KAMLOOPS StartUP! Your Class Cooperative Conference 2015
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Monday, August 24 8:45 - 11:30
All levels: PRIMARY and INTERMEDIATE/MIDDLE
Start UP! The First Week of School. - Ray Myrtle
This workshop will help you start up your class and manage your classroom. Learn ways to do the important things and what to leave for later. Get The First Week of School”, a 33 pg. booklet of lesson suggestions, strategies, ideas, blacklines and checklists for your first week with your new class. Network as you learn about the Start UP! Program for early career teachers. Start the year prepared and confident.
Presenter’s Bio
Ray Myrtle
Ray Myrtle is passionate about supporting early career teachers and has led the development of Start UP! He has taught Grades 4, 5, & 6 for 20 years and now sometimes TOCs in Burnaby to keep in touch with real work kids, schools and teachers.
Monday, August 24 12:15 – 3:00
PRIMARYPrimarily You ~ Being A Teacher Who Makes a Difference: Lillian Kwan
“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. … If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”~Haim G. Ginott
What kind of teacher would you like to be? How will you make a difference in the lives of your students? During this workshop we will explore these questions as we discuss how to forge strong connections and build positive relationships with your students. The first month of school is critical in establishing routines, expectations, and connections. Lillian Kwan is excited to share some of her classroom successes from her 35 plus years of teaching. Using song, movement, drama games, and positive feedback, you will learn practical strategies for classroom management and for creating a happy learning environment. Some of the resources we will look at are Diane Gossen’s Restitution, the Virtues Project, Michele Borba’s Esteem Builders, and Barbara Coloroso’s work on bullying.
Presenter’s Bio
Lillian Kwan
Lillian has been an educator for over 35 years. She has had the good fortune to work with learners from 4 years old to 45 years young. With an Early Childhood major from UBC, Lillian started her career teaching kindergarten in Chase. Throughout the years, she has taught the entire primary grades as well as teaching a number of years in a primary District Behaviour Intervention Class. Lillian also taught Music and Movement in the Early Childhood Education Program at the former Cariboo College in Kamloops. Lillian is a strong advocate for public education and is passionate about the positive experiences we need to provide for all our children. / INTERMEDIATE/MIDDLE
Literature Circles: Elaine Jaltema
Discover how to create avid readers and cover reading and oral language PLOs with no preparation or after-school marking. Students are excited to discuss the juicy issues in the books and typically read far more than they ever have before, while developing comprehension, critical thinking and social skills. Participants will be given access to PITA’s chapter summaries and tests for hundreds of novels to be used for literature circles and individual reading.
Presenter’s Bio
Elaine Jaltema
Elaine Jaltema received the first Premier's Award for Teaching Excellence in Literacy and is the President of myPITA. She teaches intermediate classes in Burnaby and is the mother of three grown sons. She is passionate about empowering struggling learners and inspiring students to become life-long readers.
Tuesday, August 25 8:45 - 11:30
All levels: PRIMARY, INTERMEDIATE/MIDDLE
Adventures in Social and Emotional Learning: Sheldon Franken
Social-Emotional Learning consists of 5 competencies for students: Self and Social Awareness, Self Management, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making. This workshop, entitled “Adventures in Social-Emotional Learning” will help teachers to incorporate social-emotional learning within their classroom management and lesson plans. There will be a strong emphasis on the practice of the adventure learning models of framing and debriefing. Come ready to have fun, be active, participate, and engage in a variety of adventure based social-emotional learning activities.
Presenter’s bio
Sheldon Franken
Sheldon Franken, B.Ed. M.A. Sheldon is a school counsellor with the Delta School District, director of Inquiry Adventures (inquiryadventures.com) and a regional council member for the Association of Experiential Education. Sheldon has presented on Adventured based social-emotional learning practices to various organizations including the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, the BC School Counsellors Association, the BC Alternate Teachers Association, The BC Intermediate Teachers Association, and the Calgary City Teachers Convention. His passion is using adventure and experiential education to compliment best learning and teaching practices.
Tuesday, August 25 12:15 – 3:00
ALL LEVELS*A workshop especially for TTOCs and Teacher Candidates
TTOC Toolkit - Tips and Tricks for Teachers Teaching on Call
Classroom Management and Life of a TTOC: Amanda Long-Anderson
TTOCs must establish rapport with students quickly and use managementstrategies that work immediately. This workshop will explore the basics ofclassroom management and how TTOCs can adapt them for their work.Practical strategies for creating a positive environment and taking constructive action with individual students will be explored. Amanda will share ideas on currentteaching practices and resources, with the focus on enhancing TTOCs’ confidence in theirprofessional status.
