2025 Special Education Boot Camp

August 11-13, 2025

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Fairmont Hot Springs

Join your fellow colleagues at beautiful Fairmont Hot Springs for the 2025 Special Education Boot Camp on August 11-13, 2025.

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August 11th - AM

Skills for Handling Challenging Conversations with Colleagues and Parents with Marc Purchin

This training will provide proven tips and tools to prepare for challenging conversations inside and outside of meetings. By using active listening and questioning strategies, participants will be able to find common ground and move the conversation forward.

Topics will include:

● Learning positive communication and collaboration skills

● Looking at problems from different perspectives

● Identifying the vital difference between “interests” and “positions”

● Clearly articulating concerns from staff and parents, especially when a request may seem unreasonable or unfair

● Dealing with anger

August 11th - PM

Artificial Intelligence for Educators: Work Smarter NOT Harder! with Stephanie Lester

Join us for a comprehensive, hands-on training session designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in both classroom and administrative settings. This engaging session explores the transformative potential of AI to personalize learning, increase student engagement, streamline instructional planning, and automate time-consuming tasks.

By the end of the training, participant will:

• Understand key concepts and terminology related to AI in education

• Identify practical applications of AI for instruction and administration

• Gain confidence in selecting and using AI tools to enhance student learning

• Understand the implications of AI use in schools (equity, data privacy, ethics)

• Create an actionable plan to begin implementing AI practices

• Access curated digital resources for ongoing learning and exploration

August 12 - ALL DAY -Explicit Instruction with Genevieve Thomas

In this interactive, full-day training, participants will build their capacity to design and deliver explicit instruction, an evidence-based instructional approach recognized as a "high-leverage practice" by the Council for Exceptional Children. They will explore the 16 essential elements of explicit instruction and learn how to structure explicit instruction lesson plans.

Through engaging demonstrations and hands-on activities, participants will have opportunities to apply their learning directly to their unique teaching contexts. By the end of the day, educators will leave with practical tools and strategies to implement explicit instruction confidently and effectively.

August 12 - AM Making IEP Teams and other Student-Centered Meetings More Productive with Marc Purchin

Participants in this session will receive tips and learn techniques for running more effective meetings. Training will include strategies which can be used before, during, and after a meeting. Extra attention will be paid to maintaining positive working relationships with families and colleagues.

Topics will include:

● Building trust

● Finding and focusing on the strengths of individual team members

● Building consensus

● Moving a team forward that’s stuck or at an impasse

● Creating psychological safety

August 12 - PM:  Exploring the Potential of Artificial Intelligence for Special Service Providers with Stephanie Lester

Participants will dive into real-world case studies, explore the latest AI tools and

platforms, and engage in collaborative planning to create actionable strategies for

using AI to enhance teaching and learning. Practical considerations such as privacy, equity, and implementation challenges will be addressed, with a focus on real-world solutions.

By the end of the training, participants will:

• Gain confidence in selecting and using AI tools to enhance student learning

• Understand the implications of AI use in schools (equity, data privacy, ethics)

• Access curated digital resources for ongoing learning and exploration

• Develop a foundational understanding of how to use AI to support—not supplant — effective teaching

• Explore tools and templates for developing site-specific AI guidelines that ensure ethical, instructional, and productivity-aligned use of AI

• Create an actionable plan to begin implementing AI practices

August 13 - ALL DAY:  IEP requirements, Infinite Campus, and SPED Law.

Register at: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/cd5jvpn 

Make It Stick: Strategies for Student Engagement and Powerful Practice in Everyday Lessons

June 25-26, 2025

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Virtual Workshop

Dive into this two-part learning opportunity designed to equip educators with strategies to boost engagement and improve learning retention

across ALL content areas.

June 25 - "Engaging Every Learner" - In this interactive session, participants will explore how to create classrooms where every student is actively engaged in learning. Educators will learn high-leverage strategies that increase opportunities to respond, encourage academic discourse and keep students cognitively invested through the lesson.

June 26 - "The Power of Intentional Practice" - Building on the engagement strategies from Session 1, this session focused on how to organize student practice in order to get them to retain and apply new learning. Educators will leave with practical routines and tools that can be immediately integrated into their instruction to ensure learning sticks - not just for the moment, but for the long term.

