Association of Teachers of Exceptional Children

Reforming Our Classroom Perspective

Provincial Conference - Friday, October 27, 2023


Registration CLOSED!

No refunds after October 13th

Join us to hear a wide variety of speakers who will inform, inspire and help you reform your classroom perspective.


Registration Information

Conference Fee (NSTU Members) $100.00
Substitutes $80.00
Pre-Service Teachers $65.00
Retired Members $80.00
Other Affiliates $100.00

As per NSTU Operational Procedure 14 E. IV.: receipts of payment and attendance will not be distributed until the conference has concluded.


Location

Cineplex Cinemas Dartmouth Crossing

145 Shubie Drive, Dartmouth NS, B3B 0C3

Click on the map to access directions


Keynote - Dr. Shelley Moore

Originally from Edmonton, and now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Shelley Moore is a highly sought-after teacher, researcher, speaker, and storyteller and has worked with school districts and community organizations around the world, in supporting and promoting equity for all learners. Her first book entitled, “One Without the Other” is a best seller and her new book is scheduled to come out in 2023. Shelley completed an undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Alberta, her masters at Simon Fraser University, and recently received a PhD from the University of British Columbia.


Agenda

Friday, October 27

9:00am – 10:15am

Theatre 1

Capacity: 175

Session A

A1: Deep Dive into Squeezing the Sponge

Tyler Hayden, CSP, BRM (OEE)

 

Buckle your seat belts and get ready for a Deep Dive into Squeezing your Sponge. You're invited to spend an interactive (and hilarious) session with Team Design Expert Tyler Hayden, CSP. Author of over 25 books, creator of 100's of engaging team building solutions and Consultant to major organizations on building better work culture, team cohesion and management performance. Together with your colleagues, we will actively explore engaging and fun tools to use to build more engaged and connected teams by actively doing it. Come explore simple solutions that you can implement immediately to keep your staff and student teams more engaged and functioning collectively… which is all fancy code for - we are going to have some fun.

 

Tyler Hayden, CSP, has been a sought-after team building designer and motivational keynote speaker internationally since 1996. He is the author of 28 books and the creative mind behind 100’s of powerful team building tools including www.teambuildingschool.comAs a thought leader, Tyler has worked with Fortune 500, INC 5000 and Premier Associations looking to up level their learning design. Tyler is a graduate from Park View Education Centre and Acadia University, today he splits his time living in Bedford and Kingsburg, Nova Scotia. Learn more, www.tylerhayden.com.

9:00am – 10:15am

Theatre 2

Capacity: 75

Session A

A2: NSCC Accessibility and Achieve

Carolyn Crocker & Nicole Mosher, NSCC

 

Do you have students who are thinking about attending NSCC? Are you wondering if the Achieve Program is a good fit for your student? Want to learn more about supports and services that students can access while attending college? Then, we have the session for you! Transitioning from High School to Community College can be scary, join us for an exciting and informative session on how to best prepare your students for what to expect when they start their next educational journey. 

 

Carolyn Crocker is the Akerley Campus Achieve Program Coordinator for Nova Scotia Community College. In her role as Program Coordinator, Carolyn supports students in the intake process and facilitates learning throughout the program's length, focusing on areas of wellness, self-advocacy and life-long learning. Carolyn’s background includes Student Support Coordinator and high school teacher with Northern Lights Public Schools before joining NSCC in 2019. Carolyn has completed her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education Degrees at Memorial University, as well as a Post-Bachelor Diploma in Inclusive Education from Athabasca University.  

Nicole Mosher is the Accessibility Services Coordinator at NSCC. As part of the Libraries and Learning Commons team, Nicole oversees the projects, initiatives, and activities of Accessibility Services, she is responsible for establishing, leading, and maintaining campus-based and online supports across the College and provides technical/functional guidance to the Student Accessibility Specialists. Nicole has served in various roles at NSCC for over nine years. Nicole brings a broad range of education and experience in the areas of learning disability, learning strategy, assistive technology, project management, research, adult education, accessibility and NSCC processes and services. 

9:00am – 10:15am

Theatre 3

Capacity: 75

Session A

A3: MTSS and Your Students who are BVI/DHH

APSEA Program Consultant (BVI) & APSEA Program Consultant (DHH)

 

You have a student who is blind or visually impaired or Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing in your class. What strategies can you employ in your classroom at a Tier 1 level that will help you support your learners? In this session you’ll learn tips, tricks, and activities that will be essential for a few, but beneficial to your entire class.

