Elementary Sessions

We confer with students in order to elicit and extend their thinking. Yet, how do I do this? What are the best questions to ask? How do I elicit, nudge, and extend students' thinking while honoring their own ideas? In this session, we will explore a questioning framework and discuss how to craft a nudge using five different pathways, all while ensuring the student has ownership of the thinking. 

*Please note this workshop has a 30 participants max. capacity per session.

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This session is all about counting. Come and experience the joys of counting as we develop a deep understanding of numbers and build connections between Choral Counting and Counting Collections. You will have opportunities to try out and invent sophisticated mathematical strategies that leverage numerical relationships and our base 10 number structure in complex ways. 

*Please note this workshop has a 30 participants max. capacity per session.

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In this session we will take a look at a few number sense and reasoning routines - spice up familiar ones and try, maybe ones new to you, that reflect big ideas of the 2023 Mathematics Framework. 

*Please note this workshop has a 30 participants max. capacity per session.

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Using choral counting as a dynamic tool to bridge numerical concepts with algebraic principles, offering a hands-on approach to exploring patterns, sequences, and functions in a collaborative setting. Dive into arithmetic progressions and even quadratic sequences to explore our student’s trajectory into Algebra! 

*Please note this workshop has a 30 participants max. capacity per session.

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In this session, we will dive into the CGI research on problem types for addition and subtraction and explore the different strategies students use, from concrete to abstract representations. We will make connections to the math framework and engage in problem solving. 

*Please note this workshop is only offered for Session 1 with 30 participants max. capacity.

In this session, we will dive into the CGI research on problem types for grouping and explore the different strategies students use, from concrete to abstract representations. We will make connections to the math framework and engage in problem solving.

*Please note this workshop is only offered for Session 2 with 30 participants max. capacity.

What are the three dimensions of systemic change that support mathematics instruction? What are the five components of equitable and engaging teaching for all students? In this session, we will understand the Three Dimensions of Systemic Change that Supports Mathematics Instruction. We will discuss two of the five components in Chapter 2 of the 2023 California Mathematics Framework: Teaching for Equity and Engagement.

*Please note this workshop is only offered for Session 3 with 30 participants max. capacity.

Start the year with a healthy mindset for testing. Together, we’ll discuss the importance of a well designed curriculum calendar as the first line of offense in test taking. Next, we’ll discuss test prep boot camps. Finally, we’ll look at ways in which you can add subtle test prep teaching through daily reading aloud, shared reading, and partnership work.  You’ll leave with an audit to take back to your PLCs to check in on test taking throughout all of the grades at your school site. Please bring with you the 2023-2024 Scope and Sequence, Year-at-a-Glance Curriculum Calendars. 

Teachers will have time to plan by digging into the California Department of Education’s resources, have guided playful experiences that build the backbone of their developmentally appropriate practices by using “loose parts” as an effective, engaging, invitation to learning for the youngest, brilliant minds in UTK and Kinder classrooms.  We’ll discuss how loose parts can be used to teach across all academic areas in literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies while simultaneously honoring student choice. You’ll leave with a list of resources and a framework for your day to take back to your PLCs to think through how to best support the youngest learners in the start to their journey of school.  

*Please note this workshop is offered for Session 1 and 2 in AM sessions only, and not available for Session 3 after lunch.  

Together we’ll study our teaching for

clarity, efficiency, and explicitness by breaking down our teaching points for writing. What is the skill, the strategy and finally the purpose? We will create visual tools to guide us in modeling the work and for students to refer to when needed. You’ll leave with a framework for planning your teaching points and a system for creating visuals that support student independence to take back to your PLCs. 

Teachers, bring your student writing to analyze! Let’s first identify clear success criteria for the upcoming cycles of study in your curriculum calendars.  Next, we’ll look at what students bring with them (independently). We’ll discuss a variety of lenses to study student work that include, but are not limited to, focus, meaning, structure, elaboration, and mechanics. Finally, we’ll create a few demonstration texts to add to our Teacher’s Writing Toolkits based on what student work has taught us.  Each demonstration text will be tethered to a skill and strategy that we’ve identified students are ready for based on the analysis of their work.  You’ll leave with a framework to take back to your PLCs and practice using to make sure that we center students in our teaching decisions.  

It’s never too early to plan the teaching for this text type in writing!

Together we’ll unpack the standards, and imagine the array of genres that can be studied as a pathway to understanding the text type.  Will you study speeches? Posters? Public Service Announcements? Not quite ready to take this on in writing…yet? No worries, we also discuss effective ways you can subtly teach how to take a stance, make a claim, and back it up with evidence through your daily partnerships, reading aloud, and shared reading.  You’ll leave with ideas to take back to your PLCs. 

Together we’ll study the typical process of writing for our youngest writers (in kinder, first, and second grades) and lift it to study as readers, writers, and thinkers. Expand your curriculum calendars beyond the simple text types of narrative, information, and opinion. We’ll discuss a framework to plan cycles of study that are focused on raising up well rounded writers.  For example, we study process based cycles such as revision, and craft centered studies, such as elaboration (to name just a few). You’ll leave with a framework to take back to your PLCs to think through and try out this year as a way of adding variety to curriculum calendars this year and beyond. Please bring with you the scope and sequence for 2023-2023 for teaching writing.    

Start now! There’s no need to “wait for the research cycle of study” to teach students how to read and write as researchers. Instead, design a yearlong curriculum that teaches students how to practice their comprehension of  nonfiction and informational texts as historians and scientists, while at the same time using their notebooking skills and strategies to remember, react, and respond with their pens. When students write about content, there are multiple steps involved. They need to read, synthesize what they read, notetake, and then use those notes to communicate the information in their own way.  This workshop will support breaking down these skills (as a starter kit) across the year so that when they get to a cycle of study that is integrated with (social studies, or science) Content Area writing study, all of those previously learned skills will serve as simple steps to success.  You’ll leave with a framework to take back to your PLC collaboration to use throughout the year to integrate literacy with science and social studies teaching. 

