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SWLSB Learning • Apprentissage
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Friday, September 18
 

9:00am EDT

What Works and Why: Action Research in the Classroom
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Applicable to all levels of teaching and subjects, action research is a dynamic and motivating cyclical process with the teacher being the researcher-participant in their own classroom. Target goals for the action plan could include but are not limited to: planning, implementation or evaluation, behaviour issues, or teaching strategies. Action research can help you identify a challenge or determine a change you want for your classroom and guide your process to address it.

In this session, you will 
  • learn what action research is, and what it looks like in the classroom.
  • learn how to use reflection and the cycles of inquiry to plan for action research in your own classroom or school communities.
  • learn how action research can empower you by informing your day-to-day decisions to make intentional shifts in your teaching.
Guest Presenters
avatar for Kelly Crowdis

Kelly Crowdis

Teacher - Generalist (Cycle 1-6), SWLSB
Kelly is a Grade 2 teacher at Pinewood Elementary and a former Pedagogical Consultant with the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board. She is also a part-time instructor in the DESS Graduate Diploma in Teacher Certification at Concordia University. A lifelong-learner and professional development... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA
  General Pedagogy

9:00am EDT

Secondary Math: Rich Tasks and Formative Assessment to Develop Critical Thinking in Competency 1 and 2
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Rich tasks can deepen student understanding, promote critical thinking, and encourage meaningful engagement without sacrificing rigour. In this hands-on workshop, teachers will explore classroom-ready examples that help students reason, justify, and reflect on their learning. We’ll look at how rich tasks can be used in everyday instruction, as well as how tasks that develop the C1 competency can help students prepare for summative C2 assessments. Participants will also have time to work directly with selected examples and consider how they could be adapted for their own classrooms. We’ll also explore practical strategies for creating rich tasks using existing materials, helping reduce prep time without compromising quality. Whether you’re new to rich tasks or looking to expand your toolkit, this session offers concrete steps for making critical thinking a natural part of your math classroom.
Presenters
avatar for James Gore

James Gore

Math Consultant, SWLSB
James Gore is the secondary mathematics pedagogical consultant for the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board. Before moving into this role, he taught mathematics in several schools across the board and worked with students, teachers, and communities in a variety of contexts. He is also... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA

9:00am EDT

Let’s Talk: Understanding Language Disorders in Your Classroom
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

Let’s talk about your students who struggle to follow verbal instructions, who have trouble finding their words, and who can't seem to retell a simple story. These might be your students who are often frustrated or exhibit challenging behaviour in class. Some of these students may be affected by Developmental Language Disorder, or DLD, which affects roughly 1 in 14 children — likely two or three kids in every classroom — yet it remains one of the least recognized conditions in schools.

Language matters more than you might think. Every subject you teach — reading, writing, math, even gym class — relies on language. Instructions, explanations, discussions, and peer interactions are all part of a student’s day-to-day life, which means a hidden language disorder touches every part of a child's school day.

In this presentation, we'll go over typical language development before taking a closer look at Developmental Language Disorders. We’ll talk about what a student with DLD really looks like in your classroom, using examples and case discussions. You'll walk away with a better understanding of what DLD is, how it shows up in your students, and what you can do to support them. Because for many of these students, the right support starts with the right understanding.



Presenters
avatar for Laurie Leibov

Laurie Leibov

Speech Language Pathologist, SWLSB
Laurie is a school speech language pathologist with more than 15 years of experience working at SWLSB. She has had the privilege of working across multiple schools within our school board, supporting students, families, and school teams.
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA
  SLP

9:00am EDT

The Science of Reading Meets Secondary Literacy: Cross-Curricular and Disciplinary Literacy Strategies for Every Classroom
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Adolescent literacy is a shared responsibility across all subject areas. This interactive session explores how secondary educators can apply Science of Reading principles through practical, evidence-based strategies that support multisyllabic word reading, Tier 2 vocabulary development, fluency, comprehension, and disciplinary literacy. Participants will engage with classroom-ready routines, including vocabulary instruction and the "Get-the-Gist" strategy, to strengthen literacy outcomes and student understanding across the curriculum.
Guest Presenters
avatar for Dr. Todd Cunningham

