Chase was moments away from quitting teaching — a career he loved. He was burned out, bitter, and beaten by the external challenges of modern education. But he didn’t quit. He doubled-down, using the same science of well-being he had taught his students for over a decade. In this engaging, humorous, and heartfelt talk, Chase shares his experience as a veteran educator and provides key insights on how the science of small, positive moments creates thriving adults, learners, and communities. Your audience will be empowered to take care of themselves, so they can better take care of the young adults who need them. Learning Outcomes: OPTIMISM – Refocus on the good in order to reignite our love for teaching and parenting OWNERSHIP – Take control of our own well-being through simple, research-based actions that boost purpose and happiness MINDFULNESS – Be present and turn minor moments into major momentum to thrive personally and professionally COMMUNITY – Cultivate positive relationships with kids and adults to build supportive and resilient cultures.
Moving from a historical lens prior to Brown v. Board of Education to today's current educational landscape, including the recent uprising against Critical Race Theory (CRT), participants will explore how school systems have failed our students of Color and what we can do differently.
Kids were made to create. In this session we'll talk about how to unlock students' creative potential with a blend of digital and analog tools. Topics to be addressed are curriculum planning to support creative work, meaningful modeling and instruction, reflection and assessment, and the social benefits to collaborative creation.
We know about the 4Cs of 21st Century Learners but do we know if our students are courageous enough to try them? There is a direct link between the level of risk involved in learning and the level of effort a student will give. In this session, you'll learn specific strategies on how to build a supportive and safe environment so students feel comfortable enough, supported enough, and compelled enough to risk their comfort and acquire new skills. Come learn how to apply the key ingredient to prepare youth for the future!
All learners benefit when a "GVC" is documented and implemented with fidelity. How do we guaranteed that our curriculum is viable, suitable, and do-able? This session walks participants through six steps designed to clarify our commitment to engage, equip, encourage, and empower students to address and assess their visible and measurable growth in standard-aligned core concepts and skills.
Assistant Principal / Instructional Leadership, Roxana School District
For the past several years, I have been researching and testing the most reliable meta-analyses in order to enable teachers who are engaging, equipping, encouraging, and empowering students to see and celebrate visible and measurable success in essential skills. In Roxana, we are... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Schaumburg E18-20 Lisle St London, WC2H 7BA, United Kingdom
Technology can be different in any grade level. Throw in over 800 teachers as well as classrooms full of kiddos with a variety of skill level and abilities and you get…..INNOVATION and LEARNING! Join us as we cover how coaching across a K-12 (pre and post pandemic) can be both challenging and rewarding. We'll share the tips and tricks that we’ve learned, and how instructional technology has transformed our teaching and learning across the district.
Anyone can look up a fact on the internet, but today's learners need to be able to defend their ideas with evidence and explanation. Based on information presented by Challenging Learning, we will define what makes dialogue effective and ways to get your students talking.
Attendees will learn how to implement a framework and strategies in the classsroom that increase engagement, rigor and achievement. A framework for everyday practice will be illustrated and attendees will leave with resources that support effective implemenntation. Several stategies will be modeled, connected to the research and then practiced by those in the session.
Stephen Oertle is the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Roxana Community Unit School District #1 in Southern Illinois, the founder and director of CourseMason LLC, and an independent consultant specializing in the development of curriculum, assessments, instructional... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Knowledge
In this session, you will “tune up” your engine and get ready to improve your performance by exploring a series of professional practices used to strengthen teachers who lead. Teacher leadership refers to the skills demonstrated by educators who continue to instruct students but also have an influence that extends beyond their own classroom to others within their school, district, and/or community. An important characteristic of a teacher leader is the expertise and skill in engaging others in complex work. Much like the well-known Nintendo game “Mario Kart,” teacher leaders race ahead in their work with an unwavering passion for the core mission and the courage to confront obstacles to achieve the mission. With your personal or school charge in mind, “let's-a-go”...and enhance our leadership by “powering up” and equipping ourselves as leaders represented as change agents. Teacher leaders exemplify certain defining characteristics. This session is a crash course of professional practices one can put into play on their track to effective teacher leadership. “Fantastico”...let’s lead like M.A.R.I.O!
Many children's books address issues of justice and equity. This session will focus on a number of titles whose characters grapple with tough decision-making issues, both economically and socially. Participants will engage in activities they can use to help their students understand these important concepts
Dir. of Development & STEAM Instructor, Northern Illinois University
Engaging the whole community for the whole child. Over 10 years experience as school administrator, engaging the community for student success. Specialize in outreach and engagement at NIU. Organize outreach STEAM events, STEM Cafes in local restaurants and Teen STEM Cafes held at... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Imagination
Data has the potential to be the key lever that leads to exceptional results for kids. In a world where there are endless metrics—expanding spreadsheets, charts, report cards, and data points—many educators feel simultaneously bombarded with data points and lacking the data they need. With the innumerable amounts of data points, we need to decipher what data points are meaningful and avoid using them in a haphazard and unscientific way. This presentation will give three key strategies to use data effectively and efficiently.
Our youngest STEAM learners are creative and curious, but require support and foundational skills in math and science. Join us for a series of activities exploring subitizing, sorting, drawing, patterns, and loose parts, and leave with new ideas of how to use these STEAM skills in your classroom.
Curriculum and Professional Dev Specialist, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Lindsey Herlehy, a Curriculum and Professional Development Specialist at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Middle Childhood Education and Master of Education in Educational Administration from Arizona State University. She is passionate... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Schaumburg A
This session will outline the importance of deconstructing systems of power in our educational system as it pertains particularly to discipline. It will also directly address alternatives or supplements to the work we do through tiered behavioral systems, and how the data driven mindset can actually oppress marginalized groups in our schools
Huntley District 158 has been on a journey to implement personalized learning pathways at the secondary level, incorporating student choice in modality, place, and pace. Students at Huntley High School have the option to personalize their education by choosing in-person, blended, and fully online classes, in addition to the option to join a competency based education program. Given this range of options, students personalize their experience to meet their learning and their life needs. With a foundational and durable district vision for innovation spanning over ten years, District 158 has strategically added student options that have scaled to fully developed pathways. Leadership toward this innovating to personalize has encompassed visionary approaches to curriculum design, human resources, fiscal decision-making, student services, and professional learning. The District 158 team will share their vision, and the steps on their innovation journey to offer options that allow students to personalize their learning and accomplish their goals.
Have you wondered how to improve a school's culture while utilizing the tenets of social and emotional learning through an equity lens? Wonder no more. In this session, participants will learn how to take the tenets of SEL to improve their school's culture. Participants will also gain specific strategies to utilize on day one that address a culture of low expectations.
A challenge in education is finding the best way to share tough information. In The Talent Code, Daniel Coyle writes about the importance of warm candor in fostering successful work relationships. We’ll share specific strategies of how to deliver honest feedback while maintaining a positive culture between leader/coach and teacher.
As a parent and veteran high school teacher, Chase has spent over a decade studying — and living —how stress affects our thinking, learning, and behaving. This talk is acaptivating and practical exploration of how we can use the science of stress to become happier, healthier, and more resilient. Chase combines critical research with heartfelt and hilarious stories from his students, his teaching, and his parenting. Together we will learn how to manage and leverage stress to not just survive but thrive in these stressful times. Learning Outcomes: COMPASSION – Use the science of stress to be more empathetic toward others and forgiving of ourselves OPTIMISM – Reframe stress into positive actions that help us persevere RESILIENCE – Apply simple, powerful actions to move from stress-resistant to stress resilient
ISBE representatives will discuss the state's Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards, share opportunities around professional development for pedagogical practices, and discuss efforts to widen the teacher pipeline in Illinois.
The conversations that happen in the classroom shape the way your students interact with you, with each other, and with your content. The past year has shown us that the way we have students talk in classrooms has evolved in fun and exciting ways! Join me as explore tools; some new and shiny and some good ol’ staples. We will get hands on in these tools throughout the session and have some meaningful conversations about dialogue in the classroom!
