Discover the power of digital music composition with Flat for Education! In this hands-on session, educators will explore how to use Flat’s intuitive online platform to engage students in music theory, composition, and collaborative projects. Learn how to create assignments, provide real-time feedback, and integrate music technology seamlessly into your classroom—no matter your students' skill levels. This program is free this year to all k-12 music educators in NISD.
Gear up for an epic educational adventure with Pear Deck Royale: Battle for Engagement! Equip yourself with the tools to transform your lessons and facilitate classroom discussions that captivate and engage. Explore a variety of question types, including short answer, drawing, and draggable, suitable for all grades and subjects. Master the teacher dashboard, immersive reader, and ready-made templates. Discover inspiring success stories from our district and learn how to create a more interactive, community-focused classroom where every student can build confidence and comprehension. Join us in this epic quest to elevate your teaching and emerge victorious in the battle for student engagement!
Join us for an interactive session where we will explore syllable types, equip you with strategies to support encoding and decoding. We’ll share easy-to-integrate teaching tips that transform syllable instruction into a fun, game-like challenge. You'll leave with practical tools and resources designed to make syllable mastery an engaging, winning experience for your students.
You may have used a discussion protocol or two in a meeting at school with adults. Many of these discussion structures can be modified to be used with students of all ages. We will engage in several processes so you can feel what it would be like for the students you teach.
Educational consultant for the School Reform Initiative as well as former Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Accountability for City Schools of Decatur, GA.Education: PhD; Elementary EducationED.S; K-12 Educational LeadershipM.Ed; Elementary Education
Tuesday July 22, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT BNHS AC-1062775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
Navigating a new learning platform like Canvas might seem like exploring uncharted territory, but fear not - with the guidance of our seasoned counselors, you'll be blazing trails in no time! Feeling lost with Pages, Quizzes, and Assignments? We'll cover all that and s'more! You'll head home a happy camper, with a detailed trail map and a pack full of engaging ideas.
Ready to spin the wheel and take your students' mathematical fluency to the next level? We will explore 7 key strategies for building fluency in math, each designed to move students toward mastery. Think of this as a game board, where each strategy is a new move that advances student learning and builds confidence. We’ll dive deep into practical, research-based strategies that make fluency more than just memorization—it’s about efficiency, flexibility, and accuracy!
Get ready to press start on a fun and interactive journey to build math fluency! In this session, we’re leveling up the way we approach fluency practice by diving into engaging, hands-on math games designed to strengthen key skills aligned with K-2 math TEKS. Think of it like entering a game zone where every round is an opportunity for growth, and each level builds confidence and mastery in essential math concepts. Get your game on, and let’s play our way to better math fluency!
Experience 6th grade curriculum-embedded ADI labs firsthand during this interactive session. Gain insights into your students' perspectives as you participate in the labs, helping you better understand their needs and plan dynamic learning experiences.
This session is designed to equip CTE teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively read, interpret, and implement students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Participants will explore best practices for implementing IEP accommodations and modifications in classroom instruction and assessment. Through this workshop, educators will gain a deeper understanding of the key components of an IEP, including measurable goals and service delivery. Teachers will also learn how to tailor their instructional strategies to meet the unique learning needs of students with disabilities while fostering an inclusive and equitable classroom environment.
In this session, teachers will learn how to make letter learning stick for their students both in whole group and small group instruction. Teachers will see instructional ideas modeled and leave with new ideas to try with their students this year to support reading and writing!
Welcome to the world of ORIGO Stepping Stones, where curriculum planning and implementation become an engaging and rewarding adventure! In this interactive session, participants will embark on a journey designed to help new users master the essentials of this comprehensive curriculum resource. As you explore, you'll unlock valuable tools, strategies, and best practices that will enable you to successfully integrate ORIGO Stepping Stones into your classroom. From understanding key features to customizing lessons, you’ll gain hands-on experience and explore how to make the most of this powerful resource to support student learning and achievement.
This session explores how AI can be leveraged to support special education by creating accessible and accommodated materials, assisting with IEP writing, and enhancing overall student success. Participants will discover practical tools, learn best practices, and gain insights into integrating AI to improve efficiency and effectiveness in meeting diverse student needs.
New to NISD or MTSS: Academics? This session was created for you! The purpose of MTSS: Academicis to identify students who are struggling in school and ensure each child who is identified receives the right instruction or intervention to be successful. In this session, you will learn how to create a proactive process to identify students who need help, place them in the proper intervention, monitor their progress, revise interventions as needed, and determine when students no longer need additional support. (Elementary only)
New to NISD or MTSS: Academics? This session was created for you! The purpose of MTSS: Academicis to identify students who are struggling in school and ensure each child who is identified receives the right instruction or intervention to be successful. In this session, you will learn how to create a proactive process to identify students who need help, place them in the proper intervention, monitor their progress, revise interventions as needed, and determine when students no longer need additional support. (Secondary only)
Question 4 of a PLC addresses, "What do we do when students don't learn what we taught?" In this session, you and your team will learn tools to address this question and how to create a plan so students do not get further behind.
