Cup of Cocoa & Canva: INTRODUCTION

Have you ever admired others’ invitation designs or Christmas card layouts and wished you could make yours look that good? How many times have you spent money purchasing a template or invitation on Etsy to save yourself time or the headache of creating something yourself because it just seemed too complicated? How many times have you browsed or even purchased something from Teachers Pay Teachers because the document, presentation, or worksheet looked incredibly polished and amazing with its visual elements? Guess what? You can do all of it on your own and for FREE once you learn the basics of a program called Canva. Join me for a cup of hot cocoa and Canva basics. I will walk you through how to create your free educator account. I will model and teach you how to bring your lessons, presentations, and documents to life with a hands-on and interactive tutorial. This beginner-friendly course will teach you how to create eye-catching presentations, worksheets, newsletters, posters, and more to enhance your classroom environment and to engage your students. No graphic design experience? No worries! You’ll leave with practical skills, ready-to-use templates, and the confidence to create polished, professional-looking materials with ease. The first part will be instructional for this course and then you will have time to apply what you have learned.

Cup of Cocoa & Canva Classroom 

After you have learned the basics of Canva either on your own or from completing the Canva Introduction course, now it’s time to bring your classroom to life with Canva for Education—the ultimate creative tool for teachers and students! In this hands-on session, you’ll discover how to use Canva’s free classroom features to design stunning lessons, engaging visuals, and interactive student projects that spark imagination and boost learning. Then, you will use time with instructor guidance to start a Canva Classroom activity to use with your students.

You’ll learn how to:

• Set up and manage your Canva Classroom for easy collaboration

• Design eye-catching assignments, presentations, and digital posters

• Empower students to create portfolios, infographics, and multimedia projects

• Access hundreds of ready-to-use templates that save you time and elevate your teaching

Cup of Cocoa & Canva: Advanced Graphic Design 

Ready to take your Canva skills to the next level? This dynamic, hands-on session is all about mastering the little things that make a big difference in your designs! After you have familiarized yourself with Canva basics and Canva Classroom, now let’s kick it up a notch! Whether you’re creating classroom visuals, newsletters, social media posts, or student projects, you’ll learn the insider tricks that turn everyday Canva users into true design pros. The first part of class will be instructional with all of the tips and tricks for enhanced design. Then, you will work on either enhancing a Canva design already in your portfolio or work to create a new Canva design for your classroom and students that integrates and showcases these tips. In this session, you’ll:

• Discover hidden Canva features that save time and add polish

• Learn color theory and font pairing basics to make your designs pop

•  Explore shortcut keys, alignment tools, and layering hacks for effortless precision

• Master background removal, transparency, and animation tools

• Create scroll-stopping graphics for presentations, websites, or social media

Beyond Grades: Transforming Assessment to Empower Student Learning with Starr Sackstein 

This three-part series challenges educators to reimagine assessment practices that better support learning and student growth. Led by renowned educator Starr Sackstein, participants will explore the historical and psychological impacts of traditional grading, discover the power of peer and self-assessment, and gain actionable strategies to implement alternative models like standards-based grading, portfolios, and feedback-driven instruction. Through reflection, practical tools, and real-world examples, this series empowers educators to create more equitable, student-centered classrooms where assessment becomes a tool for learning, not just evaluation.

Session 1: Rethinking Assessment: Why Traditional Grading Fails Students

• The historical context of grading

• Research on grading’s impact on motivation and learning

• The case for shifting toward feedback-driven assessment

•  Takeaways for Participants:

  • Self-reflection activity: Evaluate current grading practices.

  • Research-based insights on grading’s impact on student motivation.

  • Strategies to initiate discussions with stakeholders (parents, administrators).

Session 2: Empowering Students: The Role of Peer Feedback in Learning

• How to build a culture of constructive peer assessment

• Strategies for training students to give meaningful feedback

• Balancing teacher, peer, and self-assessment

• Takeaways for Participants

  • Step-by-step guide for implementing peer feedback routines.

  • Examples of effective student feedback models.

  • Digital and analog tools for structuring peer review.

  • Techniques for coaching students to give high-quality feedback.

Session 3: Making the Shift: Practical Steps to Transform Assessment in Your Classroom

• Alternative grading models (standards-based, portfolios, contract grading, etc.)

• Overcoming challenges and resistance

• Tools and strategies for implementation

• Takeaways for Participants

  • Overview of alternative grading models (e.g., self-assessment, portfolios, contract grading).

  • Sample templates and rubrics for qualitative feedback.

  • Case studies of schools/teachers successfully implementing these strategies.

Training for Teacher Assistants and Paraeducators - In partnership with Education Elements and NYSASCD 

Recognizing the essential role these professionals play in supporting instruction and student success, this series provides foundational training that builds confidence, skill, and clarity around their contribution to the classroom and school environments. 

Session 1: Strengthen Behavior and Classroom Management Capacity

Equipping teacher assistants and paraeducators with practical strategies to de-escalate student behaviors, foster calm environments, and support positive student interactions through mindful, trauma-informed

practices.

Session 2: Enhance Classroom Teamwork and Collaboration 

Clarifying the roles of TAs and paraeducators within instructional teams and providing tools to build strong partnerships with teachers, promote proactive engagement, and increase instructional support.

Session 3: Build Confidence in Supporting Diverse Learners

Developing knowledge and skills related to IEP/504 implementation, data collection, and differentiated strategies that enable TAs and paraeducators to contribute meaningfully to the success of students with special needs.

Instructional Illusions - Book Study 

Please join me for a practical and collaborative book study that will change the way your students learn! Instructional Illusions is a compact, accessible and highly practical book written by a powerhouse team of experts on the science of learning; Paul A. Kirshner, Carl Hendrick and Dr, Jim Heal. 

So much of what happens in the process of learning and instruction is obscured from view. Much like the effects of a convincing illusion, what we think we see when we observe instruction is often far from the reality. 

We will explore the ten instructional illusions through the lens of educational psychology, cognitive science, and instructional design. Together, we will consider how such illusions operate, unmask their true nature in light of the evidence, and learn powerful alternatives for authentic teaching and learning. Join me this winter to see beyond the illusion, understand and apply the true nature of instruction.