PSTA General Assembly Special Interest Sessions

Below are the times and descriptions for the GA special interest sessions. To join, click the name of the sessions which will take you to the TEAMS application where you can join the team.  You can also copy the team code and join the team by entering that on the TEAMS application.

Please register for your desired sessions times beforehand in case there are any issues with you joining the specific one.

How to register:

  1. Clicking on the title of the session should launch MS Teams where you will be prompted to join the team.
  2. The second method is to copy the team code and enter it in MS Teams. (video)
    1. Open MS Teams
    2. Click Teams Teams button on the left side of the app
    3. Click Join or create a team at the bottom of your teams list.
    4. Go to Join a team with a code (the second tile), paste the code in the Enter code box, and click Join.

Themes:

Language Learning (English Language Arts and Language Learners)

Secret Stories: Cracking the Reading & Writing Codes with the Brain-In-Mind!
Team Code: 974lmyo
Presenter: Nichole Watier
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Nichole will share with you her experience teaching the Secret Stories (phonemic skills) in grade 1. This is a program that has no instructional block but is embedded into all teaching areas. It will give you and your students the tools they need to be independent readers and writers.

Nurturing Emergent Literacy in Play-Based Outdoor Education
Team Code: r3hnqq6
Presenter: Denise Heppner
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Many aspects of authentic literacy learning can be fostered by participation in outdoor educational contexts. Skills in oral language build the foundation for emergent literacy and supports the development of reading and writing. This presentation will provide information from the research literature on how to facilitate the learning context of play-based outdoor education and examples of the teacher’s role in supporting students’ narrative competence and emergent literacy skills.

Supporting English Language Learners (ELL)
Team Code: qz1o10y
Presenters: Cheryl Redekopp & Liz Harrison Time:
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Prairie Spirit has over 700 students who speak at least one other language at home. The purpose of this workshop is to help teachers identify who their ELLs are, how to identify their level of English proficiency, how to report on their progress and how to apply various strategies to maximize student success in your class.

French Culture in our Community
Team Code: kbwsyi6
Presenters: Amanda Stratton & Liane Belanger
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Exploring influences on French culture from local to international levels and developing resources for a Fransaskois learner in PSSD.

An ELA Workshop Classroom: Putting it All Together
Team Code: c839zai
Presenters: Shelby Knapman & Edla Landry
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
Helping teachers to see the forest for the trees, you will explore the elements of a Reading & Writing Workshop Classroom in high school, with a focus on bringing the elements together. To start to view the classroom as an ecosystem of many working parts, we can begin to successfully implement pedagogy-shifting practices into our ELA classrooms, together.

Interactive Notebooks & Writer’s Notebooks: The Digital Edition
Team Code: cpi3uy3
Presenters: Tennille Fishley & Sarah Gerrard
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
These techniques are a great way to help students keep all their work together, at various stages of completion, and help them pull it all together at the end of a class. But how does it work in a digital world? You will spend a bit of time looking at some examples, how to set them up, where to find templates, and how they fit with outcome-based assessment.

Core French: Increasing Student Engagement in Second Language
Team Code: 9hjdwwb
Presenters: Michelle Brochu & Jennifer Schneider
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
You will explore some tried and tested activities that we use in our second language classrooms to keep students engaged in their second language learning. We will supply the group with some activities they can modify for their own language classrooms or use as-is. We encourage participants to share ideas that have worked in their own classrooms in the past as well.

“La Nouvelle Orthographe”- Teaching French with Accuracy
Team Code: o5g9ezp
Presenters: Amanda Stratton & Liane Belanger
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
A look into “la nouvelle orthograph” to dissect changes that have been made to written French. Group discussion on accuracy and consistency across grades in Core and French immersion.

Mathematics Learning

Let’s Not Make the Algorithm “Standard”
Team Code: e8av70k
Presenters: Chad Williams
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Why do we teach stacking? In this session, you will look at how we can provide students with the opportunities to develop understanding of place value and build on number sense without teaching the standard algorithm in addition and subtraction. You will explore tasks, routines, and activities that move students towards efficient strategies and algorithms (with hesitation).

Choosing Rich Tasks for Math Class
Team Code: nb90hec
Presenters: Kirsten Dyck & Davin Fischer
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
This interactive workshop will be an introductory look at how to choose low-floor high-ceiling tasks and problems to use in your math classroom. Our time together will be spent experiencing some tasks and reflecting on how to apply these ideas for your own classroom context.

We’re sitting here talking about practice. Not a game, but practice?
Team Code: d31u6iw
Presenters: Chad Williams
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
In this session, participants will engage in elementary math games that provide students with meaningful opportunities, and purposeful practice as they improve their number sense and develop computational fluency. Participants will leave with online and in person games that can be integrated into their classroom tomorrow.

Teacher Wellness

Vocal health: Tips for Protecting your Voice
Team Code: tlamhpj
Presenters: Genevieve Gerard M.Sc. SLP(c)
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Teachers are an at-risk population in regard to vocal health. There are ways that teachers can protect their voices in classrooms and tips that can help with vocal health. There are also professional resources and tools that teachers can access to support their vocal health.

