Active AVID: How to Bring WICOR into the Gym
Have you ever wondered how to bring AVID into a non-traditional classroom? This presentation will give you various ideas to incorporate AVID and WICOR into your setting. (From note-taking to reviewing for tests). We are not experts but we have found strategies that work for our students. This presentation will focus on Physical Education/Health but could be a resource for elective classes or anyone with a large space.
Presenter: Valerie Kelley, Orban Ramos, Zach Stout
Bingham Middle School
Room: 154
Authentically Pronouncing Latinx Student Names
Are you an English-only speaking teacher who struggles with pronouncing the names of your Latinx students? Have you struggled through roll call the first day of school and been unsure how to address these students in a culturally sensitive and affirming way? This session is for you!
Participants in our session will come away having a better sense of how to more authentically pronounce spanish-sounding names and how to ask for guidance from a student in pronouncing their name correctly. We will discuss easy to remember pointers in how Latinx names may sound different than other names on the roster. We will also learn some of why pronouncing these names is important as we try to accept and affirm each student's identity and cultural background.
As a trained singer, Jon has years of experience teaching diction in many languages. As a bilingual educator, Selene has a unique perspective on how pronouncing names properly can impact students' sense of identity in the classroom.
Presenter: Jon Gill and Selene Hernandez
Nowlin Middle School and Van Horn High School
Room: 103
Bibliotherapy
Are you a bookworm? Or perhaps a bookaholic? Or maybe you'd just like to add some books to your TBR list? If this sounds like you, then this is your session! Join me as we craft a cure for your ailment with books. Bibliotherapy is what you need! Attendees should bring a book to prescribe and leave for a peer. Attendees that bring books will leave with a book to cure what ails them. We will discuss books, the benefits of reading, and the power a book has to change your life.
Presenter: Melissa Romero
Van Horn High School
Room: Library
Engagement Through Collaborative Study Groups
As teachers we know there are students who are struggling in class with a certain topic or possibly multiple topics. How about putting them into groups of other struggling students with a peer who feels confident to teach? With collaborative study groups, led by a peer tutor, these will benefit any class, especially those block days, for students to listen to each other and gain the understanding on their confusions. Students will work together, and facilitate their learning to accomplish the goal set out by the end of the class period. Reflection piece is not only good for them but for the teacher as well to see what they need to fix. This builds leadership, organization and communication skills. With the school years we've had, due to online learning, these skills are needed more than ever. (Much like an AVID Tutorial).
Presenters: Shelby Bessette and Gene Griffith
Bingham Middle School
Room: 105
Engaging through Options: Student Choice in the Classroom
Struggling to connect to students? Trying to get them to engage with material? Try offering more student choices! We will discuss the research behind this practice and some practical ways to apply it.
Presenter: Rachel Davis-Piper
Van Horn High School
Room: 107
Getting Plugged In-"Relationship Building"-Truman's Alternative Placement Model
Come learn and hear our new fundamental approach towards “Building Relationships” with challenging teens. Surrendering the One up mindset using the “Why Try” Model and FSL/Admin approach.
Presenters: Nikki Merritt & Taisha Newcomer
Truman High School
Room: 141
Hope Theory and How to Increase Hope
Each of us are motivated to pursue goals. Hope helps us navigate these goals through waypower and willpower. This session will review hope theory, the dispositional hope scale, and interventions to increase hope.
Presenters: Denise Ortiz and Morgan Lazar
Bridger Middle School, Nowlin Middle School
Room: 108
Informal Writing with Visual Texts: A Culturally Responsive Framework
Applying Gholdy Muhammad’s culturally responsive framework, we will look at how students can move from engaging with visual texts to generating nuanced claims and providing positive affirmations as peer feedback. We will apply the framework and strategy to a visual text set, and we will brainstorm application ideas for all content areas.
Presenters: Linda Brock and Katie Kline
Show-Me Literacy Collaborative
Room: 109
Love Languages
Have you ever wondered why you do things to show someone you care and it doesn't go the way you planned? Students, coworkers, teachers, spouses, parents, and children all have love languages and being able to communication in the way that shows them love the best will clear up any miscommunications. We will learn what the love languages are and how to communicate them the best in the classroom.
Presenter: Lauren Brandmueller
William Chrisman High School
Room: 152
Meeting Brain Needs to Maximize Learning
Come in and learn some strategies you can use to help keep your students' brains ready to learn! You'll hear a little bit about how brains function, and you'll leave with concrete strategies that you can implement immediately to help students regulate themselves in class.
Presenters: Amanda Witting, Breanna Elton
School Psychologists
Room: 110
Navigating Difficult Conversations with Parents
Have you ever been in a meeting where the stakes are high, opinions differ, emotions run strong, and the outcome may significantly impact the student’s educational environment? We can offer strategies to work through these scenarios and maintain a good relationship with parents or staff.
Presenters: Sherry Potter and Amy Chappell
Central Office
Room: 121
Number Sense Routines for Middle School Math
Interested in more tools to help middle school students build number sense? We will explore quick routines (5-7 minutes) that can be embedded into instruction as a means to build students' number sense as well as their ability to estimate and problem solve. In addition to experiencing these number sense routines, participants will also walk away with 20+ routines that can immediately be used in the math classroom.
