Dr. Michael Heggerty, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services

Detailed Schedule, Tuesday, December 6, 2005

9:15 – 11:30

Understanding the Importance of Phonemic Awareness Skills in Word Study (2-Hour Session)

Dr. Michael Heggerty, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services,

Bensenville School District 2, Bensenville, IL

Participants in this session will study sight vocabulary, letter/sound correspondence skills (phonics and word patterns), as well as structural analysis skills and see the BIG picture of how these all fit so nicely together. All of these skills are critical to early readers as they must be able to quickly access all of these skills for successful reading. Participants will examine the relationship between all of these skills and how an effective Word Identification Program can support reading and writing. This session supports Reading First philosophy and is aligned to IL State Standards.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: Salon 1Audience: P/I

9:15 – 11:30 FEATURED SPEAKER

A Plan To Do Better: Getting Past Rewards and

Punishments (2-Hour Session)

Ambrose Panico, Administrator

ECHO Joint Agreement, Blue Island, IL

Participants are challenged to consider developing intervention plans that include, not only reinforcement principle based but skill, belief, needs, and environment based interventions. Participants will receive The Plan to do Bettter Form for developing individual change plans and samples of actual student plans. The presentation culminates with participants working in small groups to develop plans of their own for their own students. Participants are also introduced to the advantage of designing intervention plans that begin with the end in mind, i.e. the development of self-disciplined individuals. Plans that encourage the development of four Empowering Beliefs and three intrapersonal and seven interpersonal Fundamental Skills are offered.

Strand:School Climate

Special Education/Subgroup Populations

Room: Salon 2Audience: All

9:15 – 10:15 FEATURED SPEAKER

Literacy Centers I

Linda Holliman, Bookworks Consulting, Inc.

Centennial, CO

In this session Linda Holliman, author of The Complete Guide to Classroom Centers, will discuss Curriculum, Clock and Classroom so that centers will be successful long term. Literacy Centers should be purposeful and meaningful, curriculum driven not extra work, and a support for guided reading. We will explore all of these issues as well as looking at utilizing classroom space with both stationary and mobile centers.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: Salon 3Audience: P/I

9:15 – 10:15 FEATURED SPEAKER

Realistic Methods of Differentiation

John Samara, The Curriculum Project

Austin, TX

A wide range of strategies for differentiating instruction will be discussed, labeled and shown through digital images of K – 12 teachers in Illinois. Participants will leave this session with a model for understanding methods that they already used to differentiate, as well as resources and techniques to use immediately, to address the needs of all learners. Research has confirmed that the CSM of curriculum, instruction and assessment is a highly successful program which offers a continuous and consistent framework within which significant student growth is enabled. The results of analyses provide clear empirical, replicable and quantitative evidence that adoption and use of the Curry/Samara Model has a positive impact on student performance. Full reports available on Click on research reports.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: Salon 4Audience: All

9:15 – 11:30

Practical Data Driven Decision-Making

(2-Hour Session)

Bryan Chumbley, Peoria Public School Dist. #150

Peoria, IL

Using data for inform decision-making is of critical importance for all schools and school districts. This session will provide attendees concrete ideas for ways to use multiple data sources for informed decision-making. Discussion of achievement, demographic, program, and perception/survey data will be conducted as well as examples of practical ways in which this data can inform the decision-making process.

Strand: Data/Assessment

Room: Salon 5Audience: All

9:15 – 10:15

Effective Data Management with ACT Programs

Michael McKinney, Consultant, Elem./Secondary Services

Lincolnshire, IL

Since the first administration of PSAE in the Spring of 2001 numerous schools and districts throughout Illinois have implemented EPAS programs for their systematic approach to enhance curriculum and instruction to impact student performance. This session will allow participants to learn more about the benefits for students, teachers, and administrators when districts utilize one or more of these academic and career programs (e.g., EXPLORE at grade 8, PLAN at grade 10).

Strand: Data/Assessment

Room: Salon 6Audience: HS

9:15 – 10:15

Effect of NCLB Mathematics and Science Partnerships

Gwen Pollock, Division of Curriculum & Instruction, ISBE

The challenges of increasing student achievement are directly connected to the content expertise and pedagogical talents of their teachers. Through Title II Part B, one of the creative opportunities of NCLB, Illinois mathematics and science partnerships have been developed and are flourishing. They are distributed around the state with diverse partners from universities, community colleges, chambers of commerce, and school districts and buildings of all sizes and needs. Connections to experts, educational research that makes sense to the participants and classroom applications are required. Some of the success stories and descriptions for future participation will be described.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: Ben HoganAudience: All

9:15 – 10:15

Time Management for Educators

Dr. Susan Goodale, Pro-Act Options

East Peoria, IL

“So little time, so much to do!” That is a common lament of educators today. This session will help educators to manage time more effectively and efficiently through more than a dozen strategies set in a pro-active model of time and life management. Learn how to simplify life and set priorities, boundaries, and time for the things you want and need to do!

