Connecting the Pieces 2016 by Think Langley

connecting the Pieces Pre-K and Kindergarten conference

october 21, 2016 Brookswood secondary school register by october 14 at thinklangley.com

$50 - Sd35 Staff $150 - out-of-District

your learning journey starts here

Image: Ken Hoﬀ/Langley School District

New to Connecting the Pieces? Looking for a refresher on pre-registration? Our simple, step-by-step guide will provide you with the knowledge you need to make the most of your pro-d day. If you have any questions or concerns, email thinklangley@sd35.bc.ca or call 604-530-4060. 1. BROWSE our workshop offerings by using our convenient schedule at-a-glance spread on page 14 and looking at our more detailed descriptions throughout the booklet. Workshops are listed according to the schedule, not topic, so you may have to do a little digging to find the right sessions for you. You’ll find information about the speakers too, including a biography. This will help you find the best presenters for you; 2. NOTE the workshops that interest you most for each session. Use the session planning form (pg. 15) to keep track; 3. REGISTER online at thinklangley.com Registration, including catered lunch, costs $50 for SD #35 employees and $150 for other participants. Not only is online registration more convenient, it also ensures that your registration is processed instantly so that you make it into your preferred workshops. If you work in the Langley School District, you can sign in using your employee number as username and your regular email password. If you are an out-of-district educator, you can create an account by following the “Sign up here” link. Once you log in, find the Connecting the Pieces conference under the calendar or workshops tab. Click register and follow the prompts on screen to complete payment and select your workshop sessions. Remember, the registration deadline is Friday, October 14 at 4:30 PM; 4. CONNECT with your fellow educators. Tweet about the conference using the hashtag #connect16 to share your experience and knowledge with other participants. You can also follow @thinklangley and tweet using the hashtag #think35 year-round for pro-d resources, news, and updates on additional professional learning opportunities in Langley.

Inclusion and the New Curriculum Shelley Moore Has inclusive education become contaminated? Come deconstruct the philosophy and practice behind what inclusion means in our schools, who it is actually designed to support, and how it fits in with the foundation of the renewed BC curriculum.

About Shelley Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Shelley Mooreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research interests integrate theory and practice of inclusive education, special education, curriculum, and teacher professional development. She is particularly interested in how students with developmental and intellectual disabilities can be included meaningfully while also contributing to the learning of their peers. Shelley has presented her work at various conferences throughout North America including CEC, IRA, CSSE, and NCTE. She completed her undergraduate degree in special education at the University of Alberta, her masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at Simon Fraser University, and is currently a PhD student at the University of British Columbia.

Thursday, October 20, 2016 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Brookswood Secondary School

$20

Connecting the Pieces

Feature Presentations - Friday, Oct 21 Intervention Games & Activities for Beginning and Struggling Readers

Fostering Resiliency with Indigenous Children and Families

Randall Klein | Early Reading Mastery

Monique Gray Smith | Little Drum Consulting

Randall will demonstrate intervention games and activities that give beginning and struggling readers a concrete understanding of the alphabetic principle and launch them into strong alphabet knowledge, confident decoding, and proficient word identification. Special emphasis will be given to the role phonemic awareness plays in letter recognition, word building, decoding, and writing activities. Randall will also discuss the identification and remediation of dyslexic tendencies.

This engaging and inspiring workshop will provide a unique lens into the importance of focusing on resiliency in our work with Indigenous peoples. We will begin with an overview of how stress and trauma impact wellness and the importance of understanding this when working with Indigenous peoples. We will look at our history as Indigenous people in Canada and how this history continues to influence the wellness of our families, communities and nations. We will explore the Four Blankets of Resiliency — strong sense of self; family; community; culture, language and connection to the land — and how to weave them into the curriculum.

Randall Klein, early reading specialist and author from Bozeman, Montana, is a co-author of Learning to Read is Child’s Play for The Early Reading Company in Chicago. Randall has successfully taught hundreds of children from ages three to eight years how to read and has used this experience to formulate the techniques and methods he now delivers to educators and parents in his presentations and workshops on developmentally appropriate early reading instruction. It is Randall’s desire to create a heightened awareness of the need for systematic, explicit and developmentally appropriate reading instruction and intervention for beginning and struggling readers.

Session A: 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM or

Session B: 10:20 AM to 11:50 AM

Monique is a mixed heritage woman of Cree, Lakota, and Scottish descent and is the proud mom of 12-year-old twins. She is an awardwinning author, international speaker and soughtafter consultant. Monique has been running her business, Little Drum Consulting since 1996. Her career has focused on fostering paradigm shifts that emphasize the strength and resiliency of the First Peoples in Canada. Monique’s strong understanding of education has led her to work as the executive director for Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC, the national Aboriginal advisor for Roots of Empathy, as well as an instructor for the Justice Institute of BC. Her leadership in the field of Aboriginal education led her to create a resource called The Ripple Effect of Resiliency: Strategies for Fostering Resiliency with Indigenous Children. Monique’s first children’s book, My Heart Fills with Happiness was released in February 2016 and has been on the BC Bestsellers List since then. She is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience. Monique has been sober and involved in her healing journey for over 24 years.

Session C: 12:50 PM to 2:20 PM

@thinklangley

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

Session A Friday, Oct 21 - 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM A Child’s Journey Nature Immersion to Understanding “Half”

Lauren MacLean | Richmond School District

Tazmin Manji | Langley School District How do you give a mathematical gift? Simple! The greatest gift we can give our students is learning to understand how they think mathematically as they approach problem-solving tasks. As easy as this sounds, many challenges do present themselves. Come join Tazmin as she explores children’s thinking and reasoning. More specifically, the group will engage in discussions about the importance of setting up an environment that facilitates teaching without telling, guiding questions to promote inquiry and thinking, and — most importantly — how to use children’s thinking to plan your curriculum, step by step.

Tazmin teaches kindergarten at R.C. Garnett Demonstration School. She has been inspired with young children’s thinking after completing her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at UBC. She is an educator who loves to weave current research into her practice in developmentally appropriate ways. To that end, Tazmin is inspired with changes in the new curriculum and is enjoying the bumps and pathways that present themselves as she takes on this exciting journey.

Our kindergarten and grade one class has a love for nature! Rain or shine, we go outside every day to engage in scientific explorations and playful inquiry. We infuse the First People’s Principles of Learning along with other core routines, such as sit spots, observations, and oral storytelling. We will share with you our shape of the day, including our most popular activities and games. Come listen to the journey of the evolution of our outdoor immersion program and then let’s get out of the classroom and practice what we preach!