Discover how Class Companion can transform STAAR preparation in your 3rd–12th grade classrooms! In this hands-on session, teachers will explore how to use Class Companion’s AI-powered tools to provide targeted, TEKS-aligned practice that mirrors STAAR's question types. Learn how to easily create assignments from existing curriculum, generate rigorous open-ended and multiple-choice questions, and deliver instant, actionable feedback to support student growth.
Participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies for using Class Companion to: ✅ Differentiate practice based on student needs ✅ Track progress on specific TEKS and readiness standards ✅ Encourage critical thinking and test-taking stamina ✅ Save time while improving instructional impact
Perfect for ELA, math, science, and social studies teachers looking to streamline their STAAR prep while increasing student engagement and performance.
Are you looking for ways to boost student focus, engagement, and a a more in-depth understanding of curriculum by applying research-based neuroscience strategies? If so, then this is the session for you! This session will present strategies in a way that makes learning fun for all participants! Be ready to be engaged at Engage!
With 34 years of teaching experience, this year marks Kelly Barrett's 20th year as a GT Specialist, serving elementary students in Northwest ISD. She is a recipient of the TAGT Teacher of the Gifted and was twice awarded the Northwest ISD Campus Exemplar Educator of the Year Award... Read More →
Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:15am - 11:45am CDT BNHS AC-1032775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
Reading on the screen requires more than just scrolling - it requires strategy. In this session, we will explore strategies to boost engagement, minimize distractions, and improve digital comprehension. Walk away with practical tools to enhance digital reading comprehension for your students.
We’ll start by setting up your iPad for success—adjusting settings and reviewing best practices to make sure you're ready to go. We’ll explore must-have apps available through Mosyle, then dive into how Annotate.net can turn your iPad into a wireless controller for your computer, perfect for using screen mirroring as a document camera. With tools like Kami, Seesaw, Pear Deck, and the NISD Portal at your fingertips, you’ll be set for seamless instruction. Want to take it further? Stick around for the next session: "Advancing Your iPad with Annotate!" We are excited to see you, be sure to bring your fully charged iPad and get ready to discover how this powerful tool can boost your mobility, efficiency, and student engagement.
Join us for an interactive session where we will explore syllable types, equip you with strategies to support encoding and decoding. We’ll share easy-to-integrate teaching tips that transform syllable instruction into a fun, game-like challenge. You'll leave with practical tools and resources designed to make syllable mastery an engaging, winning experience for your students.
Unlock the full potential of video learning with Edpuzzle in this interactive professional development session. Discover how to create captivating lessons, incorporate interactive questions, leverage data for differentiated instruction, and experience exciting new features that will bring a touch of magic to your classroom. Join us and revolutionize your teaching with Edpuzzle's dynamic integrations.
Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) is an instructional approach designed to engage students in active learning by involving multiple areas of the brain at once. It's a highly interactive method that combines direct instruction, cooperative learning, and kinesthetic activities to maximize student attention, retention, and participation.
Are you ready to power up your Canvas course? Join us on an epic quest where we'll equip you with powerful tools to explore the secret levels and hidden gems of Canvas. Dive into powerful external tools to integrate your favorite tech resources without ever leaving Canvas. Activate Mastery Paths to raise your differentiation ranking, and challenge your students with varying assignment and quiz question types. Achievement unlocked! From magical messaging options that make parent contact easy, to cheat codes that give you Canvas superpowers, we've got it all! So grab your controller (a.k.a. fully charged laptop) and let's get started!
Take your math instruction to the next level with powerful digital tools! In this session, we’ll explore Desmos, GeoGebra, Mathsbot, and Polypad/Amplify—dynamic platforms that promote conceptual understanding, engagement, and student-driven learning. You’ll walk away with practical ways to integrate these tools into your classroom, making math more interactive and meaningful for your students. Whether you’re new to these resources or looking for fresh ideas, this session will equip you with strategies to enhance your instruction.
Join us in this engaging and interactive session designed for advanced users of the ORIGO Stepping Stones curriculum resource. Imagine your teaching strategy as a gameboard — each move thoughtfully planned, every decision based on clear objectives, and every action leading to the next level of student success. In this session, we’ll dive deeper into advanced techniques for implementing Stepping Stones, offering practical strategies to optimize the curriculum for your classroom. Just like in a strategy game, we’ll explore how to unlock hidden features, level up student engagement, and collect key insights to guide your instructional path.
Get ready to press start on a fun and interactive journey to build math fluency! In this session, we’re leveling up the way we approach fluency practice by diving into engaging, hands-on math games designed to strengthen key skills aligned with 3-5 math TEKS. Think of it like entering a game zone where every round is an opportunity for growth, and each level builds confidence and mastery in essential math concepts. Get your game on, and let’s play our way to better math fluency!
Looking to equip, inspire, and empower students to take ownership of their learning? Look no further! Come join us as we dive deeper into how to build an intentional community that values goal-setting as well as how to establish processes and procedures that ensure goal-setting is efficient and meaningful.
