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ABC Ontario Conference Workshops
Friday, October 28 - Saturday, October 29, 2011
1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville
Sponsored by 
Due to the overwhelming response from ABC members and educators, the registration is now closed. Thank you for your support. Questions? Please contact abcinfo@abcontario.ca
Educators' Day (October 28th)
Morning Workshop
All this and Differentiation Too? Realistic Strategies for Implementation – Dr. Colleen Willard-Holt, Ph.D in Educational Psychology, Dean Faculty of Education @ Wilfred Laurier University
This session will focus on five aspects of differentiation: content, process, product, pace and environment. Teachers will learn how to modify curriculum and teaching strategies to meet the needs of varying ability levels, interests, learning styles, and prior experiences. Teachers will leave the workshop with a compendium of ideas, skills, and resources for immediate application. Practical management strategies will be emphasized.
Afternoon Workshops
What’s Out There for Gifted Children – Educators¹
Do parents and students sometimes ask for suggestions on programmes, activities, magazines and/or camps activities that are geared towards gifted children? If so, this workshop will provide you with answers. Each participating organization (Mind Resources, Spirit of Math, OWL Magazine, Children’s Technology Workshop, Queen’s Enrichment Studies Unit, and Peel Summer Academy) will provide a 5-10 minute overview of their program. Questions can be answered during breaks or following the workshop.
Understanding Gifted and Highly Able Students - Information for Educators - Kathryn Patterson – Coordinator of Gifted Education, SERT (Gifted and Highly Able Learners), high school English teacher HDSB
This session will review the characteristics of gifted and highly able students and focus on how educators can help support their students’ needs while celebrating their strengths as students and involved community members. Evidence Based learning strategies, as well as socio-emotional issues will be discussed. In this interactive workshop, resources for both teachers and students will be shared.
Strategies in Schools: Open Forum – Moderated by Bernie Beales, Retired Gifted Program Facilitator DDSB and teacher
Can we talk? One of the biggest issues with teachers of the gifted is that they feel they are working in a vacuum. They need opportunities to discuss their concerns and to share ideas and strategies with other teachers of the gifted. Moderated by Bernie Beales, this session is a chance to compare best practices with teachers from other boards. Recently retired from the Durham District School Board, Bernie has 35 years experience in elementary education including 20+ years working with gifted students in self-contained classes. Bernie was the facilitator for gifted programs for 10 years and brings a wealth of practical knowledge of the gifted learner and how to program effectively. Come with questions, leave with answers!
How to bring scientists and astronauts into your classroom – Partners In Research - Virtual Researchers on Call (VROC) program – Kathleen Keane, Partners In Research, and ABC Ontario London chapter President
The goal of VROC is to enhance student experiences in the classroom through the adoption of cutting-edge technology. One such example is our videoconferencing program, "Reaching Every Student", which allows students to connect with leading experts. On any given day in Canada students from grades 5 through 12 may be interacting with a researcher in a classroom, an astronaut, a computer programmer or just about any expert in any field through a VROC initiative. These experiences are live and completely interactive which greatly enhance the students' interest in the subject matter while simultaneously exposing them to possible career choices. This session will provide you with the information and tools you require to bring scientists and astronauts into your classroom. www.vroc.ca
Engaging Gifted Children through Digital Learning Resources - Urs Bill, Education Officers, e-Learning Ontario, Ministry of Education
Discover how to access digital learning resources from the Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB), a password-protected, online searchable database of videos, interactive learning activities, tutorials and educational games that are free to teachers and students in Ontario's public school system. More than 26,000 K-12 resources can be found using keywords, or browsed by grade, subject, strand and /or curriculum expectations. Come see how you can find, download, and even modify many of these resources that will engage and challenge students. www.elearningontario.ca
Parents' Day (October 29th)
Morning Workshop
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So you have a "Gifted kid"...now what? – Dr. Dan Holt, Ph.D in Education and Psychology
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Speaking as a parent who has two of them I know that it is not always easy, but it is always worth the extra hassles. This presentation is dealing with definitions and characteristics and some specifics as to what you need to know to survive...and allow the child to survive as well. As Kermit puts it "It isn't easy being green", but there are some bits of information that will help smooth out the day-to-day process of raising a child who is so smart that you wonder from where all that intelligence came. Join us for some information and fun in discussing our children and what you do next.
