The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Veterans’ Week resources for teachers

Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day (November 5-11) offer excellent opportunities to teachers for teaching our national history. Also, since the revised Alberta social studies curriculum includes a strong focus on teaching and learning history and Canada’s role in significant world events, this is an opportune time to include real-life occasions in learning plans. Check out Alberta Education’s website for ideas on making connections between Veterans’ Week and classroom studies: www.education.alberta.ca/department/events/veteransweek.aspx.

Free resources from Cinematheque Education Department: the Integrated Media Literacy Project

Free, downloadable PDF lesson plans develop critical thinking skills through cost-free and easy-to-use Web 2.0 technology in the classroom. Developed by the Cinematheque, a nonprofit film institute in Vancouver. You and your students can learn how to build a website using software even primary students can master, create an animated, multimedia presentation for students of any level and brainstorm as a class in real-time and online. For more information, go to the Integrated Media Literacy Project website http://thecinematheque.ca/education/imlp/.

Ukrainian arts and education awards available

The Ukrainian Resource and Development Centre (URDC) at Grant MacEwan University invites applications for arts and education awards. The Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts (ACUA) Award ($500) is offered annually for a project that fosters a greater awareness of Ukrainian art in Alberta. The Roman Soltykewych Music Scholarship ($500) is available to applicants (individual or group) pursuing further studies in the field of Ukrainian choral or vocal music. The Anna Pidruchney Award for New Writers ($1,000) is available annually to a novice writer for a work on a Ukrainian Canadian theme. Submissions for this year’s award must be in English. The William and Mary Kostash Award for Media Arts ($1,000) is offered for a project that promotes Ukrainian Canadian identity through film, video or multimedia. Application forms and/or guidelines are available from URDC. Application deadline is November 30, 2012. For application details, contact Larisa Hayduk or Alice Chumer, Ukrainian Resource and Development Centre. Telephone: 780-497-5494 or 780-497-4374; fax: 780-497-4377; e-mail: haydukl@macewan.ca or chumera@macewan.ca.

Healthy Interactions is a communications and conflict-resolution program offered by the ATA. A four-day workshop is available to teachers wishing to receive a certificate as a trained facilitator in the Healthy Interactions program. A two-day workshop is offered to individual teachers and principals to enhance their conflict-resolution skills. Visit the ATA website (www.teachers.ab.ca) for dates and locations. Registration is free for active ATA members and includes training materials, breakfast and lunch. Participants are responsible for substitute teacher, travel and accommodation costs. Registration forms are available from the ATA website. Space is limited. For more information, contact Joyce Sherwin at Barnett House, in Edmonton. Telephone: 780-447-9400 (Edmonton and area) or 1-800-232-7208 (toll-free from elsewhere in Alberta). In Calgary, contact Cynthia Malner-Charest at SARO. Telephone: 403-265-2672 (Calgary and area) or 1-800-332-1280 (toll-free from elsewhere in Alberta).

The Family Behavior Toolbox (FBT) is a self-help resource to help parents and family members understand a child’s behaviour and to inform them about the options available to deal with it. FBT was created by the team responsible for the child, adolescent and autism editions of the toolbox. Parents can be referred to the FBT resource by teachers; access is also available through Alberta’s public libraries. FBT can be accessed at www.familybehaviortoolbox.com. The Behavior Toolboxes are used worldwide and are constantly growing and developing to ensure high-quality content and to reflect current thinking. For information about the Behavior Toolbox series, visit www.conductmanagement.com/pdfs/bt2012.pdf. Access to the professional editions is by username; every school division has a username guardian to help people access the site. Username information and guardians’ names are available by e-mail. The Alberta access page is www.conductmanagement.com/amhb. Send questions and feedback to alberta@conductmanagement.com, call 215-586-3593 or Skype conductmanagement.

Power and politics of oil and gas theme of Parkland conference

The Parkland Institute’s fall conference, “Petro, Power and Politics,” takes place November 23–25, at the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (CCIS), University of Alberta. This conference explores the economic issues of oil and gas development and the social, cultural and political consequences thereof—ultimately, questions of power and the kind of society Albertans and Canadians desire. The keynote speaker is author Ronald Wright; Duff Conacher, the founder of Democracy Watch, will close the conference. Other guest speakers are Andrew Nikiforuk, Jeff Gailus, Angela Carter and Laura N. Beny. For details and to register, visit the Parkland Institute’s website (http://parklandinstitute.ca).

SPCA invites teachers to review resources

The Alberta SPCA is looking for qualified teachers to review new resources for the agriculture courses AGR1040: Animal Basics and AGR2020: Animal Husbandry/Welfare. A small honorarium will be paid. Teachers who have taught these courses are invited to contact Tim Battle. Telephone:
780-447-3600, ext. 3739, or e-mail: education@albertaspca.org.

Power and politics of oil and gas theme of Parkland conference

The Parkland Institute’s fall conference, “Petro, Power and Politics,” takes place November 23–25, at the Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (CCIS), University of Alberta. This conference explores the economic issues of oil and gas development and the social, cultural and political consequences thereof—ultimately, questions of power and the kind of society Albertans and Canadians desire. The keynote speaker is author Ronald Wright; Duff Conacher, the founder of Democracy Watch, will close the conference. Other guest speakers are Andrew Nikiforuk, Jeff Gailus, Angela Carter and Laura N. Beny. For details and to register, visit the Parkland Institute’s website (http://parklandinstitute.ca).

Autos for sale

2009 Toyota Highlander LTD—Pearl Blizzard exterior, black interior, premium package interior, fully loaded, remote start, tow package with brake assist, 3.5 L, 275 HP, winter tires and rims, approximately 127,000 kilometres

2010 Nissan Maxima—Black exterior, black interior, premium package, sunroof, winter tires and rims, navigation system with full options, approximately 122,000 kilometres

Sealed bids for above vehicles should be marked “Car Bid,” attention Mr. Jeffrey Loke, ATA Business and Facilities Manager, Alberta Teachers’ Association, 11010-142 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5N 2R1. Bids will be accepted until 5 p.m., November 30, 2012.

For more information, contact Mr. Loke. Telephone: 780-447-9458 in Edmonton and area, or 1-800-232-7208 (toll free) from elsewhere in Alberta.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association reserves the right to refuse the highest bid if it’s deemed to be inadequate.

Stories and photos wanted

The ATA News is always on the lookout for interesting articles, photos and cartoons. Articles should not exceed 500 words and should be accompanied by a short byline, stating where you work and what you teach. Photos of teachers or students participating in interesting activities are welcome, as are cartoons. Don’t forget to include photo captions. Please note: Receipt of material does not guarantee its publication. Send your submissions to Managing Editor, the ATA News, 11010-142 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5N 2R1 or submit electronically to raymond.gariepy@ata.ab.ca.