Experience 7th grade curriculum-embedded ADI labs firsthand during this interactive session. Gain insights into your students' perspectives as you participate in the labs, helping you better understand their needs and plan dynamic learning experiences.
Too often we use these words interchangeably, but in reality these four words are very different. In this session, educators will learn how these supports are different and who can have access to each.
Jennifer Bailey, M.Ed is Northwest ISD’s MTSS Coordinator. Jennifer began her career 25 years ago as a special education teacher. Since then, she has taught general education, English as a Second Language, targeted intervention for reading and math, and supported title one schools... Read More →
In the world of mathematics, shortcuts and "cheat codes" can often be tempting. They promise quick solutions and faster results but, sometimes, they come at the cost of deeper understanding. Join us as we uncover the math behind the tricks. Instead of simply using shortcuts, we’ll explore alternative approaches that focus on building a solid foundation. Through hands-on strategies and engaging examples, we'll examine how to foster true mathematical development without relying on quick fixes. Get ready to ditch the cheats, deepen conceptual understanding, and equip yourself with the skills that lead to true mathematical success for students. Let’s push past the easy wins and unlock the full potential of the math learning experience!
Your Annotate Journey continues here... This is the session for going deeper with your iPad, focusing solely Annotate! Whether you attended "iPad 101" and want to keep building on your learning, or you have been using your iPad and want to become more proficeient at using Annotate, this session is for you! Come learn about the greatest feature Annotate has to offer, Content Library! We will be focusing on Student Accountability through Teacher Mobility using the iPad, Annotate, Remote Desktop, and Content Library.
Thinking, listening, talking: three of the main tenets of learning, no matter the content nor discipline. Structured conversations, called discussion protocols, make the difference in collaborative classrooms. However, many of our students just don’t know how - we haven’t explicitly taught them! Come and discover processes which could work for you right off the bat as you start the school year.
Educational consultant for the School Reform Initiative as well as former Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Accountability for City Schools of Decatur, GA.Education: PhD; Elementary EducationED.S; K-12 Educational LeadershipM.Ed; Elementary Education
Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT BNHS AC-1062775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
Help students go beyond “I don’t know” when asked about their future. In this session, we’ll explore how to use Naviance to guide students through meaningful career exploration. Learn how to embed career search tools into the classroom, support students in discovering their interests and strengths, and make those “what do you want to be when you grow up?” conversations more intentional. Perfect for counselors, administrators, and educators who want to align career planning with real-world readiness.
Director of College and Career Readiness, Northwest ISD
I'm an English teacher who somehow fell into administration, and I now serve Northwest ISD as the Director of College and Career Readiness. As much as I miss talking about literature with students, I love being part of students taking their next step into life readiness so that they... Read More →
What do ChatGPT, Paw Patrol, and authoring a book have in common? How can they inform our understanding of our kids' brains and shape our teaching methods? Join us as we look at how our kids are losing their ability to think creatively, and how we can guide them back through some innovative (and a few 'old school') teaching methods!
With over 20 years of leadership, public speaking, success coaching, and corporate training experience, I love all things leadership! I am especially excited about how the advances in technology can shake hands with our efforts to help us and our students become the best versions... Read More →
Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT BNHS AC-2292775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
Elevate learning, engagement, and creativity with WeVideo! In this workshop, you will learn video editing fundamentals as you run through the flow of creating, editing, and publishing a video. You’ll learn how to uses classes and access pre-made assignments in WeVideo’s assignment library to make student multimedia-creation a regular part of your teaching practice. Watch your students come alive with WeVideo!
By the end of this session, educators will be able to: --Understand the benefits of student creativity and multimedia creation! --Edit and publish a video and create video-based instructional content. --Begin implementing multimedia projects and activities that enhance learning!
Step into the world of Kami-Magic! We'll unlock Kami’s powerful annotation tools, accessibility features, and seamless integration within your digital learning environment. New this year, Kami’s Question Tool allows teachers to create assessments in a snap and see student responses live, making it easier than ever to monitor progress and adjust instruction on the spot. Whether you're looking to enhance comprehension, streamline feedback, or make learning more interactive, Kami is your all-in-one digital toolkit. Join us and bring the magic to your classroom—because with Kami, every document is an opportunity to engage, annotate, and assess!
Ready to make learning feel like play? In this hands-on professional development session, discover how classic and contemporary board games can be powerful tools to enhance verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning in elementary students. Learn how to strategically select and adapt games to meet learning goals, foster critical thinking, and engage students of all abilities. Walk away with game-based strategies you can use in your classroom tomorrow—because deep thinking starts with a good game plan.
Experience 8th grade curriculum-embedded ADI labs firsthand during this interactive session. Gain insights into your students' perspectives as you participate in the labs, helping you better understand their needs and plan dynamic learning experiences.
