There are no waitlists or possibility of workshops having additional seats added.

A – In-person – A Path for Reconciliation and Classroom Learning – Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Secret Path with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF). Over the past decade, classrooms and learning spaces throughout the country have moved through awareness, education and connection to form consistent ReconciliACTION actions — and this session is an opportunity to reflect on that journey and look ahead. Join us to explore how you can weave reconciliation into your everyday teaching practice using Legacy Schools resources. From classroom tools and lesson plans to connecting with a community of educators committed to reconciliation, this session will leave you feeling informed, inspired, and equipped to take your next steps forward. Whether you are new to Legacy Schools or have been part of the movement for years, this session offers something for every educator who believes in the importance of reconciliation in education. Participant supplies: None.

Inspire innovation, creativity and critical thinking through STEAM and Design Thinking through easy hands-on activities that promote the understanding and application of energy, electrical concepts and the principles of electromagnetism. We will explore how paper circuits can illuminate the basics of conductivity and circuit design and spark students’ imaginations and encourage artistic expression. We will also explore electromagnets and their importance in our everyday lives. These activities are not just standalone projects but are intricately woven into the Design Thinking process. We will demonstrate how these scientific explorations can be a springboard for ideation, prototyping, and solution-based learning.<br /><br />Participant supplies:  None.

Dungeons and Deskmates involves leading a class through a curriculum-aligned adventure. Through these curricular frames, students are an active part of a branching narrative where they must work together to succeed. In this workshop, participants will begin by either setting sail on a high seas pirate adventure, training as space peacekeepers, or meeting up in a medieval tavern. Andrew and Dawn invite you all into a world where success is fun, failing is funny, and the learning is more magical than ever before. Participant supplies: None.

Storytelling principles have remained the same for centuries and yet writers still struggle to properly plan their stories before beginning to write. This workshop will take students through the formula of storytelling, performing a writing autopsy on an existing story and then planning and creating a new story from scratch. Graphic organizers provided for future use. Participant supplies: Writing utensil and paper.

We all have a role to play in creating an anti-racist society. The Pass the Mic: Let’s Talk About Racism, resource, encourages students to consider their relationship with racism and, in turn, learn about how to be anti-racist. They will learn all about bias, microaggressions, intersectionality, identity, allyship, and making all spaces safe for their marginalized peers. Finally, they will challenge themselves to take a stand for anti-racism in their communities. This session will introduce educators to the resource and discuss how to have these important conversations with their students. Participant supplies: None.

A – In-person – Placeholder for an online workshop. Email registrar@pita.ca to request the online workshop you would like to attend.

This is a placeholder for an online workshop. Email registrar@pita.ca to request the online workshop you would like to attend. Placement in the workshop is subject to availability.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Participants who register for the in-person conference may choose to register for in-person and online workshops. Only in-person registrants are permitted on-site. In-person registrants may attend online workshops on-site in the public seating areas using their own device or at a location of their choice. Until 11:59 am on October 18, 2026, in-person registrants may request workshop registrations, including requests to switch to online workshops. Workshop change requests are subject to seat availability. Refund and cancellation policies apply.</span>

Discover the joy of creating vibrant, expressive artwork with oil pastels in this hands-on workshop designed for teachers of all grade levels. Through playful techniques and creative exploration, participants will experiment with colour blending, texture, layering, and simple drawing strategies that build confidence and spark imagination. This session offers easy-to-adapt projects that encourage creativity, risk-taking, and student engagement. Leave with completed artwork, practical classroom ideas, and inspiring techniques you can bring directly into your teaching practice. <br /><br />Participant supplies: None.

A – In-person – Resilience Lives Here: The Transformative Power of Relationship and Play– Hannah Beach

Classrooms everywhere are changing. More students are anxious, aggressive, and shutting down, leaving educators overwhelmed and searching for answers. But what if the key to resilience isn’t found in stricter rules or new programs—but in something much deeper: the power of relationship and play? In this keynote, Hannah will take you beneath the surface of behavior to uncover the emotions driving aggression and shutdown, revealing why relationships are the most powerful tool educators have. You’ll discover the kind of leadership kids truly need and learn how to build, nurture, and protect those relationships, even with the most challenging students. The conversation continues as she explores the surprising and profound role of play in children’s emotional development. You’ll discover why the decline of free play is fueling anxiety and behavioral challenges, what healthy play really is (and isn’t), and how it works as nature’s built-in way to lower aggression, release emotions, and foster resilience. Participant supplies: None.

Participants will gain a clear understanding of evidence-based, curriculum-aligned food literacy principles for Grades 4–9. Led by a Registered Dietitian, this session will combine evidence-informed instruction with modeled examples of age-appropriate food literacy strategies suitable for grade 4-9 classrooms. Educators will be introduced to practical approaches that support eating competence and the development of positive food learning environments in schools. Through concrete classroom examples and explicit curriculum connections, participants will leave with ready-to-use lesson ideas, adaptable teaching strategies, and access to free, curriculum-aligned teaching materials. Participant supplies: None.

AI is reshaping everything. So what can’t it replace? Human connection. In this inspiring session, Dr. Graeme Mitchell argues the future of education isn’t competing with machines - it’s doubling down on what makes us human: creativity, compassion, and purpose. With wit and wisdom, Graeme shows how schools can develop whole learners - young people who know how to think, care, and contribute. Participant supplies:

"Participants will examine the connection between visual art and music through engaging activities that contrast and compare sounds and visual art. A hands-on activity will ask participants to respond to clips of music, with a suggested follow up activity to reflect on personal identity, music, and visual art composition. Participant supplies: To make this program personalized and interactive, please consider submitting a song (ideally via a YouTube link) to the presenter two (2) weeks in advance of the session. Please send to Teresa Gregorio at <a href="mailto:gregort@mcmaster.ca" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gregort@mcmaster.ca</a>.<br /><br />Supplies:<br /><ul><li>1-2 pieces of paper</li><li>pencil and eraser</li><li>optional: pencil crayons, markers, or crayons</li></ul>

A – Online – Coast to the Classroom: Relevant and Practical Conservation Learning – Ocean Wise

Step into a workshop designed to rekindle your love for teaching and inspire your students to see the world differently. In Coast to Classroom, it isn’t about theory, it’s about doing. You’ll try activities that spark involvement within 75 minutes. This workshop was designed for you to connect with your content. Demonstrating trophic level investigation, electromagnetic radiation inquiry, and compelling storytelling within your science room. Connecting directly to curriculum in an engaging way. You’ll leave with practical lessons, interdisciplinary approaches, and strategies that invite students to ask questions, explore deeply, and engage with learning on a personal level. Teachers face growing challenges to prepare students for a world shaped by constant change. This workshop gives educators the tools, confidence, and inspiration to make conservation learning relevant and actionable. Participant supplies: None.

