MTS Seminars / Workshops

All Winnipeg events, unless indicated otherwise, to be held at McMaster House, 190 Harcourt Street / click for map
July, 2010
4-9	Annual COSL Leadership Institute Details	Elkhorn Ranch
September, 2010
30-2	The Fab 5 A conference for teachers in their first five years Go to our special page for information and registration form for this new conference.	Winnipeg (Clarion Hotel)
October
4	EAL Learners in Senior Years’ Classrooms (English as an Additional Language) You and your senior years’ colleagues are no doubt encountering increasing numbers of students who are facing the double challenge of learning English as an additional language and of using their new language to learn in a variety of content areas. Current research challenges the common assumption that students must acquire considerable English before they can engage in intellectually challenging curriculum. This one-day workshop focuses on planning engaging content-area learning that supports academic language and literacy development and selecting effective instructional and assessment strategies for different levels of English proficiency. These instructional practices will also prove to be beneficial for other students in your classrooms. Participants will also learn more about the Manitoba EAL Curriculum Framework, and EAL Stages and Outcomes for EAL programming. Participants are encouraged to bring materials they have developed for EAL learners or classroom learning activities that they would like to share and adapt. Presenter: Diana Turner, Manitoba Education Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
7-8	Supervision and Evaluation; from theory to practice What constitutes good supervision of your teaching staff and authentic evaluation of their performance? What is the difference between supervision and evaluation? This two-day workshop is designed to answer these questions and provide current and aspiring principals with assistance in honing their skills in these important areas of their work. Hear from the staff officer who is first responder on principals’ personnel issue on how to avoid common errors in evaluation and supervision. Hear from a panel of experienced principals on what has worked best for them. Presenter: Bobbi Ethier, Manitoba teachers’ Society Staff Officer Certification: 10 Contact Hours, Administrator’s Certificate, Personnel Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
20	SAG CO-ORDINATED CONFERENCES See the complete program	Winnipeg (Various locations)