Step into the world of Math Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) designed to make collaboration both strategic and rewarding. In this session, we’ll explore how to "move your pieces" in the right direction as you work together to tackle challenges, set goals, and celebrate successes. Just like in a game, the key to winning is teamwork—whether it's exchanging best practices, analyzing student data, or co-planning lessons. Get ready to power up your professional learning journey in ways that maximize the impact of your PLCs!
Whether you have been using Discovery Education for years or a first-time user, the TOP 5 Things will be unveiled for you to take full advantage of in the Discovery Education Experience to help provide content, strategies, activities, and tools to use with students on the first day of school and throughout the year.
Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Northwest ISD
Technology enables us to extend our reach and become more effective, relevant, and connected educators. Effective teachers are expected to design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and prepare them to be competitive and successful in a global marketplace... Read More →
MAP Growth is a universal screener that measures what 2nd-5th know and what they’re ready to learn next through targeted skills and TEKS. In this session, you will learn how to pull reports from MAP and set goals. Report: Student Profile and Goal setting
New to elementary science? New to NISD? Want a refresher on the Savvas platform? Join Kelly for a look into our adopted curriculum, Experience Science by Savvas, to learn how to login, access features, pace and plan lessons for science.
Learn how to celebrate student strengths, deliver targeted instruction, model with purpose, and foster independence—all while keeping small groups efficient and impactful. Walk away with practical strategies to spark creativity, boost confidence, and help every writer grow!
Taking anecdotal notes and administering running records should be an essential part of the data collection process for struggling students. In this session, participants will learn how to give a running record and collect anecdotal notes (in real time) that can be used immediately to inform small group instruction.
Just like a well-designed game board, rubrics provide structure, direction, and purpose—helping educators and students alike move confidently toward their goals. This session will equip secondary SOAR teachers with the tools to level up your grading game using rubrics that are transparent, student-centered, and aligned with learning objectives.
The numberline is a critical tool for developing number sense and reasoning. Clothesline Math takes the traditional numberline to a new level of versatility and understanding while giving teachers additional ways to formatively assess student understanding, engage in meaningful classroom discussions, and provide a visual model for student's to demonstrate their thinking and reasoning to others. Come learn about Clothesline Math and walk away with a new tool for math learning and engagement. Walk away with links to tools for classroom implementation.
The college search process can be overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. In this session, we’ll walk through how Naviance simplifies the process for students and supports informed decision-making. Learn how to guide students through SuperMatch, build college lists, and connect interests with institutions. We’ll also share strategies for integrating college research into Advisory, content classes, and one-on-one meetings. Ideal for anyone who helps students plan for life after high school.
Director of College and Career Readiness, Northwest ISD
I'm an English teacher who somehow fell into administration, and I now serve Northwest ISD as the Director of College and Career Readiness. As much as I miss talking about literature with students, I love being part of students taking their next step into life readiness so that they... Read More →
From science and history documentaries to personal narratives, student media projects are a great way to increase engagement and enhance learning outcomes across content areas. In this session, teachers will design a media project to implement with students! We’ll share curricular resources and best practices for facilitating each stage of a media project from generating a topic to showcasing student work! By the end of this session, you’ll be ready to implement a student media project that builds academic vocabulary, content knowledge, and literacy while enhancing learning with 21st century skills!
By the end of this session, educators will be able to: --Leverage best practices to design and implement a media project with students --Enhance content knowledge, literacy, and disciplinary skills with 21st century learning --Utilize WeVideo for Schools and the assignment ideas library!
Equity shows up in some surprising ways – even in our assessments. In this session, one particular discussion protocol will be used with an upper elementary social studies assessment. Although the content is specific, the protocol can be broadly applied to any work samples of any-aged student.
Educational consultant for the School Reform Initiative as well as former Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Accountability for City Schools of Decatur, GA.Education: PhD; Elementary EducationED.S; K-12 Educational LeadershipM.Ed; Elementary Education
Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT BNHS AC-1062775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
Take a trip around the Short Constructed Response (SCR) game board in "Monopoly for SCR Success." This interactive, Monopoly-themed session transforms the challenge of teaching and scoring SCRs into an engaging, strategic experience. Teachers will roll the dice, buy properties of knowledge, and collect instructional strategies while learning how to guide students toward mastering SCR responses. Participants will gain insights into how responses are scored, avoid common pitfalls ("Go to Jail" moments), and learn how to help students build "Response Hotels" for high scores.
By the end of this session, participants will: 1. Pass Go & Collect Knowledge – Learn the key components of an effective SCR rubric and how student responses are evaluated. 2. Buy, Trade, and Score – Engage in Monopoly-inspired activities to simulate the scoring process and highlight common student errors. 3. Build Response Hotels – Gain winning strategies to help students develop clear, complete, and high-quality responses.
