NSTALL-2025

Conference Contact

Stephanie Deagle

Conference Email

nstallconference@nstu.ca

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Nova Scotia Teachers Association for Literacy and Learning

Beyond Words

Provincial Conference – Friday, October 24, 2025

Important Notice: There will be no lunch provided at the venue this year.

Registration

Registration Limit: 440

No refunds after Friday October 10, 2025

Accuracy of conference information cannot be guaranteed. In the event of a discrepancy, precedent should be given to the appropriate Conference Registration page.

Registration Information
Conference Fee (NSTU Members)	^$85.⁰⁰
Substitutes	^$45.⁰⁰
Pre-Service Teachers	^$45.⁰⁰
Retired Members	^$45.⁰⁰
Other Affiliates	^$45.⁰⁰
*As per NSTU Operational Procedure 14 E. IV.: receipts of payment and attendance will not be distributed until the conference has concluded.*

Location

Cobequid Educational Centre

34 Lorne Street | Truro, NS

Conference Schedule
8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	Registration and Publishers’ Display
9:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.	Full Day Sessions
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.	Half Day Session Break (10:15 a.m.)
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.	Session A
10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.	Break
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Session B
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Lunch (Not Provided)
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.	Session C
2:45 p.m.	Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Agenda *└ Full Day Sessions*
9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Capacity: 25 Gord Pictou Jonathan Grant	Full Day Session 1 • Mi’kmawey Debert Interpretive Trail and Online Resources
	Heritage Centre Theatre: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Smudge and ice breaker activity Sharing Circle: what have you tried and was it successful: Award winning Team Members from Northumberland High will walk participants through the reasons their school has committed to creating seasonal Take it Outside Days, the process for organizing and delivering a meaningful experience, share ideas for activities, partnering with local organizations and businesses, and building relationships with local First Nation, Black and every and any culture represented in your school community. John B Trail (BBQ Lunch): 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Mi’kmaw-inspired outdoor fun activities that can be easily incorporated into a Take It Outside Day Teachers will participate in a mini Take it Outside Day with a focus on Mi’kmaw and Indigenous activities. They will participate in the following stations: Play waltes, plant id Bingo, lacrosse, Mi’kmaw language games, drumming station, archery, kojua and Round Dance, tobacco tie, shelter building, technical field drawing, bow drill fire making, petroglyph carving on slate, fish cleaning, orienteering, storytelling and wampum carving.
9:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Capacity: 25 Matthew Arsenault Mercedes Peters	Full Day Session 2 • Take it Outside Days and Learning Practical Ways to Bring Mi’kmaw Culture and Perspectives into your School in a Fun and Meaningful Way
	Mi’kmawey Debert Interpretive Trail: 9:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Hike the Mi’kmawey Debert Trail with Mercedes Peters, learn about the important archaeological discoveries at the site, and explore the work towards the Mi’kmawey Debert Museum. Try your hand at throwing an atlatl. Closing Circle from 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. John B Trail (BBQ Lunch): 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Mi’kmaw-inspired outdoor fun activities that can be easily incorporated into a Take It Outside Day Teachers will participate in a mini Take it Outside Day with a focus on Mi’kmaw and Indigenous activities. They will participate in the following stations: Play waltes, plant id Bingo, lacrosse, Mi’kmaw language games, drumming station, archery, kojua and Round Dance, tobacco tie, shelter building, technical field drawing, bow drill fire making, petroglyph carving on slate, fish cleaning, orienteering, storytelling and wampum carving.
9:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 24 Hike Nova Scotia	Full Day Session 3 • Guided Nature Play, Hike NS
9:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 24 Hike Nova Scotia	Offered through Hike Nova Scotia, the Guided Nature Play workshop is an immersive, one-day learning experience built around four key components that reflect the value of nature play and offer real, practical material for educators: Guided Nature Play: special activities designed to engage children's senses (touch, smell, sight and sound) directly with the natural world around them in completely unique ways; Creating Connections to Nature: how to transform everyday environments into places of magic, imagination and safety; Storytelling: a powerful tool for inspiring adventure and imagination in children, you'll discover how to craft your own adventure stories; Resources & Support: participants receive the Resource & Activity Manual with step-by-step instructions, leader scripts for activities, nature-themed games, crafts and prop-making and storyline creation templates–all designed to make leading Guided Nature Play as simple as possible for teachers.
9:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Todd Croft	Full Day Session 4 • Bike and Hikes, Trails and Snails
9:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Todd Croft	Seek Wilderness Accommodations Rail Yard Victoria Park Join us for an inspiring, hands-on professional development session that connects literacy development with physical movement, environmental exploration, and creative expression—all set against the backdrop of the scenic Rail Yard and SEEK in Victoria Park. Participants will engage in activities designed to spark creativity, deepen literacy practices, and enhance student engagement by weaving together biking, poetry, personal reflections, and loosely organized physical education games themed around local habitats and ecosystems. Teachers participating should bring a notebook, pen/pencils/colour pencils, water bottle, bike helmet, and a Trail/Mountain bike in good working order. There will be a short bike safety lesson before heading on the trails.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Carrie Burgess	Half Day Session AB1 • Creating a Substitute Teacher Website- Working Smarter, Not Harder!
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Carrie Burgess	Creating a Substitute Website is an easy and convenient way to store all of the information about your school and classroom that every substitute needs. It allows you to create and upload lesson plans and supporting documents with ease from anywhere. A laptop or Chromebook is recommended for this session.