Artificial intelligence isn't new, but generative AI is rapidly transforming how students learn and create. As educators, we play a crucial role in helping students navigate these tools responsibly through strong digital literacy skills. In this workshop, we will explore how students are already using AI, practical ways educators can utilize AI as a teaching tool, and strategies to encourage critical thinking about technology use. Digital literacy is about so much more than fact-checking-- it's about empowering students to engage with the world thoughtfully and critically. Together, we will explore resources that tackle the challenges and lean into the opportunities presented by digital technology and AI use in education.

Participant supplies: None.

A – Online – Evidence Informed Strategies for Teaching and Talking about Food and Nutrition – BC Interior Health

Join us to learn how to support students through food exploration, a student-centred approach to learning about food and nutrition. This webinar, presented by Interior Health Public Health Dietitians, will explore how a consistent approach to nutrition education can help build food skills and deepen students’ understanding of the broader role food plays in our lives. This approach is associated with more positive, long-term attitudes and behaviours around eating.

During the webinar, participants will learn evidence-informed approaches to teaching food and nutrition using provincial resources, such as Teach Food First: An Educator’s Toolkit for Exploring Canada’s Food Guide and the BC School Food Toolkit. These comprehensive resources:

• Support a positive school food environment
• Align with Canada’s Food Guide and the British Columbia curriculum
• Offer grade-specific, age-appropriate guidance
• Consider equity and cultural inclusivity

Participant supplies: None.

A – Online – Force and Motion - Newton's Laws Using Magnetism and Static Electricity – Jennifer Kirkey

Newton's Laws explain how and why things move the way that they do. These laws are applied through all the elementary school curriculum. Newton’s First Law is the law of inertia. Things are lazy and want to keep on doing what they were already doing, unless forced to change. This fun, hands on workshop will give you a strong base to help teach your students and you will leave with activities that use common household items, including magnets and balloons. Einstein was fascinated with magnets, and so will you and your students be at you use a pair of magnets to demonstrate forces that attract and repel. Use a playing card and a coin to demonstrate the classic magician’s trick of a removing a tablecloth from under plates and glasses. Make an electric “car” by using a balloon to make a pop can roll. In your classroom on Monday, you will have amazing demonstrations that will illustrate these fundamental laws of physics. Phun with physics starts here.

Participant supplies: None.

A – Online – Fragments in Focus: Teaching the Holocaust with Local Primary Sources – Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre

Join us for an introduction to the VHEC’s new inquiry-based teaching website. Featuring 160 original artefacts, documents and testimonies from the VHEC collection, this resource lets students explore the Holocaust through real objects, personal stories and historical evidence. Each item once belonged to a survivor, eyewitness or historian connected to BC. In this session, teachers will: - Experience classroom activities that use primary sources to spark curiosity and critical thinking - Explore lesson pathways organised into 19 themes of Holocaust history - See how inquiry-based learning can help students build historical understanding through evidence and analysis - Discover practical tools that support historical thinking, discussion, and reflection Participants will leave with adaptable lesson ideas, classroom-ready activities and a clear framework for teaching the Holocaust in developmentally appropriate, engaging, and historically rigorous ways. Participant supplies: None.

This workshop explores meaningful assessment practices in the ADST curriculum with a strong focus on formative strategies that prioritize process over final product. Rather than relying solely on rubrics and end results, we will examine how to capture student learning throughout the design cycle—during ideation, prototyping, testing, reflection, and revision. Participants will explore practical tools such as observational tracking, self- and peer-assessment structures, reflective journals, conferencing, competency checklists, and growth-based progress trackers. Together, we will consider how to document learning as it unfolds, provide descriptive feedback, and create systems that track and celebrate student growth over time in authentic and manageable ways.

Participant supplies: None.

In this session, I will share diverse ways in which film can be used to introduce and/or expand our understanding and apprecaiteion of Indigenous history, culture, traditions, and protocols.

We will engage in practical activities to use film in creative ways.

Participant supplies: None.

Storytelling principles have remained the same for centuries and yet writers still struggle to properly plan their stories before beginning to write. This workshop will take students through the formula of storytelling, performing a writing autopsy on an existing story and then planning and creating a new story from scratch. Graphic organizers provided for future use.

Participant supplies: Writing utensil and paper.

A – Online – L’écriture créative : des activités ludiques pour développer le vocabulaire, l’imagerie et la confiance – Miranda Krogstad

Comment les enseignants peuvent-ils aider les élèves à développer un vocabulaire français plus riche et des compétences expressives, tout en gardant l’apprentissage de la langue ludique et engageant? Cet atelier pratique présente une série d’activités d’écriture créative conçues pour aider les élèves à explorer le français par l’imagination, l’humour et l’expérimentation. Les participants découvriront une variété de stratégies pédagogiques adaptables qui encouragent les élèves à étendre leurs compétences linguistiques de manière significative. Les activités comprennent la description de concepts familiers sans utiliser de « mots interdits », l’invention de nouveaux noms pour des objets du quotidien, l’enrichissement de phrases simples avec un vocabulaire plus précis, ainsi que le développement de descriptions de base grâce au langage sensoriel et aux images évocatrices. <br /><br />Participant supplies: Writing utensil, paper.

Explore water density, ocean chemistry, droids of the deep, and more! Connect with authentic data from Ocean Networks Canada's network of ocean observing technologies. Classroom ready materials and inquiry launching points will be shared.

Participant supplies: None.

At a time when respectful disagreement is increasingly challenging, students need to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to be able to have constructive discussions about difficult topics. Join us for this hands-on session introducing the PoliTalks program to learn how to create a discussion-friendly classroom and get your students to start practicing skills in perspective taking and active listening. The session will provide an overview of the lessons, share practical classroom strategies and provide an opportunity to try out some classroom activities. You will leave with free, bilingual, classroom-ready tools for grades 4 to 12, including lesson plans, slide decks, activities, videos and more. Participant supplies: An internet-connected device (phone, laptop, tablet)

A – Online – Resilience Lives Here: The Transformative Power of Relationship and Play – Hannah Beach

Classrooms everywhere are changing. More students are anxious, aggressive, and shutting down, leaving educators overwhelmed and searching for answers. But what if the key to resilience isn’t found in stricter rules or new programs—but in something much deeper: the power of relationship and play? In this keynote, Hannah will take you beneath the surface of behavior to uncover the emotions driving aggression and shutdown, revealing why relationships are the most powerful tool educators have. You’ll discover the kind of leadership kids truly need and learn how to build, nurture, and protect those relationships, even with the most challenging students. The conversation continues as she explores the surprising and profound role of play in children’s emotional development. You’ll discover why the decline of free play is fueling anxiety and behavioral challenges, what healthy play really is (and isn’t), and how it works as nature’s built-in way to lower aggression, release emotions, and foster resilience. Participant supplies: None.

