connecting the pieces: pre-k & kindergarten conference 2014

Connectingthe

Pieces Langley School District’s

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference23-24 October 2014

Register nowatthinklangley.com

Featuring:THE OOEY GOOEY LADY ®

AKA LISA MURPHYMAUREEN DOCKENDORFMARC LANDRY

and many moreinspiring speakers!

$50 in-district staff $150 out-of-district

Connecting the Pieces

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Thursday, October 23 • 8:00am - 12:00pmDemonstration Day

• R.C. Garnett Demonstration School • 7096 201 St. • Langley, BC •

Thursday, October 23 • 7:00pm - 9:00pmEvening Presentation

• Brookswood Secondary School • 20902 37A Ave. • Langley, BC •

Pre-K and Kindergarten Teachers Demonstration DayR.C. Garnett Teachers

R.C. Garnett Demonstration School is a place for professionals to meet and collaborate while observing colleagues use current best teaching practices in a full-day kindergarten setting. Play-based learning, balanced literacy and numeracy programs will be shared through developmentally appropriate practices. Additionally, all kindergarten classrooms incorporate opportunities for children to think critically, develop self-regulation and become collaborative learners who reflect on their learning. Come join the “K Crew” for a morning filled with fun and dialogue!

If you would like to attend, you need to arrange a TTOC through your school/district and arrive at R.C. Garnett Demonstration School at 8:00 am to meet with staff and plan your experience. Please note that this event requires unique registration.

The Importance of Early Experience: How Playing is Kindergarten Readiness!Lisa Murphy - The OWoey Gooey Lady ®7:00pm - 9:00pm at Brookswood Secondary School

During this session, Lisa will identify the seven things we need to do with children each day. These seven things make up the foundation that supports the house of higher learning. There is nothing wrong with the academic expectations within this house: reading, writing, math… the trouble is that many early childhood educators are being pressured to build a house where there is no foundation. And you do not need to be an architect to know that if you build where there is no foundation, the house will come crashing down! Playing gets them ready and through an investigation of each of the seven things, Lisa shows you how. This session has become one of Lisa Murphy’s most popular and oft-requested workshops. By making time to create, move, sing, discuss, observe, read and play we are getting children ready not just for kindergarten, but for life!

More on Lisa Murphy can be found on page three.

This presentation is open to all interested. Please note that this event requires unique registration.

Cost: $25

Cost: $25

Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference 2014

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A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amChanging Results for Young Readers Ruth Wiebe | 7perfectdays.com Changing Results for Young Readers

Now two years old, the Changing Results for Young Readers (CR4YR) project has taught us so much about literacy and language development, self-regulation, social-emotional learning, and aboriginal principles of learning. This session will summarize the project and its findings. You will learn how Langley educators have been involved, what they have explored and what they have learned.

Ruth Wiebe, PhD, is a professional inquiry facilitator working with the Changing Results for Young Readers project. Her research focuses on practices for supporting children with dyslexia. She recently retired as assistant superintendent in the Chilliwack School District

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amFine Motor Development & Writing Marc Landry | marclandry.ca Occupational Therapist

Learn about general development, fine motor development, development of grasps & strokes, problems & solutions, fine motor red flags, prerequisites to writing, printing and general teaching principles

Marc has worked as an occupational therapist for over 28 years. He has a private practice in and around Vancouver, where he provides OT services, workshops, and consultation. He most recently worked for Vancouver Coastal Health providing occupational therapy for children in Vancouver schools. He trained and worked in Connecticut for 13 years before relocating to Vancouver. He has one grown son, a four year old grandson and a young granddaughter who also live in Vancouver.

Keynote Address - Lisa Murphy, The Ooey Gooey Lady®8:30 am - 10:00 am at Brookswood Secondary School

In this motivational keynote address, Lisa shares the powerful story of her first day of school. Through active and engaging storytelling Lisa brings you back to her first day, taking you on a grand tour of Miss Mary’s Nursery School. And, in the style she has become famous for, she shares many observations, lessons and anecdotes about how early childhood has changed along the way. Lisa will share the sights sounds and smells of the place where, at the young age of three, she decided to become a teacher and identifies the how, and why, that one day solidified her decision to become an educator. This inspiring keynote gets participants back in touch with their personal how and why. It gets them excited and gets them thinking: if it was their only day, what will they remember?”

Lisa has become known for her ability to link hands-on activities to educational standards, her outspoken advocacy, and her commitment to creating child-centered, play-based early childhood environments. Her understanding of the importance of play is obvious in both her professional and personal life. Lisa Murphy has been involved with early childhood education for over 20 years, teaching and working with children in various environments including Head Start, kindergarten, private preschools, family childcare, park and rec centres, group homes and many child care centres.

What If Today Was Their Only Day?

Friday, October 24 • 8:30am - 10:00amSession A Workshops



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A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amLa Litteratie et la Maternelle! Janet Beattie Abbotsford School District

How can you get your French Immersion kindergarten students speaking in French? How can you build their vocabularies while also teaching the curriculum? This workshop offers participants a month-by-month tool box of activities which build literacy skills and vocabularies simultaneously. This session is well-suited to teachers new to teaching French Immersion kindergarten or for those looking to add new activities to their teaching, as we will discuss activities that span common themes in a kindergarten year. Participants will receive copies of chart poems, songs, little books and big book pages to take back to the classroom and use the next day!

Janet Beattie (B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.) is currently a French Immersion full-day kindergarten teacher in Abbotsford. She has taught learning assistance, half-day kindergarten, grade one and grade two in French Immersion, and loves integrating thematic units across the curriculum. She is known for being upbeat and organized, and loves sharing ideas with other teachers so much that she was selected to attend the Teachers Institute in Ottawa in 2012.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amKs Off into the World of Math 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. Take a look at different strategies to promote numeracy development by using a vast array of hands-on and engaging activities. You will not only view a variety of samples and make some to take home but will also receive a handout with ideas and ready to use activities to enhance your program. All you will have to do is say “go” and watch as they head off into the world of math.

Lisa Jamieson 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.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amExploring Story Workshop Louesa Byrne | @ElleBeeBC Richmond School District

What stories can be found when children are given time to play and explore with engaging materials? How might oral language be captured and honoured? Join Louesa for this informative workshop to find out!

Louesa Byrne is a primary teacher in Richmond, BC, with 8 years of experience. Louesa has spent the last 5 years working in K and K/1 classrooms and recently completed an Early Years Education Diploma at UBC. Over the last few years Louesa’s teaching style has been increasingly influenced by the Reggio Emilia philosophy: thinking of the classroom environment as “the third teacher”, using natural materials to inspire and create, allowing students to represent their thinking in a multitude of ways, and keeping the image of the child at the centre of her planning, assessment and documentation.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amGateway to Books and Play Lorie McDonald Surrey School District Lillian Kocmaruk Burnaby School District

Explore invitations that link books to play. Come and discover books that connect literacy to areas of learning and introduce hands on play based activities. Leave inspired with new simple ideas to implement in your classroom. Provocations of art, math, sensory and more will be linked to selected books. We look forward to sharing ideas and encourage participants to bring their own camera.

