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CK23 WORKSHOPS
MORE WORKSHOPS. MORE LEARNING.
30 WORKSHOPS BY EDUCATORS, FOR EDUCATORS
10 workshops released daily throughout Camp Kinder Weekend 2023
Workshops are pre-recorded so you can watch them in the order you want, when you want.
Your Camp Pass gives you access to all 30 CK23 Workshops and Live Events- no need to pick and choose!
Workshops are 20-60 minutes long and packed with engaging, relevant and practical information.
Your Camp Pass is valid until July 28th, with the option to extend if you need more time.
FRIDAY, JULY 21st
Are your students melting down when they don’t get a turn? Do you find yourself yelling more than you’d like to? Are you emotionally drained at the end of the day because of all the tears, arguments, and students who NEED to hold your hand at all times? Teaching this generation of post-covid students is not for the faint of heart. If you have ever felt like a growing portion of your teaching time is spent on managing the emotional regulation of students- this workshop is for you! Humbly, and with a curious lens on big behaviour, Avery and Alannah will share with you 5 tools and strategies that may help bring calm to some of the biggest emotional storms. 
Avery (she/her) Kindergarten Specialist, OCT
Alannah (she/her) M.A Child Study and Education, OCT
@gentle.teachers
Avery (left) and Alannah (right) can often be found in their natural habitat- outside on the school yard, surrounded by a swarm of doting Kindergarten students. These French Immersion Kindergarten teachers are self proclaimed “Kindergarten Lifers”, who have 7+ years of experience working with teaching partners as well as in single-educator classrooms. Often confused by students as being “sisters”, they have stumbled through the world of Kindergarten together, with a continued focus on learning and bettering their practice. United in their belief that educators learn alongside the students, Avery and Alannah believe that in a classroom community, you come as you are, and both champion the messy, beautiful and chaotic world that is Kindergarten. Drawing on the gentle parenting movement and a mental-health lens, they strive to create classroom environments where students feel safe, loved, and accepted- big behaviours and all.
Educators are passionate about creating classroom spaces that affirm and promote students’ sense of belonging and well-being. The classroom environment is integral to building students’ confidence and independence throughout the school year, and educators must ensure that it fits the needs of everyone in the classroom.
Whether you are a veteran or a first-time kindergarten educator, classroom setup can be a stressful task! However, I will provide you with ideas, reflections and solutions to make you feel confident that you are setting up a space that is responsive to all your students.
Amanda Bourke (she/her) @creativekindergartenblogontpt
RECE, Creator Creative Kindergarten
Amanda is a Registered Early Childhood Educator that has worked in a kindergarten classroom for 7 years and as a facilitator for 2 years. She believes strongly in engaging in reflective practice and continuous learning about education in the early years.
Amanda has shared her experiences on her blog, social media and podcast. This is her second time presenting at Camp Kinder!
Connection: it’s the driving force behind fulfilled days and at the heart of every successful classroom management system. In this session, we will explore the background of community circles and see firsthand why they are an asset to every primary program. You will leave this workshop with an actionable framework & fabulous, free tools, to give you the confidence to introduce what is sure to become your new favourite routine.
Dani (she/her) @namasteinschools
OCT, French Specialist, Owner Namaste in School
Danielle Diestl is an award-winning primary teacher and children’s author who is dedicated to helping teachers and parents seamlessly integrate social-emotional learning into their K-3 programs. Danielle believes that our single greatest investment in classroom management is through relationship-building. As such, she advocates for teachers and administration to adopt a whole-child teaching approach so that we prioritize curiosity, community, compassion & character to weave throughout our curricular maps. She began building her business at the onset of the pandemic as a coping mechanism and continues to passionately support others through her Instagram platform @namasteinschools with creative, practical ways to foster well-being at home and within the classroom.
We know that students need to move their bodies throughout the day in order to be healthy and effective learners. Join Nicole to learn simple and easy ways to incorporate dance and movement into your classroom! You will gain ready-to-go movement activities and ideas for using dance to foster skills in all areas of your program, including literacy and math. If you already love to dance and move with your students, this workshop will give you new and fun ways to bring screen-free movement into your busy classroom. If you feel like you have two left feet and no sense of rhythm, then this workshop will give you the confidence and tools you need to experience the joy of dance with your students!
Nicole, (she/her) @harmonydanceco
OCT, Kindergarten Educator and Director of Harmony Dance Company
Nicole is a Kindergarten teacher and the Director of Harmony Dance Company, a children’s dance program based in Ottawa, Ontario. With a background in professional dance training and over 10 years experience in the Kindergarten classroom, her dance programs focus on encouraging students to develop movement skills and confidence, while exploring rhythm and music. When not in the classroom or in the dance studio, Nicole is learning and growing as a mom to a 4-year old daughter. She’s here to help get your students moving!
Not sure what to pack in your Wonder Wagon? Don’t worry, Kat has done all the work for you. Join her, as she shares her list of must have materials for outdoor education adventures. Kat will point you in the right direction to source everything you need. She will help you shop at home and around your classroom, as well as provide links and sources where you can purchase materials.
Kat (she/her) @je_me_demande
OCT, Creator of Je Me Demande
Kat is the creator behind Je_me_demande: Take the Learning Outside. She is an elementary school teacher in Northern Ontario with 20 years’ experience in the classroom. Kat has a love and passion for the outdoors and is constantly striving to take the learning outside as much as possible. She is a strong advocate for outdoor education and loves sharing easy ways to encourage educators to venture outside. Kat is a returning presenter at Camp Kinder this year and also has presented at the Manitoba Nature Summit. Kat is also a mother to 2 boys, Aeryn 8 and Keegan 6. When she isn’t outdoors you can find her wearing sweats and her husband’s hoodie, cuddled on the couch with her yellow lab Meadow and kitty Jazzpurr.
You read that right! This workshop is all about the tips and tricks you can use to start cooking with your kindie class. Get ready to hear about the benefits, curricular links, and “simple” ways to incorporate cooking into your classroom! Don’t consider yourself a chef? Not a problem! If a five year old can do it, you can do it too! Something didn’t workout? What a great lesson to learn from your mistakes. This is a workshop you don’t want to miss! (Great for kindergarten and primary teachers!)
Sophia (she/her) @creative.kids.co
Kindergarten Specialist, Creator of Creative Kids Co
Sophia is a French Immersion Primary Teacher with years of experience teaching students from Kindergarten to Grade 3. She believes in making every setting a fun place for learning! Sophia is passionate about creating opportunities for arts integration, play based learning, and creating a safe space where everyone feels welcome. Sophia loves to get creative, walk her dog Barkley, and binge watch crime shows. As a previous camp counsellor, Sophia is so excited to be presenting at Camp Kinder again! Let’s be camp friends!
How do educators encourage students to think like coders without using a computer? In this workshop, you will learn how to use Unplugged coding to foster creative problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and reasoning skills in students. Join Tara for how to start with unplugged coding, practical ideas, games, inexpensive coding kit ideas, and more! We will connect it to assessment, inquiry, and outdoors.
Tara (She/Her) @asquirrellyteacher
OCT, Kindergarten Specialist
Tara is an Elementary Math Coach in Ottawa, ON, with over 15 years experience in Elementary Teaching and working in the Early Years. She is a mother of 2 and fur mama to 2 kitties and a Boston Terrier. She is currently working towards becoming a Certified Forest and Nature School Practitioner. She is passionate about play based learning, outdoor/nature based learning, and deep learning! She loves exploring Unplugged coding especially with Early Years students! She has loved stepping into a teacher leadership/professional development role over the last 4 years. When she isn’t teaching she can be found camping, reading, or crafting!
Feel stressed and overwhelmed about being evaluated? Tossing and turning, losing sleep thinking about preparing for the lesson that your administrator will observe? Katie will walk through how to set yourself up for success for your next Teaching Performance Appraisal. This session will provide tips on what type of lesson to showcase, a guide for documentation to have ready for your meetings with your administrator and advice on how to prepare your students. We know evaluations can make us all a nervous wreck, be sure to tune in to Rock your Teacher Performance Appraisal!
Katie (she/her) @kt_in_kinder
OCT, Kindergarten Specialist, Math Specialist
Katie Crichton @kt_in_kinder (she/her) is a kindergarten and math specialist and Kindergarten teacher in Guelph, Ontario. She holds a Master’s in Developmental Psychology and Education from the University of Toronto, with a focus on developmentally appropriate play-based learning. In her spare time she loves to go for long walks, read juicy romance novels and relax with family and friends. Katie is an experienced camp counsellor, in addition to having a session at Camp Kinder in summer 2022 she went to and worked at summer camp for 12 years!