November
1-2	Teaching to Diversity: Creating Compassionate Learning Communities *Universal Design for Learning (UDL)* Today’s classrooms reflect the diversity of a global world. Developing students’ self-esteem, respect for diversity, and a love for life-long learning in a diverse community of learners has become a paramount challenge for educators. This diversity also means that students vary in what they already know, what they are ready to learn, the pace at which they are able to proceed through curriculum, and the level of adult support they require for success. Universal Design for Learning is an effective approach to planning, instruction, and assessment that allows for different learning styles and strengths to be valued, developed, and integrated in an inclusive classroom. This two day series will focus on the practical “how to,” of setting up your classroom in a way that supports individualized and small-group instruction, multi-modal assessment, and a community-based atmosphere that develops students’ self-esteem and social responsibility. Sample units, lessons, video, and student work will be shared! Agenda: What is UDL: The 3 Block Model Video – the UDL Classroom Block 1: Social & Emotional Learning Emotions & Learning – What the brain research tells us Creating Classroom Climate Building self-awareness and self-respect Valuing diversity, creating community, and reducing challenging behavior Block 2: Inclusive Instructional Practice Year Planning Building Connections in the Curriculum Unit Planning/Lesson Essential Understandings (UBD) Inquiry & Student Centred Learning Differentiating Instruction Student choice Technology Assessment for, of, & as learning Building rubrics Involving students in assessment Using class profiles to plan instruction A Day in the Life Scheduling Class Management Block 3: Systems & Structures School wide programming Collaborative practice Resource Allocation Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
12	Working with Educational Assistants for teachers This is a one-day workshop designed to provide the classroom teacher with practical tools and strategies to clearly establish an appropriate relationship with the educational assistant in the classroom. The focus is on using the services of the EA in an appropriate manner to the best advantage of students. Both veteran and beginning teachers would find this a useful workshop. Hear from classroom teachers who do it well and canvass some of the more difficult issues around this topic. Presenter: Blake Stephens et al Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
25-26	Working with Educational Assistants for principals and resource teachers The number of educational assistants in schools is growing. Principals are finding themselves in the position of being responsible for an increasing number of EAs in their schools. Resource Teachers are often held responsible for assisting with hiring, scheduling, and evaluating educational assistants. The goal of this workshop is to assist current and aspiring principals and resource teachers to deal with educational assistants in a manner that is consistent with legislation and uses EA services appropriately to the best advantage of students. Presenter: Blake Stephens and Stephen Jaddock Certification: 10 Contact Hours, Administrator’s Certificate, Personnel 10 Contact Hours, Resource Teacher’s Certificate Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
December
2-3	The ABCs of Aboriginal Education - Part I This two day workshop is designed to strengthen your understanding of the growing need to integrate Aboriginal education into all Manitoba schools and classrooms. Each day a unique aspect of Aboriginal history or the contemporary landscape of Aboriginal education will be introduced whetting your curiosity for more. We will explore existing resources, programs & services that are available to you to support your Aboriginal education initiatives. As we explore the unique challenges that Aboriginal students, educators, parents and community members may encounter in your school community, your understanding of Manitoba’s Aboriginal peoples will expand. Principals, superintendents, trustees and educators in all areas of the province will benefit from the wealth of information and opportunity that this workshop presents. Presenter: Rebecca Chartrand and James Sinclair Certification: (Previously – Admin. Cert. 10 contact hours, Personnel) Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
9-10	Making it Work! Services for English as an Additional Language (EAL) Students in Manitoba Schools – Part I This two day workshop is Part I of two sessions that will explain and explore the many considerations required of teachers and school leaders as increasing numbers of students whose first language is neither English nor French are accepted into Manitoba classrooms. Participants will consider the stages of EAL learning and the EAL Framework developed by MECY. Effective practices and the needs of classroom teachers to ensure success for EAL learners will be presented and discussed. Successful programming models that support planning for language development and encourage whole school involvement will be investigated as participants review promising practices in place in Manitoba schools and elsewhere. Participants will develop an understanding of definitions, provincial policies regarding funding and eligibility, and students’ right to attend schools. Credit will be granted for either Administrative Certification or Special Education Certification. Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
January, 2011
13-14	Appropriate Educational Programming in a High School Setting Over the past few years, it has become apparent that there are many unique challenges to supporting inclusion and providing appropriate programming in the senior years. Some of these obstacles include developing an IEP process when a student has a multitude of classroom teachers, ensuring that classroom teachers differentiate and adapt lessons to meet the student’s needs and scheduling for regular team meetings for the in-school team. The roles of the principal and the resource teacher are of vital importance to making the student’s school experience inclusive and meaningful while supporting teachers to provide the services required. This workshop will promote the networking and sharing of strategies amongst participants. It will be interactive and productive in exploring the many identified issues specific to educating students with special needs within the high school context. Presenters: Manitoba resource teachers and principals working with Joan Zaretsky, Staff Officer. Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
17-18	Building 21st Century Schools Building 21st Century Schools is a school leadership development project of Microsoft Canada that is being implemented across Canada by trained facilitators. This ten hour workshop is based on the copyrighted Microsoft Program that is organized into four modules. These modules are Dimensions of Change, New Visions, Some Educational Possibilities and Leadership. Each module follows challenge based learning in which participants record initial thoughts and then engage in conversations with colleagues in small or large groups. Participants then explore resources and opinions of experts, revise initial thinking and demonstrate learning through group activities. The program provides simulations, problem solving, case studies, video clips as well as relevant research to engage participants in collaborative adult learning activities that promote deep and meaningful conversation about educational change. Presenter: Joycelyn Fournier-Gawryluk, Garry Giesbrecht Certification: Certification: 10 Contact Hours, Administrator’s Certificate, Management Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
February
