2015 Raising Student Achievement Sessions(as of 11-6-15 subject to change)

Monday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Session Title: Teaching to Gender DifferencesPresenter(s): Bill McBride Session Description: This highly entertaining workshop presents the differences in male and female brain development that affect behavior and learning. Teachers will come to understand that most school practices reinforce how girls learn rather than boys; consequently, boys make up the majority of our behavior problems, failures, and drop outs.

Session Title: Learning Under Construction - Maximizing Learning Tools for Teachers, Students & CommunityPresenter(s): Dr. Todd Pettit Greg HobbsSession Description: Learn how one school identified, acquired and implemented learning tools for their school community. Roadblocks such as 98% poverty, classroom anonymity, and lack of parent involvement have been removed through collaboration of teachers and community stakeholders. Gain further insight about detours along the way, and new construction zones faced on the road to success.

Session Title: HIGH Quality/Low Cost Professional DevelopmentPresenter(s): Bill Freeman Session Description: A quality program for educator development is crucial to student achievement. This session will provide participants with the knowledge required to create and sustain a culture of professional growth within a school. At the end of this session, participants will be able to analyze the difference between high quality and low quality staff development programs, will be able to design and implement a quality professional development program for their educational staff, and will understand how quality staff development is affordable despite tight budgets.

Session Title: Integrated vs. Traditional MathematicsPresenter(s): Jennie Winters Session Description: Participants in this session will understand the similarities and differences between the two pathways. They will also understand how a scope-and-sequence can be structured to align with PARCC.

Session Title: From Standard to Student: ElementaryPresenter(s): Diane Wolf Session Description: This session will demonstrate how to take a standard and makes sure you are assessing it correctly. Is your assessment at the right Depth of Knowledge level? Did you choose the correct assessment method? What metrics should you use for scoring? In six easy steps, you will feel more confident in your next assessment.

Session Title: MTSS/RtI at the High School Level: A Rural Setting Case StudyPresenter(s): Ashley Curtin Julie FieldsSession Description: Come hear a detailed description of how a multi-tiered system of interventions and positive supports at all three tiered levels is implemented and monitored in a rural high school setting. It can be done!

Session Title: Play on Words - Primary Literacy GamesPresenter(s): Jane Felling Session Description: Come prepared to play literacy games that incorporate the use of letter tiles, literacy dice, and word decks to bring the following CCSS concepts to life: learning the alphabet and its' sounds, word families and patterns, rhyme, cloze, and vocabulary development, spelling simple and two syllable words, maybe even a literacy relay thrown in for fun. Gameboards, student samples and more will be shared.

Session Title: Helping You Build Your D.R.E.A.M. Team!Presenter(s): Fred Laudadio Alan HoffmanSession Description: Come and learn how to create your D.R.E.A.M. Team! This session demonstrates how McHenry Elementary School District 15 has prepared for many key initiatives in education today. Key components of this workshop focus on Development of staff, Recruitment and retention, Educating employees, Assessment readiness and Measuring success.

Session Title: Seamlessly Integrating Formative AssessmentsPresenter(s): Joshua Ravenscraft Session Description: Formative assessments are a proven best practice, yet all too often teachers struggle with managing the logistics in order for their frequency to be effective. This session explores how one teacher applies Google Apps for Education to efficiently and effectively implement regular formative assessments while also making data easily accessible.

Session Title: Meeting the Challenges of Educating the Mentally Ill StudentPresenter(s): Dr. Lesley Roberts Session Description: Mental illness in school age students is no longer a problem that can be ignored. This session explores the challenges of educating the mentally ill student, as well as educational solutions for consideration.

Session Title: 1:1 Technology for Middle School ClassroomPresenter(s): Kari Colvin Amanda BaumSession Description: This session covers a number of websites/apps used to integrate technology into a middle school math classroom along with ideas of how to create lesson plans with technology. Many websites and apps can be used across multiple content areas.

Session Title: A Clear Path to Student EngagementPresenter(s): Karen Gauen Session Description: Educators are bombarded with change – from Danielson to Common Core. To address the changing educational landscape, Highland High School focused on the common connection: engagement. HHS uses the Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI), a teacher-led process of walk-throughs to collect data, improve student learning experiences and increase faculty collaboration.

Session Title: Addressing the Common Core through Student-Led Writing CentersPresenter(s): Richard Martin Session Description: Teacher Rich Martin and several of his student writing coaches will detail the operation of their school’s unique student-led writing center, the Writin’ Titan Program. Mr. Martin will also discuss how student-led writing centers address Common Core writing standards, enable differentiated writing instruction, and promote a school-wide culture of writing.

Session Title: Fun with Formative AssessmentPresenter(s): Heidi Morgan Session Description: The formative assessment process guides teachers in making decisions about future instruction. Have fun learning about no-tech to high-tech formative assessment tools and strategies that will give you great data to inform your instruction.

Session Title: Block Scheduling Flexibility at the Elementary LevelPresenter(s): David Andriano Tricia NagelSession Description: Tired of having students pulled from class for RtI? What about for speech, ESL, Gifted, OT/PT or any other pullout program taking time away from direct instruction in the classroom? Explore block scheduling to meet the needs of your school. Work smarter and have common planning time for your teachers. Make your schedule consistent and improve duty assignments to give your teachers the time they need with all of the extras being put on their plates. See how Bradley West is tackling all of these issues with a modified block schedule.