Agenda *└ Truro*
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 p.m. Capacity: 20 Erna Fraser	A1 • Simply Spellbound
	This workshop provides practical tips and tools so teachers can explicitly focus on specific spelling skills that students need. All lessons are fully explained, so preparation is minimal! Based on assessment, teachers will learn how to choose lessons for these spelling concepts: beginning consonant blends and digraphs (e.g., br, sh, scr) vowel sounds and combinations common reliable patterns (e.g., ight) plural formations prefixes, suffixes, and roots Materials are organized by grade level with plenty of opportunities to reinforce skills year after year.
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 30 Kelli Cruikshank	A2 • Candelight Yoga
	This yoga session will be a mingling of yoga, candlelight, essential oils, meditation, and mindfulness. Let the stress melt away as you unwind and reconnect with your body and mind in a meaningful way. Beginners are welcome and encouraged.
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Sarah Smith	A3 • Structuring for Success: A Predictable Weekly Routine for Junior High English
	This workshop guides educators through implementing a predictable, weekly structure in their junior high English classrooms. It emphasizes organization, student independence, and smooth transitions from elementary to junior high. Teachers will discover ways a consistent daily structure can support student learning, build routine, and foster accountability. Participants will have digital access to resources they can use in their own classrooms.
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Jeff Hennigar	A4 • Accessibility and Designing in a Snap: With Canva's AI Suite
	Canva Pro for Education is available for all students and teachers in Nova Scotia! Included with this is an amazing suite of AI Magic tools teachers can use to support Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in their planning and creation of teaching materials. Bring your laptop or tablet, and we'll get hands-on with Canva to explore the AI features that can save you time while creating inclusive teaching resources to easily meet the needs of the diverse learners in your classroom.
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Anne Davies	A5 • Empowering Struggling Readers Through Structured Literacy Instruction
	This workshop focuses on structured and explicit literacy instruction for students in grades 3-8. Phonics resources are provided to help classroom and resource teachers develop decoding and encoding skills with struggling readers and writers. This workshop also provides resources and strategies on how to incorporate explicit reading instruction and practice in a whole-class setting.
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Clean NS & EcoSchools Canada	A6 • Take Action and Become A Certified NS EcoSchool
	Clean Foundation, in partnership with EcoSchools Canada, is excited to announce- EcoSchools Nova Scotia! Learn how your school can become a certified NS EcoSchool! EcoSchools’ innovative, bilingual certification program is dedicated to sustainability and environmental learning. Free for Indigenous and publicly funded schools. Join the digital platform to plan, track, and celebrate meaningful environmental actions—from reducing waste and conserving energy to integrating environmental education throughout curricula. Join us to learn how to register your school and start an EcoTeam. Build your own environmental Action Plan and learn how your EcoTeam can earn points to become a certified EcoSchool. Check out over 50 NS curriculum-aligned Action Cards as well as a library of connected learning experiences, plans, and free resources. Excited to learn more? Visit www.ecoschools.ca or contact us for support at EcoSchoolsNS@cleanfoundation.ca
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Adam Hinton	A7 • AI, Assessment & Academic Integrity: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities on Student Use of AI
	As AI tools like ChatGPT become part of our students' daily lives, high school teachers are facing new challenges—and opportunities—in assessment, plagiarism, and classroom practice. This session will explore the ethical use of AI in grades 9–12. We'll examine the latest research, share real classroom examples, and offer practical strategies, resources, and tools to help teachers design AI-resilient assessments, identify AI-generated work, and foster a culture of academic honesty.
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Kate English	A8 • Ditch the Slide: Engaging Alternatives to Traditional Presentations
	Tired of the same old slide decks? Discover creative and interactive ways students can showcase their learning beyond the slideshow. This session will introduce a variety of tools—including programs like CoSpaces/Delightex, Bloxels, Podcasting, Pixton, and Book Creator—that empower students to design presentations that are dynamic, personal, and fun. Walk away with fresh ideas and practical tips to inspire your learners and revitalize your classroom projects.