Basketball, soccer, swimming, baseball and beyond...this workshop is filled with sport-based movements to inspire even the most hesitant 'non-dancer' athletes in your classes to get them moving, as they practice fundamental movement skills and claim their 'Bubble of Awesome'. Discover easy and fun music-driven combos that showcase how dance moves can come from anywhere when you drop the 'rules' of dance and get playful with physical literacy.

Participant supplies: Athleisure wear preferred. Clothing participants want to move and sweat in.

AI is reshaping everything. So what can’t it replace?

Human connection.

In this inspiring session, Dr. Graeme Mitchell argues the future of education isn’t competing with machines - it’s doubling down on what makes us human: creativity, compassion, and purpose. With wit and wisdom, Graeme shows how schools can develop whole learners - young people who know how to think, care, and contribute.

Participant supplies: None.

As students move through the grades, the range of reading abilities in a classroom widens. There are many reasons why students in intermediate and middle school struggle to read grade level text. But it’s not too late. There are effective, actionable things that teachers in grades 4-9 can do—and providing ongoing opportunities to learn to read can make a difference in long-term education, employment, and health outcomes for students. This session will provide a complete picture of how word recognition develops, from learning letter sounds to reading complex text with multisyllabic words. Full of freely-available tools and resources and ready-to-run tomorrow strategies and routines, it will give teachers in grades 4-9 the knowledge they need to quickly identify students who are at risk, understand what they need, and implement routines and strategies to provide effective support. Participant supplies: None.

A-B – In-person – Assessment to Instruction in Intermediate and Middle School Math Classrooms: Strategies for Moving all Students Forward – Carole Fullerton

What students know and can do shapes how we plan for and deliver mathematical content. What questions can we ask to establish students’ understanding? How can we get the best information from our learners to inform our teaching? What manageable practices can we implement to make assessment simple and meaningful? and then… what can we do with that information? In this double session for teachers of grade 4 and up, we will explore strategies for formative and summative assessment and how to use the results to move all students in our diverse classrooms forward. Participant supplies: None.

A-B – Online – Assessment to Instruction in Intermediate and Middle School Math Classrooms: Strategies for Moving all Students Forward – Carole Fullerton

What students know and can do shapes how we plan for and deliver mathematical content. What questions can we ask to establish students’ understanding? How can we get the best information from our learners to inform our teaching? What manageable practices can we implement to make assessment simple and meaningful? and then… what can we do with that information? In this double session for teachers of grade 4 and up, we will explore strategies for formative and summative assessment and how to use the results to move all students in our diverse classrooms forward. Participant supplies: None.

Self-assessing the Core Competencies can feel difficult to implement in a meaningful way. This session shares simple and intentional strategies that help students reflect on their learning in authentic ways. Participants will explore practical routines, reflection prompts, and classroom tools that make Core Competency self-assessment engaging, purposeful, and easy to embed into everyday learning. Participant supplies: Notebook, pen, and laptop.

Imagine turning a bulletin board into a Settlers of Catan style board game, with teams of students discovering how resources, geography, technology and international relations determine the growth and success of civilizations. During each 5-10 min playing period, students learn about teamwork, strategy, resource management, trade, governance, expansion, treaties, and the effects of population growth, warfare, and natural disasters. Playing this game is a real highlight for every intermediate class and specifically addresses grade 6 and 7 curriculum. All blackline masters are included, in both English and French. Participant supplies: None.

What if failure wasn’t the end, but the beginning of learning? During this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore practical design thinking challenges that encourage students to take risks, think creatively, and improve their ideas step by step- all using simple materials. We’ll go through engaging ADST activities that foster problem solving, resilience, and innovation while helping students shift their mindset as an opportunity to grow. Participants will be equipped with classroom-ready activities and strategies to help students develop creativity, resilience and innovation. Participant supplies: None.

Students aren’t apathetic - they’re overwhelmed. But give them the right inputs, mentors, and mindset, and they’ll build the world we all need. Inspired by Rutger Bregman’s bold vision and backed by powerful stories from the Institute for Global Solutions, Dr. Graeme Mitchell shows how students can turn moral ambition into real-world change. This keynote lights a fire under anyone ready to move from learning about the world to changing it. Participant supplies: None.

B – In-person – Getting into Character(s): Character Development for Writers – Andrew Buckley

Creating characters that can tell your story is often not as easy as many people think. This workshop explores the art of character creation in storytelling, first by examining existing characters and then by learning to build characters from scratch. Participant supplies: Writing utensil and paper.

B – In-person – Placeholder for an online workshop. Email registrar@pita.ca to request the online workshop you would like to attend.

This is a placeholder for an online workshop. Email registrar@pita.ca to request the online workshop you would like to attend. Placement in the workshop is subject to availability.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Participants who register for the in-person conference may choose to register for in-person and online workshops. Only in-person registrants are permitted on-site. In-person registrants may attend online workshops on-site in the public seating areas using their own device or at a location of their choice. Until 11:59 am on October 18, 2026, in-person registrants may request workshop registrations, including requests to switch to online workshops. Workshop change requests are subject to seat availability. Refund and cancellation policies apply.</span>

Storytelling is a powerful and familiar classroom tool. But what happens when students help create the story instead of just consuming it? In this session, educators will experience how tabletop role-playing games can be used as a form of collaborative storytelling that centers student voice, agency, and imagination. Through low-barrier, playful examples, participants will explore how role-playing invites perspective-taking, decision-making, and shared authorship. Drawing on real classroom practice, this session introduces a flexible framework for adapting stories, texts, or curricular themes into role-playing experiences students help shape together. No prior gaming experience is required. Participant supplies: None.

B – In-person – The Hidden Roots of Anxiety and Aggression—and How to Grow Resilient Kids– Hannah Beach

Children are more anxious, aggressive, and shut down than ever before—and educators are left carrying the weight. Many feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure how to reach kids who seem out of reach. In this powerful keynote, Hannah draws from her best-selling book Reclaiming Our Students to uncover the emotional roots of today’s challenges and reveal how caring adults can make the difference kids desperately need. With warmth, humor, and hope, she offers trauma-sensitive, relationship-centered strategies to restore connection, resilience, and emotional rest—even for the most difficult students. This is much more than a conversation about behavior. It’s a reminder of the incredible impact educators have—and the leadership kids need now more than ever. Participant supplies: None.

Window to Your World invites exploration and storytelling through drawing and watercolours from a unique perspective, the view from inside looking out. Using pencil, pen, and simple watercolour techniques, participants will create a vibrant window scene that blends observation, imagination, and a splash of colour. This step-by-step lesson is designed to be fun, attainable, and adaptable for students in grades 4–9. You will leave with a finished example, a clear teaching sequence, and practical tips that make watercolour painting manageable and enjoyable in the classroom. The lesson also includes strategies for helping students personalize their artwork so every “window” reflects their own story, building confidence, creativity, and success for a wide range of learners. <br /><br />Participant supplies: None.