Hope & Resiliency
Team Code: z4e96dx
Presenters: Tanya Kennedy-Reid & Cassandra D’Amore
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
How do you access hope and resiliency while being impacted by a global pandemic, balancing a demanding career and your personal life, being exposed to challenging information in the news, and on and on? It turns out hope is a skill that can be practiced and is very different than optimism or positive thinking. In this session we will be discussing how to live a hopeful life and exploring how this connects to resiliency.

Considerations in a Post-Pandemic Classroom
Team Code: y7cjl3s
Presenters: Rachel Subchyshyn & Lea Leier
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
No one can deny that COVID19 had a social, emotional, and psychological impact on students, staff, and their families during the 2020/2021 school year. Though we are much more hopeful going into the current school year, some may wonder what effects from the pandemic may continue to impact our students academically, socially and emotionally. This presentation will review the potential repercussions of the pandemic for our students, signs to watch for and simple interventions to consider integrating into your classroom.

Mental Health Literacy
Team Code: jaehukw
Presenters: Diane Clark & Heather Wegren
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
To support teachers in delivery of Grade 9 Mental Health Literacy, we are providing conversation about the role Mental Health Literacy (MHL) plays in our buildings. We will also look at the MHL curriculum and share ideas for outcome-based assessment.

Assessment

Outcome-Based Chemistry 30
Team Code: vxrm67q
Presenters: Justin Olnhoff
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Ideas and suggestions as well as resource sharing regarding outcome-based assessment in Chemistry 30. Principles and ideas will be transferable to other high school science courses.

Preparing your Gradebook by Outcome (Grades 10-12)
Team Code: 0wa592c
Presenters: Paul McTavish
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
This session is to support teachers of grade 10-12 (and those grade 9 classes that report using percentages) as they set up their gradebooks by outcome for the start of the 2021-22 school year. Time will be allotted for teachers to set up their classes by outcome in PowerTeacher Pro, and to support teachers of courses with non-renewed curriculum to develop outcomes for the school year.

Documentation: Thinking and Learning Made Visible in Early Years
Team Code: qlavtqa
Presenters: Jennifer Mason
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
We will explore documentation as a cyclical process that follows the interest of the students and scaffolds the learning journey for both children and educators.

Test Free Assessment: The Compile/Present/Discuss Process
Team Code: yeubeu4
Presenters: Stephen Kowalchuk
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
How we can assess levels of learning through observation, student compiled evidence, and rich conversation – allowing students to directly communicate their learning rather than using a test as a translation device – creating opportunity for meaningful feedback and development of communication skills and confidence, while building relationships.

“Letting kids in on the secret:” Ensuring Clarity in the Classroom through the Teacher Clarity Model
Team Code: qwax1qp
Presenters: Liana McKinley and Brenden Kroeger
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
An introduction to lesson planning, instruction, and assessment using the Teacher Clarity Model. An opportunity to reflect on, and dig deeper into, the world of outcomes-basses instruction and assessment using Learning Intentions and Success Criteria.

Teacher Efficacy and Specialization

Creating Engaged and Confident Writers using the Expanding Expressions Toolkit
Team Code: v9fbx30
Presenters: Cheryl Redekopp & Liz Harrison
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
For those schools who have an EET kit or those thinking about purchasing one, this workshop will cover its benefits and practical use to support the writing process in Grades 1-8. Teachers will leave with practical tips and extra resources to get started right away. Kits will also be available to purchase.

Career Counselling 101
Team Code: 5zl86xt
Presenters: Barb Kielo
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Career Counselors new and experienced come to collaborate with other Career Counselors in the division to share ideas and discuss challenges.

P.E. Get Together
Team Code: 79l61wh
Presenters: Jesse Reis
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
Connecting our P.E. teachers in PSSD. Collaborating to share resources and create connections in our division.

CVAC, the ECF, Athletic Directors and Coaches: School Sports Q&A
Team Code: mxmov7d
Presenters: Myles Loeffler
Time: 1:00-2:00 and 2:10-3:10 (two separate sessions)
What the year looks like for school sports and discussion about engaging athletes and coaches in our return-to-school sports. The roles of the CVAC Executive, the Extra-Curricular Facilitator, and school Athletic Directors in the delivery of school sports.

Exploring Middle/High School PAA (IA Focus)
Team Code: kcuu467
Presenters: Patrick Wills & Jonathon Forbes
Time: 1:00-3:10pm (2 hour session)
A collaborative workshop exploring the different approaches and projects that a variety of teaching are using to meet the outcomes in their PAA classes. Discussions and sharing materials will be encouraged through a team created for this purpose.

