Content-Specific Professional Development Offerings
Structured Literacy 101
Duration: 1 day
Facilitators: Jennifer Bean
In this session, participants will explore the five areas of reading (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension) and how these components build the foundation for literacy learning. Participants will learn best practices for teaching these building blocks regardless of their district’s core reading materials.
Crafting Digital Writing
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Jennifer Bean
The craft of writing continues to be influenced by new digital tools and platforms. In this full-day session, participants will examine various tools for crafting digital writing, examine digital mentor texts for teaching author’s craft, and learn how to apply tried-and-true writing workshop instructional strategies to engage students in composing texts across various media and genres.
Deepening Content Comprehension through Disciplinary Literacy
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Jennifer Bean
Grades 6-12 teachers will examine the role of disciplinary literacy instruction in content-area classrooms, and practice the metacognitive strategies of thinking aloud and talking to the text. These strategies serve as foundational disciplinary literacy practices for any secondary classroom.
Informed Writing Instruction Knowledge and Strategies to Support Growing All Students with Writing
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Jennifer Bean
This professional development session will focus on unpacking the components of writing instruction and
strategies for effectively teaching writing to students. Participants will also learn about two models that
conceptualize the complexities of writing - the Simple View of Writing and the Writing Rope. The goals of the
session are to help participants understand:
- the complex nature of writing and the critical components of writing instruction
- the developmental stages of writing
- the developmental phases of the writing process
- strategies to better support ALL learners develop into skilled writers
.jpg?width=2000&height=1333&name=iStock-1403738312%20(1).jpg "Smiling middle school child reading a book while leaning against a bookshelf in a library")
Introduction to the Literacy Design Collaborative (LDC)
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Jennifer Bean
Are you a K-12 teacher who wonders how best to address PA Core Standards? Are you a principal who wants to learn more about LDC, an ESSA Tier 2 practice? If so, then come and join us for a full day introduction to the Literacy Design Collaborative, a framework for authentic text-dependent writing in ELA, science, and social studies. Participants will gain an introduction to the LDC framework, examine how student work is assessed using the LDC rubric, and begin designing an LDC task that can be used in their own classrooms..
More Than Just Reading in the Content Areas: Fostering Disciplinary Reading, Writing, and Thinking
Duration: 1 day
ELA Facilitator: Jennifer Bean
Science Facilitator: Jason Zimmerman
Social Studies Facilitator: Brian Booker
How do we define disciplinary literacy, how is it different than content area literacy, and how do we teach disciplinary literacy skills? During this interactive workshop, participants will answer these questions by exploring the unique characteristics of literacy in Science, Social Studies, and English Language Arts, and the specific skills students need to make meaning in these disciplines.
Redefining Literacy with Technology
Duration: 1 day (in person) or 3 hours (virtual)
Facilitators: Jennifer Bean
With increased access to technology in the classroom, students are engaging in digital communication more than ever before. Students are both reading and composing texts as part of a digitally-connected world. Participants will examine various instructional techniques and tools for digital literacy instruction and will walk away with new ideas for integrating technology in a meaningful way to teach reading, writing, speaking or listening in any grade level or subject area.
Text-Dependent Analysis (TDA)
Duration: 3 days
Facilitator: Jennifer Bean
In this 3-day series, participants will explore the concept of analysis, identify the components of a TDA prompt, determine the skills students need to be successful with text-dependent analysis, plan mini-lessons to teach those identified skills, and analyze their own student responses.
Text-Dependent Analysis: Instructional Strategies
Duration: 1.5 hours of virtual synchronous learning and 1.5 hours of virtual asynchronous follow-up
Facilitator: Jennifer Bean
Are you looking for practical instructional strategies that incorporate skills necessary for text dependent analysis? During this virtual professional development participants will identify the skills students need to be successful with text-dependent analysis and plan mini-lessons to teach those identified skills.
What about Words? Building Academic Vocabulary Across All Grades
Duration: One half-day
Facilitator: Jennifer Bean
Why don’t students know these words, what words should I teach, and how do I teach them? In this session, participants answer these questions by exploring the three tiers of vocabulary words, selecting words to teach, and planning and implementing vocabulary strategies for students of all grade levels.