Does it make sense to brush our teeth for four hours every Sunday? Or is it something we should be doing twice daily? Our mental health is no different. This presentation will discuss common factors that lead to burnout but more importantly, how to avoid it all together.
Jess
M.Ed, R.S.W, C.C.C. Clinical Manager at LifeWorks
Jessica Shewbridge is a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology. Previous to her work as a therapist, Jessica spent over ten years working with children with physical, behavioural and developmental disabilities and ensuing complications. Her passion is building resiliency to avoid burnout!
Have you ever considered how to take your learning outside the classroom walls? There are so many ways we can infuse mathematical learning while exploring in nature. First, let’s talk about some core routines of playing and learning outside to lay the foundation of an outdoor classroom. Next, we can look at some examples of how our primary class uncovered several math concepts through their own personal inquiries and investigations – from learning how to identify plants by noticing patterns to learning to measure the pitch and intensity of a bird song.
Lauren (she/her) @mentoringnatureconnections
Lauren MacLean is a mother of two adventurous toddlers and an energetic puppy. She teaches grade 1 at her neighbourhood school in Port Moody, British Columbia. She is the author of the children’s picture book, Me and My Sit Spot, which comes in 3 versions (Me and My Sit Spot, French, and Early Learners). Lauren is also the host of the Mentoring Nature Connections podcast where she interviews educators on the importance of outdoor play and learning. She is very passionate about developing a meaningful relationship and authentic connection with nature. Without a doubt, in her spare time, you will find her exploring the forest trails with her trailblazing toddlers.
Are your students melting down when they don’t get a turn? Do you find yourself yelling more than you’d like to? Are you emotionally drained at the end of the day because of all the tears, arguments, and students who NEED to hold your hand at all times? Teaching this generation of post-covid students is not for the faint of heart. If you have ever felt like a growing portion of your teaching time is spent on managing the emotional regulation of students- this workshop is for you! Humbly, and with a curious lens on big behaviour, Avery and Alannah will share with you 5 tools and strategies that may help bring calm to some of the biggest emotional storms.
Avery (she/her) Kindergarten Specialist, OCT
Alannah (she/her) M.A Child Study and Education, OCT
@gentle.teachers
Avery (left) and Alannah (right) can often be found in their natural habitat- outside on the school yard, surrounded by a swarm of doting Kindergarten students. These French Immersion Kindergarten teachers are self proclaimed “Kindergarten Lifers”, who have 7+ years of experience working with teaching partners as well as in single-educator classrooms. Often confused by students as being “sisters”, they have stumbled through the world of Kindergarten together, with a continued focus on learning and bettering their practice. United in their belief that educators learn alongside the students, Avery and Alannah believe that in a classroom community, you come as you are, and both champion the messy, beautiful and chaotic world that is Kindergarten. Drawing on the gentle parenting movement and a mental-health lens, they strive to create classroom environments where students feel safe, loved, and accepted- big behaviours and all.
Educators are passionate about creating classroom spaces that affirm and promote students’ sense of belonging and well-being. The classroom environment is integral to building students’ confidence and independence throughout the school year, and educators must ensure that it fits the needs of everyone in the classroom.
Whether you are a veteran or a first-time kindergarten educator, classroom setup can be a stressful task! However, I will provide you with ideas, reflections and solutions to make you feel confident that you are setting up a space that is responsive to all your students.
Amanda Bourke (she/her) @creativekindergartenblogontpt
RECE, Creator Creative Kindergarten
Amanda is a Registered Early Childhood Educator that has worked in a kindergarten classroom for 7 years and as a facilitator for 2 years. She believes strongly in engaging in reflective practice and continuous learning about education in the early years.
Amanda has shared her experiences on her blog, social media and podcast. This is her second time presenting at Camp Kinder!
Connection: it’s the driving force behind fulfilled days and at the heart of every successful classroom management system. In this session, we will explore the background of community circles and see firsthand why they are an asset to every primary program. You will leave this workshop with an actionable framework & fabulous, free tools, to give you the confidence to introduce what is sure to become your new favourite routine.
Dani (she/her) @namasteinschools
OCT, French Specialist, Owner Namaste in School
Danielle Diestl is an award-winning primary teacher and children’s author who is dedicated to helping teachers and parents seamlessly integrate social-emotional learning into their K-3 programs. Danielle believes that our single greatest investment in classroom management is through relationship-building. As such, she advocates for teachers and administration to adopt a whole-child teaching approach so that we prioritize curiosity, community, compassion & character to weave throughout our curricular maps. She began building her business at the onset of the pandemic as a coping mechanism and continues to passionately support others through her Instagram platform @namasteinschools with creative, practical ways to foster well-being at home and within the classroom.
We know that students need to move their bodies throughout the day in order to be healthy and effective learners. Join Nicole to learn simple and easy ways to incorporate dance and movement into your classroom! You will gain ready-to-go movement activities and ideas for using dance to foster skills in all areas of your program, including literacy and math. If you already love to dance and move with your students, this workshop will give you new and fun ways to bring screen-free movement into your busy classroom. If you feel like you have two left feet and no sense of rhythm, then this workshop will give you the confidence and tools you need to experience the joy of dance with your students!
Nicole, (she/her) @harmonydanceco
OCT, Kindergarten Educator and Director of Harmony Dance Company
Nicole is a Kindergarten teacher and the Director of Harmony Dance Company, a children’s dance program based in Ottawa, Ontario. With a background in professional dance training and over 10 years experience in the Kindergarten classroom, her dance programs focus on encouraging students to develop movement skills and confidence, while exploring rhythm and music. When not in the classroom or in the dance studio, Nicole is learning and growing as a mom to a 4-year old daughter. She’s here to help get your students moving!
Not sure what to pack in your Wonder Wagon? Don’t worry, Kat has done all the work for you. Join her, as she shares her list of must have materials for outdoor education adventures. Kat will point you in the right direction to source everything you need. She will help you shop at home and around your classroom, as well as provide links and sources where you can purchase materials.
Kat (she/her) @je_me_demande
OCT, Creator of Je Me Demande
Kat is the creator behind Je_me_demande: Take the Learning Outside. She is an elementary school teacher in Northern Ontario with 20 years’ experience in the classroom. Kat has a love and passion for the outdoors and is constantly striving to take the learning outside as much as possible. She is a strong advocate for outdoor education and loves sharing easy ways to encourage educators to venture outside. Kat is a returning presenter at Camp Kinder this year and also has presented at the Manitoba Nature Summit. Kat is also a mother to 2 boys, Aeryn 8 and Keegan 6. When she isn’t outdoors you can find her wearing sweats and her husband’s hoodie, cuddled on the couch with her yellow lab Meadow and kitty Jazzpurr.
You read that right! This workshop is all about the tips and tricks you can use to start cooking with your kindie class. Get ready to hear about the benefits, curricular links, and “simple” ways to incorporate cooking into your classroom! Don’t consider yourself a chef? Not a problem! If a five year old can do it, you can do it too! Something didn’t workout? What a great lesson to learn from your mistakes. This is a workshop you don’t want to miss! (Great for kindergarten and primary teachers!)
Sophia (she/her) @creative.kids.co
Kindergarten Specialist, Creator of Creative Kids Co
Sophia is a French Immersion Primary Teacher with years of experience teaching students from Kindergarten to Grade 3. She believes in making every setting a fun place for learning! Sophia is passionate about creating opportunities for arts integration, play based learning, and creating a safe space where everyone feels welcome. Sophia loves to get creative, walk her dog Barkley, and binge watch crime shows. As a previous camp counsellor, Sophia is so excited to be presenting at Camp Kinder again! Let’s be camp friends!
How do educators encourage students to think like coders without using a computer? In this workshop, you will learn how to use Unplugged coding to foster creative problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and reasoning skills in students. Join Tara for how to start with unplugged coding, practical ideas, games, inexpensive coding kit ideas, and more! We will connect it to assessment, inquiry, and outdoors.
Tara (She/Her) @asquirrellyteacher
OCT, Kindergarten Specialist
Tara is an Elementary Math Coach in Ottawa, ON, with over 15 years experience in Elementary Teaching and working in the Early Years. She is a mother of 2 and fur mama to 2 kitties and a Boston Terrier. She is currently working towards becoming a Certified Forest and Nature School Practitioner. She is passionate about play based learning, outdoor/nature based learning, and deep learning! She loves exploring Unplugged coding especially with Early Years students! She has loved stepping into a teacher leadership/professional development role over the last 4 years. When she isn’t teaching she can be found camping, reading, or crafting!