Dr. Todd Cunningham

CEO, Learn Different
Dr. Cunningham is a clinical and school psychologies, Assistant Professor (teaching stream), Chair of the School and Clinical Child Psychology program at the University of Toronto and provides psychological services through is private practice. His research investigates the support... Read More →
avatar for John DeLuca

John DeLuca

Business Development Lead, Learn Different
Currently the Business Development Lead at Learn Different, John's influence extends beyond teaching. A skilled connector, he collaborates with School Boards, colleges, and businesses, uniting pedagogy with practicality through webinars, marketing, and resource creation. With 17... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA

9:00am EDT

Youth Suicide: What Schools Need to Know
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
  1. The presentation explains that youth suicide is a serious issue, and schools play a key role in prevention by recognizing warning signs and creating supportive environments.
  2. It outlines risk factors, critical moments, and warning signs (e.g., mental health struggles, trauma, behavioral changes), while emphasizing the importance of protective relationships and early intervention.
  3. It also highlights appropriate language, evidence-based prevention strategies (tiered supports), and the role of trained staff in assessing risk, ensuring safety, and connecting students to help.


Presenters
avatar for Melanie Bujold

Melanie Bujold

Social Services Officer, SWLSB
I am the Social Services Officer working out of the Pedagogcial Services Department. My work includes the promotion of health, wellbeing, and equity in our school communities; this includes but is not limited to: mental health, suicide prevention, Truth and Reconciliation, DEI, substance... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA
  Well-Being

10:40am EDT

The Progress Blueprint: Visualizing Student Milestones (Adult Ed)
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
This interactive session invites adult education teachers to explore a practical framework for visualizing and monitoring student progress in a self-paced, modular context. Participants will engage in collaborative reflection and hands-on activities to identify key indicators of student readiness, integrate qualitative and quantitative data, and experiment with tools that support informed decision-making. The session focuses on developing simple, effective tracking systems that help reduce the cognitive load of monitoring each student’s progress
Presenters
avatar for Geneviève Légaré

Geneviève Légaré

School Imp. Consultant, SWLSB

Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA
  Evidence

10:40am EDT

What Works and Why: Action Research in the Classroom
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
Applicable to all levels of teaching and subjects, action research is a dynamic and motivating cyclical process with the teacher being the researcher-participant in their own classroom. Target goals for the action plan could include but are not limited to: planning, implementation or evaluation, behaviour issues, or teaching strategies. Action research can help you identify a challenge or determine a change you want for your classroom and guide your process to address it.

In this session, you will 
  • learn what action research is, and what it looks like in the classroom.
  • learn how to use reflection and the cycles of inquiry to plan for action research in your own classroom or school communities.
  • learn how action research can empower you by informing your day-to-day decisions to make intentional shifts in your teaching.
Guest Presenters
avatar for Kelly Crowdis

Kelly Crowdis

Teacher - Generalist (Cycle 1-6), SWLSB
Kelly is a Grade 2 teacher at Pinewood Elementary and a former Pedagogical Consultant with the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board. She is also a part-time instructor in the DESS Graduate Diploma in Teacher Certification at Concordia University. A lifelong-learner and professional development... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA
  General Pedagogy

10:40am EDT

Secondary Math: Rich Tasks and Formative Assessment to Develop Critical Thinking in Competency 1 and 2
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
Rich tasks can deepen student understanding, promote critical thinking, and encourage meaningful engagement without sacrificing rigour. In this hands-on workshop, teachers will explore classroom-ready examples that help students reason, justify, and reflect on their learning. We’ll look at how rich tasks can be used in everyday instruction, as well as how tasks that develop the C1 competency can help students prepare for summative C2 assessments. Participants will also have time to work directly with selected examples and consider how they could be adapted for their own classrooms. We’ll also explore practical strategies for creating rich tasks using existing materials, helping reduce prep time without compromising quality. Whether you’re new to rich tasks or looking to expand your toolkit, this session offers concrete steps for making critical thinking a natural part of your math classroom.
Presenters
avatar for James Gore

