KORCOS24

This workshop is designed to help educators who want to build their students' leadership capacity through community engagement. Participants will gain insight into how Justin and Kyle have achieved this over the past three years and how they leverage those relationships to expand their network of supporters and collaborators. 
Following the insights gained, participants will be guided to create their own plans for community engagement. These plans will be based on their strengths, interests, and curriculum objectives to ensure the creation of practical plans that can be followed through small steps.This workshop will also provide a space for professionals to share their personal challenges with community engagement. As a group, using the collective knowledge and experiences of the workshop leaders and others in attendance, ideas will be brainstormed to help individuals create "pivots" within their plans that have hit roadblocks. 

Outcomes:

1. Teachers will learn and practice how to create strategic plans to engage community members.
2. Teachers will gain insight into how to create the mental paradigm shift that can help their students transition from students to globally-minded citizens who view themselves as future social and economic leaders.
3. Teachers will connect with like minded educators with the goal of creating a network to explore further opportunities for community engagement and to find support when dealing with various challenges of stepping outside the traditional classroom setting.

This workshop will discuss the benefits of creating Student Profiles to help educators better understand the students at their schools. Student Profiles consist of student academic data, teacher comments, personality/career inventories, and surveys. The workshop will mainly focus on surveys and personality/career inventories. The surveys focus on student self-reflection and are divided into four parts: Interests, Talents, & Traits, Academics, Dreams & Goals, and Extracurricular & Work Experience. The personality/career inventories are primarily scientific or well-respected: Big Five, DISC, and RIASEC Holland Codes. The MBTI is also included primarily as an interest grabber for students due to its familiarity and widespread use, even though it is not scientifically supported.

Outcomes:
The Student Profiles workshop aims to help educators understand the value of using personality inventories and surveys to gain a deeper understanding of the students they teach. The session will mainly focus on Student profiles for secondary students, but the profiles can be modified to work with upper elementary students as well.

Have you ever wondered how conflict can be a catalyst for growth rather than a hurdle? Imagine transforming disagreements into opportunities for deeper connections and stronger classroom bonds. In this workshop, we will delve into the transformative power of disagreement and how it can be harnessed to build a more resilient and connected classroom culture. Drawing from the groundbreaking insights in Conscious Discipline by Becky A. Bailey, we will explore practical strategies for facilitating constructive conflict and creating an environment where every voice is valued. Learn how to restructure your classroom to promote collaboration, inclusivity, and safety, and discover everyday techniques to guide your students through disagreements with confidence and empathy. My main goal is to empower you with the skills needed to turn conflicts into opportunities for growth, ultimately fostering a classroom community where resilience and connection thrive.

Outcomes:

1. Learning that Conflict = Connection: Discover how small, intentional changes in how we view and handle conflict can lead to deeper connections among students and educators. We will explore ways to foster an environment where disagreements are seen as opportunities for growth and relationship-building, demonstrating that these shifts can make a significant impact on classroom dynamics.
2. Learning HOW to Facilitate Disagreement: Equip yourself with practical, everyday tools and techniques for conflict resolution that can be seamlessly integrated into your teaching practice. These small adjustments will promote a culture of collaboration and understanding, showing how minor changes can significantly enhance student interactions and classroom atmosphere.
3. Restructuring the Classroom Environment: Learn effective, manageable strategies for designing and restructuring your classroom to promote collaboration, inclusivity, and a strong sense of community. By making thoughtful, incremental adjustments to the physical and social environment, you'll enhance student engagement and interaction, illustrating the powerful impact of these seemingly small changes.

My main goal is to empower you with the tools and insights to implement small, impactful changes that collectively foster a classroom environment where resilience and connection can flourish.

This interactive workshop focuses on how international schools in Korea can promote belonging and inclusivity through DEIJB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging) student groups. We will explore the role these groups play in shaping a positive school culture and climate by examining the development of the “We Belong” student club at KIS, Pangyo. Educators will walk away with tools and potential next steps for building their own student engagement group. 