Feel stressed and overwhelmed about being evaluated? Tossing and turning, losing sleep thinking about preparing for the lesson that your administrator will observe? Katie will walk through how to set yourself up for success for your next Teaching Performance Appraisal. This session will provide tips on what type of lesson to showcase, a guide for documentation to have ready for your meetings with your administrator and advice on how to prepare your students. We know evaluations can make us all a nervous wreck, be sure to tune in to Rock your Teacher Performance Appraisal!
Katie (she/her) @kt_in_kinder
OCT, Kindergarten Specialist, Math Specialist
Katie Crichton @kt_in_kinder (she/her) is a kindergarten and math specialist and Kindergarten teacher in Guelph, Ontario. She holds a Master’s in Developmental Psychology and Education from the University of Toronto, with a focus on developmentally appropriate play-based learning. In her spare time she loves to go for long walks, read juicy romance novels and relax with family and friends. Katie is an experienced camp counsellor, in addition to having a session at Camp Kinder in summer 2022 she went to and worked at summer camp for 12 years!
Does it make sense to brush our teeth for four hours every Sunday? Or is it something we should be doing twice daily? Our mental health is no different. This presentation will discuss common factors that lead to burnout but more importantly, how to avoid it all together.
Jess
M.Ed, R.S.W, C.C.C. Clinical Manager at LifeWorks
Jessica Shewbridge is a Registered Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology. Previous to her work as a therapist, Jessica spent over ten years working with children with physical, behavioural and developmental disabilities and ensuing complications. Her passion is building resiliency to avoid burnout!
Have you ever considered how to take your learning outside the classroom walls? There are so many ways we can infuse mathematical learning while exploring in nature. First, let’s talk about some core routines of playing and learning outside to lay the foundation of an outdoor classroom. Next, we can look at some examples of how our primary class uncovered several math concepts through their own personal inquiries and investigations – from learning how to identify plants by noticing patterns to learning to measure the pitch and intensity of a bird song.
Lauren (she/her) @mentoringnatureconnections
Lauren MacLean is a mother of two adventurous toddlers and an energetic puppy. She teaches grade 1 at her neighbourhood school in Port Moody, British Columbia. She is the author of the children’s picture book, Me and My Sit Spot, which comes in 3 versions (Me and My Sit Spot, French, and Early Learners). Lauren is also the host of the Mentoring Nature Connections podcast where she interviews educators on the importance of outdoor play and learning. She is very passionate about developing a meaningful relationship and authentic connection with nature. Without a doubt, in her spare time, you will find her exploring the forest trails with her trailblazing toddlers.
SATURDAY, JULY 22nd
“You need to meet the needs of all your students while making sure each of them feel reflected in their learning… oh and we are giving you 30 students this year.” Good luck!” Does any of this sound familiar? This is the reality for the majority of educators. It is overwhelming and tough. Join Zara as she discusses ways to implement a culturally responsive pedagogy in kindergarten and how to ensure your students feel represented in their learning environment. She will provide strategies that work in her own classroom that you can take with you and use in your own teaching.
Zara (She/her) @_inspiringgrowingminds
OCT, Masters of Teaching, Equity Advocate
Zara is a Muslim Canadian kindergarten teacher who is passionate about creating an equitable and inclusive learning environment for her students. Zara grew up moving through a school system where was never seen or reflected. She always felt different than her peers and was
embarrassed to share aspects of her personal life and culture. These experiences have shaped the educator Zara is today. She is an advocate for equity and inclusion in her classroom, and believes that every child should feel safe and have a strong sense of belonging. In her free time, Zara loves traveling, binge-watching Netflix and creating beautiful charcuterie boards.
In this workshop, you will learn why students with ASD require visuals and you will learn how to make your classroom a place where students on the Autism spectrum can thrive. You will learn some tricks and tips to make lessons and activities more accessible to students on the spectrum. This will, in turn, help all your students thrive as well. This workshop is applicable for Teachers, ECEs and EAs who work in general education and/or special education K-2 classrooms.
Krista (she/her) @mrsreidsroom
OCT, Special Education Specialist, creator
Krista is a self proclaimed ‘elder millennial’ and a veteran teacher with 17 years experience in elementary schools in Northern Ontario. She has her special education specialist and currently teaches in a self contained high support classroom for students with ASD ranging in ages from 4 to 7. When not in the classroom, you can find Krista hanging with her husband and pre-teen son – either hibernating the winter away with epic movie marathons or enjoying the short, but stunningly beautiful, Northern Ontario summers on the lake. She is passionate about inclusion and making sure students with ASD feel accepted and included in all areas of their schooling experience. Krista was an extended access presenter for the inaugural Camp Kinder weekend and is beyond thrilled to bring her experience and knowledge to the big show this year.
So you got your dream job in kindergarten (or were thrown in) and now you’ve got to not only balance 4 and 5 year olds and their relationships but you’ve got a team of educators to work with too. Working as team of like minded caring adults who all have the same goal- can be the best experience but also can bring along with it a unique set of challenges. As someone who has taught in 7 different educators teams within the kindergarten program as well as in a team as a teacher in an ACE program, I’ve seen, heard and experienced the wide range that comes with these relationships. Let’s have a real conversation about how to navigate these relationships. It took me a while, but you do not have to be best friends with your teaching team to be a strong and positive team for your students. And if you are lucky enough to find bestie- you hit the jackpot. Let’s talk about how to compromise, listen, and work with all different types of people, while not loosing yourself, your passions or your sparkle.
Annabelle (she/her) OCT
Annabelle is an Ontario educator from Waterloo. She has taught for over 8 years, which is so confusing because she’s only 25ish, so the math doesn’t quite add up. She has taught grade 5/6, 3/4, ACE and has spent the last 5 and a half years in kindergarten. Every year in kindergarten she has taught with a different educating team. She understands the stress, joy, and let’s be honest sometimes difficulty of teaching in a team of adults who have the same goals but maybe different ideas, views or opinions on glitter. She is so lucky to have found her happy place early on in her teaching career and she knows how lucky that is. She loves the messy, creative, organized(ish) chaos and team environment of the kindergarten program. When she’s not teaching, or let’s be real laminating, she loves baking. Especially cakes, channeling her inner Cake Boss. Her passions also include, inclusion, developing positive self talk in her students, karaoke, TikToking, traveling, and most importantly is a die hard Jonas Brothers fan, team Joe forever. As a participant at Camp Kinder last year, she is so excited to be presenter this year. And don’t be fooled, she’s still figuring out this whole teaching thing too!
What may look like standard furniture or a “home area” in a kindergarten classroom is really a canvas for a world of possibilities. The dramatic centre is an open-ended space and inclusive for all children with varying language and developmental levels. This workshop will challenge you to see creativity through the imagination of a 4/5-year-old child. The dramatic area in most kindergarten classes takes up a large area of the classroom, however, it is sometimes ignored or forgotten about with the number of other learning areas and priorities happening in a Full Day Kindergarten Classroom. This workshop is intended for kindergarten teachers looking for new inspiration by using the dramatic area space that won’t take a ton of time or resources. We as educators might be missing out on observing, documenting and assessing key learning that is happening while students are engaged in pretend play. You will leave with a better understanding of the benefits of dramatic play, and how to use pretend play and the dramatic area as a tool for assessment of the Four Frames. Most importantly, I hope you leave with a fresh perspective on how to turn your standard “play furniture” into a world of endless possibilities to encourage students’ ideas, interests and learning.
Brittany (she/her) @thekindieteam
OCT, Creator of The Kindie Team
Brittany is a Kindergarten Specialist from Ontario, Canada, where she has been teaching Kindergarten for over 7 years. When she is not in a typical classroom setting, Brittany is teaching preschool art, dance and musical theatre. Some of her favourite memories were her time spent teaching abroad in Costa Rica, the Bahamas, and Hong Kong. Brittany comes from a family of educators, including her mom and grandma that were both Kindergarten teachers. When she is not teaching, Brittany is an adrenaline junkie who enjoys dancing, crafting, yoga, and baking and looks forward to travelling whenever she gets a chance. Brittany is a picture book enthusiast, that is passionate about inclusive education, the arts and play-based learning. You can follow along with all the fun and chaos on Instagram @thekindieteam.
Let’s be honest, sometimes French teaching gets a bad rap and we, as educators, often have to work a little harder to win over our students. Never fear- Madame Amy of 123 Petits Pas is here to help save you time and effort in making French learning fun. Through movement games, mystery, laughter, and song, you’ll leave this workshop with new and engaging French teaching tricks up your sleeves. The goal? Your students see French learning for what it is: a means of communication while we play & interact with others!