Presenter’s Bio
Amanda Long-Anderson
Amanda is an advocate for early career teachers and TTOCs and has presented across B.C. on tools, tips, and tricks to be successful in the classroom. She has worked in all levels K-12 and shares her experiences in contract and as a TTOC in her workshops. She is currently the chair of the BCTF TTOC Advisory Committee and has been an integral part of the formation of a new Provincial Specialist Association for new teachers and TTOCs (BCECTA) Her workshops offer interactive learning with take homes you can use in a variety of classroom levels and subjects. / ALL LEVELS
*A workshop for classroom teachers
Environmental Education: Joanne Nicklas
Youngsters love to learn about what is in their environment. Ask any student what the highlight of his/her year was, and it will no doubt be something that relates to a field trip. Start small and get your students outdoors where they all have a common experience to follow up on in the classroom. In the workshop, we will connect learning outcomes, field studies, great resources, locations, pre and post planning, and share environmental education ideas with each other!
Presenter’s Bio
Joanne Nicklas
Joanne's passion for getting students outdoors to learn hasbeen an over-riding theme in her thirty-five years as a teacher.The majority of Joanne's career has been in the Kamloops/Thompson School District, andshe has held the positions of classroom teacher (elementary), McQueen Lake Environmental Education Teacher, Salmonids in the Classroom Resource Teacher and TTOC for the District.Joanne's warm and friendly teaching style makes all students feel welcome and inclusive, from pre-K presentations,to Pro. D. with colleagues.
Wednesday, August 26 8:45 - 11:30
PRIMARYPrimary Literacy/Participation and Management Strategies: Linda Rightmire
(*Workshop adjusted from last year)
Teachers start their year with hope, energy and enthusiasm. So do your kids! Maintain your energy and sanity with a comprehensive approach. Balanced literacy must be grown throughout your fall term with an emphasis on student responsibility and behaviour management. This session will offer a number of practical strategies supported by research.
We will consider aspects of your day’s structure, opening routines, behaviour tips and tricks. Classroom activities will be shown that handle the wide range of ability levels in our students — full participation is the goal! A portion of the morning will be spent with a structured partner reading approach that boosts reading fluency through increased time on task and book selections at appropriate levels.
Corral the mass of PLOs nipping at your heels with a holistic approach — you will buy time to share the small pleasures of the day with a child.
Presenter’s Bio
Linda has worked for several decades in Kamloops area schools as primary teacher, LART, district ECE coordinator, and workshop presenter. She currently TTOCs, consults with parents, tutors early readers and writes professionally on education topics. She is a fanatic about the need to boost reading in the early grades -- and to make it fun and involving for all children. Plus -- adults need to have some fun, too. / INTERMEDIATE/MIDDLE
Social Studies: Lori Villeneuve
This is a step-by-step guide to the inquiry process, which engages all learners, requires minimal preparation and no after hours marking. In this Start Up session you will learn how to implement INQUIRY in the Social Studies curriculum at the intermediate, middle or high school grade levels.
Presenter’s Bio
Lori Villeneuve
Lori is a grade 7 teacher at Yorkson Creek middle school in Langley. She has taught in an upper intermediate classroom for the last 20 years and is always looking for new ways to engage students in their own learning. Lori has presented at myPITA and New Teachers conferences.
Wednesday, August 26 12:15 – 3:00
PRIMARYTeaching a Grade 3/4 Blend: Pam Lovett
Are you faced with teaching a combined class ofprimary and intermediate? No need to be afraid! Teaching Grade 3/4 is a wonderful experience. Pam Lovett is thrilled to share some of her combined grade experiences with you. She has lots of great ideas on how to start up your school year.Youwill walk away withlesson plan ideas forthe first month ofschool in the core subjects. She willhaveplenty of visuals for you to lookat, along with resources to take home. You will also have some funparticipating in a few engagingactivities.If youdon'tknow what grade you will be teaching in the fall, you will definitely get some helpful tips from this experienced, enthusiasticelementaryteacher with 25 plus years experience.
Presenter’s Bio
Pam Lovett
Pam Lovett has been teaching in the Kamloops School District for over 20 years. She has also taught in Summerland and Langley. Her teaching experience includes Kindergarten to Grade 4 with many split classes over the years. Pam recently graduated with her Masters of Education in Leadership and Administration. While working on her degree, she spent two years studying math anxiety in elementary aged children. Pam loves to spend time with her family at the beaches in the Okanagan during the summer. / INTERMEDIATE/MIDDLE
The PE Year in Preview - a comprehensive look at a PE program:Del Komarniski
TO BE HELD AT SOUTHKAM GYM! 12:30 – 3:15
Join Del to discover strategies for planning your PE year as well as learning how a school's philosophy can shape the planning. Included in the workshop will be details on major and minor PE units as well as ideas for lead up games. Del will describe the organization of 'special events' and unique games. Discussions will include evaluation methods and ideas related to problem solving strategies for issues that typically present themselves throughout the year.