Outcomes:

1. Participants will discuss successes and challenges around creating student belonging in international schools in Korea
2. Participants will leave with practical tools and potential next steps to increase student engagement with DEIJB

This workshop offers a range of improvisation opportunities where participants inquire into what is improvisation, the purpose of improvisation and how to design a improvisation experience. At the end the participants will reflect on the connection between the impact of improvisation and collaboration and creativity.

Outcomes:
At the end of the session, participants will understand how improvisation fosters a safe learning environment where the learners attentively support one another, collaborate towards common goals, and harness the synergistic power of creativity.

Participants will achieve a clear understanding of the Science of Reading and its relevance to effective literacy instruction. They will gain entry points to all essential aspects of implementing evidence-aligned practices, including foundational knowledge, professional development, practical classroom strategies, data-driven decision-making, and how to utilize AI to make preparation easier. Most importantly, participants will feel confident in taking their first steps toward improving literacy instruction, understanding how even small changes can lead to significant improvements in student outcomes.

Outcomes:
Attendees of this session will receive a crash course on the foundational concepts of the Science of Reading, designed for those new to the topic or those looking to learn more about its practical application in the classroom. They will learn clear entry points into evidence-aligned practices, making what can be an overwhelming subject more manageable.

Major outcomes:

    •    Learn essential resources for understanding the ‘Reading Wars.’
    •    Access free professional development programs.
    •    Gain actionable strategies to implement immediately in the classroom.
    •    Understand how to collect and use data to guide instructional decisions.
    •    Explore how AI can simplify lesson preparation.
    •    Leave equipped with practical tools for improving literacy instruction.

Explore the vital role of peace education in transforming classroom dynamics, school culture, and student interactions. This presentation highlights effective peace education practices from Korea and around the world, providing educators with practical strategies to foster empathy, resolve conflicts, and create a more inclusive learning environment. 

Outcomes:

1. Educators gain an understanding of what Peace Education is and its core values
2. Educators understand the importance of Peace Education in Korea and in International Schools
3. Educators come away sharing and learning examples of how they could live out this philosophy in their classrooms and schools

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the power of math games in transforming student engagement and understanding across all grade levels. From elementary to high school, math games provide a fun, dynamic way to reinforce key concepts, making abstract ideas more accessible and enjoyable for students. Through hands-on activities, attendees will experience a range of games and learn how to incorporate them into their own classrooms to motivate students, encourage active learning, and build confidence in math. By the end of the session, participants will take home practical strategies and ready-to-use games to inspire students and enhance their math instruction.
Outcomes:

1. Experience Math Games in Action: Participants will engage in a variety of math games designed for elementary, middle, and high school students, gaining hands-on experience with different formats and strategies.
2. Understand the Educational Benefits of Math Games: Participants will explore how math games can deepen students' understanding of key mathematical concepts, making abstract ideas more tangible and easier to grasp.
3. Discover Ways to Motivate Students with Games: Participants will learn how incorporating games into their teaching can motivate students to engage with math, fostering a more positive learning environment and boosting student confidence in the subject.
4. Learn to Tailor Math Games to Different Levels: Participants will understand how to adapt math games to suit the needs of students across different grade levels, ensuring that games are both age-appropriate and educationally effective.
5. Take Away Ready-to-Use Math Games: Participants will leave the workshop with a set of math games they can immediately implement in their classrooms to support student learning and engagement.

Building a Technology Enhanced School Community in Korea session will speak to the current state of Technology in Korean International Schools and improve the framework from which schools are able to leverage technology. 