Amy (She/her) @123petitspas
Owner 123 Petits Pas Inc.
Amy Warr, or “Madame Amy” as her participants call her, is the owner of 123 Petits Pas Inc. where she teaches French through fun and engaging classes to parents and 0-7 year olds. Her style of teaching is through music, movement, and, most importantly, FUN! With two French children’s music albums, over 4 years of entrepreneurship and online educating, and two young bilingual children of her own, Madame Amy is here to provide tips and tricks on making French education as fun and as easy as possible!
Struggling to find a daily routine with your class that feels like it just works? When your flow of the day is off, everything feels off. Constantly racing against the clock, filling gaps in your day, rushing transitions and noticing your students aren’t regulating effectively are all signs that adjustment is needed. Your schedule needs to work for you – not against you, and this workshop will help you start the year off with a solid weekly schedule and daily routine that feels good, makes sense and helps the days go by faster! Join Mariah from A Playful Purpose: Learning for Littles Inc. to discover how to map out, plan, test, and adapt your kindergarten schedule so that you feel accomplished, confident and energized leaving school at the end of the day.
Mariah (She/her) @aplayfulpurpose
OCT, NSCT, Kindergarten Specialist, Owner A Playful Purpose: Learning for Littles, Founder Camp Kinder
Mariah is a kindergarten specialist turned curriculum writer, mom of 3 under 2, wannabe baker and lover of early 2000s Disney Channel (hello, Lizzie McGuire and HSM). She’s an enthusiast of ponytails, pancakes and helping Canadian kindergarten teachers stress less by simplifying their planning and re-igniting their love of play-based learning. Mariah is the owner and CEO of A Playful Purpose: Learning for Littles Inc. and the founder of Camp Kinder. She creates engaging French and English resources and creates quality professional development opportunities that truly support and inspire educators. Through workshops, courses, her membership programs and outreach, Mariah has trained and worked with more than 1000 educators. Rainbows are her jam, but helping educators is her calling.
Through the busy day and challenges that come along with teaching in elementary school it can be easy to get swept up in the same old boring calendar and book reading routine. Regardless of what’s going on, Sarah always has one underlying goal for her whole group instruction: to keep the learning FUN! Join Sarah in learning how to keep carpet time fun through engaging whole group games that foster enjoyable learning (for both students and educators)!
Sarah (she/her) @funinfrenchimmersion
OCT, Creator Fun in French Immersion
Sarah is the creator of Fun in French Immersion. With a background in Kindergarten and a love of technology, she has created countless tech-based resources to help kinder and primary teachers embrace technology in a fun and engaging way. She has transitioned from classroom teacher, to virtual teacher, to maternity leave as a new mom to her baby girl and now back to the classroom in a brand new level and role. She is fueled by coffee (lot’s of coffee), and her virtual teaching experience offers a unique perspective with regards to seamlessly incorporating technology into your teaching practice.
Have you heard of playdough and sensory play in the classroom? Are you interested in bringing it to your student’s learning experiences but not sure where to start or what to use? Come join Sarah from Little Birds At Play for her second presentation at Camp Kinder Weekend for more ideas and information on the whys of playdough and sensory learning in the classroom or home, examples of kids learning through playdough and sensory play, organization tricks, where to source items, and safety tips. You will be ready at the end of Sarah’s presentation to bring playdough and sensory learning to your classroom!
Sarah Bird (She/Her/Elle) @littlebirdsatplay
Mom, Wife, Teacher, CEO of Little Birds At Play
Sarah is a mom of two little birds (8 years and 6 years), wife, teacher of 13 years in Grade 1 French Immersion, and CEO of Little Birds At Play since 2021. She enjoys crafting and baking in her spare time which lends to her passion in creating playdough and sensory kits for kids. Sarah is excited to be back for the second summer of Camp Kinder Weekend to be a camp counselor and camper!
Yes, you love being an educator but you are finding yourself burnt out, you wish to dig deeper into your passions or, you are simply looking for a change. You may be seeking other roles in education outside of the classroom. Your desire to change may be on a temporary or permanent basis. What you do know is that you want to stay in the field of education. What can you do? Your first step is to figure out your why? Why make the change? Next, it’s time to think about what’s out there and how to transition. What’s extremely important is to reflect on your personal readiness to pursue other opportunities. Will this bring you joy or add stress to your life? This workshop will help you find your “why” and discuss potential PD, job and career opportunities within your school, school board, union and other educational organizations.
Jamie Philip (she/her) @the.teaching.learner
Jamie Philip is an Ontario Elementary Teacher (OCT) who has specializations in Special Education, Primary Education and Primary/Junior Mathematics. She also holds a Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology and Education. Jamie is a forever learner who takes advantage of both formal and experiential learning opportunities, both in and out of the classroom. She believes that sometimes a change in working environment or taking time to explore career opportunities can spark passion and avoid burnout. She is a former Educational Assistant (EA) and a Registered Early Childhood Educator (R.ECE) and believes that these career experiences have informed her teaching practice. Jamie has a strong interest in Educational Policy and has been working on projects outside of the classroom, advocating for teachers and students. When she’s not working, Jamie enjoys pilates or a great hike, enjoying all the city of Toronto has to offer and traveling the world with family and friends.
Struggling with keeping all of those digital files organized in one space? Spending too much time rummaging through files and folders searching for that ONE resource? Transform your digital space from a dumping ground to your very own digital filing cabinet! In this workshop you will learn a few go-to tips and tricks for keeping your resources organized (digitally that is). Whether it be using OneDrive™, Google Drive™, or your desktop, this workshop will make it easier to navigate through your digital content, saving you time searching through your files. This workshop touches on folder creation, colour coding & renaming files while taking an in depth look at creating shortcuts and categorizing content based on your specific needs.
Sabrina (she/her) @finditinfrench
OCT, French as a Second Language Specialist
Sabrina is a French as a Second Language Specialist from Ontario, Canada, and has been teaching French Immersion for over 5 years. She is the creator of Find it in French, where she specializes in creating primary French resources, specifically digital ones! Sabrina is a proud dog mom to a 2 yr old husky mix named Marlee, they enjoy long walks in the trails and playing soccer in the park. Sabrina is a lover of trash TV, the colour yellow and a good rainy day. She loves all things stationery and organization! Her ultimate goal is to teach curriculum in memorable and engaging ways without sacrificing the fun.
“You need to meet the needs of all your students while making sure each of them feel reflected in their learning… oh and we are giving you 30 students this year.” Good luck!” Does any of this sound familiar? This is the reality for the majority of educators. It is overwhelming and tough. Join Zara as she discusses ways to implement a culturally responsive pedagogy in kindergarten and how to ensure your students feel represented in their learning environment. She will provide strategies that work in her own classroom that you can take with you and use in your own teaching.
Zara (She/her) @_inspiringgrowingminds
OCT, Masters of Teaching, Equity Advocate
Zara is a Muslim Canadian kindergarten teacher who is passionate about creating an equitable and inclusive learning environment for her students. Zara grew up moving through a school system where was never seen or reflected. She always felt different than her peers and was
embarrassed to share aspects of her personal life and culture. These experiences have shaped the educator Zara is today. She is an advocate for equity and inclusion in her classroom, and believes that every child should feel safe and have a strong sense of belonging. In her free time, Zara loves traveling, binge-watching Netflix and creating beautiful charcuterie boards.
In this workshop, you will learn why students with ASD require visuals and you will learn how to make your classroom a place where students on the Autism spectrum can thrive. You will learn some tricks and tips to make lessons and activities more accessible to students on the spectrum. This will, in turn, help all your students thrive as well. This workshop is applicable for Teachers, ECEs and EAs who work in general education and/or special education K-2 classrooms.
Krista (she/her) @mrsreidsroom
OCT, Special Education Specialist, creator
Krista is a self proclaimed ‘elder millennial’ and a veteran teacher with 17 years experience in elementary schools in Northern Ontario. She has her special education specialist and currently teaches in a self contained high support classroom for students with ASD ranging in ages from 4 to 7. When not in the classroom, you can find Krista hanging with her husband and pre-teen son – either hibernating the winter away with epic movie marathons or enjoying the short, but stunningly beautiful, Northern Ontario summers on the lake. She is passionate about inclusion and making sure students with ASD feel accepted and included in all areas of their schooling experience. Krista was an extended access presenter for the inaugural Camp Kinder weekend and is beyond thrilled to bring her experience and knowledge to the big show this year.