Register: Make It Stick: Strategies for Student Engagement and Powerful Practice in Everyday Lessons 

Differentiating Math Instruction with Eliza Sorte

June 9, 2025

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

East Helena High School Commons

Join Eliza for a day of gearing up and gearing down to differentiate for your mathematical learners. In any given classroom, on any given day there are objectives that need to be met by learning with different needs and skills. Learn a “mindset” while doing activities and playing games to meet a variety of learners’ needs by using the grade level’s standards and your students’ skills to adjust, adapt, and support achievement.

Outcomes:

Participants will:

·      Work on building gearing up and gearing down steps to meet mathematical standards

·      Play games and adjust them to meet the content and needs of their learners.

·      Reflect on structures, strategies, and activities so they are implementable in their education setting.

Register at: Differentiating Math Instruction - East Helena; June 9, 2025 

Magic of Words

MTSS - Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3

All Levels

Tuesdays starting January 14, 2025 to February 25, 2025

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.



Magic of Words: Delivering Effective Vocabulary Instruction Aligned to the Science of Reading

Academic vocabulary is one of the best predictors of scholastic achievement and overall reading comprehension, yet educators face the challenge of profound differences in vocabulary knowledge among the students they teach. By focusing on vocabulary strategies with the highest effect sizes for increasing student achievement, educators can boost learning for ALL students through simply rethinking how vocabulary is presented in the classroom, without a lot of additional prep time. This training will focus on easy-to-plan, high-impact strategies that can be used to strengthen vocabulary instruction and student learning in any content area or academic discipline. Educators will walk away armed with strategies to increase student vocabulary size and learning of course content—a win-win for students and teachers alike!

1. Session 1: Academic Language and the Importance of Productive Language Opportunities (Jan. 14, 2025)

2. Session 2: Word Selection and Explicit Teaching of Specific Words (Jan. 21, 2025)

3. Session 3: Word Learning Strategies to Prompt Independent Word Learning (Jan. 28, 2025)

4. Session 4: Using Morphology to Build and Expand Word Networks (Feb. 4, 2025)

5. Session 5: Fostering Word Consciousness to Deepen Word Learning (Feb. 18, 2025)

6. Session 6: Effective Lesson Planning for Vocabulary Instruction (Feb. 25, 2025)

Carrie Cole began her education career in the classroom as an elementary teacher and secondary reading teacher. She holds a master’s degree in literacy and is a contributing author for CORE’s Teaching Reading Sourcebook (2nd Edition). She is known for her ability to not only effectively communicate best instructional practices, but also demonstrate how to put the latest research into practice in the “real world” classroom. She is especially passionate about serving children living in poverty. She has worked with and advised state officials, district leaders, school administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers across the country, as well as written and delivered on-site professional development at the state, district, and school levels that is centered around fundamental knowledge in evidence-based literacy practices. Prior to consulting, Ms. Cole was a professional development specialist for the Idaho State Department of Education, adjunct professor in literacy at Idaho State University, regional educational consultant for a major publishing company, and a classroom teacher.

Register at: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/z9r6ch2 

Understanding the Power of Guidance:

It’s a Win/Win for Both Children and Adults!

w/ Stephanie Lester

MTSS - Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 (All Levels)

Session 1: March 12, 2025

Session 2: March 13, 2025

4:00 - 6:30 PM

Transform your classroom into a positive and productive space with the power of guidance! This two-part remote workshop with Stephanie Lester dives into the principles of guidance and their role in effective classroom management. Explore the functions of behavior, learn actionable strategies to address inappropriate behaviors, and discover techniques to sustain a supportive learning environment. Through real-life scenarios and practical applications, this training equips PK-12 educators and support staff with tools to create a win-win dynamic for students and adults alike.

Leave inspired and ready to make meaningful changes in your classroom which ultimately will lead to a successful learning experience for students.!”

This workshop will forever change the way you look at opportunities to guide children in your classroom! Both you and your students will be winners when you implement the principles of guidance. Effectively guiding children is a BIG part of every educator’s day! The principles of guidance will be presented along with practical classroom management strategies that create and sustain a positive classroom environment. The functions of behavior, strategies, and action steps to addressing inappropriate behaviors will be shared. Real life scenarios will be discussed, and practical applications shared. Come prepared to leave excited and ready to implement the principles of guidance!