Lillian Kocmaruk and Lorie McDonald both currently work as Strong Start facilitators for both Burnaby and Surrey School Districts. With their passion for early learning they have successfully presented many workshops together for teacher and ECE educators in many districts throughout the province.


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A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amInquiry: Learning Begins in Wonder Adema Romano Burnaby School District

Imagine: You receive a letter from a polar bear named Nanuk. She writes, “I am in great danger! Changes are happening in my home. I am so scared for me and my cubs.” Do you have questions? Children have many! Do you want to help Nanuk? Children do! Inquiry-based units can begin with a thought-provoking problem or question. Children are naturally curious; they develop questions, which lead to discussion, experimentation, connections and reflection. Inquiry-based learning is cross-curricular, active, and exploratory. The focus of this session is to provide real classroom examples of how to catalyze, guide, and be inspired by inquiry in the early primary classroom. Adema will share her K/1 Inquiry units on polar bears and climate change, and frogs and wetland destruction.

Adema Romano teaches at the kindergarten/primary level in the Burnaby School District. She became drawn to inquiry-based practices when she noticed curiosity as a prevalent trait in so many of her students, regardless of background or abilities. She presented at the 2013 Connecting the Pieces: Pre-K and Kindergarten Conference, and is eager to share her Inquiry experiences at the conference again this year. She wishes to continue discussing and sharing ideas and resources with others dedicated to the teaching profession.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amKick it Up with Ks! Morgan McQueen Dance Instructor

Enter the world of movement in this exciting opportunity to incorporate music and dance in your classroom. Learn the fundamentals of various mediums such as ballet, jazz and hip hop. In addition explore dance through reading where you will learn the tools to help your students express characterization such as animals and nature.

Morgan McQueen emerged within the dance world at the young age of three excelling in styles such as Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre and Lyrical. A couple of her highlights include Co-ordinator of the Vancouver Giants Dance team and performing with Carnival Cruise Lines. She was also asked to be a part of the ‘05 Canadian National Tap Team competing in Reisa, Germany. She was extremely successful placing seventh, women’s solo category and second place in group. On top of Morgan’s evolving dance career she takes time to stay true to her love of dance by teaching at various dance studios.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amCreative Circle Time: Book to Felt Heather Purcell & Darcy Yardley creativecircletime.com Creative Circle Time

You’ve been asking for more books to be made into felt stories so here we go! Come and see all the stories we have been working on. You’ll recognize some of our superstars—Pete the Cat and Elephant and Piggie just to drop a couple of names! You will leave with templates for all of them. Come prepared to cut with sharp scissors and a flat surface to carry home your wet felt pieces.

Heather Purcell has been in the ECE field since 1989. After completing her ECE and I/T training at Langley College, Heather has worked in all capacities of the Early Childhood field. Currently, Heather facilitates Strong Start classes in Abbotsford. Darcie Yardley 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! Please visit creativecircletime.com for more info.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amiPads in the Classroom Joe Ducklow | @mrducklow | Mrducklow.weebly.com Langley School District

Join Joe Ducklow to learn tips and tricks for using iPads in general. Joe will also share ways for students to use iPads to document what they are learning.

Mr. Ducklow is currently a kindergarten and technology teacher at Lynn Fripps. He has two wonderful boys whom he loves chasing and wrestling with.

Session also offered in blocks B and C

Session also offered in block B


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A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amWiggle While You Learn Roberta Rovtar & Carmen Bryant Early Literacy Team

Movement and music are powerful teaching tools. You can use action songs to teach colours, alphabet, dinosaurs and a variety of themes. In this session you will learn many kid tested singing games, dances and movement activities for the early primary grades. This is a very practical workshop with many great ideas for using a child’s desire to wiggle for positive purposes. Be prepared to have fun!

Roberta Rovtar and Carmen Bryant have been teaching the early primary grades for over 30 years. They have been combining music and literacy in their classrooms and found it to be an effective learning tool in kindergarten and year one programs. Their workshops are rich in songs movement, poetry and dance to engage all learning styles.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amUsing Skype in the Classroom Ashley Wong | @MrsWong_A | westlangleykindergarten.weebly.com Langley School District Stephanie Mace | @Mrs_Smace | mrsmace.weebly.com Surrey School District

Explore one of the many ways you can engage and motivate your students to get them directly involved in their learning. You will learn how to incorporate Skype as a tool for learning and the many ways you can connect and share in our global community. We will discuss the ways in which we use Skype in our classrooms and how you can easily get started using it in yours! Please bring your own device, such as a laptop or tablet.

Ashley Wong has worked in the Langley School District for three years. She has primarily taught kindergarten and grade one. Stephanie Mace has worked in the Surrey School District for three years. She has primarily taught grades one and two. Both teachers use Skype in the classroom on a weekly basis and share a passion for integrating technology as a tool for learning. They are constantly learning new ways to share student learning on a global scale. Both teachers are currently working towards their graduate studies at SFU and are developing their teaching around inquiry-based learning.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amGetting Funky with Phonological Awareness Tazmin Manji Langley School District

We all know the strong relationship between phonological processing skills and reading, but do we all know the funky ways to incorporate it into the classroom, so as to individualize and assess on an on-going basis? Come join in the fun as we look at various activities and strategies to meet each learner’s needs. Be prepared to not only leave “phonologically aware”, but with tunes that will have you singing in the shower!

Tazmin Manji is passionate educator who currently teaches at RC Garnett Elementary. She loves to take sound research and infuse into classrooms, so that each child can reach their learning potential. She is a firm believer in inspiring fluid and dynamic learning environments where children take the lead with their learning journey!

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amCreating Trash Avengers Ashley Aune | @LEPS_Langley www.leps.bc.ca LEPS

No one likes garbage. Turn junk into art, learn where our garbage goes, discover how worms are designed to process organic waste and explore the wonders of waste reduction through simple, powerful activities and games for use with children in your classrooms. All activities can easily be integrated with core elementary subjects to provide meaningful applications of learning outcomes.

This workshop is offered by Langley Environmental Partners Society. LEPS aims to deliver curriculum based programs that are integrated with the Environmental Learning and Experience framework established by the Ministry of Education.



