WELCOME TO THE 2026 CALGARY BEGINNING TEACHERS’ CONFERENCE!
Teachers new to the profession are invited to attend the 2026 Beginning Teachers’ Conference, October 2-3, Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre, Calgary. There is no registration fee. Space is limited; apply early.
School principals, school jurisdictions and local associations work together to provide substitute teacher coverage as per the collective agreement to facilitate the attendance of beginning teachers at the conference.Substitute teacher coverage must be organized and approved in advance. Please ensure you meet with your school principal to discuss release time and obtain the appropriate absence code to attend this conference.
Teachers in charter, federal and private schools must be associate members of the Association to be eligible to attend the Beginning Teachers Conference.
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Beginning teachers gain confidence when they have a small set of reliable, interleaved strategies that make the new Alberta social studies curriculum feel manageable instead of overwhelming. By embedding close reading, annotation, and vocabulary routines into everyday lessons, teachers can help students tackle complex sources, build disciplinary language, and think more critically, without dramatically increasing planning time. In this interactive session, participants will experience and adapt practical, low-prep literacy routines specifically tailored to Alberta's new social studies outcomes, with a focus on sustainability and teacher well-being. Educators will leave with ready-to-use templates, sample activities, and planning moves they can implement immediately, so they feel more confident, better organized, and less at risk of burnout as they launch their careers.
Feeling overwhelmed by the new K–6 Social Studies curriculum? Together, we will unpack the curriculum, explore the foundations of quality social studies learning developed by the ATA Social Studies Council, and examine practical frameworks that can guide planning and instruction. Participants will leave with access to curated book lists, teacher created resources (no need to purchase worksheet bundles!), project ideas and assessment experiences, and connections to organizations, field trips, and educational learning partners that can bring social studies to life in the classroom. Whether you are searching for engaging cross-curricular inquiry opportunities, rich assessment ideas, or simply wondering where to begin, this session will help you navigate the curriculum with greater confidence.
Hey there! I am the CCSD Elementary Social Studies Consultant. Come chat with me about all things new social studies curriculum implementation. I’m also the Calgary President of the ATA Social Studies Council & am eager to connect with K-12 social studies teachers to share resources... Read More →
Friday October 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT Plaza 1
How can foundational shifts toward reconciliation authentically take root in our daily teaching practice? Join educators Omarla Cooke and Mya Penney for an inspiring, deeply personal session that explores the transformative power of collaboration, mentorship, and genuine friendship. Designed specifically for beginning teachers, this session moves beyond theory and policy. Through the art of storytelling and the sharing of their own lived experiences, Omarla and Mya model how diverse cultural backgrounds can weave together to enrich school leadership and classroom community. Participants will engage in holistic learning by exploring traditional Indigenous medicines and cross-cultural literature. The session concludes with a hands-on, experiential grounding activity: crafting a traditional medicine bag to serve as a meaningful, tangible guide for your future teaching practice.
