The Importance of Relationships
in Education
Pathways to education: Drawing on the story of Pathways to Education, their extensive teaching experience, and highlights of current neuroscience, Steph and Garry will share how strong relationships foster student engagement, supportive community, and address challenging behaviours. Participants will leave this session empowered to explore how relationships can strengthen their teaching practice.
Building Belonging
Haley Clark: Haley’s presentation will explore innovative and critical research in disability studies that challenge traditional perspectives on disability within education, particularly accessibility and deficit-based understandings. Her presentation will introduce the idea of neurodiversity and strengths-based approaches in education that support belonging and inclusion.
Building Engaging and
Collaborative Thinking
Classrooms
Edith Louie: In this presentation, we will deconstruct the traditional classrooms by getting our students out of their seats and building a collaborative learning environment that promotes thinking and communication. We will explore how to create a safe and supportive learning environment where students are all engaged in thinking critically, reflecting on their learning and working collaboratively with others.
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Fostering a Consent Culture
in the Classroom
Victoria Yu and Rachel Su: Both graduate students at Queen’s and volunteers for Students for Consent Culture Canada-an organization dedicated to supporting anti-sexual violence advocacy and activism on campuses across the settler colonial state known as Canada by serving as a hub of resources, tools, community, and institutional memory for student engagement. In this workshop, we aim to develop and equip delegates with practical resources and strategies that will support educators in creating a culture of consent within the classroom
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Approaches for Sustainability,
Environmental and Outdoor
Education
Elizabeth Maceachren: Her first degree was in Outdoor Recreation and Natural Sciences, before she went on to teach elementary school on isolated First Nations. After obtaining a Masters of Science on a school bus travelling in a consensus community and camping out every night for three years, she returned to teaching and directing camps in Northwestern Ontario for Seven Generations Educational Institute in the Treaty 3 area. She was coordinator the Outdoor & Experiential Education Program at Queen’s University for over two decades and is presently writing a memoir on how at the age of 22 she tried to live a year alone in the wilds of Canada. She will be sharing the many approaches educators use to address the topic of sustainability, environmental and outdoor education.
The Culture of care
Lorne Berger: Join Lorne Berger, a seasoned educator and recipient of the YRDSB Excellence in Teaching Award, for a transformative workshop on building a classroom culture where students feel they matter and belong. Explore practical strategies to foster an environment of care, inclusivity, and high expectations, ensuring every student thrives academically and socially. This session offers actionable insights for creating a positive, empowering classroom that elevates both student engagement and achievement.
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From Camp To Classroom
Toronto Kidz: At Toronto Kidz Camps, we value the diversity of children and their unique interests. Our camp strives to foster environments where curiosity, responsibility and teamwork thrive while providing an authentic multi-activity summer camp experience. Our mission is to create a fun and safe space for children to explore the city of Toronto while building strong relationships with families in our community. We aim to have a lasting and positive impact on the next generation. Join our workshop as we explore camp values and skills that are transferable to the classroom!
Cultivating a Teacher Leadership
Inquiry Stance through Self
Directed Professional Learning
Laura Pugliese-Muir and Dr. Rebecca: This workshop will explore the critical role of teacher leadership, emphasizing the power of inquiry-based approaches. Participants will gain practical insights into how action research that prioritizes teacher self-directed professional learning, can cultivate a teacher leadership mindset that supports both personal and collective continuous improvement and innovation within schools.
