TAIS Biennial Conference 2014 Session Details
November 2nd and 3rd
Brentwood Academy
Register at www.taistn.com.
Block A ~ Sunday, 2:45 – 3:40
Admission Roundtable
This roundtable discussion will offer admission officers of all experiences the opportunity to share ideas with
one another as well as discuss topics of choice. The purpose will be for colleagues to leave with fresh ideas and
offer support to one another within the field of admission.
Presenter: Hunt Atkins - Brentwood Academy
Administrators, All Subjects
Adventures in Project Based Learning: Using Technology to Expand the Middle School Classroom
Project Based Learning brings a rich context to the classroom experience while developing 21st Century Skills.
This presentation will show a variety of middle school subjects and contexts for using PBL, examples of these
concepts put in practice, and ways to integrate technology to expand the opportunities to collaborate and engage
the students in learning.
Presenter: Nancy Seiters & Emmie Treadwell - Baylor School
Middle School Teachers, Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Technology
Argument Driven Inquiry in the Science Classroom
Do you want to incorporate more math, technology, writing and collaboration in your science classroom? Using
Argument Driven Inquiry (ADI) can do just that. ADI is an instructional model where students work in small
groups to answer a research question based on data they collect or are given. Students then write a justification
for their claim based on the data and each group creates a webpage to display the final project.
Presenter: Elizabeth Frank – St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Science
Best Practices in the English Classroom
This session will offer best practices from three English teachers with decades of experience in grades 7, 8, and
9. The presentation will include practical strategies for maximizing classroom time and making the student the
director of his/her own learning. You will come away with resources for class starters, transitions, homework
assignments, group work, student motivation, and more.
Presenters: Jimmy Ker, Grant Lehman, Lisa Springman - Brentwood Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Language Arts
Big Research/ Small Steps
Often, the only person who dreads The Research Paper more than the student is the teacher. How do we teach
students to sift through sources and ideas, to cultivate their own views while synthesizing the ideas of others?
How do we emphasize careful writing but not spend the whole time talking about formatting and plagiarism? At
GPS, we have been refining a multi-step "global issues" sophomore research paper for years, and we feel
increasingly successful as our process evolves. We'll share our ideas and would like your feedback! Please join
a practical discussion of the challenges and rewards of this enormous task.
Presenters: Katy Berotti & Catherine Kelly - Girls Preparatory School
Librarians - Media Specialists, Upper School Teachers, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts
Block A – Page 1
Building an Academic Support Program from Scratch
How can we address our students’ academic needs more successfully? This session will focus on building an
academic support program from scratch and on a budget. Discussion topics will include determining the type of
support needed, creating a physical space, looking within the school schedule for opportunities, creating student
action plans, providing study skills instruction, educating teachers on learning differences, monitoring student
progress, and implementing a peer tutoring program. In this session, learn how your school can create an
invaluable program that improves student retention, outcomes, and enrollment.
Presenter: Kelley Black - St. Andrew's-Sewanee School
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Foreign Language, Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts
Come Together Right Now….or Teaching Across the Curriculum
Two veteran elementary teachers have put their heads together to create units that involve not just the core
classes, but also a number of the fine arts classes. Springing from the Social Studies curriculum they use books
in Reading, music, technology, art, and even some math that all point back to the SS unit. The units have field
trips, special days, read- a- louds and other activities tied in also. We will focus on our Civil War and World
War II units and then provide some ideas for other units.
Presenter: Deb Gruner & Susan Ledbetter - Brainerd Baptist School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Music, Art, Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Technology
Day of the Dead Masks: Art & Spanish Collide! (Part 1 of 2)
BA Spanish teacher, Shannon Frost will present an exciting lesson based on the 'Day of the Dead' celebrations
in Latin American countries, complete with historical background, stories and related information. Jim
Chapman, noted artist and Art teacher at BA, will then demonstrate and guide participants through a fun-filled
mask making project using cardboard, glue, masking tape and paint.
Presenters: Jim Chapman & Shannon Frost - Brentwood Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Art, Language Arts
Developing a Filet Mignon Technology Program with a Hot Dog Budget
Is your technology program as good as it could be? Are you overwhelmed with the thought of taking your
vision to reality? This session will help walk administrators through the process of improving their technology
program including planning, budgeting and the implementation process and will be particularly helpful for
administrators at smaller schools with limited budgets
Presenter: Sean Corcoran - Brainerd Baptist School
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology
Developing Grit and Perseverance in Your Students
This session will focus on the research of Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed, Angela L. Duckworth,
Ph.D., leading "grit" researcher and developer of the Grit Scale, Carol Dweck, Ph.D., researcher and author of
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, and the works of author Malcolm Gladwell. How to apply this
research to develop grit and perseverance in students using methods such as grit and growth mindset labs,
metacognitive activities, video testimonials and other resources will be shared.
Presenter: Shannon Elders - Currey Ingram Academy
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Development/Advancement Roundtable
Facilitator: Andi Holbrook – Brentwood Academy
Administration
Block A – Page 2
Divergent Paths: Two Approaches to Content Management
No- We are not talking about novels, we are talking about content management for libraries. In this session,
two librarians will present their approaches to managing content for their students to produce 21st Century
results. Pam Renfrow, Middle School Cybrarian, St. Agnes Academy – St. Dominic School in Memphis and
Alice Bryant, Middle School Librarian at The Harpeth Hall School in Nashville will discuss their varying
approaches to content management. Pam uses Haiku, Alice uses LibGuides. Each librarian will showcase
projects created in their respective content management tool and also share the strengths and pitfalls of each.
Users are encouraged to bring their computers to the session to explore and learn about each system.
