{"success":true,"data":[{"ID":1406,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1756989298,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"Level Up Literacy: Empowering Advanced Readers with Self-Paced, Engaging, and Cross-Content Novel Studies in Early Grades","Handle":"level_up_literacy--empowering_advanced_readers_with_self-paced-engaging-and_cross-content_novel_studies_in_early_grades","ShortDescription":"How to continually challenge advanced readers in early grades? By designing personalized reading studies that combine reading and writing, assess for skills mastery through engaging virtual games, foster independence, and interdisciplinary connections.","Description":"How do we facilitate the continued development of masterful students as readers while allowing them to embrace the joys of being in early grades (k-2)? How can we, teachers, navigate between challenging these students and using developmentally appropriate practices? In the past year, our school noticed students' reading levels have a large variance from learning to read to reading to learn. We questioned how we can meet the needs of our students while also staying within the curriculum and standards of the grade level. To solve this problem, I created digital self-paced novel studies that encourage students to expand their vocabulary, think deeply, and make connections across content areas through multisensory modalities. Students can take control of their learning by moving through a game-like platform to complete activities at each \u201clevel\u201d (chapter) of their book. Students collaborate by sharing videos of their predictions and thoughts to an online classroom platform.","Link":[],"Audience":["Elementary School"],"Practice":"Together we will discuss the challenges teachers face with differentiating instruction, brainstorm ideas to improve and expand differentiation in reading, and walk away with strategies and tools to use in your classroom.","Presenter":["Emily Ferestien","Corey Roberts"],"PresenterAffiliation":["The Rashi School"],"PresenterEmail":["eferestien@rashi.org","croberts@rashi.org"],"ScheduleSlotID":187,"ScheduleLocationID":33,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13},{"ID":1395,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1753885872,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"We should all learn to think like an artist","Handle":"we_should_all_learn_to_think_like_an_artist","ShortDescription":"In a world defined by uncertainty, rapid change, and constant upheaval, it is the artist\u2019s mindset\u2014creative, adaptable, and boldly curious\u2014that becomes not just valuable, but vital. It empowers us all to navigate complexity with confidence and to shape the future rather than fear it.","Description":"When we pause to truly see the world around us, we\u2019re struck not just by the complexity of its challenges\u2014but by what\u2019s missing. We see a crisis of empathy. A deficit of imagination. A world fraying from disconnection, blind to its own interconnectedness. What we\u2019re lacking isn\u2019t just solutions\u2014it\u2019s a mindset. The artist\u2019s mindset.\r\n\r\nToday, more than ever, we need people who are bold enough, human enough, to think like artists: to explore with curiosity, to lead with empathy, to stay grounded in uncertainty and still create something meaningful. But instead, our education system trains compliance over courage. It sorts, siloes, and standardizes. It rewards answers and punishes questions. It teaches students to conform\u2014when what the world desperately needs are learners who can transform.\r\n\r\nSo what if we flipped the lens? What if we approached teaching not as content delivery, but as an invitation to create? What if our classrooms became studios of possibility\u2014places that prize connection over isolation, curiosity over judgment, ambiguity over certainty, and empathy over stoicism?\r\n\r\nThis isn\u2019t just an educational shift\u2014it\u2019s a human one. The artist\u2019s mindset isn\u2019t reserved for a few. It\u2019s a way of being we must all learn to embody if we hope to thrive in an ever-shifting world. The purpose of this conversation is to imagine what it means to cultivate those artistic dispositions\u2014playfulness, courage, openness, wonder\u2014and to ask, with urgency and hope:\r\n\r\nHow might we build learning spaces that free the creative spirit, instead of confining it?","Link":["https:\/\/www.growcreativethinkers.com\/"],"Audience":["All School Levels"],"Practice":"-Creativity challenges that promote active dialogue\r\n-Reflective questions throughout\r\n-Artwork to prompt reflection and action","Presenter":["Jason Blair"],"PresenterAffiliation":["Dublin City Schools- Dublin","Ohio"],"PresenterEmail":["schoolteachers@mac.com"],"ScheduleSlotID":188,"ScheduleLocationID":33,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":"I am excited about the possibility of sharing at this event! I have admired this institution for a long time.","LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13},{"ID":1454,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1760438097,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"Making Reading Meaningful","Handle":"making_reading_meaningful","ShortDescription":"Exploring collective best practices for engaging students as they read both fiction and non-fiction.","Description":"How can teachers structure reading to maximize student engagement -- and not, as some of our students have put it, \"suck all the joy out of reading?