CATCA 2025: Full Schedule

COMPLETE THE CATCA 2025 SURVEY TO IMPROVE FUTURE CONVENTION

CLOSURE REMARKS FROM CATCA 2025!

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE CONVENTION AND FOR CATCA 2026 WILL HAPPEN ON FEBRUARY 19 AND 20, 2026 AT RDP.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM YOUR ATA LOCALS.

All pre-recording videos will be up until May 31st.

9:00am MST

Stop Tiering Your Students! Establishing, Refining and Utilizing a Continuum of Supports

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room 1500 (Cornerstone Restaurant)

Over the past number of years, with the growth of tiered response systems in schools, educational organizations have become proficient at tiering students for intensifying levels of support. When done well, it ensures a systematic approach to supporting a greater number of students and maximizing resources. When not done well, it can lead to higher levels of support becoming overwhelmed and resources stretched thin as more and more students are identified as requiring intensified supports. The great news is there is a better way that comes when you STOP tiering students! This session will provide an explanation of the paradigm shift from tiering students to tiering supports and share considerations when establishing, refining and utilizing a continuum of supports in schools and districts that has long standing impact for teachers and students.

Speakers

Lorna Hewson

Lead Learner/Co-Founder, Jigsaw Learning Inc

Lorna Hewson is an award-winning educator with leadership experience at the classroom, school, district and provincial levels. Lorna’s professional background has included coaching and mentoring teachers and leaders, effective assessment, curriculum implementation, and inclusive... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 1500 (Cornerstone Restaurant)

11:40am MST

Demystifying Autism

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40am - 2:00pm MST

RDP Room 2501

Autism is a brain-based difference that affects communication and behavior regulation. In this session, we’ll explore key insights to foster awareness, understanding, and acceptance of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and how they impact everyone in the classroom.
Key Topics:
• Characteristics of Autism: Including real-life, lived experiences.
• Understanding Ableism: How society perceives and treats individuals with developmental disabilities like ASD.
• Executive Functioning: Its effect on day-to-day living, with a focus on classroom challenges.
• What You'll See in the Classroom: Recognizing behaviors and communication patterns that impact teachers and students.
• Coping Strategies: Practical techniques for both school and beyond to help autistic students succeed.
• Resources & Tools: Books, websites, posters, and sensory tools like finger fidgets will be shared, with some items available for display.
• Social Skills Survival: Learn how to teach the "unwritten rules" of social interactions.
Join us to better understand autism and create an inclusive, empathetic learning environment!

Speakers

Terri Robson

After overcoming challenges to accept and understand the impact of Autism (Asperger Syndrome) in her own life, Terri Robson was inspired to help others. With a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta, she uses her determination to engage in projects aimed at raising awareness... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40am - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 2501

2:20pm MST

Let’s Talk About Food: Reframing messaging for an inclusive classroom

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

RDP Room 1437

Have you ever wondered how to respond to your students' comments about food? Most of us grew up hearing foods described as “healthy” or “unhealthy,” but categorizing foods this way can harm our relationship with food and cause stress about eating. So how do we flip the script on this conversation with students?

Join our Registered Dietitians in this interactive session exploring practical examples and strategies of how to have inclusive conversations around all foods with your students. Come and be part of the conversation!

Teachers will leave this session with
- Ready-to-use classroom materials and teaching tools. 
- Strategies to promote inclusive conversations about food and eating in the classroom
- Support from Registered Dietitians including tools which reflect best practices in nutrition education for your students

Speakers

Teach Nutrition

Registered Dietitian, Teach Nutrition

Instead of spending hours researching nutrition topics, planning activities, and making slides or worksheets, explore our free resources. We always include background information for teachers alongside engaging materials for students, such as videos, worksheets, and slide decks, that... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room 1437

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

9:00am MST

Régulation et résilience: soutenir les élèves ayant un comportement difficile

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room 2205

Joignez-vous à nous pour un atelier interactif et stimulant où vous découvrirez plusieurs stratégies pour soutenir les élèves qui affichent des comportements difficiles. Cette séance cible en particulier les approches qui privilégient la résilience des élèves, ainsi que les stratégies visant à soutenir notre propre résilience lorsque nous réagissons face au comportement difficile de certains élèves. Par le biais d’activités, de discussions et de réflexions, nous explorerons différentes techniques qui peuvent à la fois aider les élèves qui affichent un comportement difficile, et nous aider à veiller à notre propre bienêtre.

