Breakout Sessions - Tuesday, December 4, 2007
10:00am – 11:00am
Robust Vocabulary Instruction
Jancie Skowron, Oakbrook, IL
Creating a classroom environment for robust vocabulary instruction is the focus of this practical and informative session. Research is clear that vocabulary knowledge is related to comprehension and reading success. In this session you will learn some strategies for introducing, reinforcing, and maintaining word learning. These activities are meant to engage and motivate students without overwhelming teachers.
Grade Level:Primary
Audience:Administrators/Teachers/
Special Education
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:60% Interactive/40% Lecture
Room:Salon 2
Capacity:150 seats
10:00am – 11:00am Featured Speaker
Writing As a Measure of Thinking in 6-12 Classrooms
John Antonetti, The 1ReSource Group, Glendale, AZ
Writing with a focus on modeling thinking skills produces much more than the traditional “writing across the curriculum.” John will demonstrate writing as a reflection of thinking through a variety of interactive samples and strategies. Session attendees will leave the workshop able to appreciate writing as a tool to “informate,” identify methods of measuring thinking through the writing process and articulate key literacy skills that result from frequent writing.
Grade Level:6-12
Audience:Administrators/Teachers/Special Education
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:50% Interactive/50%Lecture
Room:Salon 3
Capacity:64 seats
10:00am – 11:00 am
Overview of Standards-Aligned Classroom
Penny Murphy, SAC Project Manager, Peoria, IL
No matter how many years you’ve been teaching, the Standards-Aligned Classroom Initiative (SAC) can fundamentally change your entire classroom experience. And it can do so no matter what the grade, the school, or the aptitude of your students. Even the most seasoned professional educators are employing SAC’s innovative strategies, tools, and insights to create their own SAC success stories within their schools. Find out what SAC is all about!!
Grade Level:All
Audience:All
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:10% Interactive/90%Lecture
Room:Salon 4
Capacity:64 seats
10:00am – 12:15pm Featured Speaker
Differentiating Instruction in the Secondary Classroom
Nanci Smith, ASCD, Cave Crook, AZ
No one can enter a classroom for any length of time without recognizing how different students are. They are at different places in their learning, they learn in different ways, and they enjoy different activities and styles in learning. What’s a teacher to do? How do you manage to reach every (or at least most) student when you have between 150 and 160 students a day? This hands-on workshop will look at how to diagnose different student learning profiles, instructional strategies to best reach individual students, and other related issues in reaching our diverse student population.
Grade Level: Middle School/High School
Audience:All
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:60% Interactive/40% Lecture
Room:Salon 5
Capacity:64 seats
10:00am – 11:00am Featured School
Gale Elementary
Laura Saey, Gale Elementary, Galesburg, IL
Kristen Lingafelter, Gale Elementary, Galesburg, IL
Katie Laurin, Gale Elementary, Galesburg, IL
Colleen Noonan, Gale Elementary, Galesburg, IL
Our Fantastic Foursome will guide you through GaleSchool’s process to becoming a high achieving school by using the Standards Aligned Classroom model. SAC topics include: writing Illinois State Learning Standards as “I can” statements, choosing and creating writing assessments with the target in mind, sharing with students and parents, and student self assessment.
Grade Level: Primary/Intermediate
Audience:Teachers
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:30% Interactive/70% Lecture
Room:Salon 6
Capacity:64 seats
Online Handouts
Online handouts will be available
for some of the sessions.
Check out the conference website for more details:
10:00am – 12:15pm
Play On Words – Literacy Games K-6
Jane Felling, Box Cars & One-Eyed Jacks,
EdmontonAlberta, Canada
This is an active, hands-on workshop where participants will explore a wide variety of manipulative-based,
multi-sensory games that enhance literacy development. Games will incorporate commonly found literacy materials and will include the use of alphabet and literacy dice, sight word cards and more. Come experience the power of games as a teaching strategy – be prepared to play and learn ideas for primary, regular, ESL, after school and Title 1 programs. Close the achievement gap with these easy to adapt activities.
