Learn how to identify issues of change and conflict, which often are one in the same, as we deal with issues of greater accountability, limited resources, and the stress of increasing student achievement for all students. Explore effective methods to resolve conflict (or perceived conflict) to get to the "win-win." Examine how to open lines of communication for all members of your school community to focus on your school's vision to improve student learning and achievement. And remember that without "managed conflict," there will be no change.

Learn that the process of change is an evolutionary one and that often "past practice" is a barrier to change that can result in conflict, overtly or covertly. Identify your "style" of working in groups; some people deal better with initial change easier than others. Always go with your "racehorses" as you implement ideas and techniques you will learn which will focus on your issues of change and conflict. You will leave this workshop ready to celebrate conflict because it means change is happening!

Traditionally we have used PTA, parent newsletters, Booster Club and Back to School Night as an avenue to reach our school community. Because of job, family and time constraints, this is no longer the most effective way to reach all of our parents and community stakeholders. Learn how to engage all stakeholders in an active role to create a culture and expectation of involvement and success. Family and community engagement will pay great dividends as we focus on the messages we use to inform, sell, and showcase your student successes and achievement gains.

Ask the essential questions: "if parents and students had a choice, why would they choose your school or district? What is your definition of results? How do you intentionally invite all stakeholders to take an active and on-going role in your district? Do the perceptions match with those perceptions and realities of your stakeholders and community?"

Learn to energize parents and the community as both partners and allies; ideas and strategies will work in any school community regardless of size, location or demographics.

This one day workshop will provide you with ideas, processes and strategies you can put to immediate use in your classroom or school in all content areas to significantly increase student achievement in reading. At the end of this professional development session, you will become a teacher of reading regardless of past training and experience. Strategies you will learn include:

• becoming a "warm demander"
• intentionally teaching vocabulary in context
• learning to use pre-reading, during reading and after reading strategies
• multiple ways to check for student comprehension
• what to do if students don't know
• ways to intentionally teach with focus
• exposing students to a variety of text, forms and features
• getting student to read even if they don't want to
• and much more

Additional following sessions are available school wide or with individual content areas, even for teachers who have not traditionally viewed themselves in that role!

Workshop currently under construction

Learn new techniques for conducting meetings to maximize results and reduce the hours spent. Ideas and strategies work at all levels of schooling - parents, teachers, students, building level, district level and the community. You will also learn to examine alternatives to meetings, identify reasons for unsuccessful meetings, and evaluate the number of meetings and committees you have in place which can impact student achievement positively.

Strategies and ideas can be immediately implemented in your district and easily shared and used with your colleagues. You will notice people's enthusiasm and willing participation gaining insights either as a facilitator or participant in future meetings.

Workshop currently under construction

Workshop currently under construction

Workshop currently under construction

In this one-day workshop, explore a process that can work for you, at any grade level, in any school and in any location. Learn how to focus on a common direction and to get commitment from all staff members to intentionally improve student achievement in reading, regardless of content area.

Examine how to focus instruction with purpose and become a warm demander to ensure academic reading growth for each student in your school. Explore what the research says about the teaching of reading and look at what you are currently doing and what we should be doing to significantly impact reading to ensure that all students are reading at grade level or above. Not only will you walk away with new knowledge and ideas, but you will also receive materials you can share with colleagues and put to immediate use in your school or district. Case studies and results of other schools and districts will be shared.

Workshop currently under construction

Workshop currently under construction

Examine practical ways to get the EALRs off the page and into daily lesson design in a way that will positively impact student learning and achievement as measured by the WASL and other assessments. Learn ways that you can make a school-wide commitment to share "best practices" about instruction that will make a difference in teaching and learning.

Learn a process that can be used in all districts regardless of size to develop curriculum concepts and content tied to formal and informal assessments to increase student achievement. All schools and districts who have used the process have significantly improved not only WASL scores but daily student performance. Teacher involvement K-12 is the key!