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A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amShakespeare as Child’s Play Mary Hartman | bardonthebeach.org Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival

Shakespeare in kindergarten? Absolutely! Mary Hartman of Bard on the Beach offers engaging activities to introduce even the youngest students to Shakespeare’s stories, characters and language. We’ll visit an enchanted wood and a magical island, where we’ll meet Kings, Queens, fairies, sprites and magicians where everyone gets to play a part.

Mary Hartman is director of education at Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. She has acted in and directed dozens of Shakespeare plays and given students of all ages the opportunity to play Shakespeare. At Bard on the Beach, Mary leads a team of teaching artists in fulfilling our mission to inspire our community through dynamic, engaging experiences of Shakespeare’s language. Before moving to BC, she offered professional development workshops for classroom teachers from Massachusetts to Mississippi, and was project director for the National Institute on Teaching Shakespeare.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amLearning with Physical Activity Action Schools! BC Facilitator | actionschoolsbc.ca Action Schools! BC

In this session, participants will learn about and try physical activities that can contribute to brain function and development and assist students and teachers with self-regulation. The BrainDance lesson in the Action Schools! BC Physical Activity Action Resource will be highlighted and participants will also learn to identify brain building and regulating movements in other physical activities including Tai Chi, juggling, yoga and dance. Complimentary teacher resources including the new Self-Regulation DPA Pages! from Action Schools! BC will be provided.

Your presenter is excited to be an advocate and Regional Trainer for Action Schools! BC, an initiative designed to assist schools in creating individualized action plans to promote healthy living while achieving academic outcomes. As a local educator for many years, your trainer is passionate about bringing Action Schools! BC to schools throughout British Columbia and providing more opportunities for more children to make healthy choices more often.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amWilderness Wednesday Lauren MacLean Richmond School District

Looking for ways on how to invoke a sense of wonder about nature? Rain or shine, our K/1 classroom has been using our urban surroundings as a third classroom. Incorporating science, socials, art, math and storytelling into our outdoor adventures has been a year long goal. Watch student-made videos, listen to inspiring stories, and then walk away with easy-to-use lesson ideas.

Ms. MacLean is a kindergarten teacher in the Richmond District. She believes that the most important aspect of early childhood education is to foster creativity, wonder and curiosity. Ms. MacLean graduated with her Masters of Educational Practice in 2013 and she uses this knowledge of documenting oral language in her outdoor work. Inspired by the book Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv, she has initiated a Wilderness Wednesday program where the majority of the day is spent outside. Natural elements are also abundant in her classroom which helps foster a sense of calmness.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amGenius Hour in K-3 Tracy Cramer | @tracyacramer Langley School District Danielle Bennett | @Danielle807 Chilliwack School District

When students are given the chance to learn about topics of interest to them, they become so much more passionate about learning. Students can do amazing things without teacher support when taught how to make a realistic plan and given the time to achieve their goals. How do you get students to come up with topics that are worthwhile? How can you manage so many projects at the same time? What do you do when kids are stuck? How do you ensure students finish on time? Come find out!

Tracy is a kindergarten/grade one teacher that is passionate about using technology to engage and support student learning. She has been encouraging other teachers to step outside of their comfort zone with genius hour in the Primary classroom...little people can do big things!Danielle began her teaching career in Prince George before moving on to the Rocky Mountain School District and presently teaching in Chilliwack. She has taught grades K-7 but loves her current placement as a kindergarten teacher at Tyson Elementary School where she has been for three years. Finding new ways to engage students in learning is an ongoing process that has brought Danielle to the worlds of technology, inquiry and genius hour.



Session also offered in blocks B and C


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BC: 10:20 am - 2:20 pmMy Brain Doesn’t Work That Way! Marc Landry | marclandry.ca Occupational Therapist

Understand more of the senses. Learn more about sensory processing, how it changes from person to person, and how it affects how we feel and how we act. Learn how to identify and meet a child’s sensory needs based on Neurological Threshold Continuum. Understand the human stress response system and its impact on learning, behaviour, function. Learn to teaching self-regulation (the Alert Program) and how this differs from emotional regulation. Using sensory and motor input, manage levels of arousal - sensory diet. Marc will also provide practical suggestions to help kids calm down as well as how to incorporate collaborative problem solving and heavy work

Marc has worked as an occupational therapist for over 28 years. He has a private practice in and around Vancouver, where he provides OT services, workshops, and consultation. He most recently worked for Vancouver Coastal Health providing occupational therapy for children in Vancouver schools. He trained and worked in Connecticut for 13 years before relocating to Vancouver. He has one grown son, a four year old grandson and a young granddaughter who also live in Vancouver.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amWorries & Wonders Rebecca Mitchell, M.A., R.C.C. | lapointepsychology.com The Wishing Star

What has happened that our children are so full of worry? And what shifts need to occur for us as adults to be able to turn worry about the uncontrollable into wonder about the possibilities? Our efforts can turn almost frantic as we try to glean helpful, supportive information from the unmanageable amount available online and elsewhere. Too often this results in ‘quick fix’ approaches to ‘solving’ anxiety, rather than inviting a gentle, contemplative approach that is informed by the science of child development. We will discuss the roots of anxiety and use our this understanding to inform responses and supports for struggling children. The goal will be to provide participants with a developmentally sensitive approach to understanding worry and transforming it into wonder.

Rebecca Mitchell has a Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. She joins The Wishing Star team with over 19 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.

A: 8:30 am - 10:00 amPrintmaking 1 2 3 Brenna Maag Art Educator

Learn how to turn scraps of wood, fun foam, string, and household objects into printmaking tools that encourage creative exploration. Printmaking is an excellent way to teach patterns, repetition, shapes, textures and colour theory. Take home samples and lots of lesson ideas.

Brenna Maag is a visual artist and art educator. She works as an artist in residence in schools giving workshops in mixed media, printmaking, and textiles.



Friday, October 24 • 10:20 am - 2:20 pmSession BC Workshops



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B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amCreative Story Telling Rosemary Wallace Freedom Arts Collective

Mixed media and found materials will be used to create a personalized book. This process is like visual journaling. The result will be a compilation of a materials used repeatedly throughout the created story. The end result will be a little personalized book to take away in order to share this experience and create with your students on Monday morning.

Rosemary Wallace is a local artist who has contributed to many school arts initiatives working with children to create murals and design sets for plays. Rosemary served on the Langley Arts Council as the president and program coordinator. She believes that creativity enhances learning outcomes and the mental health of the individual. Rosemary has contributed in Langley and Vancouver in arts and culture for many years and has delighted in supporting creative expression.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amFundamental Movement Skills Action Schools! BC Facilitator | actionschoolsbc.ca Action Schools! BC

Learn and try easy to implement indoor and outdoor physical activity circuits that emphasize the development of fundamental movement skills (jumping, catching, throwing and balance, etc.) and contribute to physical literacy. Activities like skipping, dance, playground games, stretching and sport-specific skills will be shared. Participants will qualify their school for complimentary support resources after the workshop.