\"","Link":[],"Audience":["High School","Middle School"],"Practice":"This session will include a sample of best practices from ELA teachers at SLA paired with guiding questions to encourage sharing and analysis from all participants. We know there will be a wealth of expertise in the room -- the goal is for everyone to share and benefit from each other's wisdom.","Presenter":["Grace Kirby","Larissa Pahomov"],"PresenterAffiliation":["Science Leadershp Academy - Center City"],"PresenterEmail":["lpahomov@scienceleadership.org"],"ScheduleSlotID":189,"ScheduleLocationID":33,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13},{"ID":1410,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1757330615,"CreatorID":45373,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"So Now What? Figuring It Out in Schools, One Challenge at a Time","Handle":"so_now_what-figuring_it_out_in_schools-one_challenge_at_a_time","ShortDescription":"Creativity, flexibility, and endurance are required for every role in the school ecosystem\u2014whether responding to another mandate, supporting a student in crisis, or figuring out staff coverage. Let\u2019s discuss how we tackle both persistent and emerging challenges. Come for honest conversation, practical strategies, and tools you can use next week.","Description":"Let\u2019s face it\u2014working in schools means constantly solving problems no one prepared us for. Whether you\u2019re navigating surprise schedule changes, managing a student meltdown, responding to the latest policy shift, or just trying to get the copier to work with seconds to spare, you\u2019ve probably asked yourself: So\u2026 now what?\r\nThis session is a space for real talk, shared wisdom, and practical thinking. Designed for anyone working in education\u2014teachers, secretaries, principals, social workers, coaches, librarians, you name it\u2014we\u2019ll explore both the everyday challenges we all face and the curveballs that keep coming and how to maintain intentionality. \r\nThrough guided conversation, personal reflection, and interactive activities, we\u2019ll surface the strategies we use to adapt, support one another, and stay grounded when things get messy. Participants will be invited to share their own \u201cfigure-it-out\u201d moments, celebrate small wins, and walk away with tools they can actually use next week\u2014no prep required.\r\nWhether you're brand new to education or have the t-shirt, tote bag, and battle scars to prove your experience, you'll leave feeling seen, supported, and equipped with ideas from a community that gets it.\r\nCome ready to talk, think, laugh, and reflect. Because sometimes the best professional development starts with the question: So\u2026 now what?","Link":[],"Audience":["High School","Middle School","Elementary School","All School Levels"],"Practice":"This interactive conversation is designed to engage everyone in the room through small group discussions, reflective prompts\/scenarios, and collaborative problem-solving activities that invite participants to share their own experiences, challenges, and creative solutions.\r\n\r\nBy exchanging real stories from different roles in education,we will share practical strategies that have worked across classrooms, offices, and school hallways. Whether it\u2019s managing unexpected crises, navigating policy changes, or juggling competing demands, let\u2019s examine our perspectives and refine actionable tools that can be implemented immediately.