I'm a technology integration coach at West Aurora SD 129, a K-12 school district in the western Chicago suburbs. Come talk to me about anything #edtech!
Monday December 13, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Schaumburg F
At their heart, road trips are about escaping restrictions. The visible expression of our freedom is that educators can travel anywhere on their journey to improve school culture. We can better understand school culture by visualizing the types of cultures that exist. In this session, you will drive past “Toxic Town,” a cultural setting where negativity overrides improvement. Once you get your motor running, you will head out on the highway and zig zag along “Broken Boulevard,” where self-rule trumps collaboration. Next, you will wind through “Circle City,” looking for adventure in whatever cliques come your way. Yeah darlin’ gonna make it happen, as you wind through the top of “Pressing Peak,” where leaders impose a sense of urgency leaving educators feeling panic versus confidence. Take the world in a love embrace, as you reach your final destination of “Collaborative Canyon,” finding peace in the influence of leadership, community, history, and action while positive school culture awaits.
We know that great feedback and instruction is the MAIN lever that we can utilize in order to get truly great student outcomes. In order to do this, though, we must ensure that we're viewing curriculum, instruction, and assessment from a 20,000 foot interconnected view. This presentation will provide an overview on how you can systematically ensure that you're leveraging each component of CIA (curriculum, instruction, and assessment) to get the best out of each and every student.
Are you looking for ways to integrate strategies that will get your students collaborating and explaining their thought process? If so, come join us! During this session, we will learn and practice various instructional strategies that will get all students involved in making their thinking visible. While implementing these strategies, we will be using various structures to make sure all voices are heard. When you walk out of this session, you will feel confident and ready to bring these strategies back to your students and your team of teachers.
I've learned a lot over the years on how to develop, maintain, and innovate professional development for our teachers. Join me as I walk you through different strategies to develop effective professional development that doesn't have to stink for teachers. Come learn about the different PD programs that Central 301's instructional coach team has curated--from online courses, new teacher training, subscription boxes, PD in your PJs, and more!
Instructional Coach, Central Community Unit School District 301
Former English teacher turned librarian turned instructional coach. No moss gathers on this rolling stone. I consider myself a life-long learner--school is never boring to me whether it's in the classroom, board room, or cabin in the woods--I'm always learning.
Monday December 13, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Imagination
During this session, we will explore the progression of science content and skills as presented in the Next Generation Science Standards as they build from Pre-K forward, and identify activities and strategies to provide students with opportunities to build a strong foundation in science and STEAM.
Senior Curriculum and PD Specialist, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Cassandra Armstrong, a Curriculum and Professional Development Specialist at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry from Michigan State University, and a Masters of Education in Science... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Schaumburg D
Whether you are implementing your first STEAM program or enhancing your science curriculum, a thorough analysis of your "STEAM Health" must be conducted in order to raise achievement for students. Learn how to do this by identifying areas where your district is moving in the right direction and areas where improvement could take place. You will be provided with a tool to gauge your district's "STEAM Health" and given tangible actions that will lead to an engaging and transformative STEAM experiences for all students.
My passion is to create equitable and innovative STEAM programs for underrepresented groups. That is why I founded After the Peanut (ATP). ATP provides professional development, curriculum, tutoring and engaging STEAM programs for educators and students.Follow me @ceonataliecoleman... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Innovation
This past year has introduced students and educators not only to distance and hybrid learning, but to many other words, acronyms, and phrases. SEL, Social and Emotional Learning, is among the top acronyms that many educators have been introduced to, even though it is present in many educators’ classrooms for decades, sometimes without knowing it. This session will explore what SEL is and how it can be incorporated into a classroom as well as strategies for using SEL with EdTech tools.
Holly Kelly is a Regional Educational Technology Coordinator for the Learning Technology Center, East Illinois. She facilitates professional learning opportunities for educators, administrators, and technology staff that support digital teaching and learning. Holly provides onsite... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Epiphany
Bring both sides of the MTSS triangle together to best support student growth. This session will focus on the importance of connecting SEL and academics to avoid curricular silos that are disconnected and disjointed. This session will discuss how social-emotional learning supports academics and how academics support social-emotional learning. Planning and professional development strategies will be shared with participants.
The purpose of this session is to examine the constructs within educational systems that have created racial disparities, disproportionality, and inequalities in special education and to develop and understanding of how to create frameworks and systems to overcome these constructs; with a goal of better meeting the needs of students of color with IEPs and preparing them for post secondary success. After attending this session participants will be able to identify systems which contribute to racial disparities in special education, identify methods to combat disproportionality; understand how to construct resources for their institution, and develop trainings and supports for school professionals to combat racial disparities and inequalities in special education, referral, assessment, and eligibility.
Dr. Diona Lewis is the Director of Special Education at Evanston Township High School. Diona’s passion is for working with students, families, and instructional leaders to provide the best education possible for every student. She works to construct authentic situations for special... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Knowledge
Over the last four years, the Mahomet-Seymour CUSD #3 established a district-wide focus on social emotional learning and supports through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. With the support of University of Illinois Assistant Professor Dr. Kevin Tan, the district has gathered data related to social emotional learning, shared data with staff and adjusted professional development and curriculum based on feedback. As the recipient of a $45,000 Healing IL Grant in 2020, the district, with the support of Dr. Tan and his colleagues, was able to engage parents and the community. Through town halls, individual conversations, parent trainings, and staff development the district was able to continue the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion by adjusting practices, modifying curriculum, and engaging student voices. Dr. Nicole Rummel and Dr. Kevin Tan will share how K-12 administrators can create their own university partnerships to improve student engagement and learning. Presenters will share ideas on how to identify potential areas for study/improvement, how to connect with a university partner, and how to build a sustainable relationship that benefits both the school district and the researcher through a partnership focuses on three key areas: capacity building, reciprocity, and trust.
Asking the right questions leads to thoughtful and meaningful divergent thinking. In this session we'll explore strategies for teaching students to ask questions, engage in meaningful inquiry, and strategies for honoring kids questions in a packed curriculum. This session will be active and hands on!
Inclusion for special education students is not only part of the law, but also one of the best practices to help all students grow. One of the integral portions of an inclusion classroom is to differentiate for our special education students while also trying to teach them independence at the same time? Join us for a look at two Google programs, Google Read and Write and EquatIO, to see how you can help accommodate and differentiate while promoting independence for your students.
David Brannstrom is an instructional coach, with a specialization in special education, in Burlington, Illinois. David began his educational journey in 2004 as a middle school special education case manager and is currently an instructional coach/tech with an emphasis on special education... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 12:00pm - 1:00pm CST
Knowledge
Communication is essential for any relationship. The need for good communication increases significantly when dealing with an entire classroom of students with whom you need to communicate and communicate with each other in a healthy, effective way.
In this workshop, we will be discussing ways to develop and strengthen their communication skills by focusing on interpersonal and group communications. Key topics include verbal and nonverbal communication, listening and giving feedback, written communication, and modeling effective communication in the classroom. You’ll also learn strategies for integrating social media and other modern forms of technology to facilitate open dialogue in your class.
I have been teaching over 14 years, 10 of them in Waukegan. For the past 8 years I have taught 4th grade at Andrew Cooke Magnet Elementary and love it. I have my Bachelors in Education and I also a part of the Waukegan Lighthouse Lead Learners. As a Lead Learner we had the opportunity... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 12:00pm - 1:00pm CST
Schaumburg C
Join us for a session focused on how our district has built a collaborative approach for successful evaluation practices. Learn how to strengthen the evaluation process through ongoing and purposeful professional development for leaders to ensure consistent practices that support the district’s instructional focus. Experience activities that have supported our evaluators’ growth. Connect with colleagues as we share strategies for observing and evaluating all job roles. From the pre-observation conference to having courageous conversations in a post-observation conference, leave with professional development ideas to bring to your leadership team.
