BTC 2026 - Calgary: Full Schedule

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.

10:15am MDT

Art Games for Mental Health in the Language Classroom (K-12)

LIMITED

Friday October 2, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am MDT

Plaza 3

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop explores the integration of art-based games to support mental health while fostering language learning. Participants will discover creative, interactive activities that reduce anxiety, build resilience, and enhance communication in the classroom. Drawing from principles of social-emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, and art therapy, this session will equip educators with practical tools to create a safe and engaging environment for students

Speakers

Maria Herrera

Friday October 2, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am MDT
Plaza 3

English Language Arts, Division I, II, III and IV | Inclusion, Division I, II, III and IV

12:30pm MDT

Supporting Struggling Mathematics Students with Evidence Based Pedagogy (1-8)

LIMITED

Friday October 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT

Plaza 3

Limited Capacity seats available

Mathematics achievement has quality of life implications for students who struggle with mathematics and/or have a diagnosed mathematics learning disability. As grade 1-8 educators, we must fully understand the barriers these students must overcome in learning mathematics and the effective practices that can be enacted to better support them. In this session, we off the results of our research on evidence-based intervention strategies that support students who struggles with mathematics. We will discuss the role of explicit instruction related to number sense along with automaticity and fluency. In addition, we will discuss how strategies such as manipulatives, visual representations and schema-based instruction are supporting elements within explicit instruction.

Speakers

Jennifer Steiner

Tanya Braybrook

Council for Inclusive Education

Friday October 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm MDT
Plaza 3

Mathematics, Division I, II, III | Inclusion, Division I, II, III

2:00pm MDT

Bringing Science Fiction into Science Classes (4-12)

LIMITED

Friday October 2, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT

Plaza 3

Limited Capacity seats available

Sometimes engagement in science classes can be something that we struggle to get across all of our students in a science classroom. So how can science fiction (and superheroes, who are arguably a subset within science fiction) brought into your class help out? In this session, Nate Siler, who has taught science at the middle school, high school, and post-secondary levels will look at many various ways that a wide array of science fiction (and superheroes) can be brought into your science classrooms to re-engage those students whose interest sometimes seems to be lost.

Speakers

Nate Siler

Friday October 2, 2026 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Plaza 3

Science, Division II, III and IV

3:30pm MDT

Calgary Separate—Your Representatives and You (Mandatory)

Friday October 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm MDT

Plaza 3

We’re thrilled to have you join us for this session where you’ll have the opportunity to meet and engage directly with your representatives. This is your moment to connect, ask questions and share insights.

Attendance and sign-in for Grant-In-Aid (GIA) to your local.

Locals

Calgary Separate School Local 55

Friday October 2, 2026 3:30pm - 4:15pm MDT
Plaza 3

Hot Topics for Professionals

9:00am MDT

Mathematics: All Are Welcome! All Belong! (K-12)

LIMITED

Saturday October 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Plaza 3

Limited Capacity seats available

Did you get the delightful task to teach mathematics to students? Does the word "fractions" frighten you? Are you worried that you might struggle with teaching mathematics and meeting the diverse needs of your students? This session is for you!!! Whether you are teaching Grade 1 counting or Grade 12 calculus, come and learn some high leverage strategies that will allow all your young mathematicians to flourish! We will work on some intriguing and enjoyable problems, share some ways to reach the edges of your classroom and end with the power of visualization in math class.

Be ready to see math come alive and experience a truly joyful math class.

Speakers

Dave Martin

Past President, Mathematics Council

Dave Martin has a Master’s degree in Mathematics, a background in Education, and an unapologetic love of prime numbers. With over 20 years of experience teaching Grades 6–12, he has worked as a Math and Science Lead Teacher, administrator, post-secondary instructor, and is currently... Read More →

Saturday October 3, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Plaza 3

Mathematics, Division I, II, III and IV

10:30am MDT

Vocabulary Development Across Disciplines (K-12)

LIMITED

Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT

Plaza 3

Limited Capacity seats available

Vocabulary is the single most important aspect of learning a new language! This session introduces teachers at all grade levels to the basic theory of vocabulary teaching and learning, provides a deeper explanation of the theory of vocabulary acquisition, and explores the difference between Basic Interactive Social language (BICS) and Cognitive Academic Language Development (CALP). The presentation culminates with an overview of effective strategies for helping English language learners effectively improve their English vocabulary.

Speakers

Joan Miles

President Elect, Council for English as an Additional Language

Joan Miles has had over 35 years of experience teaching English Language Learners, both internationally and locally. She completed her MA in Language and Diversity (TESL) in 2014. From 2012-2016, Joan worked as an ELL System Specialist with the Calgary Board of Education to support... Read More →

Saturday October 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am MDT
Plaza 3

English Language Learners; Inclusion; Second Languages, Division I, II, III and IV

10:15am MDT

12:30pm MDT

2:00pm MDT

3:30pm MDT

9:00am MDT

10:30am MDT

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