Grade Level:Early Childhood/Primary/Intermediate
Audience:Administrators/Teachers/Special
Education
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:100% Interactive
Room:New Orleans Ballroom
Capacity:160 seats
10:00am – 11:00am
GPS the Newest Handheld in Education
Edward Gorny, GIS2GPS, Darien, IL
Discover the rapid development of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) as a new and essential tool for student learning in the 21st Century. Learn how this technology provides students with a powerful tool for exploring everything from the world to their backyards. See the power of mapping GPS data as a tool for students to investigate the world around them.
Grade Level:Intermediate/Middle
School/High School
Audience:All
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:10% Interactive/90% Lecture
Room:Ben Hogan
Capacity:40 seats
10:00am – 12:15pm
Classroom Climate for Teachers
Richard Gurnett, Janesville, WI
This class will discuss rules and procedures for creating a superior classroom climate as discussed in Harry Wong’s book “The First Days of School.” Developing rapport, the success model, cooperative grouping and other related topics may also be discussed. Time will be provided for specific questions and discussion.
Grade Level:All
Audience:Teachers
Strand:School Climate
Style:50% Interactive/50% Lecture
Room:Arnold Palmer
Capacity:45 seats
10:00am – 11:00am
How I-ASPIRE Created a Positive Impact
Barbara Cantlin, May Elementary SD #231, Rochelle, IL
Holli Duthie, May Elementary SD #231, Rochelle, IL
Tina Horner, May Elementary SD #231, Rochelle, IL
Denise Stechschulte, May Elementary SD #231, Rochelle, IL
May Elementary School was chosen as a recipient of the I-ASPIRE grant in 2006. As a result of this selection, the teachers and staff members have embraced the Response to Intervention process. Student achievement at MaySchool is now driven by the simple question, “What does this child need to be successful?” The answer to this question, coupled with data provided by the AIMSWEB Assessment, drives many schools’ vision that “failure is not an option” for any child. Participants in this session will hear an explanation of how the RtI process is working in many schools, examples of schedules, grade level meetings, interventions as well as challenges and successes.
Grade Level:Primary/Intermediate
Audience:All
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:50% Interactive/50% Lecture
Room:Preservation A
Capacity:80 seats
10:00am – 12:15pm
Reading Instruction: Alignment, Assessment and Achievement!
Cindy Arkebauer, Eugene Field/Rock IslandSD,
Rock Island, IL
Learn how to intertwine these three components to get the most from your reading instruction. Even better, your students become accountable for their achievement by monitoring their own growth. Tools will be shared. Research-based information tells us that in order for your students to achieve their highest potential, they must be exposed to meaningful instruction based on frequent data collection.
Grade Level:Primary/Intermediate
Audience:All
Strand:Data/Assessment
Style:100% Lecture
Room:Marsalis I
Capacity:32 seats
Buffet Lunch
Expo/Mega Center
12:15pm – 1:15pm
10:00am – 11:00am Featured Speaker
Multimedia in the Differentiated Classroom
Meg Ormiston, Tech Teachers, Inc., Burr Ridge, IL
Transform your teaching by incorporating more multimedia experiences for students. From student-created slide shows, web sites and digital video projects to the thousands of clips and images online, see how they can help differentiate the curriculum. This workshop will bring your lessons to life and engage students in new and exciting ways.
Grade Level:All
Audience:All
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:95% Interactive/5 % Lecture
Room:Ruby (Computer Lab)
Capacity:40 seats
10:00am – 11:00am
Using Five and Ten Frames to Develop Mathematical Terminology
Jane Haught, Thinking Strategies for Mastering Math,
Bismarck, ND
Jean Valer, Thinking Strategies for Mastering Math,
Bismarck, ND
Research tells us that students who understand and use mathematical terminology perform considerably better than students who have a superficial understanding of mathematical vocabulary. This session focuses on how five and ten frames can effectively engage students in the learning of mathematical terminology. We will use
the children’s literature book Mouse Count to develop combinations that make ten. We will play games that reinforce two-part combinations that make 10.
Grade Level:Primary/Intermediate (K-4)
Audience:Administrator/Teacher/Special Education
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:80% Interactive/20% Lecture
Room:Coral
Capacity:32 seats
10:00am – 12:15pm
Problem Solving/Response to Intervention: OneSchool’s Experience
Vicki Pelton, Marseilles Elementary,Marseilles, IL
Beverly Hall, Marseilles Elementary, Marseilles, IL
Gayle Bianchi, Marseilles Elementary, Marseilles, IL
Lee Ann Raikes, Marseilles Elementary, Marseilles, IL
One school explores and establishes universal screening, problem solving and Response to Intervention (RtI). See what worked, what didn’t, goal template, intervention options, types of assessment, and data intervention. Learn the who’s, what’s and where’s of data collection and application. The goal is to turn the school into a data-driven learning center that monitors progress and addresses need.