Is your Google Drive a mess? Is your students’ Drive even worse? Are files scattered, having to search every time you need access? Google Drive is the heart of G SWorkspace and allows you to store your files securely and access them from any device. Keeping it organized will increase workflow and productivity. In this workshop, you will learn to navigate Google Drive and organize files in a way that makes sense to you. Learn tips and tricks to increase your productivity as well as how to navigate this essential Google tool.
Holly Kelly is a Regional Educational Technology Coordinator for the Learning Technology Center, East Illinois. She facilitates professional learning opportunities for educators, administrators, and technology staff that support digital teaching and learning. Holly provides onsite... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 12:00pm - 1:00pm CST
Epiphany
This presentation will address some common misconceptions surrounding inclusive education. It will focus on strategies for supporting students in all learning environments including general education and specials classes. We will take a deeper look at supporting academics, engaging students, and fostering connections between teachers, peers and content. These supports require communication from all members of students’ teams and specific tools to strengthen collaboration. Strategies will extend beyond the classroom and include supporting families with inclusion strategies to make students more successful in all environments.
The objective of this workshop is to make the connections and show relevance between core academic skills and the application of CTE skills. The workshop is focused on delivering answers to essential questions on how the two intertwine. For example, “What is the importance of a carpenter’s need to be proficient in geometry?” If students are to make these connections, the connections must also be made in the academic curriculum and instruction. Integration of academic skills into Career and Technical Education programs is crucial. Areas of commonality necessitate collaborative planning between core subject teachers and CTE teachers with respect to curriculum, courses of study, and programs of study.
Presenters will share their school’s journey in teaching students seven learner qualities that build learning capacity. Thomas Metcalf School’s goal is to have students in the pit, a place where they struggle with and question new concepts. Applying Nottingham's Learning Pit theory, we encourage students to use learner qualities to educational risks, ask questions, and deepen understanding. Presenters will focus on which learner qualities we teach and why, how we teach and integrate learner qualities, and how it has changed the culture of our school community.
Let's move BEYOND our current practices! In this session, participants will be able to reflect on their current practices for serving our multilingual learners and families through the following lenses: Teacher Mindsets, Academics, SEL, Family Engagement, and Community Connections. What is The Blank Paper Method? Let's chat about TikTok, Bus Stop Outreach, Language Norms, and more! Participants will have the chance to learn about practices to strengthen our relationships with those we serve and support those we serve alongside. Let's move our practices forward!
Multilingual Education Specialist, Illinois Resource Center
Carly Spina has 15 years of experience in Multilingual Education, including her service as an EL teacher, a third-grade bilingual classroom teacher, and a district-wide Multilingual Instructional Coach. She is currently a multilingual education specialist at the Illinois Resource... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 12:00pm - 1:00pm CST
Schaumburg B
Not all questions are created equal. Questioning is a fundamental teaching method, but masterful questioning is essential to accelerate learning and close learning gaps. Participants in this session will review research and practices from Jim Knight, Doug Lemov, Warren Berger and others to learn questioning strategies that promote student inquiry, critical thinking, and student discussion. Instructional coaches, administrators, and peer teachers who attend will be able to support classroom instructors to implement effective questioning practices to increase the cognitive load required of students and achieve academic gains.
Developing teachers as leaders in your school is not optional; it is necessary. Not only will it enrich your school and community culture, but it will also provide a crucial reason for teachers to stay engaged over a long career. How are we defining teacher leadership? What are the important skills that lead to success as a teacher leader? How can administrators create conditions for teachers to lead in their schools and districts? This small group session will engage participants in generative conversation about these questions and identify strategies to leverage teacher leadership in your school improvement efforts.
Jeanne White is the Graduate Program Director for the Teacher Leadership program at Elmhurst University. She has written 3 books for teachers about math education. Her latest book, Busy Little Hands: Math Play!, is for families of 3-5 year olds.
Deb Meyer is a former elementary educator with more than 25 years of experience in teacher preparation. She led the creation of Elmhurst University's teacher leadership program in 2012 and is co-author with Strike and Fitzsimmons of the book, Case Studies in Teacher Leadership.Her... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 12:00pm - 1:00pm CST
Connection
Do you want to implement independent reading time in your classroom? Of course, you do! Can you provide real reading time that matters? Yes, you can! This session will give background knowledge in best practices for independent reading time and ideas to get you started. Let's read!
Over the past year and a half, our school has gone through the same struggles as many other schools have. But, we have continued to sustain a culture of collaboration, growth, and learning. We have watched our students continue to grow at rates that are greater than average, even when compared to pre-pandemic levels. Through this presentation, we will talk through the processes and systems of school improvement that we have leveraged to sustain and thrive throughout this unprecedented time.
In this session, participants will not only have a clear definition of implicit bias, but they will also understand how implicit bias coupled with power and privilege negatively affect student learning outcomes and their sense of belonging.
Technology has expanded our definition of what it means to be literate. In this session we will discuss current research on media and digital literacy, explore the skills we never new we needed to teach, and establish a methodology for ensuring students have ample opportunities to explore a wide variety of literacy skills.
With the research of positive psychologists Martin Seligman, Laurie Santos, and Shawn Achor, we dive into how our mindset can completely shift how we see ourselves and the people around us. Positive brains have a biological advantage over brains that are neutral or negative. Let's apply the research from positive psychology to learn positive habits and principles so we can be more productive not only in our professional lives, but also in our personal lives and beyond.
Is your school in need of a cost-effective, research based intervention program for students with circumstances outside of school that effect performance? At Oregon High School, we have completed over a decade of work in this area and have brought the failure rate down from 273 Fs in 2007-2008 to only seven in 2018-2019. Join us to talk about how to give 9th graders the confidence and mindset that they need to be successful by developing strong relationships and fostering skills that are necessary for high school and beyond. Additionally, in this session we will discuss how we have taken aspects of this model and have launched into a school-wide initiative to close the achievement gap by having more consistent discussions about the students in our building and their performance in a variety of contexts. We will share the strategies and methods we implemented to create a data transparent culture where all members of our staff focus, once a week on systems of support and celebrations.
I am National Board Certified Spanish Teacher at Oregon High School with a passion for teaching Freshmen. In our district, I lead a freshmen team and run an intervention program for students that at-risk of not graduating on time. A role model of mine once said that teachers should... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Imagination
In this session, we will discuss Culturally Responsive Teaching based on Zaretta Hammond's research and teaching practices. The focus will be on the four practice areas of CRT: Awareness, Learning Partnerships, Information Processing and Community Building. Educators will leave this session with resources for immediate implementation and self-reflection.
Learn how D300 has used professional development pipelines to grow teacher leadership in coaching and the PLC process. Learn how we are “building the bench” of future leaders for potential administrative vacancies. We will highlight multiple successful pipelines that transform instructional practice and support the continuous improvement of staff. Attend this session if you want to explore Aspiring Coach, PLC Guiding Coalitions, and Aspiring Administrator pipeline concepts. Attendees will get access to program calendars, sample syllabi, and online resources. If you work in a mid to large sized district, join us as we talk about sustainable educational leadership!
Consider your classroom and students - who is talking more? Are you prompting students to respond to questions, or are your students engaged in true dialogue? Discussion and discourse are considered high yield instructional practices where students are challenged to directly apply and synthesize their learning. During this breakout session participants will explore the power of conversation in learning thru conversation. We will explore how discourse can be used across the curriculum, and leave with new strategies they can employ straight away with their students.
Individuals benefit cognitively, physically, and socially when they play. Individual also benefit cognitively, physically, and socially when they manipulate objects for an art or craft project. However, the benefits received in making something are often not the same benefits received when engaged in play. This workshop showcases some simple educational games and activities that can be made using common everyday items as well as highlights the various cognitive, physical, and social benefits received. By the end of the session each attendee will have experienced firsthand the benefits of playful learning as they create their make-n-play activities. To participate you need to bring your focused attention, problem solving strategies, decision making tools, and creativity. All other materials will be provided.