B – In-person – Witness Blanket: Voices of Residential School Survivors – Canadian Museum for Human Rights

The Witness Blanket is a large-scale work of art. It contains hundreds of items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings, and both traditional and cultural structures from across Canada. Witnessblanket.ca invites visitors to explore objects from the blanket and hear directly from survivors about their experience. This session will introduce participants to witnessblanket.ca and discuss how incorporate a trauma informed approach in bring voices of residential school survivors in the classroom. Additionally, educators will learn how to walk alongside their students in taking the next steps on their pathway of reconciliation. Participant supplies: None.

B – Online – Donner vie au français : des activités de performance pour la communication orale. – Miranda Krogstad

Donner Vie au français : Activités de Performance pour la Communication Orale Comment pouvons-nous aider les élèves à démarrer l’utilisation de la langue avec confiance? Cet atelier interactif présente des activités pédagogiques basées sur la performance, qui transforment l’apprentissage du français en une expérience incarnée et expressive. Les participants exploreront des stratégies qui développent les compétences de communication orale des élèves à travers la voix, le mouvement et la présence sur scène. Les activités comprennent l’expérimentation du ton, de l’accentuation, du rythme et du débit à partir de courtes phrases en français, l’interprétation de paroles de chansons en utilisant l’espace et le geste, ainsi que l’interprétation de textes par le langage corporel et le mouvement expressif. D’autres exercices portent sur l’engagement du public, la présence scénique et des techniques de performance telles que les pauses, la posture et le contrôle de la respiration. Participant supplies: Writing utensil, paper.

B – Online – Electromagnetism for Elementary School: Shockingly Phun Physics – Jennifer Kirkey

Electricity and magnetism are two sides of a coin but that be difficult for many people to understand. This hands-on workshop will start with an investigation of static electricity using a balloon. Hair raising. “Permanent” magnets next, and then you can build devices that show the connection. Make a magnet using electricity, then a simple electric motor with a magnet and a battery. To end, you will see how a moving magnet can generate electricity.

Participant supplies: None.

B – Online – Engaging Middle Schoolers in Social Studies Concepts and Content Through Picture Books – Sarah Bailey and Susana Vachon

Are your students missing key background knowledge about the world around them? Join Sarah and Susana, a Teacher-Librarian and Humanities teacher, as they explore how picture books can be powerful tools in Social Studies and ELA classrooms. Discover how thoughtfully chosen picture books can engage middle school learners, build essential background knowledge, introduce diverse perspectives, and spark curiosity about the world. This session will share practical, classroom-ready examples of how we integrate picture books and Adrienne Gear’s Powerful Thinking Strategies to deepen understanding and strengthen critical thinking. Ideal for Grades 4–8 Social Studies and ELA teachers and Teacher-Librarians, participants will leave with concept-based Social Studies book lists and ready-to-use lesson handouts. Participant supplies: None.

Students aren’t apathetic - they’re overwhelmed. But give them the right inputs, mentors, and mindset, and they’ll build the world we all need.

Inspired by Rutger Bregman’s bold vision and backed by powerful stories from the Institute for Global Solutions, Dr. Graeme Mitchell shows how students can turn moral ambition into real-world change. This keynote lights a fire under anyone ready to move from learning about the world to changing it.

Participant supplies: None.

B – Online – From Burnout to Balance: Navigating Fatigue and Fostering a Positive Culture – Michelle Meier

In this workshop, you'll learn practical tools to manage stress, prevent burnout, and build emotional resilience. We’ll explore strategies for coping with overwhelm, setting healthy boundaries and fostering a supportive work environment with your colleagues. Join us for a space of connection, reflection and actionable strategies to navigate the challenges of today’s work environment.

Participant supplies: None.

Graphic novels are more than just picture books - they're literary tools that can be used in the classroom! Join this workshop to learn more about how to read graphic novels, how they connect to the English Language Arts and other curriculums, and receive one Grab-and-Go Lesson on Character Development (also connects with Identity Units), and one Grab-and-Go Lesson on Figurative Language in Comics.

Participant supplies: None.

B – Online – Holistic Model for Educators – Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC)

The Holistic Model for Educators is a virtual workshop designed specifically for Indigenous educators and those working in B.C. schools with high Indigenous student population. Developed in collaboration with Indigenous communities, this workshop is rooted in the foundational teachings and core values of the Medicine Wheel. Participants will explore a holistic approach to supporting Indigenous students’ well-being, addressing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of learning.

Participant supplies: None.

This session introduces coding through an inquiry-driven, exploration-based approach grounded in curiosity, experimentation, and problem-solving. Rather than following step-by-step instructions, participants investigate key computational thinking concepts—such as algorithms, sequencing, loops, and variables—by testing ideas and observing outcomes. Using Scratch, they explore how simple rules and repeated instructions can generate visual art through pattern, symmetry, and iteration. Through designing, debugging, and refining their own creations, participants experience coding as an iterative design process. They leave with practical strategies to bring creative, inquiry-based coding into their classrooms.

Participant supplies: A laptop and access to Scratch.

B – Online – Interwoven: Teaching Science Through Creativity, Connection, and the Land – Ocean Wise

Interwoven is not your average professional development. This immersive workshop invites educators to reimagine science curriculum through connection, curiosity, and creativity. Grounded in experiential learning and inspired by Indigenous ways of knowing, participants will explore how science is not a standalone subject but a living, breathing tapestry woven through land, culture, story, mathematics, art, and language.

Educators will engage in hands-on, play-based investigations that model how to teach core science concepts, biodiversity, climate resilience, ecosystems, adaptation, sustainability, and systems thinking through real-world relevance. Activities may include outdoor observation protocols, collaborative design challenges, data storytelling and art-meets-science explorations.

This workshop supports educators toward wonder, cultivating classrooms where science is felt, lived, and interwoven in all.

Participant supplies: None.

Do you want to get your classes outside but are not sure how? This session will explore hands on activities that don't require expensive supplies and can be done right in your schoolyard. From basic orienteering to large group-based games, this session will provide you with lesson plans, games and outlines that will supplement any programs in your school with limited time and money commitment. Participant supplies: None.

In a largely digital world, it can often feel as though technology is taking our attention away from the outdoors. However, digital tools and AI can actually enhance students' appreciation and understanding of the environment. This workshop will explore how technology supports hands-on learning of content and skills in the BC science curriculum by helping students collect, analyze, and visualize data about the natural world. Using apps like iNaturalist and Seek, students can observe and document local species. Tools like TinkerCAD allow them to model patterns and structures found in nature. Many other powerful (and free!) digital resources are available to enhance learning in environmental and nature-based education. By integrating digital learning with scientific inquiry, we can inspire curiosity and deeper connections with the environment.