Presenters: Alice Bryant - Harpeth Hall & Pam Renfrow - St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School
Librarians - Media Specialists, All Subjects
Enhancing School Leadership through Executive Coaching
Just like today's corporate executives, school leaders are under constant pressure to deliver bigger and better
results, faster than ever before. With all the demands, where is the time for enhanced growth and improved
performance? Corporations like GE and Google are addressing this pressure through executive coaching.
Schools are now taking advantage of this innovative method for leadership growth and development. This
session will discuss executive coaching, its value, methods, and benefits specifically for independent schools.
Guest Presenter: Susan Banke – CoachED
Administrators
Field Trip of a Lifetime: Doing Disney Well
Ever wondered how to take 100 middle school students to Disney only to survive and experience the magic
while doing so? Let us show you how our annual 8th grade trip has become a rally point for our girls in the
middle grades and one of the fondest of memories after graduation from GPS.
Presenters: Jennifer Williams & Debbie Glasscock - Girls Preparatory School
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Fostering Independence and Academic Growth through Centers
Join us to explore ways to implement centers within an Early Childhood/Elementary classroom. We will detail
an approach that fosters students’ independence, ownership and responsibility as well as supports academic
growth across the curriculum. We will also examine an approach that allows students to produce varying
products within a limited time frame. We also look forward to learning about the implementation of centers
within our attendees’ classrooms to glean best practices.
Presenter: Cindy Allen & Kellee Horton - St. George's Independent School
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Art, Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Technology
The Future is Here: Augment Reality in Your Classroom
Bring to life student artwork, wall maps, book covers, historical photos, scientific images, and more.
Augmented reality is a great way to engage students and showcase student work. This session will highlight
several AR apps and teach you a simple way to transform a 2D image into a fun learning experience.
Participants should bring a smartphone, iPad or Android tablet.
Presenter: Melissa Powers - Currey Ingram Academy
Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All
Subjects
Get On My Level: Differentiating Strategies for Mathematics
Everyone learns through different methods and at a different pace, so why teach all of your students the same
way? In this session, we will provide educators with ideas/strategies on differentiation in Math across an entire
grade level and model these ideas/strategies for each level of mathematical understanding.
Presenter: Justin Jamerson, Temecka Curtis & Denise Currey - New Hope Christian Academy
Elementary Teachers, Math
Block A – Page 3
GoogleDrive 101
In this session teachers will learn the basics of GoogleDrive, from creating an account to creating a document
(or presentation!) and sharing it with your students or online. Come to this session, and walk away with a
cleaner hard drive.
Presenter: Freya Kridle - St. George's Independent School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
How to Plan a Successful iPad Deployment
As you consider deploying iPads in your school, there are a series of steps that will help you be successful.
Bradley is a co-host of the popular 'Out of School' podcast with Fraser Speirs. In this session, he will give you a
check list of what to do before you purchase the first iPad. The most expensive iPad deployment is the one that
doesn't work.
Presenter: Bradley Chambers - Brainerd Baptist School
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Technology
I3: Inexpensive Interactive Internet
Come discover simple ways to integrate inexpensive Internet into your subject material and meet your course
goals. Whether you are new to the integration process or already using emerging technologies, you will leave
the session confident in how to make technology a compliment to your curriculum. We will discuss ideas for
reverse teaching, student presentations, and assessments. Participants are encouraged to bring an iPad or laptop
for hand-on learning with Doceri, Show Me, Powtoon, Kahoot & more!
Presenter: Shelli Henry - Woodland Presbyterian School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Math, Science
Integrated Projects in Language Arts and Social Studies
Explore the use of reading, writing, and research to teach social studies and language arts in an integrated unit.
Combine geography and social studies concepts with current events, a novel study, real-world writing and
research to engage middle school students in project-based learning.
Presenters: Carlene West, Suzanne Collins, & Priscilla Birdsall - Baylor School
Middle School Teachers, Social Studies, Language Arts
Interdisciplinary Arts!
Have you ever wondered how the arts could enhance learning for students in your classroom? Or are you an
arts educator who is eager to collaborate with teachers in other academic disciplines? Join three arts teachers
(dance, music and visual art) for demonstrations of some of their successful collaborations with math, reading
and social studies curriculum. Better yet, bring your own ideas for a 20 minute brainstorming session on how to
create a meaningful interdisciplinary experiences.
Presenter: Cathie Kasch - Girls Preparatory School
Administrators, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Music, Art
iPads and Laptops and Apps - Oh My!: Effective Use of Technology in the MS Social Studies Classroom
The effective use of technology makes a social studies classroom even more interesting to middle school
students. Come learn about various apps that capture our students' attention. Explore the use of iPads vs.
laptops in the social studies classroom. Hear how Moodle helps modernize a classroom through online test
taking, one stop document uploading, and posting review games for student use at home. Join us!
Presenter: Tim Reid - Brentwood Academy
Middle School Teachers, Social Studies
Block A – Page 4
Keep it Simple: LMS Strategies for the Busy Teacher
You've got a lot on your plate, so gain control and organization of your 1:1 classroom with a Learning
Management System—a tool that’s enriching the classroom of the future and saving teachers time. We’ll
explore this new way to make coursework come to life, teach digital citizenship through private social
networks, and set up tasks like gradebooks and attendance in one (online) place. You’ll leave this session with
tips and tools to take back to your school!
Presenter: Lorrie Jackson - Finalsite
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School
Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Technology
Making the Writing Process Work: Strategies to Help the Struggling Writer in Grades K-6
This session will begin with an overview of the prerequisite skills required for successful writing. Attendees
will then be exposed to a number of evidence-based practices for teaching written expression. In addition,
specific ideas to use at each stage of the writing process will be offered as well as tips to support students when
utilizing writing strategies.