Your Office365 portal can be used for much more than just checking your email! Learn how to use a sampling of Office365 apps that will streamline your classroom, impact student learning, and improve your workday. Apps that will be included are Sway (a presentation tool similar to Prezi), Forms (surveys and online quizzes), and Teams (a hub for classrooms and groups). OneNote (online portfolio) and its use in conjunction with Microsoft Learning Tools to create a powerful learning experience for learners of all abilities will also behighlighted.
In this session we will explore the impact and importance of identifying priority standards to focus teaching and learning at the district, school, and classroom levels. Tools and resources to facilitate these important conversations and curriculum work will be shared and discussed as part of the session. You will leave the session with an outline for implementation in addition to access to local supports surrounding the prioritization of standards.
Feedback can be a valuable tool in supporting student and teacher growth. Effective feedback can promote an environment of continuous learning and improvement. Formative assessments driven by learning targets generate opportunities to give effective feedback and foster growth.
In this session, participants will investigate different types of feedback and the components needed for it to be effective. Participants will reflect on past feedback strategies they have used and their impact on student (or teacher) learning. A variety of strategies and delivery methods (i.e. verbal, written, or digital) will be shared and practiced in this session. Regardless of your role in education, the key strategies for effective feedback can be applied to students and as well as educators. Feedback provides the opportunity to improve.
Leah Herold is in her 17th year as an educator in Central District #301. This is her seventh year of being an Instructional Coach. Prior to this position, she taught 4th grade for nine years. Leah is a Level 1 & 2 Google Certified Educator. She holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary... Read More →
Gail Stover is in her 21st year as an educator in Central District #301, Burlington, IL. She spent 13 years as a classroom teacher in Kindergarten, Second and Fifth grade. The last eight years Gail has been an Instructional Coach. Prior to moving into education, Gail worked in the... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Schaumburg E18-20 Lisle St London, WC2H 7BA, United Kingdom
Being silly is good for the soul and good for the classroom community. Come learn basic improvisational exercises and games to get your students listening, working together, and building a culture of fun and acceptance.
Hello! I am a special education teacher who loves to utilize improv into the classrooms I service! Get ready to learn some games that you can utilize the next day to build community in your classroom!
Monday December 13, 2021 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Knowledge
The stress of the global pandemic has made it clear that our need to create pathways for healing and connection has never been more critical. If we want to address the enormous achievement gaps that were apparent even before the challenges of our current educational landscape, we must prioritize the health and collective well-being of our staff and students. We cannot simply keep calm and carry on.
This session will teach participants how to lead with compassion by validating experiences and utilizing trauma informed SEL practices to create connected learning communities. Participants will leave inspired and prepared to create the space needed to start a new chapter in their schools.
Kelly specializes in integrating social emotional learning into current systems and practices within the school and district. With experience as a classroom teacher, administrator, and statewide technical assistance coordinator, she is able to provide multiple perspectives when... Read More →
One cannot effectively lead others without first examining self. In this session, participants will examine their identity markers, beliefs, immunity to change and how that immunity to change perpetuates negative stereotypes and maintains deficit mindsets.
In this session Katie will explore the lessons from the 2020-2021 school year and talk about what she and other educators are taking forward, leaving behind, and adjusting moving forward. Participants will have the opportunity to do their own reflecting and visioning as well as share their ideas. Topics will include but not be limited to: Equity, Technology, Social Emotional/Mindfulness, Curriculum Planning, and Instructional Strategies.
Have you noticed your students have become discouraged, alienated, or even intimidated by school? When joy, comfort, spontaneity are part of the classroom, students’ brains effectively process information and enhance long-term memory storage. Come to this session to gain and implement strategies on bringing back the joy in learning!
Decades of research have demonstrated the benefits of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for both teachers and learners. Yet, when do we have time to meditate when we barely have time to go pee? In this workshop Chase Mielke, a mindfulness skeptic-turned-advocate, will share the most important practices and takeaways for embedding MBSR into an educators day. Time will also be carved out to share how he piloted and developed a MBSR class for high schoolers. Learning Outcomes: EQUANIMITY - Learn the critical practices for establishing calm and peace PRACTICALITY - Integrate mindfulness "power moves" into any schedule COMMUNITY - Access a variety of resources to support fellow educators and students with MBSR
Explore how to breakdown Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) into strategies for any school, in any community. See how integrating CRT aligns with the Danielson Framework for Effective Teaching and can improve the climate in your classroom, improve relations among the staff and faculty, and how CRT can improve student achievement.
Director of Professional Development, ROE SchoolWorks
I hail from a family of Illinois educators. My teaching career focused on theater, debate, literature, public speaking, and I LOVED every second of it! Helping youth create a vision for their future and a sense of hope is my passion, but now we focus on instilling that same hope... Read More →
Monday December 13, 2021 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Knowledge
All Aboard! Collect your students from their muster stations and prepare to be the captain of your classroom. The curriculum is set, but classroom management could sink you! Learn to steer the ship around the small discipline issues and stay the course of the curriculum. Anchored by the principle of unconditional positive regard, this session will help you smoothly sail through the days of school and discipline of students. Attendees will walk away from this session with proven classroom management strategies to use the next day.
Micro-credentials have been gaining momentum across the state of Illinois as a “learn by doing” form of professional learning. In this session, you’ll hear how Hinckley-Big Rock CUSD launched a micro-credential-based program during COVID that focused on supporting teachers with implementing blended instruction. You’ll learn about their successes and lessons learned as teachers engaged in this new competency-based program, and how this program supported growth in student achievement during a challenging time. Attendees of this session will leave with a better understanding of what micro-credentials are, how they differ from traditional professional development, and how they can be used to support educator growth and advancement. This will be an interactive session where attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with speakers about their experiences.
Gamification and play can be powerful engagement strategies; we’ve seen it ourselves when our students engage in high stakes games of Blooket. However when combined with rigor and alignment with standards, play and games can be a powerful tool for learning. Plus, when you consider that play and games provide students with authentic opportunities to safely take risks and hone vital social and emotional skills, the practice’s true potential is released. During this session we will explore the power of play for learning at the secondary level, and discuss classroom ready techniques you can use tomorrow with your students.
In this session you will learn how to build a Task Board focusing on a specific learning standard/target using GSuites applications. Learn how this can be a great way to give students voice and choice in the classroom as well as allow them to work at their own pace. A template will be provided to give you an opportunity to build your very own task board. Please come prepared with a device as well as a standard or topic you would like to use to create a Task Board!
OneNote is a digital note-taking application within Microsoft Office 365 that allows for personal productivity and collaboration with teachers, staff, and students. OneNote is a broad digital canvas that allows you to handwrite or type notes, embed images, audio and video, draw, and many other things. You can share notebook pages, sections, or entire notebooks with collaborators and you can access your OneNote notebooks from any device. Learn the features of OneNote, and how to use it with staff, teams, PLCs, as well as with your students.
Research has demonstrated the impact of quality teachers in classrooms. However, a shortage of teachers has made hiring the best more and more of a challenge. This session will provide research on job choice factors for for new teacher graduates as well as tips for targeting recruitment efforts to ease the process of filling vacancies.
Are you looking to start or enhance math workshop in your classroom? Come learn from a Math Content Teacher and a Special Education Teacher on how to prioritize the math practices so that students develop strategies to break down traditional barriers in order to show growth, demonstrate understanding, and tackle challenges. Participants will leave the session with tools to simplify planning including organization guides, basic routines, and ways to incorporate current classroom materials. These tools and strategies, inspired by the ROE 17 Math Curriculum Project, will guide a busy teacher in how to set up a universally designed math workshop system that fosters success, flexibility, and increases engagement for teachers and students.
We are two public elementary school principals who have presented research based approaches for working with students who have experienced trauma. We have presented nationally and even internationally and one constant we've noticed is we all have invisible backpacks that carry our own trauma or secondary trauma when we carry others trauma with us. We will share the effectiveness of our approaches in our public schools as well as take you on a journey to explore and reflect on your own experiences. We will provide information regarding brain development and normal responses to abnormal situations. We will even take you a step further and discuss how the Covid pandemic has impacted our students and provide you with resources for moving forward with your students post Covid.