Participant supplies: None.

B – Online – the cut, the tear & the remix: contemporary collage and Black futures – McMaster Museum of Art

Through guided looking and reflective activities participants will engage in integrated and cross-curricular learning that focuses on young, contemporary Black Canadian artists and how they express ideas of Afrofuturism and the diaspora in their diverse styles and approaches to collage. The 2021 M(M)A online exhibition the cut, the tear &amp; the remix: contemporary collage and Black futures is the basis for these explorations. This program is designed to engage with transferrable skills of critical thinking and problem solving, innovation and creativity, self-directed learning and metacognition, collaboration through co-construction of knowledge, communication, global citizenship and sustainability, and digital literacy. Participant supplies: Collage materials including: glue, scissors, pencil, eraser, sheet of paper, magazine/other materials to collage with. Optional: pencil crayons, markers

B – Online – The Hidden Roots of Anxiety and Aggression—and How to Grow Resilient Kids – Hannah Beach

Children are more anxious, aggressive, and shut down than ever before—and educators are left carrying the weight. Many feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure how to reach kids who seem out of reach. In this powerful keynote, Hannah draws from her best-selling book Reclaiming Our Students to uncover the emotional roots of today’s challenges and reveal how caring adults can make the difference kids desperately need. With warmth, humor, and hope, she offers trauma-sensitive, relationship-centered strategies to restore connection, resilience, and emotional rest—even for the most difficult students. This is much more than a conversation about behavior. It’s a reminder of the incredible impact educators have—and the leadership kids need now more than ever. Participant supplies: None.

B – Online – Unlocking Academic Vocabulary: Practical Vocabulary Routines for the Middle Years – Nicole Harris

Vocabulary is a key factor in reading comprehension. As students move through the grades, they encounter increasingly complex language across subjects. Without intentional support, many students—especially those with language comprehension difficulties, brain-based differences, or other complex learning needs—can struggle to access academic content. In this practical workshop, educators will explore why vocabulary matters and how to support word learning in meaningful ways across the school day. Participants will learn how to: • identify words worth teaching • use a consistent, evidence-informed routine for explicit vocabulary instruction • build students’ awareness of how words work and how they are learned • foster curiosity about language and motivation to learn new words • support students who struggle with word retrieval Educators will leave with practical routines and tools that can be integrated into any content area to strengthen comprehension and academic language. Participant supplies: None.

Voice disorders have a significant impact emotionally and financially for teachers as well as impact on student learning. As occupational voice users, teachers report a higher incidence of work-related voice problems and lack of regular voice care. If you miss out on reading to your kids at night or decline evening and weekend socials because your voice is too tired, this workshop is for you.Participants will learn about vocal health, tools for regular voice care and use, how to identify voice changes, and how to receive support for voice recovery. Vocal health handouts, and links to our favourite YouTube and Instagram accounts will be provided. Participant supplies: None.

A closer look at who our Coast Salish people are. What nations reside here? What languages, cultures, and traditions do they have that make them different from other nations across Turtle Island (North America)? What stories have come from this land? How did our Coast Salish people survive and thrive on this land and its ecosystems? What are some struggles that are specific to Coast Salish peoples?

Participant supplies: None.

C – In-person – Budget-Friendly STEAM Buffet: Creative Challenges Without Breaking the Bank – Nicole Cruz

Big Ideas, Small Budgets. Your STEAM Menu Starts Here! This workshop serves up a buffet of creative, low-cost challenges designed to spark innovation and problem-solving in any classroom. Participants will explore design thinking steps while tackling real-world problems using everyday materials. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas that align with curriculum goals, promote sustainability, and make STEAM accessible for all learners—no fancy gadgets required! Participant supplies: None.

C – In-person – Engaging Middle Schoolers in Social Studies Concepts and Content Through Picture Books – Sarah Bailey and Susana Vachon

Are your students missing key background knowledge about the world around them? Join Sarah and Susana, a Teacher-Librarian and Humanities teacher, as they explore how picture books can be powerful tools in Social Studies and ELA classrooms. Discover how thoughtfully chosen picture books can engage middle school learners, build essential background knowledge, introduce diverse perspectives, and spark curiosity about the world. This session will share practical, classroom-ready examples of how we integrate picture books and Adrienne Gear’s Powerful Thinking Strategies to deepen understanding and strengthen critical thinking. Ideal for Grades 4–8 Social Studies and ELA teachers and Teacher-Librarians, participants will leave with concept-based Social Studies book lists and ready-to-use lesson handouts. Participant supplies: None.

C – In-person – Force and Motion: Newton's Laws Using Magnetism and Static Electricity – Jennifer Kirkey

Newton's Laws explain how and why things move the way that they do. These laws are applied through all the elementary school curriculum. Newton’s First Law is the law of inertia. Things are lazy and want to keep on doing what they were already doing, unless forced to change. This fun, hands on workshop will give you a strong base to help teach your students and you will leave with activities that use common household items, including magnets and balloons. Einstein was fascinated with magnets, and so will you and your students be at you use a pair of magnets to demonstrate forces that attract and repel. Use a playing card and a coin to demonstrate the classic magician’s trick of a removing a tablecloth from under plates and glasses. Make an electric “car” by using a balloon to make a pop can roll. In your classroom on Monday, you will have amazing demonstrations that will illustrate these fundamental laws of physics. Phun with physics starts here. Participant supplies: None.

C – In-person – Forest Fruits: Watercolour Painting Trees and Their Fungal Partners – Beverley Ellis

Forest Fruits: Watercolour Painting Trees and Their Fungal Partners invites participants to explore the magic of the forest through layered watercolour painting. In this hands on session, participants will learn how to guide students through creating a forest scene using background, middle ground, and foreground to build depth and interest. Step by step techniques make the process approachable while leaving room for creativity and playful details like mushrooms, forest textures, and hidden surprises that bring the woodland to life. Designed for grades 4–9, this lesson helps students understand composition while developing confidence with watercolour. Teachers will leave with a completed example, a clear teaching sequence, and practical strategies for making forest painting engaging, achievable, and fun in the classroom. Participant supplies: None.

C – In-person – Harnessing Hope: Empowering Tweens and Teens with Facts, Not Fear – Graeme Mitchell

Doomscrolling. Disconnection. Despair. In a world wired for fear, how do we help students believe in the future - and their power to shape it? Based on his TEDx Editor’s Pick talk, Dr. Graeme Mitchell shares the Triple P Approach - Problem, Progress, Possibility - to help educators reframe the narrative with data, storytelling, and real-world hope. This keynote moves students from overwhelmed to empowered, and equips leaders to spark agency, resilience, and purpose. This talk is a rally cry for fact-based optimism when we need it most. Participant supplies: None.

C – In-person – Placeholder for an online workshop. Email registrar@pita.ca to request the online workshop you would like to attend.