Speakers

Dorice de Champlain

Association Instructor, Alberta Teachers' Association

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 2205

9:00am MST

ASL - Introduction / Beginner

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room 2503

This is a "hands on," beginner ASL course geared toward educators with little or no experience in ASL. We will start with the ABC's and take you to asking and answering questions, playing games, numbers, and more. You will have the benefit of two instructors, one Deaf and one Hearing, who together will take you through accurate signing as well as explain clearly the logic behind the signs. You will leave excited to practice and show off your ASL!

Speakers

Andy Davies

Andy Davies has been a teacher (U of L BFA/B.Ed '09) of languages and art in Southern Alberta for 15 years. Andy has studied, worked in, and been active with ASL and the Deaf community for many years. Originally self-taught, he studied ASL at Grant MacEwan from 2000-2001. He has worked... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 2503

10:20am MST

OH THE MATH THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW - KINDERGARTEN/GRADE 1 EARLY PRIMARY MATH GAMES

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

RDP Room 2305

This math games workshop is for Kindergarten - through First Grade teachers, but would be of great benefit to primary and special ed teachers working with ELL and students that have learning gaps. Games will focus on the following concepts: counting, subitizing, comparing numbers, developing the foundation for early operations including doubles, make 5 make 10, counting forward and back from a given number, skip counting and patterns. Games will integrate the use of cards, math shakers, number lines and rulers, multi-sided dice, whole body movement for brain breaks and more. The games and strategies can be used whole group, small group or in centers. Handout will contain gameboards, concept skill checklists for assessment. COME PREPARED TO PLAY in this fast paced workshop and oh the math that they'll know!

Speakers

John Felling

presenter, Box Cars And One Eyed Jacks

The workshops and seminars John Felling presents are engaging, informative, fun, and hands-on. In his workshops, teachers learn a variety of games and activities (new ones every year), closely tied to provincial curriculum standards. The games and activities presented integrate easily... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 2305

Inclusive Education (TQS/LQS 4), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K) | Special Education (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K) | Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K)

10:20am MST

ASL - Intermediate

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

RDP Room 2503

This course is geared toward educators with some familiarity with ASL who would like to take it to the next level. After reviewing the basics, we will go deeper into the grammatical and syntactical structure of ASL, directional verbs, locational/spatial organization and narrative organization. Participants will leave this session able to tell a joke or story in ASL.

Speakers

Andy Davies

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 2503

11:40am MST

Two Sides to The Story: Trauma Informed Schools

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

RDP Room 2501

How can we integrate the goals and activities of education, while understanding the ways people’s stories (traumas)impact their learning and behaviours? We become “Trauma Informed.” Learn the 5 key principles of Trauma Informed Schools and how to create safe spaces for learning and growing. This Session will help us to become aware of the dynamics of trauma, shift perspectives in how best to support these dynamics, and identify ways to respond with compassion to students and/ or colleagues in crisis.

Speakers

Ariel Haubrich

Consultant/ Trainer/ Private Practitioner, Learning Network

Ariel Haubrich works in school & community mental health as a counsellor and program manager, and also as a consultant, presenter and private practitioner with government, businesses, teams and individuals working toward personal and organizational development. She is a Certified... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 2501

Counselling & Student Support (TQS/LQS 4), 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), All Divisions | 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), All Divisions | Professional Issues (TQS/LQS 6), 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), All Divisions | Inclusive Education (TQS/LQS 4), 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), All Divisions | 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), All Divisions | 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), All Divisions

11:40am MST

Embracing the Powerful Role of Failure in ALL classrooms!