Afternoon Workshops
What’s Out There for Gifted Children – Parents¹
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Are you looking for supplemental activities or reading material for your gifted child? If so, this workshop will provide you with some ideas. Each participating organization (Spirit of Math, OWL Magazine, Children’s Technology Workshop, Queen’s Enrichment Studies Unit, and Peel Summer Academy) will present a 5-10 minute overview of their program. Questions can be answered during breaks or following the workshop.
Strategy Exchange
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A facilitated interactive workshop where parents share strategies on how to help gifted children reach their full potential by learning to manage some common challenges faced by gifted children. Examples of topics include anxiety, perfectionism and social challenges.
Understanding Gifted and Highly Able Children - Information for Parents – Kathryn Patterson – Coordinator of Gifted Education, SERT (Gifted and Highly Able Learners), high school English teacher HDSB
This session will review the characteristics of gifted and highly able children and focus on how parents can help support their children's needs while celebrating their strengths as students and involved community members. Evidence Based learning strategies, as well as socio-emotional issues will be discussed. In this interactive workshop, resources for both children and parents will be shared.
Educational Fun Is a Click Away! – Instructors Sharon Korpan and Rose Burton Spohn, Education Officers, e-Learning Ontario, Ministry of Education
- In this workshop, ‘family duos’ consisting of a parent and Grade 1-6 child will experience blended learning and get hands on with safe, educational, and fun online tools! This workshop will let you explore the Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB), ministry-provided digital resources, and the province's new ePortfolio tool. Create your own content, collaborate with others, show how critically you can think, communicate in the 21st century way! Don't miss it! Please note: each parent/child team must bring a laptop, ipad or tablet and will be on the internet; photographs may be taken during the session. www.elearningontario.ca
Children Workshops (October 29th)
Fun and Games
In this morning and afternoon ‘workshop’, potty-trained youngsters, up to and including Senior Kindergartners, will participate in a wide variety of activities including arts and crafts, colouring, story time, games, puzzles, nature walk and movie time. Please bring a beverage and nut-free snack for the morning and outside clothes for the nature walk (weather permitting). A minimum 1:8 instructor/child ratio will be in effect.
Spirit of Math®’s Pascal “Pathways” Neuron Tickler plus the Chess Institute of Canada
- In this morning session, students in Grades 1-2 will be treated to two workshops in one! Spirit of Math® will run a Neuron Tickler and the Chess Institute of Canada will run a session on chess. During the interactive Neuron Tickler, children will meet Blaise Pascal, the famous French Mathematician! He will teach them all about his discoveries on number patterns. Children will learn a fast and exciting way to find how many pathways they can take from “point A” to “point B.” This session will also include group work solving challenging math problems based on Pascal’s discoveries, as well as an exciting math rally, in which children will compete in teams to solve math questions and win prizes! The Chess Institute of Canada is a federally incorporated non-profit whose mission is to improve the futures of our children by giving them the gift of critical thinking through the game of chess. Their session will use Chess World Canada, a unique, unconventional and creative method of chess instruction to teach kids math, language and life skills. www.ctworkshop.com
Let Your Senses Guide You! - Presented by Peel Summer Academy
In this afternoon workshop, students in Grades 1-3 will incorporate a variety of activities that will challenge their senses and creative abilities while having fun! We will make our very own flower pots, hide and play under a parachute, challenge our taste and smell senses, and build our very own edible creations (no nuts). We’re looking forward to having fun with you and hope you come out to get in touch with your creative juices AND senses! Please bring appropriate clothing in the event we take some of the activities outdoors. www.peelsummeracademy.com
Make a Magazine Workshop - sponsored and instruction by Owlkids Publishing, Jackie Farquhar (editor of Chirp) and Mandy Ng (editor of chickaDEE)
In this morning workshop, students in Grades 1-3 will meet Owlkids editors and learn how magazines are made. The editors will lead children through the stages of making a magazine, as well as do some hands-on activities like making a craft and a comic. Afterwards, children will work in groups to come up with their own magazine with tips from the editors. www.owlkids.com