Immediate Outcomes
-Increased awareness: Participants will have a better understanding of the benefits and challenges of integrating technology into Korean international schools.
-Shared knowledge: Attendees will learn about successful case studies, best practices, and innovative approaches from other schools.
-Networking opportunities: Participants will have a chance to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, and potentially form partnerships.
Short-Term Outcomes
-Initiation of pilot projects: Schools may start small-scale initiatives to test the effectiveness of technology-enhanced learning in specific areas.
-Development of technology plans: Schools might begin to create or update their technology integration plans to align with educational goals.
-Increased investment in technology: Schools may allocate more resources to technology infrastructure, hardware, and software.
Long-Term Outcomes
-Improved student outcomes: Students may demonstrate enhanced learning outcomes, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities.
-Enhanced teacher professional development: Teachers may become more proficient in using technology to support their instruction and engage students.
-Stronger school-home connections: Technology can be used to foster better communication and collaboration between schools and families.
-A more inclusive and equitable learning environment: Technology can help to address learning disparities and create a more inclusive environment for all students.

What’s the difference between classroom management and classroom leadership? Classroom leadership fosters a sense of community by creating an environment where every student feels valued and included. When teachers lead with empathy and encourage collaboration, they establish a culture of mutual respect and trust. This leadership style empowers students to take ownership of their learning, support their peers, and engage in meaningful dialogue. By modeling positive behaviors and facilitating open communication, classroom leaders help build a connected, supportive community where students are motivated to succeed together.

Outcomes:

• Distinguish between classroom management and classroom leadership.

• Explore methods to lead with empathy, model positive behaviors and facilitate open communication.

• Reflect on your own classroom leadership and how you build connections within your learning community.

In this interactive workshop, Science of Reading: Purposeful Changes to Make an Impact in Reading and Writing in Elementary Education, participants will explore evidence-based practices that improve literacy outcomes through multi-sensory learning activities. Through hands-on experiences, attendees will learn how to implement phonics instruction, build language comprehension, and integrate reading and writing using approaches that engage visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

Teachers will leave with practical takeaways to apply Science of Reading-based research strategies into their instruction, creating engaging, multi-sensory lessons. They will feel empowered to reenter their classrooms and build stronger connections between decoding, comprehension, and written expression for their students.

Outcomes:
Educators attending this workshop will leave with a deeper understanding of the Science of Reading framework. They will have actionable takeaways that can be implemented in their classroom to support developing readers in the English language. These takeaways ask that educators be open to evaluating their current practices and purposefully shifting their daily language instruction.

With this understanding they will have a stronger foundation upon which to build phonemic awareness, decoding, encoding, and language development for English language learners of any stage.

This session explores how small shifts in our thinking about assessment can transform math classrooms from grade-centered to learning-centered environments. By replacing traditional tests with student portfolios, we promote a culture of growth and reflection, empowering students to take ownership of their learning. Participants will discover practical strategies for implementing portfolios and learn how these changes can lead to significant improvements in student engagement and understanding. Come ready to rethink assessment and explore the big impact of small changes!

Outcomes:
1. Understand the Benefits of Portfolio-Based Assessment in Mat
Attendees will explore how portfolios can showcase student growth, reflection, and deeper understanding, moving beyond traditional tests.

2. Learn Practical Strategies for Implementing Math Portfolios
Participants will gain tools, templates, and methods to integrate portfolios and student reflection effectively into their math curriculum.

3. Foster Student Engagement and Ownership in Math Learning
Attendees will discover ways to enhance student voice, motivation, and continuous improvement through alternative assessment techniques.

At the end of the sessions, participants will have an understanding of what STEM bins are, how they can be integrated into a variety of lessons, how to create lesson specific prompts and where to find further resources related to STEM bins online.

Student forums are used in the Elementary School to support students to solve student-based issues at school. This workshop will look at what student forums are, how they work and actual video footage of a student forum. Participants will hear about real examples of what students have worked on. They will see a video of an actual elementary school student forum at SIS and hear about actual examples of students solving student-based issues successfully.

Outcomes:
Participants will understand how students can come up with solutions to their own school-based issues through a strategy of a 'student forum'.

Educators will explore how to cultivate creativity in their early elementary classrooms. We will delve into what creativity looks like at this stage of development and discuss effective strategies for creating an environment that nurtures imaginative thinking. Participants will learn to prioritize the process of creation over the final product, enabling students to express themselves freely through open-ended art projects, and the implementation of creative centers. Throughout the session, attendees will have the opportunity to share resources and tools that support creative learning experiences. By the end of the session, educators will leave with actionable ideas to enrich their teaching practices and inspire creativity in their students.

