Learn the essential lessons to teach writers at the beginning of the year to launch a daily writing time that blends instruction, practice, and feedback. Discover how to boost student engagement, tackle obstacles, and nurture independent writers with routines that keep the momentum going.
Holly Sluyter equips educators with transformative professional development, leaving teachers confident and prepared to implement best-practice reading and writing strategies. As a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, she inspires impactful "aha moments" that elevate instruction... Read More →
Learn the essential lessons to teach writers at the beginning of the year to launch a daily writing time that blends instruction, practice, and feedback. Discover how to boost student engagement, tackle obstacles, and nurture independent writers with routines that keep the momentum going.
Holly Sluyter equips educators with transformative professional development, leaving teachers confident and prepared to implement best-practice reading and writing strategies. As a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, she inspires impactful "aha moments" that elevate instruction... Read More →
Discover how to lead effective mini-lessons using the gradual release of responsibility to move students from guided instruction to independence. This session models how to plan and deliver instruction that balances teacher modeling, whole-class engagement, and structured support. K–12 educators will gain practical strategies to boost student comprehension and writing across all content areas.
Holly Sluyter equips educators with transformative professional development, leaving teachers confident and prepared to implement best-practice reading and writing strategies. As a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, she inspires impactful "aha moments" that elevate instruction... Read More →
Discover engaging techniques to introduce the 6 Traits to your students using mentor texts, song lyrics, and visual icons. By establishing a shared understanding of these essential elements at the beginning of the year, you can create a strong foundation for writing instruction that will benefit students throughout the year.
Holly Sluyter equips educators with transformative professional development, leaving teachers confident and prepared to implement best-practice reading and writing strategies. As a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, she inspires impactful "aha moments" that elevate instruction... Read More →
Gain classroom-tested strategies to help ML students develop reading skills during this two-hour session. With a focus on inference-making, visual learning, and vocabulary development grounded in the Science of Reading, educators will learn how to: Make complex text accessible through concrete visuals; Build robust vocabulary with Greek and Latin roots; and Cultivate deeper thinking skills.
Kristi McCullough, a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, is known for her practical, classroom-tested strategies that help teachers elevate reading and writing instruction. With more than 25 years of experience in education, she draws on her background as both a teacher and... Read More →
Gain classroom-tested strategies to help ML students develop reading skills during this two-hour session. With a focus on inference-making, visual learning, and vocabulary development grounded in the Science of Reading, educators will learn how to: Make complex text accessible through concrete visuals; Build robust vocabulary with Greek and Latin roots; and Cultivate deeper thinking skills.
Kristi McCullough, a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, is known for her practical, classroom-tested strategies that help teachers elevate reading and writing instruction. With more than 25 years of experience in education, she draws on her background as both a teacher and... Read More →
Often times we know how to differentiate down to meet the needs of a student who is struggling, but what about differentiating up for a student who needs challenged? This workshop gives 10 strategies that you can use in order to differentiate content, process, and product to best meet the needs of students who need to be pushed further.
Todd Stanley is a National Board Certified teacher and the author of many teacher-education books including A Teachers’ Toolbox for Gifted Education, Project-Based Learning for Gifted Students (2nd Edition), Promoting Rigor Through Higher Level Questioning, and his most recent... Read More →
Wednesday July 16, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EDT Q116
There is more than one way to work with gifted students. It is best for teachers to develop a toolbox of strategies that both fits the need of the student and the capability of the teacher. This session looks at 10 of these strategies, ranging from pre-assessment and in-class enrichment options, to outside learning experiences and inquiry learning. Teachers will be able to find the right tool they can use to reach not just their gifted students, but any student looking for a challenge.
Todd Stanley is a National Board Certified teacher and the author of many teacher-education books including A Teachers’ Toolbox for Gifted Education, Project-Based Learning for Gifted Students (2nd Edition), Promoting Rigor Through Higher Level Questioning, and his most recent... Read More →
Wednesday July 16, 2025 10:50am - 11:55am EDT Q116
Often times the questions we are asking our students do not push their thinking or even measure mastery of what we are trying to evaluate. Participants will learn how to use Bloom’s Taxonomy to write different levels of questions designed to challenge students and to raise the rigor in the classroom. Teachers will leave with resources that will allow them to begin asking these questions in their own classrooms whether on assessments, assignments, activities, or even day-to-day conversations with students.
Todd Stanley is a National Board Certified teacher and the author of many teacher-education books including A Teachers’ Toolbox for Gifted Education, Project-Based Learning for Gifted Students (2nd Edition), Promoting Rigor Through Higher Level Questioning, and his most recent... Read More →
