Events

This is an active workshop where participants will learn a variety of strategies for teaching content-specific language and writing, practicing incorporating them into lesson plans as Bell-Starters/Do-Nows, comprehension checks, and exit slips. Participants will work in groups to share, offer feedback, and make suggestions. Come prepared with a few lesson plans and expect to leave…

Engaging adolescent students in the learning process is essential for creating an effective educational environment. In this session, educators will explore innovative strategies and practical techniques to cultivate student engagement in their classrooms. Designed specifically for junior high and high school educators, this session delves into the unique challenges and opportunities of engaging adolescents in…

Join Erica Kirlin, ROE #1 SEL Coach, for an introduction and overview of the strategies in The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind by Dan Siegel, M.D., and Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D. Erica will outline the highlights and provide you with strategies for handling tantrums, meltdowns, aggression, and many other…

Whether it’s a chapter book you read together over time, or a picture book you start and finish in one session, interactive read alouds support all levels of literacy development, increase motivation and engagement, and lead to deeper and more meaningful understanding. The Commission on Reading said, “the single most important activity for building knowledge…

The Community Action Poverty Simulation breaks down stereotypes by allowing participants to step into the real life situations of others. Poverty is often portrayed as a stand alone issue - but this simulation allows individuals to walk a month in the shoes of someone who is facing poverty and realize how complex and interconnected issues…

Join us for this introduction to the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan. This plan was developed to ensure that every child in Illinois receives high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction. This session will give you a basic understanding of the plan’s goals, values, and components. This session is designed for ALL Illinois educators and administrators! Registration closes on:…

This session is about the most important person: the adult. The purpose of this session is to help educators understand the importance of self-awareness and the impact they themselves can have when working with children, and families, who have experienced trauma and disrupted attachment relationships. This session will encourage educators to reflect on their ability…

A humanizing approach to educating youth considers opportunities for students to process and heal from individual and collective traumas by telling their story. Research suggests that expressive writing has demonstrated benefits such as decreased stress and depression as well as an increase in resilience. When given multiple entry points to discussing and processing mentally and…

We will discuss the value of integrating struggle into the math classroom. Several activities will be provided that can introduce struggle across all grade levels, in a way that encourages student engagement without the negative feelings associated with "struggling".  Registration closes on June 4, 2024

Punk rock teaching is coloring outside of the lines (maybe even outside of the coloring book). It rejects the sage-on-the-stage approach of instruction where the teacher drones on as rows of bored students with glazed eyes stare into space. Just like punk rock music--rebellious, authentic, and a creative reaction to the status quo--punk rock teaching…

This is a look into self-care from the perspective of an administrator at a wonderful school, husband to an amazing wife, and father of four fantastic children. Dealing with the daily needs put on you by your job, spouse, and children - where is the time for YOU?  How can you make time for yourself?…

Assessment is part of our everyday experience, several times each and every day. Assessment also serves as vital means for gauging student learning, guiding instructional strategies, and ultimately, fostering academic growth. However, designing assessments that are rigorous, reliable and fair can be a challenging task for educators, particularly in the course of the curriculum in…

This introduction to suicide prevention is a community-based presentation that covers the general scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight suicide. This 60 minute education program provides participants with a clear understanding of this leading cause of death, including the most up-to-date research on suicide prevention, and what…

Every letter of the Social Emotional Alphabet represents a practical & powerful strategy to help our kids who have been traumatized, feel misunderstood or take frequent detours from what’s expected. Leave with more than 26 SEL strategies to build relationships with every child regardless of behavior.  Gain perspective on self-regulation & self-care, used to guide…

This workshop presents strategies and activities that can be added to any content’s lesson plans to differentiate content, process, and product. In addition, scaffolding techniques and advice on how to pull it away will be shared. Participants will use their own lesson plans to adapt during the workshop and leave with a file full of…

Do you dream of a classroom filled with laughter, engagement, and respect? This professional development focuses on the power of building strong relationships and using humor to create a positive learning environment. Beyond Discipline is perfect for educators who want to create a more joyful and engaging classroom experience, believe in the power of positive…

Restorative practices are often misunderstood! Often, practitioners have no idea how to utilize them effectively to dramatically impact school culture and help them meet their students' increasing social and emotional needs. Through research and practice, Dr. Scott Adreon, a school administrator for the past 26 years, has streamlined the learning process for teachers, support staff,…