So you got your dream job in kindergarten (or were thrown in) and now you’ve got to not only balance 4 and 5 year olds and their relationships but you’ve got a team of educators to work with too. Working as team of like minded caring adults who all have the same goal- can be the best experience but also can bring along with it a unique set of challenges. As someone who has taught in 7 different educators teams within the kindergarten program as well as in a team as a teacher in an ACE program, I’ve seen, heard and experienced the wide range that comes with these relationships. Let’s have a real conversation about how to navigate these relationships. It took me a while, but you do not have to be best friends with your teaching team to be a strong and positive team for your students. And if you are lucky enough to find bestie- you hit the jackpot. Let’s talk about how to compromise, listen, and work with all different types of people, while not loosing yourself, your passions or your sparkle.
Annabelle (she/her) OCT
Annabelle is an Ontario educator from Waterloo. She has taught for over 8 years, which is so confusing because she’s only 25ish, so the math doesn’t quite add up. She has taught grade 5/6, 3/4, ACE and has spent the last 5 and a half years in kindergarten. Every year in kindergarten she has taught with a different educating team. She understands the stress, joy, and let’s be honest sometimes difficulty of teaching in a team of adults who have the same goals but maybe different ideas, views or opinions on glitter. She is so lucky to have found her happy place early on in her teaching career and she knows how lucky that is. She loves the messy, creative, organized(ish) chaos and team environment of the kindergarten program. When she’s not teaching, or let’s be real laminating, she loves baking. Especially cakes, channeling her inner Cake Boss. Her passions also include, inclusion, developing positive self talk in her students, karaoke, TikToking, traveling, and most importantly is a die hard Jonas Brothers fan, team Joe forever. As a participant at Camp Kinder last year, she is so excited to be presenter this year. And don’t be fooled, she’s still figuring out this whole teaching thing too!
What may look like standard furniture or a “home area” in a kindergarten classroom is really a canvas for a world of possibilities. The dramatic centre is an open-ended space and inclusive for all children with varying language and developmental levels. This workshop will challenge you to see creativity through the imagination of a 4/5-year-old child. The dramatic area in most kindergarten classes takes up a large area of the classroom, however, it is sometimes ignored or forgotten about with the number of other learning areas and priorities happening in a Full Day Kindergarten Classroom. This workshop is intended for kindergarten teachers looking for new inspiration by using the dramatic area space that won’t take a ton of time or resources. We as educators might be missing out on observing, documenting and assessing key learning that is happening while students are engaged in pretend play. You will leave with a better understanding of the benefits of dramatic play, and how to use pretend play and the dramatic area as a tool for assessment of the Four Frames. Most importantly, I hope you leave with a fresh perspective on how to turn your standard “play furniture” into a world of endless possibilities to encourage students’ ideas, interests and learning.
Brittany (she/her) @thekindieteam
OCT, Creator of The Kindie Team
Brittany is a Kindergarten Specialist from Ontario, Canada, where she has been teaching Kindergarten for over 7 years. When she is not in a typical classroom setting, Brittany is teaching preschool art, dance and musical theatre. Some of her favourite memories were her time spent teaching abroad in Costa Rica, the Bahamas, and Hong Kong. Brittany comes from a family of educators, including her mom and grandma that were both Kindergarten teachers. When she is not teaching, Brittany is an adrenaline junkie who enjoys dancing, crafting, yoga, and baking and looks forward to travelling whenever she gets a chance. Brittany is a picture book enthusiast, that is passionate about inclusive education, the arts and play-based learning. You can follow along with all the fun and chaos on Instagram @thekindieteam.
Let’s be honest, sometimes French teaching gets a bad rap and we, as educators, often have to work a little harder to win over our students. Never fear- Madame Amy of 123 Petits Pas is here to help save you time and effort in making French learning fun. Through movement games, mystery, laughter, and song, you’ll leave this workshop with new and engaging French teaching tricks up your sleeves. The goal? Your students see French learning for what it is: a means of communication while we play & interact with others!
Amy (She/her) @123petitspas
Owner 123 Petits Pas Inc.
Amy Warr, or “Madame Amy” as her participants call her, is the owner of 123 Petits Pas Inc. where she teaches French through fun and engaging classes to parents and 0-7 year olds. Her style of teaching is through music, movement, and, most importantly, FUN! With two French children’s music albums, over 4 years of entrepreneurship and online educating, and two young bilingual children of her own, Madame Amy is here to provide tips and tricks on making French education as fun and as easy as possible!
Struggling to find a daily routine with your class that feels like it just works? When your flow of the day is off, everything feels off. Constantly racing against the clock, filling gaps in your day, rushing transitions and noticing your students aren’t regulating effectively are all signs that adjustment is needed. Your schedule needs to work for you – not against you, and this workshop will help you start the year off with a solid weekly schedule and daily routine that feels good, makes sense and helps the days go by faster! Join Mariah from A Playful Purpose: Learning for Littles Inc. to discover how to map out, plan, test, and adapt your kindergarten schedule so that you feel accomplished, confident and energized leaving school at the end of the day.
Mariah (She/her) @aplayfulpurpose
OCT, NSCT, Kindergarten Specialist, Owner A Playful Purpose: Learning for Littles, Founder Camp Kinder
Mariah is a kindergarten specialist turned curriculum writer, mom of 3 under 2, wannabe baker and lover of early 2000s Disney Channel (hello, Lizzie McGuire and HSM). She’s an enthusiast of ponytails, pancakes and helping Canadian kindergarten teachers stress less by simplifying their planning and re-igniting their love of play-based learning. Mariah is the owner and CEO of A Playful Purpose: Learning for Littles Inc. and the founder of Camp Kinder. She creates engaging French and English resources and creates quality professional development opportunities that truly support and inspire educators. Through workshops, courses, her membership programs and outreach, Mariah has trained and worked with more than 1000 educators. Rainbows are her jam, but helping educators is her calling.
Through the busy day and challenges that come along with teaching in elementary school it can be easy to get swept up in the same old boring calendar and book reading routine. Regardless of what’s going on, Sarah always has one underlying goal for her whole group instruction: to keep the learning FUN! Join Sarah in learning how to keep carpet time fun through engaging whole group games that foster enjoyable learning (for both students and educators)!
Sarah (she/her) @funinfrenchimmersion
OCT, Creator Fun in French Immersion
Sarah is the creator of Fun in French Immersion. With a background in Kindergarten and a love of technology, she has created countless tech-based resources to help kinder and primary teachers embrace technology in a fun and engaging way. She has transitioned from classroom teacher, to virtual teacher, to maternity leave as a new mom to her baby girl and now back to the classroom in a brand new level and role. She is fueled by coffee (lot’s of coffee), and her virtual teaching experience offers a unique perspective with regards to seamlessly incorporating technology into your teaching practice.
Have you heard of playdough and sensory play in the classroom? Are you interested in bringing it to your student’s learning experiences but not sure where to start or what to use? Come join Sarah from Little Birds At Play for her second presentation at Camp Kinder Weekend for more ideas and information on the whys of playdough and sensory learning in the classroom or home, examples of kids learning through playdough and sensory play, organization tricks, where to source items, and safety tips. You will be ready at the end of Sarah’s presentation to bring playdough and sensory learning to your classroom!
Sarah Bird (She/Her/Elle) @littlebirdsatplay
Mom, Wife, Teacher, CEO of Little Birds At Play
Sarah is a mom of two little birds (8 years and 6 years), wife, teacher of 13 years in Grade 1 French Immersion, and CEO of Little Birds At Play since 2021. She enjoys crafting and baking in her spare time which lends to her passion in creating playdough and sensory kits for kids. Sarah is excited to be back for the second summer of Camp Kinder Weekend to be a camp counselor and camper!
Yes, you love being an educator but you are finding yourself burnt out, you wish to dig deeper into your passions or, you are simply looking for a change. You may be seeking other roles in education outside of the classroom. Your desire to change may be on a temporary or permanent basis. What you do know is that you want to stay in the field of education. What can you do? Your first step is to figure out your why? Why make the change? Next, it’s time to think about what’s out there and how to transition. What’s extremely important is to reflect on your personal readiness to pursue other opportunities. Will this bring you joy or add stress to your life? This workshop will help you find your “why” and discuss potential PD, job and career opportunities within your school, school board, union and other educational organizations.
