SWLSB Learning • Apprentissage

Seeing the Learning in the Laughter is a 75 min interactive workshop designed for preschool educators to bridge the gap between joyful play and deep developmental growth. Participants will explore how play drives cognitive, social, and emotional development, while gaining practical strategies to use the environment as a "third teacher." Educators will master the art of creating low-cost invitations and provocations, leaving with the tools to confidently co-construct, document, and share the learning happening behind the laughter.

Today's curriculum is often packed with content, creating pressure and stress for both students and educators. Incorporating regular outdoor learning opportunities into the curriculum can alleviate stress, encourage a more positive mindset, and promote writing.Let`s explore simple, practical activities that take students outdoors to engage with their environment through place-based learning. These activities are designed to promote curiosity, mindfulness, and writing through meaningful connections with nature, benefiting both students and educators.Through intentional exploration, observation, and journaling, students will learn how to document their discoveries, reflect on their experiences, and engage in thoughtful discussions. Nature-inspired journaling sessions will help students capture details and insights for writing, while building calmness and emotional resilience.

Integrating choice boards into your teaching practice is a powerful way to boost student engagement, voice, and ownership and can be used across all subject areas from elementary through high school. In this workshop, participants will explore how to design meaningful choice boards that support diverse learners through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and effective differentiated instruction.

We will look at practical ways to structure choice so it remains purposeful and manageable while still offering flexibility and student autonomy. We will also briefly explore how AI can support planning by helping generate ideas, templates, and differentiation options more efficiently.

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.

Workshop Description:

In an educational landscape where communication takes many forms, visual supports are not just accommodations—they are universal tools for success. Grounded in current best practices and deeply informed by neurodivergent perspectives, this practical workshop reframes how we view and implement visuals to support every learner in the classroom.

What We Will Explore

Understanding Non-Speaking Students: Shift from a deficit model to an inclusive mindset by exploring the diverse reasons why some students are non-speaking or rely on various methods of non-verbal communication.

Diverse Communication Styles: Examine how information is processed and shared, honoring the unique communication styles of neurodivergent learners.

The Universal Language of Visuals: Realize just how much we all rely on visual cues in our own daily lives (from traffic signs to smartphone icons) and how to bridge that familiarity into the classroom.

Practical Visual Toolkits: Move beyond theory with a concrete introduction to different types of visuals—such as schedules, choice boards, and environmental cues—along with step-by-step strategies on how to create and implement them effortlessly.

What You Will Take Away

You don't need a background in graphic design or endless free time to make your environment more accessible. Attendees will leave this session with an actionable understanding of how to build preventative, visual supports that reduce anxiety and foster independence.

To ensure your success long after the workshop ends, all participants will receive a  package of extra resources, ready-to-use templates, and evidence-based guides to support your daily practice. Let's demystify visual supports together and make communication and learning accessible for everyone.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition, yet its presentation shifts dramatically as a student grows. This session provides a comprehensive look at how ADHD manifests through different school-age developmental stages, spanning from the high-energy behavioral markers of kindergarten to the complex academic and executive dysfunction challenges faced by high school juniors.

The presenters will begin by reviewing the developmental approach to social emotional learning. A variety of practical strategies for supporting students with big emotions will follow, with a particular focus on structuring the learning environment and fostering strong adult-child relationships.

Seeing the Learning in the Laughter is a 75 min interactive workshop designed for preschool educators to bridge the gap between joyful play and deep developmental growth. Participants will explore how play drives cognitive, social, and emotional development, while gaining practical strategies to use the environment as a "third teacher." Educators will master the art of creating low-cost invitations and provocations, leaving with the tools to confidently co-construct, document, and share the learning happening behind the laughter.

Today's curriculum is often packed with content, creating pressure and stress for both students and educators. Incorporating regular outdoor learning opportunities into the curriculum can alleviate stress, encourage a more positive mindset, and promote writing.Let`s explore simple, practical activities that take students outdoors to engage with their environment through place-based learning. These activities are designed to promote curiosity, mindfulness, and writing through meaningful connections with nature, benefiting both students and educators.Through intentional exploration, observation, and journaling, students will learn how to document their discoveries, reflect on their experiences, and engage in thoughtful discussions. Nature-inspired journaling sessions will help students capture details and insights for writing, while building calmness and emotional resilience.

Integrating choice boards into your teaching practice is a powerful way to boost student engagement, voice, and ownership and can be used across all subject areas from elementary through high school. In this workshop, participants will explore how to design meaningful choice boards that support diverse learners through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and effective differentiated instruction.

We will look at practical ways to structure choice so it remains purposeful and manageable while still offering flexibility and student autonomy. We will also briefly explore how AI can support planning by helping generate ideas, templates, and differentiation options more efficiently.

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.

Workshop Description:

In an educational landscape where communication takes many forms, visual supports are not just accommodations—they are universal tools for success. Grounded in current best practices and deeply informed by neurodivergent perspectives, this practical workshop reframes how we view and implement visuals to support every learner in the classroom.

What We Will Explore

Understanding Non-Speaking Students: Shift from a deficit model to an inclusive mindset by exploring the diverse reasons why some students are non-speaking or rely on various methods of non-verbal communication.

Diverse Communication Styles: Examine how information is processed and shared, honoring the unique communication styles of neurodivergent learners.

The Universal Language of Visuals: Realize just how much we all rely on visual cues in our own daily lives (from traffic signs to smartphone icons) and how to bridge that familiarity into the classroom.

Practical Visual Toolkits: Move beyond theory with a concrete introduction to different types of visuals—such as schedules, choice boards, and environmental cues—along with step-by-step strategies on how to create and implement them effortlessly.

What You Will Take Away

You don't need a background in graphic design or endless free time to make your environment more accessible. Attendees will leave this session with an actionable understanding of how to build preventative, visual supports that reduce anxiety and foster independence.

To ensure your success long after the workshop ends, all participants will receive a  package of extra resources, ready-to-use templates, and evidence-based guides to support your daily practice. Let's demystify visual supports together and make communication and learning accessible for everyone.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition, yet its presentation shifts dramatically as a student grows. This session provides a comprehensive look at how ADHD manifests through different school-age developmental stages, spanning from the high-energy behavioral markers of kindergarten to the complex academic and executive dysfunction challenges faced by high school juniors.

The presenters will begin by reviewing the developmental approach to social emotional learning. A variety of practical strategies for supporting students with big emotions will follow, with a particular focus on structuring the learning environment and fostering strong adult-child relationships.