COTA October 23rd Professional Development Day: Full Schedule

8:30am PDT

Fighting systemic racism in the schooling and education system

The events we are seeing in Canada, the USA and around the world only brought to the fore the reality that racism continues to impact the lives of Black, Indigenous and other racialized people in society. In this short workshop we will reflect, discuss, and examine the implications of racism on the everyday work we do - teaching and learning, administration, counselling. What is racism? Is there racism without racists (Bonilla-Silva, 2017)?. Does racism exist in our schools? What does racism denial do to education? What can I do differently as an educator, leader, counsellor to work toward lasting systemic changes?
Here is an article to read http://www.ideas-idees.ca/blog/we-must-tackle-and-dismantle-systemic-racism-and-white-supremacy
If you are unable to access the ZOOM link, use the Livestream link for this session.
Dr. Bathseba Opini – 8:30-9:45am
https://youtu.be/CSOSqpAbmLc

Speakers

Dr. Bathseba Opini

Assistant Professor, UBC

Dr. Bathseba Opini is an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Department of Educational Studies, Faculty of Education, UBC Vancouver. She trained as a high school teacher and has worked in the K-12 system in Canada and internationally. Currently, she teaches graduate and undergraduate... Read More →

Friday October 23, 2020 8:30am - 9:45am PDT

Featured Speaker

8:30am PDT

Connection, Relationship, and Safety

Connection and relationship are the basic pre-requisite needs each of us has in order to achieve safety. Through a trauma-informed lens, we will explore stress, experiences, behavior, executive functioning, showing up, and well-being so that we can care for ourselves, our students, our families, and our communities.

We will walk away with ready-to-use strategies as well as the strength and compassion to know that each of us can only " Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better, do better" (Maya Angelou).
Target Audience: Behaviour CEAs

Speakers

Andrew Portwood

Teacher, SD#23

Getting to the core of issues and challenges within classrooms. Allowing authentic connection to help us in supporting young people to move forward in healthy ways. THESE make up the cornerstones of my work as one of the district SEL teachers! I was a classroom teacher for 14 years... Read More →

Toni Owens

Social Emotional Learning Teacher, Central Okanagan Public Schools

Toni Owens is passionate about resilience, connection, and community. Her adventure so far includes time as a classroom teacher, school counsellor, therapist, coach, district behaviour specialist, social and emotional learning itinerant teacher, daughter, wife, and bonus-mom.

Friday October 23, 2020 8:30am - 11:45am PDT

10:00am PDT

Inclusion for Non & Minimally Verbal Students in the Classroom

Many of our students are minimally verbal or nonverbal; so how can we include them in our predominantly verbal language classrooms and with their verbal teachers and peers? This workshop will provide the Top 10 ways we can effectively & meaningfully include our nonverbal and minimally verbal students.
Target Audience: Teachers; CEAs; Student Support Services

Speakers

Sarah Dhooge

AAC Consultant, SD#23

Sarah Dhooge is a Speech-Language Pathologist who services students at SD23 who require augmentative and/or alternative communication support.

Friday October 23, 2020 10:00am - 11:45am PDT

10:00am PDT

Introduction to Scratch

This workshop focuses on teaching code and computational thinking. It will equip teachers with the skills needed to integrate code into their classrooms, regardless of what subject they teach. The workshop will begin with an introduction to computational thinking, Scratch and its role in the classroom. The instructor will demonstrate coding live, while the participants follow along. The final segment of the workshop will involve a number of activities that highlight how Scratch can be used to make connections to the curriculum

Target Audience: 3 to 8

Speakers

Cameron Beck

Community Developer, Kids Code Jeunesse

A Community Developer for Kids Code Jeunesse. I am originally from Australia. I have a degree in Elementary Education. I have taught in Australia and the UK. I taught Elementary for 4 years and Secondary Science for 2 years. I have been in Canada for nearly a year and I have enjoyed... Read More →

Friday October 23, 2020 10:00am - 11:45am PDT

10:00am PDT

Stress and the teacher or cultivating the habit of happiness in everyday life

Laugh and learn as we explore the neurophysiology of stress and happiness and leave with 5 powerful techniques that can transform your life:

How to lower your sympathetic tone and increase your energy
5 ways to create happiness in and out of the classroom
How to build hardiness against stress
How to prime your body and mind for a happy day using the principles of neuroscience.

