School improvement is not a one-time initiative—it’s a continuous process that requires strong leadership, strategic vision, and collaborative effort. This session will equip educational leaders with the tools and strategies needed to drive meaningful and sustainable school improvement.
PLCS: You've collected the data—now what? This interactive session will empower educators to move beyond data collection and dive into meaningful analysis that drives action. Participants will explore practical strategies for using student data to guide collaborative conversations within the PLC process, identify root causes of learning gaps, and plan targeted instruction that meets diverse student needs. Whether you're new to PLCs or looking to deepen your team's impact, you'll leave with tools, protocols, and a clear roadmap for turning data into results.
Quality Instruction: Are your students truly thinking, or just going through the motions? In this interactive session, we will explore the core principles of Building Thinking Classrooms and how they apply across all content areas. Learn practical strategies to foster engagement, collaboration, and deep thinking while shifting students from passive learners to active problem solvers. Walk away with actionable techniques to implement in your classroom immediately—no matter your subject area!
Quality Instruction: Dr. Liljedahl's research shows that when students work on thinking tasks in random groups on a vertical whiteboard, they are capable of co-creating incredible amounts of mathematical meaning and collective knowing-and-doing. In this session, participants will look at the Thinking Classroom practices that help students move this collective knowing-and-doing into individual knowing-and-doing while, at the same time, beginning to take responsibility for their own learning. The practices discussed will intertwine with, and make extensive references to, the recently published book, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics (Grades K-12): 14 Teaching Practices for Enhancing Learning.
Quality Instruction Consistent instructional routines foster a structured yet flexible environment where students can engage deeply with content, think critically, and participate in meaningful discussions. In this session, we will explore high-impact routines and strategies that promote curiosity, student voice, and deeper learning across all content areas. You will leave with ready-to-use routines that enhance engagement and make learning more interactive and thought-provoking.
Quality Instruction: This session will explore Costa’s Levels of Thinking as a framework for increasing cognitive rigor in the classroom. Participants will learn how to guide students in asking higher-order questions, deepening their understanding, and engaging in meaningful academic discussions. Practical strategies will be shared to help teachers integrate Costa’s questioning techniques into lessons to enhance critical thinking and student inquiry.
Quality Instruction: This session explores the powerful connection between teacher expectations and student achievement. Participants will examine how their beliefs about students influence the depth and rigor of questions posed in the classroom. The session will highlight what makes a question high level, how questioning impacts student thinking and discussion, and practical strategies for designing and using questions that push learning forward. Participants will leave with a toolbox of strategies to enhance and refine their questioning practices to deepen learning in their classroom.
PLCS: You've collected the data—now what? This interactive session will empower educators to move beyond data collection and dive into meaningful analysis that drives action. Participants will explore practical strategies for using student data to guide collaborative conversations within the PLC process, identify root causes of learning gaps, and plan targeted instruction that meets diverse student needs. Whether you're new to PLCs or looking to deepen your team's impact, you'll leave with tools, protocols, and a clear roadmap for turning data into results.
Quality Instruction: Are your students truly thinking, or just going through the motions? In this interactive session, we will explore the core principles of Building Thinking Classrooms and how they apply across all content areas. Learn practical strategies to foster engagement, collaboration, and deep thinking while shifting students from passive learners to active problem solvers. Walk away with actionable techniques to implement in your classroom immediately—no matter your subject area!
Quality Instruction: Dr. Liljedahl's research shows that when students work on thinking tasks in random groups on a vertical whiteboard, they are capable of co-creating incredible amounts of mathematical meaning and collective knowing-and-doing. In this session, participants will look at the Thinking Classroom practices that help students move this collective knowing-and-doing into individual knowing-and-doing while, at the same time, beginning to take responsibility for their own learning. The practices discussed will intertwine with, and make extensive references to, the recently published book, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics (Grades K-12): 14 Teaching Practices for Enhancing Learning.
Quality Instruction Consistent instructional routines foster a structured yet flexible environment where students can engage deeply with content, think critically, and participate in meaningful discussions. In this session, we will explore high-impact routines and strategies that promote curiosity, student voice, and deeper learning across all content areas. You will leave with ready-to-use routines that enhance engagement and make learning more interactive and thought-provoking.
Quality Instruction: This session will introduce secondary teachers to the foundational principles of AVID’s Collaborative Study Groups (CSGs). Participants will learn how to structure and facilitate student-led study groups that promote inquiry, critical thinking, and academic engagement. The session will cover key roles, procedures, and strategies to ensure CSGs are effective in supporting student learning across content areas.