9:00am – 10:15am

Theatre 5

Capacity: 125

Session A

A5: Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Thinking Outside the Box

Andrew McCurdy

 

Advances in technology have made AT products more accessible and affordable than ever. While these tools and strategies can be exciting, they can also come with challenges around implementation and effectiveness. This presentation will introduce participants to the AT Team for TCRCE; discuss our service delivery model; demonstrate some of the strategies and tools used to augment the communication of our students who are nonverbal; and offer potential solutions to one of the more common requests we receive: speech to text for students with nonstandard speech, or dialectical differences.

 

Andrew McCurdy grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he graduated with his Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Dalhousie University in 2000. His career focus has been augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technology, first as part of a multidisciplinary team at Grandview Children’s Centre in Oshawa, Ontario, followed by ten years with the Communication and Writing Aids Service at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto. During that time, he was also involved in the Communicative Disorders Assistant Program at the Oshawa campus of Durham College, where he developed the curriculum and taught two courses: Child Language Acquisition and Related Disorders and Augmentative & Alternative Communication and Assistive Technology from the program’s first year in 2002 until he left Ontario in 2013. Andrew returned home to Nova Scotia in the fall of 2013, accepting a position with the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education, where he currently works on the Student Services Assistive Technology team holding the title: Assistive Technology and Augmentative & Alternative Communication Specialist.

9:00am – 10:15am

Theatre 7

Capacity: 335

Session A

A7: The Evolution of Inclusion

Dr. Shelley Moore

 

In this session, we will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.

 

Originally from Edmonton, and now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Shelley Moore is a highly sought-after teacher, researcher, speaker, and storyteller and has worked with school districts and community organizations around the world, in supporting and promoting equity for all learners. Her first book entitled, “One Without the Other” is a best seller and her new book is scheduled to come out in 2023. Shelley completed an undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Alberta, her masters at Simon Fraser University, and recently received a PhD from the University of British Columbia.

9:00am – 10:15am

Theatre 9

Capacity: 75

Session A

A9: Mi’kmaw Ways, Customs & Traditions Teachings

Beverly Jeddore

 

This workshop will entail:

- Mi’kmaw ways, customs & traditions teachings and will define key indicators of behaviour for Mi’kmaw students so that teachers will better understand their ways of interaction, learning, and socialization among their peers.

- Language learning activities on basic conversational language so that students in their classrooms will be able to appreciate their willingness to communicate with them by saying Kwe’, Wela’lin, Nmu’ltes or Pjila’si. These words are sacred and Beverly will go into detail what values and beliefs they hold.

A brief demonstration of the traditional Mi’kmaw Chants & dance Ko’jua.  The participants will learn how to dance so they can participate in local powwows or a Mawio’mi in their school.

Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about Mi’kmaw communities in Nova Scotia. Each community is unique and many of them hold Mi’kmaw names.

- What does “We are all Treaty people” mean?

 

Beverly Jeddore is a Mi’kmaw Language Technician with Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey.

9:00am – 10:15am

Theatre 10

Capacity: 75

Session A

A10: Multicultural Playtime Society

Kudzi Marufu-Mumba

 

As an organization we are pursuing to showcase and teach outdoor and indoor children’s games from around the world. In partnership with cultural communities in Nova Scotia, we incorporate games as pop-up playtime at playgrounds, daycares, community events, libraries and after school programs. Facilitators share games from countries of origin. Having facilitators from different cultural community is an authentic representation on their cultures and the stories that come along with playing the games. MPS’ goals include: to encourage more playtime among Nova Scotia’s children by infusing multicultural games, to celebrate Nova Scotia’s diversity through play and to put emphasis on the importance of play and bringing the community together.

 

Kudzi Marufu-Mumba is the founder of Multicultural Playtime Society (MPS), a registered multicultural playtime society in Halifax. MPS is a volunteer-community driven organization.

9:00am – 10:15am

Theatre 12

Capacity: 175

Session A

A12: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Pedagogy

Dr. Laura Leslie

 

The term "Trauma-Informed" is becoming a more commonly used term in educational settings, but what does it mean to be "trauma-informed" for today's educators? This session will include a brief overview of a contemporary conceptualization of trauma, and how it relates to today's classrooms and schools. Dr. Leslie will also overview some strategies for staff in becoming trauma-informed. This general introduction to trauma-informed pedagogy will emphasize the importance of this lens being necessary for more equitable schooling for all.