Presenter: Danielle Barton - Currey Ingram Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Language Arts
Making Thought: A Workmanship of the Mind
In this lively, interactive session, Maggie Jackson will lead participants on a journey of discovery into the art
and craft of critical thinking. She will reveal how making and thinking are deeply inter-related, and why
reflective craftsmanship can act as a crucial counterpoint to the excesses of technology in our lives. Bring your
thinking caps and prepare for an hour of musing and more!
Keynote/Featured Speaker: Maggie Jackson
All Teachers
Online Collaboration Practicum: Real World Results
This presentation will present findings and results on best practices from an online collaborative project my
sophomore English class completed with Tri-City Prep High School in Prescott, AZ. This project involved three
separate phases that focused on technology use, teamwork skills, and planning and organization to create one of
four digital projects (digital essay, podcast, word-cloud, or soundtrack) about the novel Frankenstein. Students
focused on using technology to create a “virtual” team to complete their projects, giving them tools to work
effectively in a hyper-connected society.
Presenter: Seth Burgess - Lausanne Collegiate School
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Upper School Teachers, Language Arts, Technology
The Power of the Individual Story: Motivating Writing in the MS Language Arts Classroom
How do middle school teachers lead distracted students to the joyous discovery of the power of words to create
their own stories? Carolyn Dobbins, a middle school teacher for more than four decades, shares the discoveries
she has made in her quest to motivate students. As she presents her students’ stories, the presentations will
speak for themselves. Come and enjoy the journey.
Presenter: Carolyn Dobbins - Brentwood Academy
Middle School Teachers, Language Arts
Promoting Creative Behavior in Art: Roundtable Discussion
Is there anything that we as teachers can do to promote creative behavior in non-creative individuals? Do you
have experience and interest in sharing your teaching methods, challenges, and solutions on the topics below?
1. Cultivating curiosity and interest. 2. Fostering creative minds. 3. Designing safe creative environments.
4. Creating arts culture at school. 5. Developing life long learners - art producers and consumers.
Bring ideas and successful practices, challenges, and relevant syllabi and assignments to share!
Presenter: Rose Doherty - St. George's Independent School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Art
Block A – Page 5
Prop It Up! Using Props to bring Foreign Language Instruction to Life
Bring your two best props to this round table participation and explain how you use them to create foreign
language instruction in "real time."
Presenter: Moira Judas Smith - The Webb School Bell Buckle
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Foreign Language
Teaching on the Block: Keeping Your Students' Attention
Teaching teenagers can be mind boggling enough, but then add another 45 minutes to your class time, and it can
be down right overwhelming! How can a teacher effectively keep their students attention for that long? We
will look at some beneficial ways teachers can use this extra time to keep their students engaged in the learning
process and have fun learning as well. This session will be helpful for any teacher who teaches on a block
schedule and for administrators who wish to assist their teachers in teaching more effectively on a block
schedule.
Presenter: Lynda Fadler - Brentwood Academy
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Teaching the Formal History Research Essay: Pacing, Pitfalls and Practical Tips
The session will be a brief presentation of the joys of leading high school students on the individual historical
research journey. Special attention will be focused on issues of pacing/deadlines, suggested research methods,
source requirements, use of class time, etc. The benefits of the formal draft and the process of revising original
work will be addressed. Various competitions for historical research essays will be suggested and the value of
students writing for the public discussed. A discussion of suggested practices among participants will be
facilitated to encourage collegial sharing of teaching experiences. Collaboration with librarians will be
emphasized and explored.
Presenter: Marianne Leung - St. George's Independent School
Librarians - Media Specialists, Upper School Teachers, Social Studies
There Just Aren’t Enough Hours in the Day...
Imagine a classroom where students respond to your request the first time, where the noncompliant student
learns to self-correct inappropriate behavior. Wouldn’t it be great if you could stop spending so much time on
correcting low-level behaviors and more time doing what you love....teaching? There is a simple solution, and
it’s not one that involves trendy gimmicks or paying a student to behave. It simply involves clear
communication and expectations. Eliminate the repeated warnings and requests. The techniques provided will
increase the time you spend on academics while at the same time empowering your students to take
responsibility for their actions and achieve success. Learn the secret to creating a smooth operating classroom
where the teacher teaches and the students learn.
Presenters: Sharon Hoffmann – Davidson Academy and John Lasater – Time To Teach
Everyone
Using Short Mindfulness Practice Sessions
You have heard of the many benefits of mindfulness practice but maybe you are not comfortable doing it. In
this session, you will get a brief overview of those benefits before practicing ten different exercises. You can
apply all of them to your classroom as well as see how easy it is to tailor the practice to other settings. The firsthand experience, resources, and short scripts will help you feel comfortable and confident with mindfulness.
Presenter: Scott Field, Currey Ingram Academy
Administrators, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Block A – Page 6
Video Marketing for Independent Schools (Part 1 of 2)
This session will be geared toward learning and understanding the power of video marketing and how you can
use it to make an impact in your target market. We will discuss the philosophy behind what makes a great
video, as well as what it takes to produce high quality videos in-house.
Presenter: Phil Goodman - Brentwood Academy
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Technology
When More is Less: Effective and Efficient Writing Feedback
How do English teachers provide better writing feedback with students that does not take eons to give? We will
discuss some strategies and best practices, and we ask participants to bring copies of their favorite rubrics, peer
editing, or self-evaluation tools with which they have had success to share with the group.
Presenters: Jennifer Vasil & Heidi Rubín de la Borbolla - St. George's Independent School
Upper School Teachers, Language Arts
Block A – Page 7
Block B ~ Sunday, 3:50 – 4:45
#GrowthMindset - Getting Over "I Can't"
How would you answer the question, "What is possible?"