8th Grade Science Science Department Lead, C.W. Worthington Middle School Northwest ISD
Middle School Science is my JAM! I have 22 years of experience teaching 6th - 8th grade Science. I am a Science Department Lead, Science Curriculum Writer, and ADI Facilitator because I am dedicated to quality Science teaching and learning. I am passionate about developing relationships... Read More →
Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT BNHS AC-2272775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
Teachers know that students learn best when group sizes are smaller! With class sizes increasing, small groups are a wonderful way to structure your classes and see increased engagement and comprehension! Come to this session to learn:
Experience Biology curriculum-embedded ADI labs firsthand during this interactive session. Gain insights into your students' perspectives as you participate in the labs, helping you better understand their needs and plan dynamic learning experiences.
Make Patterns of Revision a win with ready-to-use resources! In this hands-on session, you’ll create engaging tools to streamline lesson prep and help students strengthen their writing. Walk away with strategies you can use immediately. Great revision begins with great planning!
Whether you have been using Discovery Education for years or a first-time user, the TOP 5 Things will be unveiled for you to take full advantage of in the Discovery Education Experience to help provide content, strategies, activities, and tools to use with students on the first day of school and throughout the year.
Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Northwest ISD
Technology enables us to extend our reach and become more effective, relevant, and connected educators. Effective teachers are expected to design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and prepare them to be competitive and successful in a global marketplace... Read More →
Thinking, listening, talking: three of the main tenets of learning, no matter the content nor discipline. Structured conversations, called discussion protocols, make the difference in collaborative classrooms. However, many of our students just don’t know how - we haven’t explicitly taught them! Come and discover processes which could work for you right off the bat as you start the school year.
Educational consultant for the School Reform Initiative as well as former Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Accountability for City Schools of Decatur, GA.Education: PhD; Elementary EducationED.S; K-12 Educational LeadershipM.Ed; Elementary Education
Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT BNHS AC-1122775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
Let’s make magic happen with Padlet! Unlock new possibilities for student creativity while maintaining control over features, layouts, and settings that fit your classroom needs. In this session, we’ll explore how to provide choice, leverage a variety of tools, and integrate Padlet’s latest features, including Sandbox and text-to-image. Discover ways to customize content, enhance engagement, and make learning more interactive—no matter your grade level or subject area. We can’t wait to see you there!
New- Teachers maximize your time with quick and easy planning resources that will allow you to use your student data and provide small group instruction in a “SNAP”
New- Teachers maximize your time with quick and easy planning resources that will allow you to use your student data and provide small group instruction in a “SNAP”
Join us on a fun-filled adventure through the magical world of number tracks and number lines! This interactive session is designed for Kindergarten through 2nd grade teachers who are ready to level up their students' math skills and help them become number line masters. We'll journey through hands-on games, creative activities, and exciting challenges that encourage students to visualize, count, add, subtract, and skip count with ease. This session will provide you with practical strategies and playful ideas to take back to your classroom. Get ready to equip your young learners with the number line superpowers they need to conquer math challenges and have a blast while doing it!
In this session, Kindergarten teachers will get to dig into BOY data sets and learn how to make instructional decisions for their students right out of the gates once they have their own BOY data!
ChatGPT is more than just a search engine—it's a dynamic tool that can enhance lesson planning, differentiate instruction, and support student learning in powerful ways. In this session, teachers will explore strategies for using AI effectively, moving beyond simple searches to leveraging ChatGPT for content creation, feedback, and critical thinking activities. Walk away with practical applications and time-saving techniques to make AI work for you in the classroom!
Every reader is on a unique journey, and our job is to be the ultimate navigation system. Beyond small group instruction, we'll explore versatile applications of leveled texts across multiple instructional contexts ensuring these powerful resources maximize learning for every student. Leave this session ready to leverage the texts in your guided reading
Ready to level up your Edugence skills—together? With students now testing online, it’s game time for you and your teammates to conquer the platform! In this co-op session, we’ll show you how to assign assessments like a pro, activate the lockdown browser or unassigned absent students for secure play, and understand online proctoring. You'll also pick up quick fixes and insider tips to defeat common lockdown triggers and troubleshoot challenges like a true team. Join forces, share strategies, and walk away ready to win the Edugence game.
Back by popular demand! Teachers will experience some of the top young adult and middle grade authors and titles in contemporary literature. By reading and experiencing these stories, teachers will be able to reach a variety of student interests and walk away with strategies for curriculum and instructional implementation. If you participated in previous years, you will have the opportunity to select titles from a brand new list of titles!
We will be sharing resources and showing how we use them in class to utilize every minute of instruction time in fun and engaging ways. This is a math session - for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. We plan to share resources that we love that supplement the math curriculum, and are TEKS-based. We will show HOW we use them, discuss when and best practices, tried and true ways to use our instruction time, even those wonky minutes in a day that teachers can't always anticipate. Basically - this is a session to share our tried and true, favorite, effective ways to teach math to support mastery and growth goals. Perfect for a new teacher, or a new-to-math teacher for 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade. Examples of resources and routines we will share: - math facts - flashcards, student led mastery, routines of whole class chants and call backs - 5 Minute Math (Aaron Daffern) - how to incorporate directly and indirectly - Math daily - simple and streamlined - start the routine DAY 1! - websites that directly align with the TEKS and provide easy to use resources for students and teachers - Incorporating hands-on activities that are cross-curricular - water colors for area and perimeter, play dough for fractions and skip counting, using Science and Social Studies content material to create and analyze data - graphs and charts - Task Cards and Exit Tickets - TEKS aligned - Games to play when you have 3 minutes - like 'Guess My Number'
Chrome Extensions, Keyboard Shortcuts, and Hacks, OH MY! We are SO excited to share our FAVORITE THINGS with you! This is a session you will not want to miss! Whether you are Admin, Office Staff, Teachers, or someone who uses a computer daily, this session is. for. you. Come learn about all the ways to make your life easier with all these magical tricks. We promise, you will not be disappointed!
