Teachers as Change Agents Conference

June 17 & 18, 2013
Tan-Tar-A Resort, Lake of the Ozarks

Conference information

Register here.

Early registration on or before May 24, 2013:
$60	Pre-conference (includes breakfast on Monday)
$170	Conference only (includes lunch on Mon & Tue., breakfast Tue.)
$225	Both (includes breakfast & lunch both days)

Later registration after May 24, 2013:
$80	Pre-conference fee (includes breakfast on Monday)
$190	Conference only fee (includes lunch on Mon & Tues, breakfast Tue)
$265	Both (includes breakfast & lunch both days)

Cancellations will result in a $50 processing fee.

Schedule at a glance

June 17
7:30 - 12:30	Registration
7:30 - 8:30	Breakfast
8:30 - 11:45	Pre-conference
Noon - 1:30	Lunch & Opening Session
1:45 - 3:15	Breakout 1
3:30 - 5:00	Breakout 2
June 18
7:30- 8:15	Breakfast
8:30 - 10:00	Breakout 3
10:15 - 11:45	Breakout 4
12:00 - 12:45	Lunch
12:45 - 1:30	Finalize Action Plan & Closing Session

Lodging info:

Participants may reserve their rooms now at Tan-Tar-A Resort, 1-800-826-8272; www.tan-tar-a.com

Lodging cost: $110 prior to May 20, 2013 (rate effective two days before and after the conference)

Full Schedule

Register here.

June 17; 8:30-11:45; Pre-Conference

Activity ≠ Engagement: School should be about Changing Brains
Carolyn Nixon (K-12 teachers & administrators)

DON’T GO TO SCHOOL WITHOUT YOUR BRAIN, especially if you are the teacher!
Developing lessons that cause student to think and interact with content to bring about structural changes in the brain itself is quite the challenge. Too many times, lessons are designed (and classrooms are filled) with “fluff” activities void of any direct relationship to cognitive engagement. The rigor of Common Core Academic Standards (C.A.S) will require a different approach.

Problem solving, higher-order thinking, and “close reading” are the pivotal topics for this preconference session. Participants will experience first-hand what it feels like to be the student: to read, to think, to question, and to solve problems. They will engage in classroom simulations reflecting the rigor and demands of C.A.S. Session outcomes include:

QUESTIONS TO PONDER BEFORE THE SESSION:

Monday, June 17; 1:45-3:15 and 3:30-5:00 Breakout Sessions

each session is presented & then repeated the next session

Extraordinary Effort from Ordinary Students
Jamin Swift (5-12)

During this session, participants will discover the power of student goal-setting, progress tracking, and student self-assessment while utilizing standards-referenced reporting. Participants will witness how these strategies and direct feedback can inspire ordinary students to extraordinary achievements.

Participants in this session will discover the power of student goal-setting and self-assessment using standards-referenced reporting and develop techniques to inspire ordinary high school students to meet rigorous and challenging standards in which they often struggle to relate. Utilizing these strategies in assessment and grading can provide young learners the freedom and voice to achieve extraordinary outcomes in all subjects.

Assignments, Feedback & Grading: And the Connections to Motivating today's Student
Kevin Daniel (K-12)

Participants in this workshop will learn about three powerful teacher practices (having quality assignments, providing effective feedback and having grading practices that promote learning) that if done well can motivate today’s learner and increase student learning. Daniel Pink's work from DRIVE about what really motivates us will be closely linked to the conversation about student motivation.

"My Classroom Has Computers, Now What?" Quick & Easy Tech Tools for Teachers & Students
Kezia Bohanon (K-8)

This session focuses on using classroom technology efficiently to enhance learning and engage all students. If you are new to technology, or looking for ways to effectively integrate it into your daily teaching, this is the class for you. We will look at resources like Edmodo, Weebly, Prezi, Tagxedo, and much more.

Participants will leave with a list of easy online tools they can begin implementing in their classrooms immediately.

Participants will have discussion time to collaborate and development plans of use in their classrooms.

Interactive Read Alouds as a Common Core Tool
Craig Carson (K-12)

When trying to scaffold student's understanding, build background knowledge, and frontload content, the read aloud can be a teacher's best friend PK - 12. Join Craig as he uses multiple read alouds to demonstrate scaffolding, frontloading strategies, and the interactive read aloud.

Somersaulting Your Classroom (Not Quite Flipping Your Classroom)
Eric Langhorst (K-12)

Flipping your classroom (providing video presentations for homework and then doing activities in class) is a hot topic in education but not every teacher wants to commit 100%. I will describe how I have been "somersaulting" my classroom - providing some extra video and web support to my classroom.

Tuesday, June 18; 8:30-10:00 and 10:15-11:45 Breakout Sessions

each session is presented & then repeated the next session

Engagement in the 21st Century Classroom
Alex Hirbe (5-12)

Learn the latest and greatest tools for engaging students in your classroom. Whether you teach a core subject or an elective; these tools will engage any student and make them eager to attend your class every day. This session explores the use of varying websites and activities that you can use with your students in alignment with CCS to make your students think smarter. It does not matter if you are a 1:1 school or just a teacher with a smart phone, you will learn new and fun ways to engage students. Participants:

...will better utilize the Internet as a tool in the classroom
...will learn new engagement activities and tools
...will learn to create an online presence for students
...will evaluate the use of online classrooms in their school

Designing and Evaluating Writing Assignments (with confidence!) for Non-Writing Teachers
Ashley Anderson (K-12)

This course is aimed at assisting non-writing teachers in designing and evaluating writing assignments. It will cover strategies for teaching the writing process, constructed response, paragraph response, essay response, and developing writers according to Bloom's. Lesson designs will evolve around the CCSS and rubrics will follow CCSS as well as MAP. Participants will:

- Understand the writing process so that students will be able to produce an effective piece of writing
- Design effective writing assignments to enhance curriculum
- Be able to evaluate writing assignments with confidence

Not Your Ordinary Travel Plan
Sheryl Book & Linda Schnakenberg (5-12)

Looking for a passport to reading success? Choose from inspiring pre-reading, engaging during-reading and thought-provoking post reading strategies to escape the usual mundane reading assignments. Make reading in your classroom an exhilarating experience for all your testy tourists who are trying to cancel your reading itinerary. If you are a middle or high school teacher wanting more usefulness in your instructional suitcase, book a reservation with Sheryl and Linda for literacy trip of a life-time.

Participants will leave with active, hands-on, practical literacy strategies for all content areas.

Class, Take out Your Device: Using Mobile Devices for Formative Assessment
James Sigler (K-12)

Do your students know how to use their cell phones, ipods, tablets, and laptops better than you? Do they know to use them as a tool for learning, or just a toy for entertainment? Learn how students can BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) for whole-class or individual assessment.

-Participants will be able to create and view multiple choice and open-text feedback from electronic whole class formative assessments.
-Participants will be able to gather individual student responses from electronic formative assessments.
-Participants will be able to create self-grading multiple-choice electronic formative assessments and view data gathered from them.

Tier III and Beyond
Carolyn Nixon (K-12 Teachers, administrators)

Common Core Standards emphasize the importance of student being able to comprehend and use academic vocabulary proficiently. Participants will learn:

Research base includes the works of Robert Marzano, Debra Pickering, Janet Allen, Doug Fisher, and Nancy Frey. A list of print and digital resources will be available for attendees.

Register here.