Participant Benefits:

• Gain insights into the principles of guidance that foster mutual respect and understanding.

• Learn evidence-based strategies to manage classroom behavior positively and effectively.

• Build confidence in addressing inappropriate behaviors through practical action steps.

• Enhance classroom dynamics by implementing proactive and inclusive management practices.

• Leave with tools and inspiration to create a thriving environment for both educators and students.

Participants are encouraged to attend all three sessions

Stephanie Lester

Stephanie Lester has over 40 years in education including: educational consulting, teaching preschool and a Project-Based Learning Multiage K-1st program, professional development speaker, author, College Instructor, Assistant Principal, Early Childhood Education Director, and Director of Curriculum, Instruction; Assessment. Currently Stephanie partners with school communities as an Educational Consultant focusing on providing support to educators on a variety of topics aligned with evidence and research based best practices (including but not limited to science of reading, classroom management, guidance, instructional strategies, executive functions, science, math, leadership). Stephanie is passionate about inspiring, educating, and motivating teachers to implement evidence-based instructional practices with the goal of developing the social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills that children will need to experience SUCCESS in school and life.  Stephanie primarily supports educational programs in the states of Montana and California.

Registration at:  https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/ms7a2va 

Powerful Teaching for Literacy

Middle-High School Level

August 26, 2024

9:00 AM to 3:30 PM

East Helena High School Commons

2760 Valley Drive, East Helena, MT 59635

This introductory training provides understanding of literacy and language development for foundational skills, empowering educators with the tools and knowledge needed to provide effective instruction at all tiers of instruction - resulting in reduced reading difficulties for students and increased literacy achievement. We have a laser focus on bringing the “why” and the “how” together with educators, creating pathways between research and classroom practice, providing educators the instructional tools to better meet the varied needs of the students they serve, including students at-risk for dyslexia.

Drea Beale is an equity-centered educator with over 25 years of experience in public schools. Drea’s first thirteen years of service were as a 6-10th grade teacher in rural Maine and then a high school Humanities teacher in Oakland, CA. Subsequently, she served as an instructional coach, a high school principal, an elementary and middle school principal, and the superintendent of a K-8 district in Montana. Currently, Drea is an educational consultant with a focus on literacy and transformational adult learning experiences. She has taken a deep dive into the Science of Reading and the role of early literacy in serving all students. Drea holds teaching credentials in several states, two Masters degrees, and a superintendent's license in Montana.

6 OPI Renewal Units

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/zx2p2cq

Sessions with Dori Phillips

9/26/24 AM - Building Number and Fraction Sense (Number Sense); PM - (Fraction Sense)

9/27/24 - Making the Most out of Math; K-5 

C'Mon Inn - Bozeman

6139 East Valley Center Road

Bozeman, MT 59718

Join Dori Phillips to engage in Building Better Number Sense and/or Making the Most Out of Math.

Target Audience:

Pre-K educators, elementary educators, Title 1 teachers, special education teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals.

Dori Phillips is the K-12 School Counselor in Broadus, Montana. She has also taught elementary students from Kindergarten-8th grades in two other Montana school districts. She lives on her family’s ranch with her husband and enjoys time with her daughters and their families. Dori is passionate about helping educators understand trauma and the long-term impacts it has on students. She also has been training teachers on math-related topics for over twelve years.

Building Number and Fraction Sense

Thursday, September 26, 2024

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Spend the day in a hands-on workshop creating manipulatives and playing games that will be classroom ready the next day. The morning will focus on Number Sense, the basic skills that children need to learn to work fluently with numbers. When students have good number sense they are more fluent with basic math facts and better problem-solvers! 

The afternoon will focus on “Fraction sense”, the basic skills that children need to learn to work fluently with fractions. Spend the afternoon learning the progression of fractions skills and playing games that will increase students’ “fraction sense”.

