Education Undergraduate Society

TH368A
University of Lethbridge
4401 University Drive West
Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4

403-329-2442
January 1st, 2017
To Whom It May Concern:
The Education Undergraduate Society arranges and provides Professional Development
workshops for education students at the University of Lethbridge. This letter is written at the
request of Mitchell Duram who attended the following seminars during the months of
September-November 2016.
Callista Chasse: Mental Health: Weve All Got It
The session will aim to provide some general information about the continuum of mental health, and raise
awareness of the impacts of mental health for children and youth in the classroom. The session will be
dialogic and experiential, giving participants a chance to ask questions, have discussion, and engage in
activities to deepen their understanding of mental health and build capacity to support their students.
Participants will also have a chance to contribute to activities co-occurring on campus for World Mental
Health Day.
Faye Craig: Healthy Eating, What is your Grade?
This PD Session will focus on factors affecting eating. Topic wills include: What is your role as an
educator? What are the challenges of healthy eating? And what are the solutions? What are some
nutrition myths?
Lance Grigg: How to Teach a Controversial Issue Without Becoming One
Teachers are busy people. They have many curricular, extra-curricular and co-curricular responsibilities.
So, why throw controversy into the mix? In short, because using controversial issues in the classroom gets
students thinking critically, and critical thinking is a fundamental aim of public education. In this
session, we (1) identify key attributes of a controversial issue, (2) highlight the relevance of controversial
issues for teaching and learning, and (3) use the critical inquiry process to demonstrate how one can
teach a controversial issue without becoming one. Handouts and a powerpoint will be provided.
Jenna Lowe: Watch Your Language! (Why Words Matter in Maintaining Professional Wellness
Theres a lot to be said about teachers. And a lot to be said by them. Sometimes the discourse around
educators and the work we do can be edifying, and all too often, it can be defeating. In this PD Session,
Jenna will present her findings from research in discourse awareness about the effects language has on
the building or harming of professional efficacy. While we may not be able to control the words of others,
we can control our own, and wellness is as much about what comes out of our mouths as what goes in.
The session will offer insight into healthy ways to vent about difficulties without becoming difficult, and
good practices for using your language to shape a positive teaching identity. Jenna will use multiple
formats and active learning to challenge you to choose your language about the profession wisely in
order to maintain the habits, health, and energy needed to do and fully enjoy your job.

Marian Biggins: Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium

This PD Session is aimed at preservice teacher that might become engaged in the curriculum
redevelopment that is going on right now in Alberta.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at edu.eus@uleth.ca
or at (403) 329-2442.
Sincerely,
Abbey Hakin
Director of Professional Development
Education Undergraduate Society
University of Lethbridge