Grade Level:All
Audience:All
Strand:Data/Assessment
Style:0% Interactive/100% Lecture
Room:Sapphire
Capacity:32 seats
10:00am – 12:15pm
Web-Based Resources for Teachers
Nancy Frakes, LizMark Corp., Genseso, IL
Gary ZumMallen, LizMark Corp., Geneseo, IL
This session is an activity-oriented and audience participation workshop. Learn how to better utilize the internet in planning great lessons for your classroom. In this hands-on session, you will learn to find lesson plans, web quests and internet resources that will enhance your lessons. To help raise student achievement, teachers will learn how to create, write and enhance lesson plans which are scientifically research based. You might want to bring units you are using or plan to use along with the standards you teach.
Grade Level:All
Audience:All
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:100% Interactive/0% Lecture
Room:Turquoise A (Computer Lab)
Capacity:32 seats
10:00am – 11:00am
Test Prep Makes a Difference
Laurie Kimbrel, Grayslake High School Dist. #127,
Grayslake, IL
Jim Giovannini, Academic Tutoring Centers, Grayslake, IL
This session will focus on the benefits of a targeted skills review and PSAE test preparation for high school students. Learn how a school district collaborated with a test prep provider to develop a program based on best practices and research based materials. Specific ideas for materials, professional development and integration into content area courses will be shared.
Grade Level:High School
Audience:Administrators/Teachers
Strand:Data/Assessment
Style:30% Interactive/70% Lecture
Room:Turquoise B
Capacity:32 seats
Conference
Evaluation Form
found onpage 54-55.
Please drop evaluation forms in bags located throughout the conference area.
10:00am – 12:15pm
Partners in the Classroom: Paraprofessionals
Cindy Hall, LEASE, Ottawa, IL
Susan Bruner, LEASE, Ottawa, IL
Paraprofessionals have one of the most important jobs in our schools. Not only do they support students academically, but they also assist in developing skills they need to be independent. These skills allow students to not only function better in school, but also in future endeavors. Cindy Hall completed her Master of Arts in Education Leadership in May 2007. The information presented is based on the action research project she completed in August 2006 as part of a requirement for the program. This energized presentation will inform administrators, special and regular education teachers of their roles, responsibilities, and legal and ethical obligations relating to paraprofessionals. Attendees will receive practical tools they can use when hiring, supervising, collaborating, and evaluating paraprofessionals. Participants will also learn how to maximize the benefit of having a paraprofessional to work with students.
Grade Level:All
Audience:Administrators/Teachers/
Special Education
Strand:Special Education/Subgroup Populations
Style:40% Interactive/60% Lecture
Room:Jade
10:00am – 11:00am
Characteristics of Highly Effective Teachers
Diana Brannon, ElmhurstCollege, Elmhurst, IL
Highly effective teachers encourage student achievement. However what characteristics are required to be highly effective? This presentation reports the results of a survey of elementary and middle school teachers across Illinois regarding the characteristics they feel are necessary for teachers to be highly effective.
Grade Level:All
Audience:All
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:0% Interactive/100% Lecture
Room:Marsalis II
Capacity:48 seats
Visit the
exhibitors from
7:00am – 2:00pm
Monday & Tuesday
10:00am – 11:00am Vendor Skybox Session
Using Formative Assessments to Improve Achievement
Michael Vallosio, STI, Mobile, AL
STI Assessment is a web-based formative assessment system linked to Illinois Learning Standards that can help your district raise student achievement. Assessment can be created for 4 subject areas 3-12. Assessments can be taken on-line and/or using paper and pencil with the scanned results. Dynamic reporting tools notify teachers and district curriculum coordinators of students’ progress regarding district and state goals
Grade Level:All
Audience:Administrators/Technology
Strand:Data/Assessment
Style:20% Interactive/80% Lecture
Room:Skybox 1 (located above the Expo/Mega
Center)
Capacity:30 seats
10:00am – 11:00am Vendor Skybox Session
Children’s Progress Academic Assessment
Sheryl Campbell, Harcourt Assessment, Chicago, IL
The Children’s Progress Academic Assessment (CPAA) is a computer-delivered dynamic assessment in language arts and math that supports standards-based assessment and curriculum development is and linked to theIllinoisLearning Standards. The adaptive design adjusts to a child’s skills and learning style. This assessment was developed in partnership with ColumbiaUniversity. Field testing was just completed for a Pre-K and K Spanish version.