Lauren has been a kindergarten teacher in the Richmond School District for nine years. She graduated with a Master of Educational Practice in documenting oral language from SFU. Since then, she has used documentation to capture their outdoor learning journey, highlight key curricular concepts and advocate how valuable it is for students to experience nature in a safe environment. Lauren is an outdoor enthusiast and passionate explorer! On the weekends, you will find her working at Soaring Eagle Nature School where she infuses the philosophies of Coyote Mentoring, by Jon Young.

This workshop is also offered in Session B.

Guided Math Shelly Gardiner | Langley School District Guided math is an effective and exciting way to teach young students about different math concepts. This workshop is for kindergarten and grade one teachers who are looking for a new approach for math instruction. This approach works very well with the new curriculum as it allows for differentiated instruction, creative problem solving, oral communication, and skill development.

Shelly has been teaching in Langley for almost 25 years with most of her teaching in the kindergarten and grade one years. She has spent the past five years teaching a kindergarten/grade one class at Alex Hope Elementary.

This workshop is also offered in Session B. thinklangley.com

Connecting the Pieces

Cross-Cultural Work in Aboriginal Communities

iPads for ‘Lil Peeps! Part 1

Marc Lalonde | Beaufort Children’s Centre

Kat Mulski | Langley School District

Drawing on 20 years of experience in First Nations communities, Marc will share some of the strategies he has learned. Valuable resources will be shared regarding cultural intelligence, culturally safe practices, cultural humility, as well as Aboriginal resources for your classroom.

Come play and engage with apps that move beyond games and can enhance learning experiences in the classroom. Learn to app smash, create and share! By using student interests and prior experiences, iPads can help leverage writing, reading, numeracy and many more activities. Handouts will be provided. Please bring your own iPad (if you have access to one) as limited amounts of iPads will be made available for participants during the workshop.

Marc is an early childhood educator with Infant, Toddler, and Special Needs certification. He also holds a BA (with distinction) in Child and Youth Care and has over 30 years’ experience, 20 of them in First Nations communities. Marc is the author of the Aboriginal Infant Development Program Mentoring Manual, and many articles in ECE publications. He is the winner of the Margaret and Lawrence McCain Foundation and Lawson Foundation Award for innovative practice in Aboriginal communities, for his work on an Aboriginal addendum to the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS).

Katherine is currently a French Immersion teacher for the Langley School District. Katherine advocates for purposeful leveraging of technology and fun in the classroom. Katherine is studying as an EdD candidate and hopes to focus her research on teacher wellness.

Part Two is Offered in Session B.

Kids Yoga and Mindfulness for Self-Regulation Jennie Abbot | Harmony Kids Yoga Come and join us in this exciting workshop offering hands-on activities to easily integrate yoga into your classroom setting. Children’s yoga helps to develop essential tools such as self-regulation, fosters a stronger mind-body connection, and introduces skills that help children find a sense of inner-calm. These yoga tools are gifts that can transform the lives of the children that receive them. Each participant receives The Harmony Kids Yoga Guide for Pre-K and Kindergarten Teachers, with exercises and applications for classroom use.

Jennie is the founder and director of Harmony Kids Yoga, bringing yoga and mindfulness to over 200 children a week between the ages of 12 months to 16 years old in Lower Mainland public schools, preschools and day cares, as well as weekly group classes, private sessions for children with special needs and teachers’ workshops. Jennie Abbot is a Registered Yoga Teacher (CYA-RYT200) and Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (CYACYT) trained in Color Me Yoga for Children and Rainbow Kids Yoga for Children. Jennie’s life passion is sharing yoga with children to offer the tools of mindfulness, self-regulation, stress-reduction, and the ability to bring harmony to the body, mind and heart so children can lead vibrant and fulfilling lives.

This workshop is also offered in Session B & C. @thinklangley

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

Joy of Movement! Tonya Wejr Kick It Up A Notch Academy of Dance We all know our younger students love to wiggle. Let’s tap into this and get them moving! Tonya will share some basic steps, rhythm and movement to engage your students with creativity and fun-filled music. Teachers will walk away wiggling with ideas on how to bring movement into their classrooms. This will be an active session requiring full-spirited participation; active clothing is recommended.

Tonya is the mother of five-year-old twins and has been a dance instructor and choreographer for the past 18 years. She is currently the owner and director of Kick It Up A Notch Academy of Dance in Aldergrove, which is going into its tenth year. In addition to teaching students from pre-school to adult at her studio, she has also taught dance to students in many high schools, elementary schools and pre-schools throughout Langley and Abbotsford. Tonya has also facilitated dance workshops with teachers and believes in creating a love of movement through the joy of dance.

This workshop is also offered in Session B.

K’s in the World of Math: Make and Take Lisa Jamieson | Surrey School District Kindergarten children are natural explorers and love to engage in activities that activate their curiosity. Come along and explore the endless possibilities of engaging our youngest learners in a world filled with numbers, shapes, and more. You will not only make a variety of different games and engaging activities to take away with you but you will receive a collection of other ideas to easily make on your own. All you will have to do is say “go” and watch as your students head off into the world of math. Please bring scissors, a glue stick, and a stapler.

Lisa is a kindergarten specialist with extensive graduate work in early childhood education and parent education. She has presented to many audiences including teachers, parents and provincial PAC groups. Lisa has been a teacher for over 25 years and is currently a principal in the Surrey School District.

Lovin’ the Light Table! Amanda Slade and Lorie McDonald Langley School District Explore the wide range of uses of the light table in the early years. Learn how to develop provocations and use materials to spur cross-curricular explorations, creative thinking, communication, and problem solving.

Amanda is a district early learning teacher in Langley. Also a kindergarten classroom teacher, Amanda is interested playful learning and integrated curriculum. She believes in the power of collaboration and works with children and adults to create powerful learning environments. Lorie currently works as a Strong Start facilitator in the Langley School District. With her passion for early learning, she has successfully presented many workshops for teachers and early childhood educators in many districts throughout the province.

This workshop is also offered in Session B.

thinklangley.com

Connecting the Pieces

A Developmental Story of Social Anxiety

Reggio Beyond Pinterest: The Image of the Child

a therapist’s perspective, a mother’s journey

Karen Begley and Amanda Prade Surrey School District

Rebecca Mitchell The Wishing Star Developmental Clinic We may have children in our centres and schools who appear painfully shy and have difficulty making eye contact, responding to our overtures, or relaxing enough to interact with their peers. In early childhood, is this something we need to worry about and get intervention for, or do we need to simply support them in growing up? If so, what would that support look like? This workshop will walk you through a mother’s journey from early childhood to preteen. As it happens, this mother is also a therapist and has found that her journey has greatly influenced how she not only supports her own child, but how she supports families that come to her with concerns about possible social anxiety in their children. This workshop is rooted in science and will offer practical ideas around supporting the social development of children who are extremely shy or who some may deem socially anxious.