Session Title: Meet the Challenge of Math MTSS/RtI: ElementaryPresenter(s): Lori Hensold Terry SchusterSession Description: Evaluate your current system and identify the next steps your school or district could take to develop and sustain a Math RtI system to support student success. Evidence based tools and strategies to strengthen assessment, decision making, and instruction in Math within a tiered framework will be shared.

Session Title: MathBar Models / Tape DiagramsPresenter(s): Donna Potaczek Session Description: Do your students dread the hated math word problem? See how bar models (tape diagrams) provide a visual representation that can make even the most challenging word problems a piece of cake!

Session Title: Being a NGSS StudentPresenter(s): Aimee Park Session Description: How does it feel to be a student in a NGSS classroom? To gain perspective, participants will engage in a mini-lesson and discussion in this session. Since educators have not been learners nor been trained to teach in a NGSS classroom, the focus of this session is experiencing NGSS learning.

Session Title: Interactive Student Notebooks in MathPresenter(s): Kim Glow Session Description: Interactive Student Notebooks can be used to enhance student learning and increase student achievement. Learn how to prepare for, set expectations for, and get tips for implementing Interactive Student Notebooks in your classroom. Sample lessons and foldables available for your use!

Session Title: Google ClassroomPresenter(s): Cathey Stoddard Session Description: Learn how to set up a Google Classroom, how to add your students, assignments, and announcements. You can walk away with your Google Classroom set up if you bring a device. **Your school must have a google domain.

Session Title: ADD Lookalikes: One Child's StoryPresenter(s): Harold Sweeney Heather SweeneySession Description: Welcome to the strange world of ADD Lookalikes. Follow the story of one student as she goes through school with what looks like ADD, but is not. Learn about these possibilities and how to work with this student. It is estimated 6% of students may have these learning problems. Come learn how to identify and work with these students.

Session Title: Kindergarten Readiness - The ChallengePresenter(s): Joseph Gulino, Ph.D Session Description: Data and research regarding kindergarten readiness and the positive results of improving kindergarten readiness practices will be shared. There is a need to adjust current enrollment guidelines because of negative consequences our children and schools are suffering from with current practices. I will share the steps our school took, and all schools should take, which improved the atmosphere and achievement for all students. Participants will be asked to share their wisdom, experiences and personal or organizational successes.

Session Title: Learning From Your Past to Guide Your FuturePresenter(s): Joseph Hailpern Henry SchwenkSession Description: As teachers we want the learning targets for students to be as clear as possible. It helps the learner prioritize tasks, identify areas where support would be needed and ultimately strengthens access to learning. As a learning organization don't we want the same thing for our teachers? This session will demonstrate how a district can use data staging tools to create new conversations around teaching and learning to maximize the performance of students. Using easy to access tools for data staging that fit within a district budget, our district has learned how to assess the impact our teachers are having on students as individuals, classes, and identified groups of interest (low income, ELL, etc). We use this information as fodder for professional conversations that springboard learning into dimensions that are new, exciting, and great for students.

Monday10:45 AM – 11:45 AM

Session Title: Resilient Leaders and Teachers Challenging the Status QuoPresenter(s): Salome Thomas-EL Session Description: In the follow-up to his keynote, Principal EL will discuss how transformational leaders make courageous decisions and challenge the status quo. In his thought-provoking presentation, Principal EL will share how we can foster a positive school climate and culture so teachers can focus on building resilient students.

Session Title: Engaging the DisengagedPresenter(s): Bill McBride Session Description: Recent research clearly identifies six environmental stimuli that get the brain's attention--stimuli that are inherent in most pieces of technology. This highly interactive workshop will model a number of Common Core brain-based literacy strategies that utilize all six stimuli and consequently get students involved in learning.

Session Title: Increasing Achievement & Building Capacity through Teacher LeadershipPresenter(s): Denise Orlikowski Anji GarzaSession Description: Rochelle Elementary District has worked to aligned curriculum, assessment, and instruction in mathematics and ELA for 5 years through teacher leadership. This session will highlight features of a strong capacity building model to empower teachers to lead change and curriculum work as well as the scope of work and resources that promoted success.

Session Title: The New Instructional LeaderPresenter(s): Dawn Green Christy PruskiSession Description: Every job title of a district superintendent and school principal includes instructional leader. What does that look like with the continual changes in education today? This session will provide some simple and specific examples for how a district/building leader serves as the instructional leader.

Session Title: Rigorous Mathematics AssessmentPresenter(s): Jennie Winters Session Description: Participants in this session will examine assessments to analyze their level of rigor for the CCSS Mathematics expectations. We will discuss how to make rigorous tasks that align to CCSS and PARCC.

Session Title: From Standard to Student: Secondary (6-12)Presenter(s): Diane Wolf Session Description: This session will demonstrate how to take a standard and makes sure you are assessing it correctly. Is your assessment at the right Depth of Knowledge level? Did you choose the correct assessment method? What metrics should you use for scoring? In six easy steps, you will feel more confident in your next assessment.

