School Team 4 - Final Round: Full Schedule

ECSD Elementary School Teams: Embracing Joy in Learning
Welcome to the fourth and final round of School Teams for this year! Our theme for this round is JOY. Deep learning, facing challenges, and tackling new concepts can all be filled with joy. This is not about Edu-tainment but about taking learning and making it come to life in the classroom!
Join us as we explore how joy can transform the educational experience, making it more engaging and impactful for both educators and students. This round will feature 12 inspiring sessions designed to empower K-6 teachers, instructional leaders, and coaches. We will delve into new curriculum subject areas, providing you with strategies to support joyful and effective teaching and learning.
Together, we will foster collaboration, build skills, and create a joyful learning environment that sets the stage for excellence in every classroom. Dive into the schedule below to find sessions, resources, and tools that will help you and your team succeed. Let’s embrace joy and empower our educators and students to reach new heights!

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9:30am MDT

Embracing Joy in EAL LIMITED

Monday April 7, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Session Materials

Join us for a session designed to support teachers to balance joy and rigour in English as an Additional Language (EAL) learning. Discover instructional strategies that encourage risk-taking and enhance language acquisition. Learn how to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable making mistakes, cultures are celebrated, and students learn from one another.

Speakers

Vanessa Gavin

Secondary EAL Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Vanessa Gavin is an EAL Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools. She has a background in teaching junior high and high school math and science, which has given her a unique perspective on language learning potential across different content areas. Vanessa believes in empowering... Read More →

Melissa Astle

EAL Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Melissa is an EAL consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools. Her background includes teaching in both bilingual and second language programs in elementary and junior high setting. As a language lover and multilingual herself, she is committed to helping EAL learners find success in... Read More →

Monday April 7, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT
3A

K-6

9:30am MDT

The WRITE Stuff: Inspiring Writing Through Structure and Joy LIMITED

Monday April 7, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Session Materials

Writing is a powerful tool for creativity, communication, and joy. This session will explore how to create a classroom environment where all students feel confident and inspired to write, with meaningful routines and structures that make writing a natural and enjoyable part of the day. Educators will learn practical strategies for setting up their space, establishing consistent writing habits, and providing instruction that supports writers at every stage. Through intentional planning and engaging practices, teachers will discover ways to nurture curiosity, encourage student expression, and make writing a joyful experience for all learners.

Speakers

Stephanie Pedersen

English Language Arts Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

Stephanie is an Elementary English Language Arts consultant with ECSD. She is passionate about literacy and establishing effective reading and writing instruction. In her spare time you can find her visiting with friends and family; likely sharing her love of podcasts, plants, and... Read More →

Monday April 7, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am MDT
3B

K-6

11:00am MDT

Reframing Autism: Leveraging Strengths, Interests and Curriculum for All Learners LIMITED

Monday April 7, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Session Materials

Join this session where you will learn to identify and use your students' strengths and interests within the Alberta curriculum. Gain insights and leave with practical planning documents tailored to your grade level. Come prepared to consider specific student profiles.

Speakers

Katerina Campbell

Elementary Science Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Katerina is an elementary Science consultant at Edmonton Catholic Schools. She loves all things Science, exploring natural phenomena and will never stop asking “why?” Katerina is a self proclaimed maker and cardboard collector. She is a proud promoter of inquiry based learning... Read More →

Monday April 7, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
2B

K-6

11:00am MDT

Rise and Retell: Bringing the Easter Story to Life with STEAM LIMITED

Monday April 7, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Session Materials

Reimagine the Easter Story through hands-on, student-centered learning that integrates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) while aligning with the English Language Arts and Literature curriculum. This interactive session will explore a variety of STEAM challenges that provide practical, engaging ways for students to retell the Easter Story while developing oral language, comprehension, digital/technological and storytelling skills. Participants will leave with practical, ready-to-use STEAM challenges that encourage students to engage deeply with the Easter Story. Join us to explore meaningful, hands-on ways to make this sacred story come alive in the classroom!