Presenter: Jennifer Blinzler
Math Instructional Coach
Room: 111
Science of Reading for Secondary Teachers
It is never too late to teach a student to read! Join us to learn more about 'Science of Reading' strategies that will target the word recognition area of Scarborough's Reading Rope. Tackle multi-syllable decoding strategies with syllable types, dive into etymology (word origin) that explains why words are spelled irregularly, and equip students with word attack skills. We can continue to grow readers at all levels! Must sign up for two sessions! This presentation is for both the 8:35 and the 9:20 time block!
Presenters: Becky Greenstreet and Bridget Cantrell
Instructional Coaches
Room: 125
Special Education Transition for the Middle School Teacher
This session will focus on educating Middle School Special Education Teachers on Post-Secondary Transition. This session will provide framework conversations to present to parents at IEP meetings.
Presenters: Becki Boonnim, Julie Siebert, Selene Topel, Amy Tucker, Tarl Bentley
William Chrisman High School, Independence Academy, Truman High School
Room: 112
Teenage Drugs
Learn about the epidemic of drugs in the Kansas City area, including the dangers of Fentanyl. I will have an assistant special agent in charge from the DEA joining me to share real-time information about what is going on in our community.
Presenter: Jake Kates
William Chrisman High School
Room: Little Theater
Transferring IEPs to Extracurriculars
As a special education teacher and coach, we have a passion for serving students beyond the school day. We are in a time where a large population of our students have IEPs. IDEA states that these transfer to extracurricular activities. We will help you to understand how to better serve students with IEPs on your team or in your program. We will discuss how to transfer their accommodation and modification to your specific field to help them learn their plays, lines, or whatever they may need.
Presenter: Kellie Larson and Garrett Larson
William Chrisman High School
Room: 115
Turn any Worksheet into an Escape Room
Escape rooms are fun ways to engage in problem solving, but they can be expensive. Even the breakout.edu has very few free games available. In this session I will show you how to develop your own escape room by using the stack of worksheets you already have.
Presenter: Mia Manakul-Dickey
Truman High School
Room: 101
Universal Design in Practice
"Universal Design in Practice" is curated toward educators seeking to develop their skills working with both regular and special education students through novel approaches to classroom engagement and assessment. Universal design strategies are particularly beneficial to teachers working in state-tested "core" subjects, but is also of importance to elective teachers. This session will be a crash course on contemporary universal design research, low-tech and high-tech applications of universal design, and low-stress teaching strategies for working with students who require extra help or services.
Presenter: Brett Gilio and Beth Gschwender
William Chrisman High School
Room: 204
What Soft Skills Should We Be Teaching Every Day in Our Classrooms
We will have several business partners present who will share with us the skill set they are looking for in their employees. They will focus on the soft skills (or employability skills). This will be a roundtable discussion along with a chance for Q&A at the end.
Presenters: Lynne Baker, Laurie Cadwell, Various Business Partners
Central Office and Community
Room: 113
Winter Sowing
Winter sowing is a fun and easy way to start seeds outside during the winter. Sow your seeds outdoors in miniature greenhouses during the winter, allowing them to germinate naturally during the spring. This is generally done with seeds that require a period of cold stratification or cold tolerate garden varieties.
Presenter: Kimberly Clark
Truman High School
Room: 203
Work/Life Balance
In this session we will discuss 8 strategies that you can do right now to improve your work/life balance. This will be an interactive presentation in which participants will get to practice some of these techniques to see what works best for them.
Presenter: Dr. Justin Woods, Mike Becker, and Brooke Keown
Van Horn High School and William Chrisman High School
Room: 106
Biology EOC Prep
Biology teachers will discuss methods and strategies that they use to best prepare their students to be successful on the upcoming Biology EOC exam. Updates and information about the EOC exam will be shared out at this time as well.
Presenter: Matt Bannon
Science Instructional Coach
Room: 201
Bringing Business Partners to Your Classroom (and how to interact with them)
Lynne Baker will be sharing her years of experience in both the education world and now the business world and how you can locate, secure and KEEP good business partners. She will be sharing some do's and don'ts for interaction with those partners. If you need a business partner to participate in a project for your room, this is the session for you!
Presenters: Lynne Baker and Laurie Cadwell
Central Office
Room: 113
Case for Gamification: Increasing engagement and achievement for sped, 504, and all struggling learners
Gamify your classroom: this session will review different ways to gamify your classroom. We will also review action research that took place at ISD. The session will focus on how to gamify your room and engage students. Time will be provided to gamify one lesson along with the help of three professionals from Truman High School.
Presenters: Jessica Johnson, Megan Schwindler, Alethea Frederick
Truman High School
Room: 115
Conscious Discipline: SEL in Secondary
Conscious Discipline is most commonly associated with early childhood programs and elementary schools. It makes sense to build SEL skills during the foundational early years. But what about students who have yet to develop the skills? Aren’t those kids too old for Conscious Discipline? Join Amanda Spight, Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor, to go beyond the SEL buzz. Participants will learn practical ways to connect with learners and gain cooperation in the classroom.
Presenter: Amanda Spight
Santa Fe Trail Elementary School
Bio: https://consciousdiscipline.com/professional-development/instructors/amanda-spight/
Room: 176
Finale v27 Music Notation Software, Tips and Tricks to Musical Glory
Congratulations Music faculty you now have Finale Music Notation Software, now what? In this session we will be answering your finale v27 questions. How do I enter in lyrics? How do I extract parts for printing? What is the fastest way to input notes? Percussion, what is it so strange in finale? Join us as we answer questions and do some hands on learning!
