K-12 Teacher Sessions

Have you ever been frustrated by student presentations that are static and predictable? The presenters are self-conscious, the audience is bored, and you’re regretting ever planning the assignment. There’s got to be a better way! This workshop explores how to equip students with tools of leadership while inspiring creativity. I’ll walk you through a unit that empowers student leadership, share exemplars, and provide resources you can adapt. Using Design Thinking, students learn to empathize with teachers and peers while building transfer skills and enduring understandings. Though my example comes from Grade 9 Social Studies, this workshop is for everyone. After years of having students take on the role of teacher, I’ve learned that with the right support, they can all be leaders—and all show that “they understood the assignment,” as Gen Zers say.  

In "The presentation is 2-fold: 1– Addressing Real-world Problems Through 3D Design. 2– Sustaining Student Focus with a Balance of Collaboration and Creativity," Mike Sissons explores the question: How can we design projects that encourage student engagement and real-world thinking? This session aligns with ASM’s vision of innovation by connecting design thinking to authentic community challenges through a 3D prosthetics project. Attendees will leave with an understanding of how creative thinking in problem-solving can inspire and sustain student focus. Ideal for teachers. The illustrative examples were done in Upper School but have cross-grade potential. 

In this session, Daniel reflects on his central inquiry: “What is my impact as a coach?” Through a mix of stories and data collected at ASM, he paints a picture of different coaching strategies and the impacts that they had on teachers in the inquiry coaching cycle. Participants will gain insights about data gathered from coaching cycles, stories of coaching at ASM, and the impact of innovative practices. This session is ideal for coaches, leaders, and teachers curious about building a reflective, growth-oriented culture.  

How can AI help teachers and families focus on what really matters in learning? This session explores how AI-assisted planning can streamline inquiry-based teaching—mapping standards to meaningful questions, curating authentic texts, and generating accessible rubrics—so students spend more time thinking and creating. Drawing on classroom examples, attendees will see how purposeful AI use supports rigor, differentiation, and engagement without adding busywork. Designed for families, this session highlights practical takeaways for home learning and shares the lasting impact of ASM’s January AI professional development.

Neil’s session is a reflective exploration of how language is used, modeled, and interpreted in the classroom. He invites attendees to consider how everyday words shape student understanding, behavior, perceptions of success and how language through ATLs can be a cultural force in teaching and learning. The session contributes to ASM’s innovation work by highlighting the often-unseen role of communication in identity formation, inquiry, and community building. Ideal for educators and families alike, this session is a “work in progress” that welcomes dialogue and shared reflection.  

How can advisory practices be transformed to foster belonging and give students greater ownership of their learning and community experience? This session explores how reimagining advisory can build stronger connections and empower students as active participants in their learning journey. By transforming advisory into a space for meaningful relationships, reflection, and student leadership, this project focuses on ways learners can co-create experiences that reflect their values and voices. Through our focus on belonging and agency, students develop empathy, confidence, and purpose, skills essential for thriving in a diverse, interconnected world.

Can engineering practices help students deepen their understanding of science while learning skills that last a lifetime? In this session, two middle school teachers share how their students explore scientific concepts through hands-on STEAM projects—designing, building, and creating with real-world purpose. As students collaborate, persevere, and problem-solve, they also gain practical life skills like woodworking, sewing, cooking, and design thinking. Attendees will see how engagement increases when students take the driver’s seat in their learning and how balancing content and skills builds confident, capable young scientists.

The International Baccalaureate challenges students to think critically about the world — including the systems, ideologies, and assumptions that shape it. In this thought-provoking session, Minami Seki explores how IBDP Economics can serve as a lens for examining gender identity and inequality, connecting classroom inquiry to broader social and political realities. Drawing on Paulo Freire’s Teachers as Cultural Workers and John Palfrey’s Safe Spaces, Brave Spaces, Minami argues that all education is inherently political — and that cultivating students’ agency requires courage to engage in conversations about gender, sexuality, and power. Attendees will leave with a deeper awareness of how bias operates in educational systems and strategies to foster more equitable, inclusive, and critically engaged learning spaces.

ASM's Grade 4 Team presents a practical, thoughtful approach to supporting 9–10-year-olds in their character development. Their session explores how relationships, empathy, and responsibility are cultivated in the classroom and beyond. It’s aligned with ASM’s innovation model by focusing on the whole child and building strong social foundations in tandem with academic growth. This session is valuable for all members of our community. 

Upper School Language & Literature Teacher

What happens when students learn to see their own thinking? In this session, Maribel Gómez shares how Visible Thinking Routines have transformed her IB Language & Literature classroom—helping students prepare for Paper 2 while building habits of reflection, reasoning, and curiosity that transfer far beyond the exam. Through simple, powerful routines, students learn to unpack complex texts, make connections, and express insight with confidence. Join this session to experience the routines firsthand and discover how a culture of thinking can empower learners across subjects to take ownership of their ideas and their learning journey.

How can science education prepare students to solve real-world problems? This interdisciplinary IB project brings together physics, chemistry, biology, exercise science, and environmental systems in a collaborative inquiry set at the zoo. Students investigate complex issues such as animal welfare, sustainability, and human impact—developing flexibility, perseverance, and global awareness along the way. Through authentic observation, measurement, and analysis, they learn that science is connected, applied, and ethical. This session highlights how interdisciplinary collaboration empowers students to think critically, act locally, and create innovative, lasting solutions.

What happens when outdoor play becomes part of learning—and when educators champion every child’s right to play? ASM’s award-winning Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) program has transformed recess into a dynamic, student-driven experience filled with creativity, collaboration, and joy. In this session, we’ll share our journey from traditional playtime to a mentor-supported model that reimagines how children explore, invent, and take risks. Discover how intentional play design improves engagement, strengthens transferable skills, and empowers every child to thrive—both inside and outside the classroom.