B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amLiving the Kindergarten Life Lisa Jamieson Surrey School District

The kindergarten day is an amazing time that can be filled with endless possibilities. From the moment they walk in the door to the last goodbye, explore a variety of hands-on and engaging activities that will support and strengthen your program in all curricular areas. Not only will you take a journey through a kindergarten day but you will receive samples and a handout with many ready to use activities for your classroom.

Lisa Jamieson 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.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amPlaying with Language Ruth Hodgins SFU Sessional Instructor

Phonological awareness, print awareness, and oral language development are three essential areas associated with emergent literacy success. By creating early literacy experiences that are playful, children are naturally engaged in joyful learning. In this practical session you will:

-experience fun and engaging ways of integrating oral language, print and phonological awareness activities into your classroom program;-learn about the role of oral language, print and phonological awareness;-leave with easy, playful and engaging activities to foster oral language development and phonological and print awareness.

Ruth Hodgins is a sessional instructor at Simon Fraser University and a literacy consultant. She is passionate about reading instruction and helping teachers design effective teaching for all students.

Session also offered in block C


Friday, October 24 • 10:20 am - 11:50 amSession B Workshops



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B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amInquiry: Living Things Aleyna Golinsky SFU PDP Graduate

Aleyna’s love of inquiry started when she expressed interest in using the inquiry-based learning model in her kindergarten class and was met with strong words of caution as her colleagues didn’t think her classroom full of high needs students and diverse backgrounds would be able to form “good” questions. Aleyna persisted, while following Kath Murdoch’s inquiry-based learning model to lead her class through the most amazing journey! During the workshop, Aleyna will offers a fun example of a successful inquiry unit and will provide hands-on steps strategies for your first, second or hundredth unit. There will also be time to discuss and share each other’s inquiry experiences.

Aleyna recently received her Bachelors of Education and Professional Development Program certificate from Simon Fraser University. Aleyna has experience incorporating engaging inquiry based learning strategies into her cross curricular units. Recently Aleyna received recognition from her colleagues and administers for her ability to inspire high level questioning and deeper understanding within her kindergarten class. Aleyna followed Kath Murdoch’s inquiry based learning model of tuning in, finding out, sorting out, going further, making conclusions and taking action.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amI Have An iPad...Now What? Ashley Wong | @MrsWong_A westlangleykindergarten.weebly.com Langley School District Riki O’Byrne | @RikiOByrne obyrnebentleyclass.weebly.com Langley School District

Riki and Ashley are two primary teachers who will share their journey of integrating technology in their classroom. They will share how they started a few years ago and where they are now. You will have an opportunity to explore, hands on, some apps they use in the classroom setting and discover ways to adapt them to your own educational situation. Please bring an iPad if you have one. If not, iPads will be provided.

Ashley Wong has worked in the Langley School District for three years. She has primarily taught kindergarten and Grade 1. Riki O’Byrne has worked in the Langley School District for 24 years. She has primarily taught grades 2 and 3. It is only within the last few years that they have both explored technology in the classroom and discovered it’s endless possibilities. They are excited to share what they have learned so far. Both teachers recently presented “I Have an iPad... Now What?” at the Walnut Grove feeder schools Pro-D Day.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amKick It Up with Ks! Morgan McQueen Dance Instructor



B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amCreative Circle Time: Book to Felt Heather Purcell & Darcie Yardley creativecircletime.com Creative Circle Time

You’ve been asking for more books to be made into felt stories so here we go! Come and see all the stories we have been working on. You’ll recognize some of our superstars—Pete the Cat and Elephant and Piggie just to drop a couple of names! You will leave with templates for all of them. Come prepared to cut with sharp scissors and a flat surface to carry home your wet felt pieces.

Heather Purcell has been in the ECE field since 1989. After completing her ECE and I/T training at Langley College, Heather has worked in all capacities of the Early Childhood field. Currently, Heather facilitates Strong Start classes in Abbotsford. Darcie Yardley 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! Please visit creativecircletime.com for more info.Session also offered in block A

Session also offered in block CSession also offered in block C

Session also offered in blocks A and C


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B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amLes Centres de Litteratie Janet Beattie Abbotsford School District

Learn to organize literacy centres in your full-day kindergarten classroom that use your time efficiently while optimizing student learning. A variety of literacy centre ideas will be presented, and blackline masters for some centres will be shared. Bring your ideas! This will be a great opportunity to share what works in your classroom with others and create a large master list of centres to rotate through during the school year.

Janet Beattie (B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.) is currently a French Immersion full-day kindergarten teacher in Abbotsford. She has taught learning assistance, half-day kindergarten, grade one and grade two in French Immersion, and loves integrating thematic units across the curriculum. She is known for being upbeat and organized, and loves sharing ideas with other teachers so much that she was selected to attend the Teachers Institute in Ottawa in 2012.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amMove It! Anne Thomson | @annethomson1984 mamquamstudio.com Sea to Sky School District

Anne Thomson (B.Mus, B.Ed, M.Ed) has been making music, dancing, and celebrating make-believe with students from kindergarten through grade seven for the past 22 years. Her passion is finding ways to integrate the arts into our daily lives. Anne will explore strategies for movement with our earliest learners. You will go home with a CD of great music for moving, along with a handout of ideas and lessons. Come dressed to move!

An elementary school teacher in Squamish since 1991, Anne Thomson has taught K-7 performing arts at Mamquam Elementary School since 1997. She has been the SD#48 Fine Arts Coordinator and is currently part of the Infusion Arts in Education pilot program through ArtStarts B.C. Anne holds both a B.Mus and B.Ed degree from UBC as well as an M.Ed in Music Education from UVic.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amConnecting Children with Nature Professional Park Interpreter Metro Vancouver Regional Parks

Discover how to enrich children’s outdoor experiences with simple, powerful nature activities used by Metro Vancouver Park Interpreters. Direct contact with nature helps children develop a caring attitude for the environment, and positively affects their development. This workshop will introduce you to a variety of fun and engaging games to inspire you to take your children outside to the school yard or any natural area in your community. Our sensory-based approach has been connecting students and teachers with nature since 1977. Resources will be provided via e-mail. Please wear clothing suitable for the weather as we are going outdoors!

Your Professional Park Interpreter with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks combines formal education in environmental science with years of professional experience in park interpretation and recreation programming, delivering outdoor programs for children and adult groups in a wide range of sites, programming conditions, and for an array of audience interests and objectives. Your host specializes in applying activities and lesson plans for multiple audience learning styles and abilities.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amGenius Hour in K-3 Tracy Cramer | @tracyacramer Langley School District Danielle Bennett | @Danielle807 Chilliwack School District

When students are given the chance to learn about topics of interest to them, they become so much more passionate about learning. Students can do amazing things without teacher support when taught how to make a realistic plan and given the time to achieve their goals. How do you get students to come up with topics that are worthwhile? How can you manage so many projects at the same time? What do you do when kids are stuck? How do you ensure students finish on time? Come find out!

