PRESENTATIONS
DRIVEN BY DATA 2.0
This 6-part training presented by Region IV provided an in-depth study of the latest book by Bambrick-Santoyo. I implemented my learning right away and in each case, I saw tremendous student ownership of learning and a stream-lined approach to feedback that was directly correlated to student success in mastering the content standards. This training was put to use in on-campus training sessions for the entire staff both in the Fall and the Spring semesters, and teachers were invited to observe my class as I modeled the strategies.
STUDENT OWNERSHIP TOOLS
In my role of Professional Learning Lead, I consolidated recent professional development topics into a concise refresher course. In our 90-minute sessions, teachers developed learning intentions and success criteria, determined the LI/SC alignment to rigor, designed learning experiences with embedded language supports, and created a Success Criteria Student-Checklist all centered on...cooking a favorite dish or playing a sport. This allowed teachers to engage in a different way leaving them refreshed to develop a new content-based lesson using the same components.
GT UPDATE CONFERENCE
During the FBISD Summer 2019 conference, I presented a session on Project Based Learning. Using Dr. Laurie Westphal's books Differentiating Instruction with Menus, I shared student exemplar's and menus across content areas targeting K-12. Whether it was Dr. Westphal's menus or my own creations, I highlighted five newer technology implementations that hooked my 7th graders last year: the dodecahedron with WeVideo tutorial, an online newspaper, creating a website, Storyboardthat.com, and creating a WeVideo. Participants were inspired by the numerous student exemplars I had displayed around the room. The session was well received resulting in 30/60 participants signing up for my digitally-shared resources.
MENTORSHIP PRESENTATIONS
After 8 years of mentoring new teachers, I have stepped up to lay-leadership within our TAPP program in the district. During the 2023-2024 school year, I've gotten the chance to present 90-minute lessons to mentor teachers about evidence-based feedback cycles with their mentees. These sessions provide opportunities for mentors to connect with one another and add to their teacher-tool boxes based on the best practices shared during these sessions. Co-presenting also provides opportunities to work with other, likeminded, individuals who seek to improve the local mentorship program.
IGNITE CONFERENCE 2025
This teacher-led day of pedagogy training afforded me the opportunity to present on two topics: Classroom Culture and Aggressive Monitoring. The former was geared toward newer-to-the-profession teachers and those looking to infuse their classroom with out of the box ideas on how to build rapport with students and how to create safe spaces where all students feel confident to take academic risks.
The latter of the two trainings covered practical ways to apply Aggressive Monitoring in the classroom. With a brief strategy overview, I share examples from my classroom and other template ideas to support various content and rigor needs.