Session Title: Positive Impact of Personal ContactPresenter(s): Raymond Epperson Session Description: This session will provide information and discussion regarding a program implemented at Plainfield North High School where administrators and struggling students have individual conversations. In the three years of its implementation, there has been an increase in the GPA for participating students.

Session Title: Math Fun'die'mentals- Regular Dice Games for Fact FluencyPresenter(s): Jane Felling Session Description: Who knew regular dice could be used to teach so many fact fluency concepts? Come prepared to play with this inexpensive and easily found manipulative (36 regular dice) and learn games for all the operations including multi-digit work, explore the associative property of + and x, fractions, graphing. Great for journal writing extensions, regular, RTI and ELL and afterschool programs. Gameboards and student samples will be shared.

Session Title: Avoiding Classroom Showdowns While Remaining Stress Free!Presenter(s): Noah Riley Session Description: Eliminate student disciplinary challenges and meet increasing demands on student performance. Explore five Key Strategies to prevent, respond to, or recover from school failure in this exciting, interactive, research-based, results-driven workshop. Learn to increase instruction time and improve student scores, reduce disciplinary referrals,and bullying!

Session Title: Improving Writing through Effective Formative AssessmentPresenter(s): Patti Tylka Session Description: On-going assessment is integral to effective teaching. Too often, however, assessing student writing is sheer drudgery for teachers, and their corrections and comments on graded assignments have little effect on future student writing. In this active session, participants will learn efficient strategies that will help students improve their writing.

Session Title: Maximizing Learning with Cooperative Learning and Base GroupsPresenter(s): Annie Propst Session Description: Are you looking for a way to incorporate base groups that maximizes student learning? Learn to develop high levels of warmth, caring and sensitivity among your students while creating a culture of high learning expectations. Help your students to build relationships while teaching self evaluation, respectful social skills, homework check-in, and assessment review. These strategies will help your students encourage each other daily.

Session Title: Maximizing a Half-day with Schoolwide Social-Emotional LearningPresenter(s): Stephanie Eimer Emily CummingsSession Description: This session will demonstrate how to utilize a shortened day for social-emotional learning rather than allowing 'busy work' to take place in each classroom. This experience will improve student achievement by teaching students how to deal with their own struggles and how to work with and understand others.

Session Title: Comprehensive Literacy School Improvement FrameworkPresenter(s): Mary Ann Poparad Session Description: Learn about the Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy Model. This session will feature examples from Illinois schools where educators are currently using an integrated framework that aligns instructional practices across classrooms and responsive interventions designed to develop self-regulated learners.

Session Title: Supporting At-Risk Primary Students & Creating a Culture of LiteracyPresenter(s): Jill Grove Kristi FranseenSession Description: A kindergarten teacher and reading specialist at a Title I elementary school describe how they have worked to ensure reading success for the at-risk kindergarten and first grade students. They have also worked to create a ‘culture of literacy’ in the families many of whom do not have discretionary income for books and in the community which lacks a public library. Curriculum materials with which they have had great success will be demonstrated. Steps to enacting successful projects and events will be shared.

Session Title: Passion Projects and Learning CommunitiesPresenter(s): Heidi Morgan Session Description: Giving students opportunities to determine what they will study introduces an element of risk for teachers, but a huge opportunity for student ownership of their own learning. When the teacher takes the role of co-learner and gives up the sage on the stage role, amazing things can happen.

Session Title: Zoning in on Self-ReflectionPresenter(s): Cynthia Carlino Jane Ferrigan

Session Description: Our Social Worker and School Psychologist teamed up to teach first graders about Zones of Regulation, a cognitive behavior approach designed to help students identity four different zones of behavior, and learn the tools and strategies to assist them in regulating their behavior throughout the day. Strategies applicable for Tiers 1 and 2 will be presented.

Session Title: Meet the Challenge of Math MTSS/RtI for MS/HSPresenter(s): Lori Hensold Terry SchusterSession Description: Evaluate your current MS/HS system and identify next steps for your school or district to develop and sustain a Math RtI/MTSS system to support student success. Experience evidence based tools and strategies to strengthen a tiered framework of assessment, decision making, and instruction in Math at the secondary level.

Session Title: Biography Research & Wax Museum ProjectPresenter(s): Kelly Handley Candice SylvesterSession Description: Teach research, presentation, and speaking skills through biographical research. After choosing a historical figure, students research and create a cereal box report. Then students bring what they have learned to life in a 'living' wax museum. Save time by integrating social studies, reading, writing, research, and speaking all in one.

Session Title: NGSS Three-Dimensional LearningPresenter(s): Aimee Park Session Description: NGSS calls for Three-Dimensional learning and assessment. What is three-dimensional learning? How do teachers engage students in three-dimensional learning? In this session, Aimee Park will introduce participants to NGSS, three-dimensional learning, coherence, and how NGSS three-dimensional learning looks in the classroom.

Session Title: Making Math RealPresenter(s): Kim Glow Session Description: Are you struggling connecting math to the real world as you align your curriculum with Common Core? In this session you will learn why it’s more valuable to student learning when math concepts are connected to real world examples. Participants will receive sample problems to use in their classroom!

