The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Check out the ATA’s Publications

The following publications of the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s are featured on the ATA website (www.teachers.ab.ca):

• Teaching in the Early Years of Practice: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study
• The 2011/12 National Study on Balancing Work, Life and Caregiving in Canada: The Situation for Alberta Teachers
• Transformation and Alberta’s Schools: A Time for Action
• Creating Possibilities, Balancing Priorities—the 2012 Professional Development Survey
• Alberta Voices: Teachers’ Aspirations for the Future of Teaching
• A Great School for All: Transforming Education in Alberta
• Teaching in the Early Years of Practice: Fourth-Year Report
• The New Work of Teaching: A Case Study of the Worklife of Calgary Public Teachers

To order a copy of a publication, send an e-mail to distribution@ata.ab.ca.

Free eye exams curtail future vision problems  

Each year, fewer than 14 per cent of Canadian children under the age of six have a comprehensive eye exam before entering school, despite the fact that an estimated one in four school-aged children has a vision problem. In Alberta, a free program offered by optometrists, called Eye See...Eye Learn, provides kindergarten-aged children with a comprehensive eye examination and a complimentary pair of glasses if they need them. The program is designed to detect, diagnose and treat children with vision problems before they begin school, so they have every opportunity to learn to the best of their ability. For more information about this program, visit www.optometrists.ab.ca/eye-see-eye-learn.

Calling all educators of Indigenous youth

Are you a K–12 teacher who is interested in mentoring Indigenous students? If yes, then consider joining an educator coaching program. The program provides teachers with an opportunity to collaborate with another teacher with the support and guidance of the Indspire Institute (https://indspire.ca). The program’s goal is to increase the success of Indigenous students. You do not have to be Indigenous to participate in this program. Mentors receive a $600 honorarium. For information, visit http://indspire.ca/programs/peer-support.

Support the Go 2 School Initiative

School enrolment rates for Somali children are among the lowest in the world. In response, Somali authorities, with the support of UNICEF, have launched The Go 2 School Initiative. The goal is to have 1 million children enrolled in education within the next three years. To learn more, visit www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-break-the-cycle-of-illiteracy-in-somalia-with-the-go2school-initiative.

fYrefly in schools: Peer-to-peer education opportunity

fYrefly in Schools is a student-education program offered by the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta. Based on Camp fYrefly, an award-winning summer leadership retreat for sexual and gender minority youth, the fYrefly in Schools program seeks to increase awareness of homophobic/transphobic bullying and equip students to become proponents for diversity, equity and human rights in their schools and communities. An experienced teacher leads all workshops, which are guided by a peer-led student discussion panel. Typically, it is delivered as an interactive 60–90-minute classroom workshop. Workshops can be tailored to meet individual class or school needs. To learn more, e-mail Dr. Kristopher Wells (kris.wells@ualberta.ca) or call 780-492-9908. To book a free workshop for your classroom, please send an e-mail to fYrefly@ualberta.ca.

Join a specialist council today—it’s free

As a benefit of ATA membership, active members are entitled to join one specialist council of their choice each year at no cost. Specialist councils are an integral part of the Association’s activities. Granting members automatic membership in a specialist council is an innovative step toward increasing professional development opportunities for educators throughout Alberta and a way to promote the professional expertise of teachers in curriculum and specialty areas. Regular membership is restricted to active members of the ATA and to associate members who are ineligible for active membership as specified in ATA bylaws. Regular members are entitled to all the benefits and services of council membership including the right to vote and hold office. For information on joining a specialist council, visit the ATA website (www.teachers.ab.ca) and click on For Members and then on Professional Development.

A Guide to Alberta’s 28th Legislature now available

A Guide to Alberta’s 28th Legislature is the most comprehensive publication available on the operation of Alberta’s legislature and government. The three-ring binder format allows for updates. To order a copy, e-mail distribution@ata.ab.ca.