Webinar Registration

MATH: Ensuring that genuine problem-solving, not mere plug-and-chug, is the focus of your math program

We all know that “problem-solving” is the chief goal of mathematics education, yet we spend precious little time clarifying what a problem is and isn’t. This is especially important since most so-called problems in textbooks are exercises, not problems at all. What is a real problem? How does it differ from an exercise? How can we be sure that we are designing curriculum backward from true problem-solving, then? Grant will consider these questions in this thought-provoking webinar while also providing lots of examples of real problems and where to find them.

Next Generation Science Standards - What are they and when will they be ready?

Join author and NGSS Writing Team Leader, Michael Wysession, as he discusses the upcoming Next Generation Science Standards and his involvement on the NGSS Writing Team. During this webinar, Dr. Wysession will cover the first draft of the NGSS Framework and what it means for K-12 Science classrooms across the country, and then take the time to answer any questions that you might have.

Be Core Ready: Design Your Space, Your Library and More to Set Up for Common Core Standards Success

Renowned literacy advocate Pam Allyn and master teacher leader, LitLife Director Debbie Lera will present practical, down to earth ideas for how to make the CCSS a reality in your rooms this school year. Join them for a lively presentation on how to make the spaces around you and your students reflect the big ideas of the Common Core State Standards.

English Language Learners in the Era of Common Core State Standards

As school districts begin to adjust their programs to meet the expectations of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), they are faced with the challenge of ensuring that English language learners (ELLs) gain access to the curriculum and develop the academic language skills required by the CCSS. In meeting this challenge, it is imperative that policy-makers and educators implement instruction that is rooted in the research evidence regarding students’ catch-up trajectories and instructional strategies that have demonstrated effectiveness in accelerating students’ progress. The presentation will outline the major implications of the CCSS with respect to academic language and literacy development and discuss their practical implications for classroom instruction.

Jim Cummins is a Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on literacy development in multilingual school contexts as well as on the role of teacher-student identity negotiation in promoting student engagement. His most recent book is Identity Texts: The Collaborative Creation of Power in Multilingual Schools (Trentham Books 2011, with Margaret Early).

Instructional Planning for Common Core Classrooms

“Why are we doing this?” is a familiar refrain in classrooms. In this webinar we explore different approaches for instructional planning in the Common Core classrooms beginning with the use of performance tasks.  Performance tasks link the standards with the related unit of study and build a strong content foundation that fosters independence and innovation. Attendees will examine a variety of sample tasks, develop a working definition of performance, identify characteristics of performance tasks, and learn how to apply this understanding to assess the alignment of tasks to the Common Core State Standards. So the next time students ask “Why are we doing this?” you can reply “we are doing this performance task so you can demonstrate mastery of….”

Mathematics Coaching Handbook, and how coaches can help their teachers implement Common Core State Standards.

Drs. Jennifer M. Bay-Williams and Maggie B. McGatha, authors of the soon-to-be-released, Mathematics Coaching: A Resource for Coaches and  Leaders, K-12 discuss how teachers and coaches can support students in demonstrating the Standards for Mathematical Practice from the Common Core State Standards. A few of the highlights:

• Targeting the Standards for Mathematical Practice
• Connecting the Standards for Mathematical Practice to Shifts in Classroom Practice

7 Actions Teachers Can Take Right Now: Text Complexity

Teachers do not have to wait for new resources to begin "growing students' capacity with complex text," which is a central goal of the Common Core. In this presentation, Dr. Freddy Hiebert, distinguished researcher and member of the Common Core State Standards advisory committee, gives seven specific actions you can take right now to build knowledge, vocabulary, stamina, interest, and time spent reading.

Developing Academic Language and Content Knowledge in English Learners

The presenters will provide an overview of the SIOP Model, the only research-validated model of sheltered instruction for English learners to date. They will discuss the research supporting the model and offer sample techniques teachers can use in SIOP lessons to integrate content learning linked to the Common Core standards with academic language development. When the SIOP Model is implemented to a high degree, teachers are better able to prepare English learners and other students for college and career readiness.

