Professional Development
We offer a wide variety of Professional Development for teachers and schools. Our team can customize content to best fit the needs of your staff and learners.
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Professional Development Catalog:
Browse our selection of available Professional Development programs below. Unsure about funding? Need something customized? Have other questions or ready to put us on your school or district schedule? Get in touch!
| Category | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Alignment | Aligning the Common Core State Standards (ELA focus) | This collaborative workshop helps educators build a strong foundation in the ELA Common Core State Standards to ensure student college and career readiness. Participants will learn to align their current curriculum to the CCSS, write clear learning targets, and identify curricular gaps. We will also explore resource selection and the implications of these standards on daily instruction and assessment. This essential professional development is highly valuable for teachers across all disciplines and content areas. |
| Curriculum Alignment | Aligning the Common Core State Standards (Math Emphasis) | This collaborative workshop helps educators build a strong foundation in the Mathematics Common Core State Standards to ensure student college and career readiness. Participants will learn to align their current curriculum to the CCSS, write clear learning targets, and identify curricular gaps. We will also explore resource selection, the Standards for Mathematical Practice, and the implications of these standards on daily instruction and assessment. |
| Curriculum Alignment | Aligning to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) | This collaborative workshop introduces the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and guides educators through local curriculum alignment. By analyzing sample lessons, participants will explore how Disciplinary Core Ideas, Crosscutting Concepts, and Science and Engineering Practices function in a live classroom setting. Educators will also review implementation resources developed by national NGSS writers and the Wisconsin NGSS Leadership Team to support high-quality, standards-aligned science instruction. |
| Curriculum Alignment | Using the Understand by Design (UbD) Model | This interactive workshop introduces educators to the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework developed by Wiggins and McTighe. Participants will explore the core principles of backward design—aligning desired learning results, assessment evidence, and instructional plans to build a high-quality curriculum. Through hands-on application during the session, teachers will learn how to use the UbD model to design clear classroom targets, effective assessments, and engaging daily lessons. |
| Curriculum Alignment | College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework (Social Studies) | This workshop introduces social studies educators to the C3 Framework, a model designed to elevate disciplinary rigor, cultivate critical thinking, and build active citizenship. Participants will explore how the framework aligns with the CCSS for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies. Through collaborative planning, teachers will develop practical, inquiry-based classroom activities that promote student problem-solving and deep literacy within the social studies disciplines. |
| Curriculum Alignment | Depth of Knowledge (DOK) Framework | This workshop equips educators to increase classroom rigor using the Depth of Knowledge (DOK) framework. Participants will study the four DOK levels—Recall, Basic Concepts, Strategic Thinking, and Extended Thinking—to better understand and meet the cognitive demands of the Common Core State Standards. Teachers will collaborate to analyze, develop, and differentiate complex instructional and assessment tasks. Please note: Tasks on the Wisconsin Forward Exam are specifically distinguished and evaluated by DOK levels. |
| Curriculum Alignment | Speaking & Listening Standards | This workshop explores the ELA Common Core State Standards for Speaking and Listening, which form the bedrock of college and career readiness. Participants will learn how to operationalize these standards by designing student opportunities for high-level, collaborative conversation across whole-class, small-group, and partner dynamics. The session focuses on practical strategies that empower all students to actively contribute to, synthesize, and critically analyze diverse ideas across multiple content domains. |
| Curriculum Alignment | Strategic School Planning: Reviewing Where You’ve Been, Where You Are Now and Where You Want to Go to Maximize Student Success | This training guides school leadership teams through a data-driven planning process to identify and address student learning needs across core curriculum areas. Using a comprehensive strategic planning tool, coached teams will develop a focused action plan featuring clear goals, timelines, progress-monitoring schedules, and evaluation criteria. The planning process explicitly includes the design of research-backed professional development initiatives, equipping teams to leave with a finalized, comprehensive professional learning plan for the upcoming school year. |
| Reading | Effective Phonics Instruction and Assessments | Help young readers bridge the gap between letters and sounds. This workshop empowers teachers with expert strategies across the five foundational reading skills: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Learn to teach systematically and assess with confidence. & fluency with text, vocabulary and comprehension. |
| Reading | Teaching for Phonemic Awareness | Supercharge your literacy instruction. This workshop introduces the five foundational reading skills, with a heavy emphasis on the critical role of phonemic awareness. Packed with practical examples and teacher experiences, this session bridges theory and classroom practice. Note: This is part one of a series. Follow-up workshops for each individual reading skill are highly recommended to build a comprehensive reading program. |