Outcomes:
In this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to reflect on what creativity looks like in early elementary classrooms and identify key strategies to foster it. They will learn how to design environments that promote creative expression, prioritize the process of creation over the final product, and implement open-ended art projects and creative centers. Additionally, attendees will engage in collaborative resource sharing, leaving with actionable ideas and practical tools that can enhance their teaching practices and inspire creativity in their students.

In this interactive workshop, I will present innovative methods for incorporating board games into the history classroom to enhance student engagement, critical thinking, and understanding of historical concepts. Drawing on my experience using games such as San Juan, Ticket to Ride, Brass: Birmingham, and Axis & Allies, I will demonstrate how these games can serve as powerful educational tools for exploring significant historical events and themes.

The session will begin with a detailed presentation on how I have integrated these games into my history curriculum. Participants will learn about the specific historical content each game addresses, such as the Industrial Revolution, the development of transportation networks, and global conflicts. I will share insights into how gameplay mechanics reflect historical realities, and how these games can be used to initiate rich discussions and reflections among students.

Participants will also explore how to create reflective assignments that deepen students' understanding of history through the lens of these games. For example, we will examine Brass: Birmingham as a case study to discuss the Industrial Revolution—its economic drivers, transportation methods, and regional significance. We will also consider the game's limitations and discuss how to address what might be missing from its historical portrayal.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped with practical strategies for implementing game-based learning in their own classrooms. They will also gain the tools to critically analyze the effectiveness of board games as educational resources and to design activities that make history both accessible and engaging for their students.

Outcomes:
Understanding the Role of Game-Based Learning in History Education
Participants will be able to articulate the benefits and challenges of using board games as a pedagogical tool in history education, focusing on student engagement, critical thinking, and experiential learning.
Familiarization with Specific Board Games and Historical Themes
Participants will gain familiarity with the board games San Juan, Ticket to Ride, Brass: Birmingham, and Axis & Allies, and how each game can be used to explore and reflect on different historical periods and themes, such as the Industrial Revolution and global conflicts.
Application of Historical Concepts Through Gameplay
Participants will learn how to connect the actions within the games to real historical events and processes, such as the industrial advancements in ""Brass: Birmingham"" or transportation and trade in ""Ticket to Ride.""
Critical Analysis of Game Mechanics and Historical Representation
Participants will critically analyze how effectively the games represent historical realities, including the strengths and limitations of the game ""Brass: Birmingham"" in depicting the Industrial Revolution. This will include evaluating the historical accuracy, the region chosen, and what elements may be missing or oversimplified.
Development of Reflective Assignments to Deepen Understanding
Participants will learn how to create reflective assignments that encourage students to think deeply about the historical content, the gameplay experience, and the connections between the two. This will include guiding students in making justified arguments and analyses of the games’ historical relevance.
Enhancing Teaching Strategies Through Game-Based Learning
Participants will be equipped with strategies to effectively integrate board games into their history curriculum, ensuring that the games are not only engaging but also educationally meaningful.
Encouraging Student Engagement and Creativity
Participants will explore ways to use board games to boost student engagement, foster creativity, and encourage students to approach history from different perspectives."

In today’s diverse educational landscape, effective classroom management is essential for fostering an engaging and productive learning environment. This workshop explores the transformative practice of establishing Essential Agreements—a collaborative approach that empowers students and reshapes classroom dynamics.

By shifting from traditional top-down management to a model that values student voice and ownership, teachers can cultivate a sense of shared responsibility, strengthening the classroom community and promoting mutual respect. Attendees will discover how to co-create classroom norms with students that resonate with shared values and learn how empathy and firmness in enforcement can turn potential conflicts into opportunities for growth and connection.

