Events

This free virtual session is presented on behalf of the SIU Behavior Assessment Training Project. Many school professionals that are expected to write and implement BIPs do not enter the field with adequate training on the topic yet are expected to lead this process - oftentimes without any collaborators. In this workshop you will explore the components of the Illinois BIP document, learn what goes in each section, and how you can collaborate with other professionals in this process. You will utilize a user-friendly tool targeted specifically for the Illinois BIP to write high quality documents which can promote positive student outcomes. This tool can also be used to review existing documents for completeness and quality. Targeted audience: administrators, special and general educators, behavioral coaches/interventionists, special education directors/supervisors, social workers, related support personnel. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date unless tickets are sold out. A link will be sent prior to April 16.

Join Dr. Jeff Spencer (Science Instructional Coach, ROE # 17) in this engaging workshop designed to help educators gain a deeper understanding of the Illinois Learning Standards for Science, with a focus on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Teachers will begin with an interactive introduction that sets the stage for meaningful reflection on hands-on science activities, helping them see how these standards come to life in the classroom. Participants will explore key NGSS principles—such as three-dimensional learning, scientific practices, and crosscutting concepts—through collaborative discussions and guided reflection. The session will highlight strategies for integrating NGSS into everyday teaching, providing practical tools to support inquiry-based learning and foster student engagement. By the end of the workshop, teachers will have a stronger grasp of how to effectively implement NGSS in their own classrooms, with resources to support their ongoing professional growth. Teachers will be provided 35 minutes for lunch and are encouraged to bring lunch to this event. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event unless tickets are sold out.

PD Co-op member district $50.00, Non PD Co-op district $75.00, lunch is included on site. Administrators can earn pd credit OR academy credit.  Teachers can attend and earn pd hours, social workers/counselors may attend and earn ceu's. In this academy, school leaders will learn the importance of self-care while building their understanding of the role they play in creating a culture that supports staff wellness. School leaders will work to assess their own levels of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. Based on this assessment, leaders will focus on their individual self-care plan that promotes compassion resilience. In addition we will focus on assessing and building a culture for supporting staff wellness while utilizing the core components of a multi-tiered system of support. This flexible framework will guide administrators in promoting wellness for all through the use of data, systems and practices. School leaders will leave with a plan on how to engage existing teams to promote and prioritize a culture of staff wellness. The application/dissemination must be completed and submitted at the conclusion of the event. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event.

Are you ready to take your Google skills to the next level? Join our upcoming Google Educator Level 1 workshop! Joe Cipfl, Director of Educational Technology (ROE # 50) will facilitate this workshop as you will break down the Google Educator Level 1 Certification into smaller segments while preparing you for the exam. Each segment will cover different Google-related topics, including Chrome and Slides, Drive and Docs, Gmail and Calendar, Classroom, Forms and Sheets, and test prep tips. Level 1 certification indicates a fundamental understanding of using Google Tools in the classroom and confirms standard technology implementation skills. Educators who pass the certification test can promote their status with a personal certificate and badge. Certification lasts 36 months. Don’t miss this opportunity to grow professionally and earn a valuable certification to add to your resume immediately. Participants will need to bring a fully charged device to this event (35 minutes will be given for lunch on your own). Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event.

Join us for a full-day session designed to empower educators with the tools and insights needed to support students with dyslexia effectively. We’ll begin by exploring foundational knowledge, including the latest brain research, common myths, and practices not supported by evidence, as well as best approaches for screening and early identification. Building on this foundation, we’ll dive into structured literacy strategies, focusing on phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency building, and teaching high-frequency words to foster meaningful progress. The session will also include an overview of the Illinois Dyslexia Handbook, offering actionable guidance to align your classroom practices with state standards. Perfect for educators seeking practical, research-backed strategies, this session ensures you’re equipped to make a lasting impact on your students’ reading development. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date.

Do you have students who have trouble adding and subtracting within 10 and 20? Regrouping within 100 and 1,000? Do you have students who guess at operations when solving word problems, have trouble making sense of the numbers, and struggle with 2-step and comparison problems?

Then join Greg Tang for his grade K-2 Best Practices workshop. Greg will share his “less is more” approach to teaching critical concepts and skills. Learn firsthand his progression of concrete, pictorial, and abstract models (C-P-A) that gives kids a deeper, more connected understanding of number, operations, and word problems.

