Do you feel like you are doing all the talking in class? This sessions follows Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) format and will support you in your journey to make your classroom student-led. We will explore strategies to cultivate student agency.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave this session inspired and with the tools needed to give their students voice and choice. Though these strategies relate to my content, life science, they can transfer to any content and grade level.

SPEAKERS:
Alisha Salgado (Rio Rancho Public Schools: Rio Rancho, NM)

In this interactive lesson, participants become health advocates, analyzing and interpreting scientific research to propose effective solutions for barriers to prenatal care access.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this interactive session, participants will use scientific research to uncover how socioeconomic factors and policies impact healthcare while developing a deeper appreciation for the intersection of science and society and the role of scientific knowledge in addressing societal needs.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Burkart (Estrella Mountain Community College: Avondale, AZ)

Our ecosystems are changing. We need to nurture climate-resilient learners through a transdisciplinary approach. By reconnecting with nature in urban areas we can leverage existing resources to discover new strategies for all educators that are not only actionable, but are inclusive.

TAKEAWAYS:
This interactive workshop emphasizes the importance of rebuilding relationships with nature in urban settings, and teaches strategies to leverage existing resources to build sustainable schools. It aims to provide educators with strategies to support students in addressing climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Kelleigh Huey (PAST Foundation: Columbus, OH), Jessa Goldner (Assistant Director of Student Experiences: Columbus, OH)

In today’s fast-paced world, chronic stress is common, but your mind and body can pay a high price. Learn to recognize overwhelming stress—and what you can do about it.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to manage stress.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

The implementation of high-quality instructional materials requires support as teachers make the shifts needed for effective use. Dig into Change Management from The Elements of curriculum based professional learning to figure out how key lessons can help you lead change.

TAKEAWAYS:
Join other leaders to consider key lessons from change and dig into Change Management from The Elements: Transforming Teaching through Curriculum-based Professional Learning.

SPEAKERS:
Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jim Short (BSCS Science Learning: Ridgefield, NY)

While it may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress at work and home, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to relieve pressure and regain control.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Once you’ve adopted high-quality instructional materials, how do leaders ensure effective and sustained implementation, especially at high school? Join us to explore features of transformative professional learning that address a range of concerns teachers may have about implementation and change.

TAKEAWAYS:
Effective and sustained implementation of high-quality instructional materials requires planning for change prior to implementation, generating excitement, providing transformative professional learning, monitoring implementation progress and using data to support continuous improvement.

SPEAKERS:
Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jim Short (BSCS Science Learning: Ridgefield, NY), Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Steamboat Springs, CO)

The Shared Waters Curriculum is a watershed-focused, 10-lesson curriculum that explores watershed health and human impacts. It culminates with a student action project. The curriculum is classroom-ready for teachers, providing access to all lesson materials and a complete teacher's guide.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover how the Shared Waters curriculum enriches elementary education, fostering student-driven environmental action through hands-on watershed health lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Bill McConnell (Virginia Wesleyan University: Norfolk, VA), Nanette Marcum-Dietrich (Millersville University: Kennett Square, PA)

Empower students to take action with an in-depth study of biodiversity and sustainability of urban forests. Use iNaturalist’s Seek App and analyze data from a comprehensive study to examine challenges to urban forests’ sustainability and advocate for communities by developing possible solutions.

TAKEAWAYS:
A lesson that can be used with students to use understanding of biodiversity and sustainability to advocate for their local communities, including use of a free app to collect species data, opportunities to utilize AI tools, and suggestions for community-facing products that students can create.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Jack (Humble ISD: Humble, TX), Elissa Griffin (Humble ISD: Kingwood, TX)

Sustaining the use of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) requires monitoring progress throughout implementation. Join us to consider how leaders from one district gathered and analyzed data to inform decisions and how lessons learned can help refine your plan for the sustained use of HQIM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Deepen understanding of data collection tools and how to use them to inform planning to support the sustained and effective use of high-quality instructional materials.

SPEAKERS:
Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

Join Louisiana teachers and state leaders in an immersive science experience that will unlock strategies for nurturing the brilliance and strengths of K-2 students and cultivate a strong science foundation.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, teachers will experience an anchor phenomenon as a student and will consider practical strategies for how phenomenon-based, three-dimensional instruction can support K-2 students sensemaking in science. Participants will receive tips on how to advocate for more time on science in K-2.

SPEAKERS:
Garelyn Adam-Dinet (Teacher: Marrero, LA), Molly Talbot (Louisiana Dept. of Education: New Roads, LA)

Students often struggle with connecting STEM concepts to their everyday experiences such as deciding on healthy food options in the cafeteria. Teachers will participate in a model lesson incorporating STEM and social justice pedagogy ultimately advocating for their stance on an issue.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to merge STEM with social justice in teaching, empowering students to critically assess the complexities of healthy eating and school nutrition through diverse perspectives including health experts, students, parents, and food vendors.

SPEAKERS:
Augusto Macalalag, Jr. (Arcadia University: Wyncote, PA), Joseph Johnson (Mercyhurst University: Erie, PA), Dylan Fedell (Palisades High School: Kintnersville, PA)

Learn how to weave in the stories of cancer survivors, local public health data, and health care experts into the OpenSciEd HS biology cancer unit. Discuss social emotional learning strategies that support students and teachers while learning about cancer as a phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
The stories of cancer survivors and local public health data can help students identify health disparities in their community and empower students to think critically about the role they can play to improve the health of themselves, their family and their community.

SPEAKERS:
William Baur (Washougal High School: Battle Ground, WA)

Full inclusion of students with disabilities in STEM involves both accommodation strategies for students and universal design of instruction that enhances learning for all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Universal design of instruction makes science lessons accessible to students with special needs as well as mainstream learners.

SPEAKERS:
Lyla Mae Crawford (University of Washington: Spokane, WA)

Immerse yourself in a captivating learning experience as you critically analyze the environmental and social issues surrounding a coal ash landfill located in a small, rural town in Alabama. Join others as you explore how to help students analyze and solve community issues through Design Thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science educators will learn how to create and implement Design Thinking lessons centered around local community issues.

SPEAKERS:
Malysa Chandler (Clinical Instructor/Doc Student: Marion, AL)