Presented by Girls Preparatory School's Learning Specialists, Librarians, and Technology Integrationist, this
presentation will demonstrate ways to cultivate a growth mindset in your students and school community.
Promotion of a growth mindset includes building relationships, encouraging resilience, teaching students the art
of failure, and creating collaborative learning opportunities. This presentation will model the use of mobile
devices, apps, a Twitter back channel, and modes of professional collaboration.
Presenters: Rebecca Davenport, Renee Romero, Will Glass & Elizabeth Resnick - Girls Preparatory School
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School
Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
A Conservative Teacher Gives His Students 20% Time
An experimental leap of faith in the 21st Century, based off of an idea used at 3M in the 1950s and Google in
the 21st Century, 20% Time is a present a trend in innovative classrooms. The possibility of encouraging
intrinsic learning enticed me so strongly that I couldn't NOT try this. I tried the approach in my Twentieth
Century History classroom in 2014. I will introduce the concept, share my experience, and open up the room for
questions and discussion.
Presenter: Ray Blair - Battle Ground Academy
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Social Studies
A Wellness Program for Faculty and Staff
At Girls Preparatory School we believe that it is vital to educate our faculty and staff about healthy, active
living. This year we treaded in new territory and began a wellness program for our faculty and staff. This
session will teach you how to begin a wellness program at your school, the short and long term benefits of a
wellness program, and ideas to keep your faculty and staff engaged in the program.
Presenter: Gina Wells - Girl's Preparatory School
Administrators, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Acting Right: An Arts Integrated Approach to Classroom Management
Acting Right uses an arts integrated approach to classroom management and establishing a positive culture in
your classroom. Theatrical techniques and concepts will be used in this demonstration to set clear expectations
in the classroom, and foster an atmosphere of accountability and community among students. You'll find this
session truly engaging as you become the students and see firsthand how effective this technique is!
Presenter: Tamatha Holt - Briarcrest Christian School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, All Subjects
All About Math: New Ways to Teach & Learn in the K-12 Math Classroom
Inspired by a MOOC led by Jo Boaler of Stanford, this session highlights current perspectives on teaching and
learning in Math. Teachers of K-12 Math students are encouraged to look beyond traditional methods in the
Math classroom and incorporate growth mind-set and inquiry-based strategies such as: Number Talks, Math
Journals, and Problem Solving. The session will be part presentation, and part discussion in grade-level
divisions. Participants will come away with plenty of practical ideas to implement in their classroom.
Presenters: Claire Kyzer & Elizabeth Turner - St. Nicholas School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Math
Block B – Page 1
Building Board Relationships: Strategies to Address the Ineffective Board Member
While many school governing boards are highly effective and function at a level that reflects the desire to serve
the school, there are independent schools that sometimes have ineffective or problem board members. It only
takes a few such members to derail the important role of the board. Identifying these characteristics and
developing strategies to address these challenges can mean a return to genuine board significance. This session
will equip school leaders and board members with the tools needed to recognize and make the chnages
necessary for success.
Presenter: William R. Mott, Ph.D. – Author of The Board Game and Super Boards
Administrators
Business Officers and Facilities Managers Roundtable
Facilitator: Matt Moore – Christ Presbyterian Academy
Communications Directors Roundtable
Facilitator: Betsy Koonce-Sottek – Christ Presbyterian Academy
Cultivating Leaders through Global Awareness and Connectivity
At St. Mary’s, we infuse the elements of global awareness and connectivity into our curriculum to enable our
students to act today in order to shape the world for tomorrow. This presentation will describe our programs
and offer ways for other schools to implement similar programs in their curriculum. Our global initiatives
connect our students to schools across the globe in social entrepreneurship and problem solving projects, as well
as through an international study program.
Presenter: Patti Ray - St. Mary's Episcopal School
Administrators, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Day of the Dead Masks: Art & Spanish Collide! (Part 2 of 2)
BA Spanish teacher, Shannon Frost will present an exciting lesson based on the 'Day of the Dead' celebrations
in Latin American countries, complete with historical background, stories and related information. Jim
Chapman, noted artist and Art teacher at BA, will then demonstrate and guide participants through a fun-filled
mask making project using cardboard, glue, masking tape and paint.
Presenters: Jim Chapman & Shannon Frost - Brentwood Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Art, Language Arts
Digital English
Given the inundation of impersonal digital media in our lives and in the classroom, how do we create a digital
learning environment that is engineered to our individual classroom? From video lessons that flip the classroom
to shared online papers, ShowMe and Google Drive offer unique and engaging digital platforms for English
classrooms. As teachers in the Digital Age, we can implement technologies as interpersonal learning tools
instead of relying on popular social networks.
Presenter: Neil Barrett - The Webb School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Language Arts, Technology
The Financial Peace of the Puzzle: Adding the Dave Ramsey Financial Program to Your
Advisory/Curriculum
Advisory has become a conglomeration of all things students need in the 21st century outside the world of
mainstream academics. Topping this list of needs is financial awareness in a consumer-driven culture. Join us
to hear how we addressed financial education in grades 8-12 through our advisory program using Dave
Ramsey's "Financial Peace" curriculum.
Presenters: Jennifer Williams & Carol Killebrew Myers - Girls Preparatory School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Block B – Page 2
Fun in the Foreign Language Classroom
Students need to learn their vocabulary words to be effective language learners. How can teachers accomplish
this in the classroom? And what about identifying and understanding grammar usage? And speaking and
translating fluently? We will look at some fun and effective teaching strategies that will accomplish these
goals.