Session Title: Instructional Coach and Librarian Partner for Achievement!Presenter(s): Janine Asmus Todd VeltmanSession Description: Dr. Todd Veltman and Ms. Janine Asmus partnered for change! We created a Personal Learning Network (PLN) to beat all PLNs. We created a 'Lunch and Learn' Series entitled 'Google Educators: Certified.' Come learn about how we, in a 1:1 District, helped over half the faculty in one year become Google Educators! Teachers learned, with our guidance and support, how to use this powerful suite of Google tools. These tools transform education and we are eager to share with you our easily replicated program.

Session Title: Japanese Lesson StudyPresenter(s): Scott Dalzell Laurel HochstetlerSession Description: We will be delving into the effectiveness of Japanese Lesson Study, and its ability to improve instruction through the use of teacher learning communities. Topics will include best practices for engaging students and improving learning across the content areas through use of common language.

Session Title: Superkids Reading Program- Research in Action!Presenter(s): Kathy Barclay

Session Description: The Superkids Reading Program is a core, comprehensive reading program that seamlessly integrates all aspects of language arts. This engaging program explicitly and systematically teaches students mastery of the alphabetic system leading to proficient readers and writers by the end of 2nd grade. The Superkids characters keep children motivated as they gain a deep understanding of language and learn gentle life lessons through the character development built into the program. Superkids was designed to help children fall in love with reading and writing while preparing for the high-stakes assessments they will encounter in 3rd grade and beyond. Please join us for an introduction to Superkids as we take you on a journey to developing skilled readers and writers who can�t wait for their daily lessons with their Superkids friends!

Session Title: Solutions for Standards-Based GradingPresenter(s): Chris Gauldin Session Description: Transitioning to standards-based grading can be challenging. What considerations are important when implementing SBG and management software? This presentation will share practical experiences implementing SBG from a vendor perspective. It will also demonstrate ways that proper tools can simplify the process.

Monday 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Session Title: Now I Can TeachPresenter(s): Dr. Debbie Holliday Session Description: The session will focus on how teachers can use specific strategies that will contribute to more time for teachers to teach and students to learn. The strategies will play an integral part in improving student performance in school and on standardized testing.

Session Title: Unlocking Student EngagementPresenter(s): Gail Huizinga Session Description: What is the difference between activity, compliance, and engagement? The session highlights the criteria of highly engaging instruction and intellectual involvement. Participants will understand the instructional shifts required for an active learning format as well as be given specific strategies to promote student-owned learning. Access to an electronic Live Binder containing resources to support the session will be provided.

Session Title: Five ROE Success Models to Plant Science and Harvest Teacher PDPresenter(s): Sarah Livesay Marvin WarnerSession Description: Learn how five IL ROEs successfully addressed Professional Teaching Standards through collaboration with the Environmental Education Association of Illinois’ Project Learning Tree program. Join us as we model STEM-based, CCSS-aligned activities while investigating how you can open your ROE to this training model and accompanying grant opportunities.

Session Title: Ensuring Better Results on Grade 3 Reading AssessmentsPresenter(s): Kathy Barclay Session Description: When increasing numbers of students are not reading on grade level by the end of grade three, it’s time to look at what we are doing in preK-2. Learn what research says about the critical components of beginning reading programs and how leaders can support teachers in this most-important endeavor.

Session Title: Diving Into The DOKPresenter(s): Samantha Summers Session Description: A guide to using Norman Webb's Depth of Knowledge to encourage higher levels of thinking will be presented in this session. Using the DOK levels, I will demonstrate how educators can connect instructional objectives and engaging activities to the Common Core State Standards. The presentation will provide practical tools to organize academics in the classroom for all subject levels. Additionally, I will illustrate how to categorize assessment tasks by different levels of cognitive expectation. Using higher order levels of complexity for daily activities and assessment will challenge your students, and increase educational rigor within your classroom.

Session Title: Close Read Lesson Planning SimplifiedPresenter(s): Jill Liapis Kathleen DoyleSession Description: Participants will experience an interactive session that will simplify the planning process for Close Read. Specific question styles for each of the 3 reads will be discussed as well as the importance of selecting a text worthy of a close read. Grade level Common Core Standards will be used along with complex text to demonstrate how to design questions that will require deep peer discussions. All participants will have access to a close read lesson plan template and samples.

Session Title: Learning From Your Past To Guide Your FuturePresenter(s): Joseph Hailpern Richard SchroederSession Description: This session will share/model how our district and our schools are reframing the conversation around student growth and teacher practice to align curricular practices, communicate about students more effectively, and move our schools forward during a time of increased accountability.

Session Title: The Stock Market Game™Presenter(s): Debbie Kerman Session Description: This on-line simulation, used in thousands of grades 4-12 classrooms nationwide, helps students build a fundamental understanding of the importance of investing while incorporating math, English, language arts, social studies, technology and more. Students work in teams, using research, critical thinking, and decision-making skills, to build the best-performing portfolio possible. Learn how to get started, how to navigate the resource library, and how to utilize the lessons and assessments available.