| Reading | Developing Reading Fluency | Ready to help your students read with confidence and expression? Join us to explore the science of reading fluency—where automatic decoding meets comprehension. In this interactive session, you will collaborate with peers to design engaging classroom activities and master formative assessments that make progress monitoring seamless. Elevate your literacy instruction and help your readers thrive! |
| Reading | Academic Vocabulary for Common Core | Academic vocabulary provides essential background knowledge and is linked to academic achievement. This workshop is focused on direct vocabulary instruction based on the research of Bob Marzano. Educators will learn a six step process for effective vocabulary instruction and have opportunities to practice and plan for implementation. Methods to assess and monitor student progress will also be included. |
| Reading | Reading Comprehension | Help your students shift from simply calling words to truly uncovering meaning! Join us for an interactive workshop focused on the core pillars of reading comprehension. You will dive into research-backed strategies—like inferring, summarizing, and visualizing—while learning how to effectively monitor student progress. Plus, you'll walk away with practical, scaffolded instruction techniques to confidently support your struggling readers. |
| Reading | Early Interventions in Reading | Don't let struggling readers fall behind—intervene early with confidence! Join us for a workshop focused on the power of early identification and targeted reading intervention. You’ll explore a variety of intervention frameworks, learn how to rigorously monitor student growth, and master the art of adjusting your approach to ensure every child meets grade-level milestones. |
| Reading | Reading Intervention | Ready to maximize the impact of your Reading and ELA interventions? Join us to explore how the Response to Intervention (RTI) model can transform your daily instruction. In this practical workshop, you’ll learn to use assessment data to uncover student gaps, design scaffolded supports for struggling learners, and use meaningful feedback loops to accelerate growth. Equip yourself with a system that ensures no reader falls through the cracks! |
| Reading | Progress Monitoring in Reading/ELA/Math | Turn your classroom data into a roadmap for student growth! Join us for a practical workshop designed to help you decode school data across Reading, ELA, and Math. You will learn how to build tailored, individualized learning plans for every student, use modern technology and formative tools to track progress, and design responsive lessons that adjust to student needs in real-time. |
| Reading | CCSS: Text Complexity | Ready to take the guesswork out of selecting classroom texts? Join us for a hands-on workshop designed to help you confidently teach, measure, and evaluate text complexity. You'll explore the why and how behind complex texts and walk away with practical resources you can use immediately. |
| Reading | CCSS: Close Reading | Help students think methodically about text. In this practical session, you'll explore the power of close reading across all disciplines, practice the techniques yourself, and leave with concrete tools to build thoughtful, analytical readers in your classroom. |
| Reading | Writers’ Workshop | Discover how to design a writing block that reaches every learner. This practical session dives into the essentials of the Writer’s Workshop model—from high-impact mini-lessons and conferring to management tips and assessments. You'll walk away with useful tools, procedures, and lessons to confidently launch your own workshop. |
| Reading | Readers’ Workshop | Designed for K–8 educators, this comprehensive series equips you with the skills to run an inclusive, high-growth Reader’s Workshop. From mastering mini-lessons and conferring to utilizing mentor texts and anecdotal data, you will receive ongoing, year-round support to confidently implement a model that reaches every reader. |
| Reading | Digital Writer’s Workshop |
Enhance your writing instruction by integrating technology into the Writer’s Workshop model. This practical session explores how digital tools can enhance diverse genre studies—including memoirs, realistic fiction, and reviews. Discover best practices for embedding tech into your daily routines, and walk away with a curated collection of internet-based programs, student-tested projects, and digital assessments you can implement immediately. |
| Reading | The "Five Pillars + of Reading": What is the Science of Reading? | Ready to bridge the gap between reading science and daily instruction? This session helps educators unpack the structured literacy movement and make immediate, impactful shifts in how they teach reading. Discover how to apply the Science of Reading across the critical pillars of literacy—including phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. You’ll walk away with budget-friendly, high-yield strategies to ensure every student becomes a confident, successful reader. |
| Reading | Shifting Your Balanced Literacy Classroom to Align With the Science of Reading (Grades K-2) | Transform your early literacy instruction during this intensive two-day workshop rooted in the Science of Reading. Exploring the six essential shifts from Jan Burkins and Kari Yates’ bestselling book Shifting the Balance, you will challenge common instructional misconceptions and reconsider traditional practices—from the MSV cueing system to high-frequency word routines. Leave with actionable, high-leverage strategies to support phonemic awareness, phonics, and comprehension for your youngest readers. | Reading | High Leverage Practices to Support Upper Elementary Readers (Grades 3-6) | Elevate your reading instruction during this comprehensive two-day workshop designed for upper-elementary educators. Learn how to diagnose and bridge "unfinished learning" using data-driven skill progressions, implement upper-grade foundational routines (phonics, word study, fluency), and boost student agency through knowledge-building inquiry techniques. Fully aligned with the WI-ELA Standards, this session delivers high-leverage practices for vocabulary and comprehension that seamlessly integrate into any existing curriculum. |
