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CLICK HERE TO VIEW JASON SCHILLING OPENING REMARKS

Welcome to CATCA 2025! We are excited to see you soon but here are a few reminders...

1. Adding a session to your schedule does not guarantee your attendance. Room capacities are in effect and sessions will be accessed on a physical first come, first served basis on the day of the event. Alternatively, If you are ’Waitlisted", this only means that there are a number of interested delegates beyond the capacity limits for this session - get there early to secure your seat!

2. As we attempt to make CATCA 2025 as amazing as possible, there may be changes made to the schedule up until the day before - Please check your schedule for any time or venue changes or possible cancellations.

3. Please check session description for possible fees associated with materials for some of the art sessions. These will be paid directly to the presenter.

4. Do remember that there might be sessions not at our main venue, do look carefully where the session is at.

5.GooseChase will be searchable on the website or app - search for: CATCA 2025 Convention.. If requested, the GooseChase join code is: Z8NFL6

A floor plan showing the rooms in RDP that we’re using for convention is available here.

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

or to bookmark your favorites and sync them to your phone or calendar.
Type: Language Arts (TQS 3) clear filter
Thursday, February 20
 

10:20am MST

From Concept to Script - Screenwriting Workshop
Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Buckley

Andrew Buckley

Author/Speaker/Creator
Today, he’s a traditional and self-published novelist of rather silly, yet enjoyable speculative fiction for all ages, a comic book writer, screenwriter, podcaster, creator, and speaker. For over 20 years, he’s worked in the dreaded world of marketing as a content creator, copywriter... Read More →
Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 2501

1:00pm MST

Snowflakes and Stories: Embracing Winter's Narrative Tradition
Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Enter a realm where winter's embrace invites storytelling to flourish. Join us in exploring the profound significance of storytelling during the snowy season. Why do stories resonate when snow blankets the earth? Delve into the diverse forms of storytelling, discovering how each holds the power to captivate and educate.
Speakers
avatar for Phillip Campiou

Phillip Campiou

Elder, Driftpile Cree Nation
Phillip Campiou, a member of the Traditional Woodland Cree from Driftpile Cree Nation, Alberta, has made his home in the Onoway area. Growing up, Phillip's father instilled in him the principles of self-sufficiency and profound respect for Mother Earth and spiritual teachings. As... Read More →
Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 1303

2:20pm MST

Literacy Leadership Matters
Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
Comprehensive literacy instruction is important at all levels of education. Effective instructional leaders can enhance the literacy instruction within their schools. This session provides insight into current practice, strong pedagogy, an understanding of the science of reading, and practical strategies that literacy leads, consultants, and administrators can use within their schools to become more effective literacy leaders.
Speakers
avatar for Karen Filewych

Karen Filewych

Words Change Worlds
Karen Filewych has over twenty-five years of educational experience as an elementary teacher, school administrator, and language arts consultant. In 2007, she completed her Master of Education degree in the area of literacy. Karen has four books published by Pembroke Publishers: How... Read More →
Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room 2503
 
Friday, February 21
 

9:00am MST

Co-Authors of The Valley of the Birdtail
Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Why are outcomes for Indigenous students so unequal? Join authors Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) and Andrew Stobo Sniderman for a discussion about their acclaimed book, Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation. This book follows multiple generations of two families, one white and one Indigenous, and weaves their lives into the larger story of Canada. Valley of the Birdtail is about how two schools became separate and unequal—and what it means for the rest of us.
DO COME EARLY TO THE SESSION TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE COPY OF THE BOOK. 
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Stobo Sniderman

Andrew Stobo Sniderman

ANDREW STOBO SNIDERMAN is a writer, lawyer and Rhodes Scholar from Montreal. He has written for the New York Times, the Globe and Mail and Maclean’s. He has also argued before the Supreme Court of Canada, served as the human rights policy advisor to the Canadian minister of foreign... Read More →
avatar for Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii)

Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii)

DOUGLAS SANDERSON (AMO BINASHII) is Beaver Clan, from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. He holds the Prichard Wilson Chair in Law and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law. Professor Sanderson has served as senior Advisor to the government of Ontario, in the offices... Read More →
Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP MAIN STAGE/ AC117 (ARTS CENTRE)

9:00am MST

Phonological and Morphological Awareness Using SWI
Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) investigates English spelling to find the logic of the spelling system. It is known for building morphological awareness, but it also embeds many phonological awareness activities. Come see how you can use spelling work to build phonological awareness in your students.
Speakers
avatar for Amber Cahill

Amber Cahill

Teacher, Edmonton Public Schools
Amber Cahill is a teacher with Edmonton Public Schools. She has 19 years experience as a classroom teacher and has completed a Master's Degree in Special Education with a focus on Reading, Writing, and Oral Language Disabilities. She has been incorporating Structured Word Inquiry... Read More →
Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 1600

9:00am MST

STEAM Read Alouds - Weaving Literacy Into Your STEAM Lessons
Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Come and see how you can enhance literacy skills in your STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) classes. Teachers are storytellers, we weave together concepts with relatable stories to help make learning more exciting, but also more memorable. In this session, you will learn how to engage your students in active listening exercises while listening to a variety of stories about STEAM concepts. This will also include a focus on Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being in STEAM as well as suggestions on a variety of authors and books to fit your curriculum. this session is for all grade levels, although more appropriate for Division 2-4.
Speakers
avatar for Amanda Green

Amanda Green

Teacher, Science Council
Amanda's spark for science ignited at an early age exploring nature with her family and grew into a flame for space exploration as she followed Canada's journey skyward. She teaches Junior High STEM classes in both English and French in Beaumont, Alberta. Alongside her colleague Julie... Read More →
Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 2301