Presenter: Lynda Fadler - Brentwood Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Foreign Language, Social Studies, Language Arts
Get Out & Look Up: Ways to Maintain Appreciation for Nature and Verbal Communication Skills
In this vastly advancing technological world, what are you doing to get your students OUTside? How are you
teaching them the roots of our land, animals, vegetation and a respect for all of it? What niches have you
created OUTside for reading, exploring, and circular face-to-face communication? Our school's ideas will be
shared, and we welcome your ideas, also.
Presenter: Carol W. Lockrow - St. Peter's Episcopal
Administrators, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, All Subjects
Get Your Sparkle On! Using Fresh, Creative Ideas to Engage Students and Parents in the Learning
Environment
Get some practical, fun, sometimes crazy, out-of-the-box ideas to spark student learning and parent support.
Adding sparkle to your classroom not only engages your students, but makes learning that lasts and creates
memorable moments. We will add a few tricks to your "teacher bag" and give you time to share your favorite
sparkle ideas with others.
Presenters: Courtney Tyree & Ellen Dunn - The Covenant School
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, All Subjects
IdeaFest 2014 - A Project Sharing Roundtable for Lower School Art Teachers
There are a lot of great projects we can dig up from the web, but most creative Art Teachers want to give them
their own spin in order to turn them into great lessons. What are your best tried and true assignments? I will
start by sharing a project I found on a blog. I’ll show you how I transformed it into a collaborative effort that
hung in the school all year. Each participant will be asked to share a successful project with the group. Please
have an example or image to share as well. Also plan to bring a copy of an additional lesson plan to handout.
After this Art Roundtable discussion each participant leaves with a packet of new lessons!
Presenter: Shannon Bourn - St. Peters Episcopal School
Elementary Teachers, Art
Integrated Content Technology 101
Is the phrase "Common Core" becoming more commonly spoken in your school? With the standard of
integrating more technological tools into all subject areas, do you find yourself wondering where to begin?
Look no further! Weebly and Socrative are just two of the technological tools every educator can easily utilize
in the classroom at minimal or no cost. Come see how you can implement and engage your students using some
fun, creative, and innovative technology! B.Y.O.D. (bring your own device) and let’s play!
Presenter: Christina Neighbors - The Bright School
Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, All
Subjects
Block B – Page 3
iPads in the Art Room
Do iPads have a place in the Art studio? How do you use iPads to create original works of art and how do you
find apps that are useful without spending too much? Discover ways to use an iPad to teach concepts like
composition, color theory, and design using a variety of apps like ArtStudio, MyBrushes, Amaziograph and
Snapseed. Discussion will also include using various pieces of hardware (styluses, AppleTV, camera connection
kit), how to teach students to use an app and troubleshooting technical issues.
Presenter: Debbie Glasscock - Girls Preparatory School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Art
Learning To Love Photo Management
Oddly enough, this session shouldn’t need to exist. Our devices should just handle all of this for us. They don’t,
though. Our only option is to try to build the simplest solution we can in the meantime. This session is about
how I have taken control of importing, backup, organizing, and enjoying of all my digital photos. All attendees
will receive a free digital copy of my book (same title) that was a best seller in the Computers/Technology
section of the iBookstore during the month it was released.
Presenter: Bradley Chambers - Brainerd Baptist School
Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle
School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Misconceptions about Teaching and Learning
After completing a short quiz designed to test participants’ understanding of how children best learn, the group
will compare their answers to the ideas of experts in the fields of brain research, teaching, and learning. By
contrasting our understanding with the ideas of writers like Daniel Coyle, Carol Dweck, Wendy Mogul , Paul
Tough, and Dan Willingham, to name a few, we will affirm or improve our work as educators.
Presenters: Michael Drew & Christy Tomisek - Baylor School
Administrators, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Reinventing Japan for the 21st Century
Based the University of Colorado’s 2013 seminar this session includes bibliographies and presentations of:
tanka by tsunami victims, the economics of Japan’s lost decades, the ongoing Fukushima-Daiichi challenges,
the demographic crisis of an aging sexist society, threating international relations, precariat society, and super
flat, super cute, post apocalyptic art.
Presenter: Jim Hooper - Baylor School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Art, Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts
Robotics Now! How to improve STEM using a FIRST Robotics Team
F.I.R.S.T. is a global competition that consists of over 5000 teams from around the world, from Kindergarten to
12th grade. Experiences will be shared from the rookie season of the Boyd-Buchanan RoboBucs, team 5005 of
the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition. The team consisted of 25 students and 3 mentors which fundraised, built a
robot, and placed 2nd in the F.I.R.S.T. Regional tournament. This session will discuss why and how to start a
robotics program at your school.
Presenter: Jason Owens - Boyd-Buchanan School
Administrators, Upper School Teachers, Science, Technology
Roundtable on Using Authentic Resources in the Upper School Spanish Classroom
This session has been cancelled.
Block B – Page 4
So, What Do Your Kids Speak?
Share your experiences as modern language teacher about the tangible and compelling benefits of teaching your
own children the language you use and/or teach. Discussion and personal anecdotes will be featured, along
with research information to prove that "growing up bilingual" is the best investment you can make in your
child's future. Discussion will also be made of the carryover advantages for the foreign language classroom
Presenter: Moira Judas Smith - The Webb School Bell Buckle
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Foreign Language
Sometimes… Less is More
Teaching the “Kinders” can be exhausting! Join us for some fun, therapeutic, simple, “why didn’t I think of
that” ideas to keep those little ones engaged in learning. Activities shared will range from simple
reading/writing activities, various art projects to ways to use your Promethean Board.