| Math | CCSS Math Practices | This workshop is based on the National Council of Math Teachers landmark Principles to Action publication. Turn NCTM’s landmark publication into everyday classroom success. This workshop focuses on the practical application of the eight essential math practices to strengthen instructional impact. Participants will explore high-impact strategies that spark student reasoning and sense-making, and directly apply these tools by designing ready-to-teach, content-aligned lesson plans. |
| Math | Math Workshop Model | Transform your classroom into a dynamic, math-rich environment using the Math Workshop Model. Learn to seamlessly weave together whole-group lessons, targeted small guided groups, and strategic choice menus to effectively differentiate instruction for all students. This session focuses on practical, Common Core-aligned strategies and activities designed to maximize student engagement and success. |
| Math | Developing Number Sense | Unlock the keys to early mathematical understanding. This workshop equips educators to analyze student development across quantity, counting, and operations. Master the art of informal assessment to pinpoint student gaps, and discover high-impact intervention tools, games, and activities designed to make number sense remediation engaging and effective. |
| Math | Mathematics Interventions | Master the Response to Instruction (RtI) framework with a specific focus on mathematics. This session equips educators with a toolkit of cost-effective math interventions, specializing in proactive pre-teaching and targeted re-teaching strategies. Discover how to transform everyday formative assessment data into dynamic, flexible student groups that address learning gaps in real time. |
| Math | Mathematical Mindsets | Transform your approach to 21st-century math education. Inspired by the groundbreaking research of Stanford University professor Dr. Jo Boaler, this session challenges traditional teaching methods through the lens of eight dynamic online modules. Engage in professional discourse around growth mindsets, authentic math experiences, and high-impact practices designed to reshape how students think about and learn mathematics. |
| Academic Behaviors | Social Emotional Learning | Research shows that strong social-emotional skills directly boost student achievement, improve behavior, and reduce stress. In this interactive workshop, educators will master the 5 core SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. You'll leave with practical strategies to explicitly teach, measure, and integrate these skills into your daily instruction—helping you proactively manage behavior and create a positive, focused learning environment. |
| Academic Behaviors | Developing a Growth Mindset in Students | Transform how your students approach challenge, failure, and effort. Based on proven research, this session equips teachers and administrators with concrete procedures to foster growth mindsets that boost test scores, increase motivation, and close gender and racial achievement gaps. Leave with ready-to-use strategies to help students embrace difficulty, build academic resilience, and unlock the true elasticity of their brains. |
| Academic Behaviors | Culturally Responsive Classroom Management | Build an inclusive, supportive classroom culture where every student can succeed. In this practical workshop, educators will evaluate their behavior management systems through a culturally responsive lens. You will design an explicit expectation matrix, identify high-risk triggers to proactively prevent disruptions, and build a scaffolded intervention plan to support all learners. Leave with concrete tools to de-escalate volatile situations and diffuse negative behaviors before they start. |
| Academic Behaviors | Restorative Practices Foundation | Research shows that classrooms implementing Restorative Practices experience significantly fewer disciplinary referrals for misconduct and defiance. This workshop introduces actionable RP frameworks to address disproportionate discipline data and improve school climate. Educators will leave equipped to replace reactive discipline with proactive community building, transforming classroom relationships and creating a supportive environment where all students—especially those with a history of behavioral challenges—can thrive. |
| Academic Behaviors | Student Motivation and Engagement Literacy Emphasis |
Discover how to transform adolescent engagement by creating a safe, responsive learning environment tailored to students' social, emotional, and behavioral needs. Grounded in research on intrinsic motivation, this practical workshop equips educators to design authentic learning experiences, leverage engaging literature, and offer strategic choice and flexibility. Learn how to structure assignments and discussions that motivate learners, unpack the root causes of academic failure, and provide the scaffolding students need to reach higher achievement. |
| Academic Behaviors | Traumatic Stress Responses in Students | When trauma impacts a student, it directly affects their ability to learn and thrive at school. This practical workshop equips educators and staff to recognize the warning signs of traumatic stress across different grade levels and implement effective support systems. Learn to create a safe, trauma-sensitive classroom culture, develop targeted intervention plans, and practice vital self-care techniques to sustain your work with vulnerable students. |
