This free virtual workshop, facilitated by Emily Flach of the Illinois LTC, is designed for English Language Arts teachers ready to leverage Artificial Intelligence for practical classroom applications and responsible integration. Dive into hands-on techniques for generating differentiated reading passages, crafting engaging writing prompts, creating targeted vocabulary lists, and even designing custom rubrics! We'll explore how AI can enhance instruction and student engagement through personalized learning and initial writing feedback. Critically, this session will equip you to navigate the ethical landscape of AI, with discussions around academic integrity, bias, and data privacy. You'll gain strategies to foster AI literacy in your students, empowering them to critically evaluate information and use AI responsibly, ensuring you leave with actionable ideas for your ELA classroom. Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event.

This free session will be held at Central Jr. High School (music room) 1801 Central School Rd. Belleville, 62220. Join fellow K–8 music educators for an interactive roundtable designed to spark practical solutions and fresh ideas. We will focus on three primary topics: classroom management, how to make practice more enjoyable and useful, and all things percussion. Please come with any/all questions and discussion ideas related to these topics. Time willing, we can explore other topics as well. This collaborative session centers on shared expertise — participants are encouraged to contribute their experiences, challenges, and successes to augment the prepared presentation. We are all experts worth being heard. You are also invited/encouraged to bring any percussion-related equipment that you have any questions about (including tuning, maintenance, how to use, what is it, etc.). We will troubleshoot and problem-solve together and will be provided with practical solutions when possible. Let’s share, learn, and build stronger music programs — one conversation at a time. Registration closes October 5 at 10:00am.

This free session is for K-12 pe educators which will be held at Wingate Elementary (150 Wingate Blvd. Belleville, IL 62221) and will be structured with two sessions and presenters.

The first session will be facilitated by Maria Pessman:

• Instant Activities - Do you need activities to get your students moving right away? These instant activities are simple, use minimal equipment, and are fun! Come prepared to move and learn in a meaningful PE way!
• Incorporating Activities within Meaningful PE K-12 - Get ready to move, laugh, reflect, and learn in this session! Participants will be immersed in the Meaningful PE framework through hands-on, active experiences that highlight the core features of MPE: fun, challenge, social interaction, motor competence, and personal relevance. Participants will explore practical strategies to create learning experiences that prioritize student voice, autonomy, and connection.

The second session will be facilitated by Steve Paxson:

• Deconstructing Illinois K-12 Physical Education Standards with Assessments-During this session attendees will take part in a deconstructing standards activities to better understand the standards and to be able to self-assess their own physical education programs to make assertions of potential changes needed.  A practice in the bedrock needs of curriculum design!
•  SBG Assessment Design Pair and Share- Are you grading on dress in PE? Come discover grading practices for objective grading within the affective, cognitive and psychomotor domains. Come to this session to collaborate with colleagues on current grading practices. You will leave this session with data-driven assessments to increase student motivation.
•  Debrief conversations and collaboration

Registration closes October 5, 2026 at 10:00am.

Jim Kestner will present his nationally recognized program in a high-energy session dedicated to helping experienced teachers 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: * What teachers should know about teaching Generation Z * Developing character-based discipline * Addressing common challenging behaviors * Difference between controlling behaviors and building good decision-making skills * Consistency * Developing and implementing effective classroom policies * Establishing a character-building classroom environment * Teaching self-respect, self-discipline, and responsibility * Self-esteem vs. self-respect * Grading systems that encourage student effort and engagement * Assessing student behavior * Parent and administrator involvement   Registration closes 4-5 days prior to the event date - time will be given for lunch (on your own).

This same session was presented virtually in January of 2026. Gain a deeper understanding of the new Enhanced ACT through the lens of MasteryPrep’s Mastery Pyramid!  Math and Science teachers will explore how to make ACT prep a natural part of the classroom culture through micro-practices, subject-specific strategy lessons, and isolated skill review.  Subject-specific cohorts will collaborate to develop a Time, Test, and Content Mastery ACTion Plan for immediate classroom implementation. Each participant will receive a copy of MasteryPrep’s Unofficial Teacher’s Guide to the ACT workbook and access to printable lesson plans and resources.    Registration closes September 28, 2026 at 10:00am to allow ample time to order and ship the manuals.

MasteryPrep’s Unofficial Teacher’s Guide to the ACT: a closer look at Math and Science Content Mastery Educators who have participated in either the virtual (January 2026) or in-person (October 20, 2026 8:30am-11:30am) MasteryPrep Unofficial Teacher’s Guide to the ACT workshop are invited to take a closer look at Content Mastery in this afternoon PD session! Math and Science teachers will walk in their students’ shoes with a mini test experience, learn how to analyze ACT questions by task and isolated skill, and discuss how and when strategies can be effective.  Cohorts will look closely at the tiered isolated skills of their subject area and decide which skills should be covered in the ACTion plan.  Time wil be reserved for individual and team planning with the available consultation of our MasteryPrep presenter.  Remember to bring your MasteryPrep’s Unofficial Teacher’s Guide to the ACT workbooks!   Registration closes September 28. 2026 at 10:00am in order to have ample time to order/ship the manuals.