This is a placeholder for an online workshop. Email registrar@pita.ca to request the online workshop you would like to attend. Placement in the workshop is subject to availability.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Participants who register for the in-person conference may choose to register for in-person and online workshops. Only in-person registrants are permitted on-site. In-person registrants may attend online workshops on-site in the public seating areas using their own device or at a location of their choice. Until 11:59 am on October 18, 2026, in-person registrants may request workshop registrations, including requests to switch to online workshops. Workshop change requests are subject to seat availability. Refund and cancellation policies apply.</span>

C – In-person – Unlocking Academic Vocabulary: Practical Vocabulary Routines for the Middle Years – Nicole Harris

Vocabulary is a key factor in reading comprehension. As students move through the grades, they encounter increasingly complex language across subjects. Without intentional support, many students—especially those with language comprehension difficulties, brain-based differences, or other complex learning needs—can struggle to access academic content. In this practical workshop, educators will explore why vocabulary matters and how to support word learning in meaningful ways across the school day. Participants will learn how to: • identify words worth teaching • use a consistent, evidence-informed routine for explicit vocabulary instruction • build students’ awareness of how words work and how they are learned • foster curiosity about language and motivation to learn new words • support students who struggle with word retrieval Educators will leave with practical routines and tools that can be integrated into any content area to strengthen comprehension and academic language. Participant supplies: None.

Today’s teens (and tweens) may look like they don’t need us—shut down and monosyllabic. Yup. Nope. Fine. Whatever. But beneath the surface, they are longing for caring adult leadership more than ever. The rise of devices and dopamine-driven culture has reshaped adolescence, leaving many students anxious, disconnected, and struggling to find rest in a restless world. This session takes educators inside the emotional world of today’s youth. Together, we’ll explore why students push us away precisely when they most need connection, and how constant digital stimulation has intensified resistance, anxiety, and emotional numbness. We’ll also unpack some of the psychological changes that occur when hormones hit: why counterwill (teen resistance) explodes during this stage, and how idealism, egocentrism, and inner dissonance are all part of a healthy journey toward maturity. Participants will gain practical strategies for using the power of relationship to engage even the most withdrawn or defiant students. You’ll leave with tools to restore trust, maintain connection through challenging moments, and help create classroom climates where young people feel seen, valued, and safe to be themselves. More than ever, our youth need the steady presence of caring adults — even when their behaviour seems to say otherwise. Participant supplies: None.

Sample a buffet of ways you can take the curriculum outdoors to more fully engage learners and foster emotional well-being and connections to nature. Enrich learning in science, literacy, math, and art. Spark curiosity and awe. Inspire environmental respect and stewardship. Deepen understanding of indigenous perspectives. Activities for grades 4-7 will be included. Participant supplies: Clothing and footwear that allow movement. Be prepared to go outside.

Looking for ways to energize your students’ writing and banish the dreaded “I don’t know what to write”? In this high-energy, hands-on session, you’ll experience a whirlwind of creative writing strategies that you can immediately bring back to your classroom. Through rapid-fire writing prompts, collaborative storytelling games, and time-based creative challenges, you’ll not only spark your own creativity, you’ll gather a toolbox of techniques designed to unlock student engagement, build confidence, and encourage risk-taking in writing. Every activity is built for flexibility and can be adapted for various grade levels, subjects, and timeframes. Sweat towels are encouraged. Participant supplies: Writing utensil and paper.

Get ready to toss the "standard slideshow" out the window and embark on A Mindblowing Adventure with Google Slides! In this high-energy workshop, we’re transforming the tool you thought you knew into a dynamic creative engine. We’ll start by streamlining your workflow with ready-to-use classroom templates before diving into the "magic" of stop-motion animation and the versatility of shape art. You’ll even learn the secrets to layering and depth as you construct a breathtaking Google Slides landscape masterpiece. Whether you’re looking to save hours of prep or turn your students into digital artists, this session will give you the design superpowers to make your content pop. Participant supplies: A laptop top or tablet and a Google account.

C – Online – A Path for Reconciliation and Classroom Learning – Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Secret Path with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF). Over the past decade, classrooms and learning spaces throughout the country have moved through awareness, education and connection to form consistent ReconciliACTION actions — and this session is an opportunity to reflect on that journey and look ahead.

Join us to explore how you can weave reconciliation into your everyday teaching practice using Legacy Schools resources. From classroom tools and lesson plans to connecting with a community of educators committed to reconciliation, this session will leave you feeling informed, inspired, and equipped to take your next steps forward.

Whether you are new to Legacy Schools or have been part of the movement for years, this session offers something for every educator who believes in the importance of reconciliation in education.

Participant supplies: None.

C – Online – Breaking the Stigma: Equipping Educators to Empower Student Mental Health – Stigma-Free Mental Health

By attending this workshop, participants will embark on an inspiring journey into the challenges and triumphs of mental health recovery. Through personal insights and real-life stories, attendees will gain a profound understanding of the effects of stigma on individuals and communities. Educators will be equipped with actionable tools and strategies to foster mental health awareness and reduce stigma in schools, with a special focus on the transformative Stigma-Free School Program for grades 4-12. Participants will also learn about discovering best practices for implementing impactful initiatives such as Stigma-Free Clubs. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to spark meaningful change, empower youth, and create supportive school environments where mental health can be openly discussed and prioritized. Participant supplies: None.

Self-assessing the Core Competencies can feel difficult to implement in a meaningful way. This session shares simple and intentional strategies that help students reflect on their learning in authentic ways. Participants will explore practical routines, reflection prompts, and classroom tools that make Core Competency self-assessment engaging, purposeful, and easy to embed into everyday learning. Participant supplies: Notebook, pen, and a laptop.

Youth are facing heightened stress, constant stimulation, and difficulty managing big emotions. Learn easy, creative, evidence-informed “mini-break” activities drawing on art therapy to help students pause, reflect, and reconnect. Participants will try hands-on exercises that support focus, perspective, and self-regulation. No art experience is required, and activities can be easily integrated into daily routines, transitions, check-ins, or moments of overwhelm. Participant supplies: Pen or pencil and paper. Markers, crayons, or coloured pencils are optional and nice to have.

C – Online – De la côte à la salle de classe : rendre l’apprentissage de la conservation plus pertinent et pratique – Ocean Wise

Step into a workshop designed to rekindle your love for teaching and inspire your students to see the world differently. In Coast to Classroom, it isn’t about theory, it’s about doing. You’ll try activities that spark involvement within 75 minutes.



This workshop was designed for you to connect with your content. Demonstrating trophic level investigation, electromagnetic radiation inquiry, and compelling storytelling within your science room. Connecting directly to curriculum in an engaging way. You’ll leave with practical lessons, interdisciplinary approaches, and strategies that invite students to ask questions, explore deeply, and engage with learning on a personal level.