With students coming to school with many Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and increased exposure to trauma, we find ourselves spending more time on behavior management than teaching. Learn why relationships are crucial to reducing behaviors and reaching your toughest students.
This keynote presentation, entitled Creating a Culture of C.A.R.E., is designed to equip educators to combat the reality of academic underperformance and social disfranchisement that often characterizes the experience of our most marginalized students. Schools and school districts must be intentional about creating cultures of C.A.R.E.: cultures that are Culturally-responsive, Affirming, Respectful, and Empowering. During this keynote, attendees will learn how these pillars help sustain emotionally and intellectually safe spaces that promote equity, excellence, and the success of all students.
Game mechanics and game design hold incredible potential in any classroom. Combine that with visual thinking, drawing, visuals and you have amazing moments and learning experiences filled with amplified learning, strengthened thinking, increased engagement and memorable experiences. Come draw a card, roll the dice and play to learn new ways to infuse your classroom with ideas and tools that will level up any classroom.
6/7/8 Extended Resource Teacher, South Middle School, Arlington Heights, IL
Carrie Baughcum is a mother, wife, mismatch sock wearer, a self described inspiration junkie, learning enthusiast and most of all a passionate believer that all children can learn, we just need to find out how. As a teacher of students who receive supports and services through their... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Schaumburg B
Time management is not the issue. Truly, it is not. Time management is simply a symptom of one of eight larger issues. This talk is infused with humor and will help everyone identify why they may struggle with being as optimizing their efficiency and effectiveness. Participants will leave changed and inspired to make some immediate changes in their habits and lifestyle. But beware - this will be REAL and force you to be vulnerable.
We live in a chaotic, cacophonous world. From news outlets to social media, living situations to our own internal thoughts, it can be difficult to quiet the “noise” and know what to give our attention to. And if you think it’s hard for you, it’s even harder for your students. Join this interactive session to learn about these interferences and get turnkey activities and solutions to combat them using mindfulness, visualization, and intentional listening techniques that will transform your classroom into a place students want to be.
Professional Development Specialist, ROE SchoolWorks
Kaleb Wachala is a Professional Development Specialist for ROE SchoolWorks, a subsidiary of Regional Offices of Education 9 and 54 in central and east central Illinois. He currently coordinates the state-wide, grant-funded IL Career Connections Conference and acts as an instructional... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Schaumburg G
Bring your energy and imagination to this interactive session! Participants will explore multiple free and open source materials and discuss how they can support scaffold instruction for Multilingual Learners (ML) in the high school setting. We will share strategies to help ML high school students connect new concepts to prior experiences and learning. Introduce new concepts by linking them to what ELs already know. Participants will consider how digital tools can support students with learning and using academic vocabulary in academic conversations.
ISBE's Family and Community Engagement Department will present how an Equity Impact Analysis Tool was developed to operationalize and embed equity in the individual, Departmental and Agency-wide work which aligns to ISBE's Strategic Plan and Equity Statement.
Cross-curricular teaching. Interdisciplinary learning. STEAM. Multiple Intelligences. Project-Based Learning. Integrative Learning. Multidisciplinary teaching. Arts Integration. All of these different terms have been prevalent in the education field in recent years: but what do they all mean? In this session the what, why, and how of cross-curricular teaching will be explored. Ideas on how it can be implemented in the classroom will be brainstormed and discussed. The different styles of arts integration will be examined and teachers will get practice in identifying the types and purposes that they might serve. Establishing positive relationships with colleagues is a key element to making this type of teaching work; a fifth grade teacher and a music educator will offer their insights on how cross-curricular teaching has been successful so far and what challenges teachers may face. Session participants will leave knowing what cross-curricular teaching is, why it is important, how it can be a meaningful way to engage learners, tips and ideas for implementing it into their own teaching situation, and how to collaborate with colleagues to create deeper connections for students.
Are you sick and tired of students cheating? How about that one student that does the assignment and "sends it to the group chat"? Presenters will share their motivation for and experiences with "flipping" their math classroom. Participants will have the opportunity to experience a "flipped classroom" as well as learn strategies for implementation, classroom management, and assessment.
If you’re like most educators, you probably love a good routine - a predictable, habitual series of tasks that are done so often they become second-nature. We all know that classroom routines maximize learning time, manage behavior expectations, and create stability and consistency for students. Instructional routines work the same way, but instead of focusing on classroom management, they focus on student learning.
Math instructional routines build a framework for how students think about and approach problem-solving. By putting more emphasis on mathematical thinking and less emphasis on the correct answer, instructional routines develop students’ confidence in themselves as mathematicians. These routines utilize a low-floor, high-ceiling approach that allow all learners to access the mathematical concepts and practices.
In this session, we will explore the benefits of utilizing math instructional routines and learn how to implement them in the classroom. We will explore a variety of math routines, including Number Talks, Choral Counts, Notice & Wonder, Convince Me That, and Which One Doesn’t Belong. These routines require minimal prep time and can be used in your classroom right away. The session will focus on utilizing instructional routines in the elementary math classroom, but the principles and strategies can be utilized in middle school and high school math classrooms as well.
If the thought of using Twitter as an educator leaves you less than enthusiastic, learn some simple steps to have you comfortably joining the Twitterverse in no time. Whether you've never taken the leap, actively hate Twitter and are looking to be convinced, or have an account but simply don't know the best way to utilize it in your professional life, this session will have you rethinking the power of a Tweet in your professional development and classroom.
This session is an interactive approach to creating a language rich experience for all students. The presentation provides an overview of a language rich environment, and embeds best-practice interactive activities throughout the workshop. Activities offer the attendee an experience to feel like an English Learner, while learning effective strategies that can be implemented into content areas.
Have you thought about implementing standards-based grading (SBG) in your high school science classroom but aren’t sure where to start? Maybe your experience has been like ours. You have attended talks about SBG but left feeling you were not any closer to implementation—you wanted to see an example of how it is actually done. We are two high school science teachers that decided that since 2020-2021 was already a crazy year, why not just jump in and try SBG with our chemistry course? In our presentation, we will take you along on our journey of executing SBG for the first time. We will share the specifics of our experience, including our struggles, mistakes and successes. Our goal is to provide you with a concrete example of SBG in a high school setting that can be used to start your own path forward.
In this interactive session, explore how to design a curriculum to empower students to be responsible, participatory, and justice-oriented members of their community. Walk away with strategies to promote student voice for agency, action, and advocacy that helps students be wise consumers AND producers of information.
Successful schools engage in continuous school improvement processes. After participating in the LEAD Grant cohort, Stark County Elementary has elevated their positive school culture to one that centers around an inquiry-based school improvement process known as Cycles of Inquiry. Stark County Elementary is excited to present how, through distributed leadership, their Instructional Learning Team has focused on addressing student learning by changing teachers' instructional practices to meet the needs of ALL students. The process includes a deep dive into both academic and instructional data, the use of research to identify and adopt best practices, and a well constructed adult learning plan. School Improvement, when done within a trusted culture of inquiry, has proven to produce positive results seen throughout the entire Stark County Elementary School. Big changes have occurred in math, reading, and writing instruction that have and continue to produce positive outcomes for students and teachers. A look at the school improvement process and the instructional changes made at Stark County will be shared through the lens of how and why.
Our classrooms are jam-packed full of tools and opportunities waiting for us to use to develop and enhance our students' visual thinking skills. This hands-on, create to connect and doodle to learn session will have you imagining learning, experiencing visual thinking and creating ways to combine classroom supplies with meaningful visual experiences to bring out the best in your teaching and student’s learning.
