Virtual Workshops

Workshop registration remains open! To gain the link to access the workshop, you must register.

Saturday, October 24

 

Sunday, October 25

Date Time Workshop Workshop Description Presenters
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Emotional Literacy: Helping Your Children Identify Feelings in Themselves and Others To Help Them Learn and Connect "This presentation will explain emotional literacy, self-regulation and co-regulation and what that means for your child at different ages and stages. Presenters will provide tools to help your children expand their emotional vocabulary, with links to learning and forming better social connections. Target ages: JK- Grade 6 Suitable for parents of students in classrooms or in virtual school "

Watch a short video from the presenters.

Jennifer Stephen

Martha Rice
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Anxiety 101 - Understanding Worry and How to Help Children and Teens Cope

The purpose of this workshop is to provide parents and caregivers with an introductory understanding of the physical, social, emotional and cognitive signs of anxiety. Parents and caregivers will develop knowledge of anxiety indicators in children and adolescents. This will allow them to distinguish between developmentally appropriate levels of anxiety/worry versus anxiety where professional consultation may be needed. Parents and caregivers will be provided with strategies to help their children and adolescents cope with anxiety. Additionally, resources (information, referral sources and treatment options) will be provided for parents who are seeking additional support for their children and adolescents. Time at the end of the workshop will be provided for discussion and questions.

Watch a short video from the presenters.

Vicky Timmermanis

Ashley Brunsek

Veronika Lukacs

Michelle Adams
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM The Changing Landscape of Autism Services Founded in 1962, Surrey Place has over 50 years of experience providing quality programs for children and youth with autism and their families. Our comprehensive programs and services range from assessment and diagnosis to family counselling, one-on-one treatment, group support, wellness, and mental health services, serving communities across Toronto and Northern Ontario. As the lead agency for Toronto Autism Services for over 19 years, we have delivered the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) providing support to thousands of families, and evidence-based behavioural intervention to their children. OAP services are available from the time a child receives a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder up until age 18 years. This presentation will include a discussion of changes to the OAP and the services provided at Surrey Place.

Nancy Freeman

Lydia Tisma
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Making your School Council Meaningful - Parent Engagement vs Parent Involvement "Are your parents really engaged in their children’s learning? Or are they involved in the school’s parent agenda? Many School Councils are busy with the work of involving parents in fundraising events and not so much with improving student achievement. Now is the ideal time to think differently about the work of School Councils. In this workshop, we will consider how to make your School Council more meaningful to your community by focusing on authentic engagement and accessing the two arms of the School Council mandate to build partner relationships between home and school. "

Nicole Hebert
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Bright Futures: Fulfilling Careers in the Skilled Trades "Job Talks Executive Director Dr. Jon Callegher is a Skilled Trades speaker who delivers Job Talks research for conferences, educational groups, and industry associations across Canada and the U.S. This presentation will focus on why your students should consider a career in the skilled trades. Spoiler alert: people who work in the skilled trades are much happier than the average Canadian. Jon has a Ph.D in Sociology from the University of Waterloo. He has appeared on radio and TV, sharing his research on the Skilled Trades, the Construction Industry and others areas of work."

Jon Callegher
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Talking to Your Kids about Race "Talking to Your Kids About Race is an interactive workshop that encourages understanding your own biases, becoming more knowledgeable about policies against all forms of discrimination, and strategies for having conversations with children of all backgrounds about race. "

Tamara Irons

Gita Madan
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Ask a Secondary Admin: Strategies to Support Removing Barriers for Students In Need Secondary schools have been setting equity school improvement goals to ensure every learner is able to meet their academic potential. Schools have provided both individual and collective programs and initiatives to engage students who may not be traditionally served. Administrators will share some of their strategies for student success and allow participants opportunities to ask questions connected to secondary schooling and supports for students.

Teenat Khan

Brandon Zoras

Lisa Edwards
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Academic & Career Planning This workshop will overview the academic and career planning process for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 and beyond. We will review graduation requirements, including COVID-19 updates from the Ministry of Education, academic pathways, and the tools we use to help students create pathways to success.

