SWATCA 2025 - South Western Alberta Teachers' Convention: Full Schedule

Welcome to SWATCA 2024 on SCHED!

Here you will find the list of all the great sessions, speaker information, exhibitors and more! Check back here often for information on draws, prize winners, session updates and more!!

IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Please ensure that you are completing session evaluations - this helps our SWATCA planning team immensely in preparing for future events! You can evaluate all sessions in the session itself at the bottom of the SCHED. Thank you!

Prize Winners
Goosechase:
Kelsey Schwark and Bryce Wirzba
Katie Walker

Host Draw:
Kara Tarnava

Feedback Draw:
Carla Ferrari
Mark Bergheim

10:30am MST

Thinking Classroom Episode One: More Mathematical Thinking Less "Studenting"

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST

TH204

A brief introduction to the Thinking Classroom teaching model including how I started and how it's going in my classroom.

SESSION HOST: Blake Wheler

Speakers

Matt Vanden Dungen

Matt is a grade 4 teacher at Dr. Robert Plaxton Elementary School in Lethbridge. He’s been teaching grade 4 or grade 4/5 classes since the mid 2010s, and has a bad habit of allowing new programs to completely transform his teaching practice.

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST
TH204

Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9 | Mathematics (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9

12:30pm MST

Thinking Classroom Episode Two: The Self-Doubt and You

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST

TH204

You've heard of this "Thinking Classroom" thing... Maybe you've even bought in! But it's... kind of hard? Just me? Come discuss, debate, and problem solve with like-minded educators!

SESSION HOST: Robert Rigby

Speakers

Matt Vanden Dungen

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST
TH204

Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9 | Mathematics (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9

2:30pm MST

Nuture Relationships and Transform Your Classroom Community

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm MST

TH204

Are your students dysregulated or anxious? What about you? If you’re overwhelmed by how to support your classroom community, this session is for you! Learn the evidence behind why relationships are foundational to wellness, student learning, and cultivating a positive classroom environment. Through facilitated discussion and sharing, we will explore strategies that help nurture relationships, support regulation, and build resiliency for you and your students. Let's get inspired to make a change!

This session needs a host! To host, complete the form linked here and include your name and the session title in the form.

Speakers

Nisa Alook-Lambrecht

Lyndsey, Courtnay, and Nisa are Health Promotion Facilitators with the Healthy Schools team who partner with school authorities to promote healthy eating, physical activity, and positive mental health in schools. They help to plan effective and coordinated strategies that improve... Read More →

Courtnay Epp

Courtnay Epp is a Health Promotion Facilitator on the Healthy Schools Team with Alberta Health Services (AHS). She has been with AHS for over 10 years and is passionate about improving student health through evidence-informed actions in school-based settings. Courtnay has a keen... Read More →

Lyndsey Spring

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm MST
TH204

Health & Wellness (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | CALM (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Leadership (LQS 1-9), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

10:30am MST

Exploring the Smudges: Expanding student response through multimodal composition in the ELA classroom.

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST

TH204

The speaker will discuss multimodal composition and how it has led to increased engagement and deepened reflection while opening new ways for students to respond. They will also cover ways to assess that increase equity.

This session needs a host! To host, complete the form linked here and include your name and the session title in the form.

Speakers

Brent Gilson

Brent Gilson is in his 13th year teaching with experience ranging from grade 3 to 12. He currently teaches at Magrath High School. Brent has been exploring ways to engage adolescent readers and writers for the last six years. He has shared parts of this journey on his website Li... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST
TH204

Language Arts (TQS 3), Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Assessment (TQS 3), Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

12:30pm MST

Financial Literacy and Entrepreneur Resources for K-12

Friday February 21, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST

TH204

Are you teaching financial literacy or entrepreneurship to your K-12 students? Come explore our wide range of Free Financial Literacy and Entrepreneur resources and supports (English/French) for your students.

This session needs a host! To host, complete the form linked here and include your name and the session title in the form.

Speakers

Deborah MacFadyen

Deborah MacFadyen: Deborah MacFadyen, Ambrose University Consultant/ Sessional, ‘Building Futures in Alberta’ (BFIA) consultant, is an experienced K-12 educator, administrator, PD facilitator and published author. Deb’s provided innovative, strategic leadership in schools... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST
TH204

Career & Technology Studies/Foundations (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Health & Wellness (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Social Studies (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12