Making the Most Out of Math

Friday, September 27, 2024

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Do you like hands-on workshops? Then this one's for you!! This course will include activities and games that support fact fluency in the Montana Math Content Standards (K-5). Time will be spent learning about warm ups for ongoing cumulative review, instructional tools, and ideas of how to extend learning for students who finish early. Come play lots of games while at the same time learn how to make math meaningful and fun. Participants will create many hands-on activities and learn games to use in their classrooms!

6 OPI RENEWAL UNITS (per session)

Past Workshops

The Science of Teaching Reading

12 Part Series with Carrie Cole

September 8 to December 1, 4:00-6:00 via ZOOM

REGISTER HERE

Training Description

Being a teacher of literacy—whether teaching beginning reading skills or the advanced skills of using reading to enhance learning of content—is complex and requires considerable knowledge and skill. This comprehensive, 12-part training spanning the 2021-2022 school year will empower teachers to understand the what, why, and how of evidence-based reading instruction in foundational reading skills so that they can better meet the varied needs of the students they serve.

Training will be delivered in small, two-hour segments approximately twice/month, allowing educators time to process the information and implement practices into their own classrooms. Participants will learn the basics of reading at any age and how to strengthen instruction in reading foundations through structured and fast-paced routines that build on a hierarchy of skills that are necessary for students to become proficient readers and writers, including explicit, systematic, and multisensory instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics (basic and advanced), spelling and orthographic awareness, and fluency. Connections will be made to the latest research and evidence-based practices, including the Science of Reading and how this connects to Scarborough’s Reading Rope and Gough and Tunmer’s Simple View, best practices for literacy assessment to diagnose student need, and how this information relates to current Montana dyslexia legislation. Overview of content for each session is provided below in each session description.



About the Presenter

Carrie Cole is an independent educational consultant with Side-by-Side Educational Consulting, specializing in the training and delivery of evidence-based literacy practices grounded in the Science of Reading. She leads the Side-by-Side team, working in schools and districts, supporting consultants, and ensuring that clients receive the highest quality support possible. Ms. Cole holds a master’s degree in literacy and is known for her ability to not only effectively communicate the latest research on effective education practices, but also demonstrate how implement latest research into the “real world” classroom. She is

especially passionate about serving children living in poverty. She has worked with and advised state officials, district leaders, school administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers across the country, as well as written and delivered on-site professional development and coaching at state, district, and school levels centered on effective instruction and evidence-based literacy practices. She is particularly skilled at partnering with leaders to create systems that reduce the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students in all disaggregated groups, while also helping schools and districts build site-based capacity and

sustainability in the improvement process. She is a contributing author for CORE’s Teaching Reading Sourcebook (2nd-3rd Editions). Prior to consulting, Ms. Cole was a professional development specialist for the Idaho State Department of Education, a regional educational consultant for a major publishing company, and a classroom teacher at the elementary level (all subjects) and secondary level (English Language Arts and literacy interventions).

Option for Credit

We are currently in the process of working for credit approval of this course through University of Montana Western (2 credits). Educators that choose this option must attend all 12 sessions ( makeup sessions available through Region i) and complete outside reading and homework. Educators will receive a CORE Teaching Reading Sourcebook (3rd Edition) and CORE Multiple Measures assessment book as a course text—containing literacy resources that can be used with students K-12, valued at $140.00. For those not taking sessions for credit, CEUs are available for each session attended.

Training Description

Being a teacher of literacy—whether teaching beginning reading skills or the advanced skills of using reading to enhance learning of content—is complex and requires considerable knowledge and skill. This comprehensive, 12-part training spanning the 2021-2022 school year will empower teachers to understand the what, why, and how of evidence-based reading instruction in foundational reading skills so that they can better meet the varied needs of the students they serve.

Training will be delivered in small, two-hour segments approximately twice/month, allowing educators time to process the information and implement practices into their own classrooms. Participants will learn the basics of reading at any age and how to strengthen instruction in reading foundations through structured and fast-paced routines that build on a hierarchy of skills that are necessary for students to become proficient readers and writers, including explicit, systematic, and multisensory instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics (basic and advanced), spelling and orthographic awareness, and fluency. Connections will be made to the latest research and evidence-based practices, including the Science of Reading and how this connects to Scarborough’s Reading Rope and Gough and Tunmer’s Simple View, best practices for literacy assessment to diagnose student need, and how this information relates to current Montana dyslexia legislation. Overview of content for each session is provided below in each session description.