| Academic Behaviors | Classroom Management through a Culturally Responsive Lens | Minimize disruptions and maximize instructional time by building a supportive, predictable classroom environment. In this hands-on session, educators will construct a comprehensive management framework designed to address behavior before it escalates. Learn to design a targeted expectation matrix for high-risk routines, leverage specific positive feedback to boost on-task behavior, and apply an equity lens to refine classroom consequences. Educators will also practice proven de-escalation techniques and build culturally responsive protocols to handle challenging behaviors with confidence. |
| Academic Behaviors | Mindfulness in Schools | WEI works in partnership with Reset-MindBody to bring Mindfulness to your school. The mission at Reset-MindBody is to support and serve the community by providing youth and adults with instruction that improves their overall sense of emotional and physical well-being. They introduce and facilitate the concepts of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mindfulness based strategies that can easily be integrated into daily life. Through intervention programs and specialized workshops, they empower individuals to become more self-aware, to better self-regulate, and ultimately feel capable of creating and nurturing personal resiliency to handle the challenges of today’s world. In this session you will be introduced to the following topics: - Mindfulness and its relevancy to social and emotional literacy - Understanding the “stress response” and how Mindfulness can decrease it - How Mindfulness enables us to self-regulate when faced with strong emotions - Being Mindful in school and classroom relationships - How Mindfulness nurtures resiliency Educators will learn many simple, yet powerful techniques designed to enhance focusing skills, management of emotions and conflict resolution. When the mindful awareness strategies are practiced often in low stress environments they can become a more intentional way of being in higher stress situations. Research has shown these practices help students in schools calm down when upset, avoid fights and arguments, fall asleep better at night, feel happier at school and home, and even improve grades. |
| Instruction | Differentiated Instruction | Transform your teaching to reach every learner. Based on Carol Ann Tomlinson’s renowned research, this workshop offers practical tools to differentiate content, process, product, and classroom environment. Discover and practice high-impact instructional strategies designed to support diverse learning profiles and foster an inclusive, high-achieving classroom. |
| Instruction | Flexible Grouping | Transform how your students collaborate and learn. Learn how to strategically group learners using data, shared interests, or random selection to deliver targeted instruction, foster collaboration, and boost learning outcomes for every student. |
| Instruction | Culturally Responsive Instruction |
Empower diverse learners intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Based on the framework of Gloria Ladson-Billings, this workshop equips teachers with self-reflective tools, culturally relevant resources, and high-impact strategies to reduce instructional bias and ensure equal learning access for every student. |
| Instruction | Disciplinary Literacy | Empower your students to navigate, comprehend, and analyze content-area reading. Based on the work of Doug Buehl, this workshop introduces high-impact scaffolding strategies for every stage of the reading process—before, during, and after. Learn how to guide students toward metacognition and independent reading proficiency using a proven, step-by-step gradual release framework suitable for any grade level or subject. |
| Instruction | Project Based Learning | Move beyond traditional lessons and engage students in extended, real-world inquiry. Using proven templates from the Buck Institute, this workshop guides teachers through the complete PBL design lifecycle: mapping standards, cultivating student voice, facilitating peer feedback, and structuring public showcases. Gain practical strategies to build student collaboration and critical thinking while mastering the mechanics of high-quality project management. |
| Instruction | Writing Across the Curriculum | Maximize student achievement and depth of knowledge through disciplinary writing. Designed for teachers of all subjects, this workshop offers proven, time-efficient strategies to integrate reading and writing into daily instruction. Walk away with practical tools to cultivate independent thinkers, reinforce content concepts, and meet modern cross-curricular literacy standards. |
| Instruction | Universal Design for Learning (UDL) | Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework based on research in the learning sciences, including cognitive neuroscience, that guides the development of flexible learning environments that can accommodate individual learning differences. In this workshop educators will be introduced to the three main principles of UDL. These principles will be studied in depth in regard to their application in the classroom to meet the needs of all learners. CAST resources and materials will be used to support the learning in this workshop. |
| Instruction | Doing What Works: Visible Learning Concepts | This session introduces the attributes of teaching and learning that are supported by research as being effective in schooling. It will introduce the 10 mindframes needed to create a positive learning experience for students. In addition it will look at high leverage teacher behaviors that produce student results. Critical components to lesson planning, classroom climate, understanding how students learn, giving meaningful feedback, and reflection. This is based on the book, Visible Learning for Teachers by John Hattie. |