Session Title: Certified School Librarian = Student AchievementPresenter(s): Carolyn Kinsella Lauren CollenSession Description: The research is irrefutable: Certified librarians increase student achievement. Learn what the research says and how your librarian impacts every student. Whether you are a teacher or administrator, harness the power of your certified librarian through collaboration, integrated lessons, and professional development. The result will be increased test scores.

Session Title: Literacy Strategies for ALL!Presenter(s): Tim Wernentin Session Description: Learn how one high school is implementing a school improvement grant to embed literacy strategies across subject areas. This fun, interactive session will put strategies like close reading, 'Fix Up,' and 'Reading to Learn' in your instructional tool box.

Session Title: Layers of LearningPresenter(s): Rebecca Selk DeeDee BakerSession Description: There is a secret ingredient that every student needs. When we think about teaching the CCSS the first thoughts in our mind are: research, evidence-based, high expectations, rigorous content, success (for the global economy), and maybe even a little EXHAUSTION. They are the gist of CCSS! But there is a hidden secret to teaching these elements.

Session Title: Developing Historical ArgumentationPresenter(s): Tad DePorter Luke LesniakSession Description: This session will provide information on how instructors offered multiple opportunities for students to develop and defend an opinion, based on historical information. The focus will be on a high school World History course, but the principles can be applied to any level of history classroom.

Session Title: Student-driven Math CentersPresenter(s): Kelly Burns Nicole RokasSession Description: How can we help students become independent learners? Student-driven math centers allow you to differentiate instruction, give immediate feedback and teach students to properly use technology and/or manipulatives. Classroom management can be an issue if students are not engaged in meaningful activities or are unsure of the expectations and instructions. However, when properly set up, this can be the most meaningful time in your math classroom.

Session Title: Stop Dreaming, Start Doing: MTSSPresenter(s): Terry Schuster Session Description: Multi-tiered Systems of Support is a method of organizing various initiatives and activities within an educational system into a more streamlined and effective system. Basic principles and practices to reduce redundancy, improve collaboration, and allow purposeful implementation of high quality instructional practices will be described.

Session Title: Racing Across the CurriculumPresenter(s): Michael Bleyle Session Description: A cross-curricular, hands-on project that integrates auto racing, video games, and die cast cars into the classroom will be presented in this session. This project incorporates inquiry based Science, P.E., Math, Multi-Media, Reading, Writing, and Non-Fiction Literature into the classroom.

Session Title: Number Sense 101Presenter(s): Courtney Stenger Sarah MastersSession Description: Many have said kids need better number sense, but what exactly does that mean? And how do we help them? Attendees will gain an understanding of the important components that help students develop a strong sense of number. Students’ concepts of number, and the relationship among numbers, are essential for success in the world around them. Ways for students to explore and strengthen number sense, at the K-2 level, will be presented. Resources will be recommended and give-a-ways included.

Session Title: Connecting Families to SchoolPresenter(s): Susan Grzanich, EdS. Pam Everetts

Session Description: This session will provide easy to implement strategies and activities to connect families to school. Our Title 1 school has had 99-100% parent conference attendance for three years, gone from 5 people at PTO meetings to 25 regularly, and raised over $10,000 a year through PTO. Problem solved with us!

Session Title: Student Choice Through Creative SchedulingPresenter(s): Andrew Walsh Tami GeurtsSession Description: Listen to one school's story of how to offer enrichment and choice to students without adding any additional staff by creatively rearranging the master schedule. Find out how to keep the middle school philosophy alive under our challenging financial times.

Session Title: Building the Skills of Argumentation and Collaboration in STEMPresenter(s): Terry Talley, Ed.D Session Description: Skillful Argumentation and Discourse are Practices of Scientists and Engineers that provide a pathway for success in the future workforce. During this fun - interactive session participants will determine the solution to a problem through collaboration among team members. Clear explanations are needed to solve the problem and to reach consensus about their solution.

Monday 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM

Session Title: Resilient Leaders and Teachers Challenging the Status QuoPresenter(s): Salome Thomas-EL Session Description: In the follow-up to his keynote, Principal EL will discuss how transformational leaders make courageous decisions and challenge the status quo. In his thought-provoking presentation, Principal EL will share how we can foster a positive school climate and culture so teachers can focus on building resilient students.

Session Title: Using Simple Debate to Teach Argumentative WritingPresenter(s): Bill McBride Session Description: If teenagers love to argue, then why aren’t we using this as a springboard to teach them to write argumentative essays? In this interactive workshop, teachers learn to use this natural “resource” to teach students to argue intelligently with well-supported arguments—exactly what the new Common Core State Standards require.

Session Title: Achieving Goals in a High Poverty SchoolPresenter(s): Michael McCoy Teresa FutrellSession Description: This presentation will focus on school wide programs and classroom strategies to raise test scores in a high poverty school district. We will focus on homework programs, a one to one initiative with Chromebooks, tutoring programs, and standardized testing. Classroom practices to raise reading test scores including readers workshop, interactive assignments and using technology in a reading will be discussed.