Presenter: Kay Woodall, Heather Perez & Angie Langford - Battle Ground Academy
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Language Arts
Space to Innovate: Creating a Place for Collaboration and Exploration
This year, students at The Episcopal School of Knoxville were surprised with a radical change of environment
from their traditional library and tech lab into a multimedia learning and collaborative space. The new space
has become a gathering place for students working on creative research projects, green screen videos, digital
research and more. Come join in the discussion about developing innovative learning spaces and experience
first hand the impacts of design on brainstorming and collaboration.
Presenter: Julie King - Episcopal School of Knoxville
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School
Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Speaking Volumes: Discussion Activities to Get Students Thinking Deeply, Reading, and Writing
Using exciting discussion activities you can take back to your school tomorrow, we'll explore a variety of ways
to get middle and high school students grappling with deep questions about topics, texts, and issues. The
presenters will share several examples that place learning in the hands of students and that embrace twenty-first
century skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, inquiry, and technology use. We'll explore discussion
methods that work for middle and high school and that span content areas.
Presenters: Barry Gilmore & Clay Francis - Hutchison School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
STEM in Clubs and Curriculum
Are you looking for some creative and hands on ways to enrich your curriculum or after school clubs with
STEM content? In this session, 4th grade teacher Beverly Starnes and Technology Teacher Brooke Marsh will
share ways that they have offered STEM content in the classroom and in various after school clubs (such as
Lego Clubs, Robotics, Minecraft, Programming, Math Cafe, Math Camp, STEM club and more). Come
prepared to share some ideas and examples of things that you have done in the area of STEM curriculum
enrichment and clubs!
Presenters: Brooke Marsh & Beverly Starnes - Brainerd Baptist School
Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Math,
Science, Technology
Block B – Page 5
Student-Centered Discussions: Strategies for Engaging MS and US Students in Meaningful Conversation
A student-centered discussion, or student-led discussion, gives students the opportunity to take an active role in
their learning. It is an arena for them to practice their oral communication skills, demonstrate their
understanding of content knowledge, and engage in higher order thinking skills. This lesson allows teachers to
quickly assess student understanding and provide meaningful feedback. While specific examples come from
Upper School history classes, this can be used in any discipline. After attending this session, you will have
everything you need to try this activity in your own classroom!
Presenter: Emily Philpott - St. George's Independent School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Teaching Music Composition with STEAM
Using music technology such as Garage Band can be lots of fun for kids and adults of all ages. But how do we
help students create songs that make “musical sense” instead of just random notes? Additionally, how do we
make Garage Band a meaningful educational experience that teaches music literacy, music theory, and form?
This session explains how my students learned to compose waltzes using “note” cards, Orff instruments, and
iPad Garage Band. Students learned ≤-time, chords, melody writing, form, and writing bass lines and
accompaniments, including percussion. Ideas for sharing compositions will also be discussed. Although this
activity was designed for middle school students, it could be modified for lower school and upper school
students.
Presenter: Danetta Townsdin - Woodland Presbyterian School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Music
Techy Tools for Teaching Social Studies (MS/HS)
This session has been cancelled.
Top 20 Tech Tips: Improve School Efficiency, Enhance Social Media, Increase Income and Reduce Costs
This fast paced seminar covers 20 ways to use cost effective technology to increase enrollment, reduce
operating costs, enhance marketing and fundraising, and improve collections.
Presenter: Lesa Doerstling - RenWeb School Management Software
Administrators, Technology Directors
Turning Lectures into Games
Students learn better and retain more when they are actively involved in the process of learning. Students are
most active outside of their desks. This workshop will provide you with activity-based lessons (DNA tag, Viral
Ball, Timeline memory, & Heart Pump) and the tools to create your own game based curriculum. Whatever
subject is your specialty, come ready to play & remember to wear your tennis shoes.
Presenter: Jenifferlee Dager - Brentwood Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Foreign Language, Math, Science, Social Studies
Video Marketing for Independent Schools (Part 2 of 2)
In this session will go deeper into the details and technical aspects of video production, including: software,
equipment and locations. We will have hands-on demonstrations of equipment and software.
Presenter: Phil Goodman - Brentwood Academy
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Technology
Block B – Page 6
What’s Next? How Your School Can Keep up with What's New in EdTech
Explore web strategies that public schools have implemented, including responsive design, LMS (learning
management system), Real –Time Date Integration with Legacy Systems, private social networking and more.
These strategies and big picture ideas will help energize and transform your vision for your school's future, with
an eye towards the unique needs of independent schools. Using case studies as examples, this session will teach
you how your school can stay current with the latest trends in technology.
Presenter: Lorrie Jackson - Finalsite
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary
Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Writing Like a Pro
The people who know best about effective writing are the people who write for a living. Each week students
find an example of an effective sentence from books, newspapers, magazines, any place where people who
write for a living write. They type this sentence on a piece of paper, write a paragraph explaining exactly what
makes this an effective sentence, and then write a sentence of their own imitating the writing strategy employed
in the original. These are graded weekly and kept in a folder to use as models to emulate.
Presenter: Robert Collins - St. Cecilia Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Language Arts
Block B – Page 7
Block C ~ Monday, 10:00-10:55
3rd Grade Teachers Round Table Discussion
Do you teach 3rd Grade? Grab a cup of coffee, and join us as we share ideas about the world of teaching third
grade.
Presenters: Kelly Barnes, Jenny Carey, & Jessica Milone - University School of Jackson
Elementary Teachers, All Subjects
4th Grade Teachers Roundtable: Integrating History and Language Arts
How do YOU make history come alive while ticking all the boxes on your curriculum standards for language
arts? Bring your favorite ideas or just come to get some new ones! We'll show you how we use historical
simulations, mini plays, role-playing and interactive notebooks to weave reading and writing instruction into
social studies topics in ways that appeal to a variety of learners!