| Instruction | Professional Learning Communities at Work | The core components of an effective Professional Learning Community will be discussed and practiced. Topics will be driven by the Four Essential PLC questions of: What do we want our students to learn? How will we know if students have mastered the learning? What will we do if students do not reach mastery? What will we do if students have mastered the learning? Potential topics are: team norms, goal setting, common formative and summative assessment, data analysis, and re-teaching and rigor. These sessions are based on the work of Rick DuFour. This is a series of workshops that can be customized to address each of the four essential questions. |
| Instruction | Grading for Learning | This workshop is based on the work of internationally renowned educational researchers, such as, Tom Guskey, Ken O'Connor, and Rick Wormeli. Teachers will take a critical look at the purpose of grading and its relationship to student learning. Traditional grading practices, such as, homework, zeros, averaging, and summative assessments will be discussed and analyzed. The concepts of grading to standards and proficiency-based grading will be presented. The role of grading for learning will also be discussed in regard to having classrooms that are equitable. Teachers will be challenged to reflect and adjust grading practices to best promote student learning. |
| Instruction | Focused Differentiation for English Language Learners (ELL) | Educators need to provide instruction that is differentiated to meet the needs of learners who are developing a second language while learning grade appropriate content. Using an asset-based approach, educators will probe the idea of differentiation of language recognizing who language learners are and realizing that language learners bring many contributions to the school environment. After reflecting on the ELL student and language proficiency levels, educators will personalize lesson planning for ELLs utilizing tools such as the WIDA Performance Definitions and Can Do Descriptors. While planning, educators will have opportunity to reflect on maintaining appropriate rigor while addressing the specific demands of language in an era of standards based instruction and assessment. |
| Instruction | Meaningful Feedback | Educational research strongly confirms that giving students meaningful feedback and allowing students to self-reflect engages students in their learning and improves student achievement. This workshop will help educators understand the different types of feedback, the characteristics of effective feedback, and what it looks like applied in the classroom. educators will be challenged to evaluate feedback instruments and analyze videos of classrooms to help establish clarity on effective feedback. The concepts of peer to peer feedback and student self-reflection will also be explored as strategies for improvement. | Instruction | What ELs CAN DO: Focused Differentiation for Linguistically Diverse Students | Educators need to provide instruction that is differentiated to meet the needs of learners who are developing a second language while learning grade-appropriate content. Using an asset-based approach, participants will probe the idea of differentiation of language, recognizing who language learners are and realizing that language learners bring many contributions to the school environment. After reflecting on the EL student and language proficiency levels, participants will personalize lesson planning for ELs utilizing tools such as the WIDA Performance Definitions and Can-Do Descriptors. While planning, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on maintaining appropriate rigor while addressing the specific demands of language in an era of standards-based instruction and assessment. |
| Equity and Social Justice | Equity & Social Justice Leadership | Equity has to do with everyone having access to fair and equal treatment under the law, regardless of race, social class or gender. Social justice refers to how wealth, opportunities, and privilege are distributed in society and/or organizations. As schools today serve an increasing diverse population of students, school leaders need to have a deep understanding of equity and social justice so that their schools are responsive to the educational needs of all students. This workshop is intended to introduce educators to terminology often associated with equity and social justice, such as, white privilege, race and ethnicity, racial identity, equal v. equitable, human and social capital. In addition, educators will understand the research based concept of stereotype threat and its implications for student achievement. educators will envision culturally responsive school environments and practices. |
| Equity and Social Justice | Equity and Social Justice Research Study | This workshop is an opportunity for educators to come together for a series of book studies on the topic of equity and social justice leadership. The first session, will be an introduction to key researchers in this area and essential readings. With the approval of the facilitator, the group will collectively agree on the readings for the workshop and set 5 dates to meet for 2 hours to discuss the assigned reading and its implications for school leadership practice. The main objective is to increase the educators understanding of key findings from educational research regarding issues of social justice. |
| Equity and Social Justice | Understanding Racial Identity for Educators | This workshop is intended to study the social construct of “whiteness” and its influence on the teaching and learning of students. This will be done by studying and discussing racial identity in a safe and learning environment for participants. Educators will understand the stages of racial identity development in relation to self and will be given tools and strategies to continue racial identity so that all students are best served in the classroom, regardless of race. |