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Lacey Phinney	A9 • Engaging Students in the Writing Process
	An exploration of engaging students in the writing process. Participants will have the opportunity to explore a variety of writing lessons/centers to engage students in writing. The session is designed to allow educators to view activities that can be implemented quickly in the classroom to develop a variety of essential writing skills. There will be an interactive component for this lesson to immerse educators in lessons that explore topic development and editing.
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Justin Fougere	A10 • Digital Storytelling Across Subjects with Book Creator
	This is a hands-on professional development session, open to all grade levels. We will explore how to use Book Creator to enhance learning across all subjects. This interactive workshop will guide teachers through setting up a free account, creating and managing classes, and designing engaging digital books and comics. Whether you teach ELA, science, math, or social studies, you’ll discover practical ways to integrate Book Creator into your lessons to support creativity, collaboration, and student voice. We’ll walk step-by-step through building a book from scratch, embedding multimedia, and using templates that align with curricular goals. Leave with ideas ready to implement in your classroom!
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Amanda Lynds	A11 • Stitching Stories: Exploring Needle Felting, Storytelling, and Creative Extensions
	In this creative session, participants will learn the basics of needle felting and explore how this tactile art form can support storytelling, student voice, and cross-curricular connections. After a brief introduction and demonstration, participants will have time to create their own small felted piece. The session will also showcase how simple circuits can be added as an optional extension to enhance engagement and integrate STEAM concepts. No experience necessary—just bring your curiosity and imagination!
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 25 Lauchie MacKinnon	A12 • Notebook LM and building alternative supports using AI, a case study.
	We will have the chance to explore the features within Notebook LM and how we can use these tools to support learners in our classrooms, from high school teachers teaching research and demonstrating ethical AI use to elementary teachers generating vocabulary lists and reading levelled books, writing social Stories, differentiating instruction, the uses are endless. You will also see the results of a project we implemented in a Grade 6 classroom to differentiate instruction for enrichment, to provide more support for struggling learners and demonstrate how we used Note LM as one of our tools. Sign up for a free account, use gnspes login.
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Jody Stevenson MacKinnon	A13 • Literacy Through a Social Justice Lens
	This session will examine literacy instruction as a social justice issue. Focusing on disability, literacy as a fundamental human right and as an essential life skill, we will also touch on parent advocacy, the cycle of poverty and illiteracy as well as the challenges presented by intersectionality. Participants will hopefully walk away with ideas as to how they can create a more equitable educational experience for marginalized students and their families and with some concrete materials that they can use at their school to start "being the change".
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Glenna Griffith	A15 • Is That a Fact?
	Exploring strategies on using Non-Fiction Text Features and Structures to support student comprehension and writing with Non-Fiction.
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Capacity: 20 Natalie Campbell Bouvette	A17 • La langue orale: Je parle, tu parles, on se parle!
	Have you been searching for new ideas on how to help your students speak French in class to one another? Oral language in the French classroom is the focus for this presentation. The session will reflect briefly on second language development, the role of the teacher, student oral language expectations, offer engaging strategies to promote communication, and ideas for student motivation, to get them speaking in French. This session will be given in French and is mainly for elementary teachers, but some strategies could be adapted for use in other grades.
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Break
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Erna Fraser	B1 • Simply Spellbound
	This workshop provides practical tips and tools so teachers can explicitly focus on specific spelling skills that students need. All lessons are fully explained, so preparation is minimal! Based on assessment, teachers will learn how to choose lessons for these spelling concepts: beginning consonant blends and digraphs (e.g., br, sh, scr) vowel sounds and combinations common reliable patterns (e.g., ight) plural formations prefixes, suffixes, and roots Materials are organized by grade level with plenty of opportunities to reinforce skills year after year.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 30 Kelli Cruikshank	B2 • Candelight Yoga