 

After 17 years in the classroom as a lower elementary teacher, Dr. Laura Leslie is currently practicing as a school counsellor in the HRCE. Additionally, she works as a part-time instructor in the School of Education at Acadia University. She holds a PhD in educational studies, with a focus on Trauma-informed education and Trauma-informed schools. Dr. Leslie’s areas of research and interest are in trauma-informed pedagogy, crisis response and grief, and social justice education. She lives in Timberlea, Nova Scotia with her husband and two children.

10:15am - 10:45am

Break

10:45am - 12:00pm

Theatre 1

Capacity: 175

Session B

B1: Deep Dive into Squeezing the Sponge

Tyler Hayden, CSP, BRM (OEE)

 

Buckle your seat belts and get ready for a Deep Dive into Squeezing your Sponge. You're invited to spend an interactive (and hilarious) session with Team Design Expert Tyler Hayden, CSP. Author of over 25 books, creator of 100's of engaging team building solutions and Consultant to major organizations on building better work culture, team cohesion and management performance. Together with your colleagues, we will actively explore engaging and fun tools to use to build more engaged and connected teams by actively doing it. Come explore simple solutions that you can implement immediately to keep your staff and student teams more engaged and functioning collectively… which is all fancy code for - we are going to have some fun.

 

Tyler Hayden, CSP, has been a sought-after team building designer and motivational keynote speaker internationally since 1996. He is the author of 28 books and the creative mind behind 100’s of powerful team building tools including www.teambuildingschool.comAs a thought leader, Tyler has worked with Fortune 500, INC 5000 and Premier Associations looking to up level their learning design. Tyler is a graduate from Park View Education Centre and Acadia University, today he splits his time living in Bedford and Kingsburg, Nova Scotia. Learn more, www.tylerhayden.com.

10:45am - 12:00pm

Theatre 3

Capacity: 75

Session B

B3: MTSS and Your Students who are BVI/DHH

APSEA Program Consultant (BVI) & APSEA Program Consultant (DHH)

 

You have a student who is blind or visually impaired or Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing in your class. What strategies can you employ in your classroom at a Tier 1 level that will help you support your learners? In this session you’ll learn tips, tricks, and activities that will be essential for a few, but beneficial to your entire class.

10:45am - 12:00pm

Theatre 5

Capacity: 125

Session B

B5: Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Thinking Outside the Box

Andrew McCurdy

 

Advances in technology have made AT products more accessible and affordable than ever. While these tools and strategies can be exciting, they can also come with challenges around implementation and effectiveness. This presentation will introduce participants to the AT Team for TCRCE; discuss our service delivery model; demonstrate some of the strategies and tools used to augment the communication of our students who are nonverbal; and offer potential solutions to one of the more common requests we receive: speech to text for students with nonstandard speech, or dialectical differences.

 

Andrew McCurdy grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he graduated with his Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Dalhousie University in 2000. His career focus has been augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technology, first as part of a multidisciplinary team at Grandview Children’s Centre in Oshawa, Ontario, followed by ten years with the Communication and Writing Aids Service at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto. During that time, he was also involved in the Communicative Disorders Assistant Program at the Oshawa campus of Durham College, where he developed the curriculum and taught two courses: Child Language Acquisition and Related Disorders and Augmentative & Alternative Communication and Assistive Technology from the program’s first year in 2002 until he left Ontario in 2013. Andrew returned home to Nova Scotia in the fall of 2013, accepting a position with the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education, where he currently works on the Student Services Assistive Technology team holding the title: Assistive Technology and Augmentative & Alternative Communication Specialist.

10:45am - 12:00pm

Theatre 7

Capacity: 335

Session B

B7: The Evolution of Inclusion

Dr. Shelley Moore

 

In this session, we will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.

 

Originally from Edmonton, and now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Shelley Moore is a highly sought-after teacher, researcher, speaker, and storyteller and has worked with school districts and community organizations around the world, in supporting and promoting equity for all learners. Her first book entitled, “One Without the Other” is a best seller and her new book is scheduled to come out in 2023. Shelley completed an undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Alberta, her masters at Simon Fraser University, and recently received a PhD from the University of British Columbia.

10:45am - 12:00pm

Theatre 10

Capacity: 75

Session B

B10: Multicultural Playtime Society

Kudzi Marufu-Mumba

 

As an organization we are pursuing to showcase and teach outdoor and indoor children’s games from around the world. In partnership with cultural communities in Nova Scotia, we incorporate games as pop-up playtime at playgrounds, daycares, community events, libraries and after school programs. Facilitators share games from countries of origin. Having facilitators from different cultural community is an authentic representation on their cultures and the stories that come along with playing the games. MPS’ goals include: to encourage more playtime among Nova Scotia’s children by infusing multicultural games, to celebrate Nova Scotia’s diversity through play and to put emphasis on the importance of play and bringing the community together.