6/7/8 Extended Resource Teacher, South Middle School, Arlington Heights, IL
Carrie Baughcum is a mother, wife, mismatch sock wearer, a self described inspiration junkie, learning enthusiast and most of all a passionate believer that all children can learn, we just need to find out how. As a teacher of students who receive supports and services through their... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Schaumburg B
First coined in the early late 1980s “cultural responsiveness” is a phrase that has become part of the educational lexicon but not a part of the fabric of educational practice. Seen as the antidote to the hyper marginalization of students of color and growing achievement disparities that plague our schools few understand what culturally responsive leadership looks like in practice. This session will address the following questions: • What is culturally responsive leadership and why is it necessary? • What do culturally responsive school leaders believe? • What do culturally responsive school leaders do?
Instructional coaching plays a pivotal role in facilitating effective instruction, teacher reflection, and student achievement. Whether you have a veteran program, a newly initiated one, or simply hoping to apply coaching principles within your building, this session will have something for you. Cultivating a climate of coaching in a district lays the foundation to building a meaningful program. This session will focus on the importance of building relationships with teachers and administrators when implementing a purposeful coaching program. We will also share our path to building our own program within our district; touching on how a positive culture of coaching fosters the connection between student growth and teacher efficacy.
Games in the classroom allow for real interaction between students and with the course content. They help develop relationships and are also great forms of quick formative assessment. But sometimes you just don't know where to start or what to do to adapt games for classroom usage. Participants will have time to actually interact with board games and then begin their own adaptations that can be used the next day! There are no content or grade limits when it comes to incorporating game based learning in the classroom. Participants will leave this transformative session feeling empowered to bring games to their students.
Ditch the screen and get up and move! Join us for an engaging and interactive session as we close our devices and step away from the screen. All of the lessons and activities revolve around movement that can be quickly implemented in classrooms from preschool to high school.
I (along with Ashlee Geiss who will also be presenting with me) are instructional coaches at Morris Grade School in Morris, IL. We are completing our third year in these positions and before we were both classroom teachers for about ten years. Along with our daily responsibilities... Read More →
I am an instructional coach at Morris Grade School in Morris, Illinois! My coworker Molly Kaminski and I are excited to present! We are completing our third year in these IC positions, while both being classroom teachers for about ten years prior. Along with our daily responsibilities... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Schaumburg H
A vast majority of students will complete their schooling without ever being touched by peer violence. Nevertheless, recent school attacks carried out by students have shaken the image of schools as reliable, safe, and secure environments. Learn how Cary School District 26 created teams for assessing and responding to potential and real violent behavior and threats.
We need our students to be active and engaged in meaningful practice activities in our socially distanced classrooms. Come prepared to play our favorite card and dice games that will you rebuild the gaps and address the learning losses after a year of interrupted instruction. Concepts covered include whole number, decimal and fraction place value, operational fluency and more. Ideas for differentiating the activities, assessment and journals will be shared throughout. Activities can be used first thing Monday morning, gameboards will be provided.
John has presented at many provincial, national, and international conferences. His presentations provide insights and strategies along with a healthy dose of humor. Participants expressed "There were a lot of great activities to bring back to my class." Attend his sessions and see... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Connection
In this session, we will explore how the 8 Mathematical Practices and NCTM’s Teaching Practices can provide math coaches with a solid foundation for goal-setting in a coaching cycle. We will not only explore these practices in detail, but we will dive into strategies that coaches can utilize right away with math teachers, either individually or as a team to improve student learning in mathematics.
Come and hear one district’s story of creating and sustaining a sense of belonging through unique professional learning opportunities. West Aurora SD129 recognizes and values our teachers’ desire to further their learning while acknowledging that learning happens in a variety of ways.
From induction to retirement, West Aurora University is a commitment to our professional staff to engage in conversation and shift professional learning from passive to active- the same type of learning we expect to occur within the walls of our classroom. The power lies in our ability to learn from one another.
In this session, participants will walk away with new ideas to complement your current professional development structure.
Director of Instructional Technology, West Aurora School District 129
I taught in West Aurora School District 129 for 17 years at the elementary level. I was a part of my district's tech pilot for three years with a 1:1 iPad classroom, and I am now the Director of Instructional Technology. I love providing tech PD and support to the teachers and staff... Read More →
After earning my degree from Illinois State University, I chose to return to my hometown district. Now, I'm proud to celebrate my 31st year with West Aurora District 129! Starting as an elementary special education teacher, I concluded my classroom journey in a first-grade setting... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Schaumburg E18-20 Lisle St London, WC2H 7BA, United Kingdom
Reading. The pivotal piece of the educational puzzle. Reading strategies are essential for all content and disciplinary areas of school and in life. Some students seem to master the “Art of Reading” at a young age and make it look easy, while others take more time and struggle to find the ease other students found. This session will focus on a reading approach that will work for ALL students to help give them the tools and practice to be a successful reader. This is not a curriculum, it will work with all types of reading and has a special penchant for non-fiction! The teachers that worked with this in our district, saw an increase of reading confidence and gains for the students. While this can work for subject areas, instructionally it is better instructed during an ELA class. Come see how you can incorporate this approach into your current classroom environment.
Kim Paulus, Ed.D. is an experienced Instructional Coach, teacher and presenter employed at Central 301 in the Chicago Suburbs. She spent 27 years in the middle school classroom and is in her 6th year as an Instructional Coach. Kim is a strong believer in the power of a Growth Mindset... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Schaumburg C
STOP TEACHING GRAMMAR and START TEACHING WHAT WRITERS DO! This workshop focuses on how writers tell readers exactly what to do. By reading a text like a writer, students are able to identify the conscious choices that writers make to create a specific effect for the reader. We will explore beyond a writer’s purpose and learn how to write just as well, if not better, than our favorite authors. This workshop is curated using the common core language standards that will help teachers design, implement, and assess authentic grammar instruction. At the end of this workshop teachers will be able to do the following: create engaging and authentic grammar lessons, facilitate activities that allow students to play with language and draw conclusions about a writer’s purpose, and be able to provide students various opportunities to demonstrate the skills in authentic writing practices.
In this session, participants will walk through a high-level overview of the revised social science learning standards. We will unpack the shifts in the inquiry cycle and identify ways to implement the revised standards. Participants can expect to walk away with an understanding of the revisions and practical ways to implement the revisions in their curriculum.
Our principals have been involved with the Team LEAD Federal Grant that focuses on principal professional development, principal coaching and implementation of a continuous improvement process. The entire district has worked to embed the cycles of inquiry work within each building. This process relies heavily on teacher leader voice as they work to identify the learning problem the building will focus on, determine what data to collect to show progress with the learning problem, and help to develop and deliver staff professional development that supports implementation of instructional strategies that will positively impact the identified learning problem. This process has changed the way the Olympia District does school improvement to make it more meaningful and impactful for staff and ultimately students.
Who doesn’t want to function in the top 10%? But what is the equation to get there? No matter the content area, the math is the same, support the whole child + close the gap = students achieve at the top 10% nationally. Sounds simple, right? It really is, no fancy program needed, just best practice with simple systems and structures.
Evaluation is among the lowest Return-on-Investment things we do in school. BUT - it does not have to be. This presentation goes through many both practical and philosophical shifts needed to move this practice from mundane to transformational.
After an on-going battle with COVID-19, school systems across the country have been in survival mode; all while school leaders grapple with how to address inequities that have been exacerbated. How do we re-cover, re-imagine, and re-design for Equity? In this session with Dr. Victoria Hansen, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction and Carita Sampson, BEA President you will learn how to pivot, leverage leadership and how to create BOLD and audacious goals, with Equity and student success, TOP of Mind!
Experience how the Belvidere School District is using new standards-based grading and scheduling practices in their high schools to provide students time to continue their learning as they progress into a student-centered learning environment.
All teachers are civics teachers. We all send messages to students around, power, justice, and equity with the norms we employ, the curriculum we curate, and the way we engage student’s voices in addressing essential questions across the curriculum. Should teachers disclose their opinions to students? Engage in a Structured Academic Controversy with colleagues to make an informed choice for your classroom and experience best practices in facilitating student to student deliberations in remote, hybrid, or traditional classrooms. Appropriate for grades 6-12.
