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

Fun, Fast, Fresh, Free! New Resources for Teaching K-6 Physical Education and Wellness

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

RDP Room 2600

Come explore Ever Active Schools NEW suite of digital resources, now available for free through new.LearnAlberta.ca. These Physical Education and Wellness resources are locally developed for K-6 Learners in both English and French and aligned to the new K-6 Physical Education and Wellness Programs of Study. Participants will preview the suite of resources, sample activities and have the opportunity to give feedback.

Speakers

Ever Active Schools

Health & Wellness Consultant, Ever Active Schools

Ever Active Schools is a registered national charity designed to create and support healthy school communities. We engage and support schools through a Comprehensive School Health framework, which addresses health and education goals to improve the social outcomes of children and... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 2600

Health and Wellness (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6) | Physical Education (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6) | Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6)

10:20am MST

ARTA and the ARTA Benefit Plans - Looking Ahead to New ADVENTURES

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

RDP Room 2600

If you are considering retirement within the next five years, then you’ve got some big decisions just around the corner. Make sure you’re ready for them! This presentation will go over everything you need to know about the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (ARTA), including programs and perks available to members and, of course, the nationally acclaimed Health Benefit Plans, complete with information on all the health, travel, and dental benefits ARTA offers. A current retired teacher will provide important points to consider before making the leap into retirement and will touch on some retirement lessons they’ve learned from experience. Join us to discover how ARTA can give you the support you need to begin this new, exciting adventure.

Speakers

Lawrence Hrycan

Treasurer, ARTA

Lawrence is a retired teacher with a deep passion for supporting fellow retirees in making informed decisions about their retirement. With years of experience in education, he understands the importance of staying informed and engaged. Lawrence is dedicated to helping retired teachers... Read More →

Deb Gerow

ARTA

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 2600

Health and Wellness (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)

11:40am MST

Mathematical Marvels

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

RDP Room 2600

Discover the enchanting side of mathematics in a session designed to transform even the most reluctant math enthusiasts into ardent admirers. "Mathematical Marvels" is not your typical math gathering; it's a celebration of joy and beauty woven into the very fabric of numbers, patterns, and shapes.

I assure you that even if you have harbored a dislike for mathematics, this session is crafted to bring a smile to your face and make you see math in a new light.

No need for advanced degrees or complicated formulas—just bring your curiosity and an open mind. Join us for an unforgettable journey into the beauty of math, and leave with a newfound appreciation for the elegance and playfulness that numbers can offer. Let's prove that math can be a source of joy and wonder for everyone!

Speakers

Dave Martin

ATA Mathematics Council

Dave Martin has a Masters of Mathematics, a Degree in Education, and a love for prime numbers. He has been teaching for 12 years, during which time, he was nominated for Teacher of Excellence in Alberta, has spoken across North America, and has successfully removed grades in most... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 2600

Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

1:00pm MST

Financial Wellness - it's more than just investments!

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

RDP Room 2600

Why is it crucial to prioritize our financial well-being? Being financially prepared is essential because it's not just about money; it's a fundamental aspect of overall wellness. Neglecting financial health can lead to stress and affect mental well-being, making it harder to navigate life's challenges.

For educators, who often prioritize the needs of others over their own, focusing on personal wellness, including financial wellness, is imperative. Studies show that 40% of financially unstable Canadians experience stress related to their finances. This stress permeates their work life, with 88% reporting frequent worries and 49% admitting it affects their job performance.

But what if there were simple tools that could alleviate this stress? This session aims to provide such tools, offering practical steps that can be implemented easily.

In this session, you will learn how to take charge of your financial wellness, including setting up emergency funds and saving for the future. We'll explore investment strategies, understanding market dynamics, and making informed decisions. Budgeting tips will address common dilemmas like balancing debt repayment with savings. Additionally, we'll delve into mitigating major financial risks, such as the escalating costs of long-term care and the financial impact of unexpected illnesses.

Being financially prepared isn't just about avoiding financial pitfalls; it's about building resilience and securing peace of mind in the face of life's uncertainties.

Speakers

Capital Planning

Marketing and Communications Manager, Capital Planning

Elizabeth leads the communications and marketing programs for the ATA Voluntary Benefits Program. This includes designing and developing all the communication materials for the program, helping teachers and their families to understand the options available to them – like the ATA... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 2600

Professional Issues (TQS/LQS 6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Health and Wellness (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

9:00am MST

Numeracy bead strings and Cuisenaire rods

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

RDP Room 2600

Join us for a hands-on session exploring two exceptional math tools: Numeracy bead strings and Cuisenaire rods. In this session, we will show you the many ways they can be used in your classroom from preschool to grade 6 including counting, part-part whole thinking, place value, basic facts, fractions, and more!
*This session can be split into early Elementary and later Elementary.

Speakers

Angela Hanson

Angela Hanson is an elementary school educator who believes that learning math concepts should be active and fun. She structures math classes that encourage students to move and engage in group activities. Her students are excited to discover new math strategies using manipulatives... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 2600

Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K)

11:40am MST

Success with Basic Multiplication and Division Facts

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

RDP Room 2600

This interactive session will first explore the commutative property and fact families that are integral to learning multiplication and division facts and then cover our Thinking Strategies series approach: “chunking” facts into groups, developing efficient thinking strategies for each chunk, and the importance of drill/practice. You will leave this session with important insights on how best to teach basic multiplication and division and we will provide activities from the MathImagine Foundation resources.

Why is this session relevant to teachers?
Why this is an important session: It provides an effective and straightforward approach to teaching basic multiplication and division facts.
What will be the learning: Number relationships, chunking facts, commutative or turnaround property of basic facts, thinking strategies for basic facts, and John Van de Walle’s theory of building mastery.
Focus: Basic multiplication and addition facts.
Takeaway: Teachers will be able to improve on their current approach of teaching student multiplication and division facts. Teachers will also take away activities to use in the classroom.

Speakers

Angela Hanson

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 2600

Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6)

1:00pm MST

Top 10 Numeracy Activities for Preschool/Kindergarten

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

RDP Room 2600

Join our interactive session of our top 10 numeracy activities for the preschool and kindergarten classroom. These activities are easy to implement, cross-curricular, low-cost, and fun! And you will be able to use them in the classroom the next day.

Why is this session relevant to teachers?
Why this is an important session: It provides teachers with activities to facilitate numeracy in their classroom.
What will be the learning: Easy, low cost, fun, cross-curricular numeracy activities.
Focus: Numeracy concepts.
Takeaway: Numeracy activities to use in the classroom.

Speakers

Angela Hanson

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 2600

Mathematics (TQS 3), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K)

2:20pm MST

Math Games Galore: Having Fun with Math for Lower Elementary!

Friday February 21, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

RDP Room 2600

Need some fresh, new ideas for games and activities that kids LOVE to play? A multitude of engaging games supporting numeracy and basic facts will be introduced and played during the session. These games, from The MathImagine Foundation resources, are ideal for individual learning, group learning, learning centres, and whole-class instruction in lower Elementary. Be ready to participate, have fun, and win fantastic prizes!

Why is this session relevant to teachers?
Why this is an important session: This session provides well-designed games to help make learning math engaging and effective.
What will be the learning: Lower Elementary games supporting mastery of basic math facts and games that support numeracy development.
Focus: Basic facts and basic numeracy concepts.
Takeaway: New games to use in the classroom.
*This session can be combined with the Upper Elementary session to provide games from K-6.

Speakers

Angela Hanson

Friday February 21, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room 2600

Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3)