	This yoga session will be a mingling of yoga, candlelight, essential oils, meditation, and mindfulness. Let the stress melt away as you unwind and reconnect with your body and mind in a meaningful way. Beginners are welcome and encouraged.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Sarah Smith	B3 • Structuring for Success: A Predictable Weekly Routine for Junior High English
	This workshop guides educators through implementing a predictable, weekly structure in their junior high English classrooms. It emphasizes organization, student independence, and smooth transitions from elementary to junior high. Teachers will discover ways a consistent daily structure can support student learning, build routine, and foster accountability. Participants will have digital access to resources they can use in their own classrooms.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Jeff Hennigar	B4 • Accessibility and Designing in a Snap: With Canva's AI Suite
	Canva Pro for Education is available for all students and teachers in Nova Scotia! Included with this is an amazing suite of AI Magic tools teachers can use to support Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in their planning and creation of teaching materials. Bring your laptop or tablet, and we'll get hands-on with Canva to explore the AI features that can save you time while creating inclusive teaching resources to easily meet the needs of the diverse learners in your classroom.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Anne Davies	B5 • Empowering Struggling Readers Through Structured Literacy Instruction
	This workshop focuses on structured and explicit literacy instruction for students in grades 3-8. Phonics resources are provided to help classroom and resource teachers develop decoding and encoding skills with struggling readers and writers. This workshop also provides resources and strategies on how to incorporate explicit reading instruction and practice in a whole-class setting.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Clean NS & EcoSchools Canada	B6 • Take Action and become a certified NS EcoSchool
	Clean Foundation in partnership with EcoSchools Canada, is excited to announce- EcoSchools Nova Scotia! Learn how your school can become a certified NS EcoSchool! EcoSchools’ innovative, bilingual certification program is dedicated to sustainability and environmental learning. Free for Indigenous and publicly funded schools. Join the digital platform to plan, track, and celebrate meaningful environmental actions—from reducing waste and conserving energy to integrating environmental education throughout curricula. Join us to learn how to register your school and start an EcoTeam. Build your own environmental Action Plan and learn how your EcoTeam can earn points to become a certified EcoSchool. Check out over 50 NS curriculum-aligned Action Cards as well as a library of connected learning experiences, plans, and free resources. Excited to learn more? Visit www.ecoschools.ca or contact us for support at EcoSchoolsNS@cleanfoundation.ca
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Adam Hinton	B7 • AI, Assessment & Academic Integrity: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities on Student Use of AI
	As AI tools like ChatGPT become part of our students' daily lives, high school teachers are facing new challenges—and opportunities—in assessment, plagiarism, and classroom practice. This session will explore the ethical use of AI in grades 9–12. We'll examine the latest research, share real classroom examples, and offer practical strategies, resources, and tools to help teachers design AI-resilient assessments, identify AI-generated work, and foster a culture of academic honesty.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Kate English	B8 • Ditch the Slide: Engaging Alternatives to Traditional Presentations
	Tired of the same old slide decks? Discover creative and interactive ways students can showcase their learning beyond the slideshow. This session will introduce a variety of tools—including programs like CoSpaces/Delightex, Bloxels, Podcasting, Pixton, and Book Creator—that empower students to design presentations that are dynamic, personal, and fun. Walk away with fresh ideas and practical tips to inspire your learners and revitalize your classroom projects.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Lacey Phinney	B9 • Engaging Students in the Writing Process
	An exploration of engaging students in the writing process. Participants will have the opportunity to explore a variety of writing lessons/centers to engage students in writing. The session is designed to allow educators to view activities that can be implemented quickly in the classroom to develop a variety of essential writing skills. There will be an interactive component for this lesson to immerse educators in lessons that explore topic development and editing.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Justin Fougere	B10 • Digital Storytelling Across Subjects with Book Creator
