7 Steps to a Language-Rich Interactive Classroom  (All Levels)  (5 hour session)

What if you could design an amazing learning environment? We already have, and it's all contained in 7steps! 7 Steps to Building a Language-Rich Interactive Classroom provides a seven step process that creates a language-rich interactive classroom environment in which all students can thrive. Topics include differentiating instruction for students at a variety of language proficiencies, keeping all students absolutely engaged, and creating powerful learning supports. This session will be a 5-hour session presented by Carol Salva from Seidlitz Education. 

A Window Into Diverse Texts: Integrating Into All Content Areas (Primary and Elementary) 

Are you desiring to find multicultural resources and literature to use for upcoming lessons, whether it be online or face-to-face? The focus will be on reaching special populations through a variety of books and resources. There will be a discussion on why it is necessary to have diverse literature and what attendees can do to implement the tips shared!  Participants will receive materials.

Cross-Curricular Teaching with Dual Language  

Our presentation's focus will be on how to implement cross-curricular content to support student learning in reading, math, science, and social studies. Ms. Galindo and I are both teaching partners and have experience in planning activities, questions, visuals, and anchor charts to best support ongoing learning in all subject areas. In this presentation, we will use second grade as an example but this collaboration can be implemented for any grade level. Being able to work hand in hand with your teaching partner is essential and during this presentation, we will give examples on how to effectively practice that in the classroom. Examples will include ideas on how to expose the students to both content and language-supporting strategies such as gestures, visuals, sentence stems, and vocabulary to promote ongoing learning. 

Engaging Vocabulary Strategies  (Elementary) Face to Face

In this presentation, we will discuss how vocabulary is implemented when connecting background knowledge. Background knowledge is a critical component not just for us reading/writing teachers, but across all subject areas and being familiar with the vocabulary is essential for students to master their learning objectives. Through various hands-on activities, we will demonstrate and collaborate with teachers on effective strategies implemented that our EB students enjoy using and help them succeed. Research shows in order for students to comprehend and connect they must be presented vocabulary, not in the textbook as traditional or writing it down in a notebook, but rather include multiple opportunities of practice where students are allowed to hear, speak, read, and write.

Frog Street's Music and Movement   

This upbeat course shows educators how to create meaningful and pleasurable music and movement experiences for children. Studies show that children can learn concepts, such as patterns, rhymes, shapes, and vocabulary, through music. The combination of music and movement enhances a child’s physical and cognitive development.

Increasing Student Ownership with NearPod (Elementary) 

This beginner-friendly presentation will focus on using basic NearPod functions to generate interactive opportunities for students to collaborate. We will address how students can practice listening, speaking, and writing skills during content-specific lessons. Although math content will be used in the presentation, the skills and knowledge gained in this presentation can be used across content areas! 

Looking Closer at Writing Mini-Lessons Within Benchmark Writer's Workshop/Taller de escritor in a K-1 Classroom (3 hour session) (Primary and Elementary)

Provided by Benchmark, participants will review the instructional design of Benchmark Writer's Workshop resources.  Teachers will review the importance of a writing environment to build community.  Teachers will explore types of writing sessions and how they support students as they grow as writers. 

Making Every Moment Count in the Bilingual Classroom  (Primary) 

This interactive session will focus on creating developmentally appropriate bilingual and dual-language classroom environments that support learning through play and community building. Practical research-based strategies for teaching skills through intentionally designed literacy learning centers will be shared. 

Planting the SEED: Cultivating a classroom of Teaching and Learning with  Scaffolded Lessons, TEKS, and DI so ALL students grow and flourish. (Elementary) (3 Hour session)

Join Ms. Dorito for this professional development session.  Elementary school teachers will leave feeling equipped, inspired, and empowered to scaffold lessons effectively using the Texas State Standards (TEKS) while meeting the diverse needs of Multilingual Learners (MLs) and ALL students. With a repertoire of strategies, a renewed belief in their students, and a toolbox of foolproof instructional techniques, participants will embark on a transformative journey towards fostering inclusive and impactful learning experiences. That is, if you B.E.L.I.E.V.E.! 

Planting the Seeds to Meet Their Needs - Primary Session (Primary) 

Participants in this session will learn the best practices that will support student ownership and superior outcomes in classroom management. Participants will be provided with many strategies and procedures that will help them create a culturally and linguistically responsive environment to support emergent bilinguals in their journey toward biliteracy. From morning messages to daily routines and procedures to nursery rhymes and songs that will assist students in their cross-linguistic transfer, this presentation is a high-energy, engaging demonstration full of activities that will build knowledge and foundational skills across content areas. 