Rebecca holds a master’s degree in developmental psychology and is a registered clinical counsellor. She joins The Wishing Star team with over 20 years of experience in supporting kids and families in a variety of settings including communitybased agencies, child and youth mental health, and private practice. Rebecca brings a strong sense of compassion to her work helping big people understand and respond to children in ways that promote a strong relationship, self-regulation, and a positive sense of self. As a mother of two boys herself, Rebecca appreciates both the joys and frustrations that come with the role of being that kind of a big person for a child.

This workshop is also offered in Session B.

What we believe about children is reflected in everything we do in the classroom. Join us for a process-based discussion uncovering your image of the child and how that image has an impact on your practice. We will begin with a brief overview of the Reggio Emilia approach and the concept of the image of the child. Then, we will take a critical look at common early years classroom activities and collaborate to think of alternatives that will lead to a more emergent, play-based learning environment. A framework will be provided for participants to examine their practice within a constructivist, Reggio-inspired lens. Participants will leave with ideas about small and large steps to shift their practice to a more emergent, play-based one that matches their image of the child.

Karen is a kindergarten teacher at Cougar Creek Elementary in Surrey School District. Focusing on her students’ strengths, interests, and areas for growth, rather than convention, she pursues an innovative, child-centred practice. Karen is passionate about engaging young children with the outdoor environment. She strives to have every learning opportunity and interaction she has with her students be respectful of their identities as capable, inquisitive, creative learners. She enjoys mentoring individuals and groups of teachers through explorations of inquiry-based learning, purposeful pedagogy, and classroom environment. Amanda is a kindergarten teacher in the Surrey School District. She finds peace in carefully listening to and hearing her students, inquiring and interpreting their understandings, and coconstructing the direction of their learning together. Story, drama, play, exploration, and inquiry fill the students’ days as they develop a culture of their own. Amanda has completed a MEd in curriculum design with a focus in educational theory. She deeply believes in the embedded connection between theory and practice. She is influenced and inspired by the imaginations and theories of Loris Malaguzzi, Lev Vygotsky, Elliot Eisner, Vivian Paley, and — most importantly — each of her students.

@thinklangley

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

Roots of Empathy: Changing the World, Child by Child Adrianna Austin | Roots of Empathy Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effectiveness in reducing levels of aggression among school children while raising socialemotional competence and increasing empathy. Join Adrianna around the green blanket with the world’s most “tiny teachers” as she introduces you to this innovative experiential learning technique: the catalyst in helping children identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others.

Adrianna is the regional coordinator for the Vancouver Coastal/Fraser and Vancouver Island Health Regions. Adrianna has a rich history with Roots of Empathy delivering programs in Langley School District kindergarten classrooms since 2006 and mentoring new Roots of Empathy instructors across the Lower Mainland.

Shape Monster Heather Purcell and Darcie Yardley Creative Circle Time Did you miss making him last year? Come join Heather and Darcie for the most fun you can have at a pro-d workshop! We will be making a free-standing shape monster circle activity. He can easily be transformed into a centre activity. He will help the children learn shapes and colours in a fun, interactive way! Please bring sharp scissors. We provide everything else.

Heather has been in the ECE field since 1989. After completing her ECE and I/T at Langley College, Heather has worked in all capacities of the early childhood field. Currently, Heather facilitates a Strong Start class in the Abbotsford School District. Darcie has been in the ECE field since 2000. Darcie also completed her training at Langley College. As well as being the supervisor of a Langley-area preschool, Darcie is the mom of an active little girl and still manages to present workshops frequently.

This workshop is also offered in Session C.

Teaching Children about Art Appreciation and Famous Artists Melody Klassen | Kids World Daycare Discussing works of fine art can be fun and meaningful for both educators and children. Works of fine art can be incorporated into a variety of lesson plans from toddlers to school-age children. You don’t need to be an art historian, you just need to be able to answer simple questions about the work and let your students’ imaginations go wild. You will learn about different artists, then draw, paint, or color in the same style. Some of the artists we talk about are Henri Rousseau, Georges Seurat, Claude Monet, Michelangelo, Georgia O’Keeffe, Emily Carr, and Jackson Pollock. You will also learn about art terminology such as tint and shade, warm and cool colors, and explore different mediums.

Melody has been in the education field for 16 years and worked with every age group. She loves to share her ideas with other teachers and believes that workshops are a great way to give a teacher new and exciting ideas to implement. Melody has facilitated workshops about outdoor program planning; teaching infants and toddlers; and her art program.

thinklangley.com

Connecting the Pieces

Writing in the Kindergarten Classroom

Waste Away that Waste

Wendy Legaarden | Scholastic

Sarah Atherton Langley Environmental Partners Society

Emergent writers need motivation and confidence to take their first steps in writing, in a risk-free environment. They require many, many daily opportunities for scaffolded learning and practice in order to take increasing control of their new skills and knowledge. This session will offer specific, practical suggestions for supporting developing writers. Strategies will be demonstrated and examples of literature connections will be provided.

Wendy has worked as a classroom teacher, administrator, and literacy consultant for over 35 years. Wendy believes that a balanced approach to literacy instruction is the best way to offer a full range of authentic experiences that will address students’ literacy learning needs. She currently works with school districts to support teachers in addressing the diverse learning needs in today’s classrooms. Her in-depth experience and passion for literacy are evident in her work as a literacy consultant. Wendy is proud to be a part of the writing team for Scholastic Education’s resource, Literacy Place for the Early Years, K–3.

Learn the ins and outs of municipal and school district recycling programs through a variety of hands-on, engaging activities and songs, and be provided tips on how to work with their students on recycling in the classroom. Educators will discover the importance of reducing waste through a litter-less lunch program guide and find out why it’s important to reduce green waste.

Sarah has been working as an environmental educator for over 16 years and has experience working in both Australia and Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and has always been interested in connecting children with nature and creating awareness of the impact of people on their local watersheds. For the past nine years she has worked for Langley Environmental Partners Society and has a strong working relationship with many teachers across the Langley School District.

Sticks, Stones, and Stories Laura Tomlinson | Langley School District Come dressed for the weather as we explore the environment, collect treasures, and tell stories. Place-based learning begins with asking questions such as, “Where am I? What is the natural and social history of this place? How does this place fit into the larger world?” In this session, we will look for ways to immerse our students in their local environment, develop a sense of place, and make connections to the new curriculum. When children have repeated exposure to a place, they develop a sense of ownership. Come prepared to spend some time outside.