Dr. Renée Rawlins
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Relationships & You: Sexual Health Education "People with an intellectual disability recognize that having strong relationships of their choosing within their communities is an indication of societal position and autonomy. Relationships defines us. Relationships encompass a variety of associations including platonic friendships, sexual and intimate partnerships, familial connections as well as those connections developed from employment, volunteer opportunities and community partnerships. People with an intellectual disability desire to exercise their right to make choices in all aspects of their life including choosing with whom they have relationships and they must be unrestricted and empowered to make choices and take risks.” "

Tracey O'Regan
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Parent Overview of Special Education Processes This workshop will provide parents with a basic understanding of special education processes in the TDSB. They will be able to ask questions and receive information about how to support their child.

Susan Moulton
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Unpacking the Individual Education Plan (IEP) This workshop will explore the IEP (a written plan that describes special education programs and/or services ) as a working document developed in partnership with the parent/guardian/caregiver and with the student, where appropriate. The IEP will be presented within the context of the Special Education processes (School Support Team & Identification, Placement and Review Committee), using an inclusionary, equitable and strengths based approach to supporting student achievement and well-being in the TDSB. This workshop will also discuss different levels of support in both In-Person and Virtual School settings.

Laura Schilling

Kelly Brehaut

Monica Carey

Natasha Subhan
Saturday October 24, 2020 12:15PM Supporting your child's reading skills: Grade 4 and up In this workshop, parents will learn how to support their child's word reading accuracy as well as reading comprehension. Various accommodations for students with learning disabilities will be discussed.

Jana Leggett
Date Time Workshop Workshop Description Presenters
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM TELUS Wise Happiness - Building & Maintaining a Healthy Relationship with Technology TELUS Wise happiness engages teen students and adults in a conversation about building and maintaining a healthy relationship with technology and offers tips on ensuring resiliency and well-being in our connected world.

Amanda Lee
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM Learning at Home: Building Routines in a Virtual World This presentation will focus on how you can build routines into your child’s day in a virtual learning environment (for elementary and/or secondary aged children).

Watch a short video from the presenters

Yvonne Wyndham

Afshan Siddiqui

Jocelyn Lai
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM Engaging Family with Student-Driven Portfolios and Career Exploration using myBlueprint Educators in Toronto District School Board (TDSB) are successfully implementing myBlueprint as an effective career education and digital portfolio tool to document students’ learning journeys and to develop transition plans. This session will begin by showcasing how students can participate in self-discovery by sharing their passions and strengths, explore related post-secondary opportunities, and reflect on their learning with an interactive student-driven digital portfolio. As Family/Guardians play an integral role in students’ classroom learning, this session will demonstrate how the myBlueprint Family Account can foster timely engagement with students’ portfolio artifacts by adding personal feedback and reflection prompts using a variety of media (i.e., video/audio recording, text entry, photo, etc.). By attending this hands-on session, participants will walk away with a detailed Getting Started Guide on how to create a family account as well as a Family Feedback Guide with tips on how to best provide feedback on a student's portfolio, including sample conversation prompts.

Roxanne Malcolm
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM Sharing Indigenous Stories with your Children During our session we will model a primary and junior read aloud for caregivers and parents. We will share ways to engage in reading and listening to Indigenous stories. We will offer suggested titles, and places to find stories. We will also share best practices in choosing books.

Adrienne Plumley

Robert Durocher
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM Supporting Math Learning at Home This session will provide an introduction to the new Ontario elementary mathematics curriculum, as well as share digital resources for parents and families to support math learning at home.

Jason To
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM Brightspace Portfolio - A Digital Tool for Collecting & Sharing Learning This session will provide participants with an overview of the Brightspace Portfolio tool. Portfolio is designed to document student learning from Kindergarten to grade 12. Brightspace Portfolio makes it easy for students to capture, document and share their learning activities from home or the classroom, while allowing Educators to connect and collaborate with their students and their families.