Speakers

Joel Kristiansen

Emerging Technology Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Joel is part of the Emerging Technology team at Edmonton Catholic Schools. Joel has worked in ECSD for over a decade, spending most of his time in K-9 schools teaching design, robotics, and collaborating with teachers to integrate makerspaces into their subject area.

Haidee deRoca-Garcia

STEM Consultant, ECSD

Haidee de Roca-Garcia is the STEM Consultant for ECSD. She has taught K-6 for almost 30 years and is passionate about making learning fun and engaging for all learners. She believes curiousity is a superpower and robots are the best! When not learning something new every day, she... Read More →

Stephanie Denman

English Language Arts Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

Stephanie is a newbie joining the ELA Elementary team. She has been an Educator for 15 years with ECSD and completed her Masters in Religious Education. Stephanie has a passion for building powerful literacy classrooms where all learners experience success. She loves reading, traveling... Read More →

Monday April 7, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
3B

K-6

1:00pm MDT

Co-Pilot to the Rescue! Scaffolding Assessments LIMITED

Monday April 7, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm MDT

Session Materials

Calling all educators! Join us for an inspiring, hands-on session where we blend joyful learning with scaffolded assessments, enhanced by Co-Pilot AI. Discover how to design assessments that spark curiosity, celebrate growth, and build confidence while maintaining the rigor students need to thrive. Through interactive discussions, real-world examples, and creative activities, you'll explore how structured support leads to meaningful mastery. With Co-Pilot AI, you'll gain time-saving strategies, AI-powered insights, and a fresh perspective on making assessments engaging and empowering. Let's reimagine assessments together—where learning is joyful, challenges are exciting, and success feels achievable for all!

Speakers

Joel Kristiansen

Emerging Technology Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Alyson Gabucci

Curriculum and Assessment Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Alyson Gabucci is an Assessment & Reporting consultant at Edmonton Catholic Schools. She is passionate about eating, mainly salty carbohydrates, working out because of those salty carbohydrates, and you can often find her with her nose in a book either learning more about assessment... Read More →

Monday April 7, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm MDT
3B

K-6

2:30pm MDT

Love the Math with Do the Math LIMITED

Monday April 7, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT

Session Materials

Wondering what all the hype is about Do The Math? Do The Math is a powerful resource that has been introduced to all schools. In this session you will receive an overview of this resource, which is specifically tailored to support targeted instruction and intervention for students in Kindergarten through Grade 6. This comprehensive program serves a dual purpose: helping students to progress mathematically by meticulously rebuilding their mathematical foundation and focusing on critical math concepts. If you have never attended a Do The Math session before, then this session is for you! (This is a repeat session from previous school teams rounds.)

Speakers

Benjamin Prather

Math Consultant, Edmonton Catholic School Division

Benjamin is a mathematics consultant for the Edmonton Catholic School Division. Following a rewarding stint as an Emerging Technology consultant, and a return to the classroom, he has returned to his true passion: mathematics.In the role of a mathematics consultant, Benjamin brings... Read More →

Monday April 7, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT
3B

K-6

2:30pm MDT

Verse and Vibes: Poetry Fun for the K-6 Classroom LIMITED

Monday April 7, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT

Session Materials

Join us for "Verse and Vibes: Poetry Fun for the K-6 Classroom," where we'll explore the joy and learning that poetry brings to young students. This session focuses on making poetry accessible and exciting through hands-on activities that you can use in your classroom right away. You'll discover fun ways to use sound, rhythm, and imagery to make poetry come alive, and you'll leave with a toolkit of ready-to-use activities that encourage creativity and self-expression. We'll also show you how to incorporate both contemporary spoken word and classic poems into your lessons, and how poetry can enhance both reading and writing. Get ready to bring the magic of poetry into your classroom tomorrow!

Speakers

Stephanie Pedersen

English Language Arts Consultant (K-6), Edmonton Catholic School Division

Monday April 7, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT
3A

K-6

School Team 4 - Final Round