	This is a hands-on professional development session, open to all grade levels. We will explore how to use Book Creator to enhance learning across all subjects. This interactive workshop will guide teachers through setting up a free account, creating and managing classes, and designing engaging digital books and comics. Whether you teach ELA, science, math, or social studies, you’ll discover practical ways to integrate Book Creator into your lessons to support creativity, collaboration, and student voice. We’ll walk step-by-step through building a book from scratch, embedding multimedia, and using templates that align with curricular goals. Leave with ideas ready to implement in your classroom!
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Amanda Lynds	B11 • Stitching Stories: Exploring Needle Felting, Storytelling, and Creative Extensions
	In this creative session, participants will learn the basics of needle felting and explore how this tactile art form can support storytelling, student voice, and cross-curricular connections. After a brief introduction and demonstration, participants will have time to create their own small felted piece. The session will also showcase how simple circuits can be added as an optional extension to enhance engagement and integrate STEAM concepts. No experience necessary—just bring your curiosity and imagination!
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 25 Lauchie MacKinnon	B12 • Notebook LM and building alternative supports using AI, a case study.
	We will have the chance to explore the features within Notebook LM and how we can use these tools to support learners in our classrooms, from high school teachers teaching research and demonstrating ethical AI use to elementary teachers generating vocabulary lists and reading levelled books, writing social Stories, differentiating instruction, the uses are endless. You will also see the results of a project we implemented in a Grade 6 classroom to differentiate instruction for enrichment, to provide more support for struggling learners and demonstrate how we used Note LM as one of our tools. Sign up for a free account, use gnspes login.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Jody Stevenson MacKinnon	B13 • Literacy Through a Social Justice Lens
	This session will examine literacy instruction as a social justice issue. Focusing on disability, literacy as a fundamental human right and as an essential life skill, we will also touch on parent advocacy, the cycle of poverty and illiteracy, as well as the challenges presented by intersectionality. Participants will hopefully walk away with ideas as to how they can create a more equitable educational experience for marginalized students and their families and with some concrete materials that they can use at their school to start "being the change".
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Dairy Farmers of Canada	B16 • Tasty Themes for Teaching: Bringing Food into Reading, Writing, and More!
	Teach Nutrition dietitians have a wealth of food-themed classroom resources to engage students with hands-on learning to meet core competencies. Join them for this fun, easy-going session where you will: Discover their resources and learn how you can access them for FREE! Leave with activities and materials to use in your classroom right away. Experience an activity using our new resource that explores food and expands vocabulary with a sensory word bank. Enjoy a sample virtual book reading with the author of Teach Nutrition’s five food-themed books, followed by the launch of Teach Nutrition’s new Virtual Book Reading program in Nova Scotia. Enter to win a $50.00 grocery gift card so you can do the Teach Nutrition sensory food activity with your class.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Martha Shephard-Duguay	B19 • Évaluation avec Adorable Décodable
	Les professeurs de maternelle à la deuxième année, vous êtes invité à une conversation à propos de l’évaluation en lecture. Explorez la trousse d’évaluation Adorable et décodable. La trousse peut servir à la fois pour l’évaluation diagnostique et sommative et c’est très facile à utiliser. La trousse permet d'évaluer les compétences essentielles pour l'apprentissage de la lecture : la conscience phonémique, les correspondances graphèmes-phonèmes, l’identification des mots, la fluidité (rythme, exactitude et expression) et la compréhension de lecture.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Capacity: 20 Lindsay Crossman Wheaton Rhea Fisher	B20 • How to motivate and engage FSL (French Second Language) Learners
	From Grades 4 to 12, it can be a task to keep the FSL students engaged and motivated to learn an Additional Language. This session will be a participatory event showcasing some Tools and Tricks that have worked in a variety of classrooms. Come ready to explore and have fun on a Friday morning. This session will be led in French.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Lunch (Not Provided)