 Promoting Student Comprehension Using Story Baskets (Primary) 

What happens during and/or after the Read-Aloud? Have you ever wondered how you can promote your students’ understanding?

Engagement is key! Research suggests storytelling engages areas of the brain that process complex information, which supports the building of background knowledge.  

Join us for some of the other non-traditional stories that we currently see in the PreK - K classrooms!  In this session, teachers will receive ideas and some materials to start their own story baskets for the classroom where students can engage in storytelling, story extensions, and /or change the endings through story baskets. 

Raising the Bar: Teaching EBs with Depth and Complexity Part A (Elementary)  3 hour GT Credit

Who is the gifted multilingual learner? What are the characteristics of gifted multilingual children? This session will emphasize classroom instruction that encourages multilingual learners to exhibit in-depth, complex thinking while also increasing their achievement and proficiency in English. Participants will explore ways to combine the thinking model of Depth and Complexity with Sheltered Instruction in classroom instruction. Examples of activities that structure classroom interaction for multilingual learners to use academic vocabulary will be provided. These activities provide students opportunities to listen, speak, read, and write while at the same time thinking in in-depth, complex ways. 

Thinking Aloud: Modeling the Thought Process for Our EB's (Primary and Elementary) 

Comprehension plays a pivotal role in language development. As EBs grow in their reading fluency, we must also guide them through the thinking process of comprehension. Throughout this session, we will explore ways in which Think Alouds can be incorporated into CKLA and Eureka lessons in order to move beyond simply modeling the steps, to explaining the thinking behind them. 

¡Tilde o no tilde, esa es la cuestión! Aprendamos a usar la tilde de forma creativa y sin confusiones" (Primary and Elementary) 

Algunos consideran que saber marcar el acento ortográfico o tilde es un verdadero arte; su uso modifica cómo se pronuncia una palabra e incluso su significado. A menudo nos centramos en memorizar las reglas. En este taller, revisaremos las actividades de conciencia fonológica que nos permiten comprender dónde se marca el acento ortográfico o tilde y su razón. Además, revisaremos los criterios para determinar cuándo utilizar y aplicar los conocimientos y estrategias adecuados (procedural knowledge).

Así pues, ¡aprendamos el arte de usar el acento ortográfico o tilde mediante estrategias que activan nuestras habilidades cognitivas y creativas! 

Total Participation Techniques (All Levels) 

Do you have the same handful of students who are eager to answer your questions and participate in the classroom?  How do we motivate ALL our students to think and be actively engaged? This session will provide teachers with a variety of engaging activities that will ensure student ownership. 

Art & Books - A Match Made in Heaven for Wellness Growth  (Primary and Elementary) 

Now more than ever, the arts are essential to promote creative skills and critical thinking, and growth in students’ social-emotional learning. How can we include art-focused activities within lessons in the short time that we have with our students? Come to this session to receive tips and tricks from a former special education teacher and now a librarian.   

Cross-Linguistic Connections: Going Beyond the Cognates  (Primary and Elementary) 

During this session, participants will learn about multiple ways to create Cross- Linguistic Connections using the Sound-Spelling Transfer Kit.  They will also learn other additional resources to use Explicit Instruction to teach OWDL EBs how to connect the Spanish and English languages.

Examples of strategies and resources will be shared. 

Effective Questioning within a CKLA Lesson  (Elementary) 

Questions and questioning are present throughout the CKLA curriculum, however, are we using these questions effectively? Participants will have the opportunity to explore CKLA lessons and the questions contained within them. Modeling of effective questioning strategies and scaffolding for EBs will be provided. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to plan and practice with a lesson of their own!

Explorando nuestras raíces lingüísticas ¡El español y el inglés tienen más cosas en común de lo que pensamos!   (All Levels) 

Uno de nuestros principales objetivos como educadores bilingües es fomentar el desarrollo de la capacidad de análisis de nuestros estudiantes a la hora de aprender español e inglés para así desarrollar su capacidad de aplicar su conocimiento en situaciones del mundo real. Durante este taller práctico, repasaremos la historia del español y del inglés, y compararemos y contrastaremos los elementos que comparten. Además, utilizaremos estrategias prácticas para implementar en el aula que nos permitirán poner en práctica conceptos de lingüística aplicada (competencia metalingüística).