We will build number sense with Unifix Cubes and ten frames, use number bonds to make short work of regrouping, and use part-whole and tape diagrams to make sense of all 15-word problem types.

In addition to best teaching practices, we will also explore best ways to practice. We will solve cleverly designed problems that develop reasoning and logical thinking skills and are perfect for math talks, math centers, and independent practice.

As an added bonus, every teacher who attends will receive access to Greg’s elementary math curriculum, including his incredible, online teaching tools, practice materials, games, and math centers.

  Time will be given for lunch (on your own). Registration will close 4-5 days prior to this event unless tickets are sold out.

Do you have students who still have trouble mastering their basic math facts? Students who struggle with all four operations and are confused by fractions and decimals? Students who have trouble making sense of word problems – especially multistep and comparison problems?

Then join Greg Tang for his grade 3-6 Best Practices workshop. Greg will share his “less is more” approach to teaching critical concepts and skills. Learn firsthand his progression of concrete, pictorial, and abstract models (C-P-A) that gives kids a deeper, more connected understanding of number, operations, and word problems.

We will use number bonds and area models to make sense of all 4 operations, tape diagrams to model multiplicative comparison problems including fractions, ratios, and unit rates, and progressions of word problems to develop the proportional reasoning skills that are the key to higher math.

In addition to best teaching practices, we will also explore best ways to practice. We will solve cleverly designed problems that develop reasoning and logical thinking skills and are perfect for math talks, math centers, and independent practice.

As an added bonus, every teacher who attends will receive access to Greg’s elementary math curriculum, including his incredible, online teaching tools, practice materials, games, and math centers.

Time will be given for lunch (on your own), registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event unless tickets are sold out.

This workshop is geared towards an educator that has LITTLE to NO understanding regarding DoK. Furthermore, this workshop is designed to help educators understand the basic concepts of Depth of Knowledge (DoK), its impact on student learning, and how it can be used to enhance teaching strategies. During this session, participants will explore what DoK is, why it is effective, and how the DoK Wheel can be leveraged to improve classroom practice. Key Topics Covered:

1. What is Depth of Knowledge (DoK)?
   • Introduction to the four levels of DoK (Recall & Reproduction, Skills & Concepts, Strategic Thinking, and Extended Thinking).
   • How DoK helps in evaluating the rigor of tasks, questions, and activities in the classroom.
2. The DoK Wheel: A Tool for Planning and Instruction
   • What the DoK Wheel is and how it can be used for instructional planning.
3. Addressing Common Misconceptions and Criticisms
   • Discussing misconceptions about DoK, such as the belief that higher DoK levels are always harder or that it’s only about complex questions.
   • Criticisms of DoK and how to address concerns in the classroom to ensure it is used effectively to promote student learning

Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date.

This session will provide a hands-on approach to implementing Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DoK) in the classroom. Those attending should have a basic to moderate understanding of DoK. Key Topics Covered:

• Integrating Bloom's Taxonomy and Webb's Depth of Knowledge - comparisons, contracts and applications
• Rolling with the Wheel - tasks as indicators of student knowledge and skill acquisition
• Designing Learning activities - benefits of KoK in curriculum, unit and lesson design
• Questioning and Dok - designing questions across DoK levels
• Assessing students' DoK - addressing class, school, district, and state implications
• Anticipating the future, experience, experts and signs on the road ahead

Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date.  

Jim Kestner will present his nationally recognized program in a high-energy session dedicated to helping teachers in their early career years address a wide range of classroom management issues. Teachers who attend will find strategies that lead students to make good choices, replacing controlling behaviors with strategies that lead students to monitor and take responsibility for their own behavior. Specifically the session will address the following:

• Arranging the environment to improve student engagement
• Developing and implementing effective classroom policies
• Addressing common challenging behaviors
• Difference between controlling behaviors and building good decision-making skills
• Translating the concept of consistency to a variety of students and settings
• Establishing a character-building classroom culture
• Teaching self-respect, self-discipline, and responsibility
• Self-esteem v self-respect
• Grading systems that encourage student effort and engagement
• Assessing student behavior
• Parent and administrator involvement
• Keeping and maintaining good records

  Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date.