Chelsea Atwell
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM How to Navigate 211 Join us for a conversation on how to navigate the 211 Ontario website and all it have to offer. This workshop will explain all 211 has to offer and how to utilize it to its full potential.

Jocelynn Smith

Faed Hendry
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM Connecting With Your Child's Online Classroom Through Brightspace for Parents Brightspace for Parents provides a digital window into your child's Brightspace online classroom. This session will highlight the features of Brightspace for Parents, the types of information provided to parents and also address the account creation process.

Kevin Bradbeer
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM What's Online Learning Like? A look Inside a Secondary Brightspace Classroom This session will provide families with an overview of a Brightspace classroom at the Secondary level. We'll highlight the main tools used to communicate with students, share content and lesson material, assess student activities and tasks. We will also cover how feedback is provided along with some of the unique features designed to create an engaging and collaborative classroom experience.

Elan Umholtz
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM Social Media & Kids – Harmful or Helpful? We use social media to have our voices heard, feel connected to others, and discover a world that is outside our immediate reality. Social media has rapidly become such a necessity in how we communicate but we must question its impact on our emotional, social and psychological well-being. In this workshop, parents will learn why social media and gaming can be addictive for kids and how these platforms can cause children to feel anxious and struggle with low-confidence and depression. Parents will feel more equipped to make decisions regarding screen time and phone use by learning the “Thinking Partner” approach to parenting versus “Command and Control”

Scott Ste Marie
Saturday October 24, 2020 1:30PM Get to Know Your TDSB Virtual LIbrary The TDSB Virtual Library provides the TDSB community with access to a range of eBooks, articles, videos and more to support K-12 learning. This session will provide an overview of the Virtual Library, demonstrate the use of some resources, and provide information to support parents to utilize this resource to support students and any grade level.

Andrea Sykes

Kirsten Johnston
Date Time Workshop Workshop Description Presenters
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM Parents Working with Children for Success in this Pandemic Time Parents will learn and discuss the best way to support children and teachers during this pandemic period

Adeleke Keshinro
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM Financial Literacy Campaign Financial Literacy

Elizabeth Zetazate

Michael Kassapian
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM How do we Talk to Children about Gender and Sexual Identity? As parents, we all want the best for our children; but mainstream conversations often stigmatize and exclude particular interests, expressions and identities they may have. While we encourage our children to share their thoughts, feelings and identities with us, some topics may be unfamiliar and we may feel uncertain about how best to respond. This workshop will explore how expectations of gender and sexuality impact young people’s lives, and how parents can engage their children in conversations that help break down social stigma, model empathy and build resilience.

Ilana David

Avi Magidsohn
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM How Caregivers Can Support Students Return to Learn This presentation was developed to support caregivers as their children return to learn. It recognizes that children and caregivers will likely experience stress as they navigate these uncertain times. Strategies for managing these feelings are provided with a focus on the importance of caregivers prioritizing their own well-being as well providing specific stress management strategies for the entire family. The latter part of the presentation will address some common concerns that may arise as children re-enter school; including school avoidance, noncompliance, weak motivation, school engagement and cyberbullying. Knowing when to reach out for help, who is available to help and how to access support are also addressed.

Imola Marton

Norma Brem

David Schwartzbeing

Tessa DeRosa
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM Emotional Literacy: Helping Your Children Identify Feelings in Themselves and Others To Help Them Learn and Connect

"This presentation will explain emotional literacy, self-regulation and co-regulation and what that means for your child at different ages and stages. Presenters will provide tools to help your children expand their emotional vocabulary, with links to learning and forming better social connections. Target ages: JK- Grade 6 Suitable for parents of students in classrooms or in virtual school "

Watch a short video from the presenters.

Jennifer Stephen

Martha Rice
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Strategies and Return to School This webinar introduces Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) strategies such as reinforcement, using visuals, and prompting in the context of transitioning elementary aged children back to school during this “new normal.” Strategies you can review at home prior to school transition with the goal of increased independence for your child will be discussed. This webinar is approximately 45 minutes long and will be followed by a Question and Answer session.