| Equity and Social Justice | Inclusive Education | This session will give teachers an understanding of the importance of including all students in the general education setting. It will provide background knowledge on modifications and/or accommodations often found in the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) of Students with Disabilities. Learning will include IEP goal setting, planning, clarifying expectations for child performance, communication with the special education partner, and the design and delivery of IEP goals designed to be inclusive. |
| Assessment & Data | Forward Exam (Wisconsin State Assessment) | Forward Exam assessments are assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) that intend to measure student progress toward college and career readiness. This workshop is designed for educators to gain an understanding of how and what this exam is measuring. educators will analyze the questions and tasks found in the Forward exam and look for connections to the classroom. educators will also explore the Depth of Knowledge framework and its relationship to this exam and its application to the classroom. educators will also gain an understanding of how to interpret Forward exam results. |
| Assessment & Data | Evidence Based Decision-Making | Evidence Based Decision-Making is a process for making decisions about a program, practice, or policy that is grounded in the best available research evidence and informed by experiential evidence from the field and relevant contextual evidence. This workshop is designed to support school leaders or teacher leaders as they deliver services to students based on data, research, and evaluation. Scenarios will be used to demonstrate how leaders maintain alignment to the intended targets and make decisions in the best interest of students. educators will also look at four different types of data (perception, achievement, program, and demographic) to broaden the definition of data based decision-making. |
| Assessment & Data | Understanding and Using Data | This workshop is designed to assist educators in understanding and using the different types of data that exist in schools. Educators will learn how to set and measure goals using data. Connections will be made between teacher, collaboration, and student goals. Using authentic data, educators will do an analysis to deepen understanding of student needs through individualized and/or group plans. Educators will be exposed to tools that can assist in the analysis and monitoring process. |
| Assessment & Data | S.M.A.R.T. Goals: Goals that Work | S.M.A.R.T goals represent the criteria for quality goal setting that best can be accomplished: Specific , Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. This workshop explores each of these characteristics in detail and then helps educators practice writing SMART goals using authentic data. An action plan for achieving SMART goals will also be discussed and created. |
| Assessment & Data | Balanced Assessment Model: Using Results to Improve Teaching and Learning |
Assessments are at the heart of strong instructional practice. Teachers will explore statewide summative assessments (and specific questions/items from these assessments). Teachers will also use backward design to look at the common core state standards that drive the statewide summative assessments and how to adjust their instructional practice and formative assessment development to best prepare their students for 21st century learning. |
| Assessment & Data | ACT ASPIRE | This workshop introduces educators to the ACT ASPIRE suite and its implications for teaching and learning at the middle and high school level. Educators will be exposed to the College and Career Readiness standards and analyze the knowledge and skills they imply students need. In addition, educators will review ASPIRE results and gain an understanding of how they can be useful to teaching and learning in the present and future. |
| Technology | What is AI? History, where we are now and applications for your classroom | Before you decide you love it or dislike it, learn about what it is. This class will give a background on machine learning and AI, dating back to the Enigma Machine from World War II.
From there we will focus on how it is used today and discuss applications for today's classroom.
- AI is nothing new, it just took a giant leap forward in November of 2023. We'll talk about history and the ChatGPT leap forward. - How do you manage it in a school? Can you pretend it's not there? -How are industries outside of education using it? How might our students use it someday at work? -What are acceptable ways students can use it for learning? How teachers can use it for teaching and assessment. -We will discuss how you should show students you know about AI, how to use it, and how to tell if they are using it. -We will discuss how to teach students how to use it well - how to write a good AI prompt to get good information back. |
| Technology | Harnessing AI in the Classroom | Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly shaping the future of education, offering opportunities to enhance instruction, streamline workflows, and support student learning. In this session, educators will explore the basics of AI, including its capabilities and ethical considerations. Participants will engage with practical examples of AI tools that can assist with lesson planning, differentiation, assessment, and student engagement. Whether you're new to AI or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide a foundational understanding and strategies for responsible AI integration in the classroom. |
| Technology | Navigating the Digital World: The Impact of Social Media on Our Youth | In today's digital age, social media plays a significant role in the lives of young people. While it offers opportunities for connection and creativity, it also presents real dangers—especially when it comes to cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and the long-term consequences of an online presence.
