ECEC 2025 CONFERENCE: Full Schedule

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7:00am MDT

Wake Up and Stretch! *Preregister*

Saturday April 26, 2025 7:00am - 7:45am MDT

Join Sara Morris from 3 Sisters Yoga for Kids as we energize and wake up the body with movement and breath. This multi-level chair yoga class will get you ready for your day at conference, leaving you energized and grounded. This class will also offer you some simple resources in bringing a more calm and mindful environment to your workplace.

This session is open to the first 50 people to register on SCHED. Please bring your own yoga mat.

Speakers

Sara Morris

Yoga and Meditation Teacher, 3 Sisters Yoga for Kids

Sara Morris is a 300hr certified yoga and meditation teacher. She has been teaching yoga since 2005 and completed an extensive children's yoga certification through YogaKids International in 2009. Sara has been teaching yoga and mindfulness extensively in the Edmonton and surrounding... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 7:00am - 7:45am MDT

Physical Education

7:15am MDT

Breakfast and Award Presentations

Saturday April 26, 2025 7:15am - 8:15am MDT

8:15am MDT

You Have a Gift

Saturday April 26, 2025 8:15am - 9:15am MDT

We are all born sacred and complete. We are given tools to help guide us through our journey of learning. The tools we use will help our mind, body, and spirit.

Speakers

Christina Fox

Author

Dr. Christina Fox Iitsisaanoowa (Vision Beyond) is a proud Blackfoot woman. Christina is a mother of four, grandmother of eighteen, and great grandmother of fifteen. Despite Christina’s experience as a Residential School Survivor, she has shown her resilience and turned a negative... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 8:15am - 9:15am MDT

Keynote

9:30am MDT

Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts in the Daily Classroom

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Teachers and students are navigating the "new normal" that is a result of the pandemic while continuing to work through life's daily challenges and stressors as they appear in the classroom setting. The expressive arts are a powerful tool in activating the creative right-brain allowing for the processing of trauma. This session will take participants through an expressive arts journey while highlighting example activities that can be used in the daily classroom and adapted as needed for various grades and abilities.

Speakers

Kelsey Beier

Educator, St. Albert Public Schools

Kelsey Beier is an educator, artist, and lifelong learner. Whether in her job as an elementary school teacher or when writing original songs, poems, or stories, Kelsey’s love for connection through words and stories transcends through many genres in her life. Kelsey is currently... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Art/Music

9:30am MDT

Visual Journals in the Classroom

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Visual Journals allow opportunities for students to reflect and document their learning in a creative format. See how Visual Journals can be used almost daily as a curriculum-based tool across all subjects. Ways to incorporate Indigenous themes will also be demonstrated. There will be take-away projects.

Speakers

Cassandra Christen

Teacher

Cassandra Christen has been teaching for over 20 years. She has used Visual Journals in the classroom for 14 years. Cassandra is of Cree Metis descent and lives and works in the Edmonton area. She loves to be creative and is also pretty hilarious.

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Art/Music

9:30am MDT

The WHY, HOW and STRUCTURE of Teaching Tier 2 Vocabulary Words

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

It is not enough to just “talk” about vocabulary words when you read a story or text. This session will explore WHY being explicit about vocabulary instruction is important. HOW to teach and review vocabulary words as well as a routine or structure you might consider within your class to be effective with teaching tier 2 vocabulary words.

Speakers

April Brown

Educator

With 26 years of dedicated teaching experience, April Brown is a highly committed and passionate educator who values continuous learning and personal growth. Known for a professional approach and unwavering commitment to student success, she thrives on inspiring students and creating... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Literacy

9:30am MDT

Stretch, Wiggle and Giggle

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

This 60-minute play shop is designed to equip educators and staff with the tools to EASILY incorporate mindfulness and movement into their classrooms. Through developmentally appropriate stories, activities, breathwork, games and yoga poses, your young learners will cultivate self-regulation skills and social awareness.

Speakers

Sara Morris

Yoga and Meditation Teacher, 3 Sisters Yoga for Kids

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Physical Education

9:30am MDT

Best Practices Creating Child-Centered Learning in a K-3 Classroom

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

In this presentation, we will explore the principles and strategies of child-centered learning, emphasizing its impact on student engagement, authentic learning, and inclusivity. We will delve into best practices, such as Universal Design for Learning, that foster a learning environment where students are at the heart of their educational journey.

Speakers

Laureen Yakemchuk

Teacher

Laureen is an accomplished educator, holds a master's in educational leadership and stands at the forefront of progressive teaching methodologies. Her elementary classroom is a testament to her passion for play and child-centered learning. Currently serving as a Grade One teacher... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Project Work

9:30am MDT

Learning Through Play

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Looking closely at what inspires learning through play based inquiry!

Speakers

Tara Lawes

Kindergarten Teacher, Divine Mercy Catholic School

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Project Work

9:30am MDT

Building Computational Thinking Through Play: Computer Science in K-3

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Discover how to bring computer science concepts to life in K-3 classrooms! Computer science is a key organizing idea in the early science curriculum, but many teachers are unsure where to begin. In this session, we’ll explore engaging, age-appropriate activities to foster computational thinking skills in young learners. Using hands-on tools like Talebots and Scratch Jr., alongside unplugged activities, we’ll dive into playful approaches that make coding, problem-solving, and computational thinking an exciting part of everyday learning. Whether you’re new to computer science or looking to expand your toolkit, this session will empower you with practical, engaging methods to inspire curiosity and confidence in your students.

Speakers

Darren Maltais

Technology Integration Facilitator, Black Gold School Division

After years as a classroom teacher, Darren is now in his 12th year as a Technology Integration Facilitator for Black Gold School Division. He works collaboratively with teachers and students in over 30 schools, co-creating lessons and projects to help students learn more effectively... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Technology

9:30am MDT

Building Resilience: Social Emotional Learning and Self-Regulation in Today's Classroom

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Join us for a dynamic workshop to build a foundation of resilience in your classroom and empower your students to succeed both academically and emotionally. Through interactive games and activities you will gain practical tools and techniques to support students’ social-emotional and self-regulation skills.

Speakers

Cassandra Anatacio

Health and Wellness Consultant, Ever Active Schools

Cassandra Anastácio is a Health and Wellness Consultant for Ever Active Schools. In addition, she is the VP of Leadership in Curriculum and Pedagogy for the Alberta Health and Physical Education Council.

Saturday April 26, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Wellness

10:45am MDT

Check Out and Christina Fox Book Signing

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:45am - 11:00am MDT

Check out of your rooms. Christina Fox will be available for book signing at the registration table.

Saturday April 26, 2025 10:45am - 11:00am MDT

11:00am MDT

Thank You's, Conference Draws & 2026 Conference Introduction

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:00am - 11:15am MDT

11:15am MDT

What We'll Build: Plans For Teachers In The Coming Days Together

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm MDT

Based on the book of the same name by Oliver Jeffers, we will reflect on key questions relating to how we can continue to affirm, celebrate and challenge one another to continue to build early education up as a community so no one is left alone. Our own stories and journeys of triumph and trauma affect all we do and how we show up in our classrooms. This session will focus on the need to acknowledge our real and valid feelings in this "heart work". From loss to trauma to relationships, we will look at how it all comes together in our identity as an educator and how YOU are more than enough.

Speakers

Laurie McIntosh

Kindergarten Teacher and Author

Some of the best lessons are taught in the moments between literacy and numeracy. These golden moments based on kindness, connection and community are the moments this kindergarten teacher and author lives for. With compassion and thoughtfulness, Laurie has an incredible way of acknowledging... Read More →

Saturday April 26, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm MDT

Keynote