Presenter: Josue Molina
Nowlin Middle School, Van Horn High School
Room: 152
High School Transition for Special Education Students
This session will focus on informal and formal transition assessments and the different opportunities available to students with disabilities in the area of Transition. This session will develop the Special Education Teacher's expertise in the area of Transition.
Presenters: Becki Boonnim, Julie Siebert, Tarl Bentley, Selene Topel, Amy Tucker
William Chrisman High School, Independence Academy, Truman High School
Room: 112
ISD Coaches Roundtable
Calling all coaches! Three head coaches from THS, WCHS, and VHS are hosting a coaching roundtable discussion where we will learn from each other’s successes and brainstorm ways to address various issues in our sports. While all coaches are welcome, we do encourage all head coaches in the district to attend this meeting. If you plan on attending, please bring examples of ways you have addressed issues like: Athlete Recruitment/Retention, Fundraising, Culture/Team Building, Building Community Support, and Supporting the MS to HS transition. If you have a topic you would like to discuss, feel free to send your topics to mike_alexander@isdschools.org.
Presenters: Mike Alexander, Marion Holt
Truman High School, Van Horn High School
Room: Library -- this is an updated room assignment
Meeting Brain Needs to Maximize Learning
Come in and learn some strategies you can use to help keep your students' brains ready to learn! You'll hear a little bit about how brains function, and you'll leave with concrete strategies that you can implement immediately to help students regulate themselves in class.
Presenters: Amanda Witting, Breanna Elton
School Psychologists
Room: 110
Middle School Classroom Management
In this session you will learn strategies to manage your classroom at the middle school level. Tips for setting up your classroom for success and avoiding power struggles are a few of the takeaways from this session. We will also have an opportunity for share-outs so participants can learn from each other.
Presenters: Jamie Mahoney and Megan Hinkle
Independence Academy
Room: 121
Routine Writing in the Classroom: Encouraging Students to Write
IDK. i don't know what to write. Sound familiar? If you are struggling to get your students to write more than a couple of words in your classroom, come explore the benefits of routine writing in the classroom.
Presenter: Rachel Davis-Piper
Van Horn High School
Room: 107
Science of Reading for Secondary Teaching
It is never too late to teach a student to read! Join us to learn more about 'Science of Reading' strategies that will target the word recognition area of Scarborough's Reading Rope. Tackle multi-syllable decoding strategies with syllable types, dive into etymology (word origin) that explains why words are spelled irregularly, and equip students with word attack skills. We can continue to grow readers at all levels! Must sign up for two sessions! This presentation is for both the 8:35 and the 9:20 time block!
Presenters: Becky Greenstreet and Bridget Cantrell
Instructional Coaches
Room: 125
Team Building Activities
Feeling like your students or staff don't know each other or interact enough? This session will give you easy games and team building activities that can be done in any type of class or setting. Most will not require any supplies, just a positive and open attitude.
Presenter: Lauren Brandmueller
William Chrisman High School
Room: 178
Teenage Drugs
Learn about the epidemic of drugs in the Kansas City area, including the dangers of Fentanyl. I will have an assistant special agent in charge from the DEA joining me to share real-time information about what is going on in our community.
Presenter: Jake Kates
William Chrisman High School
Room: Little Theater
The IA Experience
Ever wondered what it looks like at Independence Academy? Now is your chance to take an inside look at creative classroom management strategies, restorative practices, building relationships with your team and students, and stories.
Presenter: Megan Fansher and Ethan Yazell
Independence Academy
Room: 106
The Rough Canvas
Set your mind at ease with some relaxing painting. If you think you cannot paint, think again. We will give step by step instructions for you to create your own masterpiece! Each participant will be able to create a painting to take home. Supplies are limited, so sign up quick to reserve your spot.
Presenter: Jeanne Smith and Jessica Manco
William Chrisman High School, Van Horn High School
Room: 133
Three Little Pigs Style - How to Communicate with Parents
Communicating through the phone can be intimidating and sometimes just a few one-liners can change the attitude of your conversation. Join us in addressing parents in different categories-Three Little Pigs style.
Presenter: Dr. Michael Estes and Kara Schoff
Pioneer Ridge Middle School
Room: 123
Turn any Worksheet into an Escape Room
Escape rooms are fun ways to engage in problem solving, but they can be expensive. Even the breakout.edu has very few free games available. In this session I will show you how to develop your own escape room by using the stack of worksheets you already have.
Presenter: Mia Manakul-Dickey
Truman High School
Room: 101
Winter Sowing
Winter sowing is a fun and easy way to start seeds outside during the winter. Sow your seeds outdoors in miniature greenhouses during the winter, allowing them to germinate naturally during the spring. This is generally done with seeds that require a period of cold stratification or cold tolerate garden varieties.
Presenter: Kimberly Clark
Truman High School
Room: 203
Yoga
Teachers who practice yoga say it has given them an outlet for the daily stresses and frustrations of teaching. It also equips them with strategies to stay calm during chaotic moments and helps them understand and reflect on both their mindset and that of their students.
Presenters: Katy Owens and Tina Belt
William Chrisman High School
Room: 154 (Choir Room)
Agilities - Affirming your Strengths and Interests
Join us as we explore your personal Agility results using the Agile Work Profiler tool. We will share and discuss how using this integrative tool with students can lead to deeper connections within your content. Incorporating the Agilities into your curriculum you can help students understand how their experiences translate to work skills, provide them with language to communicate their value in the workforce, and help them become informed career decision-makers!