In this workshop we will discuss the frustrations elementary teachers sometimes face when trying to teach science concepts. Activities will be provided based on teacher interest and input given prior to the session. Let's find teacher friendly ways of bringing the "Ooh" and "Awe" factor to science education. When you receive your email confirmation upon…

In this exciting and interactive workshop you will explore the brain science related to childhood adversity, understand the circumstances that impact the stress response system, practice brain-friendly regulatory strategies, and how you can create an optimal learning environment for your students.  As an added bonus you will leave with a Regulation Toolbox full of classroom…

Blooket! Nearpod! Freckle! What do all those words have in common? They are just a sampling of the free websites available to use with your students to increase engagement and excitement in your classroom. This workshop will help you discover some of the many free internet resources available! You will have time to explore different…

This was previously advertised for June 17. We apologize for the inconvenience. When students make predictions about the plot and characters of a text prior to reading, it increases their comprehension and engagement with the text. While this is a common practice in elementary reading, it is no less valuable in the middle and upper…

Learn how to foster relationships and develop a positive learning climate for your students. This workshop will cover how to set up a consistent and calm environment by developing sustainable routines, scripted interventions, and using restorative approaches. This is great for new teachers, and seasoned teachers who would like to learn new tips and be…

Do you wonder why your students are doing the things they do? Do you wish you could have a peek inside your student’s brains to see why behaviors are happening? Through this study you will learn how to teach and reach your students using Dr. Perry’s Brain Model and research. Registration for this book study…

Join Tracy to learn more about the transformative potential of children's literature in promoting SEL competencies and cultivating well-rounded learners. Participants will learn how to lead interactive discussions and create hands-on activities with their favorite children’s books. They will discover how carefully selected books can serve as powerful tools for teaching emotional intelligence, empathy, conflict…

This session will walk participants through engaging and effective cooperative learning structures for any K-12 classroom. These student engagement structures can easily be applied to any grade level and content area. Participants will have a chance to practice the models and reflect on how it can be transferred to their specific content area. Paid for…

We all have cultural expectations and biases on worldviews and life experiences. Through open dialogue and personal reflection, we will define key terms such as microaggressions, prejudice, and bias. Together, we will deconstruct root causes, intent, and perceptions of microaggressions. Practical strategies will be shared to change the narrative of minoritized students, and tools will…

Canva offers educators free accounts that can be used in a variety of ways. Learn how to use Canva to make class newsletters, classroom forms, presentations, email signatures, and much more. The only limit is your own creativity! Registration closes on June 17, 2024.

Unlock the world of reading for your students! Systematic phonics instruction is the key to building a strong foundation in reading skills. This workshop equips educators with practical strategies to integrate phonics effectively. Participants will gain a solid understanding of how to ensure students master the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters or letter…

Join Sonya Pacey to learn how to cultivate a classroom community where people feel welcomed, valued and empowered. Identity affirming classroom and inclusive and healing practices will be defined. Strategies for how to infuse these ideas into your daily practices and habits will be presented. Funded by the Area 3 SEL Hub

Why should we address vocabulary with elementary children? In this session we will take a look at what vocabulary instruction is typically happening in schools and why we should do more. We will also discuss what research-based instruction should look like in elementary school. This session is based on the book "Vocabulary Development Across the…

Are you curious how some teachers have classrooms that run on their own?  This PD will equip educators with the skills to build a well-managed classroom environment that fosters learning and student success. We will focus on the power of consistency and clearly defined expectations in creating a predictable and productive space for all students.…

This session will explore ways to support readers who struggle to self-monitor. We will discuss the following questions: How do readers who struggle differ from more proficient readers? How do you define self-monitoring for readers who struggle? How do you respond when a child makes an error while reading text? How does your response relate…

Classroom disruptions can be a challenge for even the most experienced educators. But with the right tools and strategies, you can minimize or even prevent disruptions to create a more positive and productive learning environment for ALL students. This workshop is ideal for educators of all grade levels. Whether you are a new teacher or…

This workshop will discuss the research behind effective high frequency word instruction and what that means for you and your students! You will leave this session with proven and practical procedures you can implement with your students immediately. Registration closes on June 26, 2024.