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSpecific takeaways include:\r\n\r\nConcrete approaches to staying flexible and resilient amid shifting priorities\r\nSimple communication techniques for collaborating with colleagues and families\r\nStrategies for managing emotional and intellectual stamina on tough days\r\nIdeas for quick problem-solving when traditional \u201canswers\u201d aren\u2019t available\r\nA renewed sense of community and support by connecting with peers who face similar challenges\r\n\r\nTogether, the participants and the facilitators will engage in a dynamic exchange of wisdom rather than a one-way lecture\u2014so we are inspired and equipped to \u201cfigure it out\u201d next time we walk into our schools.","Presenter":["Nicole Dent","Jessica Massenat","Anna Muessig"],"PresenterAffiliation":["Trenton Public Schools"],"PresenterEmail":["ndent@trenton.k12.nj.us","jmassenat@trenton.k12.nj.us","amuessig@trenton.k12.nj.us"],"ScheduleSlotID":189,"ScheduleLocationID":33,"SubmitterID":45373,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13},{"ID":1412,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1757429648,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"From Audit to Action: Building a Staff-Led Equity Ecosystem","Handle":"from_audit_to_action--building_a_staff-led_equity_ecosystem","ShortDescription":"A practical case study of how a Philadelphia elementary school implemented a collaborative equity audit and staff-led equity team to build internal capacity, surface actionable data, and catalyze gradual schoolwide change.","Description":"This session will share a practical case study of how a Philadelphia elementary school implemented a collaborative equity audit and staff-led equity team to build internal capacity, surface actionable data, and catalyze gradual schoolwide change. Designed with sustainability and shared leadership in mind, the process leveraged data collection to activate a series of staff-led equity projects led by a diverse team with the support of an external consultant.\r\n\r\nParticipants will explore how to: (1) Design a collaborative, staff-led equity audit, (2) Lead a cross-role equity team, and (3) Play the \u201clong game\u201d of sustainable equity work.\r\n\r\nIdeal for school and district leaders, this session offers practical tools for deeper, sustainable equity work. We\u2019ll explore planning tools, role descriptions, and example agendas. Engagement methods include 2-minute stories in small groups, small and full group discussion, small-group resource exploration, group recommendations, serial testimony, and opportunities to apply best practices to individual contexts.","Link":["https:\/\/www.intersections.info\/"],"Audience":["High School","Middle School","Elementary School","All School Levels"],"Practice":"Engagement methods include 2-minute stories in small groups, small and full group discussion, small-group resource exploration, group recommendations, serial testimony, and opportunities to apply best practices to individual contexts.","Presenter":["Andrew Knips","Sarah Hosan"],"PresenterAffiliation":["intersections \u2122 & School District of Philadelphia"],"PresenterEmail":["andrew.knips@gmail.com","shosan@philasd.org"],"ScheduleSlotID":190,"ScheduleLocationID":33,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13},{"ID":1417,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1757596691,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"A Metamorphosis of the Library in an AI Age: Innovation Lab & Learning Commons (ILLC)","Handle":"a_metamorphosis_of_the_library_in_an_ai_age--innovation_lab-learning_commons-illc","ShortDescription":"Participate in envisioning a physical and virtual space that serves as an innovation hub, lab, library, and learning commons. It is a place, both physical and virtual, where students, teachers, and administrators experiment, try out, create, and test major ideas before they are implemented across the school.\r\n\r\nImagine a space where books, media, and technology don\u2019t just coexist\u2014they ignite curiosity, experimentation, and bold new ideas. That is the essence of the Innovation Lab and Learning Commons (ILLC): the next stage in the metamorphosis of the school library.","Description":"Imagine a cutting-edge lab where ideas don\u2019t just emerge\u2014they ignite, transform, and soar into entirely new realms of possibility. Now, fuse that energy with the concept of a traditional library\u2014both physical and digital\u2014and you\u2019ve got the essence of a modern innovation lab. This hybrid \"lab-library\" melds quiet reading nooks with buzzing virtual tools, opening a vibrant space where students, teachers, and administrators converge to experiment, invent, and reimagine learning.\r\nWhat makes this transformation truly urgent now is the breathtaking arrival of AI across K\u201312 classrooms\u2014from elementary through high school. As AI tools become integrated into daily education\u2014helping with lesson planning, personalized feedback, and workload saving for teachers \u2014the innovation lab becomes not just relevant, but essential.  \r\nHere, the library\u2019s shelves of books, multimedia collections, and cutting-edge tech become raw ingredients\u2014fuel for real-world math investigations, science experiments, literary quests, and AI-powered explorations that spark deeper learning. Educators test fresh teaching strategies; students craft their own learning journeys, perhaps designing AI-driven projects; and administrators pilot bold, micro-scaled innovations before rolling them out school-wide.