Tracy is a kindergarten/grade one teacher that is passionate about using technology to engage and support student learning. She has been encouraging other teachers to step outside of their comfort zone with genius hour in the Primary classroom...little people can do big things!Danielle began her teaching career in Prince George before moving on to the Rocky Mountain School District and presently teaching in Chilliwack. She has taught grades K-7 but loves her current placement as a kindergarten teacher at Tyson Elementary School where she has been for three years. Finding new ways to engage students in learning is an ongoing process that has brought Danielle to the worlds of technology, inquiry and genius hour.

Session also offered in block ASession also offered in block C


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14 @thinklangley

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amShakespeare as Child’s Play Mary Hartman | @ bardonthebeach.org Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival

Shakespeare in kindergarten? Absolutely! Mary Hartman of Bard on the Beach offers engaging activities to introduce even the youngest students to Shakespeare’s stories, characters and language. We’ll visit an enchanted wood and a magical island, where we’ll meet Kings, Queens, fairies, sprites and magicians where everyone gets to play a part.

Mary Hartman is director of education at Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. She has acted in and directed dozens of Shakespeare plays and given students of all ages the opportunity to play Shakespeare. At Bard on the Beach, Mary leads a team of teaching artists in fulfilling our mission to inspire our community through dynamic, engaging experiences of Shakespeare’s language. Before moving to BC, she offered professional development workshops for classroom teachers from Massachusetts to Mississippi, and was project director for the National Institute on Teaching Shakespeare.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amThe Growing Classroom! Ashley Aune | @LEPS_Langley leps.bc.ca Langley Environmental Partners Society

Gardening gets kids outside and involves them in hands-on learning and discovery. It promotes physical activity, understanding of local and global food systems, and an appreciation for eating healthy. Discover activities for teaching science, environmental awareness, and nutrition in a classroom setting, and get tips on how to establish a living laboratory, like a garden in your schoolyard. All activities can easily be integrated with core subjects to provide meaningful applications of learning outcomes.

This workshop is being offered by Langley Environmental Partners Society. LEPS aims to deliver curriculum based programs that are integrated with the Environmental Learning and Experience framework established by the Ministry of Education.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amPrintmaking 1 2 3 Brenna Maag Art Educator

Learn how to turn scraps of wood, fun foam, string, and household objects into printmaking tools that encourage creative exploration. Printmaking is an excellent way to teach patterns, repetition, shapes, textures and colour theory. Take home samples and lots of lesson ideas.

Brenna Maag is a visual artist and art educator. She works as an artist in residence in schools giving workshops in mixed media, printmaking, and textiles.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amWiggle While You Learn Roberta Rovtar & Carmen Bryant Early Literacy Team

Movement and music are powerful teaching tools. You can use action songs to teach colours, alphabet, dinosaurs and a variety of themes. In this session you will learn many kid tested singing games, dances and movement activities for the early primary grades. This is a very practical workshop with many great ideas for using a child’s desire to wiggle for positive purposes. Be prepared to have fun!

Roberta Rovtar and Carmen Bryant have been teaching the early primary grades for over 30 years. They have been combining music and literacy in their classrooms and found it to be an effective learning tool in kindergarten and year one programs. Their workshops are rich in songs movement, poetry and dance to engage all learning styles.

Session also offered in block A




thinklangley.com 15

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amSelf-Regulation Activities Lynne Cox Parent Educator

This fun-filled, interactive workshop will show how children use their creative ability to build strategies for themselves, support one another and develop a respectful, kind, and caring classroom community. Learn practical, uplifting ways to help children self-regulate their behavior. Lynne will offer self-awareness concepts and activities that are designed to inspire and encourage children to use their imagination as they learn through playful interactions. These activities demonstrate social and emotional learning concepts that include the following skills: self-awareness, self-management, motivation, social awareness and responsibility. Throughout this workshop, Lynne will share teachers’ experiences while using these lessons with their kindergarten students. You will hear examples and stories of how the children demonstrated kindness and caring towards others. Working with these activities helps children believe in themselves while creating a cooperative teaching environment.

Lynne Cox has been a parent and parent educator for over thirty years. She has spent fifteen years co-creating parenting programs at Port Coquitlam Family Studies and Maple Ridge Family Education Centre and fifteen years in private practice, passionately sharing what she has learned with teachers.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amThe BC Education Story Maureen Dockendorf BC Ministry of Education

The proposed Ministry of Education redesign of curriculum, assessment and reporting places the learner at the center and builds on the strengths/gifts each learner brings to innovative learning environments. Maureen will outline the proposed 21st century changes including the development of BC’s competencies that focus on educating the heart and the mind to support success in life for all learners.

Maureen Dockendorf is Superintendent of Literacy and Numeracy for British Columbia’s Ministry of Education. She works closely with the Ministry of Education to support transformational change within BC’s education system. Maureen is currently leading a province-wide initiative entitled, “Changing Results for Young Readers,” and continues to work with BC’s government to redesign curriculum, assessment and reporting. Maureen has an unwavering commitment to public education and to success for all learners.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amSong Games for Oral Language Noralea Pilgrim Simon Fraser University Lee-Andrea Woo Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows School District

Back by popular demand! 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. Some highlights from last year were: “Penny Song,” “Punchinella,” “Rig-a-Jig-Jig,” and “Bluebird.”

Noralea is currently the early learning facilitator in School District 42 and a faculty associate at SFU. For over 25 years, she taught kindergarten and early primary. She is particularly interested in early reading acquisition and music. This workshop unites these two areas of passion.Lee-Andrea has been teaching kindergarten for over 12 years and has been a guest speaker for Noralea’s SFU cohorts. 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.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amWilderness Wednesday Lauren MacLean Richmond School District




Session also offered in blocks A and C


16 @thinklangley

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amWorries & Wonders Rebecca Mitchell, M.A., R.C.C. | lapointepsychology.com The Wishing Star

What has happened that our children are so full of worry? And what shifts need to occur for us as adults to be able to turn worry about the uncontrollable into wonder about the possibilities? Our efforts can turn almost frantic as we try to glean helpful, supportive information from the unmanageable amount available online and elsewhere. Too often this results in ‘quick fix’ approaches to ‘solving’ anxiety, rather than inviting a gentle, contemplative approach that is informed by the science of child development. We will discuss the roots of anxiety and use our this understanding to inform responses and supports for struggling children. The goal will be to provide participants with a developmentally sensitive approach to understanding worry and transforming it into wonder.

