1. education
2. special education

Featuring Keynote
Speakers
Dr. Paula Kluth
(Thursday)
Dr. Kathy Perez
(Friday)
MANITOBA COUNCIL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN
CONFERENCE 2015
Thursday, February 19 and Friday, February 20, 2015
9:00 am to 3:30 am (Registration opens at 8:00 am)
Highlights:
 Publishers’ Display – Please visit the displays during your coffee & lunch breaks at the
Conference. Look in your Conference bag for special publisher activities and prizes!
 “Yes I Can!” Awards – Celebrating Exceptional Children. 7:00 pm, Thursday, February 19,
2015
 Art & Basket Raffles – Proceeds go towards assisting International “Yes I Can!” winners
attend the International Awards Ceremony
 MCEC Annual General Meeting – Friday, February 20, 2015 at 12:00 pm
 Don’t forget to visit the Membership Table for a chance to win a Free CEC Membership!
Manitoba Council for Exceptional Children
PO Box 43035
74-1555 Regent Ave.
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2C 4J2
manitobacec@gmail.com, www.manitobacec.ca,
VENUE:
VICTORIA INN HOTEL
AND CONVENTION CENTRE
1808 Wellington Ave., Wpg.
1-877-842-4667
Special room rate for conference delegates
($143). Quote MCEC group registration
#596795
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Dr. Paula Kluth
Dr. Paula Kluth is a consultant, teacher, author, advocate, and independent scholar who works with teachers and
families to provide inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities and to create more responsive and engaging
schooling experiences for all learners. Paula is a former special educator who has served as a classroom teacher and
inclusion facilitator. Her professional interests include differentiating instruction and inclusive schooling.
She is the author or co-author of more than ten books including From Text Maps to Memory Caps: 100 More Ways to
Differentiate Instruction in K-12 Inclusive Classrooms, Don’t We Already Do Inclusion: 100 Ways to Improve Inclusive
Schools, and You’re Going to Love This Kid: Teaching Students with Autism in Inclusive Classrooms. Paula is also the
director of a documentary film titled “We Thought You’d Never Ask”: Voices of People with Autism.
Morning Session (9:00 am to 11:45 am)
You’re Going to Love This Kid!: Educating Students with Autism in Inclusive Schools
In this interactive session, participants will learn practical ways of supporting students with autism spectrum labels &
other disabilities within a general education classroom. Topics addressed include defining (and redefining) autism,
listening to the voices of those with autism, differentiating instruction, creating more active and responsive lessons,
making the classroom comfortable, and providing opportunities for communication and social skill development. The
session will focus on the importance of pushing beyond access and participation and asking schools to challenge
students and to understand each learner as complex and capable.
Lunch Break (11:45 am to 12:45 pm). Vegetarian Lunch Provided
Afternoon Session (1:00 pm to 3:30 pm)
Just Give Him the Whale: Using Passions, Areas of Expertise, and Strengths to
Support Students with Autism
Do you know someone who loves whales? Or ceiling fans? Or elevators? Most of us do know learners with specific
interests. Often, however, these favorites of students with autism are not celebrated but seen as annoying, problematic
or in need of “extinction”. In this presentation, Dr. Kluth will explore alternative perspectives and will focus specifically
on how they can serve as supports, teaching tools, inspirations, and hobbies. Participants will learn how honoring
fascinations and using them as tools can help teachers calm, comfort, teach, inspire, and connect with their students
with autism labels. Some of the topics to be covered in this session include using interests to teach standards-based
academic content, nurture social connections, minimize anxiety, and expand communication opportunities and skills.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Dr. Kathy Perez
Dr. Kathy Perez, an award-winning classroom teacher, administrator and author has worked with students from
preschoolers to college graduates. Dr. Kathy is currently a Professor of Education at Saint Mary’s College of California,
Director of Teaching Leadership and Coordinator of Professional Development and Outreach. A dynamic presenter, and
“education evangelist,” she has the experience to captivate and motivate her audiences.
Kathy is an acclaimed international educational consultant, author, and motivational speaker, specializing in
instructional strategies and creative approaches to literacy, learning, and leadership development. She integrates stateof-the art methods and research with passion and practical insights from her own classroom experiences. In her
entertaining and thought-provoking sessions, she forms a powerful connection with her audiences.
Dr. Kathy has extensive teaching experience as a general educator, special educator, and literacy coach and
curriculum/staff development coordinator. Even the most reluctant learners are engaged with her techniques!
Teachers from all grade levels and subject areas rave about Kathy Perez’s dynamic approach to teaching. Her innovative
and interactive workshops are loaded with teacher-tested materials and activities you can use immediately and share
with others. Kathy provides a lively and informative day of hands-on and minds-on learning. Participants learn from an
experienced and informed educator who knows firsthand the daily instructional challenges of classroom teachers. Her
enthusiasm is infectious!
Dr. Kathy has worked extensively with teachers, administrators, and parents throughout the United States, Canada,
Europe, Caribbean, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Her best-selling books include:
More Than 100+ Brain Friendly Tools and Strategies for Literacy!, Co-Teaching Book of Lists: A Practical Guide for
Teachers and her latest: The New Inclusion: Differentiated Strategies to Engage ALL Students!
Morning Session (9:00 am to 11:45 am)
Co-teaching: Strategies for Success in the Inclusive Classroom
Teacher collaboration and co-teaching are proven strategies for helping students with diverse needs achieve
academically. This practical workshop provides many successful brain-friendly strategies for your inclusive classroom.
How to scaffold and differentiate your instruction for students with special needs and English learners will be covered.
The emphasis will be creative and time-efficient strategies. How to make co-teaching successful for teachers and
students alike to maximize the teachable moments for ALL!
Participants in this session will:
 Discover multiple approaches to meeting the diverse needs of students
 Scaffold instruction in a co-taught classroom
 Create an inclusive learning environment for both teachers and students
 Learn new techniques to adapt, enrich and modify curriculum and instruction to meet Common Core Standards
 Maximize student achievement using hands-on and engaging instructional techniques
 Unleash the power of collaborative problem-solving
Lunch Break (11:45 am to 12:45 pm). Vegetarian Lunch Provided
Afternoon Session (1:00 pm to 3:30 pm)
Co-teaching: Strategies for Success in the Inclusive Classroom (continued)
Special Education Teacher, Counsellor or Level 1 or 2 Administrator Certificate Credits
The Professional Certification Unit for Manitoba Education has approved all four sessions (Dr. Paula Kluth
on Thursday and Kathy Perez on Friday) for accreditation for the Special Education Teacher’s Certificate,
the Counsellor’s Certificate or the Level 1/ Level 2 Administrator’s Certificate requirements (10 hours
towards the instruction component).
Participants must attend all four sessions during the conference, and hold a valid Manitoba Permanent
Professional Certificate in order to be eligible to receive credit, to a maximum of 10 contact hours, for this
conference. Request for credit must be noted on the registration form.
PARTICIPANTS SEEKING CREDIT MUST ATTEND ALL FOUR OF THE REQUIRED SESSIONS.
CERTIFICATES WILL BE HANDED OUT AT THE CONFERENCE CLOSE ON FRIDAY.
For further information contact:
Giselle Oakley - giselle.oakley@7oaks.org or Michael Bennett - mbennett2@retsd.mb.ca
The Manitoba Council for Exceptional Children Conference 2014 presents the
25th Annual
“Yes I Can!” Awards
Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 7:00 pm
In the Victoria Inn Ballroom
Be sure to visit our Art and Basket Raffle tables with all proceeds
going to support “YES I CAN!” International Award winners.
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