Session Title: Supporting ALL Students' Learning Under the RtI / MTSS ModelPresenter(s): Thomas Webb Session Description: When schools must set aside time for students with achievement gaps to be provided additional instruction under the RtI / MTSS Model, what will the rest of the student body do? This session will answer that question. Staff can provide individualized instruction to all students based on data that ensures all students learn at high levels. This session will provide the framework for your school and / or district to get the biggest bang for your instructional minutes and meet the individual learning needs of each student.

Session Title: Speaking & Listening: 'Jumpstarting' Reading and WritingPresenter(s): Kathi Rhodus Session Description: This session will describe how the speaking and listening standards are not just “more for teachers to cover” but a pathway to assist students in reading complex texts, writing to sources as well as helping teachers infuse quality questioning, close reading and MORE! A framework for lesson planning will be provided as well as a plethora of grade level resources.

Session Title: Creating Type 3 Assessments in a Type A WorldPresenter(s): Diane Wolf Session Description: In Illinois, teachers will create Type 3 assessments for the student growth component of their evaluation. How do leaders reduce the stress and increase the quality of these assessments for teachers so that students do not get assessed to death? This session will walk you through the steps of analyzing assessments that can be used for a pre/post test or the Student Learning Object (SLO) model.

Session Title: Evidence of Classroom Video EffectivenessPresenter(s): Tom Jackson Student PresenterSession Description: Your lesson is planned, and you feel that perfect touch is a TED-ed video. Students are visual learners . . . when they watch video they must be learning! You play the video and ask for understanding, maybe a few students respond, but what about the rest? What did they understand?

Session Title: Number Line Math - Grades 3 - 8Presenter(s): John Felling Session Description: Number lines are easy to find, versatile and are great for teaching many concepts at the elementary/middle years level. Come prepared to play games and learn strategies for teaching the following CCSS: simple division ,operations, using estimation and mental math, place value, integers, converting fractions/decimal percents. Gameboards, student samples will be shared.

Session Title: Honing Interpersonal Leadership Skills to Lead OthersPresenter(s): Dr. Nicole Wood Annie BaddooSession Description: Often times in school leadership the balance between the hard skills and the soft skills is ignored. This sessions will spend time identifying the interpersonal leadership qualities that are crucial to developing a high performing adult culture. We will identify internal and external factors related to successful leadership, discuss how interpersonal leadership skills can help with managing change in a building, and help leaders understand how to build the structures and systems to maximize staff strengths and effectively distribute leadership.

Session Title: Engaging Students and Inspiring ActivismPresenter(s): Tara Young Alicia AboodSession Description: Learn how students use real-world application of the CCSS in this rigorous, compelling Activism project. Presenters will share models and discuss how 300+ students were engaged and inspired.

Session Title: Online: Resources, PLC's and PDPresenter(s): Gregory Hobbs

Session Description: Administrators and teachers will be shown how to increase student achievement using various online platforms that allow for PLC's, Professional Development, and many resources for student growth. Please note: ALL are FREE, with no subscription fees. Please have a personal device for this session.

Session Title: The DESK-LESS classroomPresenter(s): Chelsea Rawhoof Laura WankeSession Description: This session will focus on looking outside of the box with alternative, non-traditional seating. We will talk about using other means of seating such as, stability balls, stools, futons, pillows, and more in a classroom. Come and learn about the benefits of desk-less classroom and how to make it happen in your room!

Session Title: Differentiating for the Gifted Reader in the Regular ClassroomPresenter(s): Jennifer Lynn Session Description: Gifted students are among the most underserved in our school system. Differentiating for the gifted can be difficult and time-consuming for classroom teachers. Learn to identify gifted students and provide instructional options that are easy, yet academically challenging and adaptable for multiple topics and grade levels.

Session Title: Geocaching and GPS for the Outdoor ClassroomPresenter(s): Edward Gorny Session Description: Discover the rapidly developing educational activity of geocaching with GPS. GPS units and Geocaching are making education REAL in the areas of science, mathematics, social studies, and physical education. GPS is a tool for students to learn about the world around them by venturing outdoors and experiencing it first-hand.

Session Title: Give Me a Break: Integrating Activity into the ClassroomPresenter(s): Tammy Schiek Session Description: Are you looking for strategies to improve student focus, supplement class instruction, and boost test scores? This session offers instructional tips for incorporating physical activity into the classroom. Learn how to integrate brain breaks and energize your classroom.

Session Title: Formative Assessment Tools for ClassroomsPresenter(s): John Closen Session Description: Participants will be introduced to variety of technology-enhanced formative assessment tools that can be utilized in a K-12 classroom. These tools include: Geddit, Formative, Kahoot, Plickers, Socrative, Today's Meet and more! Bring a laptop and a smartphone/iPad to be able to participate in this hands on session.

Session Title: Mastery Learning: Skills Reflected into a GradebookPresenter(s): Sarah Stoub Session Description: Standards-based grading effectively reports what students know and are able to do, but how do you implement this philosophy in your classroom in a school that does not follow this approach? This presentation shares ideas for implementing a Mastery Learning mindset learned by a high school chemistry classroom teacher. Learn about how to structure exams and retake opportunities in order to have your gradebook truly show what students know and are able to do.

Session Title: Doing More with Less! -- Check it OUT!