 

Kudzi Marufu-Mumba is the founder of Multicultural Playtime Society (MPS), a registered multicultural playtime society in Halifax. MPS is a volunteer-community driven organization.

10:45am - 12:00pm

Theatre 12

Capacity: 175

Session B

B12: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Pedagogy

Dr. Laura Leslie

 

The term "Trauma-Informed" is becoming a more commonly used term in educational settings, but what does it mean to be "trauma-informed" for today's educators? This session will include a brief overview of a contemporary conceptualization of trauma, and how it relates to today's classrooms and schools. Dr. Leslie will also overview some strategies for staff in becoming trauma-informed. This general introduction to trauma-informed pedagogy will emphasize the importance of this lens being necessary for more equitable schooling for all.

 

After 17 years in the classroom as a lower elementary teacher, Dr. Laura Leslie is currently practicing as a school counsellor in the HRCE. Additionally, she works as a part-time instructor in the School of Education at Acadia University. She holds a PhD in educational studies, with a focus on Trauma-informed education and Trauma-informed schools. Dr. Leslie’s areas of research and interest are in trauma-informed pedagogy, crisis response and grief, and social justice education. She lives in Timberlea, Nova Scotia with her husband and two children.

12:00pm - 1:30pm

Lunch

1:15pm - 1:30pm

Theatre 5

AGM

1:30pm - 2:45pm

Theatre 1

Capacity: 175

Session C

C1: Deep Dive into Squeezing the Sponge

Tyler Hayden, CSP, BRM (OEE)

 

Buckle your seat belts and get ready for a Deep Dive into Squeezing your Sponge. You're invited to spend an interactive (and hilarious) session with Team Design Expert Tyler Hayden, CSP. Author of over 25 books, creator of 100's of engaging team building solutions and Consultant to major organizations on building better work culture, team cohesion and management performance. Together with your colleagues, we will actively explore engaging and fun tools to use to build more engaged and connected teams by actively doing it. Come explore simple solutions that you can implement immediately to keep your staff and student teams more engaged and functioning collectively… which is all fancy code for - we are going to have some fun.

 

Tyler Hayden, CSP, has been a sought-after team building designer and motivational keynote speaker internationally since 1996. He is the author of 28 books and the creative mind behind 100’s of powerful team building tools including www.teambuildingschool.comAs a thought leader, Tyler has worked with Fortune 500, INC 5000 and Premier Associations looking to up level their learning design. Tyler is a graduate from Park View Education Centre and Acadia University, today he splits his time living in Bedford and Kingsburg, Nova Scotia. Learn more, www.tylerhayden.com.

1:30pm - 2:45pm

Theatre 2

Capacity: 75

Session C

C2: NSCC Accessibility and Achieve

Carolyn Crocker & Nicole Mosher, NSCC

 

Do you have students who are thinking about attending NSCC? Are you wondering if the Achieve Program is a good fit for your student? Want to learn more about supports and services that students can access while attending college? Then, we have the session for you! Transitioning from High School to Community College can be scary, join us for an exciting and informative session on how to best prepare your students for what to expect when they start their next educational journey. 

 

Carolyn Crocker is the Akerley Campus Achieve Program Coordinator for Nova Scotia Community College. In her role as Program Coordinator, Carolyn supports students in the intake process and facilitates learning throughout the program's length, focusing on areas of wellness, self-advocacy and life-long learning. Carolyn’s background includes Student Support Coordinator and high school teacher with Northern Lights Public Schools before joining NSCC in 2019. Carolyn has completed her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education Degrees at Memorial University, as well as a Post-Bachelor Diploma in Inclusive Education from Athabasca University.  

Nicole Mosher is the Accessibility Services Coordinator at NSCC. As part of the Libraries and Learning Commons team, Nicole oversees the projects, initiatives, and activities of Accessibility Services, she is responsible for establishing, leading, and maintaining campus-based and online supports across the College and provides technical/functional guidance to the Student Accessibility Specialists. Nicole has served in various roles at NSCC for over nine years. Nicole brings a broad range of education and experience in the areas of learning disability, learning strategy, assistive technology, project management, research, adult education, accessibility and NSCC processes and services. 