Presenters: Callie Armin, Jessica Miller, Matt Perry, Sarah Swartz
William Chrisman High School
Room: 109
Bringing Business Partners to Your Classroom (and how to interact with them)
Lynne Baker will be sharing her years of experience in both the education world and now the business world and how you can locate, secure and KEEP good business partners. She will be sharing some do's and don'ts for interaction with those partners. If you need a business partner to participate in a project for your room, this is the session for you!
Presenters: Lynne Baker and Laurie Cadwell
Central Office
Room: 113
Case for Gamification: Increasing engagement and achievement for sped, 504, and all struggling learners
Gamify your classroom: this session will review different ways to gamify your classroom. We will also review action research that took place at ISD. The session will focus on how to gamify your room and engage students. Time will be provided to gamify one lesson along with the help of three professionals from Truman High School.
Presenters: Jessica Johnson, Megan Schwindler, Alethea Frederick
Truman High School
Room: 115
Conscious Discipline: SEL in Secondary
Conscious Discipline is most commonly associated with early childhood programs and elementary schools. It makes sense to build SEL skills during the foundational early years. But what about students who have yet to develop the skills? Aren’t those kids too old for Conscious Discipline? Join Amanda Spight, Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor, to go beyond the SEL buzz. Participants will learn practical ways to connect with learners and gain cooperation in the classroom.
Presenter: Amanda Spight
Santa Fe Trail Elementary School
Bio: https://consciousdiscipline.com/professional-development/instructors/amanda-spight/
Room: 176
Dropping the Drumbeat
20 per session
Ever wanted to live like a rock star? Well now is your chance to get behind the drum and feel the power of jamming out while getting our heart rates up. In this session you will drum to the beat of multiple songs as we move and stay fit in a fun and different way. So take a break from the dull, adult responsibilities and join us for a heart pumping good time!
Presenters: Deron Binkley and Angela Cook
William Chrisman High School
Room: Large Gym
Fostering Engaging Classroom Discussions
In this session, attendees will be presented with concrete steps for preparing and leading meaningful discussions in the classroom that will deepen student learning. Our students' social skills have struggled just as much as ours have over the past several years, and our classroom engagement has suffered. Discussion based learning is a great practice that can help to fight both battles while providing opportunities for critical thinking and showcasing student expertise. In addition, attendees will be directed to several helpful resources for furthering their learning in the area as well.
Presenter: Anna Ohmart
William Chrisman High School
Room: 108
Grant Writing
Teachers will dig into local, state, and national grant opportunities. Sample successful grants will be shared. Teachers will have an opportunity to research possibilities and start grant writing in the session. Grants will include acquiring items, field trips, transportation costs, and more!
Presenter: Samala Robinson
Bingham Middle School
Room: 112
I Will Always Bus You
Would you like to get paid to watch kid sporting events? Why not drive them?! In this session Sage will take you on an actual orange limousine bus ride and go through what it takes to be a trip driver with a bus or van for ISD. Let's ride!
Presenter: Sage Arnote
Technology Integration Specialist
Trip Bus Driver
Room: 178
Mindset Matters
In this session, we will discuss implementing growth mindset principles into instruction (from math to music and any subject in between) to help increase student engagement and self-efficacy.
Presenters: Melissa Koonce
William Chrisman High School, Bingham Middle School, Bridger Middle School
Room: 101
Some Basic Things I Wish I Had Known About Power School, Canvas, Google...
"No One is as Smart as All of Us." Have you ever needed a helpful hint for Canvas, Power School, Tutoring Time Management, Google, _________(fill in the blank) Have ever said, "how do I get my classes into separate sections in Canvas without setting up filters?" If so, you have a need that we can fill. Come share your knowledge with your peers who are in the same boat as you. Our plan will be to create a document to share out and make some lives a little easier and less stressful.
Presenter: Verne Leutzinger
William Chrisman High School
Room: 135
Technology for the Not-So-Tech-Savvy Teacher
In this course, we will show engaging Nearpod tools and applications that can be used in any classroom. Making students accountable for their own learning, allowing an easy way to access data, and find a fun alternative for your classroom lessons.
Presenters: Ali Rather and Katie Rogers
Bingham Middle School
Room: 119
The IA Experience
Ever wondered what it looks like at Independence Academy? Now is your chance to take an inside look at creative classroom management strategies, restorative practices, building relationships with your team and students, and stories.
Presenter: Megan Fansher and Ethan Yazell
Independence Academy
Room: 106
The Rough Canvas
Set your mind at ease with some relaxing painting. If you think you cannot paint, think again. We will give step by step instructions for you to create your own masterpiece! Each participant will be able to create a painting to take home. Supplies are limited, so sign up quick to reserve your spot.
Presenter: Jeanne Smith and Jessica Manco
William Chrisman High School, Van Horn High School
Room: 133
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework provides students an equal opportunity to engage in the learning process by offering them choices in how their receive information, how they practice new content and skills, and how they assess their understanding. This allows teachers to meet and support the needs of diverse students, support their interests, which ultimately allows them to pride and ownerships of their learning.
Presenter: Allison Smith and Moriah Johns
Bridger Middle School
Room: 146
Virtual Teachers: Sharing Successes and Ways To Help and Support Each Other
This presentation is from the 6th grade virtual teachers. We want this session to be a place for all virtual teachers to come and share ideas. We will be here to facilitate our discussion but want everyone to participate. We are asking that you bring ideas for: Google Meets vs Zoom, student engagement ideas, apps/activities you like to use virtually, ways to do groups, virtual struggles, questions about teaching virtually and more. We want this session to be a helpful one because we are all in the virtual teaching thing together!