For more information on these Literacy sessions, please contact Jennifer Bean at teaching_learning@iu13.org.
Crafting a Personalized Mathematics Vision for Meaningful Learning
Duration: 1 half-day to 1 day
Facilitators: Kristina Fulton
Whether your goal is to empower students as confident problem-solvers or to foster a collaborative and inclusive learning environment, our approach to facilitating vision design and development adapts to support your specific vision. Through collaborative conversations, we help you develop a vision that not only aligns with your educational goals but also balances the learning experiences you envision for your students with the instructional approaches needed to create those environments. This ensures that your school's mathematics program is both effective and meaningful for all learners.
Engaging in the Effective Math Teaching Practices
Duration: 1+ days
Facilitator: Kristina Fulton
This interactive workshop is designed to immerse participants in hands-on experiences that bring NCTM’s Effective Math Teaching Practices to life. Participants will explore key strategies, such as facilitating meaningful mathematical discourse, posing purposeful questions, and supporting productive struggle. Through collaborative activities, reflection, and real-world examples, educators will deepen their understanding of how these practices foster student engagement, critical thinking, and a deeper grasp of mathematical concepts. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave equipped with actionable tools and insights to apply these practices in their own classrooms, ensuring more dynamic, student-centered learning environments.
Engaging Students in a Thinking Mathematics Classroom
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Kristina Fulton
What is math, and what do students expect when they walk into a mathematics classroom? Do they expect to think? Research by Peter Liljedahl reveals that in a typical one-hour lesson, 75-85% of students show non-thinking behaviors. In this professional learning session, we’ll reflect on how our own experiences as learners influence our teaching and examine evidence suggesting the need to shift our practices. Participants will explore three strategies for building a thinking classroom and learn how to modify traditional tasks all which work together to foster a culture of thinking and active engagement in math.
Igniting Engagement in the Math Classroom
Duration: 1+ days
Facilitator: Kristina Fulton
In this workshop, participants will explore research-based strategies for fostering genuine student engagement in mathematics. Together, we will delve into key findings on engagement and apply these insights to the math classroom. Educators will leave with practical approaches to energize their math instruction and active learning.
“I’m Not a Math Person” - Developing a Positive Math Identity in All Students
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Kristina Fulton
This session is designed to help educators create a positive math identity in all students. The session explores common misconceptions about math and the ways in which negative attitudes towards math can be detrimental to student learning. Participants will learn strategies to help students develop a growth mindset towards math and increase their confidence in their abilities. The session emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive classroom environment where all students feel valued and empowered to engage with math.’
Look Who’s Talking in Math
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Kristina Fulton
Educators will explore the powerful role of questioning in the math classroom, guided by the insight that "correct answers can mask confusion, just as incorrect answers can hide understanding" (Marilyn Burns). Participants will learn how to craft and use effective questions to reveal student thinking, encouraging students to share, clarify, and expand on their ideas. Drawing on the work of Barak Rosenshine, the session will highlight how questioning can be a critical tool for assessing and deepening understanding, ultimately leading to more meaningful and engaged learning.
Unpacking the Standards for Mathematical Practice
Duration: 1+ days
Facilitators: Kristina Fulton
The Standards for Mathematical Practice outline the key skills and expertise that all students should develop to become proficient in mathematics. In this session, educators will dive into each standard, gaining a clear understanding of what they mean in practice and how they can be cultivated in the classroom. Through discussion and exploration of real-world examples, participants will discover strategies to embed these standards into their math instruction, providing opportunities for students to engage in reasoning, problem-solving, and mathematical communication at deeper levels. This workshop aims to equip educators with practical tools to nurture mathematical expertise in their learners.
Shaping the Future of Math Education: Reflection and Action for School Leaders
Duration: (duration can be customized)
Facilitator: Kristina Fulton
In this interactive session, school leaders will reflect on their own experiences with learning mathematics and consider the types of math experiences they envision for their students. Through engaging in hands-on mathematical tasks, participants will explore approaches that make students active participants in their own learning, promoting deeper engagement and critical thinking. Leaders will discuss instructional practices that can transform the math classroom and shift the trajectory of students' experiences in mathematics. The session will provide leaders with tools and strategies to facilitate meaningful reflections with teachers, helping them support instructional growth and create student-centered math environments.