Presenters: Jennifer von Klar & Randi Schlosser - St. Peter's Episcopal School
Elementary Teachers, Social Studies, Language Arts
3D Printing with OpenSCAD
Improve your students' spatial and computational thinking skills by coding 3D objects with OpenSCAD
(http://www.openscad.org/). This free program is a great way to teach beginning coders how to create 3D
models using constructive solid geometry. These models can then be printed with a 3D printer. This unit is a
great addition to a computer science, technology, or math class. This session will cover the basics of
OpenSCAD and 3D printing.
Presenter: Jill Pala - Girls Preparatory School
Technology Integration Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Math, Technology
The 95% Solution
With only 5% of our lifetime spent in formal education, what happens during the other 95%? Emerging data
suggest that the best way to increase the public understanding of science is to reach people during the other 95%
of their life. In this session, you will explore how out of school time partnerships are effective tools in boosting
student achievement and improving teacher capacity. We call this serious fun! (STEM teachers, administrators)
Guest Presenters: Jeri Hasselbring & Tina Brown - Adventure Science Center - Nashville
Actively Reading Text: The ART of Reading Comprehension (LS)
Give your struggling readers the comprehension skills that good readers use naturally! This session will give
lower school teachers a quick and easy way to help students develop and improve the seven critical
comprehension skills all readers need. Incorporating Actively Reading Text is easy, flexible, and effective.
Presenter: Kim Boggs & Regina Ateca - Brainerd Baptist School
Elementary Teachers, Language Arts
Be a Better U-Art Portion of School Wide Anti-Bully Campaign
Address the topic of bullies through a school-wide, student-driven campaign. This session will first share how
our student government implemented an interdisciplinary anti-bulling campaign incorporating music, writing,
athletics and VISUAL ART. Participants will then start their own sculpture that addresses the negative aspects
of a bully in a very positive way. Participants will leave this session with a unit description, a lesson plan for 3d
word art, and the beginning of an example of their own sculpture.
Presenter: Libby Lynch - University School of Jackson
Upper School Teachers, Art
Block C – Page 1
Bringing Your Core Crisis Plan into the 21st Century
How long has your Core Crisis Plan been in place? When was the last time new information and procedures
were implemented? Learn about new smart phone technologies, national management systems and updated
processes that will help bring your Core Crisis Plan into the 21st century.
Presenter: Brad McKenzie - The Harpeth Hall School
Administrators, All Subjects
Differentiated Instruction & Academic Rigor: Responsive Habits of Instructional Practice
According to Carol Ann Tomlinson, differentiation is what we do if we intend
to have every student understand what they are learning, why they are learning
it, why they should care, and how it nurtures them as citizens of our world. What
does differentiated instruction look like and sound like for the gifted learner? How
do educators make differentiated, rigorous instruction a part of their daily classroom
practices? These questions will be addressed in this session as theory paired with
the application of best practice instructional strategies will help participants grasp
the concept of differentiation and academic rigor as everyday classroom praxis.
Guest Presenter: Sarah DeLisle, Vanderbilt University
Everyone
E-Textbooks: Taking the Plunge
Lessons learned from a first time rollout of E-Textbooks and a BYOD Program. Planning and facilitating a
school wide program. Session will guide schools through the myths and realities of E-Textbooks.
Presenter: Raymond Pryor & Angela Rasnick - The Webb School
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School
Teachers, All Subjects
Ethics In Athletics: A Roundtable Discussion
This session will ask: How can we promote good virtue and character through athletics? What are the
challenges to promoting ethical athletics? What are the performance-related benefits of ethical athletics? How
do we get parents and coaches on board? Presented by former athlete and current director of athletics who
teaches both PE and a "Sport and Spirituality" course, and who has founded exercise programs which aim to
promote kindness through physical activity.
Presenter: Sam Parfitt - Saint Peter's Episcopal School
Administrators, All Teachers, All Subjects
Every Day Infused with the Arts
Join TPAC Education for a fun and engaging session focused on ways to fill your daily lesson plans with the
arts. As you enjoy this interactive workshop experience, you’ll learn about TPAC’s professional development
opportunities and see how the arts can breathe new life into any subject.
Guest Presenters from Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Executive Function
One of the most powerful effects of aerobic exercise is its effects on a cognitive process called Executive
Function. This process is important for teachers to know, as Executive Function scores predict academic
success at a university better than an SAT score, or even a student’s IQ. This lecture talks all about it.
Keynote/Featured Speaker: Dr. John Medina – University of Washington School of Medicine
Block C – Page 2
Ferdinand the Bull
Through original choreography, music and bright, colorful costumes inspired by cubist Pablo Picasso,
Ferdinand the Bull tells the story of a peaceful bull who only wants to smell the flowers in the meadow,
making him unfit for the bullfighting rings in Spain, as told by Munro Leaf in his classic children’s book.
Common Core / TN Standards met through this program.
Guest Presenter: Briona Richardson – Nashville Ballet
Early Childhood & Lower School Teachers, Dance, Literacy, Music, Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts
Follow the Child! Meeting Curriculum Standards Through Emergent Projects in EC (Part 1 of 2)
How often do we really stop, watch and listen to the children we teach? Spontaneous experiences unite our
students, excite them, and will teach them to love learning. Our job is to connect our students’ interests with
standards and objectives, to facilitate their in-depth explorations, and to encourage problem solving.
Participants will be introduced to real life examples of emergent projects in both public and private early
childhood settings.
