Please submit your questions at www.menti.com and use code 8870 1164. If your question isn't answered during this session, you can find the answer during the social question and answer time at 4 pm today or you can call 1-800-332-1280 and ask to speak to an ATA staff officer.
Friday September 25, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT Ballroom D
Learning does not have to happen solely within the four walls of the classroom. This session will explore a multitude of experiential science learning opportunities you can do with your students! From simple, community excursions for a class block, land-based literacy opportunities with Indigenous Elders, to fully immersive overnight adventures. This session will provide multiple ideas and resources that will allow your students to construct knowledge and understanding of science in practical ways.
Keeping up with the latest AI tools can feel like a full-time job and the tools change quickly, but our purpose in using them as teachers hasn't changed. Are you wondering which one is worth using, which ones we should be using, and which ones are really just wrappers that don't offer much value? This session has you covered! Join Darren as he walks through all the best AI tools currently available for teachers and how you can use them! Increase your awesome and learn how AI infused tools can make your work easier, more effective, more engaging, and less stressful.
You have probably used AI in your classroom…whether it's creating images, articles, assignments, or even for assessments. You try your best to spot biases and check AI's work before giving it to your students…but are you integrating best practices for supporting ELLs in your prompts? What are the best ways to use AI to support ELLs anyways? Join this session as we explore how to integrate good EAL teaching practices and the EAL Benchmarks 2.0 into designing learning that will help your ELLs (and other students!) build vocabulary and become better speakers and writ
Cet atelier d’initiation vous permettra d’en apprendre davantage au sujet des protocoles culturels entourant les manières autochtones de savoir, d’être et de faire. Il ne s’agit pas d’un « guide normatif » ou d’une « liste de choses à faire et à ne pas faire », mais plutôt d’un atelier axé sur le dialogue qui vise à familiariser les participants avec les concepts de base sur lesquels reposent le développement et le renforcement de notre relation avec les peuples autochtones et leurs systèmes de connaissances.
Executive function skills are critical for success both within the school environment and in our lives outside of school. While we are born with the capacity for executive function, these skills need to be modeled, coached, and practiced over the course of our lifetimes if we are to become self-regulated, organized, and collaborative learners. Join us as we explore fundamental knowledge, skills and strategies that support students in developing their executive function. Through this workshop, we will explore executive function skills and development, opportunities to explicitly teach executive function skills, and executive function strength training strategies.
Creating an inclusive and culturally responsive classroom environment is an integral part of our teaching practice. This workshop will explore key approaches and practical strategies for integrating diverse perspectives, building cultural competence, and fostering an inclusive learning environment. Through interactive discussions and activities, you will gain insights into effective communication, addressing implicit biases, and infusing cultural sensitivity into the school and classroom. Join us as we explore tools to celebrate diversity in education and create a space where every student feels valued and respected.
This interactive session explores how purposeful numeracy routines can build student confidence, strengthen mathematical thinking, and create positive classroom culture in Grades K–12. Participants will experience a variety of practical, low-prep routines that encourage communication, reasoning, flexibility in thinking, and student engagement while supporting diverse learners. The session will also examine the impact of math trauma and anxiety, highlighting how predictable and low-risk instructional structures can help students rebuild confidence and develop a healthier mathematical identity. Educators will leave with ready-to-use routines, implementation strategies, and ideas for embedding meaningful numeracy conversations into everyday classroom practice.
This introductory workshop will explore historical and contemporary information and resources relating to numbered treaties within present-day Alberta. Educators will build their understanding of the acknowledgement of land and people, as well as our shared responsibilities to the land and each other. Participants will engage in dialogue and reflect on their professional learning in order to build capacity in treaty education.
Classroom routines, songs, and rhymes that support community building and transitions. Mentor text exploration with reflection and relationship-building activities. Hands-on plasticine creation to develop representations for cross-curricular learning. Sharing of mixed-media art projects.
Computer Science is now embedded throughout Alberta's K–6 Science curriculum, but many teachers are unsure where to begin. This session is designed specifically for new teachers who want practical, low-prep ways to bring computer science and computational thinking into their classrooms. Participants will explore what computer science looks like across the elementary grades and discover classroom-ready activities that require little to no prior experience. Through demonstrations, lesson ideas, and examples from real classrooms, attendees will learn how concepts such as algorithms, coding, debugging, pattern recognition, and computational thinking can be taught through both unplugged and digital activities. The session will highlight accessible tools and resources such as Scratch, MakeCode, micro:bit, Minecraft Education, robotics, and unplugged learning experiences while emphasizing practical implementation strategies that fit within a busy teacher's schedule. Participants will leave with a collection of ready-to-use activities, resources, and increased confidence to begin integrating computer science learning into their classrooms immediately.
