Learn:Discover how curiosity, awe and wonder can transform learning experiences and reignite student motivation. Gain insights from two of our keynote speakers on the science behind engagement, including its impact on neurotransmitters and cognitive processing.
Engage:Join an energizing session that explores strategies to combat cynicism and spark excitement in the classroom. Participate in interactive discussions and activities designed to inspire both educators and students.
Apply:Gain practical tactics to foster curiosity-driven learning in any subject. Use these strategies to create an environment where “I wonder…” leads to deeper thinking, engagement and lasting learning.
Attendance of this session will earn you an NFT-backed digital badge; and earn a grand slam badge by attending all 4 sessions.
Learn: Discover how Discovery Education Experience supports career exploration from kindergarten through high school. Explore engaging tools like career path quizzes and career-focused resource collections to inspire students about their future possibilities.
Engage: Participate in an interactive career path quiz to align your interests with potential careers and discuss ways to implement similar activities with your students. Collaborate with peers to explore curated career-focused resources and strategies for integrating them into your teaching.
Apply: Gain practical methods for sharing career-focused collections within Discovery Education Experience and actionable strategies to guide students on their career journey and spark excitement about their future aspirations.
Learn: Explore collaborative strategies for designing highly engaging, educational experiences using breakout boxes. Discover the fundamentals of crafting immersive learning experiences that captivate and challenge students.
Engage: Participate in a hands-on breakout box activity. Share feedback and insights to understand the impact and potential of these interactive learning tools.
Apply: Gain the knowledge and confidence to create your own breakout box activities, whether independently or in collaboration with fellow educators, ready to implement innovative and engaging lessons in your classroom.
Learn: Discover how to combine Discovery Education with free AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to create personalized learning experiences, streamline lesson planning and boost student engagement. Get insights into practical strategies for customizing learning pathways, generating quizzes and designing full learning modules.
Engage: Participate in hands-on demonstrations to see AI tools in action, adapting content and generating lesson ideas tailored to your classroom needs. Share ideas and collaborate with peers to brainstorm innovative ways to integrate AI into your teaching practices.
Apply: Gain actionable strategies and an exclusive preview of Discovery Education’s upcoming AI-powered assessment tools. Whether you’re an AI novice or an experienced user, you’ll be ready to use these tools to save time and elevate your teaching.
Learn: Gain a comprehensive understanding of Dabrowski's Overexcitabilities Theory and its relevance to the characteristics of exceptional learners. Delve into each overexcitability, connecting theoretical concepts to real-life experiences.
Engage: Actively discuss overexcitabilities and identify your own, experiencing "OE Breaks" to understand the energy release associated with each type. This session emphasizes experiential learning over passive listening.
Apply: Move beyond theory to practical insights on creating conducive learning environments that support emotional well-being and concentration. Gain strategies for fostering self-awareness and emotional regulation in gifted students, including routines, activities and tools to manage overstimulation and enhance learning experiences for those with overexcitabilities.
Carly Mansfield is a dedicated Gifted Specialist at the Kirkwood School District, bringing over 20 years of teaching experience to her role. She has taught elementary education, middle school social studies, served as a building STEM coordinator, and now focuses on gifted education... Read More →
Learn: Discover evidence-based prosocial education strategies that can be used with any age and content area. Examine successful Prosocial and Active Learning (PAL) Classrooms project data to gain insights into enhanced student climate and increased student engagement.
Engage: Discuss experiences and challenges related to student behavior and classroom management to discover new strategies. Analyze case study scenarios of prosocial strategies and discuss the implications and potential applications in your own setting.
Apply: Gain specific, implementable strategies for integrating prosocial elements into your existing curricula and concrete examples of how these principles can be applied in various educational settings.
Jen Foster has been harnessing the power of technology to support instruction for more than 20 years. Over the last 12 years, Jen has provided professional development to a wide variety of educators, school administrators, instructional coaches, etc. to enhance and grow their tech... Read More →
Learn: Discover the expansive, free curriculum offered by Code.org, created to make computer science education accessible in every classroom. Attendees will explore the K-12 resources that align with state standards, focusing on foundational digital skills and computer science principles.
Engage: Through interactive discussion, participants will examine how Code.org’s curriculum integrates with their own teaching goals and classroom settings. We’ll also dive into available support, including teacher training funded through DESE, ensuring a fully supported rollout of these resources.
Apply: By the end of this session, participants will be prepared to bring Code.org's curriculum into their schools. They will leave with actionable steps and knowledge on accessing the resources, securing teacher training, and engaging students in computer science.
Learn: Discover how music can enhance STEM education! Explore the power of creating songs as a tool to reinforce key concepts, making learning both memorable and engaging.