1:30pm - 2:45pm

Theatre 3

Capacity: 75

Session C

C3: MTSS and Your Students who are BVI/DHH

APSEA Program Consultant (BVI) & APSEA Program Consultant (DHH)

 

You have a student who is blind or visually impaired or Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing in your class. What strategies can you employ in your classroom at a Tier 1 level that will help you support your learners? In this session you’ll learn tips, tricks, and activities that will be essential for a few, but beneficial to your entire class.

1:30pm - 2:45pm

Theatre 5

Capacity:

125

Session C

C5: Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Thinking Outside the Box

Andrew McCurdy

 

Advances in technology have made AT products more accessible and affordable than ever. While these tools and strategies can be exciting, they can also come with challenges around implementation and effectiveness. This presentation will introduce participants to the AT Team for TCRCE; discuss our service delivery model; demonstrate some of the strategies and tools used to augment the communication of our students who are nonverbal; and offer potential solutions to one of the more common requests we receive: speech to text for students with nonstandard speech, or dialectical differences.

 

Andrew McCurdy grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he graduated with his Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Dalhousie University in 2000. His career focus has been augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technology, first as part of a multidisciplinary team at Grandview Children’s Centre in Oshawa, Ontario, followed by ten years with the Communication and Writing Aids Service at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto. During that time, he was also involved in the Communicative Disorders Assistant Program at the Oshawa campus of Durham College, where he developed the curriculum and taught two courses: Child Language Acquisition and Related Disorders and Augmentative & Alternative Communication and Assistive Technology from the program’s first year in 2002 until he left Ontario in 2013. Andrew returned home to Nova Scotia in the fall of 2013, accepting a position with the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education, where he currently works on the Student Services Assistive Technology team holding the title: Assistive Technology and Augmentative & Alternative Communication Specialist.

1:30pm - 2:45pm

Theatre 7

Capacity: 335

Session C

C7: The Evolution of Inclusion

Dr. Shelley Moore

 

In this session, we will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.

 

Originally from Edmonton, and now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Shelley Moore is a highly sought-after teacher, researcher, speaker, and storyteller and has worked with school districts and community organizations around the world, in supporting and promoting equity for all learners. Her first book entitled, “One Without the Other” is a best seller and her new book is scheduled to come out in 2023. Shelley completed an undergraduate degree in Special Education at the University of Alberta, her masters at Simon Fraser University, and recently received a PhD from the University of British Columbia.

1:30pm - 2:45pm

Theatre 9

Capacity: 75

Session C

C9: Mi’kmaw Ways, Customs & Traditions Teachings

Beverly Jeddore

 

This workshop will entail:

- Mi’kmaw ways, customs & traditions teachings and will define key indicators of behaviour for Mi’kmaw students so that teachers will better understand their ways of interaction, learning, and socialization among their peers.

- Language learning activities on basic conversational language so that students in their classrooms will be able to appreciate their willingness to communicate with them by saying Kwe’, Wela’lin, Nmu’ltes or Pjila’si. These words are sacred and Beverly will go into detail what values and beliefs they hold.

A brief demonstration of the traditional Mi’kmaw Chants & dance Ko’jua.  The participants will learn how to dance so they can participate in local powwows or a Mawio’mi in their school.

Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about Mi’kmaw communities in Nova Scotia. Each community is unique and many of them hold Mi’kmaw names.

- What does “We are all Treaty people” mean?

 

Beverly Jeddore is a Mi’kmaw Language Technician with Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey.

1:30pm - 2:45pm

Theatre 10

Capacity: 75

Session C

C10: Multicultural Playtime Society

Kudzi Marufu-Mumba

 

As an organization we are pursuing to showcase and teach outdoor and indoor children’s games from around the world. In partnership with cultural communities in Nova Scotia, we incorporate games as pop-up playtime at playgrounds, daycares, community events, libraries and after school programs. Facilitators share games from countries of origin. Having facilitators from different cultural community is an authentic representation on their cultures and the stories that come along with playing the games. MPS’ goals include: to encourage more playtime among Nova Scotia’s children by infusing multicultural games, to celebrate Nova Scotia’s diversity through play and to put emphasis on the importance of play and bringing the community together.

 

Kudzi Marufu-Mumba is the founder of Multicultural Playtime Society (MPS), a registered multicultural playtime society in Halifax. MPS is a volunteer-community driven organization.

2:45pm

Closing

 


Primary Contact / Registrar

Amy Barron | atecconference@nstu.ca



Registration is now closed.


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