Jamie Philip (she/her) @the.teaching.learner
Jamie Philip is an Ontario Elementary Teacher (OCT) who has specializations in Special Education, Primary Education and Primary/Junior Mathematics. She also holds a Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology and Education. Jamie is a forever learner who takes advantage of both formal and experiential learning opportunities, both in and out of the classroom. She believes that sometimes a change in working environment or taking time to explore career opportunities can spark passion and avoid burnout. She is a former Educational Assistant (EA) and a Registered Early Childhood Educator (R.ECE) and believes that these career experiences have informed her teaching practice. Jamie has a strong interest in Educational Policy and has been working on projects outside of the classroom, advocating for teachers and students. When she’s not working, Jamie enjoys pilates or a great hike, enjoying all the city of Toronto has to offer and traveling the world with family and friends.
Struggling with keeping all of those digital files organized in one space? Spending too much time rummaging through files and folders searching for that ONE resource? Transform your digital space from a dumping ground to your very own digital filing cabinet! In this workshop you will learn a few go-to tips and tricks for keeping your resources organized (digitally that is). Whether it be using OneDrive™, Google Drive™, or your desktop, this workshop will make it easier to navigate through your digital content, saving you time searching through your files. This workshop touches on folder creation, colour coding & renaming files while taking an in depth look at creating shortcuts and categorizing content based on your specific needs.
Sabrina (she/her) @finditinfrench
OCT, French as a Second Language Specialist
Sabrina is a French as a Second Language Specialist from Ontario, Canada, and has been teaching French Immersion for over 5 years. She is the creator of Find it in French, where she specializes in creating primary French resources, specifically digital ones! Sabrina is a proud dog mom to a 2 yr old husky mix named Marlee, they enjoy long walks in the trails and playing soccer in the park. Sabrina is a lover of trash TV, the colour yellow and a good rainy day. She loves all things stationery and organization! Her ultimate goal is to teach curriculum in memorable and engaging ways without sacrificing the fun.
SUNDAY, JULY 23rd
Do you ever have that student who has sudden outbursts and are unsure how to handle it? Join Kate as she dives into some strategies on how to effectively deal with these outbursts. You’ll walk away with some specific tips and strategies to implement right away. Kate will have you feeling prepared and ready to deal with any outbursts that the new school year may bring to your room!
Kate (She/her) @specedukate
OCT, Autism & Behavioural Science, Special Education Specialist
Kate is the teacher author behind Spec EduKate. She is a Special Education teacher in Ontario, who works in an Autism Community Classroom. Kate has also worked in the ABA/IBI field and is trained in Behaviour Therapy. When she’s not working, you can find her coaching, taking on new house projects, baking, and all while sipping a Tim’s Steeped Tea! Kate’s passion lies within behaviour and helping educators figure out ‘the why’ behind behaviours. She’s here to put your mind at ease by providing tips and tricks to deal with challenging behaviours in any classroom!
Is communication not your strong suit? Wish you could create more impactful relationships with the families of your students? Does imposter syndrome affect how you present yourself to parents and guardians? Then this workshop is for you! Jasmine will share all her knowledge on what a healthy parent/guardian relationship looks like, why they are so crucial to your success in the classroom, and how to go about establishing these thriving relationships that can change how you feel & perform as an educator entirely!
Jasmine (She/Her) @firstgradefrenchies
OCT, FSL educator, CEO & Creator of First Grade Frenchies
Jasmine is a French second language educator in Ontario who has been teaching within the French Immersion space for 5 years. She is all about empowering teachers, new & seasoned, with fun French resources that are sure to keep students engaged. She is also passionate about breaking the stigma around teachers having social lives and other hobbies outside of the classroom over on her Instagram. Jasmine’s French bulldog Willy is the unofficial mascot and inspiration behind her business name. She is a lover of all things beauty, traveling, and a good glass of red wine! She is here to share her tips on one aspect of teaching that none of us learned in teacher’s college; working with parents and guardians.
Do your little learners arrive to school not speaking French? Do you find yourself defaulting to English most of the day? Believe it or not, it IS possible to speak to them in French 100% of the time! Be prepared to be awed by your learners’ progress from no French to having short conversations before the year is over! Join Kelly to learn the simple strategies that she uses to support the children and their families in a fully French play-based learning environment as they reclaim the Francophone language and heritage that has been lost to them over many generations. Start your year off with a brand new perspective, intention and the confidence to have your French immersion and French students speaking en français- regardless of their starting knowledge.
Kelly (she/her)
After many years in licensed child care in both Canada and New Zealand, Kelly spent 10 years at home with her 3 (now adult) children before returning to the classroom. She has now been teaching la prématernelle in Nova Scotia for over 11 years. She can not believe that her first group is now in 10th grade! When not having fun at school or working on an advanced certificate in outdoor play, Kelly likes to live on the wild side, knitting, reading, or quilting. She loves blankets, wool, leggings, hoodies, and of course chocolate. If she wasn’t working in education, her dream job would be as a midwife.
Looking to infuse loose parts play in your classroom but feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join Marissa for a step-by-step guide to help navigate the ins and outs of all things loose parts. We’ll cover where to source materials, building your collection on a budget, storage solutions, structuring a story workshop block, ideas for different grade levels and so much more. Whether you’re brand new to loose parts or just want to learn some tips and tricks, you’ll leave knowing that you can confidently use loose parts in your classroom.
Marissa (she/her) @mmemarissa
CEO of Mme Marissa, French specialist
Marissa is a grade two and three French Immersion teacher from coastal British Columbia. While she started out teaching Kindergarten, she really found her groove in upper primary. She prides herself on making even the most boring topics fun (hello, grammar!) and loves all things that encourage creativity. When she is not in the classroom, you’ll find her cooking without a recipe, developing new resources, coming up with art projects or watching all the first responder TV shows. With a passion for organization, efficient systems and structured routines, she’s sure to be your new best type A teacher pal!
“Music in the Primary Classroom” is designed for Primary educators who find it challenging to incorporate, plan and assess music curriculum in their classrooms. Often times music is left on the sidelines and is at times out of educators comfort zones as mainstream subjects take the focus. This doesn’t mean you can’t provide ample opportunity for your students to learn and engage in music regularly! With or without instruments or the music degree, you will learn how to incorporate music across various subjects which includes ideas on how to plan and assess!
Alessandra (She/her) @sweet.resources
OCT, Creator Sweet Resources
Alessandra is an educator in Ontario who began her teaching journey in the secondary system. After having an opportunity to teach the junior levels and truly enjoying it, she is now teaching elementary. Alessandra studied Business at York University and completed her teaching degree concurrently with a Bachelor of Administrative Studies. She was eager and excited to begin her teaching career despite the many challenges that presented themselves (looming strikes, hiring freezes, lack of movement). Alessandra completed additional qualification courses in Primary, Junior, Special Education, Religious Education, Junior Math, Reading and Music. Music however, has always been a big part of her life and one she is truly passionate about. Alessandra’s main instruments are piano and cello. She played in a string quartet for many years, was a cellist for the Toronto Pops Orchestra, led music camps for a local music school, performed alongside Juno nominated artists on stages across Ontario and Ottawa, and is currently a member of a duet playing for weddings and various events all while teaching piano privately. It is a passion of hers to be able to share music with students and hopefully provide them the opportunity to learn about it and spark an interest to pursue it.
Are you an educator looking to bring storytelling, movement and relaxation to your students? This workshop will provide you with strategies and tools to bring to your classroom to improve attention, self-regulation, emotional resilience and adaptability while bringing calmness and compassion to have your students be healthier and happier!
Incia (she/her) @onceuponamat
Incia Palmieri is a graduate of Political Science from York University and holds a Master of Science in Education degree from Medaille College. She completed her yoga training from Rainbow Kids Yoga and Radiant Child Yoga and Postnatal Yoga from Toronto Yoga Mamas, 200YTT from Karma Teachers & is Yoga Alliance designated E-RYT 200 & YACEP. She has been teaching yoga to kids and families for 8 years across studios, communities and schools.She is the owner and founder of Once Upon a Mat; bringing yoga, storytelling, relaxation and fun through movement and mindfulness to kids and experienced in Primary, Junior, Montessori and Special Education. She has a Kids Yoga Teacher Training program, offers Yoga and Mindfulness training to educators, has developed a mindfulness curriculum program called Once Upon a Rainbow, a toddler program called Calm Me and has developed a set of affirmation cards for boys. She is currently a Kindergarten teacher and has taught primary grades for 10 years. She is a mom to a 3 year old.
Come and learn how to audit your classroom materials and books and create the inclusive classroom you crave. Breyen will take you step by step through how to source books that represent a variety of cultures, genders and abilities (without breaking the bank!). She will provide a book list, art materials list and simple lesson plans so you can leave the workshop feeling prepared and confident to take action. Who’s ready to embrace diversity in their classroom? Let’s do this!