Engage: Dive into a hands-on STEM activity, then work in groups to create a simple, catchy song about the STEM principles you explored. Through collaboration, experience the excitement of combining learning with creativity and discover firsthand how music can deepen understanding and retention in any subject area.
Apply: Each group will showcase their song teaching a STEM concept, modeling how this approach can spark interest and aid retention for students. Gain a memorable strategy to energize learning in your classroom.
Learn: Discover the impact of family and community involvement on student success and explore various strategies for fostering meaningful connections. Explore effective, actionable methods for welcoming parents and community members into schools in a way that is both frequent and productive.
Engage: Participate in activities designed to map out your current family and community engagement efforts. Identify what is working well, uncover areas needing improvement and collaborate with colleagues to share insights and ideas. Use planning tools and resources to develop ideas that build upon your school’s existing practices.
Apply: Gain a framework to create or enhance a family engagement plan tailored to the unique needs of your school and a clear path for strengthening partnerships that support growth, belonging and the overall success of your students.
Learn: Explore three innovative personalized learning projects designed to foster connection and belonging within your classroom community. Discover the importance of these projects in promoting empathy and engagement among students.
Engage: Review templates developed from real classroom experiences, including creation tools and grading rubrics. "Stop and jot" your ideas and then collaborate with peers from similar grade levels or subject areas (e.g., high school social studies, high school ELA, or third grade) to brainstorm how to adapt these projects for your own classrooms.
Apply: Customize the provided templates to suit your specific content area and identify how these projects can integrate into your curriculum, ultimately creating a classroom environment that nurtures belonging and empathy while actively engaging students in meaningful learning experiences.
Learn: Take a deep dive into the principles behind culturally responsive, standards-based (CRSB) instruction and how to integrate into the F.R.E.S.H. framework. Explore the “why” and “what” of CRSB instruction and understand its crucial role in fostering student success in diverse classrooms.
Engage: Through collaborative exercises and targeted discussions, analyze real-world scenarios that illustrate the impact of culturally responsive strategies. Engage in dialogue with peers, share insights and experiences related to implementing CRSB instruction enhancing your understanding of its practical applications.
Apply: Gain actionable ideas for integrating culturally responsive elements into your lesson planning. With guided discussions and collaborative activities, develop a clear understanding of how to identify and apply strategies that align with academic standards, making learning more meaningful for students from all backgrounds.
Dr. Stephanie R. Boyce is an Edupreneur driven by her passion to reshape the educational landscape by making culturally responsive teaching a way of life.For the last decade, Boyce has focused her studies and work on matters of racial justice and equity for historically marginalized... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am CST
Salon 4Marriott St. Louis Airport
Learn: Discover strategies for engaging SPED students through innovative methods and technology. Explore approaches to making lessons accessible and engaging for all learners, focusing on inclusivity and adaptability.
Engage: Participate in hands-on adaptive innovation lessons that demonstrate how to effectively engage diverse learners. Through these interactive examples, you’ll gain insight into techniques that make technology and innovation accessible to SPED students.
Apply: Gain strategies to transform your own lessons for SPED students, enabling you to integrate innovative tools and approaches that meet the needs of all learners in your classroom.
I teach curious K-4 STEM leaders in Orchard Farm School District in a special area class called Innovations. My class fosters creative thinking, utilizes technology, and helps students discover their potential to question, test, and design. I am passionate about inclusive STEM opportunities... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 10:35am CST
Salon 3Marriott St. Louis Airport
Learn: Explore proactive approaches to prevent inappropriate behaviors before they start by understanding the root causes and triggers. Panelists will share insights into the function of behavior and how applying function-based thinking can lead to more effective and compassionate responses.
Engage: Engage in live discussions through the chat feature, sharing ideas and questions with the experts and fellow participants. Take part in a dynamic Q&A session where you can ask specific questions about strategies for addressing unexpected behaviors and building systems that support positive outcomes.
Apply: Gain practical strategies and tools for responding to unexpected student behaviors with empathy and structure. Discover actionable ideas for creating supportive systems in your classroom or school that mitigate challenging behaviors and promote a positive learning environment.
Lindsay serves districts by helping to develop behavioral systems of support, facilitate professional development for beginning teachers and is an ISTE Certified Educator and Trainer. Lindsay has worked in education for over 17 years as a Classroom Teacher, Consultant and Professional... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST
Salon 1Marriott St. Louis Airport
Learn: Discover the expansive, free curriculum offered by Code.org, created to make computer science education accessible in every classroom. Attendees will explore the K-12 resources that align with state standards, focusing on foundational digital skills and computer science principles.
