KORCOS24

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.

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.

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.

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.