Rebecca Mitchell has a Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. She joins The Wishing Star team with over 19 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.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amWriting in Kindergarten! Rapinder Rai | homerootsbooks.com 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 student’s work. She will 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 about from their daily experiences. See how wall-stories and parental support through PALS (Parents as Literacy Supporters) enhance kindergarten writing!

Rapinder Rai is a Kindergarten and Punjabi Language Teacher at Harry Sayers Elementary School in Abbotsford, BC. She has run PALS sessions with her Kindergarten families since 2002. She was a facilitator for Immigrant PALS (Parents As Literacy Supporters) Punjabi for six years, 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 - HomeRoots Books. Her passions are Family Literacy and reaching out to families to support their children’s learning.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amBrain Development for Reading Ruth Wiebe | @ 7perfectdays.com Changing Results for Young Readers

The experiences of young children significantly impact the areas of the brain used in reading. What have we learned about the reading brain? What happens in early childhood? How can educators support children toward future literacy?

Ruth Wiebe, PhD, is a professional inquiry facilitator working with the Changing Results for Young Readers project. Her research focuses on practices for supporting children with dyslexia. She recently retired as assistant superintendent in the Chilliwack School District.

B: 10:20 am - 11:50 amClass Community & Social Media Stacey Garrioch-Pickles @garrioch | sgarrioch.wordpress.com Fraser Cascade School District

Wondering how to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media to connect your parents to your classroom? Both families and your classroom will benefit from the relations that are formed through social media.

Stacey has been teaching for 14 years and has been teaching kindergarten since 2011. Stacey enjoys using technology as a personal and a classroom learning tool. She is also an avid user of self-regulation techniques and learning through play.




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C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmClass Community & Social Media Stacey Garrioch-Pickles @garrioch | sgarrioch.wordpress.com Fraser Cascade School District

Wondering how to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media to connect your parents to your classroom? Both families and your classroom will benefit from the relations that are formed through social media.

Stacey has been teaching for 14 years and has been teaching kindergarten since 2011. Stacey enjoys using technology as a personal and a classroom learning tool. She is also an avid user of self-regulation techniques and learning through play.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmBricks 4 Kidz Stephanie Bueso | bricks4kidz.com/surreynorth Bricks 4 Kidz-Surrey North

Travel back to your childhood and see what Bricks 4 Kidz is all about! We learn, we build and we play with motorized LEGO bricks.

Bricks 4 Kidz is an after school program that offers STEM based engineering classes that we bring right to your school! Students will design and build models using our exclusive LEGO Technic kits and instructions. Most of our models use motors, so kids can see their creations come to life. A one hour class includes a lesson taught by a trained teacher, a model building session and creative play time at the end of class.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmConnecting Children with Nature Professional Park Interpreter Metro Vancouver Regional Parks

Discover how to enrich children’s outdoor experiences with simple, powerful nature activities used by Metro Vancouver Park Interpreters. Direct contact with nature helps children develop a caring attitude for the environment, and positively affects their development. This workshop will introduce you to a variety of fun and engaging games to inspire you to take your children outside to the school yard or any natural area in your community. Our sensory-based approach has been connecting students and teachers with nature since 1977. Resources will be provided via e-mail. Please wear clothing suitable for the weather as we are going outdoors!

Your Professional Park Interpreter with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks combines formal education in environmental science with years of professional experience in park interpretation and recreation programming, delivering outdoor programs for children and adult groups in a wide range of sites, programming conditions, and for an array of audience interests and objectives. Your host specializes in applying activities and lesson plans for multiple audience learning styles and abilities.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmCreative Circle Time: Fall Book Heather Purcell & Darcie Yardley creativecircletime.com Creative Circle Time

Join Heather and Darcie for a very full workshop on fall themed circle time felt stories and songs. Discover new unique stories about squirrels, familiar songs and stories about leaves and pumpkins as well as unique and original stories about scarecrows and many more! As always, bring sharp scissors and a flat surface to carry home your wet felt pieces.

Heather Purcell has been in the ECE field since 1989. After completing her ECE and I/T training at Langley College, Heather has worked in all capacities of the Early Childhood field. Currently, Heather facilitates Strong Start classes in Abbotsford. Darcie Yardley 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! Please visit creativecircletime.com for more info.



Friday, October 24 • 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmSession C Workshops



18 @thinklangley

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmCreative Story Telling Rosemary Wallace Freedom Arts Collective

Mixed media and found materials will be used to create a personalized book. This process is like visual journaling. The result will be a compilation of a materials used repeatedly throughout the created story. The end result will be a little personalized book to take away in order to share this experience and create with your students on Monday morning.

Rosemary Wallace is a local artist who has contributed to many school arts initiatives working with children to create murals and design sets for plays. Rosemary served on the Langley Arts Council as the president and program coordinator. She believes that creativity enhances learning outcomes and the mental health of the individual. Rosemary has contributed in Langley and Vancouver in arts and culture for many years and has delighted in supporting creative expression.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmEngaging Literacy for Ks Kim Anderson | @Kim5Anderson kinderzone.weebly.com Langley School District

Developing students reading and writing is most effective when students participate in authentic and meaningful learning experiences. How can you interact individually with students on a daily basis to enhance their reading and writing? Come and find out how you can use the Daily Five in your kindergarten classroom to enhance your reading and writing program. Kim will share what is working in her kindergarten room and provide take away materials to add to your own classroom reading and writing program.

Kim Anderson has taught in the Langley School District for over 16 years as both a classroom teacher and as a teacher-librarian. Her passion for developing lifetime readers and writers has led her to develop an engaging and authentic literacy program for her students.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmFine Motor Development Tamara Robinson | sd35ot.weebly.com Langley School District Support Services Janice McLeod Surrey Centre for Child Development Ross Taylor Langley School District Support Services

This workshop will focus on understanding the stages of fine motor development in young children. It will include information on developing pre-printing skills and how to assess readiness for printing. Therapists will also give an overview and hands-on practice with the Handwriting Without Tears program which can be implemented with students at many different levels to teach proper pre-printing and printing techniques. Participants will also get to learn practical ways to teach pencil grasp, and help children develop their in-hand manipulation skills.

Tamara Robinson is one of the district occupational therapists with the Langley School District. She has seven years of experience in the area of paediatrics and has experience working in schools, early intervention and autism programs. She enjoys any opportunity to share tips and tools to help students to develop their fine motor skills, independence and learn to skills that will enhance their social participation.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmKick It Up with Ks! Morgan McQueen Dance Instructor




Session also offered in blocks A and B


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C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmInquiry: Living Things Aleyna Golinsky SFU PDP Graduate

Aleyna’s love of inquiry started when she expressed interest in using the inquiry-based learning model in her kindergarten class and was met with strong words of caution as her colleagues didn’t think her classroom full of high needs students and diverse backgrounds would be able to form “good” questions. Aleyna persisted, while following Kath Murdoch’s inquiry-based learning model to lead her class through the most amazing journey! During the workshop, Aleyna will offers a fun example of a successful inquiry unit and will provide hands-on steps strategies for your first, second or hundredth unit. There will also be time to discuss and share each other’s inquiry experiences.