 Guiding Students to Construct Quality Written Responses to Open-Ended Questions Across (Elementary) 

Writing is an instrument of thinking that allows students to express their thoughts and helps them understand and share their perceptions of the world around them. If students are to be successful in school, at work, and in their personal lives, they must learn to write. Teachers can give students power in their world by teaching them to write and to write well. In this session, teachers will explore different strategies to promote writing in their classrooms, such as: Responding with RACE, Mix and Match with Constructed Responses & Writing Windows. 

Internalizing English Language Development through PVR with CKLA (Elementary) 

A great strategy to connect English and Spanish is through PVR: Preview, View, Review.  Teachers will have the opportunity to internalize a lesson and learn how to use the PVR strategy for English Language Development in a CKLA lesson. 

Looking Closer at Writing Mini-Lessons Within Benchmark Writer's Workshop/Taller de escritor in a K-1 Classroom (3 hour session) (Primary and Elementary) (Continuation from8:30 session)

Provided by Benchmark, participants will review the instructional design of Benchmark Writer's Workshop resources.  Teachers will review the importance of a writing environment to build community.  Teachers will explore types of writing sessions and how they support students as they grow as writers. 

Making Every Moment Count in the Bilingual Classroom  (Primary) 

This interactive session will focus on creating developmentally appropriate bilingual and dual-language classroom environments that support learning through play and community building. Practical research-based strategies for teaching skills through intentionally designed literacy learning centers will be shared. 

Raising the Bar: Teaching EBs with Depth and Complexity Part A (Elementary)  3-hour GT credit (continuation from 8:30)

Who is the gifted multilingual learner? What are the characteristics of gifted multilingual children? This session will emphasize classroom instruction that encourages multilingual learners to exhibit in-depth, complex thinking while also increasing their achievement and proficiency in English. Participants will explore ways to combine the thinking model of Depth and Complexity with Sheltered Instruction in classroom instruction. Examples of activities that structure classroom interaction for multilingual learners to use academic vocabulary will be provided. These activities provide students opportunities to listen, speak, read, and write while at the same time thinking in in-depth, complex ways. 

Say More About That !! Mathematical Discourse in the Eureka Classroom (Elementary) 

Participants will be able to facilitate great conversations in this session. Teachers will provide students with opportunities to engage in mathematical argumentation and conceptual explanations improves students’ learning (Chapin, O’Connor, & Anderson, 2009).

The focus is that we will show best instructional practices to enhance student discourse in order to Help teachers evaluate misconceptions and help students to Reflect on their own understanding.

Participants will have hands-on experiences with ELLevation strategies and examine questioning strategies through group and partner work. 

Small Bites - Small Group Instruction for EBs  (Primary) 

This session will provide PreK - K teachers with a variety of hands-on activities and resources that can be used to pre-plan or respond to students’ differentiated needs during small group instruction. Teachers will understand how to use these resources to build a strong foundation for phonological awareness, phonics and decoding, and more. 

Small Moves: Big Gains: Examining Teacher Habits that Help Students to Talk More, Think more, and Achieve More ( Primary) 

In this session, participants will acquire knowledge of high-yield strategies that benefit all types of learners. We will examine the text "Small Moves: Big Gains" by Nancy Motely, and learn the practical steps for turning the moves into automatic habits by showing how to do them, why they are significant, and possible variations. Participants will leave with a plethora of new knowledge and materials that will help them with implementation. 

ST Math Puzzle Talk Foundations Grades K-2 (Primary and Elementary) 

Learn to engage students in rich mathematical discourse and creative problem-solving using ST Math.  During this in-depth workshop, educators will experience a Puzzle Talk, explore Puzzle Talks at their grade level, and create a plan to integrate Puzzle Talks into their practice 

 Work Smarter not Harder: Using Benchmark to Teach SLA in the Social Studies Classroom  ( Elementary) 

It is no secret that there are never enough minutes in the instructional day.  In this workshop, participants will learn how to explicitly teach SLA using Benchmark resources in the Social Studies classroom.  There will be an emphasis on scaffolding questions and instruction around Spanish Language Arts standards utilizing texts within Benchmark that align with Social Studies TEKS.  Specific opportunities will be provided for participants to look at question stems from STAAR (including the new item types introduced in 2023) and how to weave these opportunities into explicit instruction that provides multiple opportunities to teach for transfer in students' primary language as well as look at ways to bridge these practices into English. 