Teachers face growing challenges to prepare students for a world shaped by constant change. This workshop gives educators the tools, confidence, and inspiration to make conservation learning relevant and actionable.

Participant supplies: None.

Book Creator is a simple tool for teachers and students to create digital books featuring multimedia elements such as video, audio, text, drawing, and images. This introductory session will explore how to get started building books in Book Creator, covering all the main design tools and accessibility features. We will look at examples of the ways Book Creator is being used in the classroom, including digital portfolios, creative writing, research projects, class yearbooks, and so much more! Participant supplies: Laptop or iPad; online participants will benefit from a second device, if possible.

C – Online – Harnessing Hope: Empowering Tweens and Teens with Facts, Not Fear – Graeme Mitchell

Doomscrolling. Disconnection. Despair. In a world wired for fear, how do we help students believe in the future - and their power to shape it?
Based on his TEDx Editor’s Pick talk, Dr. Graeme Mitchell shares the Triple P Approach - Problem, Progress, Possibility - to help educators reframe the narrative with data, storytelling, and real-world hope. This keynote moves students from overwhelmed to empowered, and equips leaders to spark agency, resilience, and purpose.
This talk is a rally cry for fact-based optimism when we need it most.


Participant supplies: None.

C – Online – Learning to Look: Art Museum Strategies for the Classroom – National Gallery of Canada

This interactive session will explore simple strategies that help students to slow down, look closely, and engage thoughtfully with works of art. Participants will experience guided looking firsthand and will leave with activities they can immediately bring into their classrooms. The session will also highlight the National Gallery of Canada’s free Virtual School Programs. Participant supplies: Paper, pencil, eraser.

It’s getting harder to find reliable information online. Younger students in particular are increasingly using the wrong tools to find information, relying on social media that are designed to grab attention, and AI tools that can easily lead them astray. The CTRL-F: Online Search Skills lessons teach students how to effectively use search engines and assess search results to find relevant and reliable information. Lessons feature games, videos, and activities that are ideal for students in grades 4 to 8, or for anyone who needs a refresher on some of the fundamentals. Workshop participants are introduced to the rationale of the module, a review of the lessons, and have a chance to practice some of the skills through activities. Participant supplies: Participants are encouraged to join using a laptop or tablet, as the session includes interactive activities.

Ashley Doering will present the online session.<br /><br />We all have a role to play in creating an anti-racist society. The Pass the Mic: Let’s Talk About Racism, resource, encourages students to consider their relationship with racism and, in turn, learn about how to be anti-racist. They will learn all about bias, microaggressions, intersectionality, identity, allyship, and making all spaces safe for their marginalized peers. Finally, they will challenge themselves to take a stand for anti-racism in their communities. This session will introduce educators to the resource and discuss how to have these important conversations with their students. Participant supplies: None.

<div>Field trips can be some of the most memorable learning experiences students have, especially when intentionally connected to classroom learning. In this workshop, educators will explore how to design field trips as purposeful fieldwork within a larger learning journey, where the visit becomes the catalyst for inquiry, creation, and authentic learning. </div><div> </div><div>Drawing on real classroom examples, including a Grade 6 documentary field study at the Vancouver Aquarium, participants will be introduced to a flexible framework for designing field trips that connect deeply to curriculum, engage students in authentic roles, and extend learning before and after the visit. Participants will leave with a practical field trip plan they can adapt to their own context.</div><div> </div>Participant supplies: None.

Are you looking for ways to increase student engagement and retention, especially with historical events and concepts? In this session, participants will explore interactive teaching methods such as role-play and simulations based on the social studies curriculum. We will also discuss the merits of role-play and how to incorporate it into your practice. Participants will leave with specific simulation outlines and tools that align with the curriculum. Participant supplies: None. Participant supplies: None.

Humans explore the world with curiosity from the moment we are born. Science is a way of shaping our many questions and observations into testable experiments and meaningful conclusions. However, science does not only exist in the science classroom-- rather, it's a process to help us better understand and learn about the way the entire world works. This workshop will explore the cross-curricular nature of science, with a focus on how the BC science curriculum intersects with and is enhanced by other subject areas. Through simple, easy-to-reproduce experiments with everyday materials, we will explore ways to incorporate scientific thinking across the curriculum—including how digital tools, AI, and data literacy can support inquiry and discovery.

Participant supplies: None.

Today’s teens (and tweens) may look like they don’t need us—shut down and monosyllabic. Yup. Nope. Fine. Whatever. But beneath the surface, they are longing for caring adult leadership more than ever. The rise of devices and dopamine-driven culture has reshaped adolescence, leaving many students anxious, disconnected, and struggling to find rest in a restless world.

This session takes educators inside the emotional world of today’s youth. Together, we’ll explore why students push us away precisely when they most need connection, and how constant digital stimulation has intensified resistance, anxiety, and emotional numbness.

We’ll also unpack some of the psychological changes that occur when hormones hit: why counterwill (teen resistance) explodes during this stage, and how idealism, egocentrism, and inner dissonance are all part of a healthy journey toward maturity.

Participants will gain practical strategies for using the power of relationship to engage even the most withdrawn or defiant students. You’ll leave with tools to restore trust, maintain connection through challenging moments, and help create classroom climates where young people feel seen, valued, and safe to be themselves.

More than ever, our youth need the steady presence of caring adults — even when their behaviour seems to say otherwise.

Participant supplies: None.

Many students struggle with algebra because they are asked to work symbolically before they have built strong visual models.

In this hands-on session, educators will explore visual math tasks that develop algebraic thinking through patterns, structure, and representation—without immediately relying on variables or equations. Participants will engage in classroom investigations that help students generalize, justify, and communicate mathematical relationships.

These strategies help students build the reasoning needed for later algebra success while strengthening conceptual understanding in Grades 6–8 mathematics.

Participant supplies: None.

Looking for ways to energize your students’ writing and banish the dreaded “I don’t know what to write”? In this high-energy, hands-on session, you’ll experience a whirlwind of creative writing strategies that you can immediately bring back to your classroom. Through rapid-fire writing prompts, collaborative storytelling games, and time-based creative challenges, you’ll not only spark your own creativity, you’ll gather a toolbox of techniques designed to unlock student engagement, build confidence, and encourage risk-taking in writing. Every activity is built for flexibility and can be adapted for various grade levels, subjects, and timeframes. Sweat towels are encouraged.

Participant supplies: Writing utensil and paper.

Participants will experience a variety of yoga and mindfulness strategies to use in the classroom with students from grade 4-8, as well as learn about scientific research that supports mindfulness in the classroom. Strategies will include short movement practices, breathing techniques, creating mindful moment protocols, setting up a calm corner, and two mini-lessons to use explicitly in the classroom.

Participant supplies: None.