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Erna Fraser	C1 • Simply Spellbound
	This workshop provides practical tips and tools so teachers can explicitly focus on specific spelling skills that students need. All lessons are fully explained, so preparation is minimal! Based on assessment, teachers will learn how to choose lessons for these spelling concepts: beginning consonant blends and digraphs (e.g., br, sh, scr) vowel sounds and combinations common reliable patterns (e.g., ight) plural formations prefixes, suffixes, and roots Materials are organized by grade level with plenty of opportunities to reinforce skills year after year.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 30 Kelli Cruikshank	C2 • Candelight Yoga
	This yoga session will be a mingling of yoga, candlelight, essential oils, meditation, and mindfulness. Let the stress melt away as you unwind and reconnect with your body and mind in a meaningful way. Beginners are welcome and encouraged.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Sarah Smith	C3 • Structuring for Success: A Predictable Weekly Routine for Junior High English
	This workshop guides educators through implementing a predictable, weekly structure in their junior high English classrooms. It emphasizes organization, student independence, and smooth transitions from elementary to junior high. Teachers will discover ways a consistent daily structure can support student learning, build routine, and foster accountability. Participants will have digital access to resources they can use in their own classrooms.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Jeff Hennigar	C4 • Accessibility and Designing in a Snap: With Canva's AI Suite
	Canva Pro for Education is available for all students and teachers in Nova Scotia! Included with this is an amazing suite of AI Magic tools teachers can use to support Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in their planning and creation of teaching materials. Bring your laptop or tablet, and we'll get hands-on with Canva to explore the AI features that can save you time while creating inclusive teaching resources to easily meet the needs of the diverse learners in your classroom.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Anne Davies	C5 • Empowering Struggling Readers Through Structured Literacy Instruction
	This workshop focuses on structured and explicit literacy instruction for students in grades 3-8. Phonics resources are provided to help classroom and resource teachers develop decoding and encoding skills with struggling readers and writers. This workshop also provides resources and strategies on how to incorporate explicit reading instruction and practice in a whole-class setting.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Clean NS & EcoSchools Canada	C6 • Take Action and become a certified NS EcoSchool
	Clean Foundation in partnership with EcoSchools Canada, is excited to announce- EcoSchools Nova Scotia! Learn how your school can become a certified NS EcoSchool! EcoSchools’ innovative, bilingual certification program is dedicated to sustainability and environmental learning. Free for Indigenous and publicly funded schools. Join the digital platform to plan, track, and celebrate meaningful environmental actions—from reducing waste and conserving energy to integrating environmental education throughout curricula. Join us to learn how to register your school and start an EcoTeam. Build your own environmental Action Plan and learn how your EcoTeam can earn points to become a certified EcoSchool. Check out over 50 NS curriculum-aligned Action Cards as well as a library of connected learning experiences, plans, and free resources. Excited to learn more? Visit www.ecoschools.ca or contact us for support at EcoSchoolsNS@cleanfoundation.ca
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Adam Hinton	C7 • AI, Assessment & Academic Integrity: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities on Student Use of AI
	As AI tools like ChatGPT become part of our students' daily lives, high school teachers are facing new challenges—and opportunities—in assessment, plagiarism, and classroom practice. This session will explore the ethical use of AI in grades 9–12. We'll examine the latest research, share real classroom examples, and offer practical strategies, resources, and tools to help teachers design AI-resilient assessments, identify AI-generated work, and foster a culture of academic honesty.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Kate English	C8 • Ditch the Slide: Engaging Alternatives to Traditional Presentations
	Tired of the same old slide decks? Discover creative and interactive ways students can showcase their learning beyond the slideshow. This session will introduce a variety of tools—including programs like CoSpaces/Delightex, Bloxels, Podcasting, Pixton, and Book Creator—that empower students to design presentations that are dynamic, personal, and fun. Walk away with fresh ideas and practical tips to inspire your learners and revitalize your classroom projects.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Lacey Phinney	C9 • Engaging Students in the Writing Process