Breyen (she/her) @ouimadamewee
Creator Oui Madame Wee
Breyen spent 12 years teaching Kindergarten and also has two children of her own. Yes, there are a lot of little people in her life! She started her company, Oui Madame Wee, as a creative outlet while battling severe postpartum depression on her second maternity leave. Coming from a culturally diverse family Breyen has always been passionate about diversity and inclusion and has found a way to bring that energy to Kindergarten classrooms in an age-appropriate and informative way. Think fun, inclusive songs and stories mixed in with curriculum connections and meaningful relationships with families *chefs kiss. Breyen is here to support you as you create an inclusive early childhood classroom environment.
Have you ever been having a bad day, felt isolated or alone, and the only person to turn to was a 6 year old? We sure have! Fortunately, this all changed when we jumped into the world of team teaching. Our workshop will take you through the who, what, when, where, why, and how of team teaching, and is meant for both new and experienced teachers looking to add collaboration into their practice and classroom. We’re excited to share our journey with you and hope this workshop inspires you to consider adding an educator bestie into your life!
Nicole (She/her)
Sydney (She/her)
@kind_kindies
Nicole and Sydney are teachers from Kelowna, BC. They met in University in 2014 and have worked together throughout the years in different capacities but have found their homes co-teaching Kindergarten together. They are a classic case of how opposites attract – one likes exclusively iced coffee, comes from a psychology background, and is very much Type A; the other enjoys black coffee, studied fine arts, and flies by the seat of her pants. Together, they make the perfect duo! When they’re not working, you can find them winery hopping around the Okanagan Valley, hanging with Sydney’s toddler Sunday, and working on their Instagram account, Kind_Kindies.
Studies show that 62% of 2SLGBTQIA+ students in Canada feel unsafe at school (Peter et al., 2021). We want our classrooms to be safer spaces, but what does that look like in primary and French Immersion classrooms? Like in many language classrooms, this session will start with an introduction to some vocab. Then, with real classroom examples, we’ll examine ways to make our learning spaces safer for 2SLGBTQIA+ students, taking into consideration language, decor, resources, and more. Finally, participants will walk away with opportunities for further learning and ideas for making their classrooms more queer-inclusive.
Amanda (they/them/iel) @islandteaching
Amanda (they/them/iel) is a secondary-turned-primary French Immersion teacher and Ph.D. student on the traditional lands of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations (otherwise known as Victoria, BC). Originally from Ontario, they ventured to Saskatchewan to teach high school math and French. When the opportunity came to move to the Island, they traded in their snow gear for rain gear and traded in teaching the big kids for teaching the littles. One noticeable constant throughout these grade-level and provincial changes, however, was the lack of inclusive, culturally representative resources made specifically for language-learners. This noticeable gap sparked the creation of Island Teaching, where Amanda shares about their own classroom experiences and works on making inclusive resources en français, with emerging multilinguals in mind. When not teaching or working on their Ph.D., Amanda enjoys collecting picture books, finding little treasures in nature, and watching way too much Netflix.
Making learning fun, exciting, engaging and playful in a French Immersion classroom can sometimes feel like more work and less and less inspiring as the year goes on. BUT focussing on process, creativity, and community and by encouraging pretend play and social play in your primary classroom Taryn brings you Projects and Play. Where learning is student-directed, full of choice and celebrates the discovery of the curriculum. The final projects are always unique and focus on the creativity, independence and critical thinking skills of your students, which encourages motivation, confidence and involvement in their learning as part of the learning process. As the teacher, we provide the scaffolding, materials and books, options and varied group sizes so that we are co-learners without all the answers all the time. Which leaves room for us to wonder, play and experiment with our lessons, planning and curriculum. We will cover: what makes this approach the best, how to get started, the mindset of inquiries and project based play, marking and reporting on projects, common classroom materials and resources, subject examples to inspire your own planning, some of my favourite projects and so much more.
Taryn (she/her) @aseriesofwonder
Creator of A Series of Wonder, OCT
After many years of teaching Grade Two French Immersion, Taryn is in a Grade Three French Immersion class this year and has embraced co-creating her classroom, learning experiences and curriculum projects with her students. Mentoring teachers, sharing classroom wins, brainstorming solutions to student behaviours and co-planning/co-sharing with her teacher besties are just some of the ways she loves to keep the wonder alive. A Primary Teacher in Ontario for many years with a Masters Degree in Education, she has a deep love for writing, planning, organizing, and reworking the curriculum into projects that blend subjects in the French Immersion Classroom. You’ve got to experience it for yourself. You’ll find her outside for a walk with her pup (and little fam), drinking coffee with a good book (ideally by the water), looking for new plants or saving all the new recipes to try out.
Do you ever have that student who has sudden outbursts and are unsure how to handle it? Join Kate as she dives into some strategies on how to effectively deal with these outbursts. You’ll walk away with some specific tips and strategies to implement right away. Kate will have you feeling prepared and ready to deal with any outbursts that the new school year may bring to your room!
Kate (She/her) @specedukate
OCT, Autism & Behavioural Science, Special Education Specialist
Kate is the teacher author behind Spec EduKate. She is a Special Education teacher in Ontario, who works in an Autism Community Classroom. Kate has also worked in the ABA/IBI field and is trained in Behaviour Therapy. When she’s not working, you can find her coaching, taking on new house projects, baking, and all while sipping a Tim’s Steeped Tea! Kate’s passion lies within behaviour and helping educators figure out ‘the why’ behind behaviours. She’s here to put your mind at ease by providing tips and tricks to deal with challenging behaviours in any classroom!
Is communication not your strong suit? Wish you could create more impactful relationships with the families of your students? Does imposter syndrome affect how you present yourself to parents and guardians? Then this workshop is for you! Jasmine will share all her knowledge on what a healthy parent/guardian relationship looks like, why they are so crucial to your success in the classroom, and how to go about establishing these thriving relationships that can change how you feel & perform as an educator entirely!
Jasmine (She/Her) @firstgradefrenchies
OCT, FSL educator, CEO & Creator of First Grade Frenchies
Jasmine is a French second language educator in Ontario who has been teaching within the French Immersion space for 5 years. She is all about empowering teachers, new & seasoned, with fun French resources that are sure to keep students engaged. She is also passionate about breaking the stigma around teachers having social lives and other hobbies outside of the classroom over on her Instagram. Jasmine’s French bulldog Willy is the unofficial mascot and inspiration behind her business name. She is a lover of all things beauty, traveling, and a good glass of red wine! She is here to share her tips on one aspect of teaching that none of us learned in teacher’s college; working with parents and guardians.
Do your little learners arrive to school not speaking French? Do you find yourself defaulting to English most of the day? Believe it or not, it IS possible to speak to them in French 100% of the time! Be prepared to be awed by your learners’ progress from no French to having short conversations before the year is over! Join Kelly to learn the simple strategies that she uses to support the children and their families in a fully French play-based learning environment as they reclaim the Francophone language and heritage that has been lost to them over many generations. Start your year off with a brand new perspective, intention and the confidence to have your French immersion and French students speaking en français- regardless of their starting knowledge.
Kelly (she/her)
After many years in licensed child care in both Canada and New Zealand, Kelly spent 10 years at home with her 3 (now adult) children before returning to the classroom. She has now been teaching la prématernelle in Nova Scotia for over 11 years. She can not believe that her first group is now in 10th grade! When not having fun at school or working on an advanced certificate in outdoor play, Kelly likes to live on the wild side, knitting, reading, or quilting. She loves blankets, wool, leggings, hoodies, and of course chocolate. If she wasn’t working in education, her dream job would be as a midwife.
Looking to infuse loose parts play in your classroom but feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? Join Marissa for a step-by-step guide to help navigate the ins and outs of all things loose parts. We’ll cover where to source materials, building your collection on a budget, storage solutions, structuring a story workshop block, ideas for different grade levels and so much more. Whether you’re brand new to loose parts or just want to learn some tips and tricks, you’ll leave knowing that you can confidently use loose parts in your classroom.
Marissa (she/her) @mmemarissa
CEO of Mme Marissa, French specialist
Marissa is a grade two and three French Immersion teacher from coastal British Columbia. While she started out teaching Kindergarten, she really found her groove in upper primary. She prides herself on making even the most boring topics fun (hello, grammar!) and loves all things that encourage creativity. When she is not in the classroom, you’ll find her cooking without a recipe, developing new resources, coming up with art projects or watching all the first responder TV shows. With a passion for organization, efficient systems and structured routines, she’s sure to be your new best type A teacher pal!