Make a Magazine Workshop - sponsored and instruction by Owlkids Publishing, Jackie Farquhar (editor of Chirp) and Mandy Ng (editor of chickaDEE)
In this afternoon workshop, students in Grades 4-6 will meet Owlkids editors and learn how magazines are made. The editors will lead children through the stages of making a magazine, as well as do some hands-on activities like making a craft and a comic. Afterwards, children will work in groups to come up with their own magazine with tips from the editors.www.owlkids.com
Educational Fun Is a Click Away! –Instructors Sharon Korpan and Rose Burton Spohn, Education Officers, e-Learning Ontario, Ministry of Education
In this afternoon workshop, parents and their children in Grades 1-6 will experience blended learning and get hands on with safe, educational, and fun online tools! This Ministry of Education workshop will let you explore the Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB), ministry-provided digital resources, and the province's new ePortfolio tool. Create your own content, collaborate with others, show how critically you can think, communicate in the 21st century way! Don't miss it! Please note: each parent/child team must bring a laptop, ipad or tablet and will be on the internet; photographs may be taken during the session. www.elearningontario.ca
Lego Flywalker/Inchworm - Simple Machines and Motion – sponsored and instruction by Children’s Technology Workshop, Murray Buckler B.Ed - Session Full
In this afternoon workshop, students in Grades 2-6 will have hands on fun building Lego Insects to learn about how compound machines work. Students will work in pairs to build a Lego-based project and explore different mechanical structure concepts such as wheels and axles and pulleys (Inchworm) and motion and gear ratios (Flywalker). Students will test their work by adding a motor and participating in a Lego insect race during class time. www.ctworkshop.com
Spirit of Math®’s Venn Diagrams Neuron Tickler plus the Chess Institute of Canada
In this morning session, students in Grades 3-4 will be treated to two workshops in one! Spirit of Math® will run a Neuron Tickler and the Chess Institute of Canada will run a session on chess. During the interactive Neuron Tickler, children will meet John Venn, the famous British Mathematician! He will teach them all about his discoveries on the famous diagrams which are named after him. After unlocking these intricate diagrams, children will have the opportunity to work in groups solving Venn Diagram problems. They will also participate in an exciting math rally, in which children will compete in teams to solve math questions and win prizes! The Chess Institute of Canada is a federally incorporated non-profit whose mission is to improve the futures of our children by giving them the gift of critical thinking through the game of chess. Their session will use Chess World Canada, a unique, unconventional and creative method of chess instruction to teach kids math, language and life skills. www.spiritofmath.com
Make a Movie Workshop – sponsored and instruction by Children’s Technology Workshop, Murray Buckler B.Ed
In this morning workshop, students in Grades 3-8 learn the science and art of stop motion animation by making their own short film. Children work in pairs to create their own movies. Lights Camera Action! They use laptops, cameras and special software to explore various animation techniques and capture their footage. After filming, students will add titles, transitions, sounds and music to bring their movie to life. No experience is required. Movies will be made available to download at home. A strict non-violence policy is enforced. www.ctworkshop.com
Science is All Around Us! – Presented by Peel Summer Academy
From the air we breathe, to the water we drink, the development of cell phones, cars, airplanes, and the food we eat - science can explain it all! During this morning workshop, students in Grades 4-6 will learn the many ways that science has affected the world we live in today and apply it to developing our own science experiments and activities. We will analyze finger prints, build and test structures, get the dirty on climate change, examine some biology, and engage in some gross-ology! Please bring appropriate clothing in the event we take some of the activities outdoors. www.peelsummeracademy.com
Educational Fun Is a Click Away! – Instructors Sharon Korpan and Rose Burton Spohn, Education Officers, e-Learning Ontario, Ministry of Education