James Gore

Math Consultant, SWLSB
James Gore is the secondary mathematics pedagogical consultant for the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board. Before moving into this role, he taught mathematics in several schools across the board and worked with students, teachers, and communities in a variety of contexts. He is also... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA

10:40am EDT

Let’s Talk: Understanding Language Disorders in Your Classroom
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT

Let’s talk about your students who struggle to follow verbal instructions, who have trouble finding their words, and who can't seem to retell a simple story. These might be your students who are often frustrated or exhibit challenging behaviour in class. Some of these students may be affected by Developmental Language Disorder, or DLD, which affects roughly 1 in 14 children — likely two or three kids in every classroom — yet it remains one of the least recognized conditions in schools.

Language matters more than you might think. Every subject you teach — reading, writing, math, even gym class — relies on language. Instructions, explanations, discussions, and peer interactions are all part of a student’s day-to-day life, which means a hidden language disorder touches every part of a child's school day.

In this presentation, we'll go over typical language development before taking a closer look at Developmental Language Disorders. We’ll talk about what a student with DLD really looks like in your classroom, using examples and case discussions. You'll walk away with a better understanding of what DLD is, how it shows up in your students, and what you can do to support them.



Presenters
avatar for Laurie Leibov

Laurie Leibov

Speech Language Pathologist, SWLSB
Laurie is a school speech language pathologist with more than 15 years of experience working at SWLSB. She has had the privilege of working across multiple schools within our school board, supporting students, families, and school teams.
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA
  SLP

10:40am EDT

The Science of Reading Meets Secondary Literacy: Cross-Curricular and Disciplinary Literacy Strategies for Every Classroom
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
Adolescent literacy is a shared responsibility across all subject areas. This interactive session explores how secondary educators can apply Science of Reading principles through practical, evidence-based strategies that support multisyllabic word reading, Tier 2 vocabulary development, fluency, comprehension, and disciplinary literacy. Participants will engage with classroom-ready routines, including vocabulary instruction and the "Get-the-Gist" strategy, to strengthen literacy outcomes and student understanding across the curriculum.
Guest Presenters
avatar for Dr. Todd Cunningham

Dr. Todd Cunningham

CEO, Learn Different
Dr. Cunningham is a clinical and school psychologies, Assistant Professor (teaching stream), Chair of the School and Clinical Child Psychology program at the University of Toronto and provides psychological services through is private practice. His research investigates the support... Read More →
avatar for John DeLuca

John DeLuca

Business Development Lead, Learn Different
Currently the Business Development Lead at Learn Different, John's influence extends beyond teaching. A skilled connector, he collaborates with School Boards, colleges, and businesses, uniting pedagogy with practicality through webinars, marketing, and resource creation. With 17... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA

10:40am EDT

Youth Suicide: What Schools Need to Know
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
  1. The presentation explains that youth suicide is a serious issue, and schools play a key role in prevention by recognizing warning signs and creating supportive environments.
  2. It outlines risk factors, critical moments, and warning signs (e.g., mental health struggles, trauma, behavioral changes), while emphasizing the importance of protective relationships and early intervention.
  3. It also highlights appropriate language, evidence-based prevention strategies (tiered supports), and the role of trained staff in assessing risk, ensuring safety, and connecting students to help.


Presenters
avatar for Melanie Bujold

Melanie Bujold

Social Services Officer, SWLSB
I am the Social Services Officer working out of the Pedagogcial Services Department. My work includes the promotion of health, wellbeing, and equity in our school communities; this includes but is not limited to: mental health, suicide prevention, Truth and Reconciliation, DEI, substance... Read More →
Friday September 18, 2026 10:40am - 11:55am EDT
184-LRHS: Room TBA
  Well-Being
 

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