C-D – In-person – Multiplicative Thinking in Intermediate and Middle School Math Classrooms: Building a Firm Foundation and Promoting Conceptual Understanding – Carole Fullerton

There is no greater mathematical concept than multiplicative thinking, More than simply mastering the facts, it involves the use of pattern, growth over time and is implicated in students' ability to think about fractions, ratios and algebra. In this double session for teachers of grades 4 and up, we will make sense of multiplication, explore strategies for finding products and apply those ideas to proportions, percentage, decimals and more. Come prepared to play and make connections in unexpected ways! Participant supplies: None.

C-D – Online – Multiplicative Thinking in Intermediate and Middle School Math Classrooms: Building a Firm Foundation and Promoting Conceptual Understanding – Carole Fullerton

There is no greater mathematical concept than multiplicative thinking, More than simply mastering the facts, it involves the use of pattern, growth over time and is implicated in students' ability to think about fractions, ratios and algebra. In this double session for teachers of grades 4 and up, we will make sense of multiplication, explore strategies for finding products and apply those ideas to proportions, percentage, decimals and more. Come prepared to play and make connections in unexpected ways!


Participant supplies: None.

Sexual Health Education: It's Fun' is a BCTF workshop geared towards classroom teachers teaching any aspect of the Sexual Health curriculum, K-12. This interactive workshop provides an introduction to comprehensive sexual health in accordance with national standards set by SIECCAN and the BC curriculum. Taking an inclusive, and trauma-sensitive approach, teachers will leave the workshop with an understanding of scope and sequence by grade, educational policy as it relates to sexual health education and ready to use lessons for the classroom. Teachers will be provided time to workshop lessons for their grade/subject. Participant supplies: Pens/markers and paper.

When we dive into inquiry or open up space for student choice, the questions, "How do I assess this?" and "What am I looking for?" surface, and it can feel overwhelming to evaluate such diverse demonstrations of learning. Let’s explore realistic, teacher-friendly ways to address these concerns by rethinking assessment practices so they work for us instead of consuming our evenings with endless paragraph marking. Together, we will look at how assessment can be meaningful, manageable, and responsive to a wide range of curricular competencies, creative products, and student-chosen approaches without drowning in paper or clutter across our desks. Participant supplies: None.

Electricity and magnetism are two sides of a coin but that be difficult for many people to understand. This hands-on workshop will start with an investigation of static electricity using a balloon. Hair raising. “Permanent” magnets next, and then you can build devices that show the connection. Make a magnet using electricity, then a simple electric motor with a magnet and a battery. To end, you will see how a moving magnet can generate electricity.Participant supplies: None.

Meet the Hannah Beach! Purchase a copy of her book and have her personally sign it.

Imagine book clubs where the readers actually do the reading and prepare enthusiastically! Students are excited to prepare questions and connections to share with their classmates and discuss the juicy issues in the books. I’ve been using the same sure-fire formula for many years in English 4-7 classes and for the English part of the curriculum for students in French Immersion. It has never failed to turn a class into very enthusiastic readers, while developing comprehension, critical thinking, discussion and social skills. It requires no preparation or after-school marking by the teacher and the reading can even be done by the students at home! All you need is some good books, 20 minutes a week of class time and this system that is easy for you and your students to manage. Participant supplies: None.

D – In-person – Making Sense of Your Teacher Pension, CPP, OAS, and Group Benefits – BC Retired Teachers Association

WORKSHOP TOPICS • Salary Indemnity Premium – check for savings now • Government benefits: BC Medical, Pharmacare • Voluntary benefits: Life Insurance, Dental, Extended Health Benefits, Travel Insurance &amp; other forms of insurance • Teachers’ Pension Plan (TPP) • Government Pensions: CPP, OAS Participant supplies: Bring your most recent Member Benefits Statement.

Introduction to Métis Culture, History, and Traditions while learning a new form of art to represent the beadwork our Ancestors created using dots with paint. This workshop also provides awareness with guidance for self-healing, confidence, and building trust within yourself while telling a story through colour. Participant supplies: None.

Come and hear what the Provincial Intermediate and Middle Years Teachers' Association (myPITA) has been up to this year and has planned for next year. All participants are eligible to win prizes just by attending. This in-person session will be streamed online. In-person and online participants will have the ability to ask questions and BCTF members may vote. <br /><br />Supplies: None. Participant supplies: None.

D – In-person – Placeholder for an online workshop. Email registrar@pita.ca to request the online workshop you would like to attend.

This is a placeholder for an online workshop. Email registrar@pita.ca to request the online workshop you would like to attend. Placement in the workshop is subject to availability.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: 400;">Participants who register for the in-person conference may choose to register for in-person and online workshops. Only in-person registrants are permitted on-site. In-person registrants may attend online workshops on-site in the public seating areas using their own device or at a location of their choice. Until 11:59 am on October 18, 2026, in-person registrants may request workshop registrations, including requests to switch to online workshops. Workshop change requests are subject to seat availability. Refund and cancellation policies apply.</span>

Learn the basics of stop-motion animation using the Stop Motion Studio app (free and paid versions available). You will develop a clear understanding of animation, including concept development, pre-production, visual storytelling and production. Learn how to create stop-motion animation using the app on a smartphone. The app also works on a tablet or computer, providing an affordable and easy-to-use option for equipment.   Participant supplies: Optionally bring an iPad or tablet with the Stop Motion Studio app installed. Cell phones with the app installed will be available to use during the workshop.

As students move through the grades, the range of reading abilities in a classroom widens. There are many reasons why students in intermediate and middle school struggle to read grade level text. But it’s not too late. There are effective, actionable things that teachers in grades 4-9 can do—and providing ongoing opportunities to learn to read can make a difference in long-term education, employment, and health outcomes for students. This session will provide a complete picture of how word recognition develops, from learning letter sounds to reading complex text with multisyllabic words. Full of freely-available tools and resources and ready-to-run tomorrow strategies and routines, it will give teachers in grades 4-9 the knowledge they need to quickly identify students who are at risk, understand what they need, and implement routines and strategies to provide effective support. Participant supplies: None.

D – In-person – Where’s the Math? Mathematical Habits of Mind in Puzzles and Games – Susan Oesterle

After a brief introduction to the theory of Mathematical Habits of Mind and the place they hold in the BC Curriculum, participants will engage in a variety of puzzles and games that can be used in their grades 4-9 classrooms, and have a chance to reflect on how they can be used to support good habits and break the bad. Participant supplies: None.

D – In-person – Writing Modern Monsters: Creatures, Mythology, and Folklore Workshop – Andrew Buckley

From sparkly vampires to teenage werewolves and witches, modern monsters come in all shapes and sizes. This interactive workshop examines the origins of famous creature stories, exploring the things that go bump in the night, and how to look at old myths with a modern edge. Warning: Many monsters have been created in this workshop. Participant supplies: Writing utensil and paper.