Continuing the Journey - One District’s Implementation of the Common Core

Join Laura Beltchenko, Assistant Superintendant of Wauconda CUSD, as she provides an update on how her district is implementing the Common core Standards. She will discuss her vision, implementation plans, and the challenges they are facing along the way.

Demystifying Close-Reading: Deep Analysis of Text that Teachers and Students Love

Renowned literacy advocate Pam Allyn and master teacher leader, LitLife Director Debbie Lera will guide you through a step by step "how to" on the art and practice of close reading. Using sample texts, Pam and Debbie will bring close reading to life and inspire students to go deep, think deep and find the core of who they are as readers, writers, speakers and listeners, using the foundations of text to spur them forward.

Relating and Connecting Mathematical Practices to Mathematical Content

The Common Core State Standards are being implemented in 46 states and the District of Columbia.  What should mathematics leaders at the elementary level be paying attention to as they guide teaching and learning with an emphasis on the Standards for Mathematical Practice, particularly as they relate to and connect with the Standards for Mathematical Content?

Informational Text: The Powerhouse Force for Reading and Writing Success

November 6th, 2012 - 5:00 PM EDT

Renowned literacy advocate Pam Allyn and master teacher leader, LitLife Director Debbie Lera will help you identify really great ways to use informational text in read alouds, small group instruction and independent reading. Also, they will share ideas about how to use informational text to motivate writing skills.

Creating Rich Instructional Tasks: The Common Core in Grades K - 5

November 8th, 2012 - 5:00 PM EDT

This webinar will focus on teaching to the Common Core in grades K - 5. A variety of Standards will be integrated to create rich instructional tasks, which will include classroom-ready teaching ideas.

Effective Implementation of the Common Core: the Impact of Leadership Competencies

November 13th, 2012 - 5:00 PM EST

How do we prevent the Common Core from being just one more initiative that we never fully implemented and did not reach its intended impact/value. This discussion will review Lyle Kirtman's research based leadership competencies and apply them to the implementation of the Common Core. While the common core is about teaching and learning it must be implemented from a leadership, management, and team perspective. Learn how to put the common core into a plan that balances all your compliance demands and ensures success.

Common Core & Curriculum: Why the Standards are the building code, not the learning 'blueprint' - and what follows for curriculum framing & mapping.

Standards are not the curriculum: the authors of the Common Core Standards state this clearly. Yet, many districts and schools inappropriately build their curriculum backward from the Standards. What, then, is a sound curriculum? How are Standards appropriately addressed in curriculum writing? Grant will consider these questions and provide viewers with practical advice on how to frame a sound, effective, and standards-focused curriculum.

Focusing on Mathematical Content and Mathematical Practices in Daily Planning and Instruction

As schools and school districts move to fewer content standards and expectations, what does this look like – planning and instruction-wise?  How do we ensure understanding, fluency, and proficiency?  What is meant to be rigor?  Finally, how do teachers not only account for, but focus on both content standards and the mathematical practices – daily?  

The Assessments are Coming, the Assessments are Coming!

The full implementation of the Common Core State Standards will be complete when school, school districts, and states begin to use the PARCC or SMARTER Balanced consortia assessments, but assessment is so much more than summative assessment moments. This session will also discuss the critical role of formative assessment in instruction and as a line of support for the forthcoming consortia assessments.  

Text Complexity and the Common Core: Moving into Action With Confidence

Text complexity is critical to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).   In this engaging discussion, Dr. Freddy Hiebert, distinguished researcher and member of the Common Core State Standards advisory committee, describes what text complexity means, explains the rationale for including text complexity within the CCSS, and articulates how teachers can support students through the integration of complex text within English Language Arts Instruction.  This presentation will provide teachers with the knowledge and confidence to move from philosophy to practice and incorporate text complexity into their classrooms.