\r\nThink of this as the ultimate maker-space on steroids\u2014a sprawling physical and virtual crucible where curiosity meets creation, all under the dynamic influence of AI\u2019s rising presence in schools. This innovation lab makes the entire school a living, breathing laboratory of learning\u2014so compelling, it becomes a beacon within the community.\r\nHere are a few possible characteristics; however, every school might approach the innovation lab quite differently to satisfy local needs and take advantage of community resources:\r\nThe innovation lab becomes the center of experimentation and creativity\r\nIncludes physical and virtual spaces for experimentation by learners, teachers, administrators, and the larger community\r\nIt might be the Professional Development Center, showcasing projects, performances by individuals and groups, a try-before-you-buy center for testing technologies, AI, and new teaching ideas, as well as a hub for student internships. All specialists in the school serve on the advisory committee.\r\nGoverned by a website that announces projects, PD, performances, showcases, etc.\r\nThe website features data visualizations of projects and initiatives happening and updated in real time as a way to gauge impact along the way.\r\nAll tours of the building begin in the Innovation Lab\r\nParents' nights start in the Innovation Lab\r\nHelp centers for technologies serve faculty and students... genius bars staffed by students.\r\nStudent internships in the Innovation lab offer leadership opportunities for students to design and implement initiatives of their own.\r\nAn OPAC that is a conversation rather than a one-way street of connections.","Link":["https:\/\/sites.google.com\/view\/foundationalelementsofill\/home"],"Audience":["All School Levels"],"Practice":"In this conversation, participants will explore how to reimagine the library as a Lab that cultivates innovation through critical thinking, discovery, and ethical creativity. Attendees will explore:\r\nHow the ILLC enables inquiry - through makerspaces, research areas, and AI-driven tools.\r\nHow AI impacts changes the types of opportunities welcomed by an ILLC\r\nHow the ILLC and its staff can lead and shepherd the changes brought on by the promises and pitfalls of AI\r\nThis session will be interactive, with participants co-designing a sample ILLC scenario or lesson using provided resources for curriculum and applying one of the strategies to address issues. Breakout groups, a live application, and a takeaway document will be provided to attendees, offering a way to continue the conversation beyond the session.","Presenter":["Prof. David Loertscher","Fran Kompar"],"PresenterAffiliation":[],"PresenterEmail":["reader.david@gmail.com","fkompar@gmail.com"],"ScheduleSlotID":191,"ScheduleLocationID":33,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13},{"ID":1450,"Class":"Conversation","Created":1760120021,"CreatorID":79,"RevisionID":null,"Status":"Accepted","Title":"The Neuroarts Revolution: Transforming High School Pedagogy","Handle":"the_neuroarts_revolution--transforming_high_school_pedagogy","ShortDescription":"There is a fascinating intersection between art and science. Let\u2019s talk about it!\r\n\r\nWe\u2019ll be exploring Neuroarts\u2014the science of how art and aesthetic experiences measurably impact the brain, body, and behavior. Learn how all forms of creative engagement benefit every student.","Description":"How can we harness the arts to unlock greater mental and physical health opportunities for our students? \r\n\r\nThis workshop delves into Neuroarts, the groundbreaking scientific discipline proving how engagement with art and aesthetic experiences measurably impacts the brain, body, and behavior. \r\n\r\nTogether, we\u2019ll move beyond the common misconceptions that the arts are just an enrichment or that their benefits are reserved only for \"talented\" students. We'll actively dispel myths such as the idea that \"art\" is limited to drawing and painting, or that one must be \"good at art\" to reap its health benefits.\r\n\r\nThe main idea is clear: the scientifically proven importance of the arts must be used to transform our teaching practices across all disciplines.","Link":[],"Audience":["High School"],"Practice":"We will be working in small group discussions.","Presenter":["Yadierys Angeles"],"PresenterAffiliation":[],"PresenterEmail":["yangeles@scienceleadership.org"],"ScheduleSlotID":192,"ScheduleLocationID":33,"SubmitterID":79,"AdditionalComments":null,"LiveChannel":null,"Hashtag":null,"VokleID":null,"RecordingURL":null,"ConferenceID":13}],"conditions":{"Status":"Accepted","ConferenceID":13,"ScheduleLocationID":33},"total":7,"limit":false,"offset":false}