October 2021 Sessions

Session Title: All Things Art Education: Best Practices for the Visual Arts Teacher

Presenter: Heidi Rhodes

Session Description: This session is all for art teachers! (yes, you!) Please join us for a roundtable discussion about our favorite hot topics in art education. Topics will include (but not limited to) formative and summative assessments within visual art, social emotional project based learning, advocating for your program, grant writing and budgeting, classroom management, sub lesson plan ideas, art room organization, time management, planning an art exhibit, and more! Bring your experiences to contribute and be prepared to take away strategies to immediately use in your classroom.

Audience: All grade levels

Link to Recorded Session: All Things Art Education: Best Practices for the Visual Arts Teacher

Session Title: Book Love: Inspiring Future Readers

Presenter: Kristine Cooney

Session Description: Book clubs in the classroom can offer a collaborative approach to learning that can engage students in a variety of literary themes and offer students more autonomy in reading. Teachers become facilitators in this student-centered approach by offering a variety of protocols for discussion and tools for managing independent work and group interaction. In this session, participants will learn about impact of allowing students more autonomy in reading and how book clubs can provide more voice and choice for students. Participants will be provided resources for designing and implementing book clubs, including protocols and templates for managing groups and class discussions.  

Audience: Late Elementary-High School, Teachers/Educators

Link to Recorded Session: Book Love: Inspiring Future Readers

Session Title: Building A Scientific Foundation In Preschool

Presenter: William Montgomery and Cathy Brubaker 

Session Description: Participants will actively engage in a learning experience to examine the facets of the nature of science and how it contributes to an excellent foundation for the academic journeys that await their students. Further explorations in STEM integration, classroom discourse, and scientific "habits of mind" will all be discussed and related to the daily activities of the classroom teacher. From this workshop, participants should leave with a better understanding of how we develop scientific thinking and understandings - not only as children but as adults as well.

Audience: 

Link to Recorded Session: Building A Scientific Foundation In Preschool

Session Title: Communication in Special Education

Presenter: Marc Stanley and Joni Orandello

Session Description: Participants will be introduced or reminded of the Special Education Mediation Program and it's role within the Educational system in Michigan.  Participants will learn how to access the services, what the services are, what roles are played, and what the expected outcomes are from within the program. Educators, parents, and administrators will gain important details regarding how a neutral facilitator/mediator can help impact student success and improve communication and relationships throughout the educational journey.

Audience: Everyone

Link to Recorded Session: Communication in Special Education

Session Title: Cybersecurity for Educators

Presenter: Kellie DeLosSantos and CJ Walker

Session Description: There has been enormous increases in cyber attacks on school districts in the past year. Cybercriminals are exposing personally identifiable information, demanding millions of dollars in ransoms, and districts are losing valuable time and money before they are able to regain control of their systems.

As a result of these increased attacks, insurance companies have been paying out millions in ransomware demands. Because of this, insurance companies, lending providers, etc... are placing new requirements to be able to purchase insurance or secure funding for district bonds, loans, etc ... 

Join us to learn how to better protect yourself, students and your school district from cyber attacks. Review the changes that have been made to improve our security and additional changes that may come. 

Audience: All grade levels, Administrators/School Leadership, Teacher/Educator, Support Staff

Link to Recorded Session: Cybersecurity for Educators

Session Title: Delta Math: I’ve Screened...Now What?

Presenter: Heather Holshoe

Session Description: This session is designed to support teachers who have given (or plan to give soon) the Delta Math readiness screener. Next steps and resources will be shared for interventions as well as strategies for Tier 1 Math instruction. Participants will also be offered an opportunity for follow-up math support.

Audience: Early Elementary-High School, Administrators/School Leadership, Community Member, Teacher/Educator

Link to Recorded Session: Delta Math: I’ve Screened...Now What?

Session Title: Easy Video Game Creation For Any Class

Presenter: Du Bui, CJ Walker and Kellie DeLosSantos

Session Description: RPG Playground is a free online game creation tool that allows users to make 2D role-playing games. If you want to incorporate elements of gamification and computer science into your classroom in a fun and engaging way this is an exciting way to do it. Learn how to use RPG Playground to make story-driven role-playing video games that can fit any content area.  

Audience: Late Elementary, Middle School, High School,  Teacher/Educator, Support Staff

Link to Recorded Session: Easy Video Game Creation For Any Class

Session Title: Getting to know Imagine Math (PK-8th)

Presenter: Heather Holshoe

Session Description: This session is for PK-8th grade educators who would like to get to know about the State Funded resource from Imagine Math. This overview will include both the PK-2 Imagine program and the Grades 3+ Imagine program. The Imagine Learning supplemental math programs provide adaptive, age-appropriate learning environments for students in PreK–8 grades. 