Starting your teaching career can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to navigate the endless number of educational technology tools available today. This session is designed specifically for new teachers who want practical, classroom-ready tools without spending hours learning complicated platforms. Participants will explore a curated collection of high-impact digital tools that support the core responsibilities of teaching, including lesson planning, classroom organization, communication, assessment, feedback, content creation, and student engagement. Rather than focusing on technology for technology's sake, this session emphasizes how digital tools can save time, reduce workload, and enhance learning experiences for students. Through demonstrations, classroom examples, and opportunities to explore tools firsthand, attendees will discover how to build an efficient and sustainable digital workflow that works across grade levels and subject areas. Participants will leave with a collection of ready-to-use resources, implementation ideas, and practical strategies they can immediately apply in their own classrooms.
This interactive session explores quick, low-prep experiential learning activities that build movement, curiosity, connection, and student leadership in any classroom setting. Through hands-on games, challenges, and reflection strategies, participants will discover practical ways to increase engagement and bring outdoor learning principles into everyday teaching, without needing extensive time, equipment, or outdoor spaces. Participants will leave with ready-to-use activities and ideas that help foster classroom community, creativity, and meaningful student learning through play and exploration.
How much information are your students getting from standard grading practices? Does a traditional "percentage" grade really tell us which learning outcomes a student has mastered? Even when we want to make adjustments, it can seem overwhelming and scary, especially with changing curricula, increased demands and parental expectations of what indicates student success. So how do we 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 that communicates learning to students and parents efficiently and effectively.
Over many years the Association has constructed a safety net for teachers and their families. This presentation provides an overview of what teachers have in regard to sick leave and other leaves through the collective agreement, extended disability, life insurance, other benefit plan provisions, as well as pension and death benefits. This is a light-hearted presentation that is intended to be presented to local teachers in order to provide very relevant and necessary information on existing entitlements.
Participants in this interactive workshop will receive information and tools to help provide safe, supportive and self-regulated environments for students who have experienced trauma. Teachers will be provided with background information on trauma and its effects on the child and adolescent brain, how to create trauma-informed environments and how to help build resiliency and self-regulation skills in students.
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a powerful framework that can significantly enhance educational outcomes for all students, including students who are English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners. This workshop aims to empower educators with practical strategies to create inclusive and effective learning environments where all students, including those with diverse linguistic backgrounds, can thrive.
A few weeks or months into your new teaching career, are you wondering how you're going to get all the things done and still deliver quality teaching and learning to your students? Does it seem like everyone expects you to meet the needs of EVERY student in your classroom EVERY day, ie, to do the seemingly impossible? Then this is the session for you. In this session you'll learn about high-impact universal supports that reduce planning, teaching, assessment, and reporting strain; support inclusive classrooms; and provide deep learning opportunities for students across K–12 settings. Come and rid your backpack of almost everything but the most high yield/lower prep teaching tools and protocols, in order to become the most nimble (and better rested!) teacher you can be!
Did you get the delightful task to teach mathematics to students? Does the word "fractions" frighten you? Are you worried that you might struggle with teaching mathematics and meeting the diverse needs of your students? This session is for you!!! Whether you are teaching Grade 1 counting or Grade 12 calculus, come and learn some high leverage strategies that will allow all your young mathematicians to flourish! We will work on some intriguing and enjoyable problems, share some ways to reach the edges of your classroom and end with the power of visualization in math class. Be ready to see math come alive and experience a truly joyful math class.
In this session, teachers will explore the structure, purpose, and practical use of science journals in the secondary science classroom. Designed to support Assessment for Learning practices and meaningful FNMI connections, these journals serve as both a guided home study resource and a portfolio of student learning that can be shared with parents and guardians during conferences. Session participants will view student exemplars and leave with practical tools to begin developing science journals for their own classrooms. Teachers will receive ready-to-use templates, handouts, strategies, and ideas that can be implemented immediately in diverse learning environments. While Science 9 and 10 examples will be featured, the resources and approaches shared can be adapted across a variety of secondary subject areas. If you value student organization, accountability, pride in learning, and strong study habits, this session is for you!
Secondary Science Teacher, Elk Island Catholic Schools
Erin is a veteran Secondary Science Teacher with Elk Island Catholic Schools in Sherwood Park, AB. She currently teaches Science 9 & 10 but has also taught Gr. 5-8 Science over her 20-year career. She holds a Master's Degree in Secondary Science Education in Assessment and Resource... Read More →
The Career and Technology Education Council will share successful and engaging proven tricks and tips to make your CTF/CTS Class effective, efficient and engaging for your students. Experienced CTF/CTS teachers will share integrated curricular projects, classroom procedures, project examples and assessment strategies that will streamline your workday and provide challenging and customized lessons for your students.
This workshop explores the integration of art-based games to support mental health while fostering language learning. Participants will discover creative, interactive activities that reduce anxiety, build resilience, and enhance communication in the classroom. Drawing from principles of social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, and art therapy, this session will equip educators with practical tools to create a safe and engaging environment for students
Assistive tools for students have never been better and they get more exciting all the time! There are several tools that ALL students can use on Chromebooks to help them become better readers, writers, and learners in general. There are also so many ways that teachers can create and use resources that can reach every student. This session will help you address the diverse needs you will encounter in your classroom. We will look at the built-in accessibility features of Chromebooks, tools in Google Classroom to help with reading some features of Read&Write, how to adapt texts, assessments, and activities and ,most importantly, how to engage every student in multiple ways including English Language Learners.