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

RDP Room 1400 (MP Theatre)

What do Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Steven King, Michael Jordan....and Albert Einstein have in common? They all faced massive amounts of failure before getting to where they are today! Let's be real. Fear of failure is one of the biggest reasons that so many students have math anxiety. It prevents students from asking questions, speaking up in class, and even supporting their peers. But one thing no one talks about is this: most mathematicians and scientists in real life get paid to fail! ln this workshop we will explore the powerful role of failure in math class and how you can harness it to inspire your students to embrace failure in math class - and in real life!

Speakers

Vanessa Vakharia

Known as the Lady Gaga of math education, Vanessa is the founder and director of The Math Guru, a super cool boutique math & science tutoring studio in Toronto that's changing stereotypes about what math education looks like. She is also the host of the Math Therapy podcast, author... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 1400 (MP Theatre)

11:40am MST

Autism 101

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

RDP Room 2503

Autism 101 gives the opportunity to gain a basic overview of autism and neurodiversity. It is an introduction to what autism is and gives information on how autistic individuals may interact with others and the world around them. More specifically, the presentation covers the following topics:
• Overview of Autism
• Characteristics of Autism
• How Sensory Processing Works
• Sensory toolbox
• Language to Use
• Introduction to Visual Supports

Speakers

Douglas Parsons

Douglas Parsons is the Training and Resource Manager for Autism Edmonton. He lends his expertise in providing learning opportunities for the Autistic community (and those wanting to learn about Autism) around the world. Under his management umbrella is the Housing portfolio where... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 2503

1:00pm MST

Rethinking Challenging Behaviour - An Introduction to Collaborative Problem Solving®

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

RDP Room 1400 (MP Theatre)

Working with children and teens who demonstrate challenging behaviours can be difficult, stressful and complex. Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS) is a compassionate, evidence-based, trauma-informed approach that provides a philosophy and tools to address challenging behaviour. This approach is used in schools across North America and has been demonstrated to build skills and relationships with students while reducing teacher burnout.

This is an introduction to CPS. This session helps educators reflect on their understanding of challenging behaviour and effective and ineffective interventions to address these behaviours. Participants will learn about how the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach describes why people demonstrate challenging behaviour and how CPS can address these behaviours. This session will help educators decide if CPS would be an effective approach to include in their practice and provide the information and resources to learn more.

If you would like more information about CPS prior to the session, please visit https://thinkkids.org/.

Speakers

Matt Sticksl

Teacher

Matt Sticksl is a teacher, parent and Think:Kids CPS Certified Trainer in Collaborative Problem Solving®. For the past two years he has been teaching in a Student Services role in a K-9 school with the Calgary Board of Education. Prior to this, he taught for eight years in adolescent... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 1400 (MP Theatre)

1:00pm MST

The Science of Language Learning for Schools and Homes

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST

RDP Room AC222 (Arts Centre)

This presentation will outline how successful language learning happens throughout a child's development. The structure will be to answer the following questions by outlining the latest research and then providing examples from in-school experience.
1) What is unique about child language learning, and how is it different from animal communication, and AI-based language?
2) When does child language learning begin and what are the critical periods for language learning?
3) Who are the people that an ideal language development community requires?
4) Where are the spaces that language learning occurs most successfully?
5) How can home and school contexts be transformed into language-rich environments?
6) Why is language development so vital to a child's social, academic, and future vocational success?
7) Which changes can be made immediately and which changes take time?
Each of these questions will be answered in a way that attendees can understand the findings, as well as the implications and opportunities for the classroom.

Speakers

Michael Witten

Speech-Language Pathologist

Since becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist in 2015, Michael Witten has worked as a school-based SLP, run a private practice, and taught First Language Acquisition at TWU. He has shared about the Science of Language Learning in numerous school district Pro-D events and for school... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room AC222 (Arts Centre)

3:20pm MST

The Science of Language Learning for Schools and Homes

Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT

Recording

Speakers

Michael Witten

Speech-Language Pathologist

Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT
Recording