity has its place, it often overlooks the complexities of learning and personal development. Instead, we propose "Progress Over Perfection," a nuanced approach that combines neutral thinking, the green light mentality, and the "just one more" philosophy to empower students effectively.

Neutral Thinking: Rather than simply urging students to be positive, we encourage them to adopt neutral thinking. This involves staying present and assessing situations objectively, which helps them make informed decisions and manage emotions effectively.

Green Light Mentality: Students learn to identify and capitalize on opportunities in every challenge instead of merely seeking positivity. This proactive mindset encourages resilience and turns setbacks into stepping stones for growth.

Just One More Philosophy: We advocate for perseverance through incremental progress rather than just promoting positivity. Encouraging students to push themselves further—whether it's one more attempt, revision, or effort—builds resilience and cultivates a strong work ethic.

By embracing "Progress Over Perfection," educators equip students with practical strategies to navigate challenges, embrace growth, and develop a resilient mindset beyond superficial positivity. Let's empower students to thrive in a supportive learning environment where progress is celebrated and setbacks are seen as personal and academic growth opportunities.

Objective: Our primary goal is to equip students with the tools and strategies to conquer presentation anxiety. By applying the TINKA Framework, students will learn to confidently navigate presentations, engage their audience, and unlock their full potential.
The TINKA Framework Approach:

1. Target Your Fear (T - Towards Language):
Toward Language: Encourage students to shift from "away from" Language (focusing on what they don't want) to "towards" Language (focusing on what they want to achieve).
Identify the Fear: Help students pinpoint their specific fears about presenting. Is it the fear of judgment, forgetting their content, or something else?
Set Positive Goals: Guide students in setting positive, achievable presentation goals. What do they want to achieve and convey to their audience?

2. Investigate the Fear (I - Insight):
Open Questions: Teach students to ask open questions about their fear. What triggers it? When does it happen? What thoughts and feelings are associated with it?
Analyze Past Experiences: Encourage students to reflect on previous presentation experiences. What went well, and what didn't? What can they learn from those experiences?

3. Navigate the Fear (N - Normalize):
Normalize Anxiety: Help students understand that presentation anxiety is common, even among experienced speakers. Normalize their feelings and remind them that it's okay to be nervous.
Preparation Is Key: Emphasize the importance of thorough preparation. The more students know their material, the more confident they'll feel.

4. Know Your Audience (K - Knowledge Transfer):
Audience Analysis: Teach students the significance of understanding their audience; knowing who they're presenting to can reduce anxiety.
Audience Engagement: Show students how engaging with their audience can ease nerves. Encourage them to make eye contact and gauge audience reactions.

5. Act Confidently (A - Action):
Visualization: Guide students in using visualization techniques to imagine successful presentations. Visualizing a positive outcome can boost confidence.
Practice: Encourage frequent practice sessions in front of friends, family, or a mirror. The more students practice, the more confident they become.
Seek Support: Emphasize the importance of seeking support from teachers, peers, or counsellors. Knowing they have a support system can alleviate anxiety.
Conclusion: Overcoming presentation anxiety is a journey that requires dedication and practice. By applying the TINKA Framework, students will conquer their fears and develop lifelong skills in effective communication. These skills will serve them well in academia and beyond.

We invite educators to boost their students in this transformative journey. The impact will empower your students to confidently step onto the stage, share their ideas, and overcome presentation anxiety. The result will empower them to thrive in all their academic endeavours.

Coaching is an essential tool for the development of strong schools and districts. It focuses on supporting teacher growth to drive school improvement and support student learning. At the heart of a coach approach is the unwavering belief that each person is capable, that presence and listening are key, and that powerful questions can spark insight and growth. Find out how coaching conversations can level up your leadership and create environments where open communication, inquiry, and risk-taking can thrive.

You will find the resources for this session at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/acoachapproach

Come and see how you can teach students about the periodic table of elements and chemistry concepts using games! Make your chemistry class fun and interactive and trick your students into learning their elements with gamification. Although this session is primarily for grade 9 science, there will be ideas that transcend many levels. You will get to try out games like periodic table Battleship & Jenga, atomic Uno and check out a variety of other commercial science board games. Amanda will share her resources to make some of the games as well as a plethora of other Chemistry ideas and tools you can use in your classroom Monday morning!

Performance assessments are authentic ways for students to demonstrate their abilities and can positively affect students’ attitudes toward the lab, their academic achievement, and upon the overall environment of the classroom. When used in conjunction with student self-assessment checklists performance assessments can also promote metacognitive activity. This session will present how to administer performance assessments of five basic lab skills and the benefits to the classroom that result.

The real world doesn’t exist in silos so why do we expect our students to learn in them? Project Based Learning provides an opportunity to blur the lines between subject disciplines and allow students and teachers to collaborate on meaningful tasks, but how do we even begin? This session will provide guidance for different planning methods used to develop cross-curricular project based learning initiatives at the secondary level with science at their core.