Events

This free virtual event is thanks to the IL SLDS Project.  Basic attributes of students at all ages with specific learning disabilities in math will be addressed.  The presentation will include brief ideas to help with the screening process for at risk students. Selecting specific strategies that can help these students access math will be discussed. A virtual link will be sent prior to the event. Registration will close 4-5 days prior to the event.

 How can we take students beyond being thermometers that “take the temperature” of issues in their community to being thermostats that take civic action to “change the temperature?”  Join this interactive workshop led by Mary Ellen Daneels (National Board Certified Teacher and Director of the Illinois Civics Hub & Illinois Democracy School Network) where you will explore how students can take the L.E.A.D. across disciplines through service learning to have a real-world impact- right from their own classroom! A mix of digital and hands-on tools will be demonstrated to help students Learn, Engage and Explore what is true for their community, take Authentic Action, and Digest and Demonstrate learning.

Join in on this interactive workshop led by Mary Ellen Daneels (National Board Certified Teacher and Director of the Illinois Civics Hub & Illinois Democracy School Network) where participants will experience Kagan Cooperative Learning strategies from a certified Kagan trainer. Learn how to leverage positive interdependence, individual accountability, equitable opportunities to participate, and synergy (PIES) to go beyond “group work” to implement research-based pedagogy to enhance your current practice.

Instead of just surviving the stressors of your life, wouldn't you love to begin thriving despite them. Join retired principal Stacy Mesnard as she facilitates this free session (thanks to the SEL Grant) that will prioritize your well-being, positivity and self-care.  In today's fast-paced world and the school environment, taking time for self-care is essential for maintaining balance and mental health. In this workshop, you will discover the link to health and our attitudes, while examining wellness surveys that will raise awareness of your self-care needs. Walk away with self-care strategies that will in turn, reduce stress. Join your fellow colleagues in the field as you connect, share experiences and build a supportive network focused on wellness.  Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event.

Join us for an engaging workshop that delves into the complex role of homework in education. This session, facilitated by retired Principal Stacy Mesnard will explore both the benefits and drawbacks of homework, encouraging participants to critically assess its impact on student learning, well-being, and family dynamics. Objectives:

• Understand the Purpose: Discuss the intended goals of homework and how it can reinforce classroom learning.
• Identify Challenges: Explore common issues associated with homework, including stress, time management.
• Share Perspectives: Foster an open dialogue regarding the appropriate amount and attributes of quality assignments.
• Develop Strategies: Brainstorm innovative strategies to ensure homework is relevant and purposeful versus busy work.

Who Should Attend: Administrators, educators, and anyone interested in the educational landscape. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event.

Join Janet Moore, Instructional Math Coach for ROE # 17 in this informative and interactive session.  Do you want your students to be more engaged in math class? Do you wish your students had more perseverance to do critical thinking and problem-solving in math? If so, you are not alone! Join us for a day of exploration and collaboration as we tackle these common math class struggles. In this session, participants will learn about proven strategies for increasing student engagement in math and explore a variety of tools and resources for classroom implementation. Teachers will have opportunities to collaborate with their grade-level specific colleagues to brainstorm and plan together. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event unless tickets are sold out. Teachers are encouraged to bring a lunch as 30 minutes will be given for a lunch break.

This is an exciting opportunity to begin learning or continue to learn about the Science of Reading.  Upon reading 7 Mighty Moves by Lindsay Kemeny, and participating in discussions and reflections with group members, this book study will help create a reading teacher blueprint to map out important changes with the goal of delivering solid reading instruction. The author is a current elementary teacher who has embraced research backed strategies for delivering impactful literacy instruction.  She shares her knowledge in a way that makes it accessible to teachers no matter where they are on their Science of Reading journey.  The book study facilitator, Lisa Smithe, is an RtI Educator at William Holliday (Pontiac # 105).  Lisa will share her passion and knowledge for the subject content while answering questions and providing guidance along the way.  Her hope is that after the book study has ended, participants will be excited to apply reading strategies in their classroom and share their enthusiasm for learning with their students and fellow teachers.  Educators will have to purchase the book independently; however 5 books have been purchased by the ROE and will be raffled off to registered attendees.  If attendees who receive the book do not successfully complete the requirements, the cost of the book must be reimbursed to the ROE. For this specific event, cancellations must be made no later than February 25, 2025 or a $35.00 invoice will be sent.    Participants must attend all 4 sessions, do not register if you cannot attend all 4 sessions.  Additionally, educators must participate and complete all requirements to earn the full 12 PD credit hours (no partial hours will be issued).  The requirements include keeping a Google Doc where you share your thoughts as you read through each “Move”.  The document should include if there was a paragraph that stood out, new terminology or strategy you have learned, was there a part that was unclear, and an action step you would like to take. Registration for this event will close Friday, February 21, 2025.  Additional details and the virtual link(s) will be sent out by Lisa Smithe prior to March 3, 2025.   Meeting #1- Monday, 3/3 (4:00-5:00 p.m.) Our first meeting covers the book’s introduction and Move #1: Teach Phonemic Awareness with Intention.   Meeting #2-  Monday, 3/10 (4:00-5:00 p.m.) The topics will be Move #2: Teach Phonics Explicitly and Systematically along with Move #3: Teach Decoding Strategies Not Cueing Strategies.   Meeting #3-  Monday, 3/17 (4:00-5:00 p.m.) The topics will be Move #4: Use Decodable Texts Instead of Predictable Texts with Beginning Readers plus Move #5: Embrace a Better Approach to Teaching “Sight Words”.   Meeting #4- Monday, 3/24 (4:00-5:00 p.m.) We will complete the book with Move #6: Focus on Meaningful Fluency Practice and the final move, Move #7: Improve Comprehension by Developing Vocabulary and Background Knowledge.  

This event is free thanks to an SEL Grant.  Join Dr. Catherine Daus, SIUE Professor and Program Director, in this session titled, 'Stress & Coping with Workplace Attitudes'. As School Social Workers and Counselors many times you are the frontline person that intercepts various workplace drama or complaints.  Your jobs can be stressful; however, your role often serves as a way to ease the stress of those you support.  This session will cover the basics of stress response and its role in the workplace along with identifying stressors.  Additionally, we will examine the importance of workplace attitudes, including job satisfaction/morale, organizational commitment and work engagement. We will cover several healthy coping strategies which can be easily implemented with work life. Prior to this session you will be asked to fill out a few self-report measures regarding workplace personality and workplace stressors which will be used as a part for reflection. While this session is geared towards School Social Workers & Counselors, all are welcome to anyone attend. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to this event, CEU's are available.

What does it take to be a great leader? What should good leaders DO—from a practical, rather than theoretical, perspective? Which leadership roles are most important to you in your job? Do you have a plan to excel in those roles? This is an interactive session, with small group, large group, and individual activities. You will leave with a personal checklist of your top leadership roles, and a ready-to-implement action plan. The facilitator, Dr. Dave Heth, retired after 24 years as SIUE Finance Director. He previously worked at McDonnell Douglas Corporation/Boeing and Deloitte. Dave has delivered a variety of leadership workshops for organizations such as SIU, MDC, American Red Cross, Alton Memorial Hospital, USAF, and several professional associations. More than 1,000 SIU employees at the Edwardsville, Carbondale, and Springfield campuses have taken his workshops, rating them an average of 4.9/5 and describing them as fun, useful, and engaging. Participants included non-supervisors and supervisors at all levels—from department, building and central office levels.  Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date unless tickets are sold out.