STEAM learning. It can be messy, loud and, if done properly, will increase student engagement and knowledge. In this session we will discuss some of the skills that are essential to successfully implement STEAM lessons and activities. We will then explore some activities designed to build those skills. These activities are short, easy to apply, and fun.
Kerri is a licensed K-9 teacher who has worked in schools for the past 26 years in many capacities. She is currently a STEAM Educator who is part of a team that writes STEAM and Project/Problem Based Learning curricular resources for NIU STEAM, Migrant Education Program of Illinois... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 12:00pm - 1:00pm CST
Schaumburg E18-20 Lisle St London, WC2H 7BA, United Kingdom
Teachers’ expectations matter. A LOT. In fact, it has one of the highest effect-size on student achievement. As districts use scores for comparison, we need to look at what has the most impact on student achievement and focus on the top contenders. Taking a look at areas where we can do better will allow us to be a better educator in an antiquated school system. What happens to students when teachers don’t have high expectations? What happens when we have labels? What does having high expectations really mean? This session will briefly look at Hattie’s research and then look at 3 areas: The Individual, The Classroom and The School to give some concrete, research-based recommendations that teachers and administrators can use to raise student achievement in their schools.
Kim Paulus, Ed.D. is an experienced Instructional Coach, teacher and presenter employed at Central 301 in the Chicago Suburbs. She spent 27 years in the middle school classroom and is in her 6th year as an Instructional Coach. Kim is a strong believer in the power of a Growth Mindset... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 12:00pm - 1:00pm CST
Schaumburg C
As a standards-referenced reporting school, standards are at the root of instruction and grading at our high-performing Prairie Hill School District. But using the standards to guide instruction, help students understand their own learning journey, and report on student understanding can be a complex process. By their very nature, academic standards tend to be wordy and full of academic vocabulary that isn't easily accessible to students. The answer? Learning targets! Learn how to utilize learning targets to navigate the complex world of standards-referenced instruction and grading. This session will focus on the important work of unpacking standards and using that process to create student-friendly rubrics, carefully constructed instruction and intervention opportunities, and quality assessments. Best of all, the effective use of learning targets can be used to leverage student ownership of their learning. You'll leave with a profound understanding of how learning targets can streamline the learning process and unlock the mystery of standards-based instruction and rubrics.
Join Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s Reading Department Chair Lauren Freeman, along with Nick Anello, Interim Social Science Chair to learn how H-F takes action in response to supporting students’ literacy skills and ensuring students access on grade-level materials with proper supports.Gain insight into preventions, interventions, extension, and enrichment opportunities that have become a daily practice in our pilot program with two co-taught world history classes cohorted with a supportive reading class. Learn how every student is provided with differentiated time and support, how assessment is used to inform instruction, how preventative measures are incorporated throughout Tier 1 instruction, and Tier 2 interventions and extensions are managed to ensure students do not miss new learning.
This hands-on math games session will focus on strategies for Middle Years math, ideas you can use to help your students "catch up" on some of the concepts they should already mastered, but haven't. Games and activities will incorporate the use of easy to find cards and dice, and will help with rebuilding the following concepts: mixed operations and order of operations, operations with fractions, beginning algebra. Ideas for differentiating the activities, assessment, and math journals will be shared throughout. Engaging students in fun, purposeful practice will help you close the gaps. You can use these student favorites first thing Monday morning, gameboards will be shared, be ready to play!
John has presented at many provincial, national, and international conferences. His presentations provide insights and strategies along with a healthy dose of humor. Participants expressed "There were a lot of great activities to bring back to my class." Attend his sessions and see... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 12:00pm - 1:00pm CST
Connection
Content writing can be difficult and responding to multiple texts and media is even more difficult. We will take a dive into a research simulation task to better understand the skills students need to develop in order to analyze and synthesize multiple texts and write coherent logical responses. We will also discuss instructional strategies and tech tools students can use to make this process easier online.
This session will include an overview of the process of redefining our vision and calibrating our focus areas and goals for our district, which is made up of three large high schools and a small therapeutic day school. We will share some of the specific systems and practices that have been implemented as a result of this process, as well as a variety of data sources we are using to establish our baseline and monitor progress. We envision everything we do in our five focus areas (Equity, Social Emotional Learning and Behavior, Integrated Career Services, High Impact Instruction, and Competency Based Education) to be driven by our Adult Learning Systems and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support.
Jill Geocaris is currently the Director of Adult Learning Coordinator at Maine Township High School District 207 in Park Ridge, IL. In that role she also serves as the Director of the Chicago Coaching Center. She was previously the Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning... Read More →
There’s an incredible learner in each of us. An inner voice, an ultimate learner, an unwavering cheerleader, a fearless risk taker...it is our Learning Mascot! A single, self created doodle that empowers us to draw, enhances our visual thinking, supports positive mindset and improves our learning. This hands on, create and use session will have you connecting with your own learning mascot and learning the power they have to do incredible things for students in every classroom.
6/7/8 Extended Resource Teacher, South Middle School, Arlington Heights, IL
Carrie Baughcum is a mother, wife, mismatch sock wearer, a self described inspiration junkie, learning enthusiast and most of all a passionate believer that all children can learn, we just need to find out how. As a teacher of students who receive supports and services through their... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Schaumburg B
This motivational and thought-provoking speech challenges educators to begin leading change in their own lives, classrooms, and schools immediately. The presentation hits on several practical changes that can be made immediately and also presents several paradigms that must be internally challenged in order to create long-term personal and organizational change and growth. Start right now and make a difference.
If we want to improve the academic outcomes of our students we must be intentional about improving the learning experiences of the adults who teach them. Historically, school improvement efforts have been centered on “fixing” children rather than improving the practices of the teachers responsible for their learning. In this session, we will discuss how to leverage high quality feedback as a tool of adult capacity building and school improvement.
Cultivating school community begins with building relationships. Learn ways to lay a foundation of care, trust, and empathy in your classroom and school. We will provide strategies on how to make connections and increase engagement - student to student, teacher to student, and teacher to teacher. Planting these seeds is the first step to growing a stronger classroom and school community which in turn will blossom into higher student achievement.
This session leads administrators through the process of both selecting an instructional coaching model and evaluating the model for successful implementation aligned to school/district goals. We will visit key indicators for success including building relationships and creating a culture to support coaching. We will dive into resources designed to evaluate the selected model for effectiveness. If your in the beginning stages of starting an instructional coaching program in your district or simply need a few fresh ideas, this session is for you!
Are you looking for strategies to improve student focus, supplement class instruction, and boost test scores? This session offers COVID-friendly instructional tips for incorporating physical activity into the classroom. Learn how to integrate brain breaks and energize your classroom.
Learn how to enhance your classroom practice of engaging students in civil discourse face to face or at a distance. Learn how to curate the right question, prompt, and strategy to meet your learning targets. Walk away with new ideas and tools to enhance your current practice aligned with standards and the Educating for American Democracy Pedagogy Companion.
Pivot! Has COVID-19 caused you to throw your traditional professional development plans out the window? Come to our session to see how we re-imagined our roles and resources for supporting teachers in their new digital world. Our strategies can help you move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to an multi-tiered approach that has the potential to permanently change how you view and implement professional development. Our presentation will highlight on-demand PD, onboarding of new teachers, gamification of PD, and more.
Objective: Identifying strategies that will support African American male students in a school setting.To bring attention to the achievement and discipline gaps that exists for African American male students. Reshape societal views of African American male students.
The image of African American boys in our society is not positive. Stigmas and preconceived notions lay the foundation of who they are in all facets of life, including education.
Significant research over the last 10 years on African American male students in U.S. schools revealed they are underrepresented in every positive measure of educational success and overrepresented in every negative measure (Brinkley et al., 2018)
Whether the reason is conscious or subconscious, African American male students are treated differently in school settings. Black male students in schools have traditionally been misinterpreted and mistaken, and are often victims of stereotyping and intolerance. (Noguera, 2008).