Join us for an exciting adventure where we’ll use number lines to level up student fluency! In this fun and interactive session, 3rd through 5th grade teachers will explore how to use the number line as a powerful tool to help students model addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, rounding, and problem-solving with whole numbers and decimals. Think of it as your trusty map to navigate the world of math! Together, we’ll defeat math challenges, work through hands-on activities, and connect to curriculum resources. By the end of the session, you'll be a number line pro ready to conquer your next math quest!
Looking for strategies to get your students thinking, struggling productively, and truly processing their learning? This session will dive into practical ways to use Lead4Ward resources to create meaningful learning experiences that increase student success. You’ll leave with ready-to-use strategies that encourage deeper engagement, critical thinking, and student ownership of learning. Come ready to collaborate, reflect, and transform your instruction!
Join us as we explore creative ways to gauge student comprehension in the classroom. Discover interactive techniques that provide valuable insights into student learning in real-time, empowering teachers to make timely instructional decisions and address misconceptions effectively.
In this session, classroom elementary teachers will learn how to maximize their Tier 2 time when working with students who have gaps in math. Teachers will learn to create intervention plans, create flexible groups within their class or grade level, match the plan to resources, and create student goal setting folders.
In this session, 1st grade teachers will get to dig into BOY data sets and learn how to make instructional decisions for their students right out of the gates once they have their own BOY data!
No power tools required, but we will help you equip yourself with cross-curricular tools and strategies to serve any student in any class without being a content expert. Open to all Special Ed and Gen Ed teachers who provide CC support.
Wanna level up you're reading and writing strategies for all learners? This session explores innovative reading and writing strategies designed to engage diverse learning styles and needs across all content areas. Participants will discover practical techniques to support all learners through differentiated instruction, with a focus on research-backed approaches that foster comprehension, creativity, and critical thinking for all students.
Grab your teammates and get ready to squad up with Edugence reports! In this session, you’ll work together to decode the data that powers strong whole-class and small-group instruction. We’ll guide you through error analysis reports, the SE Analysis for STAAR prep, and key tools like the Teacher Dashboard and SE Performance Roster to help you form targeted small groups. You’ll also learn how to use quintile reports to find students on the verge of a breakthrough and track whole-class trends like a data boss. It's a team effort—and your next instructional win is just a few clicks away!
In this session, classroom elementary teachers will learn how to maximize their Tier 2 time when working with students who have gaps in reading. Teachers will learn to create intervention plans, create flexible groups within their class or grade level, match the plan to resources, and create student goal setting folders.
Uncover effective strategies for structuring essays, ensuring clear and cohesive arguments. Additionally, we'll explore techniques for elaboration, teaching students to deepen their analysis and provide insightful commentary. By the end of this session, you'll be equipped with practical tools to guide your students toward more analytical and well-structured literary responses
Perhaps you have caught yourself nodding your head as someone is talking about differentiation. Later you determine you’re not even sure if the two of you share the same definition of differentiation! In this session, we will use a clear, practical definition of differentiation to assess various lesson plans and consider our own next steps with differentiating for our students.
Educational consultant for the School Reform Initiative as well as former Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Accountability for City Schools of Decatur, GA.Education: PhD; Elementary EducationED.S; K-12 Educational LeadershipM.Ed; Elementary Education
Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT BNHS AC-1122775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
In this session, we will explore effective strategies and practical approaches to foster verbal thinking skills in our youngest learners. We will delve into the foundational elements of verbal reasoning and provide insights into how educators can foster and develop these skills in the most manageable way. This session will be geared toward K-2 teachers.
Explore the power of VOICE with us! While the idea of voice notes may sound simple, Mote offers big wins for all educators. Experience how Mote not only saves time, but also helps build relationships by personalizing learning and feedback. Mote can be integrated within all Google Apps and opens doors for ESL learners, younger learners, & anyone with oral accommodations. For students, Mote allows for creativity and personal voice.
In this hands-on session, we’ll experience Mote firsthand, preview examples of Mote usage throughout NISD, explore ready-made templates, and share ideas. We’ll learn how to share voice notes via link, embed code, and QR code. We’ll also provide time for you to create experiences for your learners using Mote.