Strand: Family/Community/School Climate

Room: Jack NicklausAudience: All

9:15 – 10:15

Developing Effective Readers Quickly Using Brain Research and Technology

Gold Sponsor - Scientific Learning

Dr. Sherry Francis, National Education Consultant

Scientific Learning Corp, Neosho, MO

This session will summarize the latest brain research regarding the acquisition of language skills, and how deficiencies in cognitive skills (memory, attention, processing, sequencing) can be remediated quickly, with significant results, and lasting gains using technology-based interventions. The critical role between language ability and reading achievement will be discussed. Principles from neuroscience research that are integral to “retraining” the brain will be presented, along with related brain imagery. Results of student effectiveness will be shared. This session will be repeated.

Strands: Content/Instruction

Special Education/Subgroup Populations

Room: Arnold PalmerAudience: All

9:15 – 11:30

Curriculum Mapping and Special Education

(2-Hour Session)

Lori Deichstetter, Pres. Natural Curiosity, Inc.

Bloomingdale, IL

This session is a mini-workshop for special education teachers and administrators to learn about alternatives for mapping and designing curriculum aligned to a school or district’s content area curricula. Participants will explore the steps necessary for successful curriculum audits, mapping a concept-based curriculum in alignment to learning standards, and mapping research-based instructional, reading and technology strategies using a Universal Design for Learning to address the needs of special education students.

Strand: Special Education/Subgroup Populations

Room: Preservation AAudience: All

9:15 – 11:30 FEATURED SPEAKER

Classroom Instruction That Works

(2-Hour Session)

Dr. Debra Pickering, Consultant

Littleton, CO

Based on the ASCD book that she co-authored, Debra Pickering will help participants increase their understanding of the nine types of instructional strategies that are shown to improve student achievement. The workshop will include specific descriptions of the strategies as well as provide practice with the strategies in the way that they are actually being used in K-12 classrooms. Participants will also gain an understanding of the type of implementation that increases the likelihood that these strategies will, in fact, enhance student learning.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: New Orleans BallroomAudience: All

9:15 – 11:30

Integrating Technology into the Curriculum

(2-Hour Session)

Tracy Colwell, Courtney Stenger

Pleasant Valley Middle School, Peoria, IL

This session will give the participant an understanding of the Technology Spectrum and the National Educational Technology Standards. It will also provide six projects that integrate technology across the curriculum. These projects incorporate digital cameras, Power Point, Excel, Microsoft Works, web page design, and movie editing. These make-it and take-it projects come with a lesson plan, step-by-step directions, and a rubric to assess student work. After a presentation of all six projects, participants will have time to work on the project of their choice, with hands on help from the instructor. These projects can be adapted for almost any grade level or subject. Technology beginners are very welcome.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: Ruby - Computer LabAudience: All

9:15 – 11:30

Family Literacy for All

(2-Hour Session)

Sue Sokolinski, Deb Hays

Batavia Public School, Batavia, IL

Government funded family literacy programs are provided for families in limited socio-economic ranges. However, all young, struggling readers and their families can benefit from family focused intervention programs that promote early literacy development.

Strand: Family/Community/School Climate

Room: CoralAudience: EC

9:15 – 11:30

Combating Underachievement in Spatial Learners (2-Hour Session)

Rebecca Mann

Purdue University, IN

Gifted children with spatial strengths and sequential weaknesses are often overlooked as their learning style can put them “at odds” with the educational system. Ironically, these are the students who have strengths in mathematical reasoning and scientific thinking; skills needed by society. Research shows that adults with spatial strengths are undereducated and underemployed. This presentation examines the differences between spatial and sequential learners to demonstrate how spatial learners may be at a disadvantage in our sequential educational system. Characteristics of students with spatial strengths will be discussed and examples of research supported teaching strategies, with suggestions for teaching to areas of strength, will be explored. These strategies have been shown to increase achievement in students with spatial strengths.

Strand: Special Education/Subgroup Populations

Room: SapphireAudience: All

9:15 – 10:15

Using Technology in the Math Classroom

Meg Ormiston, Professional Development Specialist

Tech Teachers, Inc., Willowbrook, IL

You will leave this hands-on session with hundreds of new ways to use technology in mathematics class. We will explore a digital filing cabinet filled with resources including WebQuests and collaborative projects, free online games, virtual manipulatives, assessment tools and web sites filled with practical ways to liven up your math class. We will focus on resources and assessments that align to the Illinois Learning Standards. All of these resources have been organized for you to use throughout the school year. Your handout and companion Web site will contain practical Timesaving Technology Tips to share with your colleagues back at school.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: Turquoise A – Computer Lab Audience: All

Free Daily

Gift Basket Drawings

at the

Regional Office of Education

Exhibitor Table!