For more information on these Mathematics sessions, please contact Kristina Fulton at teaching_learning@iu13.org.
AI in the Social Studies Classroom
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Brian Booker
Embrace the future of education with our cutting-edge workshop on AI in the Social Studies Classroom! Define AI and explore its profound impact on the future of work and learning—how can you collaboratively integrate AI into your teaching practice to create truly student-centered learning opportunities?
Creating Student Centered Social Studies
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Brian Booker
In this full day workshop on Creating Student-Centered Social Studies unlocks the potential of your classroom by delving into the latest pedagogical advancements outlined in the Powerful Teaching and Learning in Social Studies NCSS position statement. How can you craft innovative strategies and ensure your classroom becomes a hub of student empowerment and engagement?
Engagement in the Social Studies Classroom
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Brian Booker
In this full day workshop on Engagement in the Social Studies Classroom ignites a passion for learning by exploring engagement research and dynamic strategies to foster critical thinking and collaboration among students. How can you prioritize student engagement and ensure every student thrives in your classroom?
Inquiry-Based Learning in the Social Studies Classroom
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Brian Booker
Embark on a journey of discovery with our dynamic workshop on inquiry-based learning! Learn innovative teaching strategies, including asking compelling questions, analyzing primary sources, and constructing historical arguments—how can you collaboratively design inquiry-based learning experiences that ignite a passion for social studies in your students?
Reading and Writing Like a Historian: Disciplinary Literacy in Social Studies
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Brian Booker
This full-day workshop equips educators with strategies to teach students how to analyze, interpret, and communicate like historians. Participants will explore historical thinking skills, such as sourcing, contextualization, and corroboration while fostering students' abilities to construct evidence-based arguments. This hands-on session emphasizes the integration of reading and writing tasks that mirror the authentic work of historians, enhancing critical thinking and literacy in the social studies classroom.
Shifting Curricular Approaches: Moving from Chronological to Thematic Social Studies
Duration: Customizable
Facilitator: Brian Booker
This line of work helps educators reimagine social studies instruction by transitioning from a strictly chronological approach to a thematic framework. Participants will explore how thematic organization deepens student understanding, fosters critical thinking, and creates stronger connections across time periods and topics. Practical strategies, planning tools, and classroom examples will be provided to support curriculum redesign. By the end of the session, educators will be equipped to craft more meaningful, inquiry-driven learning experiences for their students.
For more information on these Social Studies sessions, please contact Brian Booker at teaching_learning@iu13.org.
3-Dimensional Learning Framework
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Jason Zimmerman
The 3-Dimensional Framework is the foundation for the new Pennsylvania Science, Technology & Engineering, and Environmental Literacy & Sustainability standards. It shifts the focus of instruction in science, STEM, and technology & engineering classrooms to real world and authentic experiences. The focus moves beyond fact memorization and confirmation labs/projects, and moves towards applying and evaluating concepts and innovative thinking.
Phenomena-Based Learning
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Jason Zimmerman
The Northern Lights. Fireflies. A sunrise. It’s phenomenal! In this session, participants will learn about phenomena-based learning and how it is foundational for the PA STEELS standards. This learner-centered approach allows the classroom to be a place of inquiry, problem solving, and investigation.
STEELS Standards Overview
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Jason Zimmerman
Participants will gain insight to the new PA Science, Technology & Engineering, and Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (STEELS) standards which are a powerful framework for student centered learning. The session will review how the standards are constructed and the K-12 progression leading to vertical alignment. There will be time for exploring your grade level standards and collaborating with other educators.
Immersive Experience
Duration: 1 day
Facilitator: Jason Zimmerman
Have you been curious as to what a 3-Dimensional science lesson would look like? and how to incorporate the new STEELS standards? During this workshop, participants will engage in an immersive experience from the students' perspective. This hands-on approach will allow you to see about eight days of instruction, beginning the storyline for a science unit.
For more information on these STEELS sessions, please contact Jason Zimmerman at teaching_learning@iu13.org.