4	EAL Learners in Manitoba Classrooms (English as an Additional Language) You and your colleagues are no doubt encountering increasing numbers of students who are facing the double challenge of learning English as an additional language and of using their new language to learn in various content areas. This one-day workshop will provide classroom teachers, resource teachers and administrators with ideas for program planning, instruction and resources for the EAL Learner. This workshop will focus primarily on Early/Middle Years. Instructional resources for EAL learners will be shared with the purpose of using EAL-friendly strategies to adapt regular lessons or units for students at different stages of language learning. These EAL friendly instructional practices will also prove to be good for other students in your classrooms. Participants will also learn more about the new Manitoba EAL Curriculum Framework, the EAL Stages and Outcomes for EAL programming. Participants are encouraged to bring materials they have developed for EAL learners or classroom learning activities that they would like to share and adapt. Presenter: Diana Turner, MECY Location: McMaster House Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
17-18	The 3Rs of a Successful School Counselling Program – Part 2 Relationships – Records – Referrals are the foundations of a successful and sustainable school counselling program. This two-day workshop will build on the foundation of knowledge that was presented in Part 1 of this introductory level workshop. Participants will explore ethical and legal issues related to school counselling and they will examine practical and experiential strategies using a comprehensive and developmental school counselling approach. Participants will answer questions such as: How do we engage students in the counselling process? How do we establish and maintain the necessary collegial relationships and foster a professional network of counsellors? What practical strategies can we use in our work with students? How can we as counsellors be more efficient and productive in a school setting? The school counsellor has a unique and demanding role in the school system. Specific strategies for self-care and self-regulation will be shared. Presenters: Jan Stewart, University of Winnipeg Sharon Labossiere, Manitoba School Counsellors’ Association Certification: 10 Contact Hours, School Counsellors’ Certification Prerequisite: Completion of The 3Rs of a Successful School Counselling Program-Part 1 is highly recommended but not mandatory. Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
24-25	The Changing Role of the Resource Teacher Over the past decade, there have been many changes made to the role of the resource teacher. Resource teachers have witnessed changes in delivery models, with current emphasis on the consultative-collaborative model. They have experienced huge growth in the number of educational assistants for whom they are often held responsible to hire, schedule, supervise and evaluate. There have been increases in the paperwork requirements for IEPs, funding, and other related applications. These and other changes will be discussed in an interactive approach, respectful of the diversity of responsibilities assigned to resource teachers across the province. The resource teacher is a key player in the successful implementation of inclusion of students with special needs. This workshop will be presented by a variety of Manitoba resource teachers who can share their first hand experiences and challenges. Presenters: A team of practicing Manitoba resource teachers. Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
March
3-4	Ten Common Faux Pas of Principals There are many opportunities in today’s educational context for principals to find themselves in difficulty when crises arise. This workshop will propose ten common practices and/or situations which many principals face in the course of their career. When do inappropriate behaviours observed in supervision become part of the evaluation process? What can principals do to ensure that all educators working in a school maintain student confidentiality in personal conversations within the local community? These and other scenarios will form the basis of this workshop. Each scenario will be discussed and then relevant legislation, policies and structures suggested to support the prevention of the situation arising within your career. The workshop will promote discussion and problem solving as each scenario is developed. Presenter: A team of practicing school principals Certification: Administrator Certificate Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
10-11	The ABCs of Aboriginal Education – Part II This two-day workshop will build on the information and understanding developed in The ABCs of Aboriginal Education, Part I. The focus of the workshop will be the creation of school and/or classroom plans that will naturalize the inclusion of Aboriginal perspectives at the school or classroom level. Participants, with the assistance and feedback from the facilitator(s), will identify available resources and supports based on their unique situations. Utilizing an enquiry process, each participant will develop Aboriginal education outcomes specific to their circumstances and develop an effective, responsible and respectful plan. The planning process will include opportunities for each participant to work with their own ideas/intent building upon the unique situations and identifying and creating the supports required for their planned outcomes. Presenter: Rebecca Chartrand and James Sinclair Certification: (Previously – Admin. Cert. 10 contact hours, Personnel) Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
14	Student Assessment and Evaluation One of the most difficult challenges that both teachers and principals face is that of the assessment of student learning and evaluation of student progress. This one-day workshop covers both the theory and the practice of assessment and evaluation to assist both principals and teachers in this important work. Taken in conjunction with the March 14 session, this workshop will provide 10 Contact Hours towards the Administrator’s Certificate, Instruction. Presenter: Sandra Herbst Certification: 10 Contact Hours towards the Administrator’s Certificate, Instruction, if taken in conjunction with the March 15 session Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
15	Assessment and Evaluation Focussed primarily on principals, to enhance their role as educational leaders in the area of student assessment and evaluation of progress, this workshop, if taken in conjunction with the March 14 session will provide 10 Contact Hours towards the Administrator’s Certificate. Presenter: Sandra Herbst Certification: 10 Contact Hours towards the Administrator’s Certificate, Instruction, if taken in conjunction with the March 14 session Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
April
7-8	Making it Work! Successful Leadership for English as an Additional Language (EAL) Students - Part II This two day workshop builds on the learning established in Part I of Making it Work! Participation in Part I is a prerequisite to participation in this session. As teachers and chool leaders, participants must understand the essential skills required of classroom teachers to effectively teach students whose first language is neither English nor French. Participants will explore staffing needs, optimal professional learning opportunities for teachers, and resources available to support these needs. The diversity of needs of EAL students includes the wide array of special learning needs as well as disrupted schooling and social-emotional trauma resulting from civil war and unrest as well as displacement. Participants will review promising practices to meet these diverse needs and discuss strategies to advocate for these students. Strategies for linking the school with the parents and cultural community of its students will be developed and shared. Credit will be granted for either Administrative Certification or Special Education Certification. Printable registration Form	Winnipeg
20-21	Encompassing Kids The MTS conference on appropriate education Conference program / registration form	Winnipeg (Victoria Inn)

May

July

August