K4 – Grade 9 Educators Summer Workshop
8 May 2025
August 18 – 19, 2025 | Vancouver, BC & Zoom Videoconference
The First Nations Education Steering Committee and First Nations Schools Association are pleased to announce an exciting hybrid opportunity for K4 – Grade 9 teachers and education assistants in First Nation schools on August 18 – 19, 2025. On August 18, two workshops will be offered, focused on supporting literacy in K4 – 9 classrooms. Participants can select the workshops that best meet their needs. August 19 will feature two classroom teachers who are highly regarded for their engaging and impactful Math instruction. Lisa Munckhof and Natalie Crespo will share their expertise related to building positive math mindsets. This full-day engaging workshop will balance a little theory with some fun opportunities to connect and practice.
PRESENTERS
Lisa Munckhof
Lisa Munckhof has been teaching at Senpaq’cin School for the past 15 years, primarily with grades 5–7. An IB-certified teacher and a mother of two curious daughters, Lisa is passionate about helping young learners build a positive relationship with math. She loves using inquiry-based approaches that encourage students to explore big questions, take risks, and view mistakes as valuable learning opportunities. Lisa’s goal is to create a classroom environment where both students and teachers feel confident, curious, and excited to play with numbers and ideas.
Natalie Crespo
Natalie Crespo is a proud Musqueam band member, born and raised in Ladner. A UBC NITEP graduate, she taught grades 4-7 in the Delta District for 18 years and currently teaches grade 5 at Senpaq’cin School in Oliver. As a mother of two teenagers, she brings heart and insight into her work. She is passionate about math education and helping all students develop a positive mindset towards learning math. She continues to work towards creating multiple entry points to engage and support all learners.
Devon Hancock
Devon is a high school teacher who has been teaching Math, English, Science, Socials, and a wide variety of elective courses in classrooms from the UK to rural BC for over a decade. She is interested in how curriculum can shape not just what we teach, but how learning happens in our classrooms. Her MA from McGill University focuses on how curricular approaches to text — particularly settler-colonial approaches — can damage our ability to understand them fully as culturally-specific works. Devon is always excited by the opportunity to talk about how the BC Curriculum can support many different kinds of learning in classrooms.
AGENDA
| Day 1 – August 18, 2025 | Room |
| Engaging K4-3 Readers in Literacy | Pavilion Ballroom A & B |
| Inquiry and Literacy Engagement (4-9) | Pavilion Ballroom C |
| Day 2 – August 19, 2025 | Room |
| Building Positive Math Mindsets | Pavilion Ballroom A & B |
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
Engaging K4-3 Readers in Literacy (Literacy K4-3)
Join us for a hands-on workshop designed for educators working with students in grades K4–3. This interactive session will explore effective instruction grounded in the 5 components of literacy, with a strong emphasis on student engagement and inquiry-based learning. Participants will dive into research-based practices that support foundational skills while discovering creative strategies to spark curiosity and deepen comprehension. Through a blend of content learning and practical activities, you’ll leave with ready-to-use tools and techniques to create a dynamic, joyful, and effective literacy environment.
Inquiry and Literacy Engagement for Grades 4-9 (Literacy 4-9)
This workshop will focus on literacy strategies that can be used in a variety of courses in grades 4-9. Based on BC curricular foundations, we will explore the common threads of literacy learning in Math, Science, Socials, English, and various elective courses and learn about common instructional structures that can be used and adapted across various age groups and content.
Building Positive Math Mindsets (Numeracy K4-9)
Join us for a workshop focused on building positive math mindsets—no matter what program you’re using. Through hands-on, collaborative activities inspired by youcubed and Carole Fullerton’s work, you’ll walk away with ready-to-use resources and practical strategies. This session is designed to boost student engagement and help you feel more confident in making meaningful shifts in your math classroom. We’ll also explore how to center instruction around the big ideas of mathematics, supporting deep understanding and purposeful connections across strands.
ELIGIBILITY
Educators that work for a First Nation school in BC.
REGISTRATION
Please register to attend this 2-day event in person or virtually. Virtual attendees will receive a Zoom link closer to the event date.
HOTEL
The Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, 1000 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2R9
- Book Online
- Book by July 26, 2025 for the group rate of $379 + tax
TRAVEL EXPENSES
Please note that participants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses, as well as all food and incidentals related to travel to and from the event. FNESC/FNSA will provide the facility, presenter, breakfast and lunch (which will be provided at 8:00 am and 12 pm respectively) during the event.
SCHEDULE
9:00 am – 4:00 pm. For in-person attendees, breakfast will be served at 8:00 am.
HEALTH
Please stay home if you are feeling unwell. Only registered participants are eligible to attend. Family and friends cannot attend the event at any time, including for meals. The decision to attend in-person events is a personal one and it should be made in consideration of your individual risk factors and vulnerabilities.