9:00am MST

ASL - Introduction / Beginner
Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
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
AD

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 2602

10:20am MST

Introduction to Structured Word Inquiry
Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
Why is there a w in "two"? Why don't we spell "does" like "duz"? How can we expect correct spelling from students when English is so full of crazy exceptions? Or is it possible that the English spelling system actually makes perfect sense? This session will introduce Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) and show how we can use it to find logic in spelling by teaching morphology, etymology, orthography, and phonology. These all work together to prove that our spelling system makes sense. Leave with lesson ideas for incorporating these concepts with your students.
Speakers
avatar for Amber Cahill

Amber Cahill

Teacher, Edmonton Public Schools
Amber Cahill is a teacher with Edmonton Public Schools. She has 19 years experience as a classroom teacher and has completed a Master's Degree in Special Education with a focus on Reading, Writing, and Oral Language Disabilities. She has been incorporating Structured Word Inquiry... Read More →
Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 1600

10:20am MST

A Teenage Songwriter’s Journey: Helping people write songs as a means of personal expression
Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
In 2021, Oakley set a goal to release an album before turning 16. He wrote songs and busked to fund the project. Over the next three years, he learned many lessons that he’s excited to share. His album, Auburn, was released in May 2024. Attend this session to learn how to use songwriting as a means of expression and language exploration with a young singer-songwriter. With simple frameworks, you’ll create a hook and start to craft a new song. No musical experience or talent is necessary. Oakley will complete some songs during the session. Through story, live music and collaborative writing, you’ll leave this session with an appreciation for the power of song and a process to start the journey with your students.

Oakley’s Bio:
Oakley is a 16 year old, Calgary-born and raised singer-songwriter. He is a Grade 11 student who juggles school athletics, training for his black belt in mixed martial arts, his passion for the mountains, and his singing career. He recently released his first Album (Auburn) on all streaming platforms. His musical influences include Ella Fitzgerald, John Mayer, Ziggy Alberts, numerous world musicians, and everything in between. One of his goals is to inspire people to pick up a real instrument and start playing. He advocates doing something that takes courage over what is comfortable. He is also a connoisseur of grilled cheese and mac and cheese.
Speakers
avatar for Paul Marlett

Paul Marlett

Learning Leader, Calgary Board of Education
Paul is a purebred teacher and a maverick in education who focuses on innovation in the “art of teaching”. Having taught for over 2 decades in the classroom, the gym, and (approved) mountain tops from grades 1 to 12 in all subject matters, he has spent the last 10 years with the... Read More →
Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 1500 (Cornerstone Restaurant)

10:20am MST

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

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 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 2602

11:40am MST

180 Days of Structured Word Inquiry
Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
Are you interested in trying Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) with your class, but not sure where to start? I'll share the daily lessons and games that I used with a Grade 2 class to help us learn about word families and the logic of spelling.
Speakers
avatar for Amber Cahill

Amber Cahill

Teacher, Edmonton Public Schools
Amber Cahill is a teacher with Edmonton Public Schools. She has 19 years experience as a classroom teacher and has completed a Master's Degree in Special Education with a focus on Reading, Writing, and Oral Language Disabilities. She has been incorporating Structured Word Inquiry... Read More →
Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 1600

1:00pm MST

ELA and SS - Engaging Tasks Connected to Conflict
Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Want to bring conflict and military history to life in your classroom? Want your students to connect to different challenges associated with people's experiences with conflict? Want your students to think critically and build skills? We will be looking at a variety of different conflicts connected to the curriculum (EG: War of 1812, Conquest of the Americas, Remembrance Day, etc.) in social studies as well as a variety of different ELA texts that have conflict as a theme (EG: The Sniper, War Poetry, songs connected to war and peace, etc.). Students get to explore and understand situations where individuals are interacting with conflict and war and the consequences individually and for society. There are many connections to be made to other times in world history to allow students to critically think about the movement of peoples. You will walk away with the complete lessons, activities, projects and resources.
Speakers
avatar for Joanna Zakus

Joanna Zakus

Joanna has a BA History and a BEd Secondary Social Studies. She has been teaching primarily social studies and humanities for the last 20 years at the junior high level. Joanna currently is a teacher at a junior high school with the Calgary Board of Education. She focuses on interactive... Read More →
avatar for Nicholle Morrison

Nicholle Morrison

Teacher, Calgary Board of Ed.
Joanna has a BA History and a BEd Secondary Social Studies. She has been teaching primarily social studies and humanities for the last 18 years at the junior high level. Joanna currently is a teacher at a junior high school with the Calgary Board of Education. She focuses on interactive... Read More →
Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 2303

1:00pm MST

Vocabulary: How can I enhance the words my students know and use?
Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST
In this session, we will discuss the importance of vocabulary instruction, as well as strategies for integrating vocabulary instruction into lessons throughout the day. Attendees will be shown several different activities that are classroom ready and can be implemented immediately.
Speakers
SK

Shauna Koopmans

With a combined total of over 40 years of experience in K-12 education, we have experience teaching literacy to students in grades K-12. Laura is currently teaching grade 2 in Red Deer and Shauna is an instructor in the Bachelor of Education program at RDP.
Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room AC222 (Arts Centre)

3:20pm MST

My Students Can’t Summarize! Please Help!
Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT
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.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Karena Hartson

Dr. Karena Hartson

Karena is a secondary literacy consultant who delivers high-level, high-energy professional learning sessions that help teachers leverage their own experiences to support student learning. Teachers attending her sessions will come away with tools and strategies that they can use immediately... Read More →
Friday February 21, 2025 3:20pm - Saturday May 31, 2025 11:30pm MDT
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