9:15 – 10:15

Classroom Assessment Using Handhelds

Christine Tomasino, Teaching and Learning Consultant

Joliet, IL

In this session participants will explore how handhelds can be used to support research-based strategies for classroom assessment. Learn ways to create seamless and ongoing student activities to monitor student understanding using Palm Desktop applications, Inspiration for Palm OS, Docs to Go, quizzing softwareand other free Palm OS applications. If you would like some tips for collecting and grading student handheld artifacts or arejust looking for ideas to getstudents involved in assessment strategies, this session is for you! Many ideas will be shared for getting students to demonstrate and communicate their understanding of content and concepts.

Strand: Data/Assessment

Room: Turquoise B – Computer Lab Audience: All

9:15 – 10:15 FEATURED SCHOOL

Differentiating Instruction During Guided Reading

Carolyn Faust and Mary Sullivan

Garfield School, District 89, Maywood, IL

Participants will learn how Stevenson School improved reading instruction through guided reading. This session will share the benefits of guided reading, how assessment drives instruction, differentiating instruction, and managing guided reading groups.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: JadeAudience: P

10:30 – 11:30 FEATURED SPEAKER

Teachin’ Cheap

Linda Holliman, Bookworks Consulting, Inc.,

Centennial, CO

In this session Linda Holliman, author of TEACHIN’ CHEAP, will share ways children can be held accountable by recording and responding to center activities, research, and more. Why teach children how to make books and “generic formats” to use only one time? Your time is valuable! This session will be hands-on and you will leave with several examples that can be used immediately with your children.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: Salon 3Audience: All

10:30 – 11:30 FEATURED SPEAKER

Six Instructional Strategies for Tomorrow

John Samara, The Curriculum Project

Austin, TX

This one-hour session is for teachers of K-12 that would like to discuss specific strategies to bring about improved levels of student success in their classrooms. The six strategies are being used successfully in hundreds of classrooms, and they involve techniques that can be implemented immediately and refined throughout the school year. If you have high expectations for yourself and for your students, please join us to discuss ways to achieve them. Research available at

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: Salon 4Audience: All

10:30 – 11:30

Effective Data Management with ACT Programs

Michael McKinney, Consultant Elementary/Secondary Services

Lincolnshire, IL

Strand: Data/Assessment

Room: Salon 6Audience: HS

10:30 – 11:30

Blogging - Revolutionizing Education!

Susim Munshi, Technology Integration Specialist

Susan Switzer

Chicago Public Schools

How much time are elementary school students spending on the Internet? Why are both veteran and novice teachers always wondering why they can’t get their students engaged? U.S. schools have spent roughly $80 billion on school computing just in the last decade. We spent all this money on technology! Why isn’t it working? There is a compelling need to advance teachers from simply applying technology to existing ways of teaching to challenging educators to transform their instructional practices and expectations of students. With more than 78 percent of children between the ages of 12 and 17 online at home or school, we have incredible opportunities to leverage the Internet as a communications tool and to deepen its educational potential. The prospective educational implications are being realized by trailblazing teachers and teacher leaders throughout the country through the use of blogs and other online communication tools. Educational blogs are transforming the use of technology in schools. As students’ thinking processes are captured and learning is made more public, the net result is learners that are ignited and impassioned by the reality that their voices are valued and relevant. From sharing reactions and interpretations of literature, to exchanging scientific data around the world, to communicating about school-community problem solving, blogs have definite potential in each school. Blogging affords the opportunity for development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance in collaboration with peers. Join us as we share our realization of the vision igniting student thinking and achievement.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: Ben HoganAudience: All

10:30 – 11:30

What Works?

Cathy Carter

Manteno CUSD #5

What can schools do to improve student achievement in reading and mathematics? This has been a driving question for many districts. Manteno has experienced great strides in raising student achievement in both reading and mathematics (less than 50% to over 90%) over the past 4 years in grades 3-8. Come hear some of the successes, challenges, and strategies that have helped increase student achievement, from looking at data to curriculum mapping to implementation of best practices and research. Time will be devoted to having participants share their challenges and successes, learning that may help all of us keep raising student achievement.

Strand: Content/Instruction

Room: Jack NicklausAudience: I/MS

10:30 – 11:30

Increase Student Achievement of ALL Students in Your Middle/High Schools

Gold Sponsor – Literacy First

Increase student achievement of ALL students in your middle/high schools. Hear about a very successful two-pronged process for high poverty middle/high schools. For students reading 3 or more grades below level, learn how to ACCELERATE their reading achievement so they will be reading on grade level in 3 years. For students reading no more than two grades below level to students reading above grade level, learn how to cause a significant increase in their achievement in all content area classes. This presentation will provide you with specific strategies and processes that have been used very successfully in high poverty middle and high schools across the nation.