Lisa Cohen

Lydia Tisma

Cathy Sawyer
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM Supporting Children/Teens with Mental Health Challenges During Covid: Accessing PSS and Community Supports This presentation will focus on coping and self-care strategies to manage the stress and anxiety associated with supporting a child with mental health concerns during Covid. Presenters will also offer suggestions about supporting children at home. We will discuss how you can access Professional Support Services in the TDSB, as well as supports within the community (whether you are currently not connected to a service or looking for support while you wait for service).

Lisa Di'Nardo

Elise Morson

Afroze Anjum
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM French…how to help your child succeed Tips and strategies for helping your children succeed any any French prrogramme, including core, extended, or immersion. We will share some of our collected wisdom and also include time for the parents in the session to share their experiences and advice.

Mandy Moore
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM Supporting Your Child With Grief and Loss Supporting children through grief and loss is one of the hardest things a caregiver can do. We want to provide caregivers with an understanding of some of the common questions and behaviours that children experience as they grieve. We will share some strategies to respond in ways that acknowledge, validate, and support your child's grief. At the end you will be provided with ideas, resources and community supports.

Michelle Adams

Nicole McSweeney

Jeremy Ng
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM Engaging Virtual Families in School Council Engaging families is often challenging but during Covid it can seem impossible. However, if an inclusive school community is the goal, virtual families have to be included. This workshop offers various strategies for building bridges to all families/caregivers, ensuring that family engagement remains a top priority for your work this year.

Nancy Angevine-Sands
Saturday October 24, 2020 2:45PM Talking to your kids about race "Talking to Your Kids About Race is an interactive workshop that encourages understanding your own biases, becoming more knowledgeable about policies against all forms of discrimination, and strategies for having conversations with children of all backgrounds about race. "

Tamara Irons

Gita Madan
Date Time Workshop Workshop Description Presenters
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM Supporting Children With Complex Needs in Virtual Learning and In School Learning

As parents you may be coping with a lot of stress as you try to support your children with complex needs in their learning while being able to enjoy time as a family.  This presentation will provide practical strategies to assist your children whether they are learning at school or virtually.  We will talk about ways to support your mental health and wellbeing and that of your children which will help keep your children calm, happy and ready to learn.  We will be providing a lot of resources for you including visual supports to help your children make choices, communicate their needs and keep active.

Watch a video from the presenters.

Dayna Morris

Andrea Wiltsie

Jay West

Fiona Currie

Maria-Antonio Aymerich
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM Emotional Literacy: Helping Your Children Identify Feelings in Themselves and Others To Help Them Learn and Connect "This presentation will explain emotional literacy, self-regulation and co-regulation and what that means for your child at different ages and stages. Presenters will provide tools to help your children expand their emotional vocabulary, with links to learning and forming better social connections. Target ages: JK- Grade 6 Suitable for parents of students in classrooms or in virtual school "

Watch a short video from the presenters.

Jennifer Stephen

Martha Rice
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM Making your School Council Meaningful - Parent Engagement vs Parent Involvement "Are your parents really engaged in their children’s learning? Or are they involved in the school’s parent agenda? Many School Councils are busy with the work of involving parents in fundraising events and not so much with improving student achievement. Now is the ideal time to think differently about the work of School Councils. In this workshop, we will consider how to make your School Council more meaningful to your community by focusing on authentic engagement and accessing the two arms of the School Council mandate to build partner relationships between home and school. "

Nicole Hebert
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM Black Student Solidarity TDSB secondary students from the Black Youth Collaborative in partnership with Stolen From Africa, will share their experiences and strategies parents and community members can use to support and advocate for and with Black students.

Alana Lowe
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM Financial Literacy Campaign Financial Literacy

Elizabeth Zetazate

Michael Kassapian
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM The Dish with One Spoon Treaty The Parent Council of Kapapamahchakwew Wandering Spirit School invites you to learn about The Dish with One Spoon Treaty and how it can provide a framework to guide the creation of a meaningful land acknowledgment for School Advisory Councils.

