Tips for first-timers
What’s a tip, trick or hack you can share with a teacher attending their first convention?
Remember to network.
Merry Dechamplain
Make sure you have a water bottle, good shoes that you can walk in and don’t wear a lot of big heavy stuff. Allow time for the trade fair too.
Sharon Bourdeau
Wear really comfortable shoes.
Chris McLean-Sleger
Keep a list of the PD you attend and add this to it.
Jessaurus Herbivore
I always chose topics I knew little about. Sessions in my own field often had so much introductory material that I learned very little that was new to me.
Gail McBride
Take part in at least one wellness activity.
Natalie Blackburn Oliphant
Volunteer as a session host for a topic that interests you. You can get free food!
Brenna Toblan
Treat yourself to a nice lunch!
Karen Lin Nielsen
Plan your day. Go to sessions that are useful to you now.
Nedra Dreyer
Responses gathered via social media.
Teacher-oriented wares are a key part of any convention.
Michelle Lamble (L) and Mary Ann Bussiere of Muriel Martin School in St. Albert check out the resources available at the trade show.
Jessie Coulson of Barrhead Composite High School enjoys a hands-on art session.
Peter Banconpernolle of the Beaverhill Bird Observatory in Tofield shows off a red-tailed hawk. The observatory offers school presentations that are tied to the curriculum of any grade.
Retired drama teacher Gail Whiteford demonstrates some of the basics of theatrical makeup during a session called “Makeup on a Mini-Budget.”
Convention(al) wisdom
We visited North Central Teachers’ Convention in Edmonton and asked:
What is your go-to tip for a successful teachers’ convention?
I go with 15 minutes both ways. If there’s a session I want to go to, I always try to get there 15 minutes early. If I don’t feel engaged by a session 15 minutes in, that’s when I tend to head out. Usually you still have time to find a different one.
Jeff Crawford, H.W. Pickup Junior High School, Drayton Valley
Co-ordinate with colleagues. [Connect] with each other to debrief the great sessions that you went to and create that collegiality. Be willing to switch and be willing to meet and discuss those things.
Dawn Kissel, Memorial Composite High School, Stony Plain
Always start with a keynote in the morning on Thursday and branch out from there. Find something that sparks your interest and get there early. The more you come to convention, the more specialized you want to do your sessions.
Kyle Hazlehurst, Fultonvale Junior High School, Sherwood Park
The biggest thing is to come prepared. Go through the schedule and make sure that the sessions you’re going to actually work for you, not just academically. There’s a lot of good sessions [on] wellness.”
Nayfe Choucair, École Park Élémentaire, Fort Saskatchewan
I generally look for sessions that are going to mesh with things I want to do in my classroom this year.
Li Ayuen, École Park Élémentaire, Fort Saskatchewan
Have someone drive you.
Choose sessions you’re curious about, not necessarily that speak to your teaching practice.
Always have a backup.
Khrysty Devos, Jocelyn Scott, Latasha Friestad, F.R. Haythorne Junior High School, Sherwood Park