In this morning workshop, students in Grades 5 - 12 can come experience blended learning and get hands on with safe, educational, and fun online tools! This Ministry of Education workshop will let you explore the Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB), ministry-provided digital resources, and the province's new ePortfolio tool. Create your own content, collaborate with others, show how critically you can think, communicate in the 21st century way! Don't miss it! Please note: participants must bring a laptop, ipad or tablet and will be on the internet; photographs may be taken during the session. www.elearningontario.ca
Spirit of Math®’s Gauss “Series” Neuron Tickler plus PREPEssentials™
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During this afternoon session, children in Grades 5-6 will be treated to two workshops in one! Spirit of Math® will run a Neuron Tickler and prepsk!lls will run PREPEssentials™. During the interactive Neuron Tickler, students will meet Carl Friedrich Gauss, the famous German Mathematician! He will teach them all about his life and the famous idea he came up with on how to add up numbers REALLY quickly! Students will learn how to quickly count up how many handshakes are made at a giant party, if everyone introduces themselves. This session will also include group work solving challenging math problems based on Gauss’ discoveries. They will also participate in an exciting math rally in which students will compete in teams to solve math questions and win prizes! prepsk!lls is offering a new program that they are introducing to parents this fall that they know will greatly benefit your child’ s development and future success. PREPEssentials™ is a program which is unique in Canada, and offers a comprehensive approach to the development of your child’s emotional intelligence, build their critical thinking, writing, public speaking and leadership skills. Excellent thinkers - Make excellent writers; Excellent writers - Make excellent speakers; Excellent speakers - Make inspirational leaders. www.ctworkshop.com
Board Games aren’t Bored Games – leader Gerry Smit, ABC Ontario member
Board games have come a long way since the days of Monopoly and Risk. Much more than “roll dice and see what happens”, modern games provide fun, challenge, education, and team building, and yes, face to face social interaction, no texting required! Two styles of games will be offered. For the more strategically minded, the award winning Settlers of Catan and Puerto Rico will challenge players as they build their nations. For the more tactically minded, the latest in the world of Dungeons and Dragons provides us with Wrath of Ashaldaron and Castle Ravenloft. The players must work together to survive. Play alone and you perish! Children Grades 6 - 12 are welcome to participate.
Pathology: DNA and Genetics - PResented by: the enrichment studies Unit (ESU) at queen's univerity, iNSTRUCTOR: Mackenzie Bowman, PhD Candidate, Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen’s University
In this workshop, Grade 6 - 12 students will explore the science of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, with a lesson on DNA and genetics, followed by a blood-typing experiment (don’t worry, it’s not real blood), and a genetics activity. Be prepared to learn in a hands-on environment, and have your questions ready for our pathology instructor Mackenzie Bowman. This workshop is a small sample of one of the dozens of interesting enrichment courses offered by the Enrichment Studies Unit (ESU) at Queen’s University each spring.http://esu.queensu.ca
Spirit of Math®’s Fibonacci “Sequences” Neuron Tickler plus PREPEssentials™
During this afternoon session, students in Grades 7-8 will enjoy two workshops in one! Spirit of Math® will run a Neuron Tickler and prepsk!lls will run PREPEssentials™. During the interactive Neuron Tickler, students will meet Leonardo Pisano, better known as Fibonacci, the famous Italian Mathematician! He will teach them all about his discovery of the clever pattern of numbers that made him famous. After learning about these number patterns, students will have the opportunity to try their hands at challenging problems based on Fibonacci’s work in small groups. They will also participate in an exciting math rally, in which students will compete in teams to solve math questions and win prizes! prepsk!lls is offering a new program that they are introducing to parents this fall that they know will greatly benefit your child’ s development and future success. PREPEssentials™ is a program which is unique in Canada, and offers a comprehensive approach to the development of your child’s emotional intelligence, build their critical thinking, writing, public speaking and leadership skills. www.spiritofmath.com www.prepskills.com
Note:
1 - Only a few fast food services will be open on the Saturday conference. It is recommended families brown bag it.
2 - Childcare available for children 2-4 years must be potty trained.
3 - Registration opens October 3rd.
www.mindresources.com
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