Laura is a kindergarten teacher at Blacklock Fine Arts Elementary. She has a master’s degree in Educational Practice and completed her graduate diploma studying Reggio Emilia and project-based learning.

This workshop is also offered in Session B. @thinklangley

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

Session B Friday, Oct 21 - 10:20 AM to 11:50 AM A Developmental Story of Social Anxiety a therapist’s perspective, a mother’s journey Rebecca Mitchell | The Wishing Star Developmental Clinic We may have children in our centres and schools who appear painfully shy and have difficulty making eye contact, responding to our overtures, or relaxing enough to interact with their peers. In early childhood, is this something we need to worry about and get intervention for, or do we need to simply support them in growing up? If so, what would that support look like? This workshop will walk you through a mother’s journey from early childhood to preteen. As it happens, this mother is also a therapist and has found that her journey has greatly influenced how she not only supports her own child, but how she supports families that come to her with concerns about possible social anxiety in their children. This workshop is rooted in science and will offer practical ideas around supporting the social development of children who are extremely shy or who some may deem socially anxious.

Rebecca holds a master’s degree in developmental psychology and is a registered clinical counsellor. She joins The Wishing Star team with over 20 years of experience in supporting kids and families in a variety of settings including community-based agencies, child and youth mental health, and private practice. Rebecca brings a strong sense of compassion to her work helping big people understand and respond to children in ways that promote a strong relationship, self-regulation, and a positive sense of self. As a mother of two boys herself, Rebecca appreciates both the joys and frustrations that come with the role of being that kind of a big person for a child.

This workshop is also offered in Session A.

Introduction to Forest and Nature Schools Cara Agro | Fresh Air Learning and Out and About Adventures Come and learn what makes an outdoor school, why learning in nature is important, and what a day at Fresh Air Learning looks like in this introduction to the philosophy and practice of outdoor schools in Vancouver.

Cara was born in Hamilton, Ontario. She moved to British Columbia several years ago and continues to be inspired by the beauty of this province. She finds joy in exploring our majestic backyard. Cara is passionate about providing children with an opportunity to feel capable, confident, and curious in the outdoors and hopes to help foster a sense of wonder and respect for our natural environment. Cara has worked with Fresh Air Learning for four years and has been running Out and About Adventures for one and a half years.

thinklangley.com

Connecting the Pieces

the Outdoor Classroom

How to Explain the Importance of SocialEmotional Learning

Vanessa Lee | Metro Vancouver Regional Parks

Marc Lalonde | Beaufort Children’s Centre

See how place-based education can fulfill the new curricular competencies and big ideas. This hands-on workshop will showcase experiential learning, games, activities, tools, project-based learning ideas, community partners, and funding grants. Please dress to be outdoors in nature for a part of the workshop.

The general public seems to be preoccupied with children learning their literacy and numeracy skills before entering the elementary system. As practitioners, we understand these are skill sets that can only be learned if a child is socially competent and emotionally selfregulated. This interactive workshop will touch on the foundations of social-emotional learning and focus on providing practical suggestions for getting this message across to others.

Connecting Children to Nature

Vanessa’s love of everything ocean to mountains has led to very interesting careers in biology and education. Her diverse journey includes tracking rattlesnakes in provincial parks, Vancouver Aquarium education, teaching in the Richmond School District, and a Master of Ecological Education at SFU. Her most recent work as a Metro Vancouver Regional Parks interpretation specialist allows her to connect her passion for education and nature to people.

This workshop is also offered in Session C.

Science and Literature Jacqueline Mayo | Science World This hands-on workshop will blend literature and science. Literature is often used to inform children about science topics and concepts. We will be using literature and science for exploration and experimentation; it is the perfect way to broaden science literacy.

Jacqueline is the early learning specialist at Science World. She has been a pre-k and kindergarten teacher as well. She has a BA and master’s degree in early childhood education. Jacqueline delivers science workshops around the province to teachers and preschool programs. She develops programs for preschoolers and is the curator of the Kidspace Gallery at Science World in Vancouver.

@thinklangley

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

iPads for ‘Lil Peeps! Part 2

K’s in the World of Math: Make and Take

Kat Mulski | Langley School District

Lisa Jamieson | Surrey School District

Kindergarten children are natural explorers and love to engage in activities that activate their curiosity. Come along and explore the endless possibilities of engaging our youngest learners in a world filled with numbers, shapes, and more. You will not only make a variety of different games and engaging activities to take away with you but you will receive a collection of other ideas to easily make on your own. All you will have to do is say “go” and watch as your students head off into the world of math. Please bring scissors, a glue stick, and a stapler.

Part One is Offered in Session A.

This workshop is also offered in Session A.

Kids Yoga and Mindfulness for Self Regulation Jennie Abbot | Harmony Kids Yoga Come and join us in this exciting workshop offering hands-on activities to easily integrate yoga into your classroom setting. Children’s yoga helps to develop essential tools such as self-regulation, fosters a stronger mind-body connection, and introduces skills that help children find a sense of inner-calm. These yoga tools are gifts that can transform the lives of the children that receive them. Each participant receives The Harmony Kids Yoga Guide for Pre-K and Kindergarten Teachers, with exercises and applications for classroom use.

This workshop is also offered in Session A & C. thinklangley.com

schedule at-a-Glance A: 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM

B: 10:20 AM to 11:50 AM

A Child’s Journey to Understanding “Half”

A Developmental Story of Social Anxiety

Connecting Children to Nature Vanessa Lee

Cross-Cultural Work in Aboriginal Communities Marc Lalonde

Fine Arts and the 100 Languages Kristi Schwandt

Tazmin Manji

Rebecca Mitchell

Guided Math Shelly Gardiner Intervention Games & Activities Randall Klein iPads for ‘Lil Peeps! (Part 1) Kat Mulski Joy of Movement! Tonya Wejr Kids Yoga and Mindfulness Jennie Abbot K’s in the World of Math: Make and Take

Lisa Jamieson

Lovin’the Light Table! Amanda Slade and Lorie McDonald Nature Immersion Lauren MacLean Reggio Beyond Pinterest: The Image of the Child Karen Begley and Amanda Prade

Roots of Empathy Adrianna Austin Shape Monster Heather Purcell and Darcie Yardley Sticks, Stones, and Stories Laura Tomlinson Teaching Children About Art Appreciation and Famous Artists Melody Klassen Waste Away that Waste Sarah Atherton Writing in the Kindergarten Classroom