Join us for an informative family session where we’ll explore:
- The hidden risks of social media, including cyberbullying and its emotional toll - How negative online footprints can affect college admissions and future employment -The power of a positive digital presence and how youth can use social media to highlight their achievements, skills, and community contributions This session is designed for parents and youth alike, offering practical guidance on responsible social media use, safety tips, and strategies for creating a digital portfolio that helps rather than harms future opportunities. Let’s work together to empower our youth to navigate the digital world wisely! This session can be tailored to students, educators, and families. |
| Technology | Personalized Learning | With all of the challenges in education today, it is important to address how we create a 21st century student-centered classroom by incorporating best practices. Teachers will discover how integrating these applications & practices into classroom instruction will help build relationships with students, and help achieve academic goals; particularly for all learners. One-to-one options, such as Chromebooks, Netbooks and iPads will be reviewed and the advantages of 1:1 will be identified. Teachers will also focus on Internet based programs, such as Google Docs, Google Presentations, and Google Apps, as well as many other online resources. Student tested activities, projects and assessments that can be used immediately in your classroom will be shared. Finally, teachers will explore Personal Learning Networks (PLN’s) and discuss how you can create your own network of educators interested in technology and best practices in education today. |
| Technology | Google Apps in a Collaborative Reading/Language Arts/Math Classroom | This session will prepare educators to use the core suite of Google Apps for Education, which includes Google Drive (Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Slides), Sites, Groups, Calendar, Mail, and Chrome Apps in reading, language arts and math classrooms. These tools will allow educators to enhance their reading, language arts and math lessons and classroom activities to increase collaboration and student engagement. The course will encompass instructor led demonstrations of how the tools work, participant practice on the use of the tools for basic understanding, use of the tools to modify reading, language arts and math lessons and classroom practices, and the creation of an online portfolio of work created during the course. Some small group and online collaboration will also be included. |
| Technology | Google Docs Overview: Management & Sharing *Available to be offered on-line |
Learn how to generate gClassfolders and Doctopus Script for teacher/students to share, view and store Google Docs. gClassFolders is a Google Spreadsheet script that can help teachers manage the flow of Google Drive files that are shared. Written by an educator, Doctopus Script gives teachers the ability to auto generate, pre-share and manage grading & feedback on template Docs for group & individual projects. This session is an overview of Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Forms and Presentations, as well as gClassFolders and Doctopus Script. Teachers will choose a Google application to develop goals, an action plan and sample student work to implement in their teaching. Teachers will reflect how Google Apps will support teaching and learning for all learners. |
| Technology | Google Drive 1: Google Docs & Slides for the Reading/ELA/ Math Classroom *Available to be offered on-line |
The focus of this workshop will be on creating documents (Google Docs) and presentations (Google Slides). Your Instructor will provide examples and give you ample time to practice and ask questions so that you leave knowing how to apply what you learned in your own classroom. Educators will learn how to: use Google Drive to sync their Docs and Slides between computers use pre-made templates to simplify the process of making Docs and Slides share and co-create Docs and Slides with colleagues and students incorporate Google Docs and Slides into their reading, language arts and math lessons |
| Technology | Google Drive 2: Google Sheets, Forms & Drawings for the Reading/ELA/Math Classroom *Available to be offered on-line |
Google Drive is an incredible tool for use in reading, language arts and math classrooms. The focus of this workshop will be on creating spreadsheets (Google Sheets), surveys (Google Forms), and drawings (Google Drawings). Your instructor will provide examples and give you ample time to practice and ask questions so that you leave knowing how to apply what you learned in your own classroom. educators will learn how to: use Google Drive to sync their Sheets, Forms and Drawings between computers use pre-made templates to simplify the process of making Sheets, Forms, and Drawings share and/or co-create Sheets, Forms and Drawings with colleagues and students incorporate Google Sheets, Forms, and Drawings into their lessons. |
| Technology | Extending the Classroom Using Online Learning Tools | Are you interested in learning about ways to post things online for your students and their parents? This course will give you the opportunity to explore the options available (i.e. Moodle, Google Sites/Drive, Edmodo etc...), define your needs, and start building or refining your online presence so you are ready for the start of the school year and throughout the year. Online learning tools can support you in effectively meeting student individual learning needs, improving communication between you and your students and their parents and by engaging even the most challenging students. |
| Technology | The Secure Professional- Security basics to help you be the best, first line of defense | Cybersecurity concerns aren't going away. This is much more than resetting passwords or signing up for two-factor authentication. In this session, educators will cover the basics of cybersecurity and how to keep yourself and your information as secure as possible. They will also discuss the types of cybersecurity attacks and help learners understand why these attacks exist. |