Target Audience: Everyone

Speakers

Dr. Ken Nedd

Medical Practitioner in Stress, Anxiety and Behavioral Medicine Author of the bestsellers Power Over Stress and The Time To Be Happy Is Now International speaker named one of the Top 10 Speakers in America by the American Society of Association Executives Leading expert on transforming... Read More →

Friday October 23, 2020 10:00am - 11:45am PDT

10:00am PDT

Empathy, Safety and Cultural Humility: Becoming Trauma-Informed Educators

If you are unable to access the ZOOM link, use the Livestream link for this session.
Myrna McCallum – 10:00-12pm
https://youtu.be/akR5arsVsxk

Speakers

Myrna McCallum

Owner, Miyo Pimatisiwin Legal Services

Myrna McCallum is a Métis-Cree mother and grandmother from Treaty Six territory (GreenLake and Waterhen Lake FN). She is the host of The Trauma-Informed Lawyer podcast. Myrnaacknowledges that through her professional experience as a prosecutor and Indian ResidentialSchool adjudicator... Read More →

Friday October 23, 2020 10:00am - 12:00pm PDT

Featured Speaker

10:00am PDT

Discovery Education In Depth

This full day workshop will provide you with an overview of how to use Discovery Education, a new district subscription that provides engaging high-quality content, ready-to-use digital lessons, creative collaboration tools, and practical professional learning resources. This session will be interactive and support you in any learning format our future holds. We will go over sign-in procedures, searching, learning tools/strategies for the classroom, classroom set-up within Discovery Education, and how to make learning boards in Discovery Studio. Time has been imbedded into the session to give you time to work with the resource, so you can integrate into your classroom right away!

Target Audience: Grades 4 to 12

Speakers

Amber Hartwell

Teacher, SD#23

Amber Hartwell is a Teacher-Librarian in SD23. Her teaching background includes humanities and ADST. She is also a sessional instructor and research assistant at the University of Calgary, with a background in educational technology.

Friday October 23, 2020 10:00am - 2:00pm PDT

10:00am PDT

Story Grammar Marker with Narrative Text

This workshop will focus on narrative development using the research based methodology and tool, the Story Grammar Marker, which has been used in classrooms for over 25 years to help children think, communicate and learn. The Story Grammar Marker program includes tactile, kinesthetic tools and methodology that complement existing classroom programs to teach children to tell personal narratives, retell stories, write stories, comprehend oral language, think critically and develop social emotional competence. This approach is appropriate for all children in general education, as well as those with language learning difficulties and social communication challenges.
Target Audience: K-6

Speakers

Miranda O'Donnell

Speech-Language Pathologist, SD 23

Miranda has been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist for 16 years. She has worked with School District #23 for 12 years. She has a special interest in metalinguistics and explicit teaching of speech, language, social cognition and literacy skills. She has done numerous workshops... Read More →

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Eggbert Analysis Through the Stages pdf

COTA October 23 SGM powerpoint pptx

Friday October 23, 2020 10:00am - 2:00pm PDT

10:30am PDT

Infusing Aboriginal Content

While teachers express interest in incorporating more Aboriginal content in their classrooms, they are sometimes unsure of where to start and how to find authentic materials. This workshop is designed to create awareness around integrating Aboriginal perspectives and quality Aboriginal resources in the classroom through hands on activities.
Target Audience: K to 9

Speakers

Brandon Peters

Facilitator, BCTF

Davita Marsden

Facilitator, BCTF

Friday October 23, 2020 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT

12:15pm PDT

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Citizenship

This workshop will introduce educators to the concepts behind Artificial Intelligence (AI), through computational thinking and interactive games and activities. The workshop aims to give participants the tools and knowledge needed to understand what AI is, how it affects our daily lives, and how it shapes our online experiences.

Target Audience: 3 to 10

Speakers

Cameron Beck

Community Developer, Kids Code Jeunesse

Friday October 23, 2020 12:15pm - 2:00pm PDT

12:15pm PDT

How to Build Trust & Engagement Online with Students

Educating students is no longer reserved for only the classroom. But building trust and engagement with students through a webcam can be daunting and frustrating at times. This workshop will give tangible techniques that will be practiced in groups that are proven to increase engagement, decrease the number of black screens from students, and increase the connection you feel to your students and their needs.
Target Audience: K-!2 Educators occasionally, or consistently, engaging students remotely.

Speakers

Leah Coss

Leah Coss is on a mission to change the way we value & educate individuals. In order to prepare today’s kids for a future filled with Artificial Intelligence, Technology and ongoing Change, she has built platforms & education methodologies that promote the development of Essential... Read More →

Friday October 23, 2020 12:15pm - 2:00pm PDT

1:00pm PDT

Dr. Jody Carrington - Relationships

If you are unable to access the Zoom link for this session, please join the livestream.
Dr. Jody Carrington – 1:00-2:00pm
https://youtu.be/-OOsFvM3dX0

Speakers

Dr. Jody Carrington

Dr. Jody Carrington Consulting Inc.

Dr. Jody Carrington is a Clinical Psychologist who has spent most of her career working with children and families who have experienced trauma. Growing up on a farm in rural Alberta, Canada, and after 13 years (!) of post-secondary education, she took her first job on the Mental Health... Read More →

Friday October 23, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Featured Speaker