They say the pendulum is always swinging and pedagogy is always shifting. What if there was a way to stay in the middle of all the shifting, while continuing to study and respond to your student needs and teach effectively? Insert systems and structures that are program, curriculum and content agnostic. First, we’ll learn why every classroom should have these 6+ structures throughout their day to deliver instruction; word study, read alouds, workshops (math, reading, science, social studies & writing), shared reading and shared writing. Then, we’ll dissect what each component does and ways you might incorporate them into your day. We’ll look at your daily schedules and how to use the district’s priority standards and myriad of resources to inform your instruction. Come ready to connect the dots, adjust your schedule and rethink what’s making the pendulum swing.

This music session will focus on the following areas of string pedagogy and also the following aspects of building a solid string/orchestra program:

• Effective classroom management, particularly when handling students at varying skill levels, is critical for maintaining a productive learning environment.

• How to integrate bowing technique into warm-up exercises to refine students' playing skills.

• Thought process on how to select music to match student abilities and interest.

• How to retain elementary students into middle & high school?  Include recruitment strategies used for retention.

What practices in your teacher toolbox have best supported your English learners? Join me as we explore methods and strategies that are effective when teaching multilingual learners. There will be opportunities to rehearse, collaborate and customize these practices so you can leave this PD with a few more, or sharpened, tools to implement in your class.

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Join Dr. Anthony Muhammad in a discussion about how to build a healthy culture on your grade level collaboration team. You will learn strategies for developing shared accountability as you work together, and revisit the two stages in creating a PLC culture: 1) establishing philosophical agreement and building shared purpose, and 2) addressing frustration and reluctance to change. You will have opportunities to ask questions and get feedback on your specific PLC journey this year. 

*Please note this workshop is only offered for Session 3.

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In this session we will examine data-based decision making within a system of assessments to address PLC Question #2: “How will we know if students have learned it?” Through a self-inventory of currently available assessments, we will identify the various types of assessments and their associated purposes. Join us to experience how formative practices have the greatest impact on teaching and learning.

*Please note this workshop is only offered for Session 1.

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In this workshop, we will look at how students communicate with us through their behavior and how we can adjust our responses to these behaviors in order to better support them. Regardless of what type of setting you work in, you will walk away with practical strategies for verbally de-escalating big behaviors in a safe and caring manner.

*Please note this workshop is offered for Session 1 and 2 in AM sessions only, and not available for Session 3 after lunch. Also note this workshop is a repeat of 10/4.

In this workshop, we will look at how trauma shapes the child mind and adult outcome. According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) more than 66% of students have at least one childhood trauma by the age of 16. The impact of child traumatic stress can last well beyond childhood. The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely he will be to recover from trauma and thrive. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love.

*Please note this workshop is a repeat of 10/4.

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Classroom Culture is an educator training that will help you create and maintain a positive culture in your classroom. Applicable for all student ages, you will walk away with practical strategies and techniques that you can use to strengthen relationships and proactively prevent behavioral challenges.

*This is a full day of in-person training. The prerequisite is completing 4 hours of online training (paid) prior to the in-person training with a 40 participant maximum capacity.

Click here for the pre-registration link.

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The session will be focused on ethical, legal, and defensible practices as it relates to duties and responsibilities of the School Psychologist including provision of mental health supports, comprehensive assessments, and multi-disciplinary reports.

*Please note this workshop is only offered for Session 3.

Dive into the world of inclusive education with this interactive, presenter-supported workshop. Education Specialists will actively participate in activities that help them craft effective student goals, determine appropriate SAI service levels, and create service delivery options tailored to individual student needs. Join us for a practical, hands-on experience that equips you with the skills and insights to enhance student success through inclusive education.

This workshop is designed to empower educators with essential skills to create exceptional Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that truly make a difference in the lives of their students. Participants will learn to craft strengths-based Present Levels, draft Baselines and Goals that facilitate access to grade-level priority standards, and skillfully identify classroom and state testing accommodations, ensuring equitable access to the curriculum. Additionally, educators will master the art of note taking that weaves a compelling narrative.

Dive into methods that transcend the ordinary, equipping you to collaborate seamlessly with general educators, paraprofessionals, students, and parents. Discover new horizons in IEP development that ensure holistic student support, fostering independence and self-confidence. Elevate your expertise and reshape the educational landscape for every student under your care.

Delve into a diverse range of standardized assessments for IEPs, including the Bracken School Readiness Assessment, the early childhood-focused Woodcock-Johnson, and the comprehensive Kaufman Survey of Early Academic and Language Skills (K-SEALS). Beyond mere theory, we offer hands-on experiences that empower educators to confidently employ these tools, ensuring more accurate and tailored assessments for every unique learner. Join us to transform your assessment practices and enhance your students' educational journeys.

*Please note this workshop is only offered for Session 3.  

Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) must be adept in determining language dominance and have awareness of culturally biased assessments and practices that may adversely impact the diagnostic process.  Many times, typical characteristics of second language acquisition and bilingualism are mistaken for symptoms of a language disorder.  SLPs must know what is typical for English Language Learners who are developing English.  This training will help SLPs examine best practices for culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

*Please note that this session will take place during Sessions 1 and 2. The entire presentation will be 3 hours long.

This session will be focused on ethical, legal, and defensible practices as it relates to duties and responsibilities of the Speech and Language Pathologist including culturally and linguistically appropriate assessments, speech and language service models, and multi-disciplinary reports.

*Please note this workshop is only offered for Session 3.