In this session, we will take a deeper dive into the components of guided math including lesson planning, student groupings, performance indicators and data. Guided math is an effective way to differentiate student needs. Our deeper dive into guided math will support teachers in lesson planning that will provide the tools needed for student proficiency. We will dive into effectively using data to create student groups, provide resources for centers and student choice, and ways to assess student learning. This session will be interactive and hands-on with ready to use resources.
After a year of interrupted teaching, learning loss and gaps, now more than ever, we need our students to be engaged in meaningful hands-on games and activities with manipulatives that intrigue and capture their attention. In this workshop you will learn how to use simple cards and dice, socially distancing the games to teach and rebuild the following concepts: subitizing, number sense , early operational fluency strategies including count on/back, doubles, make 10 and more. This basic games workshop will help you rebuild Kindergarten concepts that lay the foundation for success in primary operations and place value. Come prepared to play - gameboards provided.
Jane has spoken for years at the Palliser Teacher's Convention. She has over 30 +years of teaching and consulting experience across North America. She is the author of Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks - award winning math and literacy game resources. She is passionate about engaging all... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Connection
Remote learning has not only flipped the education world upside down, but has also thrown families for a loop over the past year. Many parents and caregivers feel overwhelmed and under supported and, on the flip side, school districts are struggling to create resources to fill the needs of their families. The SPARK program (Supporting Parents and Remote Kids) is here to help fill that void by providing free resources and supports for schools and families participating in remote and hybrid learning. Learn how schools and districts can leverage SPARK resources to empower their families to not just survive remote learning, but thrive during it!
Are you stressed? Do you have too much on your plate? Welcome to being a teacher in 2021! This course will help you and your students slow down, build focus, be present, and express gratitude while taking care of the whole body. You and your students will begin a practice that can be used daily. Many teachers think, “I do not have time for one more thing!” Find out how to enhance what you are already doing in your classroom and incorporate mindful practices into your routines. It’s a busy world! Let’s be mindful and share this kindness with our students.
This session is designed to illustrate, through experiential learning and discussion, how staff and/or students can empower themselves by accepting responsibility for one's own success, whether it be succeeding on the job, making the most of one's own education or living a healthy life through rational thinking. We will explore social/emotional learning through the lens of Albert Ellis' Rational Emotive Behavioral Theory (REBT).
Everyday in our classes, there are opportunities for our students to show us skills and knowledge we didn't know they had while empowering them to engage in new experiences and learning they didn't know they could. This experience filled session will have you thinking of lessons and time in your classroom differently, planning ways to incorporate choice into each day/week and creating opportunities for your classroom so you can drop everything and create tomorrow.
6/7/8 Extended Resource Teacher, South Middle School, Arlington Heights, IL
Carrie Baughcum is a mother, wife, mismatch sock wearer, a self described inspiration junkie, learning enthusiast and most of all a passionate believer that all children can learn, we just need to find out how. As a teacher of students who receive supports and services through their... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Schaumburg B
There is no obstacle too big for a school with an outstanding culture to overcome. There is no obstacle too small to derail a school with a toxic culture. This presentation helps EVERY educator understand their role in transforming their school culture and ensuring the best possible environment for all students, staff, and administration.
In this session, we will unpack the “C” of the Culture of C.A.R.E. This session, grounded in large part on the early work of Gloria Ladson Billings will examine what cultural responsiveness is and equally important, what it isn’t. At the conclusion of this session, participants will have a deeper understanding of how to operationalize cultural responsiveness in their schools and classrooms. The newly released “Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards” will be used to advance deeper understandings.
Student-centered deliberations and inquiry are at the core of emerging learning standards that span the curriculum. Learn research-based best practices in creating a safe environment for student participation in addressing the most essential questions facing our communities, in person or at a distance. Walk away with free resources and tools to enhance your current practice.
Beginning in elementary and continuing through high school, our district has focused on conversations about options for students after graduation. As part of our Capstone Project, every student who graduates leaves with a plan for their future.
The "Modern Classrooms Project" is a research-backed program that uses blended instruction, a self-paced structure, and a mastery-based grading approach to empower students to reach high levels of success in any classroom. During this session you will learn about and see examples of how to set up and organize a self-paced student classroom. While all grade levels can implement this approach, the examples in this session will be from middle school science and social studies. These examples can be easily tweaked to fit any grade or subject.
You think you're ready to gamify, but you just can't seem to take the leap. Now is the perfect time to jump in. Gamify your classroom and watch the engagement and interaction between your students and the skills being learned intensify, including enhancing students' meaningful interaction with technology such as Google Sites, Flipgrid, and even Twitter. Experience how easy it is to add game elements into your classroom and to make small changes that make a big difference. Themes, items, mini games - participants will leave with ideas to start the school year off in a gamified classroom of their creation.
In a PD rut? Want to up your game with your presentations and Google templates? Join us for a session focused on new, interactive, and engaging platforms that will not only enhance your professional development presentations, but will leave your participants wanting to embed them into their own classrooms! We will provide a variety of tools to use in any environment. If your presentations need a tech refresh, this session is for you!
Are you presenting materials in a way that students can comprehend, or are you adding to their cognitive overload? This session will introduce you to best practices in design principles to keep your audience engaged and learning.
Participants will learn how to set up a system to address learning gaps using standards-based learning progressions. This process connects standards-based curriculum, instruction, and assessment to support students who have developed gaps. Two districts will share how they utiiize learning progressions in their settings.
Educational Consultant, Carroll University & McKendree University
I enjoy supporting school districts to improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices through systemic innovations. By collaborating with teacher and district leaders, I facilitate program evaluation and implementation in such areas as assessment literacy, learning progressions... Read More →
How do you plan for a math task? Part of ensuring our students develop a conceptual understanding is allowing them flexibility & choice when solving... but how do you even plan for that? In this session we will dive into the multiplication models from concrete to symbolic to help you plan for math tasks. We will collaborate on ways to use these models to plan rigorous and supportive math tasks that address the standards at your elementary grade level. You will leave with strategies for analyzing student work, a trajectory of multiplication models, and planning tools.
Mona is a math coach, teacher of 15 years, and founder of Chicago Math Group. As a former math avoider, Mona found a passion for teaching math through word problems & math discussions and now empowers others to do the same. Through virtual and school based collaborative coaching... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Schaumburg C
Regular spotted dice are one of the most versatile, easy to use and socially distance manipulatives to use in your math program. In this workshop you will play and engage in many activities that use math shakers, and you will learn how to adapt this manipulative for daily practice in your classroom. Come prepared to play, shake break to music, and move while practicing the following concepts: addition, multiplication, place value to 100, to 1,000 and beyond, number patterns, commutative and associative properties of addition/multiplication, mental math strategies, make 10, 20 and decades. Participants will receive gameboards, and ideas for adapting and differentiating the practice to help rebuild the gaps that students have after a year of interrupted instruction. Activities can be used throughout the day to provide both a "brain break" and math practice.
Jane has spoken for years at the Palliser Teacher's Convention. She has over 30 +years of teaching and consulting experience across North America. She is the author of Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks - award winning math and literacy game resources. She is passionate about engaging all... Read More →
Tuesday December 14, 2021 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Connection
McKinney-Vento students can easily fall through the cracks at a school. What are you doing to prevent that from happening? These students deserve every option for educational success. It is a district wide responsibility. Come prepared to share what is working in your district and areas that you would like to do better.
Let's learn how to make our challenging students change their attitude towards their teachers from ENEMY to ALLY! As a result of attending this workshop and engaging in group work, discussion and hands-on activities, participants will be able to employ strategies necessary to build meaningful relationships with challenging students. Participants will also be able to decode the true meaning of behavior in order to prescribe the correct intervention to assist students in being socially and academically successful in the school environment.
Educational Consultant / Former Principal, DPCP Corporation
Dr. Don Parker is a former principal and is now a highly sought-after speaker and professional development provider. He was the principal of Posen Intermediate School in Posen-Robbins School District 143.5 in Posen, Illinois. Previously, he was the principal of Lincoln Avenue School... Read More →