Melanie Laking
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM Relationships & You: Sexual Health Education "People with an intellectual disability recognize that having strong relationships of their choosing within their communities is an indication of societal position and autonomy. Relationships defines us. Relationships encompass a variety of associations including platonic friendships, sexual and intimate partnerships, familial connections as well as those connections developed from employment, volunteer opportunities and community partnerships. People with an intellectual disability desire to exercise their right to make choices in all aspects of their life including choosing with whom they have relationships and they must be unrestricted and empowered to make choices and take risks.” "

Tracey O'Regan
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM Family Engagement in a Virtual Learning World Are families able to support their children's learning when it's virtual? Yes, because the most effective family engagement occurs in the home. This workshop will offer strategies for learning: collaborating with your teachers/school, improving communication and using family knowledge. Aimed at family/caregivers, this workshop is also useful for School Councils hoping to engage their virtual families.

Nancy Angevine-Sands
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM Supporting Your Child/Teens Mental Health & Well-Being While They Are Attending Virtual School In this workshop we will focus on challenges that virtual learning presents for children and their families as well as some advantages, especially for students with different learning needs. We will then review support strategies for caregivers and students and discuss school-based and community resources that can be accessed to support the mental health and well-being of families. A resource with the key points covered in this workshop will also be provided

Annette Grossi

Victoria Orekhovsky

Sarah Frasca
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM Unpacking the Individual Education Plan (IEP) This workshop will explore the IEP (a written plan that describes special education programs and/or services ) as a working document developed in partnership with the parent/guardian/caregiver and with the student, where appropriate. The IEP will be presented within the context of the Special Education processes (School Support Team & Identification, Placement and Review Committee), using an inclusionary, equitable and strengths based approach to supporting student achievement and well-being in the TDSB. This workshop will also discuss different levels of support in both In-Person and Virtual School settings.

Laura Schilling

Kelly Brehaut

Monica Carey
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM The PLUG Project Overview: for Black and Racialized Families This workshop provides up to date information and resources about TAIBU Community Health Centre’s PLUG Project. The PLUG Project was designed to support Black and racialized youth and families facing challenges with the education system by providing holistic community and school supports. These supports include but are not limited to: current and factual information, early identification of challenges and intervention, direct legal services and access to wrap-around community support services. Through this workshop you will gain a better understanding of the school system and get in contact with people that can support your child’s or children’s success in school. This workshop will also provide you with an overview about school disciplinary measures, important statistics on educational outcomes and allow you to hear a compelling testimony from a Black parent, told from the perspective of the Program Coordinator at the PLUG Project.

Ryan Fuentes
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM The Parent Toolkit for Building Your Own Resiliency & Self-Compassion We invite you to join us in exploring how we show/express compassion towards ourselves. While doing that we will share our thoughts, ideas and strategies for building resiliency through community and self-compassion techniques.

Andrea Joyce

Trina Hoadley

Alice Rubin-Vaughan
Sunday October 25, 2020 12:15PM Supporting Early Literacy Development at Home Grades K-3 This session will begin with a quick overview of how early readings skills develop. Then parents will be provided with hands-on, fun activities that can support the development of early reading skills in their young children (grades K-3).

Sherry Raffalovitch
Date Time Workshop Workshop Description Presenters
Sunday October 25, 2020 1:30PM TELUS Wise Parents - Screen Time, Gaming, Sexting, Cyberbullying and More Supporting youth in our digital world is designed for adults and parents, and focuses on topics including screen time, gaming, sexting, cyberbullying and more.