Presenters: Diane Frisbie, Sabrina Akers, Chris McKerlie and Callie Schimmel
Bridger Middle School
Room: 105
What's the Purpose of Your Face?
Communicating with teens and pre-teens often leaves adults confused or with a feeing of "what just happened." Did you know that a teens inconsistent ability to accurately read facial expressions can lead to many misunderstandings? Join this session to learn more about these areas of mass confusion as well as strategies that can be implemented to help in your communication with teens and pre-teens -- both at school and at home!
Presenter: Dr. Cristin Nowak
William Chrisman High School
Room: 140
Why You Should Use Graphic Novels in Your Classroom
Can graphic novels actually help students develop reading skills? Are comic books really "literature?" Isn't this stuff just for kids? This session will seek to answer all these questions, as well as clear up some other common misconceptions about graphic novels. Attendees will also leave equipped with some terminology and resources to help facilitate learning through graphic novels in your classroom.
Presenter: Bryan Haynes
William Chrisman High School
Room: 141
WICORize Your World
Join us for a trip around the world to learn AVID learning strategies that you can use in your classroom TOMORROW! In this session, we will explore strategies for writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading that you can use in ANY grade or ANY content area. Grab your passports to engagement and leave with a souvenir of learning!
Presenters: Megan Minnis and Rachael McIlvain
Bingham Middle School
Room: 204
Writing for Reflection and Relaxation
Have you ever wished you could just "empty your brain" for a minute? Maybe you feel overwhelmed at times, but don't know how to pin point exactly what you are feeling. Getting your thoughts down on paper, (Yes, actual paper, ) or just out of your own jumbled brain might just be the answer. Join us for a session of free writes, brain dumps, freeform poetry, lyric writing, doodling- whatever moves you. Gel pens, ink quills, battered notebooks and journals welcome!
Presenter: Sheri Mos
Van Horn High School
Room: 125
Yoga
Teachers who practice yoga say it has given them an outlet for the daily stresses and frustrations of teaching. It also equips them with strategies to stay calm during chaotic moments and helps them understand and reflect on both their mindset and that of their students.
Presenters: Katy Owens and Tina Belt
William Chrisman High School
Room: 154 (Choir Room)
Active Classroom
This session will provide learning strategies with a twist. Purposeful movement to increase student engagement and maximize learning. Participants should be ready to learn through movement. This session is intended for core and general classroom teachers.
Presenter: Richie Shust
Nowlin Middle School
Room: 110
Agilities - Affirming your Strengths and Interests
Join us as we explore your personal Agility results using the Agile Work Profiler tool. We will share and discuss how using this integrative tool with students can lead to deeper connections within your content. Incorporating the Agilities into your curriculum you can help students understand how their experiences translate to work skills, provide them with language to communicate their value in the workforce, and help them become informed career decision-makers!
Presenters: Callie Armin, Jessica Miller, Matt Perry, Sarah Swartz
William Chrisman High School
Room: 109
Algebra 1 EOC Planning
In this session, Algebra 1 teachers will spend time exploring existing EOC modules, sample performance events, and online tools practice. Participants will have the opportunity to create additional resources and/or create a plan for spiraled EOC review.
Presenter: Jennifer Blinzler
Math Instructional Coach
Room: 111
Authentically Pronouncing Latinx Student Names
Are you an English-only speaking teacher who struggles with pronouncing the names of your Latinx students? Have you struggled through roll call the first day of school and been unsure how to address these students in a culturally sensitive and affirming way? This session is for you!
Participants in our session will come away having a better sense of how to more authentically pronounce spanish-sounding names and how to ask for guidance from a student in pronouncing their name correctly. We will discuss easy to remember pointers in how Latinx names may sound different than other names on the roster. We will also learn some of why pronouncing these names is important as we try to accept and affirm each student's identity and cultural background.
As a trained singer, Jon has years of experience teaching diction in many languages. As a bilingual educator, Selene has a unique perspective on how pronouncing names properly can impact students' sense of identity in the classroom.
Presenter: Jon Gill and Selene Hernandez
Nowlin Middle School and Van Horn High School
Room: 103
DESMOS Activities—They are not just for math class anymore
ACT Prep, Science, ELA, Foreign Language, Social Studies, can all use DESMOS to reinforce concepts, deepen student understanding, and give feedback to students. Come learn how easy it is to create engaging activities that students really enjoy.
Presenter: Jodi Donald
William Chrisman High School
Room: 121
Dropping the Drumbeat
20 per session
Ever wanted to live like a rock star? Well now is your chance to get behind the drum and feel the power of jamming out while getting our heart rates up. In this session you will drum to the beat of multiple songs as we move and stay fit in a fun and different way. So take a break from the dull, adult responsibilities and join us for a heart pumping good time!
Presenters: Deron Binkley and Angela Cook
William Chrisman High School
Room: Large Gym
Grant Writing
Teachers will dig into local, state, and national grant opportunities. Sample successful grants will be shared. Teachers will have an opportunity to research possibilities and start grant writing in the session. Grants will include acquiring items, field trips, transportation costs, and more!
Presenter: Samala Robinson
Bingham Middle School
Room: 112
How to Utilize Writing Prompts in your Classroom
Would you like to incorporate more writing in your classroom? Are you looking for an easy, efficient way to get your students sharing their thoughts about your lesson? The free online program, No Red Ink, provides a very user-friendly platform to get your students writing and engaged in your content! During this session, you will participate in a writing prompt, learn how to set up a class in the program, and learn how to evaluate their writing, too.