Presenter’s Bio
Del Komarniski
Del is has taught for 20 years in SD73 and is currently serving as the local PE PSA president. He holds a Masters Degree in Sport Leadership and has extensive coaching experience, including head coach of 5 provincial basketball teams (4 at the National Championships). Del works from the perspective that PE is the pursuit of fitness and skill in a fun setting.
Thursday, August 27th 8:45 - 11:30
PRIMARYWrite Right Away! Writing Routines To Encourage Beginning Writers
Darcy Martin
Using the 6 traits of writing as the foundation, Darcy will bring samples, strategies and helpful handouts so you can start your year on the write track. Easy-to-implement writing routines and strategies will have your primary students excited to put pencil to paper. Bonus: good routines reduce teacher planning and increase student independence.
Presenter’s Bio
Darcy Martin
Darcy teaches Lower Elementary Montessori at Aberdeen Elementary in Kamloops, and has a diploma in Special and Inclusive Education. She believes natural curiosity and interest motivate children to learn, and embraces student-directed learning in her daily practice. / INTERMEDIATE/MIDDLE
Making Math Stick: Katie McCormack
This workshop is designed to help teachers set up their classroom for any intermediate/middle grade. It also aims to guide teachers to use the curriculum outcomes and develop the “big ideas” for each topic to lead their math program, rather than relying on the textbook. The workshop also looks at levelled assessment that is designed to develop mastery of math concepts rather than just “getting through the course”. Teaching Math with intensity, purpose and fun is the overall theme of this workshop.
Presenter’s bio
Katie McCormack
Katie has been teaching for 29 years. She has taught right across Canada. She graduated from UBC with a major in math methodology. Katie is a numeracy leader in her district and currently is the Math Department Head at Brock Middle School. She teaches Daily Math, a course she developed to help struggling learners, and Honours Math to Gr 7, 8, and 9 students.
Thursday, August 27th 12:15 - 3:00
GRADE K/1Teaching K/1 – Kathy Farber and Amber Bowden
Does the thought of spending the day with 22 five and six year olds terrify you? Then this is the course for you! We will demystify an average day in a kindergarten/ grade one class and prepare you to embrace your inner child. Options for day-to-day routines, sample day and year plans as well as assessments will be explored. Use of technology in the form of a Smartboard and Chrome books will also be investigated. Both kindergarten and grade one as separate and combination classes will be discussed. You will leave with some simple, fun activities to try as well as resource suggestions.
Presenters’ Bio
Cathy Farber and Amber Bowden
Cathy Farber earned her BEd from the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops. She is one of the fabulous kindergarten teachers at Bert Edwards Science and Technology School and also sits on the district Health and Wellness Committee. After earning her degree, she spent some years as a teacher on call in SD 73 while raising a family. Cathy has worked with various ages/levels of learners ranging from kindergarten to late intermediate. She enjoys teaching young primary students the best and considers developing close interpersonal relationships with her students and their families, as well as staff members, a strength. When she’s not teaching, she loves spending time with her family and kayaking.
Amber Bowden graduated with a BEd from the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops. She left the area and taught in a number of districts and many schools in northern BC before returning to SD 73. Amber not only taught various primary grades but also intermediate and high school before coming to kindergarten twelve years ago. She will not voluntarily go back to teaching any other grade. She is now one of the awesome kindergarten teachers at Bert Edwards Science and Technology School and loving it. She is passionate about literacy and involving her students in real-life learning. Amber spends many of her after school hours being active and thinking of ways to make Cathy crazy. / GRADES 2 – 7
SLAM DUNK Math Games: Ann-Marie Hunter
Score on Math skills with games galore for Grades 2–7. Wish you had an arsenal of Math games up your sleeve? We know how much kids like to play games – using games in Math can make your program come alive! Integrating Math games into your instruction can build core understandings, develop students’ logical thinking skills, and help them to talk about Math while having fun! Find out how games can build student confidence. In this workshop, we’ll play Math games, practise identifying the specific skills in each game and discuss the use of journalling.
Presenter’s Bio
Ann-Marie Hunter
Ann-Marie Hunter, from Kamloops, has held the position of Kamloops StartUP! Your Class Coordinator for the past three years. She finds organizing ProD for Early Career Teachers exciting and rewarding! Ann-Marie started her teaching career as a high school Math teacher and once she transferred to intermediate grades, she never looked back! She thoroughly enjoyed being the Math ‘Go-to’ person in the elementary setting, helping to foster the love of Mathematics! Ann-Marie finds the amazing spirit of all students to be inspiring. Teaching them provides a wonderful opportunity to help children become confident learners; in particular, she strives to help all kids love Math!
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