Amanda Lee
Sunday October 25, 2020 1:30PM Engaging Family with Student-Driven Portfolios and Career Exploration using myBlueprint Educators in Toronto District School Board (TDSB) are successfully implementing myBlueprint as an effective career education and digital portfolio tool to document students’ learning journeys and to develop transition plans. This session will begin by showcasing how students can participate in self-discovery by sharing their passions and strengths, explore related post-secondary opportunities, and reflect on their learning with an interactive student-driven digital portfolio. As Family/Guardians play an integral role in students’ classroom learning, this session will demonstrate how the myBlueprint Family Account can foster timely engagement with students’ portfolio artifacts by adding personal feedback and reflection prompts using a variety of media (i.e., video/audio recording, text entry, photo, etc.). By attending this hands-on session, participants will walk away with a detailed Getting Started Guide on how to create a family account as well as a Family Feedback Guide with tips on how to best provide feedback on a student's portfolio, including sample conversation prompts.

Roxanne Malcolm
Sunday October 25, 2020 1:30PM Supporting Math Learning at Home This session will provide an introduction to the new Ontario elementary mathematics curriculum, as well as share digital resources for parents and families to support math learning at home.

Jason To
Sunday October 25, 2020 1:30PM Brightspace Portfolio - A Digital Tool for Collecting & Sharing Learning This session will provide participants with an overview of the Brightspace Portfolio tool. Portfolio is designed to document student learning from Kindergarten to grade 12. Brightspace Portfolio makes it easy for students to capture, document and share their learning activities from home or the classroom, while allowing Educators to connect and collaborate with their students and their families.

Chelsea Atwell
Sunday October 25, 2020 1:30PM What's Online Learning Like? A look Inside a Secondary Brightspace Classroom This session will provide families with an overview of a Brightspace classroom at the Secondary level. We'll highlight the main tools used to communicate with students, share content and lesson material, assess student activities and tasks. We will also cover how feedback is provided along with some of the unique features designed to create an engaging and collaborative classroom experience.

Elan Umholtz
Sunday October 25, 2020 1:30PM How to Navigate 211 Join us for a conversation on how to navigate the 211 Ontario website and all it have to offer. This workshop will explain all 211 has to offer and how to utilize it to its full potential.

Jocelynn Smith

Faed Hendry
Sunday October 25, 2020 1:30PM Connecting With Your Child's Online Classroom Through Brightspace for Parents Brightspace for Parents provides a digital window into your child's Brightspace online classroom. This session will highlight the features of Brightspace for Parents, the types of information provided to parents and also address the account creation process.

Kevin Bradbeer
Sunday October 25, 2020 1:30PM Social Media & Kids – Harmful or Helpful? We use social media to have our voices heard, feel connected to others, and discover a world that is outside our immediate reality. Social media has rapidly become such a necessity in how we communicate but we must question its impact on our emotional, social and psychological well-being. In this workshop, parents will learn why social media and gaming can be addictive for kids and how these platforms can cause children to feel anxious and struggle with low-confidence and depression. Parents will feel more equipped to make decisions regarding screen time and phone use by learning the “Thinking Partner” approach to parenting versus “Command and Control”

Scott St Marie
Sunday October 25, 2020 1:30PM Accessing all Learning Opportunities at Home - Introduction to Read&Write for Google Chrome "Read&Write for Google Chrome is a Google Chrome extension which is fully licensed and available to all TDSB students. It offers students tools to engage with writing, reading, and research tasks. K-12 students can access this assistive tool at home, school, the public library - anywhere where there is an internet connection! Learn how your child can access Read&Write to enhance all learning opportunities and feel confident in their own abilities. Parents will see a demonstration of some powerful Read&Write features (e.g., text-to-speech, speech-to-text, digital highlighting and organization) from the TDSB Assistive Technology team, and have an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback. We look forward to seeing you there!"

Jeremy Nason

Rian Bhoolai

Holly Sharpe

Joshua Sollack

Ashleigh Ramson
Sunday October 25, 2020 1:30PM Welcome Back to Toronto Public Library Learn about Toronto Public Library's phased approach to reopening. With health and safety measures and physical distancing in mind, learn what services are being offered at our open branches. In addition, the speakers will talk about customized resources and services for newcomers, children and youth. There will be short demonstration of digital content for school success and homework support.

Elsa Ngan

Nouna Safaeinodehi