Get ready to level up your teaching game with Digital Breakouts! Uncover how Digital Breakouts empower students to take control of their learning journey, working at their own pace, collaborating with classmates, and assessing their progress as they conquer challenges and unlock clues. In this interactive session, you'll unlock the secrets to boosting student engagement, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. We will showcase how to take curriculum and design breakout questions for students. We'll explore how to design engaging Digital Breakouts using ChatGPT, Canva, and Google Forms, while discovering strategies to craft challenges that foster collaboration, creativity, and perseverance.
Join us for an in-depth session on the creation and effective use of 3D learning targets and their impact on student success. During this session, you will explore the research supporting this practice, collaborate with colleagues, and engage in practical strategies for implementation.
Get ideas for planning engaging and interactive lessons that get kids up and moving through simulations. We will look at unique ways for students to apply their knowledge in fun ways that requires critical thinking. These extension ideas are not multi-day projects, but 1 day activities that give students the opportunities to teach other students and learn in multiple ways.
Ready to level up your math teaching? In this session, we’ll explore dynamic, game-changing strategies designed to engage students in the wonder of mathematics through active exploration and deep thinking. Using three powerful frameworks—3 Act Tasks, Numberless Word Problems, and "Which One Doesn’t Belong?"—we’ll show you how to turn problem solving into interactive challenges that build curiosity, creativity, and conceptual understanding. Like leveling up in your favorite game, each approach is a new skill that transforms how students experience math.
Maximize the impact of your K-2 small group instruction by using pre-test and post-test data to make informed instructional decisions aligned with the TEKS. In this session, educators will explore how to analyze student data to create dynamic small groups, tailor instruction to individual needs, and track progress effectively. Participants will learn practical strategies for differentiating instruction, incorporating engaging activities, and ensuring student success through data-driven decision-making. Walk away with a winning game plan for timely small group instruction that moves all students forward as we enter the first quarter of learning!
In this session, we will explore structures of writing workshop and tools you can use to launch the year to make your writing workshop functional and impactful!
New- Don’t allow progress monitoring to get you twisted. In the session, you will learn quick and easy ways to collect formative data that moves students.
Take the stress out of reading conferences and turn them into powerful moments of growth! In this hands-on session, you’ll discover how to plan with purpose, ask the right questions, track progress easily, and give feedback that truly moves readers forward. Walk away with practical strategies to boost student engagement and confidence—so every conference leads to real results!
Every reader is on a unique journey, and our job is to be the ultimate navigation system. Beyond small group instruction, we'll explore versatile applications of leveled texts across multiple instructional contexts ensuring these powerful resources maximize learning for every student. Leave this session ready to leverage the texts in your guided reading
Back by popular demand! This session offers several choices of professional books to guide and improve our craft as teachers. We will engage in analysis and applications of the texts through meaningful discussion and collaboration. We have five brand new book choices for this year, and we can’t wait to dig into the ideas these texts have to offer!
Looking to transform your writing instruction into something more meaningful, targeted, and student-centered? This interactive session will explore how micro-conferences can be used to build student agency, improve writing, and track individual progress over time. As a high school English teacher, I’ve developed a system of brief, skill-focused writing conferences that allow me to provide timely, actionable feedback and set personalized goals with each student. Participants will learn how to structure micro-conferences for maximum impact, create efficient systems for documentation, and use student data to inform instruction and celebrate growth. During the session you will: see real classroom examples of micro-conferencing in action, practice scripting a microconference, learn how to track student progress using a simple digital tool, develop your own digital template, and collaborate with peers. Walk away with templates, strategies and inspiration to make writing feedback more meaningful and manageable - for you and your students.
Do you want to ignite your student's thinking before your lessons even begin? What about student engagement and teamwork during a break or transition time? Come learn and play some games that incorporate the 4C's - creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication! With these games student engagement will increase, and their brains will be ready to learn!
I am a 23 year experienced teacher having taught grades K-5. I have been, both, departmentalized (ELA/SS) and self-contained, and have served as a Dyslexia Specialist. I am currently a Gifted and Talented Specialist at Hughes Elementary.
Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT BNHS AC-2012775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
This session is designed to support educators in k-5 who have completed the required 30 hours of gifted education training. It will focus on practical, classroom-ready strategies to differentiate instruction, foster creativity and critical thinking, and provide appropriate challenges for gifted students. Participants will explore innovative lesson ideas, tools for enrichment and acceleration, and ways to create a supportive learning environment that nurtures the unique needs of gifted learners across content areas.
Caitlin Andrews is a GT Specialist in Northwest ISD with over 14 years of experience in providing gifted services in both self-contained and pull-out classrooms. She is advocate for twice-exceptional students, a passion that has only grown since her own son was identified as dyslexic... Read More →
Lindsey Hart is a GT Specialist in Northwest ISD with over 16 years of experience in providing gifted services in both classroom and pull-out settings. She advocates tirelessly for twice-exceptional students, and works closely with teachers and other specialists to develop curriculum... Read More →
Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT BNHS AC-2102775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
Work Smarter, Not Harder: AI Tools That Save You Time! What if AI could handle the busywork so you can focus on what truly matters—your students? The right AI tools can help you create standards-aligned content, provide instant feedback, and keep students engaged with minimal effort.