As educators, we must cultivate a classroom environment where all students feel heard and valued. This session will help you redefine your approach to classroom management, harnessing the power of collaboration to create learning spaces that enhance engagement while fostering resilience and community.

Outcomes:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to articulate what Essential Agreements is and its significant role in transforming classroom management from a teacher-dominated approach to a collaborative model. They will learn student-centered strategies for initiating meaningful discussions around expectations and how to document agreements that reflect their class’s shared values and the commitment from all members of the classroom community. Participants will also explore the importance of balancing empathy and firmness in enforcing these collective agreements throughout the year. They will investigate strategies such as engaging students in both individual and collective reflections on their behavioral choices, understanding the reasons behind struggles to adhere to the agreements, and regularly revisiting the agreements to collaboratively find solutions. Furthermore, the session will delve into the positive effects of Essential Agreements on both students and the classroom community. Ultimately, educators will leave equipped with practical tools to improve their classroom management through collaboration.

In 2014 one of Time Magazine’s front page captions was, 'The Mindful Revolution is a science that enables us to find focus in a stressed-out, multitasking culture.' This bold claim has continued to provoke much global debate. After briefly considering this ongoing debate, participants will be invited to engage in, and then discuss, two mindfulness practices.

Following this, and based on Carl Buechner’s principle that 'students may forget what you said but they will not forget how you made them feel,' participants will be shown how to lead a student class in a short mindfulness practice before being given the opportunity to practice doing this in a small group of fellow participants.

They will then, if they wish, be in a position to return to their schools and take small steps towards making a big impact by sharing the underlying principle and practice of the workshop. Namely, that a regular mindfulness practice can bring about health and well being benefits to both individuals and school communities alike.

Outcomes:

1. Understood a working definition of 'mindfulness', and of how a regular mindfulness practice can be a foundational component towards befriending our minds in a way that enables us to wake up, pay attention and create ‘a life well lived'
2. Acquired the knowledge and skills needed to lead student groups in a one-minute mindfulness practice to help them ‘land and arrive safely’ at the beginning of a class, or at other appropriate times during the school day
3. Gain the knowledge and skills required to start their own mindfulness practice if they wish
4. Receive a comprehensive takeaway list of mindfulness resources
5. Be invited to join MINDKORCS (Mindful Korean Schools), a group dedicated to the promotion and practice of mindfulness in KORCOS and other schools.

In this workshop, I will present a heuristic for analysis known as "The Method," that has become a cornerstone of my teaching. "The Method" comes from the book Writing Analytically by David Rosenwasser and Jill Stephen, so it does already exist in the literature, but I would like to present how I've used it in the classroom as a tool for helping students determine the central ideas of a text more effectively. "The Method" asks students to look for repetitions, strands, and binaries in a text, which allows the significant ideas of a text to emerge for them more clearly. I would like to pair my presentation of this with the concept of asking students to present their findings of a text's main idea using the "although/I claim/ because" format, and also how students can write their own argumentative thesis statements using this format. 

Outcomes:
Teachers will come away with a heuristic for analysis and materials to help them introduce the heuristic to students. 

We live in a world where students connect multiple sources of information, leverage skills in novel contexts, and pursue varied interests—all while navigating volatile and uncertain futures. We want rigor without anxiety and high standards for diverse students, yet our current secondary programs don’t always flex to support us. This workshop delves into competency-based assessment—and the teaching and learning systems undergirding it—as a viable solution for upper school levels. Bring your burning questions and get them answered by actual designers who have built such a system and evolved it over more than two decades. Walk away with sample practices, inspired tasks, and visions of reporting that honor individual growth trajectories. Join Catherine Saldutti & Trish Beck of EduChange for this engaging session.

Outcomes:

1. To debunk myths about competency-based assessment practices
2. To explore interconnections between task design, competencies, content & pedagogy
3. To gain an appreciation of how competency-based assessment marks the intersection of equity, well-being and rigor
4. To get your questions answered from experienced designers who have built a multi-year competency-based assessment system for Grades 8-12 science