Elementary music teachers, dive into the rhythm of hand clapping games in this interactive session. Explore how to weave these fun activities into your lessons, drawing from playground traditions and youth culture. Get ready to clap, stomp, and bring the playground spirit to your music room!
Ready to revolutionize your teaching? Join our workshop on AI tools that go beyond traditional lesson planning. Explore how generative AI can create personalized content, assessments, and more. We’ll guide you through a process that balances efficiency with creativity, ensuring you remain the architect of exceptional learning experiences. Plus, let’s delve into professional considerations—because AI is not just about algorithms; it’s about impact.
In this hands-on session, you’ll learn to use a button-maker, transfer an image in heat-transfer vinyl to a bandana using a heat press, and make paper flowers cut with a Silhouette machine. Want to borrow these machines from the library? We’ll cover that too! And we’ll tell you about some of the other awesome things your library has for you.
Did you know that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit traditional games are great ways to make connections to numeracy? Traditional games can provide entry points to deeper understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and further connections to the land. Get ready to learn about resources for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit traditional games and how to create authentic learning experiences.
Join this introductory workshop to learn more about Cultural Protocols for engaging with Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing. Rather than a "prescriptive guide" or a "checklist of dos and don'ts", this conversation-based workshop is an opportunity to be introduced to foundational concepts for developing and strengthening relationships with Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous systems of knowledge.
Sometimes engagement in science classes can be something that we struggle to get across all of our students in a science classroom. So how can science fiction (and superheroes, who are arguably a subset within science fiction) brought into your class help out? In this session, Nate Siler, who has taught science at the middle school, high school, and post-secondary levels will look at many various ways that a wide array of science fiction (and superheroes) can be brought into your science classrooms to re-engage those students whose interest sometimes seems to be lost.
Central East Representatives Aspen View Local No 7; Battle River Local No 32; Greater St Paul Local No 25; Lakeland Catholic Separate Local No 30; Northern Lights Local No 15; Park Plains East Local No 31
We’re thrilled to have you join us for this session where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and engage directly with your representatives. This is your moment to connect, ask questions and share insights.
Attendance and sign-in for Grant-In-Aid (GIA) to your local.
Central North Representatives Evergreen Catholic Local No 44; Evergreen Local No 11; Northern Gateway Local No 43; Parkland Teachers’ Local No 10; Pembina Hills Local No 22; Woodland Rivers Local No 40
We’re thrilled to have you join us for this session where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and engage directly with your representatives. This is your moment to connect, ask questions and share insights.
Attendance and sign-in for Grant-In-Aid (GIA) to your local.
Central Prairie Representatives Elk Island Catholic Teachers Local No 21; Elk Island Local No 28; Greater St Albert Catholic Local No 23; St Albert Public Teachers Local Local No 73; Sturgeon Local No 27
We’re thrilled to have you join us for this session where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and engage directly with your representatives. This is your moment to connect, ask questions and share insights.
Attendance and sign-in for Grant-In-Aid (GIA) to your local.
Central South Representatives Chinook's Edge Local No 17; Clearview Teachers Local No 33; Red Deer Catholic Local No 80; Red Deer City Local No 60; Wolf Creek Local No 3
We’re thrilled to have you join us for this session where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and engage directly with your representatives. This is your moment to connect, ask questions and share insights.
Attendance and sign-in for Grant-In-Aid (GIA) to your local.
Central Representatives Association des enseignantes et des enseignants francophone de l’Alberta; Black Gold Teachers’ Local No 8; St. Thomas Aquinas Teachers’ Local No 45; Timberline Local No 9; Wetaskiwin Local No 18
We’re thrilled to have you join us for this session where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and engage directly with your representatives. This is your moment to connect, ask questions and share insights.
Attendance and sign-in for Grant-In-Aid (GIA) to your local.
Edmonton-McMurray Representatives Edmonton Catholic Teachers Local No 54; Edmonton Public Teachers Local No 37; Fort McMurray Local No 48
We’re thrilled to have you join us for this session where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and engage directly with your representatives. This is your moment to connect, ask questions and share insights.
Attendance and sign-in for Grant-In-Aid (GIA) to your local.
North West Representatives Fort Vermilion Local No 77; Grande Prairie and District Catholic Teachers Local No 42; Greater Peace Local No 13; High Prairie Local No 62; Northern Spirit Local No 6; Northland Local No 69; Trumpeter Local No 26
We’re thrilled to have you join us for this session where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and engage directly with your representatives. This is your moment to connect, ask questions and share insights.
Attendance and sign-in for Grant-In-Aid (GIA) to your local.