Wendy Legaarden

Rebecca Mitchell

Guided Math Shelly Gardiner How to Explain the Importance of SEL Marc Lalonde Intervention Games & Activities Randall Klein Introduction to Forest and Nature Schools

Cara Agro

iPads for ‘Lil Peeps! (Part 2) Kat Mulski Joy of Movement! Tonya Wejr Kids Yoga and Mindfulness Jennie Abbot

C: 12:50 PM to 2:20 PM Connecting Children to Nature Vanessa Lee Fostering Resiliency with Indigenous Children and Families Monique Gray Smith

Kids Yoga and Mindfulness Jennie Abbot Loose Parts in Kindergarten Josie Zahn Making Sense of Anxiety in Young Children Pal Manhas

Math Catcher Outreach Program Veselin Jungic More Song Games Noralea Pilgrim and Lee-Andrea Woo Nurturing Inquiring Minds Wendy Legaarden Nurturing Self-Regulating Learners April Pikkarainen Physical Literacy Games & Activities Michael Smith

K’s in the World of Math: Make and Take

Lisa Jamieson

Reggio Beyond Pinterest: The Classroom Environment Karen Begley and Amanda Prade

Nature Immersion Lauren MacLean

Roots of Empathy Adrianna Austin

Oral Language Wendy Legaarden

Take a Walk in the Schoolyard Kathy Nelson

Physical Literacy Games & Activities Michael Smith

Taking Kids Outside Cara Agro

Reggio Beyond Pinterest: An Emergent and Responsive Curriculum Karen Begley and Amanda Prade

Science and Literature Jacqueline Mayo Song-Games to Develop Oral Language

Noralea Pilgrim and Lee-Andrea Woo Sticks, Stones, and Stories Laura Tomlinson Writing in Kindergarten! Rapinder Rai

The Reggio-Inspired Classroom Jen Espin, Leanne Heinrichs, &Vanessa Steunenberg

Using Community Resources and Loose Parts Kristi Schwandt Woodworking for Kids Don Thomson Writing in Kindergarten! Rapinder Rai

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

session PLanninG sHeet Use this page to track which workshops you are interested in while you browse the Connecting the Pieces course catalog. Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve decided on a couple of options, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to visit thinklangley.com to pre-register for your sessions.

A: 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM

B: 10:20 AM to 11:50 AM

C: 12:50 PM to 2:20 PM

For registration assistance please contact Professional Services at 604 530 4060 or by emailing thinklangley@sd35.bc.ca

notes

thinklangley.com

Connecting the Pieces

Oral Language What’s All the Talk About? Wendy Legaarden | Scholastic We know that kindergarten kids can talk! It’s the most powerful learning tool they bring to the classroom. How can we use this talk to support our emergent readers, writers, and thinkers? This session will explore specific strategies to engage your students in active listening, oral participation, posing questions, and meaningful dialogue. A variety of motivating materials and literature connections will be shared to help teachers harness student talk as a learning tool in a planned, purposeful, and engaging way.

Joy of Movement!

Nature Immersion

Tonya Wejr Kick It Up A Notch Academy of Dance

Lauren MacLean | Richmond School District

We all know our younger students love to wiggle. Let’s tap into this and get them moving! Tonya will share some basic steps, rhythm and movement to engage your students with creativity and fun-filled music. Teachers will walk away wiggling with ideas on how to bring movement into their classrooms. This will be an active session requiring full-spirited participation; active clothing is recommended.

Our kindergarten and grade one class has a love for nature! Rain or shine, we go outside everyday to engage in scientific explorations and playful inquiry. We infuse the First People’s Principles of Learning along with other core routines, such as sit spots, observations, and oral storytelling. We will share with you our shape of the day, including our most popular activities and games. Come listen to the journey of the evolution of our outdoor immersion program and then let’s get out of the classroom and practice what we preach!

This workshop is also offered in Session A.

@thinklangley

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

Writing in Kindergarten! Rapinder Rai | Abbotsford School District Teaching writing in kindergarten is a fun and rewarding experience! Rapinder will show you writing in a fun, relaxed, play-based kindergarten classroom. Come and see practical tips on scaffolding these early writers from September to June through photographs and video clips with lessons and examples of students’ work. She will also share ideas to support early writing for English language learners (ELL). Gradually building up to a daily habit of writing can help children learn to look out for and to look forward to opportunities to draw and write from their daily experiences. See how wall-stories and parental support through PALS (Parents as Literacy Supporters) enhance kindergarten writing!

Rapinder is a kindergarten and grade five Punjabi language teacher at Harry Sayers Elementary School in Abbotsford. Rapinder has also taught grade 4/5, half-day kindergarten and ESL. She has run PALS sessions with her kindergarten families since 2002. She has been a facilitator for Immigrant PALS (Parents As Literacy Supporters) Punjabi since 2008, and developed The Punjabi Family Literacy Resource for PALS in Immigrant Communities with 2010 Legacies Now. Rapinder is the author of bilingual English and Punjabi children’s books published by HomeRoots Books. Her passions are family literacy and reaching out to families to support their children’s learning. She has translated and adapted LEAP BC resources into Punjabi for Decoda Literacy Solutions. These resources promote healthy child development designed for families, caregivers and early learning practitioners who engage with young children. Rapinder is also part of the Scribjab team. ScribJab (scribjab.com) is a website and iPad application that permits children to mount bilingual (or multilingual) stories with illustrations and narration.

This workshop is also offered in Session C.

Reggio Beyond Pinterest: An Emergent and Responsive Curriculum Karen Begley and Amanda Prade Surrey School District An emergent/responsive curriculum is when learning is guided by student interest. An emergent approach empowers children to take risks, develop theories, and take ownership. This workshop will address starting points and strategies to support teachers who wish to implement an emergent/responsive curriculum. Highlighting classroom examples and learning stories, we will elaborate on practical strategies and discuss common roadblocks that we face merging a “pedagogy of listening” with our mandated curriculum. This workshop is for those interested in learning more about the Reggio Emilia approach to curriculum.

Karen is a kindergarten teacher at Cougar Creek Elementary in Surrey School District. Focusing on her students’ strengths, interests, and areas for growth, rather than convention, she pursues an innovative, child-centred practice. Karen is passionate about engaging young children with the outdoor environment. She strives to have every learning opportunity and interaction she has with her students be respectful of their identities as capable, inquisitive, creative learners. She enjoys mentoring individuals and groups of teachers through explorations of inquiry-based learning, purposeful pedagogy, and classroom environment. Amanda is a kindergarten teacher in the Surrey School District. She finds peace in carefully listening to and hearing her students, inquiring and interpreting their understandings, and coconstructing the direction of their learning together. Story, drama, play, exploration, and inquiry fill the students’ days as they develop a culture of their own. Amanda has completed a MEd in curriculum design with a focus in educational theory. She deeply believes in the embedded connection between theory and practice. She is influenced and inspired by the imaginations and theories of Loris Malaguzzi, Lev Vygotsky, Elliot Eisner, and Vivian Paley, and — most importantly — each of her students.