Anchoring Mathematical Discourse through Interactive Anchor Charts(Primary and Elementary) 

The presentation would focus on providing and modeling an example of an interactive anchor chart, turn and learn, and sentence stems that supports language directly from a Eureka lesson. Time would then be given to educators to internalize a Eureka lesson in a group and work together to develop a purposeful and curriculum-aligned anchor chart, turn and learn, and sentence stems support for that lesson.

 Bringing Words to Life: Vocabulary Beyond Definitions (Elementary) 

Stuck in a rut with vocabulary? Looking for new ways to engage your students in lasting word-meaning instruction? Well-planned vocabulary activities can lead to the true internalization of words, their use, and their meanings. In this presentation, participants will engage in vocabulary activities that can be embedded into CKLA instruction. They will then select an upcoming lesson of their own and try out a new activity with their peers! 

Building a Classroom Community Through Cooperative Learning Engaging Vocabulary Strategies (Primary and Elementary)

This presentation will focus on engaging strategies that can be used in a classroom to promote cooperative learning amongst our EB students. We will be sharing activities that will encourage our students to build their academic conversations, reading skills, and writing skills. In order for a student to be successful in class, they will need to be comfortable enough to truly express their learning and thinking process without focusing on if their answers or responses are right or wrong. Research shows that a cooperative learning environment increases EB students' participation and self-esteem. 

Building Better Writers (Elementary)

Participants in this session will have an opportunity to gain insight into the unique needs of emergent bilingual writers by obtaining information from the book, "Building Better Writers" by Natalia Heckman. The author addresses practical strategies to address these needs. We will dissect the book to learn about instruction at the sentence level, instruction at the paragraph level, and instruction at the composition level. Finally, participants will leave with acquired knowledge of 60 different activities they can use in their classrooms. 

 Building Science Language (Elementary) 

Words. Words. Words.  Students struggle to understand the meaning and make connections with the words in the Science context.  In this session, we will transform vocabulary words into interactive teaching tools to help build vocabulary knowledge, which is crucial to students' academic success. This session will be hands-on, interactive, and collaborative to showcase effective vocabulary instruction to help bridge the gaps. 

From Struggle to Success: Language Strategies for Emergent Bilinguals (Primary) 

Research suggests students who are appropriately challenged tend to be more engaged and are more likely to be successful in their learning. Creating a classroom environment that promotes student engagement can facilitate language acquisition in EBs. including in Speaking, listening, and reading skills. Teachers will have the opportunity to walk away with instructional ideas to implement immediately in the classroom and 2 books to support the implementation of language strategies in the classroom. 

 Frog Street's Music and Movement (PK) 

 This upbeat course shows educators how to create meaningful and pleasurable music and movement experiences for children. Studies show that children can learn concepts, such as patterns, rhymes, shapes, and vocabulary, through music. The combination of music and movement enhances a child’s physical and cognitive development.

Literacy & Art for Young Students 2.0  (Primary and Elementary) 

Come make art with me! Making connections between children’s books and hands-on experiences. Participants will use children’s books to build background and provide young learners with visual supports before making a piece of artwork. Participants will be taken through an art lesson that uses both English and Spanish children’s books.

Looking Closer at Writing Mini-Lessons Within Benchmark Writer's Workshop/Taller de escritor in a K-1 Classroom (3 hour session) (Primary and Elementary) 

Provided by Benchmark, participants will review the instructional design of Benchmark Writer's Workshop resources.  Teachers will review the importance of a writing environment to build community.  Teachers will explore types of writing sessions and how they support students as they grow as writers. 

Más allá de cat - mat - hat… Conciencia Fonológica en el salón Bilingüe/Lenguaje Dual  (Primary) Face to Face

La conciencia fonológica es muy importante para la lectura tanto en inglés como en español. Los participantes aprenderán diferentes estrategias para desarrollar la conciencia fonológica en sus estudiantes usando canciones y rimas tradicionales y originales en español 

Planting the SEED: Cultivating a classroom of Teaching and Learning with  Scaffolded Lessons, TEKS, and DI so ALL students grow and flourish. (Elementary) (3 hour session)

Join Ms. Dorito for this professional development session.  Elementary school teachers will leave feeling equipped, inspired, and empowered to scaffold lessons effectively using the Texas State Standards (TEKS) while meeting the diverse needs of Multilingual Learners (MLs) and ALL students. With a repertoire of strategies, a renewed belief in their students, and a toolbox of foolproof instructional techniques, participants will embark on a transformative journey towards fostering inclusive and impactful learning experiences. That is, if you B.E.L.I.E.V.E.! 