Audience: All grade levels, Administrators/School Leadership, Community Member, Teacher/Educator

Link to Recorded Session: Getting to know Imagine Math (PK-8th)

Session Title: Hiding in Plain Sight: Unraveling Implicit Bias

Presenter: Precios Armstong

Session Description: Implicit bias impacts the way in which we interpret and engage in the world around us. As reflective practitioners, its important to name our bias as well as work to eliminate the potential barriers they can create for students and colleagues. Using current research on Implicit Bias, participants will define this concept and identify strategies to mitigate its impact on diverse populations.   

Audience: All grade levels, Administrators/School Leadership, Community Member, Teacher/Educator

Link to Recorded Session: Hiding in Plain Sight: Unraveling Implicit Bias

Session Title: Home Visiting for Educators

Presenter: Caitlin Williams, Becca Hurst, Brittany Carpenter and Jennifer Grant

Session Description: Please join us for a free interactive training centered on building the capacity of educators to effectively engage with the families of their students by incorporating home visiting.

Audience: All grade levels, Administrators/School Leadership, GSRP, Interventionist, Teacher/Educator

Link to Recorded Session: Home Visiting for Educators

Session Title: How Independent Facilitation puts the PERSON in Person-Centered Planning

Presenter: Marc Stanley and Joni Orandello

Session Description: Participants will learn what independent Facilitation is, and what it's role is within the creation and implementation of Mental Health Services plans.  They will be beginning to understand how all mental health service recipients (focus people) should be the drivers of their care, and how the use of a neutral third party can help create better service plans through a thorough facilitation process with the Focus person, their supports and Case service managers to create better and more productive personalized plans.  The presentation will also touch on the Facilitators role in navigation of the mental health process, and connect some dots for minors whose plans may over lap with their educational service needs.

Audience: Everyone

Link to Recorded Session: How Independent Facilitation puts the PERSON in Person-Centered Planning

Session Title: Imagine Math for Current Users (PK-8th grade)

Presenter: Heather Holshoe

Session Description: This session is for current users of the PreK-8th grade State Funded resource from Imagine Math. Educators will be able to experience all that Imagine Math has to offer to make sure they are up to date with the Imagine Learning supplemental math program.  While looking at actionable data educators will have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of personalized learning and reporting that is provided by this adaptive, age-appropriate learning environment for students in PreK–8th grades.

Audience: Preschool-Middle School, Administrators/School Leadership, Teacher/Educator, Interventionist

Link to Recorded Session: Imagine Math for Current Users (PK-8th grade)

Session Title: It Takes a Team: Engaging our Key Stakeholders

Presenter: Janelle Buchler, Scott Buchler, Kelsea Jabkiewicz and Jessica Bucklin

Session Description: We will walk participants through several protocols, tools, and strategies that can be used to capture the voices of students. Local school partners will share how they are using these tools to obtain student voice, support student needs, help form solid connections with staff, and grow the culture of their schools.

Audience: All grade levels, Administrators/School Leadership, Community Member, Teacher/Educator

Link to Recorded Session: It Takes a Team: Engaging our Key Stakeholders

Session Title: Math Inspect Assessments: More than just Interims

Presenter: Heather Holshoe and Kara Klotz

Session Description: Participants will gain information about the pre-built math tools within the Illuminate Inspect suite of assessments. Strategies for how to incorporate these tools to drive and support instruction as well as a look at how to use the data derived from each tool will surely keep this one hour session moving right along. Participants will also be offered an opportunity for follow-up math support. 

Audience: K-12, Administrators/School Leadership, Interventionist, Teacher/Educator

Link to Recorded Session: Math Inspect Assessments: More than just Interims

Session Title: Modern Classrooms Project Administrator Session

Presenter: Heather Holshoe

Session Description: Administrators will learn how to empower their educators to meet every student’s needs through blended, self-paced, and mastery-based instruction. This research-backed instructional model serves students at all levels of understanding, both inside and outside the classroom. We’ve seen it work across all grade levels and subject areas, all over the world.

Audience: Administrators/School Leadership

Link to Recorded Session: Modern Classrooms Project Administrator Session

Session Title: Modern Classrooms Project Educator Session

Presenter: Heather Holshoe

Session Description: Educators will learn how to be empowered to meet every student’s needs through blended, self-paced, and mastery-based instruction. This research-backed instructional model serves students at all levels of understanding, both inside and outside the classroom. We’ve seen it work across all grade levels and subject areas, all over the world.

Audience: All grade levels, Administrators/School Leadership, Teacher/Educator

Link to Recorded Session: Modern Classrooms Project Educator Session

Session Title: Multi Tiered Systems of Support in the GSRP/Head Start Child Study Process

Presenter: Jennifer Grant and Jean Allison

Session Description: Participants will learn about the processes of using the  Multi Tiered Systems of support model for the purposes of supporting individual children in preschool classroom settings with a focus on individual behavioral and academic interventions and the Child Study Process.

Audience: Preschool

Link to Recorded Session: Multi Tiered Systems of Support in the GSRP/Head Start Child Study Process

Session Title: Percussion Basics

Presenter: Shelley Szekely

Session Description: This presentation is for any music teacher who is in need of a refresher on how to teach all things percussion.  The presentation will cover playing techniques for crash cymbals, suspended cymbals, tambourine, triangle, timpani, proper music stand placement for drums vs. mallets, and more. 