Engage: Through interactive discussion, participants will examine how Code.org’s curriculum integrates with their own teaching goals and classroom settings. We’ll also dive into available support, including teacher training funded through DESE, ensuring a fully supported rollout of these resources.
Apply: By the end of this session, participants will be prepared to bring Code.org's curriculum into their schools. They will leave with actionable steps and knowledge on accessing the resources, securing teacher training, and engaging students in computer science.
Learn: Explore the evolving role of differentiation in today’s classrooms and the essential practices that allow educators to meet the unique needs of every student. Panelists will discuss how to identify where students are in their learning journey, common roadblocks teachers face with differentiation, and practical remedies to overcome these challenges.
Engage: Use the chat feature to share your ideas and experiences with differentiation. During the Q&A portion, ask the panelists specific questions about strategies, resources, and data tools to support personalized learning in your district or classroom.
Apply: Gain actionable strategies to overcome common differentiation challenges; methods to effectively collect and utilize data to understand student needs; resources and tools to help craft differentiated lessons; and insights on how to create a classroom culture that values and supports individualized learning paths. Leave inspired and equipped to better meet your students where they are, ensuring every learner can grow and succeed.
St. Louis RPDC Educational Consultant, EducationPlus
Tanya Garcia serves our member districts by developing tailored learning opportunities and professional development programs and working with area districts to provide supports for effective teaching and learning. Throughout her 15 years in education, Tanya has served in various roles... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST
Salon 1Marriott St. Louis Airport
Learn: Explore how to apply the F.R.E.S.H. approach in real classroom scenarios. Discover methods to develop Fun, Relevant, Engaging, Standards-Based and Higher Order lessons that elevate student learning and engagement.
Engage: Participate in interactive exercises designed to craft your own F.R.E.S.H. activities while collaborating with peers. By sharing examples from the field and engaging in group discussions, gain valuable insights into creating impactful lesson plans that resonate with diverse learners.
Apply: Gain a designed personalized F.R.E.S.H. activity tailored to your curriculum in addition to the skills to integrate the F.R.E.S.H. principles to implement inclusive and engaging lessons in your classroom enhancing the educational experience for all students.
Dr. Stephanie R. Boyce is an Edupreneur driven by her passion to reshape the educational landscape by making culturally responsive teaching a way of life.For the last decade, Boyce has focused her studies and work on matters of racial justice and equity for historically marginalized... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST
Salon 4Marriott St. Louis Airport
Learn: Discover evidence-based prosocial education strategies that can be used with any age and content area. Examine successful Prosocial and Active Learning (PAL) Classrooms project data to gain insights into enhanced student climate and increased student engagement.
Engage: Discuss experiences and challenges related to student behavior and classroom management to discover new strategies. Analyze case study scenarios of prosocial strategies and discuss the implications and potential applications in your own setting.
Apply: Gain specific, implementable strategies for integrating prosocial elements into your existing curricula and concrete examples of how these principles can be applied in various educational settings.
Jen Foster has been harnessing the power of technology to support instruction for more than 20 years. Over the last 12 years, Jen has provided professional development to a wide variety of educators, school administrators, instructional coaches, etc. to enhance and grow their tech... Read More →
Learn: Explore how cognitive engagement shifts the learning responsibility from teacher to student, fostering deeper understanding and retention. Understand the impact of active learning on student achievement and classroom energy.
Engage: Experience a variety of high-impact, low-prep strategies that can be applied across all content areas. Participate in hands-on activities that model these techniques in action.
Apply: Gain a toolkit of practical strategies to implement immediately, ensuring your students take an active role in their learning while you reclaim your energy and enthusiasm for teaching!
St. Louis RPDC Educational Consultant, EducationPlus
Tanya Garcia serves our member districts by developing tailored learning opportunities and professional development programs and working with area districts to provide supports for effective teaching and learning. Throughout her 15 years in education, Tanya has served in various roles... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
Salon 3Marriott St. Louis Airport
Learn: Explore how AI tools can enhance language instruction for multilingual learners by generating instructional resources aligned with the WIDA Standards Framework. Gain insights into effective AI-generated prompts that produce examples, practice items and mentor texts to support language development.
Engage: Participate in hands-on demonstrations of AI-powered strategies that scaffold assignments and assessments, ensuring alignment with students' English proficiency levels. Collaborate with peers to explore AI’s potential in differentiating instruction for multilingual learners.
Apply: Gain practical AI-driven techniques and ready-to-use strategies for integrating AI into your language instruction. Empower your students with customized learning experiences that foster language growth and engagement.
Rob serves EdPlus members by providing consultation to schools that are working to implement high-quality, comprehensive and collaborative educational programs for English Learners. Rob also conducts professional development workshops that focus on providing practical strategies to... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
Salon 1Marriott St. Louis Airport