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Physical Literacy Games and Activities Michael Smith | PacificSport Fraser Valley Using the Canadian Sport for Life framework, this workshop is designed to provide the tools necessary for anyone delivering programs that provide sport and physical activity opportunities. Through use of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Teaching Games for Understandingâ&#x20AC;? thematic game approach, this practical workshop has been developed to be a training tool with hands-on practice in real situations, progressive game analysis, and application of how to incorporate physical literacy into new and existing programs. This ensures that all participants are enjoying the activities while developing physical literacy.

Michael grew-up in Sarnia, Ontario playing a variety of community sports, including hockey, baseball, and rugby. Eventually, his appetite for all things rugby led him to Rugby Canada in Ottawa where he worked extensively with staff, volunteers, and international sport bodies. As the programs and events coordinator, he helped organize championship events and administrate the coaching/refereeing certification programs. After Rugby Canada, he worked extensively with youth at YMCAs delivering educational and after-school programs. He believes children learn best through fun, interactive and child-centered activities. Over an eight-year period in Japan, he learned that flexibility, creativity, and adaptation are essential components to delivering quality educational programs to children, youth, and adults.

This workshop is also offered in Session C.

Song Games to Develop Oral Language Noralea Pilgrim and Lee-Andrea Woo Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District In this session, teachers will learn a variety of song-games that improve the oral language and literacy skills of children. The games provide opportunities for enjoyable social interactions in which the meaning of the words arise through the context of the actions. Song-games can also be used to develop phonological awareness, social skills, language skills, listening skills, and motor skills. Join us in session C for More Song Games to Develop Oral Language!

Noralea is currently the early learning helping teacher in School District 42 and an in-service faculty associate at SFU, working in the areas of literacy, early learning, and Reggio-inspired practice. Previously, she taught kindergarten and early primary for over 25 years. She is particularly interested in early reading acquisition and music. This workshop is the union of these two areas of passion. Lee-Andrea has been teaching kindergarten for the past 15 years and has mentored for SFUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Learning in the Early Years graduate program. She has always incorporated music as a tool to teach, transition, and play with language. Lee-Andrea and Noralea have presented together on many occasions and the fun they have together is always contagious.

@thinklangley

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

Sticks, Stones, and Stories

Fine Arts and the 100 languages

Laura Tomlinson | Langley School District

Kristi Schwandt | City of Surrey

Come dressed for the weather as we explore the environment, collect treasures, and tell stories. Placebased learning begins with asking questions such as, “Where am I? What is the natural and social history of this place? How does this place fit into the larger world?” In this session, we will look for ways to immerse our students in their local environment, develop a sense of place, and make connections to the new curriculum. When children have repeated exposure to a place, they develop a sense of ownership. Come prepared to spend some time outside.

This is a fun, exploratory, and informative workshop on breaking mediums down to the basics, then looking at extensions based on children’s interests and the project work at hand. We will cover a variety of mediums, how to present them to a young audience, and ways to scaffold their learning and skill-building capabilities.

This workshop is also offered in Session A.

Studying fine arts upon high school graduation, Kristi had a multitude of different careers before finding the profession of ECE. She learned responsive curriculum inspired by Reggio Emilia from teachers who were a part of the first Canadian delegation to Reggio Emilia, Italy, and never looked back. She has been an ECE facilitator for the City of Surrey providing training and support for preschool instructors and is currently designing and remodeling City of Surrey preschool environments while inspiring instructors in the 100 languages.

This workshop is also offered in Session A.

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Session C Friday, Oct 21 - 12:50 PM to 2:20 PM Nurturing Self-Regulating Kids Yoga and Mindfulness for Self Regulation Learners April Pikkarainen | Richmond School District

Jennie Abbot | Harmony Kids Yoga

With the implementation of our redesigned curriculum, self-regulated learning has become a foundation for supporting 21st century learners and inclusion. Our kindergarten and grade one class, the Cedar and Dogwood students, have engaged in the strategic learning cycle to help extend their thinking and learning. Using a variety of iPad applications, students document each other’s work, and have created a community of inquirers and reflective thinkers. Together, we will create a shared understanding of practices that promote self-regulated learning (SRL). We will explore examples of responsive and flexible learning environments, supports that nurture the development of SRL, and activities that empower children to take ownership of their learning. You will come away with some ready-to-use visuals, ideas, and activities. Join us on the journey and adventure of how the Cedar and Dogwood students are becoming selfregulating learners!

Come and join us in this exciting workshop offering hands-on activities to easily integrate yoga into your classroom setting. Children’s yoga helps to develop essential tools such as self-regulation, fosters a stronger mind-body connection, and introduces skills that help children find a sense of inner-calm. These yoga tools are gifts that can transform the lives of the children that receive them. Each participant receives The Harmony Kids Yoga Guide for Pre-K and Kindergarten Teachers, with exercises and applications for classroom use.

April has been a primary teacher in the Richmond School District for six years, and is currently completing her Master of Education program at UBC in the area of self-regulated learning. Her passion in inquiry-based education has guided her practice and allowed her to collaboratively create an open-concept kindergarten classroom that fosters SRL. She believes in nurturing the gifts of each child through a responsive learning environment, and strives to provide a variety of supports that promote the development of multiple intelligences and empower self-regulated learning.

Jennie is the founder and director of Harmony Kids Yoga, bringing yoga and mindfulness to over 200 children a week between the ages of 12 months to 16 years old in Lower Mainland public schools, preschools and day cares, as well as weekly group classes, private sessions for children with special needs and teachers’ workshops. Jennie Abbot is a Registered Yoga Teacher (CYA-RYT200) and Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (CYACYT) trained in Color Me Yoga for Children and Rainbow Kids Yoga for Children. Jennie’s life passion is sharing yoga with children to offer the tools of mindfulness, self-regulation, stressreduction, and the ability to bring harmony to the body, mind and heart so children can lead vibrant and fulfilling lives.

This workshop is also offered in Session A & B.