Presenter: Chris Loggins
Nowlin Middle School
Room: 205
I Will Always Bus You
Would you like to get paid to watch kid sporting events? Why not drive them?! In this session Sage will take you on an actual orange limousine bus ride and go through what it takes to be a trip driver with a bus or van for ISD. Let's ride!
Presenter: Sage Arnote
Technology Integration Specialist
Trip Bus Driver
Room: 178
Some Basic Things I Wish I Had Known About Power School, Canvas, Google...
"No One is as Smart as All of Us." Have you ever needed a helpful hint for Canvas, Power School, Tutoring Time Management, Google, _________(fill in the blank) Have ever said, "how do I get my classes into separate sections in Canvas without setting up filters?" If so, you have a need that we can fill. Come share your knowledge with your peers who are in the same boat as you. Our plan will be to create a document to share out and make some lives a little easier and less stressful.
Presenter: Verne Leutzinger
William Chrisman High School
Room: 135
Technology for the Not-So-Tech-Savvy Teacher
In this course, we will show engaging Nearpod tools and applications that can be used in any classroom. Making students accountable for their own learning, allowing an easy way to access data, and find a fun alternative for your classroom lessons.
Presenters: Ali Rather and Katie Rogers
Bingham Middle School
Room: 119
What Adults Don't Know About Social Media
Two William Chrisman seniors will help pull back the veil on teenage use of social media. What apps are teens really using, what can you do with those apps, what does this lingo mean...and many more things that adults don't know about social media will be covered.
Student Presenters: Say'V'on Lankford and Emily Damian
Facilitator: Denise Textor
Room: Little Theater
Why You Should Use Graphic Novels in Your Classroom
Can graphic novels actually help students develop reading skills? Are comic books really "literature?" Isn't this stuff just for kids? This session will seek to answer all these questions, as well as clear up some other common misconceptions about graphic novels. Attendees will also leave equipped with some terminology and resources to help facilitate learning through graphic novels in your classroom.
Presenter: Bryan Haynes
William Chrisman High School
Room: 141
Building Relationships with Students
Positive student relationships are fundamental to success. When students feel supported, they're more likely to engage in learning and have better academic outcomes. Plus, when students have positive interactions with teachers, they have fewer behavioral problems. Come learn different strategies and ideas on ow to build quality relationships with your students.
Presenter: Brian Gant and Shane Smith
Van Horn High School
Room: 125
Cupcake Wars
18 per session
Come and join the ISD Culinary Teachers for Cupcake Wars! In this session, you will be tasked to create and design a winning cupcake. If you love a competition, then session is for you!
Presenters: Katie DiRocco & Michelle Ciafullo
William Chrisman High School, Truman High School
Room: 212
Detectives - How Context Clues Can Help Vocabulary Acquisition at the Secondary Level
As the Science of Reading highlights, vocabulary acquisition is imperative to student success. In order to give students the tools to be successful beyond our doors, we must equip them with the skills to engage with the world independently. Part of that independence includes having the ability to decode the words that they encounter on a daily basis. For this presentation, put on your detective cap and pull out your magnifying glass as we dive deeper into vocabulary acquisition through the use of the contextual evidence that exists in the world around us.
Presenter: Morgan Alexander
Bingham Middle School
Room: 176
Engaging Games WITHOUT Technology
Kids love Kahoots, Gimkits and Blookets, but even in team mode, these digital games lack the interpersonal element that brings classes together. Let's lessen computer time and have fun while learning. In this session, learn about other games that get kids out of their seats and working together such as Grudge Ball, Wits and Wagers, The Unfair Game, Running Dictation, Autograph, and others.
Presenter: Meg Keane
Nowlin Middle School
Room: Room 154 (Choir Room) -- This is an updated room assignment
Facility Dogs
Have you ever seen a working Facility Dog? Facility Dogs are specially trained to work with a professional in the fields of education, counseling, medicine, rehabilitation, or other specialty agencies. Come learn all about facility dogs, where they work, what they do, how they are trained, and what their rights are under the American's With Disabilities Act. And, the best part? Interact with a dog in training and reap the proven benefits of reduced stress and lowered blood pressure!
Presenter: Andrea Martin
Nowlin Middle School
Room: 152 (Band Room)
Five Ways to Create a CHAMPion School Culture
Do students and teachers feel valued, appreciated and respected in your school community? Does your school's culture energize and encourage? Does it build connection and teamwork? Learn 5 strategies to strengthen culture in your building/classroom and increase the level of success for ALL students.
Presenters: Laurie Cadwell, Diana Casebolt, Amanda Layman, and Janna Martinez
Central Office, Pioneer Ridge Middle School, Bridger Middle School, and Nowlin Middle School
Room: 103
How to Utilize Writing Prompts in your Classroom
Would you like to incorporate more writing in your classroom? Are you looking for an easy, efficient way to get your students sharing their thoughts about your lesson? The free online program, No Red Ink, provides a very user-friendly platform to get your students writing and engaged in your content! During this session, you will participate in a writing prompt, learn how to set up a class in the program, and learn how to evaluate their writing, too.
Presenter: Chris Loggins
Nowlin Middle School
Room: 205
Kenpo Karate/Self-Defense
In this session, you will learn some basic self-defense moves based in karate. You will not have to wear special clothing, or shoes for this class. You may be asked to remove your shoes for this class. You will be working with partners and participation will require light to moderate physical exertion.
