August 20 and 21, 2024 | The Westin Bayshore Hotel, Vancouver

In-Person and on Zoom

The First Nations Education Steering Committee and First Nations Schools Association are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for teachers and education assistants in First Nation schools on August 20 and 21, 2024.

This event is intended for K4-12 educators, including educators who work with adult students. Opportunities have been designed for K4-7 and 8-12 educators, but we recognize that educators work in diverse classrooms, so we encourage participants to select the sessions that match the needs of their students and their professional growth goals.

August 20th will feature two classroom teachers who are highly regarded for their engaging and impactful instruction. Rebecca Bushby (K4-7) and Devon Hancock (8-12) will share their expertise around using inquiry to support literacy (K4-7) as well as resources to incorporate novels into the high school classroom (8-12). Both sessions will provide participants with practical tools and resources they can take back to their classrooms and implement.

On August 21st a variety of different workshops will be offered, focused on supporting literacy in K4 – 12 classrooms. Participants can select the workshops that best meet their needs.

SPEAKERS

Rebecca Bushby

Rebecca is a Kindergarten teacher and is the co-author of the book Inquiry Mindset and an avid sketch note artist. Rebecca is passionate about facilitating learning with an inquiry-based approach and weaving in her students’ curiosities, wonders, and stories into her teaching.

Devon Hancock

Devon Hancock has been teaching high school Math, English, Science, Socials, and a wide variety of elective courses in classrooms from the UK to rural BC for over a decade. She is interested in how curriculum can shape not just what we teach, but how learning happens in our classrooms.

REGISTRATION

To register to attend in-person or virtually, please use the button below.

SCHEDULE

August 20 (Day 1) Audience Timing
Approaching Literacy with a Lens of Inquiry with Rebecca Bushby

Uncover how we can approach literacy with a lens of inquiry. Together we will consider how we can powerfully weave in students’ stories, curiosities, voices, and questions into our learning experiences and have them drive our literacy learning in our classrooms. We will be focusing on the Big Ideas of the English Language Arts curriculum and be looking at how we can facilitate them with an inquiry mindset and approach.

 K4 – 7 All Day
Using Novels to Enhance Teaching and Learning with Devon Hancock

In this half-day workshop Devon Hancock will share the Novel Study resources that she developed for FNESC in 2022. These resources will provide the foundation to explore the concept of “text”, demonstrate how thoughtful curricular foundations can enhance teaching and learning, survey ways students can demonstrate their learning beyond the written response and examine ways to localize teaching and learning for your students.

 8 – 12 Morning
Digging into our Learning (follow up on the morning session)

In the afternoon participants will have the opportunity to reflect on the morning’s session and connect and collaborate with other high school educators on how they can utilize Devon’s resources and strategies in their own classrooms.

 8 – 12 Afternoon
August 21 (Day 2) Audience Timing
Literacy the Big Picture

This session will provide a broad overview of literacy instruction, including the 5 components of literacy and how they work together to form a strong reader. Participants will discuss instructional strategies and activities aligned with the BC Curriculum.

 K4 – 7 Morning
Literacy Stations

This session will provide an overview of the benefits of incorporating intentional, curriculum-focused literacy stations into daily classroom routines. We will discuss strategies to ensure that stations are robust and engaging and build off the learning from whole group instruction. We will also offer tips to support with guided release of responsibility to build student independence and showcase a selection of literacy station examples across grade levels.

 K4 – 7 Afternoon
Literacy the Big Picture

This session will provide a broad overview of literacy instruction with a focus on the areas most relevant to high school students and will discuss how continuous development of these areas will form stronger readers.

 8 – 12 Morning
Filling the Literacy Gaps for High School Students

We know it is common for students to need extra support to ensure they have the literacy skills they need to be successful in school and life. Building off the morning’s session, this session will provide ideas and strategies to support students to build skills in the areas that need support in.

 8 – 12 Afternoon
1 on 1 Literacy Program and Assessment Support Audience Timing
Throughout the day participants will be able to access targeted 1-1 support with a coach to discuss any questions related to their K-3 literacy programming and assessment including Read Well, Heggerty, Acadience, and PELI. K4 – 3 All Day

PLAN YOUR ATTENDANCE

ELIGIBILITY

Teachers and Education Assistants from First Nations schools in BC are eligible to register.

TRAVEL EXPENSES

Please note that participants will be responsible for paying their own travel and accommodation expenses, as well as all food and incidentals related to travel to and from the event. FNESC/FNSA will provide the facility, presenter, breakfast and lunch (which will be provided at 8:00 am and 12 pm, respectively) during the event.

HOTEL

The Westin Bayshore Hotel, 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver

  • Please use the Booking Link. Alternatively, phone the Westin at (604) 682-3377 quoting ‘FNESC Literacy Workshop’.
  • Book by July 18, 2024 for the block rate of $419 per night.

*Accommodation is limited, please book as soon as possible.

SCHEDULE

  • 8:00 am Breakfast (provided for in-person attendees)
  • 9:00 am -12:00 pm Morning Session
  • 12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch (provided for in-person attendees)
  • 1:00 – 3:30 pm Afternoon Session

HEALTH

Please stay home or attend virtually if you are feeling unwell. Only registered participants are eligible to attend. Family and friends cannot attend the event at any time, including for meals. The decision to attend in-person events is a personal one and it should be made in consideration of your individual risk factors and vulnerabilities.

EVENT CONTACT

For questions relating to this event, please contact firstnationschoolevents@fnesc.ca or phone 1-877-422-3672.