Presenter(s): Suzy Dees Lori FanelloSession Description: Through your ROEs and ISCs, every school district in Illinois has access to high quality, interactive, Foundational PD in seven topic areas: Balanced Assessment, Continuous Improvement Planning, ELA, Family Engagement, Math, Science, and Teacher Evaluation. Come to this session to determine which opportunities best fit your district's/school's needs and how to sign up for these opportunities at no charge to you! Come see how Foundational Services can help your staff build capacity and access to the most-current ISBE information on these very important topics that can be interwoven with your current initiatives and improvement plans.

Session Title: Creating a Plan for NGSS Instruction - StoryliningPresenter(s): Aimee Park Session Description: In attempting to incorporate NGSS into the classroom, how do educators meet NGSS to create coherence and plan for the long term units of study? Aimee Park will explain the process of writing NGSS Storylines which is a method of creating a unit plan to meet clusters of NGSS.

Session Title: Adventures in Guided MathPresenter(s): Sarah Masters Courtney StengerSession Description: I know what guided math is, now how do I do it? A guided math framework is perfect for differentiating instruction of the New Illinois State Learning Standards. Attendees will receive ideas for organization, assessment, how to form guided math groups, and ways to provide independent tasks that will help attendees be successful in implementing a guided math framework in their K-2 classroom. Give-a-ways included!

Session Title: Flipping Elementary EducationPresenter(s): Jon Bergmann Session Description: Learn from author and flipped learning pioneer Jon Bergmann as he explains how elementary teachers can and should flip their classrooms. Learn how this model increases student achievement, interest, and engagement.

Session Title: Formative Assessment Strategies for WritingPresenter(s): Jill Brown Session Description: Teachers will learn to define what a balanced assessment system is, specifically formative assessment, and the type of messaging that classroom assessment practices should emulate. Strategies will be shared that can facilitate classroom instruction and successfully engage students.

Session Title: Inquiry Learning with Nonfiction TextPresenter(s): Thomas Kerschner Session Description: Participate in an Inquiry-based learning session focused on using a non-fiction science test to enhance students critical thinking, social/emotional learning, and research skills. You will leave with a full unit plan to implement in your school and a new methods to reach even your most reluctant readers.

Monday 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Session Title: Discovering What Works in Your DistrictPresenter(s): Jay McCracken Putnam County Leadership Team Session Description: Discover what unique qualities can lead to success in your district! This session highlights a success model and provides an overview of a district committee structure which has led to buy-in

from all stakeholders. The Putnam County district leadership team will share how they have empowered teacher leaders to work collectively with the entire district to create a school environment where kids really come first….despite the pressure from the state and federal government. The presentation will demonstrate how the curriculum council, mentoring program, behavior interventions, technology, Rising Star, and RtI can work cohesively to lead to success in your district. Shared leadership is the key to success!

Session Title: Using Student-Made Films in Content Area ClassroomsPresenter(s): Bill McBride Session Description: Our students grow up inundated with film, video and television, yet teachers rarely make use of their inherent knowledge of this medium in the classroom. Making a film involves the same composing process as writing. Exciting and amusing student-made films will be shown as models of the multitude of standards that filmmaking covers.

Session Title: Developing Positive Relationships and Appropriate BehaviorsPresenter(s): Christine Anderson Anne GregorySession Description: The session will explore various methods that foster positive relationships, such as: behavior specific praise (BSP), parent-teacher communication, and token economies. Teachers demand behavioral management systems that are simple and unobtrusive. Research based, these positive reinforcement practices have a history of increasing appropriate behavior, achievement and self-esteem in students.

Session Title: Co-Teaching BasicsPresenter(s): Courtney Thatcher Josh GrysSession Description: Successful co-teaching programs in place have decreased referrals to intensive special education services, increased overall student achievement and decreased referrals for behavioral problems. These benefits are connected to successful co-teaching program implementation. The goal of this presentation is to define co-teaching, describe effective co-teaching, and encourage new and existing co-teachers.

Session Title: Creating Rigorous, Standards-Based, Common Local AssessmentsPresenter(s): Steve Oertle Session Description: This session will target two objectives: Understanding the purpose of assessment and how it is the linking element between standards and instruction and applying assessment research knowledge to analyze common assessments for rigor and overall quality. Attendees will analyze several common assessments using a research-based rubric.

Session Title: Developing Dynamic Professional Development on AssessmentPresenter(s): Diane Wolf Session Description: Assessment is not a bad word but it is one that brings lots of anxiety, confusion and self-analysis. In an age of everyone talking about student assessment, how do you create a professional development experience that is positive, motivating and inspiring. Leave this session with the top 10 ways to make your next professional development day one that everyone will want to repeat!

Session Title: Align Tech with Learning GoalsPresenter(s): Tom Jackson Student PresenterSession Description: Now that you have determined the learning goals, how do you present content that’s appealing, engaging, meaningful, and leads students to achieve the targeted learning? This session will

demonstrate that “teach-back” strategies might be useful to your students when it’s time for them to demonstrate their understanding.

Session Title: Double Dice Games Gr 3 - 5Presenter(s): John Felling Session Description: Come prepared to play some of our favorite Box Cars games that incorporate the use of highly engaging and motivating types of double dice. Your most reluctant learners will benefit from using them to learn the following CCSS concepts: fractions, place value, comparing, ordering and working with large numbers, operations, graphing, and probability. Handouts and student samples will be shared.