Aleyna recently received her Bachelors of Education and Professional Development Program certificate from Simon Fraser University. Aleyna has experience incorporating engaging inquiry based learning strategies into her cross curricular units. Recently Aleyna received recognition from her colleagues and administers for her ability to inspire high level questioning and deeper understanding within her kindergarten class. Aleyna followed Kath Murdoch’s inquiry based learning model of tuning in, finding out, sorting out, going further, making conclusions and taking action.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmHealthy Eating in Your School Action Schools! BC Facilitator | actionschoolsbc.ca/ Action Schools! BC

This workshop will support teachers in delivering lessons and activities in their classroom and school focusing on increasing vegetable and fruit consumption, reducing the intake of sugary drinks and sodium, and enhancing media awareness. Participants will qualify their school for complimentary support resources after the workshop.


C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmI Have An iPad...Now What? Ashley Wong | @MrsWong_A westlangleykindergarten.weebly.com Langley School District Riki O’Byrne | @RikiOByrne obyrnebentleyclass.weebly.com Langley School District

Riki and Ashley are two primary teachers who will share their journey of integrating technology in their classroom. They will share how they started a few years ago and where they are now. You will have an opportunity to explore, hands on, some apps they use in the classroom setting and discover ways to adapt them to your own educational situation. Please bring an iPad if you have one. If not, iPads will be provided.

Ashley Wong has worked in the Langley School District for three years. She has primarily taught kindergarten and Grade 1. Riki O’Byrne has worked in the Langley School District for 24 years. She has primarily taught grades 2 and 3. It is only within the last few years that they have both explored technology in the classroom and discovered it’s endless possibilities. They are excited to share what they have learned so far. Both teachers recently presented “I Have an iPad... Now What?” at the Walnut Grove feeder schools Pro-D Day.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmWoodworking for Kids Don Thomson | doncolnature.ca DonCol Nature Products

Don will share woodworking kits that are designed specifically for children. Pre-drilled holes, pre-cut pieces and simple assembly 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.

Don Thomson is retired from the Langley School District after 32 years in the classroom. The “I Can Build It!” product line of woodworking kits was conceived 20 years ago in his classroom. Since then, Don’s wood working passion has become DonCol Nature Products, providing woodworking kits to corporations, local governments, schools, retailers and community organizations.

Session also offered in block B Session also offered in block B


20 @thinklangley

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmMove It! Anne Thomson | @annethomson1984 | mamquamstudio.com Sea to Sky School District

Anne Thomson (B.Mus, B.Ed, M.Ed) has been making music, dancing and celebrating makebelieve with students from kindergarten through grade seven for the past 22 years. Her passion is finding ways to integrate the arts into our daily lives. At this workshop, Anne will explore strategies for movement with our earliest learners. You will go home with a CD of great music for moving, along with a handout of ideas and lessons. Come dressed to move!

An elementary school teacher in Squamish since 1991, Anne Thomson has taught K-7 performing arts at Mamquam Elementary School since 1997. She has been the SD#48 fine arts coordinator and is currently part of the Infusion Arts in Education pilot program through ArtStarts B.C. Anne holds both a B.Mus and B.Ed degree from UBC as well as an M.Ed in Music Education from UVic.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmPlayful Learning Kathy Nelson | 35lit.weebly.com Langley School District Instructional Services

Do you need some quick and fun ways to reinforce segmenting sounds, rhyming, blending sounds and letter identification with your young learners? Let’s explore some activities that will help you do just that. Come prepared to play!

Kathy Nelson has been a teacher in Langley since 1980. Most of her work has been with primary students. For the past two years, she has been working as the district literacy teacher for K-7. In this capacity, Kathy has been involved in training many teachers with the use of Fountas & Pinnell assessments and has visited and taught in many classroom at a variety of grade levels.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmPlaying with Language Ruth Hodgins SFU Sessional Instructor

Phonological awareness, print awareness, and oral language development are three essential areas associated with emergent literacy success. By creating early literacy experiences that are playful, children are naturally engaged in joyful learning. In this practical session you will:

-experience fun and engaging ways of integrating oral language, print and phonological awareness activities into your classroom program;-learn about the role of oral language, print and phonological awareness;-leave with easy, playful and engaging activities to foster oral language development and phonological and print awareness.

Ruth Hodgins is a sessional instructor at Simon Fraser University and a literacy consultant. She is passionate about reading instruction and helping teachers design effective teaching for all students.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmWiggles and Giggles Music Lorie McDonald Surrey School District Lillian Kocmaruk Burnaby School District

Join us for an active afternoon of fun songs, rhymes and movement. Learn creative ways to introduce music and movement throughout your day and implement songs that foster group connection and language. This workshop will leave you inspired with new songs and rejuvenate oldies but goodies. Handouts will be provided.

Lillian Kocmaruk and Lorie McDonald both currently work as Strong Start facilitators for both Burnaby and Surrey School Districts. With their passion for early learning they have successfully presented many workshops together for teacher and early childhood educators in many districts throughout the province.




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C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmMore Song Games for Oral Language Noralea Pilgrim Simon Fraser University Lee-Andrea Woo Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows School District

Back by popular demand! 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. The concepts are the same as “Song Games for Oral Language” (Session B), but they will be in the context of a different collection of songs. Some highlights from last year were: “Clickety Clack,” “Gingersnap” and “Tideo.” It is not necessary to have attended one session in order to attend the other.

Noralea is currently the early learning facilitator in School District 42 and a faculty associate at SFU. For over 25 years, she taught kindergarten and early primary. She is particularly interested in early reading acquisition and music. This workshop unites these two areas of passion.Lee-Andrea has been teaching kindergarten for over 12 years and has been a guest speaker for Noralea’s SFU cohorts. 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.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmVirtues in Kindergarten! Rapinder Rai | homerootsbooks.com Abbotsford School District

Teaching kindergarten children to pay attention to the virtues in them is a fun and rewarding experience! Rapinder will show you virtues in practice in a fun, relaxed, play-based kindergarten classroom. Come and see practical tips on scaffolding these early learners through photographs and video clips. She will share lessons to teach virtues like respect, effort, attitude, cooperation and honesty. She will show you simple chants to encourage children to learn to lookout for, and to draw attention to examples of teamwork, caring, sharing, inclusion, listening and helping.