“Music in the Primary Classroom” is designed for Primary educators who find it challenging to incorporate, plan and assess music curriculum in their classrooms. Often times music is left on the sidelines and is at times out of educators comfort zones as mainstream subjects take the focus. This doesn’t mean you can’t provide ample opportunity for your students to learn and engage in music regularly! With or without instruments or the music degree, you will learn how to incorporate music across various subjects which includes ideas on how to plan and assess!
Alessandra (She/her) @sweet.resources
OCT, Creator Sweet Resources
Alessandra is an educator in Ontario who began her teaching journey in the secondary system. After having an opportunity to teach the junior levels and truly enjoying it, she is now teaching elementary. Alessandra studied Business at York University and completed her teaching degree concurrently with a Bachelor of Administrative Studies. She was eager and excited to begin her teaching career despite the many challenges that presented themselves (looming strikes, hiring freezes, lack of movement). Alessandra completed additional qualification courses in Primary, Junior, Special Education, Religious Education, Junior Math, Reading and Music. Music however, has always been a big part of her life and one she is truly passionate about. Alessandra’s main instruments are piano and cello. She played in a string quartet for many years, was a cellist for the Toronto Pops Orchestra, led music camps for a local music school, performed alongside Juno nominated artists on stages across Ontario and Ottawa, and is currently a member of a duet playing for weddings and various events all while teaching piano privately. It is a passion of hers to be able to share music with students and hopefully provide them the opportunity to learn about it and spark an interest to pursue it.
Are you an educator looking to bring storytelling, movement and relaxation to your students? This workshop will provide you with strategies and tools to bring to your classroom to improve attention, self-regulation, emotional resilience and adaptability while bringing calmness and compassion to have your students be healthier and happier!
Incia (she/her) @onceuponamat
Incia Palmieri is a graduate of Political Science from York University and holds a Master of Science in Education degree from Medaille College. She completed her yoga training from Rainbow Kids Yoga and Radiant Child Yoga and Postnatal Yoga from Toronto Yoga Mamas, 200YTT from Karma Teachers & is Yoga Alliance designated E-RYT 200 & YACEP. She has been teaching yoga to kids and families for 8 years across studios, communities and schools.She is the owner and founder of Once Upon a Mat; bringing yoga, storytelling, relaxation and fun through movement and mindfulness to kids and experienced in Primary, Junior, Montessori and Special Education. She has a Kids Yoga Teacher Training program, offers Yoga and Mindfulness training to educators, has developed a mindfulness curriculum program called Once Upon a Rainbow, a toddler program called Calm Me and has developed a set of affirmation cards for boys. She is currently a Kindergarten teacher and has taught primary grades for 10 years. She is a mom to a 3 year old.
Come and learn how to audit your classroom materials and books and create the inclusive classroom you crave. Breyen will take you step by step through how to source books that represent a variety of cultures, genders and abilities (without breaking the bank!). She will provide a book list, art materials list and simple lesson plans so you can leave the workshop feeling prepared and confident to take action. Who’s ready to embrace diversity in their classroom? Let’s do this!
Breyen (she/her) @ouimadamewee
Creator Oui Madame Wee
Breyen spent 12 years teaching Kindergarten and also has two children of her own. Yes, there are a lot of little people in her life! She started her company, Oui Madame Wee, as a creative outlet while battling severe postpartum depression on her second maternity leave. Coming from a culturally diverse family Breyen has always been passionate about diversity and inclusion and has found a way to bring that energy to Kindergarten classrooms in an age-appropriate and informative way. Think fun, inclusive songs and stories mixed in with curriculum connections and meaningful relationships with families *chefs kiss. Breyen is here to support you as you create an inclusive early childhood classroom environment.
Have you ever been having a bad day, felt isolated or alone, and the only person to turn to was a 6 year old? We sure have! Fortunately, this all changed when we jumped into the world of team teaching. Our workshop will take you through the who, what, when, where, why, and how of team teaching, and is meant for both new and experienced teachers looking to add collaboration into their practice and classroom. We’re excited to share our journey with you and hope this workshop inspires you to consider adding an educator bestie into your life!
Nicole (She/her)
Sydney (She/her)
@kind_kindies
Nicole and Sydney are teachers from Kelowna, BC. They met in University in 2014 and have worked together throughout the years in different capacities but have found their homes co-teaching Kindergarten together. They are a classic case of how opposites attract – one likes exclusively iced coffee, comes from a psychology background, and is very much Type A; the other enjoys black coffee, studied fine arts, and flies by the seat of her pants. Together, they make the perfect duo! When they’re not working, you can find them winery hopping around the Okanagan Valley, hanging with Sydney’s toddler Sunday, and working on their Instagram account, Kind_Kindies.
Studies show that 62% of 2SLGBTQIA+ students in Canada feel unsafe at school (Peter et al., 2021). We want our classrooms to be safer spaces, but what does that look like in primary and French Immersion classrooms? Like in many language classrooms, this session will start with an introduction to some vocab. Then, with real classroom examples, we’ll examine ways to make our learning spaces safer for 2SLGBTQIA+ students, taking into consideration language, decor, resources, and more. Finally, participants will walk away with opportunities for further learning and ideas for making their classrooms more queer-inclusive.
Amanda (they/them/iel) @islandteaching
Amanda (they/them/iel) is a secondary-turned-primary French Immersion teacher and Ph.D. student on the traditional lands of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations (otherwise known as Victoria, BC). Originally from Ontario, they ventured to Saskatchewan to teach high school math and French. When the opportunity came to move to the Island, they traded in their snow gear for rain gear and traded in teaching the big kids for teaching the littles. One noticeable constant throughout these grade-level and provincial changes, however, was the lack of inclusive, culturally representative resources made specifically for language-learners. This noticeable gap sparked the creation of Island Teaching, where Amanda shares about their own classroom experiences and works on making inclusive resources en français, with emerging multilinguals in mind. When not teaching or working on their Ph.D., Amanda enjoys collecting picture books, finding little treasures in nature, and watching way too much Netflix.
Making learning fun, exciting, engaging and playful in a French Immersion classroom can sometimes feel like more work and less and less inspiring as the year goes on. BUT focussing on process, creativity, and community and by encouraging pretend play and social play in your primary classroom Taryn brings you Projects and Play. Where learning is student-directed, full of choice and celebrates the discovery of the curriculum. The final projects are always unique and focus on the creativity, independence and critical thinking skills of your students, which encourages motivation, confidence and involvement in their learning as part of the learning process. As the teacher, we provide the scaffolding, materials and books, options and varied group sizes so that we are co-learners without all the answers all the time. Which leaves room for us to wonder, play and experiment with our lessons, planning and curriculum. We will cover: what makes this approach the best, how to get started, the mindset of inquiries and project based play, marking and reporting on projects, common classroom materials and resources, subject examples to inspire your own planning, some of my favourite projects and so much more.
Taryn (she/her) @aseriesofwonder
Creator of A Series of Wonder, OCT
After many years of teaching Grade Two French Immersion, Taryn is in a Grade Three French Immersion class this year and has embraced co-creating her classroom, learning experiences and curriculum projects with her students. Mentoring teachers, sharing classroom wins, brainstorming solutions to student behaviours and co-planning/co-sharing with her teacher besties are just some of the ways she loves to keep the wonder alive. A Primary Teacher in Ontario for many years with a Masters Degree in Education, she has a deep love for writing, planning, organizing, and reworking the curriculum into projects that blend subjects in the French Immersion Classroom. You’ve got to experience it for yourself. You’ll find her outside for a walk with her pup (and little fam), drinking coffee with a good book (ideally by the water), looking for new plants or saving all the new recipes to try out.
2023 WEEKEND OVERVIEW
Camp Kinder 2023 is a 3-day virtual event rooted in connection, learning and fun. Take a look at our event at a glance:
FRIDAY, JULY 21:
- 10 Workshops
- LIVE Morning Welcome Meeting
- LIVE QnA Panel
- Movement Break
- Moderated Camper Chat
- Campfire Kick-Off Party
SATURDAY, JULY 22:
- 10 Workshops
- LIVE Morning Meditation
- LIVE Craft Corner
- Movement Break
- Moderated Camper Connection Chat
- LIVE QnA Panel
SUNDAY, JULY 23:
- 10 Workshops
- LIVE QnA Panel
- LIVE Yoga
- Movement Break
- Moderated Campfire Connection Chat
- Closing Campfire Party
© A Playful Purpose: Learning for Littles Inc. 2023