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Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

Connecting Children to Nature the Outdoor Classroom

Roots of Empathy: Changing the World, Child by Child

Vanessa Lee | Metro Vancouver Regional Parks See how place-based education can fulfill the new curricular competencies and big ideas. This hands-on workshop will showcase experiential learning, games, activities, tools, project-based learning ideas, community partners, and funding grants. Please dress to be outdoors in nature for a part of the workshop.

This workshop is also offered in Session B.

Adrianna Austin | Roots of Empathy Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown significant effectiveness in reducing levels of aggression among school children while raising socialemotional competence and increasing empathy. Join Adrianna around the green blanket with the world’s most “tiny teachers” as she introduces you to this innovative experiential learning technique: the catalyst in helping children identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others.

This workshop is also offered in Session A.

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Connecting the Pieces

More Song Games to Develop Oral Language

Writing in Kindergarten!

Noralea Pilgrim and Lee-Andrea Woo Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District

Teaching writing in kindergarten is a fun and rewarding experience! Rapinder will show you writing in a fun, relaxed, play-based kindergarten classroom. Come and see practical tips on scaffolding these early writers from September to June through photographs and video clips with lessons and examples of students’ work. She will also share ideas to support early writing for English language learners (ELL). Gradually building up to a daily habit of writing can help children learn to look out for and to look forward to opportunities to draw and write from their daily experiences. See how wall-stories and parental support through PALS (Parents as Literacy Supporters) enhance kindergarten writing!

This workshop is designed for participants who have previously attended a song game session and are looking for more song games to add to their repertoire. The games provide opportunities for enjoyable social interactions in which the meaning of the words arise through the context of actions. Song games can also be used to develop phonological awareness, social skills, language skills, listening skills, and motor skills. Please note: if you have not attended a session before, it is recommended you select “Song Games to Develop Oral Language,” offered in Session B.

Noralea is currently the early learning helping teacher in School District 42 and an in-service faculty associate at SFU, working in the areas of literacy, early learning, and Reggio-inspired practice. Previously, she taught kindergarten and early primary for over 25 years. She is particularly interested in early reading acquisition and music. This workshop is the union of these two areas of passion. Lee-Andrea has been teaching kindergarten for the past 15 years and has mentored for SFU’s Learning in the Early Years graduate program. She has always incorporated music as a tool to teach, transition, and play with language. Lee-Andrea and Noralea have presented together on many occasions and the fun they have together is always contagious.

Rapinder Rai | Abbotsford School District

This workshop is also offered in Session B.

@thinklangley

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

Reggio Beyond Pinterest: The Classroom Environment Karen Begley and Amanda Prade Surrey School District In kindergarten, the classroom environment functions as an additional teacher. Carefully designed classroom environments enable and inspire children to become advocates for their own learning. Join us for a workshop to uncover the pedagogical purpose of beautiful spaces and intentional materials of the Reggio Emilia early childhood centres. We will look at many examples, from both Pinterest and early childhood classrooms around the world, to examine why certain elements are included and how they impact learning. We will then discuss how you may consider incorporating some elements into your practice. Participants will leave with some practical ideas about how to set up a classroom environment that inspires both themselves and their students to ask big questions, pursue their interests and share their ideas with others.

Karen is a kindergarten teacher at Cougar Creek Elementary in Surrey School District. Focusing on her students’ strengths, interests, and areas for growth, rather than convention, she pursues an innovative, child-centred practice. Karen is passionate about engaging young children with the outdoor environment. She strives to have every learning opportunity and interaction she has with her students be respectful of their identities as capable, inquisitive, creative learners. She enjoys mentoring individuals and groups of teachers through explorations of inquiry-based learning, purposeful pedagogy, and classroom environment. Amanda is a kindergarten teacher in the Surrey School District. She finds peace in carefully listening to and hearing her students, inquiring and interpreting their understandings, and co-constructing the direction of their learning together. Story, drama, play, exploration, and inquiry fill the students’ days as they develop a culture of their own. Amanda has completed a MEd in curriculum design with a focus in educational theory. She deeply believes in the embedded connection between theory and practice. She is influenced and inspired by the imaginations and theories of Loris Malaguzzi, Lev Vygotsky, Elliot Eisner, Vivian Paley, and — most importantly — each of her students.

thinklangley.com

Connecting the Pieces

Making Sense of Anxiety in Young Children

Take a Walk in the Schoolyard

Pal Manhas | Langley School District

Kathy Nelson | Retired, Langley School District

This interactive workshop is designed for professionals who work with children in a non-counselling or therapeutic relationship. Participants will learn how to recognize anxiety in young children through identifying behaviours associated with anxiety. Participants will gain an understanding of the types of anxiety experienced by children such as separation anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder. Finally, participants will learn about various strategies and community supports for children and families.

Pal Manhas, MEd, is a registered clinical counsellor with more than eight years of counselling experience spanning education; social services; and family and individual counselling for adults, children, and youth; together with experience instructing in early childhood education. Her expertise encompasses prevention, intervention and post-vention to needs assessments, treatment planning, delivery, referrals, and community outreach. Pal Manhas is currently working with the Langley School District as an elementary school counsellor.

“I think schoolyards and the immediate surrounding school grounds tend to be underused resources for ecological learning.” -Gillan Judson This session will use Gillian’s “Walking Curriculum” as a basis for getting students outside to explore the surrounding environment. We will look at some basic research that supports having kids learn outdoors and activities that support the redesigned curriculum in kindergarten and grade one. Current research would indicate that moving children outdoors to learn can have a positive affect on the behaviours in the classroom. You will leave this workshop with some ideas to do with your class that will get them learning outdoors.

Kathy has recently retired from the Langley School District. Throughout 35 years of teaching, she spent 31 years working with grade one, two and three students. For the last four years, she was working with students and teachers K-7 as a district teacher in literacy.

Loose parts in Kindergarten Josie Zahn | Richmond School District What are loose parts? How can you use them in a kindergarten classroom? From story workshop to math, Josie will share her journey of adding “loose parts” into her kindergarten classroom. She will offer practical ideas that will inspire you to begin using loose parts or extend your current use.

Josie has been teaching kindergarten for 18 years in Richmond and is a mom to two boys. She is eager to share her journey through playing with loose parts in a kindergarten classroom and enjoys learning new things from her young students. She has a background in early childhood education, special education, and ELL.

@thinklangley

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

Using Community Resources and Loose Parts Kristi Schwandt | City of Surrey Inspiring room makeovers don’t have to cost a fortune. With community connections and an understanding of the concept of loose parts, the possibilities are endless. Of course, if there is some money, there are many creative ways to make your dollar go further. In this workshop, we will discuss using community resources and loose parts; inexpensive room changes with big impacts; and inspirational ideas to make environments more open ended.