Rapinder Rai is a Kindergarten and Punjabi Language Teacher at Harry Sayers Elementary School in Abbotsford, BC. She has run PALS sessions with her Kindergarten families since 2002. She was a facilitator for Immigrant PALS (Parents As Literacy Supporters) Punjabi for six years, 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 - HomeRoots Books. Her passions are Family Literacy and reaching out to families to support their children’s learning.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmWilderness Wednesday Lauren MacLean Richmond School District



Session also offered in blocks A and B


22 @thinklangley

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmSelf-Regulation Activities Lynne Cox Parent Educator

This fun-filled, interactive workshop will show how children use their creative ability to build strategies for themselves, support one another and develop a respectful, kind, and caring classroom community. Learn practical, uplifting ways to help children self-regulate their behavior. Lynne will offer self-awareness concepts and activities that are designed to inspire and encourage children to use their imagination as they learn through playful interactions. These activities demonstrate social and emotional learning concepts that include the following skills: self-awareness, self-management, motivation, social awareness and responsibility. Throughout this workshop, Lynne will share teachers’ experiences while using these lessons with their kindergarten students. You will hear examples and stories of how the children demonstrated kindness and caring towards others. Working with these activities helps children believe in themselves while creating a cooperative teaching environment.

Lynne Cox has been a parent and parent educator for over thirty years. She has spent fifteen years co-creating parenting programs at Port Coquitlam Family Studies and Maple Ridge Family Education Centre and fifteen years in private practice, passionately sharing what she has learned with teachers.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pmHealthy Beginnings for Preschoolers Vanessa Morley & Evett Huie healthybeginningspreschoolers.ca Childhood Obesity Foundation

Healthy Beginnings 2-5 focuses on four key elements for the early learning setting; reduced sugary drinks, reduced screen time, increased physical activity and increased vegetable and fruit consumption. Healthy Beginnings includes two resource manuals that include guidelines, practices, games, environmental tips, parents connections and more that will provide early learning practitioners with the tools create a health promoting childcare. This is an interactive session that will include group discussion, physical activity participation and more! Please bring a three ring binder, 1.5-2 inches.

Vanessa Morley is the Coordinator for the Healthy Beginnings 2-5 project and works with the Childhood Obesity Foundation. She holds an MSc. in Kinesiology and a BA. in Recreation and Health Education, both from the University of Victoria. She is from Vancouver Island and her primary work interests are in providing physical activity opportunities for preschool aged children.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pm Math Play: An Interactive Make and Take JennifeR King & Julie Dinner Langley School District

Play-based learning is at the heart of our classrooms. In this ses-sion Jen and Julie will model age appropriate games using early math concepts. You will leave with five games ready to play with your kids!

Jen and Julie are job share partners who have taught together for two years at James Kenneday Elementary School in Langley.

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pm Honey, Bees & Everything in Between Leanne Buhler Honeybee Centre

Step into the fascinating world of the honeybee. Learn from a local honeybee expert about the life cycle of honeybees, the process of making honey and the amazing job of the beekeeper. Discover the secrets of how a queen bee lives for so long (and how you can benefit from her royal treatment). Join Leanne for one of the most interesting and important topics in our com-munities today and learn how you can help our environment by understanding it, one tiny honeybee at a time. This workshop will include an entertaining presentation on Honeybees, a live observation hive and honey sampling.

Leanne is the retail and production manager at Honeybee Centre. Some may even call her the Queen Bee. She has been involved with the commercial honeybee farm for over seven years and has participated in all operations from beekeep-ing and honey extraction to school tours and candle making. Running a retail store and tour facility encourages Leanne to combine technical beekeeping expertise with public fascina-tion to continue to offer an incredible educational experience. Leanne loves sharing her vast bee-related knowledge with the world. Go ahead, ask her anything!

C: 12:50 pm - 2:20 pm HeartSmart Kids & SipSmart! BC Theresa Tang Heart and Stroke Foundation

Build a HeartSmart Community by participating in the HeartSmart Kids and SipSmart! BC Educator Workshop! Par-ticipants will learn all about this fun and engaging program and each recieve resources for every student as well as their classroom. Participants will also have the chance to participate in sample healthy living activities to learn more about the resources and how to use them in their classrooms.

Theresa works with the Foundation’s health promotion team on children and youth programming. She has worked with the HeartSmart Kids and SipSmart! BC program for eight years and delivers HeartSmart Kids presentations throughout the province.



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Important Information: Hotels, Parking and Shuttles

Ramada Langley/Surrey19225 Highway 10, Surrey, BC, V3S 8V9

Phone: (604) 576-8388, E-mail: [email protected] Free: 1-888-576-8388

Please quote ‘Langley SD Conference’ and book by October 9, 2014. Late reservations may receive the same rate based on availability or may be

subject to change. Cancellations must be 72 hours prior to arrival.

Room Type Room RateStandard Queen (2 Queen Beds) $ 89 plus applicable taxes

All of our guestrooms include a complimentary hot continental breakfast, indoor pool, hot tub, and � tness centre, as well as complimentary wireless internet and a business centre.

Luggage storage will be available on Friday for those staying in hotels that must check out in the morning. Access to luggage storage will be limited to 7:30-8:30am and 2:15-3:00pm on Friday.

� ough luggage will be locked in a room, the Langley School District accepts no responsibility for lost or stolen items.

Hotel Shuttle Schedule NOTE: You MUST sign up for shuttle service by email: [email protected]

� ursday, October 23Keynote Presentation

Friday, October 24Pre-K & K Conference

3:00pm Dep. Ramada to Hampton to BSS 7:30am Dep. Ramada to Hampton to BSS

6:30pm Dep. BSS to Hampton to Ramada 2:30pm Dep. BSS to Hampton to Ramada

Please note parking at Brookswood Secondary is limited, please consider carpooling.

Hampton Inn & Suites19500 Langley Bypass, Surrey, BC, V3S 7R2

Phone: (604) 530-6545

Please quote ‘Langley School District Conference Rate’ and book by September 24, 2014. Prices are subject to change after September 23. Cancellations must be 72 hours prior to arrival.

Room Type Room RateStandard Queen (2 Queen Beds) $109 plus applicable taxes

King Study Suite (1 King Bed) $119 plus applicable taxes

One Bedroom Suite (1 King Bed) $139 plus applicable tazes

All rooms include a hot breakfast, hot tub and � tness centre access, free local calls, complimentary high speed internet and newspaper.

Connecting the Pieces Pre-K & Kindergarten Conference

25 October 2015@thinklangley // thinklangley.com // 604 530 4060

connecting the pieces: pre-k & kindergarten conference 2014

Documents

garnett demonstration

kindergarten conference23

kindergarten readiness

kindergarten classrooms

day kindergarten setting

lisa murphys

house of higher learning

based learning