ST Math Puzzle Talk Foundations Grades 3-5 (Elementary) 

Learn to engage students in rich mathematical discourse and creative problem-solving using ST Math.  During this in-depth workshop, educators will experience a Puzzle Talk, explore Puzzle Talks at their grade level, and create a plan to integrate Puzzle Talks into their practice. 

Turning the Pages: Manga for Elementary (Elementary)

You may have heard of the word “manga” among elementary students, especially in recent years. But what is it exactly? Manga is generally used to describe comics that originated in Japan, and over time, due to cultural globalization, extended its reach all over the world. Manga allows students who are considered reluctant readers and who fall in the special populations' category to be immersed in reading. There are many levels to manga, especially what to consider when developing a collection geared toward elementary students. In this presentation, educators will be able to gather tips on how to get started with manga while creating engaging lessons focusing on writing and storytelling. 

 Building Science Language  (Primary and Elementary) Face to Face

Words. Words. Words.  Students struggle to understand the meaning and make connections with the words in the Science context.  In this session, we will transform vocabulary words into interactive teaching tools to help build vocabulary knowledge, which is crucial to students' academic success. This session will be hands-on, interactive, and collaborative to showcase effective vocabulary instruction to help bridge the gaps.   

Crafting and Communication: Makerspace in the ELL Program  (Primary and Elementary) Face to Face

Students need various opportunities to practice communication and critical thinking when they are creating hands-on, worthwhile products. Enter maker spaces! Topics in this session will include samples, hands-on experiences with different stations currently in use, and how to start a maker space within your classroom and budget  (yes, grants will be discussed)! 

Differentiating the 5E's for EBs  (Elementary) 

We learn in many different ways and through many different modalities and sources. Teachers have always been aware of these learning differences and have tried to accommodate and individualize learning to fit students’ needs. At times, this task of differentiating can feel overwhelming and insurmountable in terms of how to address each child’s need separately or mistakenly through defined learning styles. Come and Learn how to tweak your lessons for more student ownership in the 5E's for Emergent Bilinguals. 

Looking Closer at Writing Mini-Lessons Within Benchmark Writer's Workshop/Taller de escritor in a K-1 Classroom (3 hour session) (Primary and Elementary) 

Provided by Benchmark, participants will review the instructional design of Benchmark Writer's Workshop resources.  Teachers will review the importance of a writing environment to build community.  Teachers will explore types of writing sessions and how they support students as they grow as writers. 

Más allá de cat - mat - hat… Conciencia Fonológica en el salón Bilingüe/Lenguaje Dual  (Primary) Face to Face

La conciencia fonológica es muy importante para la lectura tanto en inglés como en español. Los participantes aprenderán diferentes estrategias para desarrollar la conciencia fonológica en sus estudiantes usando canciones y rimas tradicionales y originales en español 

 Oracy in the Classroom: Creating Variety in Student Discourse (Elementary) Face to Face

From setting expectations to supporting discourse in your class; this session aims to support you and provide more ideas to facilitate student discussions to support Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and Social Studies. 

Oral Language Development for EB's Across Content Areas (Primary and Elementary) Face to Face

The objective of this session is to assist teachers in making academic language accessible in the classroom.  Making content comprehensible and building academic language are key components to the academic success of our emergent bilingual students.  When we understand their speaking proficiency levels, we can help them meet their language goals with activities geared specifically to their academic needs.   Sources: Diverse Learner Flipbook by Seidlitz; Growing Language & Literacy by Honingsfeld. 

Proudly Playing with Puppets for a Purpose - Literacy Strategies for EBs and More (Primary) Face to Face

This session will provide teachers with outside-of-the-box strategies to incorporate a built-in co-teacher (a friendly puppet) to support oracy and literacy development including phonological awareness and building background knowledge.

Research suggests puppets are useful tools in getting children's attention, providing support to act out various scenarios, and encouraging an endless imagination. Teachers will walk away with their puppets and book in hand. 

Structured Literacy Instruction For Emergent Bilinguals  (Primary and Elementary) Face to Face

During this session, participants will explore each of the components of Structured Literacy along with evidence-based strategies for lesson design and effective implementation. We will reference the work of Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan as we present the essential components of Structured Literacy; discuss special considerations for the implementation of Structured Literacy among emergent bilinguals; highlight cross-linguistic features for the development of second language and literacy skills.