Memorable Learning Experiences for Elementary Students with AITC-SK
Zoom Meeting: 838 2520 4170
Zoom Passcode: 308976
Presenters: AG In the Classroom
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Food connects us all to agriculture. Join Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan (AITC-SK) in this session to gain tools that use your student’s personal connection with food to meet curriculum outcomes in a fun, engaging way! A guest speaker will share about their role in producing food in Saskatchewan and the importance of AG education for students. This is a great opportunity to ask your questions about food production! AITC-SK will also share innovative, experiential and curriculum-based programs and resources that will help create memorable learning experiences for your elementary students.

Memorable Learning Experiences for Middle Years and High School Students with AITC-SK
Zoom Meeting: ID: 868 8168 1962
Zoom Passcode: 156053
Presenters: AG In the Classroom
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
Food connects us all to agriculture. Join Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan (AITC-SK) in this session to gain tools that use your student’s personal connection with food to meet curriculum outcomes in a fun, engaging way! A guest speaker will share about their role in producing food in Saskatchewan and the importance of AG education for students. This is a great opportunity to ask your questions about food production! AITC-SK will also share innovative, experiential and curriculum-based programs and resources that will help create memorable learning experiences for your middle years and high school students.

Engagement/New Tools

Parent Engagement 101
Team Code: 559zoif
Presenters: Jill Paulsen
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
In this session we will brainstorm and sort ways we are currently working with parents. We will dig deeper into the “working with parents” continuum. We will look at examples and ideas of how to walk alongside parents and think about our next steps.

Useful Handouts for the Biology Classroom
Team Code: y4hvx4i
Presenters: Chris Friesen
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Let’s say you were teaching during a pandemic and you needed something valid to give a student (or a whole class) who needed to pivot to out-of-classroom learning. Here’s an assortment of worksheets and articles that will engage students in meaningful learning even when you’re not around.

iMovie on iPad Session
Team Code: 81i0clr
Presenters: Kristen Mathison
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
iMovie on iPad this session will show you the basics of how to create an iMovie project using your iPad. Tips include how to: trim and split video, add titles and transitions, use picture in picture and green screen, and add music and sound effects. Please bring your iPad with videos and pictures in your camera roll so you can create your project right alongside us.

Settling Saskatchewan – 1914 Farming Project (Cross Curricular MY)
Team Code: 8ky8cu2
Presenters: Gale Stack
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
Middle Years Students LAS developed an outdoor farming community, complete with farms, crops, and a town. Cross curricular learning covered subjects in: ELA, SS, Science, Health, and Math.

Google Sites Setup
Team Code: qdeir23
Presenters: Kristen Mathison
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
This session will walk through how to set up a Google Site for your class website or student blog. Sites can be used to share content and information, Google Classroom assignments, classroom newsletters, and schedules with students and their families. Together we will create your ‘one-stop-shop’ to house and share all your classroom info.

Social Justice Education

Depolarizing our Society – by Depolarizing our Schools
Team Code: ny57t2m
Presenters: Brett Berry & David Cameron
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
How can schools provide space for polarizing viewpoints? How can we prepare students to engage in difficult conversations with people of opposing views using respectful and productive strategies and with the goal of finding common ground or a better understanding of one?

Antiracism in Reconciliation
Team Code: sosaemv
Presenters: Amanda Nelson, Denise Heppner, Mitchell Larson, Victoria Hiebert, & Jennifer Green
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
Antiracism ILO participants will reflect on their learning of how it has changed their teaching. Conversations around antiracism, antiracist pedagogy, and how it connects to reconciliation will take place between facilitators and participants.

Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation

Supporting the Wellness of Teachers: Benefits of Membership
Presenters: Trish Hastings
Code: no code needed for zoom session
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
This session will explore the benefits and plans that teachers are entitled to by virtue of their contract with a board of education. An overview will be provided of the benefits that
have been negotiated, the benefits that have been developed by the Federation, as well as the member supports available.

STF 101
Presenters: Derek Barss
Code: no code needed for zoom session
Time: 1:00-2:00pm
This session will provide a brief overview of the Federation as a teacher organization. The presentation will include a look at the Federation’s website, teacher benefits and
Federation services. There is an opportunity to ask questions of senior administrative staff. New and experienced teachers are encouraged to attend. (Connects with The Teachers’ Federation Act, 2006.)

How to have difficult conversations as a professional
Presenters: John Schultz
Code: K=9n7ggq
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
How do we engage in difficult conversations? Often the difficulty comes from the context. We may become accustomed to working within our classroom and not engaging with our colleagues. We sometimes only interact with others in the staffroom. When a serious or critical situation arises that needs to be addressed, one that may cause conflict, we might find it easier to sidestep it, keep our head down and retreat to the sanctuary of our classroom. This presentation will review types of conversations and strategies to support collegial conversations in difficult situations.

In Hindsight… Pension and Benefit insights you should have now!
Presenters: Troy Milnthorp
Code: hz@dvvN4
Time: 2:10-3:10pm
Hindsight is 20/20. Especially when it comes to pension and benefit decisions. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Get some tips now to make the most of your STF pension and benefits programs.