Session Title: Addressing Bullying Head OnPresenter(s): Dave Raffel Hillary VaughnSession Description: This session will show how one school is addressing the increasing issue of bullying. By including student, parent, and community input, bullying is being addressed community-wide so that students get the message at school and after that bullying will not be tolerated.

Session Title: From Apps and Integration to Creativity and InnovationPresenter(s): Jerry Swedberg Session Description: Apps and integration is a great place to start, but you can really unleash the power of digital tools and resources when you refocus on creativity and innovation. This session will show why creativity matters and provide practical ways teachers can ramp up student creativity in the classroom.

Session Title: Leading with Justice for All: "Are you prepared?"Presenter(s): Dr. Todd Pettit Session Description: Educators are faced with being prepared to teach and lead with justice for all students. This workshop highlights ways for teachers, administrators and school staff to be prepared to meet the needs of socially diverse students in socially just ways.

Session Title: I've Read Daily 5, NOW What?Presenter(s): Laura Wanke Chelsea RawhoofSession Description: Do you love Daily 5, but struggle to know how to structure the time so that students have enough time working independently and still fit in all your whole groups lessons? Participants will hear and see various ways to structure Daily 5 to meet their school's curriculum and classroom schedule needs.

Session Title: Crafting Writers Without Crushing Spirits: A Child's PerspectivePresenter(s): Emily Wyss Session Description: This session will provide educators with instructional practices addressing the many challenges of teaching writing from a child’s perspective. Participants will gain ideas on how to engage students and overcome time constraints, lack of interest, and varying student needs within the classroom. Ideas will integrate technology.

Session Title: Geographic Information System (GIS) = Real World LearningPresenter(s): Edward Gorny

Session Description: Discover the rapidly growing benefits of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) as a new and essential tool for student learning. GIS engages students in active hands-on learning, fosters critical thinking, involves students in investigations of relevant real-issues, employs problem based learning, and advances the technology literacy goals of the educational community. GIS is one of the newest geospatial technologies to learn.

Session Title: Learning Centers for the Middle School StudentPresenter(s): Norene Carr Melissa BrennanSession Description: Discover the academic benefits of learning centers for the Middle School student.

Session Title: Augmented Reality in the ClassroomPresenter(s): John Closen Session Description: Participants will be introduced to Augmented Reality Apps that make classroom walls alive and interactive. By scanning a “trigger” that unlocks layers of embedded digital information, books and pictures come to life and tell stories. Historical figures can explain historical events in their own words.

Session Title: Coaching: Creating High Impact SystemsPresenter(s): Terry Schuster Session Description: Effective data based decision-making teams improve instructional services for all students. They also require highly developed specialized skills. This presentation describes how effective coaching can develop and practice these skills through PD, modeling, reflective feedback, and technical assistance within a gradual release model of mentoring and training.

Session Title: Writing Instruction Using Mentor TextsPresenter(s): Kim Henke Session Description: Mentor texts serve to show, not just tell, students how to write well. If we want students to write a convincing persuasive essay that includes evidence, show them good examples. If we want them to craft a descriptive story, filled with dialogue and details, we need to show them what this looks like and have the opportunity to talk about what makes it good and then give them the time to practice. This session will show several examples and share ideas on how to use mentor texts with your writing instruction.

Session Title: NGSS AssessmentPresenter(s): Aimee Park Session Description: NGSS calls for Three-Dimensional learning and assessment. What is three-dimensional assessment? How do teachers create three-dimensional assessments? Using the recommendations and materials from Developing Assessments for the NGSS and Illinois School Board of Education, Aimee Park will summarize the process her district is using to create Three-Dimensional classroom assessments.

Session Title: Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat and the NGSSPresenter(s): Joe Bauer Session Description: Developing and utilizing a wildlife habitat area on the school grounds can help your students to meet a variety of Next Generation Science Standards. We'll discuss incorporation of these standards and provide information about the Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant.

Session Title: Flipping a SchoolPresenter(s): Jon Bergmann

Session Description: Learn from author and flipped learning pioneer Jon Bergmann as he shares with administrators how to flip a school. Learn how to get teacher buy-in, how to implement on a larger scale, what challenges you will face, and how to communicate change to key stakeholders.

Session Title: Kids to Careers - A Meaningful Approach to Career ExplorationPresenter(s): Elizabeth Hand Session Description: Studies show that 70% of college students change their major after enrollment. This often extends their time in school and increases their student loan debt. How can we help these students? We need to start exploring careers earlier and give sstudents the opportunity to do more than write a paper about careers or walk around a gym talking to strangers about the jobs they chose. Kids to Careers offers a different approach to career exploration. Learn how to run an effective and meaningful student led career fair. You will leave this workshop with all the tools you need to implement this as soon as you return to school!

Session Title: Principles of Fearless LeadershipPresenter(s): Joseph Gulino, Ph.D Session Description: The points presented in this conference session, are based on the reality that everyone is a leader at some time in his or her career. A leader can be anyone who has goals to accomplish and who works with others. A leader is NOT just a person with a title.