| Teacher Support | Teacher Evaluation Process (WI Educator Effectiveness) | How am I going to be held accountable for improving my professional practice? This workshop is an introduction and support for participating in the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness (EE) System. Educators will learn the critical attributes of the system’s components and the research and best practice affiliated with the model. Educators will view videos and have discussions to calibrate their understanding of what the different levels of the system imply. Time will be provided in a collegial setting for educators to develop or improve Professional Practice Goals for their personal Effective Educator Plans. |
| Teacher Support | Developing a Growth Mindset in Students | Educators in this session will learn how to promote the development of a growth mindset in self and others. When students and educators have a growth mindset, they understand that achievement in students can be developed with a focus on improvement instead of how smart they are. Based on research we know that students who learn this mindset show greater motivation in school, better grades, and higher test scores. Research has also shown that promoting a growth mindset narrows both the gender and racial achievement gaps. Teachers and administrators say that after learning about and adopting a growth mindset in their classrooms and schools they find that their students are more enthusiastic, hardworking and persistent in their learning. Educators will learn procedures that will help their students develop a belief in effort, a love for challenge, and resilience in the face of adversity. The focus of this workshop will be on providing strategies to: change students’ thinking about performance and success build a growth mindset for academic success within each child in the classroom develop students’ understanding of learning and the elasticity of the brain |
| Coaching | Coaching Reading |
Experienced educators work alongside classroom teachers to improve the teaching and learning in a literacy classroom. Coaches will provide support and intervention strategies in Reading/Language Arts to help the struggling student succeed.This coaching has a specific emphasis on best practices in reading and writing curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Coaching may be achieved through observation, modeling, meaningful feedback, lesson planning, reviewing assessment results, and consultation. |
| Coaching | Coaching Math |
Experienced educators work alongside classroom teachers to improve the teaching and learning in a math classroom. Coaches will provide support and intervention strategies in Math to help the struggling student succeed.This coaching has a specific emphasis on best practices in math curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Coaching may be achieved through observation, modeling, meaningful feedback, lesson planning, reviewing assessment results, and consultation. |
| Coaching | Coaching Effective Leadership in an Educational Setting |
At times there can be very difficult decisions that need to be made in the school environment. Most decisions made by leadership affect many levels of stakeholders including staff, students, parents, and the community. In many instances there isn't a "perfect" decision and leaders have to choose between difficult options. How do leaders decide which decision is best? How do they explain their decision on a difficult topic that some will most assuredly disagree with? What role does the form and method of messaging play in that decision being successful or creating preventable challenges or problems? |
| Coaching | Coaching Classroom Environment |
Experienced educators work alongside classroom teachers to improve the classroom environments and structures that promote safe and positive learning environments. This coaching has a specific emphasis on best practices in classroom management set up, monitoring, and student relationships. Coaching may be achieved through observation, modeling, meaningful feedback, lesson planning, reviewing assessment results, and consultation. |
| Coaching | Coaching STEM | Experienced educators work alongside classroom teachers to improve the teaching and learning in a STEM classroom. This coaching has a specific emphasis on best practices in STEM and/or project based learning experiences. Coaching may be achieved through observation, modeling, meaningful feedback, lesson planning, reviewing assessment results, and consultation. |
| Coaching | Coaching ELL Emphasis | Experienced educators work alongside classroom teachers to improve the teaching and learning for English Language learners. This coaching has a specific emphasis on best practices for ELL. Coaching may be achieved through observation, modeling, meaningful feedback, reviewing assessment results, and consultation. Coaching may also include lesson planning and strategy emphasis. |
| Coaching | Coaching in Data/Assessment | Experienced educators work alongside classroom teachers to improve the understanding of the different types of data that exist in their school. This coaching will assist teachers in how to set and measure goals using the data. Connections will be made between teacher, collaboration, and student goals. Using authentic data, teachers will do an analysis to deepen understanding of student needs through individualized and/or group plans. Coaching may be achieved through observation, modeling, meaningful feedback, lesson planning, reviewing assessment results, and consultation. |
| Coaching | Coaching in Technology | Coach will provide guidance and examples of how to incorporate Google Suite into daily classroom practice.Coaching may be achieved through observation, modeling, meaningful feedback, lesson planning, reviewing results, and consultation. |