	An exploration of engaging students in the writing process. Participants will have the opportunity to explore a variety of writing lessons/centers to engage students in writing. The session is designed to allow educators to view activities that can be implemented quickly in the classroom to develop a variety of essential writing skills. There will be an interactive component for this
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Justin Fougere	C10 • Digital Storytelling Across Subjects with Book Creator
	This is a hands-on professional development session, open to all grade levels. We will explore how to use Book Creator to enhance learning across all subjects. This interactive workshop will guide teachers through setting up a free account, creating and managing classes, and designing engaging digital books and comics. Whether you teach ELA, science, math, or social studies, you’ll discover practical ways to integrate Book Creator into your lessons to support creativity, collaboration, and student voice. We’ll walk step-by-step through building a book from scratch, embedding multimedia, and using templates that align with curricular goals. Leave with ideas ready to implement in your classroom!
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Amanda Lynds	C11 • Stitching Stories: Exploring Needle Felting, Storytelling, and Creative Extensions
	In this creative session, participants will learn the basics of needle felting and explore how this tactile art form can support storytelling, student voice, and cross-curricular connections. After a brief introduction and demonstration, participants will have time to create their own small felted piece. The session will also showcase how simple circuits can be added as an optional extension to enhance engagement and integrate STEAM concepts. No experience necessary—just bring your curiosity and imagination!
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Jody Stevenson MacKinnon	C13 • Literacy Through a Social Justice Lens
	This session will examine literacy instruction as a social justice issue. Focusing on disability, literacy as a fundamental human right, and as an essential life skill, we will also touch on parent advocacy, the cycle of poverty and illiteracy, as well as the challenges presented by intersectionality. Participants will hopefully walk away with ideas as to how they can create a more equitable educational experience for marginalized students and their families and with some concrete materials that they can use at their school to start "being the change".
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Carrie Burgess	C14 • Whiteboard Animation and Instructional Media
	Using Canva, Google Slides, WeVideo, and other free resources to help increase student engagement and success with instructional media. A laptop or Chromebook is recommended for this session.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Glenna Griffith	C15 • Is That a Fact?
	Exploring strategies on using Non-Fiction Text Features and Structures to support student comprehension and writing with Non-Fiction.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Martha Shephard-Duguay	C19 • Writing Pockets for Grades 3-6
	Are you looking to enhance your writing program? Come learn about Adrienne Gear’s brain pockets and how you can shape her ideas into a well-structured and engaging writing program. This session will be conducted in English, but resource lists and mentor texts for French immersion will be available for you to explore.
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Capacity: 20 Lindsay Crossman Wheaton Rhea Fisher	C20 • Using Break-Out Boxes in the FSL (French Second Language) Classroom
	Do you know what a Break-Out Box is? Would you like to explore how to use one in Grades 6-12 FSL? You will be guided through the preparation and use of this low-tech tool during the session. Come prepared to escape the room with a new skill! This session will be led in French.
2:45 p.m.	Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Registration

Registration Limit: 440

No refunds after Friday October 10, 2025

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‹‹ NSTU Professional Association Conferences 2025

Conference Contact

Stephanie Deagle

Conference Contact

Conference Email

nstallconference@nstu.ca

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Nova Scotia Teachers Association for Literacy and Learning

Beyond Words

Provincial Conference – Friday, October 24, 2025

Important Notice: There will be no lunch provided at the venue this year.

Registration

Registration Limit: 440

No refunds after Friday October 10, 2025

Registration Information

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

Location

Cobequid Educational Centre

34 Lorne Street | Truro, NS

Conference Schedule

Agenda

└ Full Day Sessions

Agenda

└ Truro

Registration

Registration Limit: 440

No refunds after Friday October 10, 2025

NAVIGATE ›› jump to...

‹‹ NSTU Professional Association Conferences 2025

Conference Contact

Conference Email

nstallconference@nstu.ca