An Elementary “Project-Based Learning” Experience [PBL]- Amy Jarosinski and Rhonda Marasco

Project-Based Learning (PBL) can be done at any level! This instructional approach encourages critical-thinking, investigative skills and heightened creativity for all students.  While using “The Genius Hour” and an extension-project, via the Addie Model for instructional design and learning, MES Gifted students explored and investigated the concept of intrinsic motivation and “giftedness” using research, the writing process/MLA format, project design/Gallery Walks, a student book publication and Gifted Showcase, highlighting their independent projects.  This PBL experience is a student-driven, two-year project, culminating at the close of May 2025. MES teachers, Rhonda and Amy, will share their original design and implementation of PBL in an elementary setting where history, ELA and Gifted merge, creating a unique learning experience for elementary students. Grades K-3, Grades 4-6 AI & Technology, Community Connections, Social-Emotional Learning, Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum, Best Practices in ELA

Unfolding the Story: Engaging Activities to Kickstart a Novel Study- Tracy McNelly, Angel Scalamogna, Kennedy Sheriff,  and Matthew Elam

This presentation explores interactive activities designed to capture students’ attention and spark curiosity as they begin a novel study. Attendees will discover innovative strategies to introduce themes, characters, and settings, while fostering critical thinking and a love for reading from the very first page. This session provides practical tools for making the opening of any novel an unforgettable experience for students.  Grades 4-6, Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12

 Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum, Best Practices in ELA

Amplifying Student Voices Through Slam and Spoken Word Poetry: Culturally Sustaining and Socially Engaged Learning in the ELA Classroom -  Katie Katkich

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how slam and spoken word poetry can be powerful tools for engaging students, promoting culturally-sustaining pedagogy, and fostering social-emotional growth. Through hands-on activities, such as poem analysis, free-writing, and small-group collaboration, educators will discover practical strategies to center student voices and build community within the classroom. Attendees will leave with concrete lesson plans, assessment ideas, and the confidence to host their own poetry slams, creating a safe and supportive space for students to explore their identities and express themselves creatively. This session will equip 9-12 teachers with innovative techniques that can be immediately applied to foster student engagement and empower young poets in the classroom.

Grades 10-12 Culturally-Sustaining Pedagogy, Community Connections, Social-Emotional Learning, Best Practices in ELA

Social Studies and ELA: The Perfect Match -  Jeffrey Kuntz 

This session will connect the PA ELA Core Standards with social studies content. In this day of the rigor of the PA Core Standards, the content of social studies and science must be connected in as many ways as possible. The activities presented in this session will include social studies content used with ELA Core. Social Studies informational texts, reading strategies, room transformations, song writing, writing strategies, and vocabulary development will be explored. 

Grades 4-6 Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum

Writing and Using Book Rationales - Sarah Miller

Do you know what a book rationale is? Do you know how to write or use one? In this interactive session, you’ll learn more about book rationales, NCTE’s rationale database, and how to use this resource in practical ways in your classroom. Many elements have relevance across grade levels but we will also break into grade level bands to discuss slight alterations needed to make rationales the most effective for your circumstances. Grades K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12

Sparking Students' Studies Through Self-Selected Texts - Katie Monsour

Research highlights that reading offers significant intellectual, social-emotional, and psychological benefits, which are further amplified when students self-select texts and topics (Wilhelm and Smith, 2016). By encouraging student choice, classrooms become more dynamic and transformative, fostering deeper engagement and critical thinking. This session explores the research behind these benefits, demonstrating practical strategies for implementing self-selected texts. Through interactive activities and discussions, participants will learn how to incorporate these approaches into their own classrooms, enhancing student curiosity and ownership of learning. Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 Culturally-Sustaining Pedagogy, Community Connections, Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum, Best Practices in ELA

 Who tells your story? Narrative Writing and the Auto Drama project : Exploring Personal Narratives Through Solo Performances - Miriam Necastro

How do we learn from our words in the ways that we talk to ourselves and each other? Is there common ground we share in our stories that cross time, space, and background? I explore personal narratives through monologues and solo performances helping students develop their storytelling, writing skills, and acting while exploring how personal experiences can be transformed into dramatic art, fostering confidence, personal connection, and growth.  Grades 10-12 Social-Emotional Learning, Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum

The Power of PBL: Cultivating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers through Community Collaboration - Gina Ligouri,  Pam DiIanni, and Kara Olshenske

This breakout session will explore the key principles of PBL (project-based learning) with real-world applications for a high school classroom. Strategies for implementing PBL to foster a deeper understanding and critical thinking will be shared. Additionally, this session will discuss the importance of community collaboration, showcasing examples of how to connect students with local organizations to create enriching partnerships while engaging an authentic audience. You will leave this session with the tools and strategies to create a dynamic, collaborative learning experience for your students.  Grades 10-12  AI & Technology, Community Connections, Social-Emotional Learning, Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum

Dragons, Cryptids, and Dinos, OH MY! - JD Donnelly

Learn how to craft vibrant, exotic creature characters for your stories and artwork by studying zoology, paleontology, folklore, history, and a menagerie of other authors’ work. We will also dissect a dragon—from inspiration, to designing, to writing his story and crafting a maquette for drawing. 

Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12  Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum, Best Practices in ELA

Fostering Flow: AI-based Strategies to Inspire Student Writing - Aspen Mock
Educators will discover innovative ways to integrate popular AI tools such as MagicSchool AI, Humy Ai, Parlay Universe, Co-Storm and more into their writing curriculum. Participants will explore various AI resources that support and inspire student creativity, enabling them to express their ideas effectively through the written word. The session focuses on edtech-infused instructional design that fosters engagement, collaboration and revision, ultimately enhancing students' writing skills. By the end of the session, educators will be equipped with practical strategies to leverage AI technology for supporting student writing in a variety of genres.

Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 AI & Technology, Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum, Best Practices in ELA

Combatting Artificial Intelligence Plagiarism through Authentic Writing Instruction - Emily Malovich

With AI now an inextricable part of the educational landscape, many writing teachers have encountered students relying on AI to complete their assignments. However, AI use is difficult to detect, and punishing students for AI plagiarism does not address the underlying issues. How can teachers design writing instruction that deters students from AI plagiarism in the first place? This session will explore theories that may shed light on students’ motivation for using AI. We will examine authentic writing instruction as a preemptive solution and brainstorm ways to redesign existing writing tasks for increased authenticity and engagement. Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12  AI & Technology, Best Practices in ELA

Empowering Writing: Navigating the Writing Process with ChatGPT - Mark Curcio

Join us for an engaging session on the innovative use of ChatGPT/AI in writing. Discover how to integrate AI at every stage—from brainstorming to editing—boosting creativity and efficiency. We’ll explore ethical considerations, authenticity, and originality, ensuring you understand how to navigate this evolving landscape. Whether you’re an educator or a writer, you’ll gain valuable insights to enhance your skills and foster better writing habits. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in a dynamic discussion about the tools that are transforming writing today. The future is here—let’s explore it together! Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 AI & Technology, Best Practices in ELA

Writer's Autobiographies: The Spark that can Ignite Students' Identities as Writers -Hannah Lewis

When we invite students to see themselves as writers, we empower them to teach and learn from one another. When they share their writing lives with us, we can discover roadblocks or passions we may never have, otherwise. And when we invite them to think critically about the power literacy gives them, send them forth to write the world. Join me as I share some of the literacy autobiography assignments I've given to my students (across a range of grade levels) and the valuable lessons I've learned about and from my students' writing lives. Grades 10-12 Best Practices in ELA, Culturally-Sustaining Pedagogy

Building Connections in the Classroom Using Social Media  - Costello Keene, Tristin Viale, and Madison Walko 

The 21st century is marked by the remarkable growth of social media. In the past 20 years, the digital world has rapidly evolved and has left a profound impact on education by shaping the way we think about and define literacy (Young, Kajder 4). This has made teaching in the ELA classroom more difficult for teachers who are not well-versed in social media and those who do not know how to begin incorporating it into their classroom pedagogies. Therefore, in this presentation, we will demystify social media and the emergence of new digital literacies for educators by describing its evolution, arguing the importance of integrating social media in the classroom to foster digital literacy, drive student communication and creativity, and to close the digital gap between ELA educators and students. Then, we will offer suggestions and examples of how to embrace social media in the classroom in an accessible manner for teachers. 

Grades 4-6, Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 AI & Technology, Culturally-Sustaining Pedagogy

Finding the Right Words: Empowering Voice with Black-out & Collage Poetry- Debbie Coppula 

Looking for a new approach to helping students connect with and express their cultural identities through creative, critical engagement with texts?  During this interactive workshop, we will practice the techniques of blackout and collage poetry, reflecting on how they transform texts into meaningful personalized pieces -- and how this process empowers writers to discover and develop  their unique voices. Then, we will brainstorm options for selecting texts that resonate with students’ backgrounds, that facilitate poetry creation, and that spark conversations on identity, culture, and social justice. Finally, we will collaboratively develop practical strategies for classroom application and select texts to try with students. Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 Culturally-Sustaining Pedagogy

The Pop Culture Classroom: Using Pop Culture to Connect Content and Build an SEL Classroom- William Visco

This session looks to engage participants in an active discussion about building a pop culture classroom that incorporates the social-emotional needs and culture of students. Examples of instructional pop culture teaching practices and social teaching practices that support student well-being will be provided and discussed.

Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12  Social-Emotional Learning, Best Practices in ELA

Enhancing the Writing Process with AI: Scaffolded Support for Student Success - Jenna Copper and Sam Fecich Many educators worry about AI misuse in academic writing. However, when integrated thoughtfully, AI can support, not replace, student writing. This presentation will show how AI can enhance the writing process, offering differentiated instruction for diverse learners through personalized support in brainstorming, outlining, editing, and revising. Attendees will learn about specific AI tools that assist at each stage of writing and leave with strategies to effectively incorporate these tools into their instruction, enhancing student learning while maintaining academic integrity.

Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 AI & Technology, Best Practices in ELA

Stick With Me: Innovative Ideas Using Post-its for Quick Assessments - Trish Shine

Use post-its for fun, quick, and easy means of assessing and checking for understanding while also employing writing across the curriculum. Grades K-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum

Enhancing Reading Comprehension and Storytelling with AI-Generated Images- Jason M. Kosmiski

Dive into the transformative power of AI-generated images to elevate student engagement and learning in the classroom! In this session, educators will explore how AI can be leveraged to create visuals that enhance reading comprehension and storytelling. Participants will learn practical strategies to pair AI visuals with texts, enabling students to better understand complex narratives, visualize abstract ideas, and develop creative stories. Whether you're looking to spark student interest in literature, support struggling readers, or inspire imaginative writing, this session will equip you with innovative tools and techniques to make learning more dynamic and accessible. Join us to reimagine the intersection of technology, literacy, and creativity!  

Grades K-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 AI & Technology

Teaching AI and Ethics in the Public School - Scott Tuffiash

In November 2022, Open AI publicly released Chat GPT. Teaching writing became increasingly complex, month by month. Two years later, the scope and scale of AI disruptions within and outside of the ELA classroom seems vast. But within that stream of change, we also have many teachable moments. I'll share my experience researching and developing semester-long high school courses due to GPT disruptions: AI and Ethics is one course, Human Flourishing is the other. This is now the majority of my daily teaching schedule and I will share how students are engaging in these topics you might seek to teach.  Grades 10-12  AI & Technology, Culturally-Sustaining Pedagogy, Best Practices in ELA

Supporting Positive Thinking Through Literacy - Miriam Necastro

How can we take what we read and look for or create a ‘silver lining’? How do we learn from our words in the ways that we talk to ourselves and each other? Is there common ground we share in our stories that cross time, space, and background? I explore the answers to these questions with my students through journaling, crafting personal mantras and affirmations; reading texts such as as Maus, Persepolis, and Kent State ; utilizing content and activities from Teach Rock and  RockHallEdu, the educational classroom of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame + Museum.  Grades 10-12 Social-Emotional Learning, Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum, Best Practices in ELA

Using Short Films to Teach Cultural Diversity - James Ingoldsby

This session is aimed at helping instructors inject greater diversity into the cultural picture of their curriculum through lesson planning around short films. Teen Screen is a free film program which offers fifteen unique shorts programs, each highlighting different cultural and disability communities. We want to help you put these and other films into conversation with the novels, stories, and other learning occurring in your ELA classroom. We will focus on how greater film literacy can be leveraged into greater cultural literacy. Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 Censorship, Culturally-Sustaining Pedagogy, Community Connections, Social-Emotional Learning

When Parents Question your Curriculum - Hannah Lewis 

Since I began teaching, challenges to assignments/texts have virtually been part of my job description. As a cyber charter teacher, I've found that many students' families tend to be hypervigilant against perceived threats to their families' religious, political, or cultural values. I've worked with parents for years to find solutions for them and their kids. In this era of book bans and challenges, I suggest that revisiting our approaches to families may lead to positive outcomes for our job satisfaction, families' trust, and students' learning. In this discussion-based session, those with differing points of view are most welcome! Grades 10-12 Censorship, Community Connections, Best Practices in ELA

Writing for Submission and Awards - Leslie Wessner

Learn about the Scholastic Writing Awards: Submission process, awards, scholarships, and student recognition! Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 Best Practices in ELA, Reading & Writing Across the Curriculum