EA Capacity Building Workshop
9 December 2025
January 21 – 22, 2026 | In-Person & Zoom Videoconference
The First Nations Education Steering Committee and First Nations Schools Association are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for Education Assistants (EAs) in First Nation schools. Whether you are an experienced EA or new to First Nation schools, this one-and-a-half-day event will provide a variety of opportunities for you to learn more to support you in your important role.
Schedule
Day 1
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 9:00 am – 9:15 am | Welcome and Opening Comments |
| 9:15 am – 10:15 am | Overview of EA Standards |
| 10:15 am – 10:30 am | Break |
| 10:30 am – 12:00 pm |
Building Students’ Independence |
| 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm – 2:30pm | How You Can Help Teachers With a Breadth of “Learning” Activities Supporting Digital Literacy Common Strategies for Supporting Students with Exceptionalities – What All EAs Can Do Helping Build Students’ Sense of Identity and Self-Esteem Building Students’ Independence The Importance of Connectedness – What EAS Can Do |
| 2:30 pm – 2:45 pm | Break |
| 2:45 pm – 3:30 pm | Closing |
Day 2
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 9:00 am – 9:15 am | Opening Check-In |
| 9:15 am – 10:45 am | Positive Strategies for Classroom Management Common Strategies for Supporting Students with Exceptionalities – What All EAs Can Do Helping Build Students’ Sense of Identity and Self-Esteem The Importance of Classroom Routines How You Can Help Teachers With a Breadth of “Learning” Activities The Importance of Attendance and What You Can Do! |
| 10:45 am – 11:00 am | Break |
| 10:45 pm – 12:00 pm | Share-Out and Wrap-Up |
| 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Lunch |
Session Description
Building Students’ Independence
Promoting student independence is a fundamental goal for educators. It is an important part of preparing students for academic achievement in school, and for lifelong personal success. This workshop will review the many things that EAs can do to help students take responsibility for their learning and make good choices.
The Importance of Classroom Routines
Effective classrooms have clear procedures that help students know what’s expected and create predictability for students and adults in the classroom. Routines reduce disruptions, free up instructional time, and foster a more productive learning environment. Come to this workshop to discuss some ways EAs can assist with the establishment of structures that will help everyone in the classroom focus more on learning and build positive relationships.
The Importance of Attendance and What You Can Do!
Students who have the best chance to succeed in school are those who attend school regularly, and everyone can play a role in making that happen. This workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to share their thoughts and experiences about how schools can help make sure all students come to school regularly and on-time.
The Importance of Connectedness – What EAS Can Do
Research shows that students who feel a genuine sense of belonging at school are more likely to do well, stay in school, and make healthy choices. This feeling is often described as school connectedness. Connected students believe their families, teachers, and school staff care about them and are partners in supporting their success. This workshop will facilitate conversations about the invaluable role of EAs in building positive connections with students.
Supporting Digital Literacy
It is important that school staff and families work in partnership to teach kids to evaluate the technologies they use, how they use them, and the information they see online. However, addressing these issues is a moving target, as technologies and online platforms are continually evolving. Ongoing conversations and regular reminders are crucial – and this workshop will provide a chance to learn more about how to help students use screens in healthier, safer ways.
Positive Strategies for Classroom Management
A key component of creating an effective learning environment is “classroom management,” which involves establishing positive behavioural expectations, anticipating challenging behaviours, and responding to difficulties in pro-active and preventative ways. Do you want to know more about the critical issue of classroom management? This session will provide some useful suggestions for EAs to add to their practice.
How You Can Help Teachers With a Breadth of “Learning” Activities
EAs support teaching in numerous ways, and they play an invaluable role in maintaining classrooms that promote student learning. This workshop will review how effective EAs contribute to the learning activities that happen each and everyday, with suggestions for how EAs can help teachers ensure that all students have their needs met.
Common Strategies for Supporting Students with Exceptionalities – What All EAs Can Do
All EAs can help students who have exceptionalities succeed in school – including those who are directly responsible for supporting students who have exceptionalities on a daily basis, and EAs who provide more general supports in the classroom. This workshop will review a number of classroom strategies that are generally effective for supporting students who have a range of different exceptionalities – and they are good practice for all students, as well!
Helping Build Students’ Sense of Identity and Self-Esteem
Promoting students’ sense of identity and self-esteem is one of the most important things EAs can do; it has been shown to help raise student outcomes, and it provides students a strong foundation for lifelong success and well-being. EAs help boost students’ pride and self-confidence in many, many ways. Come to this workshop to share your ideas about this vital part of an EAs’ role, and to learn some new information to take home to your school.
Eligibility and Travel Expenses
- First Nation schools are invited to register up to two Education Assistants (EAs) to attend the event in-person. FNESC will reimburse travel and accommodation costs for approved registrants (as per FNESCs travel policies).
- Schools can register as many EAs as they would like to attend the event virtually.
- This event has limited in-person capacity and consideration will be given to regional representation.
- Once approved, hotel accommodation information will be shared with applicants.
- This event is intended for EAs. Other school staff are not eligible to attend.
If you would like to register more than two EAs for the in-person event, additional applicants will be placed on a waitlist and approved to attend if space is available. Please note, if waitlist registrants are approved, the school will be responsible for all expenses associated with the participant’s travel and accommodation to attend the event and FNESC will cover the cost of the breakfast and lunch during the two-day session. Travel reimbursement can only be extended for up to two EAs per school.
Registration
Apply for this two-day event in person or virtually. Virtual attendees will receive a Zoom link closer to the event date. Approved registrants will receive an email confirmation including hotel booking information.
Schedule
Day 1: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | Day 2: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
For in-person attendees, breakfast will be served at 8:00 am and lunch at 12:00 pm noon.
Recording Not Permitted
Audio and video recording, AI transcription, and use of other AI tools to record the meeting is not permitted.
Health
Please stay home if you are feeling unwell. Only registered participants are eligible to attend.