About the Presenter

Carrie Cole is an independent educational consultant with Side-by-Side Educational Consulting, specializing in the training and delivery of evidence-based literacy practices grounded in the Science of Reading. She leads the Side-by-Side team, working in schools and districts, supporting consultants, and ensuring that clients receive the highest quality support possible. Ms. Cole holds a master’s degree in literacy and is known for her ability to not only effectively communicate the latest research on effective education practices, but also demonstrate how implement latest research into the “real world” classroom. She is

especially passionate about serving children living in poverty. She has worked with and advised state officials, district leaders, school administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers across the country, as well as written and delivered on-site professional development and coaching at state, district, and school levels centered on effective instruction and evidence-based literacy practices. She is particularly skilled at partnering with leaders to create systems that reduce the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students in all disaggregated groups, while also helping schools and districts build site-based capacity and

sustainability in the improvement process. She is a contributing author for CORE’s Teaching Reading Sourcebook (2nd-3rd Editions). Prior to consulting, Ms. Cole was a professional development specialist for the Idaho State Department of Education, a regional educational consultant for a major publishing company, and a classroom teacher at the elementary level (all subjects) and secondary level (English Language Arts and literacy interventions).

Option for Credit

We are currently in the process of working for credit approval of this course through University of Montana Western (2 credits). Educators that choose this option must attend all 12 sessions ( makeup sessions available through Region i) and complete outside reading and homework. Educators will receive a CORE Teaching Reading Sourcebook (3rd Edition) and CORE Multiple Measures assessment book as a course text—containing literacy resources that can be used with students K-12, valued at $140.00. For those not taking sessions for credit, CEUs are available for each session attended.

Evidence-Based Strategies for Teaching Foundational Reading Skills: 

Part 1 Overview of Science of Reading

with Carrie Cole

Wednesday, June 23, 2021 8:30-3:45

C'Mon Inn-Bozeman

6 RUs available, Credit Pending

Teaching reading effectively, especially to students experiencing difficulty, requires considerable knowledge and skill. But what type of classroom instruction benefits beginning readers and/or struggling readers the most? This training will provide an overview of proven instructional methods that explicitly and systematically teach foundational reading skills to children in ways that are engaging and multisensory. Connections will be made to the latest research, including the science of teaching reading, assessment, and how this information relates to current dyslexia legislation.  

Register Here

REGISTRATIO

Evidence-Based Strategies for Teaching Foundational Reading Skills: 

Part 2-Digging into Phonology, Phonological Awareness, and Beginning Phonics

with Carrie Cole

(Note: Part 1 of training is not a prerequisite for attending Part 2 of training.)

Thursday, June 24, 2021 8:30-3:45

C'Mon Inn- Bozeman

6 RUs available, Credit Pending

Teaching reading effectively, especially to students experiencing difficulty, requires considerable knowledge and skill. But what type of classroom instruction benefits beginning readers and/or struggling readers the most? This training will focus on proven instructional and assessment methods for foundational reading skills to children in ways that are engaging and multisensory, with a specific focus on the speech sounds of English, phonological awareness, and beginning phonics. Teachers will walk away with a better understanding of assessment in these areas, as well as instructional methods they can immediately implement into their classrooms. 

Register Here

REGIS

Evidence-Based Strategies for Teaching Foundational Reading Skills:  

Part 3-Spelling Development and Word Study

with Carrie Cole

(Note: Parts 1-2 of training are not a prerequisite for attending Part 3 of training.)

Friday, June 25, 2021 8:30-3:45

C'Mon Inn-Bozeman

6 RUs available, Credit Pending

Teaching reading effectively, especially to students experiencing difficulty, requires considerable knowledge and skill. But what type of foundational instruction benefit students the most? This training will focus on proven instructional and assessment methods for foundational reading skills to children in ways that are engaging and multisensory, with a specific focus on spelling development and advanced word study, including multisyllabic word reading. Teachers will walk away with a better understanding of assessment in these areas, as well as instructional they can immediately implement into their classrooms.

Register Here

Registration is op