At the heart of education is a simple truth: students thrive when they feel seen, valued, and connected. Yet in today’s climate, pressures of performance, compliance, and unfairness too often overshadow this truth. Teaching with Dignity invites us back to what matters most: creating conditions where every learner’s humanity is honored. In this keynote, John Krownapple shares insights from his new book, stories from the field, and a vision for how dignity-centered teaching can transform classrooms and communities. The keynote inspires educators to imagine what becomes possible when belonging is not an afterthought but the root of how we teach, lead, and learn.
This interactive session introduces classroom-based action research as a teacher-led way to improve one's practice and supporting student success. Participants are guided through a practical process to develop an inquiry focus, generate a high-leverage action research question, and outline data collection and action steps. This process is ideal for those interested in the action research component of the CSD differentiated supervision model.
This session explores how cultural inclusivity strengthens student belonging in music classes and provides lesson examples with assessments that encourage student belonging in the classroom. Participants will research and create a list of repertoire by historically-marginalized and diverse composers that is appropriate for their ensembles. Please bring a laptop to research repertoire!
From work to school to socializing, many people rely heavily on technology in their daily lives. It may no longer feel like we have the option to unplug, yet it’s important to consider how to use technology in a way that enhances our mental health and well-being. This workshop reviews how to better understand this modern dilemma and explores strategies to find more balance and avoid technology burnout.
The number one mitigating factor to combat the negative impact of adversity is positive relationships. This session will explore how to balance nurture and structure in a healthy and positive relationship with a student, and how to provide them voice with strategies such as Collaborative Problem Solving.
Are you looking for ways to reduce screen time, build community and weave student connection into your content and classroom? Join us for an interactive session that will focus on getting students off their laptops and engaging with one another face-to-face. Teachers will participate in and learn 4-5 low-tech, high-engagement cooperative learning activities that can be easily adapted to their own curriculum.
Stress can impact us both personally and professionally, yet these challenges can also create opportunities. Developing or strengthening resiliency can be invaluable in helping chart the path forward. Practicing resiliency can also help adjust your mindset so you can find a new perspective to successfully move ahead. This session discusses strategies to build resiliency so participants can protect themselves against high stress levels, making stress more manageable and allowing them to determine the best next steps.
Because bias is universal, bias-based incidents involving hateful imagery, language and actions, including the use of hurtful jokes, slurs and stereotypes, can and will happen in our schools. It is not a matter of if a bias incident will occur, but when. Preparation matters. The best time to consider how to respond to a bias incident is before such incidents occur, rather than only after an incident has happened. This session will help participants use ADL’s incident response resources and general anti-bias learning principles to build their capacity to anticipate, recognize, and respond to bias incidents in their classrooms and schools. By challenging biased language and behaviors as well as educating students about the impact bias incidents can have on all members of the school community, educators and school administrators can be role models and partners with students in creating school environments where all students can learn and thrive.
This session will focus on the common link between special education and increased levels of stress. We will explore some of the ways that special education students have an increased likelihood of exposure to trauma, as well as the ways in which that can be exacerbated and mitigated within the school setting.
This presentation is designed for educators setting up or newly working as a teacher or support staff within an autistic support classroom. The presentation focuses primarily on how to support the sensory needs and communication needs of students in the autistic support classroom, regardless of where they are developmentally.
In this training, participants will learn more about how to better support and affirm LGBTQIA+ and more specifically, transgender and gender diverse youth. Attendees will have time for small group activity and large group discussion to help further process and create strategies for changes within individual and community wide engagement and practice.
This session will focus on how school climate and student mental health directly influence academic outcomes including engagement, attendance, and achievement. Participants will discuss proactive systems of support, high impact practices, and inclusive frameworks that can reduce behavioral barriers and increase educational access.
Challenging all forms of identity-based bias can be an effective intervention to ensure that antisemitic language, behaviors, and incidents are responsibly addressed. However, the current climate of antisemitism in the U.S. has brought increased attention to the need for specific education about Jewish identity and antisemitism. In recent years, antisemitic incidents in our schools, and the normalization of antisemitic attitudes, stereotypes and “othering,” has contributed to a climate in which many Jewish students, educators and Jewish families, feel marginalized, unsafe, and unwelcome. Because of Colonial School District’s years-long engagement with ADL’s No Place for Hate program and ADL’s particular expertise in antisemitism research and education, session participants will leave with a deeper understanding of who Jewish people are, what antisemitism is, and the impact of antisemitism on Jewish students and their family members. This session will strengthen educators capacity to understand impact and respond effectively to antisemitism and all forms of identity-based bias.
This interactive session engages educators in reflective practices while exploring key concepts that support culturally inclusive learning environments. Participants will examine power dynamics, the distinction between brave and safe spaces, the Cultural Proficiency Continuum, culturally responsive teaching, restorative practices, and the role of culture bearers in education. Please bring a writing implement, and an openness to thoughtful self-reflection.
Auditory processing challenges are co-morbid with many of the common conditions we see in the classroom including ADHD, ASD, and anxiety. This presentation is designed to review the neurobiology of auditory processing, discuss signs a student may have auditory processing challenges, and determine ways we can support students with auditory processing challenges in our classrooms.
This session compares four music assessment practices and establishes which is most effective as determined by high school student results and student reflection. Participants will explore affirmations, mistake logs, mindfulness-based positive intentional learning, and student choice boards. Then they will create one or more of the assessments, which can be adapted for any subject or grade-level. Please bring a laptop to design assessments!
In this training, participants will learn more about how to better support and affirm LGBTQIA+ and more specifically, transgender and gender diverse youth. Attendees will have time for small group activity and large group discussion to help further process and create strategies for changes within individual and community wide engagement and practice.
This session will focus on how school climate and student mental health directly influence academic outcomes including engagement, attendance, and achievement. Participants will discuss proactive systems of support, high impact practices, and inclusive frameworks that can reduce behavioral barriers and increase educational access.
This interactive session introduces classroom-based action research as a teacher-led way to improve one's practice and supporting student success. Participants are guided through a practical process to develop an inquiry focus, generate a high-leverage action research question, and outline data collection and action steps. This process is ideal for those interested in the action research component of the CSD differentiated supervision model.
Uses drum circles to create genuine belonging in a classroom, and model mindfulness practice activities. This is an interactive session in which participants will engage in a drum circle and collaborative discussions, and experience an inclusive space. No prior musical experience is needed. Bring your authentic self!
Are you looking for ways to reduce screen time, build community and weave student connection into your content and classroom? Join us for an interactive session that will focus on getting students off their laptops and engaging with one another face-to-face. Teachers will participate in and learn 4-5 low-tech, high-engagement cooperative learning activities that can be easily adapted to their own curriculum.