Audience: All grade levels, Music Specialist

Link to Recorded Session: Percussion Basics

Session Title: Promoting STEM Through Literature

Presenter: CJ Walker, Du Bui and Kellie DeLosSantos

Session Description: Use literature to get your students excited about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by actively involving them in the design thinking process. Develop their inquiry and problem-solving skills, while helping them see that with perseverance, anyone can be innovative and invent new things! We will walk you through a lesson that begins with a reading activity and moves into the design thinking process, focusing on one of the Maker Kit items available for free checkout through the TEAMJXN Maker/STEAM Checkout.

Audience: Elementary, Teacher/Educator, GSRP

Link to Recorded Session: Promoting STEM Through Literature

Session Title: Psychological First Aid (PFA)

Presenter: Stephanie Schweda

Session Description: Psychological First Aid is designed to give teachers/admin/school staff strategies to help engage with their students and provide triage resources to manage mental health. 

Audience: Everyone

Link to Recorded Session: Psychological First Aid (PFA)

Session Title: Restorative Practices Overview & Implementation

Presenter: Marc Stanley and Mallory Martin

Session Description: Participants will learn about the history, versatility & uses of Restorative Practices in and out of the class room. Parties will become familiar with the Restorative Continuum and the various form and informal processes that can be used depending on the situation or level of conflict. The presenters will review the 4 main goals of Restorative Practices and offer some tips and techniques for best practices while implementing these processes.

Audience: Everyone

Link to Recorded Session: Restorative Practices Overview & Implementation

Session Title: The Power of Interactive Writing in the Early Elementary Classroom

Presenter: Maeghan McCormick and Darcy Heselschwerdt

Session Description: Interactive Writing is a powerful tool for helping students build a strong early reading and writing process. In this session, learn how interactive writing can be used to demonstrate concepts of print, develop strategies, phonological awareness and learn how words work.

Audience: All grade levels, Administrators/School Leadership, Community Member, Teacher/Educator

Link to Recorded Session: The Power of Interactive Writing in the Early Elementary Classroom

Session Title: Understanding Equity verses Equality -Why the difference matters

Presenter: William Wagner and John Kane

Session Description: Equity v Equality: CRT v USA; BLM v MLK; Justice v Social Justice

Audience: Everyone

Link to Recorded Session: Understanding Equity verses Equality -Why the difference matters

Session Title: Where’s the Data??? Be Better Prepared for the Referral Process

Presenter: Janna Klassan and Jennifer Calhoun

Session Description: How often have you heard the following when referring a student of concern to Child/Student Study/MTSS Meetings:

“But where’s the data?”

“What interventions have you tried and for how long?”

“That’s not an intervention.”

“We need to try more in the classroom before referring to special education.”

This one hour session will be split into two parts: Q&A and Training. Teachers, interventionists and administrators will have the chance to ask a school psychologist questions about the referral process. Questions may include: steps to take before referring, what school psychologists are looking for when they say, “DATA,” how teams determine the most appropriate (or not appropriate) type of evaluation based on data, and much more. In the second half of the session, attendees will be provided with, and trained to utilize an Intervention Guide website full of useful resources ranging from evidenced-based k-12 academic interventions to steps to prepare for the referral meeting.

Audience: All grade levels, GSRP Program Directors, Teachers/Educators, GSRP Teacher, Interventionist/Specialist

Link to Recorded Session: Where's the Data?? Be Better Prepared for the Referral Process

Session Title: Writing Compliant IEP's

Presenter: Emily Culy

Session Description: Participants will review the IEP writing process from start to finish including creating invitations, filling out consent forms, and addressing how to write each page of the IEP. This workshop will be heavily focused on developing the content of the IEP and include the most recent compliance guidance and recommendations from MDE. During the workshop, participants will follow along with training documents and will also be provided with access to page by page IEP writing guidance documents after completion of the workshop. The objective of this session is to provide new and experienced teachers and ancillary staff with the knowledge of how to write IEPs that represent an accurate picture of student functioning and needs but also meet compliance requirements

Audience: All grade levels,

Link to Recorded Session: Writing Compliant IEP's

Session Title: Your Story Matters: Find Your Voice in the District Improvement Plan 

Presenter: Jessica Bucklin and Eric Swihart

Session Description: This workshop is designed to equip wellness related staff (PE, Health, Counselors, Social workers and other support staff) to effectively participate in the Continuous Improvement Process (MICIP).  Content includes an overview of the Whole School, Community and Student (WSCC) Model, the Continuous Improvement Process and leadership strategies to support wellness educators including roles and responsibilities of the school building and/or district MICIP Team, data collection, organization and resources.

Audience: All grade levels, Administrators/School Leadership, Teacher/Educator, Support Staff

Link to Recorded Session: Your Story Matters: Find Your Voice in the District Improvement Plan