Why can some students decode perfectly but fail a comprehension check? Why do others read with great expression but can’t tell you a single detail of the story? In this interactive "Forensic Lab," teachers will become Literacy Detectives. Using real student data (evidence), participants will learn to identify the "Reading Bottlenecks" that stall progress. We will move beyond the "low score" to find the "root cause" using the Simple View of Reading & Scarborough’s Rope as our magnifying glass.
Equip teachers with practical strategies to improve student performance on state assessments by focusing on two high-impact areas: student motivation and effective data use. Participants will explore how student mindset, engagement, and goal-setting directly influence academic outcomes, and they’ll learn techniques to foster a classroom culture where students feel invested in their own success.
What does strong Tier 1 math instruction look like in a K–5 classroom? This session provides a clear starting point for building an effective math block, with a focus on high-impact Number Sense Routines and daily instructional structures.
Participants will explore how to: Establish consistent structures that support access, thinking, and meaningful math discussion Use Number Sense Routines to build fluency, reasoning, and active student participation
This session serves as a foundation for deeper learning, including a follow-up session focused on the Launch–Explore–Summarize lesson cycle within the Framework for Tier 1 Mathematics Instruction.
Educators will leave with practical routines and strategies they can immediately implement to strengthen Tier 1 instruction and support all learners.
Why can some students decode perfectly but fail a comprehension check? Why do others read with great expression but can’t tell you a single detail of the story? In this interactive "Forensic Lab," teachers will become Literacy Detectives. Using real student data (evidence), participants will learn to identify the "Reading Bottlenecks" that stall progress. We will move beyond the "low score" to find the "root cause" using the Simple View of Reading & Scarborough’s Rope as our magnifying glass.
Equip teachers with practical strategies to improve student performance on state assessments by focusing on two high-impact areas: student motivation and effective data use. Participants will explore how student mindset, engagement, and goal-setting directly influence academic outcomes, and they’ll learn techniques to foster a classroom culture where students feel invested in their own success.
This interactive breakout session is for elementary educators committed to building a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum (GVC) with the identification of Essential Standards in Tier 1. This session will provide some time, space, and collaborative structures around the process of selecting and implementing the use of essential standards. A curriculum is only "guaranteed" if we have collectively agreed upon what is non-negotiable. Having essential standards identified allows us to move towards a more equitable educational landscape, ensuring that a student’s zip code doesn't determine the quality or depth of their core instruction. Participants will engage with colleagues from across the county who are working on building a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum through Essential Standards. Using structured protocols, this session will provide dedicated time, tools and facilitation to support meaningful dialogue, alignment, and cross district collaboration. Educators will leave with greater clarity on the process of identifying and implementing essential standards and practical next steps for strengthening Tier 1 instruction within their local context. Please bring any materials you have been working on in your district with identifying essential standards.
How do students move from using manipulatives to solving problems with efficient strategies? In this K–5 session, educators will explore the progression from direct modeling to counting strategies and student-invented methods.
Participants will engage in hands-on tasks, analyze student work, and learn to recognize common strategies across grade levels. The session focuses on anticipating student responses, asking purposeful questions, and using student thinking to guide instruction.
Educators will leave with practical tools and routines to make student thinking visible and support deeper mathematical understanding.
Are students truly invested in their learning? In this one-hour session, Educators will explore different ways to strengthen student engagement. Participants will reflect on how classroom culture, meaningful learning experiences, and intentional instructional practices influence student motivation and involvement.
In this session, participants will learn about the components of the MSTEP ELA test. In addition, they will learn about multiple strategies that can be integrated into your daily instruction which will prepare students for what they will see on the test .
Why can some students decode perfectly but fail a comprehension check? Why do others read with great expression but can’t tell you a single detail of the story? In this interactive "Forensic Lab," teachers will become Literacy Detectives. Using real student data (evidence), participants will learn to identify the "Reading Bottlenecks" that stall progress. We will move beyond the "low score" to find the "root cause" using the Simple View of Reading & Scarborough’s Rope as our magnifying glass.
How can the Launch–Explore–Summarize lesson cycle move more of the thinking to students? In this K–5 session, educators will take a deeper look at each phase of the lesson and what it looks like in practice.
Participants will explore how to:
Design and launch tasks that promote thinking without over-scaffolding Facilitate the Explore phase by monitoring student strategies and asking purposeful questions
Lead Summarize discussions that connect student strategies to key mathematical ideas Through classroom examples and hands-on tasks, teachers will practice anticipating student responses, selecting and sequencing student work, and guiding discussions that make thinking visible.
Educators will leave with clear moves and planning strategies to implement the Launch–Explore–Summarize cycle in ways that increase student ownership and deepen mathematical understanding.