Presenters: Sarah Nelson, Billy Wilcox, Katy Owens
William Chrisman High School, Kenpo Karate
Room: Atrium
Number Sense Routines for High School Math
Interested in helping high school students build number sense? We will explore quick routines (5-7 minutes) that can be embedded into instruction as a means to build students' number sense as well as their ability to estimate and problem solve. In addition to experiencing these number sense routines, participants will also walk away with 20+ routines that can immediately be used in the math classroom.
Presenter: Jennifer Blinzler
Math Instructional Coach
Room: 111
Our Favorite Things (an Oprah inspired celebration of educational Tips, Tricks, and Activities) by the Weird Girl and Her Sister
While there may not be a car gifted to everyone, participants will be gifted with tips, tricks, strategies, and activities that they can take-away to use in classrooms of all subjects and grade levels. With a combined 47 years of middle school teaching experience, Kay Douglas and Sandy Hinckley have learned the importance of E^3 (Entertain, Educate, and Empower). This break-out will be filled with joy and energy and by the end we'll let you decide which one is the "Weird Girl" and which one is the sister.
Presenters: Sandy Hinckley and Kay Douglas
Bingham Middle School
Room: 142
Reciprocal Teaching - How to Engage All Learners in the Critical Reading Process
Want to foster more engagement and understanding of the reading in your classroom? Join us to learn about Reciprocal Teaching where students engage with a text together to become critical thinkers.
Presenter: Amy Fuhr
Pioneer Ridge Middle School
Room: 143
So You Want to Get Into the Pickleball Phenomenon
Pickelball is quickly becoming a very popular sport for all ages. Have you had anyone ask if you wanted to play, but felt you didn't know rules? Have you wanted to get into pickeball, but weren't sure where to start? Well, this session is for you. In this session, you will learn the basic rules of pickleball such as how to serve, how to volley, what is the kitchen (yes, that is an actual pickleball term), etc. You will also get the opportunity to play with other novice players that are wanting to get into the pickeball phenomenon such as yourself. Pickleball is an easy game to learn and play, a way to relieve stress, and a healthy activity to incorporate into your work/life balance.
Presenters: Dr. Brett Playter and Jolie Austin
Bingham Middle School
Room: Large Gym
Teaching Doesn't Have to be Painful: Body Awareness During the Work Day
In this session, the presenter will provide an overview of body awareness. With some small adjustments, teachers can alleviate body tension and make their teaching day more comfortable.
Presenter: Allison Ross
Truman High School, Pioneer Ridge Middle School
Room: 101
Universal Design in Practice
The "Universal Design in Practice" session is designed for educators who want to enhance their abilities in working with both regular and special education students using innovative approaches to classroom engagement and assessment. Universal design strategies are particularly beneficial for teachers teaching state-tested "core" subjects, but are also important for elective teachers. During this session, participants will receive a comprehensive overview of current universal design research, as well as learn about low-tech and high-tech applications of universal design, and low-stress teaching strategies for supporting students who need additional assistance or services.
Presenter: Brett Gilio and Beth Gschwender
William Chrisman High School
Room: 204
What Adults Don't Know About Social Media
Two William Chrisman seniors will help pull back the veil on teenage use of social media. What apps are teens really using, what can you do with those apps, what does this lingo mean...and many more things that adults don't know about social media will be covered.
Student Presenters: Say'V'on Lankford and Emily Damian
Facilitator: Denise Textor
Room: Little Theater
Building Relationships with Students
Positive student relationships are fundamental to success. When students feel supported, they're more likely to engage in learning and have better academic outcomes. Plus, when students have positive interactions with teachers, they have fewer behavioral problems. Come learn different strategies and ideas on ow to build quality relationships with your students.
Presenter: Brian Gant and Shane Smith
Van Horn High School
Room: 125
Cupcake Wars
18 per session
Come and join the ISD Culinary Teachers for Cupcake Wars! In this session, you will be tasked to create and design a winning cupcake. If you love a competition, then session is for you!
Presenters: Katie DiRocco, Kayla Henderson, Michelle Ciafullo, & Lindsey McIndoo
William Chrisman High School, Truman High School, Van Horn High School
Room: 212
DESMOS Activities—They are not just for math class anymore
ACT Prep, Science, ELA, Foreign Language, Social Studies, can all use DESMOS to reinforce concepts, deepen student understanding, and give feedback to students. Come learn how easy it is to create engaging activities that students really enjoy.
Presenter: Jodi Donald
William Chrisman High School
Room: 121
Detectives - How Context Clues Can Help Vocabulary Acquisition at the Secondary Level
As the Science of Reading highlights, vocabulary acquisition is imperative to student success. In order to give students the tools to be successful beyond our doors, we must equip them with the skills to engage with the world independently. Part of that independence includes having the ability to decode the words that they encounter on a daily basis. For this presentation, put on your detective cap and pull out your magnifying glass as we dive deeper into vocabulary acquisition through the use of the contextual evidence that exists in the world around us.
Presenter: Morgan Alexander
Bingham Middle School
Room: 176
Engagement Through Collaborative Study Groups
As teachers we know there are students who are struggling in class with a certain topic or possibly multiple topics. How about putting them into groups of other struggling students with a peer who feels confident to teach? With collaborative study groups, led by a peer tutor, these will benefit any class, especially those block days, for students to listen to each other and gain the understanding on their confusions. Students will work together, and facilitate their learning to accomplish the goal set out by the end of the class period. Reflection piece is not only good for them but for the teacher as well to see what they need to fix. This builds leadership, organization and communication skills. With the school years we've had, due to online learning, these skills are needed more than ever. (Much like an AVID Tutorial).
