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.
Sign up or log in to add sessions to your schedule and sync them to your phone or calendar.
Starting your teaching career can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to navigate the endless number of educational technology tools available today. This session is designed specifically for new teachers who want practical, classroom-ready tools without spending hours learning complicated platforms. Participants will explore a curated collection of high-impact digital tools that support the core responsibilities of teaching, including lesson planning, classroom organization, communication, assessment, feedback, content creation, and student engagement. Rather than focusing on technology for technology's sake, this session emphasizes how digital tools can save time, reduce workload, and enhance learning experiences for students. Through demonstrations, classroom examples, and opportunities to explore tools firsthand, attendees will discover how to build an efficient and sustainable digital workflow that works across grade levels and subject areas. Participants will leave with a collection of ready-to-use resources, implementation ideas, and practical strategies they can immediately apply in their own classrooms.
Executive function skills are critical for success both within the school environment and in our lives outside of school. While we are born with the capacity for executive function, these skills need to be modeled, coached, and practiced over the course of our lifetimes if we are to become self-regulated, organized, and collaborative learners. Join us as we explore fundamental knowledge, skills and strategies that support students in developing their executive function. Through this workshop, we will explore executive function skills and development, opportunities to explicitly teach executive function skills, and executive function strength training strategies.
Computer Science is now embedded throughout Alberta's K–6 Science curriculum, but many teachers are unsure where to begin. This session is designed specifically for new teachers who want practical, low-prep ways to bring computer science and computational thinking into their classrooms. Participants will explore what computer science looks like across the elementary grades and discover classroom-ready activities that require little to no prior experience. Through demonstrations, lesson ideas, and examples from real classrooms, attendees will learn how concepts such as algorithms, coding, debugging, pattern recognition, and computational thinking can be taught through both unplugged and digital activities. The session will highlight accessible tools and resources such as Scratch, MakeCode, micro:bit, Minecraft Education, robotics, and unplugged learning experiences while emphasizing practical implementation strategies that fit within a busy teacher's schedule. Participants will leave with a collection of ready-to-use activities, resources, and increased confidence to begin integrating computer science learning into their classrooms immediately.
Teachers understand the challenge of supporting students through big emotions. This session acknowledges that journey and offers a path forward rooted in the latest neuroscience. Inspired by the work of Stuart Shanker, Dr. Bruce Perry, Lori Desautels, and more, you'll learn how to proactively create a classroom environment that fosters co-regulation and resilience for all. Expect practical, hands-on strategies for physical space adjustments, routine enhancements, and responsive practices. This isn't just theory; it's about equipping you with tangible tools to transform your classroom into a haven of calm, connection,
Jennifer's extensive experience, ranging from K-12 classrooms to impactful roles within non-profit organizations, provides her with unparalleled insight into the transformative power of education for all people. A dedicated leader within the Alberta Teachers’ Association as the... Read More →
Saturday October 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT Pineridge
This session is designed for math teachers across elementary and middle school grade levels who are looking for practical ways to increase student engagement in mathematics. Participants will explore a variety of game-based learning strategies, interactive activities, and classroom techniques that make math meaningful, collaborative, and enjoyable for students. The session will include adaptable examples for different grade levels and abilities, along with ideas for promoting critical thinking, participation, and confidence in math. Attendees will leave with games and ideas they can use and immediately implement in their own classrooms.