In this session, we’ll explore time-saving AI tools like Brisk, Curipod, Class Companion, Diffit, and MagicSchool—designed to get you 80% of the way there so you can fine-tune and make it your own. Whether it’s generating interactive lessons, simplifying differentiation, or streamlining assessment, these tools are here to lighten your load and maximize impact.
Join us for a hands-on dive into AI-powered teaching and walk away with strategies you can use tomorrow!
You may have used a discussion protocol or two in a meeting at school with adults. Many of these discussion structures can be modified to be used with students of all ages. We will engage in several processes so you can feel what it would be like for the students you teach.
Educational consultant for the School Reform Initiative as well as former Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Accountability for City Schools of Decatur, GA.Education: PhD; Elementary EducationED.S; K-12 Educational LeadershipM.Ed; Elementary Education
Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT BNHS AC-1122775 Bobcat Blvd, Trophy Club, TX 76262, USA
Come to learn the who, what, when, where, why and how of modifying curriculum. This session will be beneficial for both General and Special Educators at the Elementary Level.
Imagine book clubs where students aren't just reading, but truly engaging with texts, with each other, and with ideas that transform their understanding. In this interactive session, we'll dive deep into the art of fostering rich, meaningful conversations that go beyond surface-level comprehension.
In this session, we will dive into utilizing conversations to build comprehension. You will walk away with a better understanding of how to leverage this skill in your classroom.
Before learners can write like mathematicians, they need to talk like mathematicians! This interactive session will explore the critical role of oral rehearsal in developing strong mathematical writing skills. Using the TEKS as a guide, participants will learn how to scaffold math discussions, use sentence stems to support verbal explanations, and transition students from speaking their math thinking to writing it down. Discover strategies for incorporating math journals, problem explanations, and reasoning activities that help students confidently express their ideas. Walk away with engaging tools to build a classroom where students talk, reason, and write like true mathematicians!
Argument Driven Inquiry is a seven stage lab experience that plays an important role in helping students use disciplinary ideas along with their own idea to figure something out about the world around them. Experience how to guide students through the process as they use different disciplinary practices and lieracy skills to collaborate and move their thinking forward.
Embark on a transformative journey through the boundless skies of accessibility and accommodations using technology. We soar through Canvas, Kami, Chromebook Profiles, Built-in Chromebook tools, Mote and more! You'll discover a treasure trove of tools designed to elevate learning for all. Together, we'll equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the limitless skies of accessibility and accommodations, ensuring every learner's needs are met. Let's chart a course towards a more inclusive future in education!
Anchor charts are powerful tools that make thinking visible and help students retain key concepts. In this hands-on session, teachers will explore best practices for creating effective anchor charts and then have dedicated time to design charts they can immediately use in their classrooms. Walk away with ready-to-use resources that support student learning and engagement!
Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl is a research-based teaching framework designed to foster deep thinking, collaboration, and engagement in students. It shifts traditional, passive learning to an active, inquiry-based approach where students work together to solve problems. By using vertical non-permanent surfaces (like whiteboards) and randomized groupings, it increases student participation and encourages critical thinking. This strategy transforms boring lessons into interactive experiences, getting kids up and moving while promoting discussion, problem-solving, and deeper understanding. Applicable to all content areas, Building Thinking Classrooms provides educators with practical strategies to create dynamic, student-centered learning environments.
I have been teaching in the ELA department in Northwest ISD for 14 years. I have had the privilege of teaching both 6th and 8th grade, on level, preAP, and GT students. My passions are advocating for GT students and writing curriculum.
Join us for an engaging session on disciplinary literacy and the power of writing across all subjects!
Together, we'll explore what disciplinary literacy looks like in practice, align with district expectations, and hear directly from students about their experiences. We'll also celebrate the great work already happening in our classrooms and discover new ways to deepen student engagement through questioning and writing opportunities using Depth & Complexity icons.
This session is designed for educators across all grade levels and content areas—everyone is welcome! Let’s learn, collaborate, and grow together. We can’t wait to see you there!
Participants will explore the benefits of small group interventions and how they can support student learning. They will learn how to structure 15-minute rotations within a 45-minute class period and will also cover strategies for keeping students engaged during small groups using methods for monitoring progress.
You will learn how to use data to build your lessons, how to incorporate music to create moments in your classroom and improve writing, how to rebrand what you already do to increase enragement within your class, and how to win the day and be what students talk about beyond your classroom. Essentially I’ll briefly go over Data Driven planning, hooks, teaching writing/real world application practices, and build memorable lessons that benefit all levels of students at the same time.
In a language classroom, there are high frequency verbs that all students should know to discuss a variety of topics and to help them stay in the target language. We will be exploring those verbs and looking at what topics students will be able to explore with them. Additionally, conducting a class at 90% in the target language is achievable and we will be looking at how, using the technique of sheltering vocabulary.