Grade Level:Early Childhood/Primary
Audience:All
Strand:Data/Assessment
Style:50% Interactive/50% Lecture
Room:Skybox 2 (located above the Expo/Mega
Center)
Capacity:30 seats
10:00am – 11:00am Vendor Skybox Session
Odysseyware Believes
Dave Novakowski, Odysseyware, Chandler, AZ
We will demonstrate how OdysseyWare allows educators to individualize instruction and manage student data while delivering content in an engaging, multimedia format that raises student achievement levels. Our courses are fully scoped and are sequenced and correlated to alternative education, summer school and special education.
Grade Level:Intermediate/Middle School/High School
Audience:All
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:100% Interactive/0% Lecture
Room:Skybox 3 (located above the Expo/Mega
Center)
Capacity:30 seats
10:00am – 11:00am Vendor Skybox Session
Kid’s College®: Video Generation Learning
Cathy Sambo, Kinney and Associates, Oakbrook, IL
Kid’s College® is the first program to combine
sports-themed video games with K-8 standards-based practice to motivate even the hardest to reach students. Studies show that using Kid’s College® impacts student scores on annual state assessments.
Grade Level:Primary/Intermediate/Middle School
Audience:All
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:25% Interactive/75% Lecture
Room:Skybox 4 (located above the Expo/Mega
Center)
Capacity:30 seats
11:15am – 12:15pm Keynote Speaker
Question and Answer Session
Kim Stewart Bearden
This session will give participants an opportunity to meet Kim Stewart Bearden and ask questions about the RonClarkAcademy.
Grade Level:All
Audience:All
Strand:All
Style:100% Interactive
Room:Salon 2
Capacity:150 seats
11:15am – 12:15pm Featured Speaker
Writing As a Measure of Thinking in K-5 Classrooms
John Antonetti, The 1ReSource Group, Glendale, AZ
Writing with a focus on modeling thinking skills produces much more than the traditional “writing across the curriculum”. John will demonstrate writing as a reflection of thinking through a variety of interactive samples and strategies. Session attendees will leave the workshop able to: appreciate writing as a tool to “informate”, Identify methods of measuring thinking through the writing process and articulate key literacy skills that result from frequent writing.
Grade Level:K-5
Audience:Administrators/Teachers/Special Education
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:50% Interactive/50%Lecture
Room:Salon 3
Capacity:64 seats
11:15am – 12:15pm
SAC Roundtable
Penny Murphy, SAC Project Manager, Peoria, IL
Lori Loving, Galesburg, IL
Shirley Carlson, Pekin, IL
Scott Estes, East Peoria, IL
SAC Roundtable discussions will include the following topics: Using Visuals to Communicate Clear Targets to Students, Involving Students in Classroom Assessments, Making Standards Real in the Classroom, Impacting AYP through Standards-Aligned Classroom, and Coaches Networking.
Grade Level:All
Audience:All
Strand:All
Style:100% Interactive
Room:Salon 4
Capacity:64 seats
11:15am-12:15pm Featured School
It’s All About Math: Capitalizing On Our
Students’ Potential - Jeffery C. StillMiddle School
Jennifer Nonnemacher, StillMiddle School, Aurora, IL
Cindy Bell, StillMiddle School, Aurora, IL
Shestine Gesbocker, StillMiddle School, Aurora, IL
Patrick Raleigh, StillMiddle School, Aurora, IL
This session will provide an overview of I-Math, a data driven math intervention program, designed to improve math achievement as measured on the ISAT. Also included in this session will be a “hands-on” example of an I-Math activity along with time for questions from participants.
Grade Level: Middle School
Audience:Administrators/Teachers
Strand:Content/Instruction
Style:40% Interactive/60% Lecture
Room:Salon 6
Capacity:64 seats
11:15am – 12:15pm