Taking Kids Outside: Feeling Confident in Natural Spaces Cara Agro | Fresh Air Learning & Out and About Adventures Come and learn about the practicalities of running an outdoor classroom. We will explore risk management/ assessment of natural spaces and tips and tricks for keeping everyone comfortable in all weather. Explore how to enhance your time teaching outdoors through active questioning and storytelling.

Cara was born in Hamilton, Ontario. She moved to British Columbia several years ago and continues to be inspired by the beauty of this province. She finds joy in exploring our majestic backyard. Cara is passionate about providing children with an opportunity to feel capable, confident, and curious in the outdoors and hopes to help foster a sense of wonder, and respect for our natural environment. Cara has worked with Fresh Air Learning for four years and has been running Out and About Adventures for one and a half years.

Nurturing Inquiring Minds Wendy Legaarden | Scholastic Kindergarten teachers are first-hand witnesses to the natural curiosity that is part of every student who enters the classroom. This phenomenon is the basis of the citizens of the future described by Harvey and Daniels. By using an inquiry approach in the kindergarten classroom, teachers become facilitators of students as they use their natural curiosity to explore, question, think critically, and problem-solve together. This session will help you understand inquiry and show you how to assume the role of facilitator. You will be given examples of scaffolded lessons, quality literature, and resources that can help students develop personal inquiry and build knowledge.

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Connecting the Pieces

The Reggio-Inspired Classroom

Woodworking for kids Don Thomson | DonCol Nature Products Don will share woodworking kits and other simple projects that are designed specifically for children. His “I Can Build It” kits come with pre-drilled holes, pre-cut pieces and simple assembly which make them ideal for even the youngest of children. All tools and equipment will be provided. We will discuss tool use and safety, construction techniques, class management strategies ,and extension activities. You will build and keep two kits for display in your classroom.

Formerly a Langley teacher for 32 years, Don “retired” in 2011. However, between his own business, working for a local developer and playing with his four grandchildren, he keeps himself pretty busy. In his off-hours, he has a passion for fly fishing, camping, cycling, and travel.

Jen Espin, Leanne Heinrichs,Vanessa Steunenberg Langley School District Bring back the sense of wonder and inspire yourself and your students to think in questions! Join Leanne Heinrichs, Jennifer Espin, and Vanessa Steunenberg as they share Reggio-inspired ideas from their own classrooms and discuss how they align with the new curriculum.

Leanne, Vanessa, and Jennifer have spent the last few years exploring a Reggio-inspired approach in their classrooms. This past January they all had the opportunity to visit Opal School in Portland, Oregon as a means of expanding their knowledge of this approach and look forward to sharing their learning from this inspiring experience.

Physical Literacy Games and Activities Michael Smith | PacificSport Fraser Valley Using the Canadian Sport for Life framework, this workshop is designed to provide the tools necessary for anyone delivering programs that provide sport and physical activity opportunities. Through use of the “Teaching Games for Understanding” thematic game approach, this practical workshop has been developed to be a training tool with hands-on practice in real situations, progressive game analysis, and application of how to incorporate physical literacy into new and existing programs. This ensures that all participants are enjoying the activities while developing physical literacy.

Michael grew-up in Sarnia, Ontario playing a variety of community sports, including hockey, baseball, and rugby. Eventually, his appetite for all things rugby led him to Rugby Canada in Ottawa where he worked extensively with staff, volunteers, and international sport bodies. As the programs and events coordinator, he helped organize championship events and administrate the coaching/refereeing certification programs. After Rugby Canada, he worked extensively with youth at YMCAs delivering educational and after-school programs. He believes children learn best through fun, interactive, and child-centered activities. Over an eight-year period in Japan, he learned that flexibility, creativity, and adaptation are essential components to delivering quality educational programs to children, youth, and adults.

This workshop is also offered in Session B. @thinklangley

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2016

Math Catcher Outreach Program Veselin Jungic | Simon Fraser University The Math Catcher outreach program aims to promote mathematics and scholarship in general by encouraging students to recognize how math is used in everyday life and how it forms the basis for many of our daily decisions and life-long choices. The storytelling, pictures, models, hands-on activities, and animated films encourage young people to enjoy math and help dispel myths that math is boring and abstract. This presentation will focus on the Aboriginal component of the Math Catcher program and it will include a hands-on activity and a projection of an animated film from the Small Number series.

Veselin is a teaching professor in the Department of Mathematics. He is a 3M National Teaching Fellow and a recipient of several teaching awards including the Canadian Mathematical Society Teaching Award and the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences Educational Award. Since 2006 Dr. Jungic has been involved in various teaching and outreach programs for Aboriginal learners. As part of the Math Catcher outreach program, Dr. Jungic has organized six annual Aboriginal Students in Math and Science workshops, three SFU Academic Summer Camps for Aboriginal High School Students, and visited about 140 elementary and high schools across British Columbia. In addition, Dr. Jungic has co-written eight stories about Small Number, an Aboriginal boy who sees and discovers mathematics everywhere. Dr. Jungic has produced 26 animated films based on those stories. Twenty of the films were narrated in First Nations languages including Blackfoot, Cree, Halq’eméylem, Heiltsuk, Hul’q’umi’num’, Huu-ay-aht, Nisga’a, Sliammon, and Squamish languages.

AccomModation Information Ramada Langley/Surrey

19225 Langley Bypass, Surrey, BC, V3S 8V9 Phone: 1 888 576 8388

Please quote ‘Kindergarten Conference’ and book by September 20, 2016. Prices are subject to change after September 20. Cancellations or changes must be made 48 hours prior to arrival. Two Queen Room - $89.00 based on double occupancy All rooms have a mini-fridge as well as a microwave. Included for the group is a complimentary hot buffet breakfast on each morning of your stay which includes a variety of hot and cold items such as eggs and breakfast meats, cold and hot cereals, fresh juices and fruit, pastries and yogurt.

Luggage storage will be available on Friday at Brookswood Secondary for those staying in hotels that must check out in the morning. Access to luggage storage will be limited to 7:30-8:30 AM and 2:15-3:00 PM on Friday. Though luggage will be locked in a room, the Langley School District accepts no responsibility for lost or stolen items.

Please consider carpooling as parking at Brookswood Secondary is limited. thinklangley.com

GEORGE COUROS

THE INNOVATORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MINDSET FALL PRO-D DAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 Register now at thinklangley.com

Taking Literacy Outside with Bonnie Davison from the Victoria Nature School

Friday, October 21 thinklangley.com Each of these seminars is $50 for Langley School District employees and $150 for out-of-district participants.