Presenters: Shelby Bessette and Gene Griffith
Bingham Middle School
Room: 105
Engaging Games WITHOUT Technology
Kids love Kahoots, Gimkits and Blookets, but even in team mode, these digital games lack the interpersonal element that brings classes together. Let's lessen computer time and have fun while learning. In this session, learn about other games that get kids out of their seats and working together such as Grudge Ball, Wits and Wagers, The Unfair Game, Running Dictation, Autograph, and others.
Presenter: Meg Keane
Nowlin Middle School
Room: Room 154 (Choir Room)
Facility Dogs
Have you ever seen a working Facility Dog? Facility Dogs are specially trained to work with a professional in the fields of education, counseling, medicine, rehabilitation, or other specialty agencies. Come learn all about facility dogs, where they work, what they do, how they are trained, and what their rights are under the American's With Disabilities Act. And, the best part? Interact with a dog in training and reap the proven benefits of reduced stress and lowered blood pressure!
Presenter: Andrea Martin
Nowlin Middle School
Room: 152 (Band Room)
Five Ways to Create a CHAMPion School Culture
Do students and teachers feel valued, appreciated and respected in your school community? Does your school's culture energize and encourage? Does it build connection and teamwork? Learn 5 strategies to strengthen culture in your building/classroom and increase the level of success for ALL students.
Presenters: Laurie Cadwell, Diana Casebolt, Amanda Layman, and Janna Martinez
Central Office, Pioneer Ridge Middle School, Bridger Middle School, and Nowlin Middle School
Room: 103
Getting Plugged In - "Relationship Building" - Truman's Alternative Placement Model
Come learn and hear our new fundamental approach towards “Building Relationships” with challenging teens. Surrendering the One up mindset using the “Why Try” Model and FSL/Admin approach.
Presenters: Nikki Merritt & Taisha Newcomer
Truman High School
Room: 141
Kenpo Karate/Self-Defense
In this session, you will learn some basic self-defense moves based in karate. You will not have to wear special clothing, or shoes for this class. You may be asked to remove your shoes for this class. You will be working with partners and participation will require light to moderate physical exertion.
Presenters: Sarah Nelson, Billy Wilcox, Katy Owens
William Chrisman High School, Kenpo Karate
Room: Atrium
MS Math MAP Modules & Planning
In this session, middle school math teachers will spend time exploring existing MAP modules, sample performance events, and online tools practice. Participants will have the opportunity to create or explore additional resources and/or create a plan for spiraled MAP review.
Presenter: Jennifer Blinzler
Math Instructional Coach
Room: 111
Our Favorite Things (an Oprah inspired celebration of educational Tips, Tricks, and Activities) by the Weird Girl and Her Sister
While there may not be a car gifted to everyone, participants will be gifted with tips, tricks, strategies, and activities that they can take-away to use in classrooms of all subjects and grade levels. With a combined 47 years of middle school teaching experience, Kay Douglas and Sandy Hinckley have learned the importance of E^3 (Entertain, Educate, and Empower). This break-out will be filled with joy and energy and by the end we'll let you decide which one is the "Weird Girl" and which one is the sister.
Presenters: Sandy Hinckley and Kay Douglas
Bingham Middle School
Room: 142
Science Lab Collab
We are inviting other science teachers to talk about labs and activities that are done at each school. Hopefully by working together, we will be able to attain a better understanding of our horizontal and vertical alignments within the high schools and middle schools.
Presenters: Desirae Harrison, Sydney Gearhart, Alex Bolick
William Chrisman High School
Room: 203
So You Want to Get Into the Pickleball Phenomenon
Pickelball is quickly becoming a very popular sport for all ages. Have you had anyone ask if you wanted to play, but felt you didn't know rules? Have you wanted to get into pickeball, but weren't sure where to start? Well, this session is for you. In this session, you will learn the basic rules of pickleball such as how to serve, how to volley, what is the kitchen (yes, that is an actual pickleball term), etc. You will also get the opportunity to play with other novice players that are wanting to get into the pickeball phenomenon such as yourself. Pickleball is an easy game to learn and play, a way to relieve stress, and a healthy activity to incorporate into your work/life balance.
Presenters: Dr. Brett Playter and Jolie Austin
Bingham Middle School
Room: Large Gym
Team Building Activities
Feeling like your students or staff don't know each other or interact enough? This session will give you easy games and team building activities that can be done in any type of class or setting. Most will not require any supplies, just a positive and open attitude.
Presenter: Lauren Brandmueller
William Chrisman High School
Room: 178
Transferring IEPs to Extracurriculars
As a special education teacher and coach, we have a passion for serving students beyond the school day. We are in a time where a large population of our students have IEPs. IDEA states that these transfer to extracurricular activities. We will help you to understand how to better serve students with IEPs on your team or in your program. We will discuss how to transfer their accommodation and modification to your specific field to help them learn their plays, lines, or whatever they may need.
Presenter: Kellie Larson and Garrett Larson
William Chrisman High School
Room: 115
Work/Life Balance
In this session we will discuss 8 strategies that you can do right now to improve your work/life balance. This will be an interactive presentation in which participants will get to practice some of these techniques to see what works best for them.
Presenter: Dr. Justin Woods, Mike Becker, and Brooke Keown
Van Horn High School and William Chrisman High School
Room: 106