Presenter: Allison Warren - St. Mary's Episcopal School
Administrators, Early Childhood Teachers, All Subjects
Google Chrome Apps and Extensions
The majority of people simply search using Google. They don’t take advantage of the extra features that are
available with your Google account. There are simpler ways to search and there are useful tricks that will save
you time and make your life easier. Learn about creative ways to use Google Docs with your students and
fellow teachers. Also, find extensions, apps and plugins that will help you be more productive with your time
spent on the computer.
Presenter: Mark Littlefield - University School of Nashville
Technology Integration Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Technology
Hands on History
An introduction to the use of the National Archives DocsTeach.org program and lesson plans that teachers can
use to incoporate a greater number of primary sources into their classroom in their orginal format. This allows
students to analyze and critique the art of writing, to see historical pieces in their original form, and to examine
images from historical events bringing history to life.
Presenter: Sarah Marvel - St. Cecilia Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Social Studies, Language Arts
I'm 2, What Do You Do?
Starting or needing ideas for your 2 year old program? We will share some of our developmentally appropriate
ideas for your 2's. This workshop will include ideas for schedules, enrichments, songs, classroom setup, centers,
transitions, discipline ,and the BIG “P” word…POTTY TRAINING! Come play with us and discover how
much fun 2 year olds can be!
Presenters: Amber Anderson & Star Mansfield - University School of Jackson
Early Childhood Teachers, All Subjects
Implementing Effective Physical Security Programs in a Private School Environment (Part 1 of 2)
This double session is designed to introduce the process of creating and implementing effective security control
measures in a private school, understanding private school culture, how that culture relates to the security field
and how to develop effective communication in a cross-cultural environment. Instructors include: Security
expert Michael Mann, Security Manager for Westinghouse Electric Company, owner of Masada Consulting and
Sergeant Jason Beddoe, a retired police officer and current Security Manager of Brentwood Academy.
Presenter: Sergeant Jason Beddoe & Michael Mann - Brentwood Academy
Everyone
Block C – Page 3
Innovate: Lessons from the Underground Railroad (This session is also offered in Block D.)
Dr. Syb explains how the Underground Railroad is among the most effective, disruptive and innovative
networks in American history, and compares it to the Internet by establishing how the past and the present
virtually collide to create the future in real time. When you think about the ingenuity that went into creating
such an organized network of movement and communication during the time of the Underground Railroad and
you compare that same concept to how individuals move and share information through the Internet, the
comparisons are too obvious to ignore. This book reveals how both platforms serve as avenues for expression
of freedom, justice and equality whether networking through portals and links to branding and ownership.
Using Dr. Syb's Seven Elements of Innovation, problem, principle, purpose, perspective, pioneering, passion
and play, she explains how school's can benefit from these lessons in the digital age.
Featured Speaker: Dr. Sybril Bennett - Belmont University
Administrators, All Subjects
K-6 STEM: Using Today to Prepare our Tomorrow
STEM, one of the greatest needs in our classrooms. But how do we teach our boys and girls to be future
scientist, technology users, engineers, and mathematicians? Let alone, how do we provide opportunities for
them to enjoy these things? Daily integration of these four areas is what our students need. This session will
give you ideas you can easily implement and tips for creating STEM moments. Your students are ready for
STEM, are you?
Presenters: Catherine Groves & Bobby Huff - St. Paul Christian Academy
Technology Integration Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Math, Science, Technology
Kindergarten Teachers Roundtable
We all know that teachers learn best from each other. So let’s all sit down and discuss what is happening in
each others’ classrooms. This session will be beneficial for all Kindergarten teachers.
Facilitators: Cori Rose, Hailey Eldridge, Sarah Pate & Jennifer Sammons - University School of Jackson
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, All Subjects
The Magic of Music (Part 1 of 2)
This session has been cancelled.
Managing iPad and iPhone Screen Time at Home - Curbi to the Rescue!
School 1:1 iPad programs are proving very popular and effective when managed correctly. While the school
can do everything right when the iPads are at school, what happens when they go home? More and more
parents are looking for support in managing their child’s screen time on school iPads, and also with iPhones and
iPod Touches. Curbi is the leading parental control service for iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches and is starting
to be taken up by leading 1:1 iPad schools across the country. Come and listen to the story behind curbi and
how it’s helping parents and students both in Tennessee and around the world.
Presenters: Justin Magraith, Curbi Product Director, Bradley Chambers, Brainerd Baptist School
Everyone
Math Magic
Looking for a new way for elementary students to review concepts, find time for fun math games, and work
with your fellow teachers? Then, Math Magic is for you! Your students will enjoy rotating through different
classrooms to engage in fun math activities each week. Each teacher plans one "magical" lesson and teaches it
to all classes. We will show you how to organize, plan, and execute a Math Magic program that will work for
you using photographs, examples, and hands-on learning.
Presenters: Amie Plumley, Sherry Prewitt & Sara Ralston - Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal School
Elementary Teachers, Math
Block C – Page 4
Nashville Symphony Classroom Connections
In this session, participants will learn about the Nashville Symphoney’s free educational resources. Whether
it’s in the classroom, online, or at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, a host of programs are available for
teachers and students. Attendees will receive sample lesson plans, information about field trips, and the
announcement of the concert dates and themes for the 2014-2015 Nashville Symphony Young People’s
Concerts. Schedule permitting, there will also be a performance featuring musicians from the Nashville
Symphony Ensembles In the Schools Program.
Guest Speaker: Blair Bodine – Nashville Symphony
Everyone
Options for the Flipped Mathematics Classroom
A flipped classroom can take many forms. Some teachers make videos, some use pre-made videos, and some
use a text. The ultimate goal is to increase quality learning time in the classroom. Come discuss different
methods three upper-level math teachers are using and share your own experiences with the group. Flipping
with screencasts, macs, PC's, tablets, and courseware will be discussed.
Presenters: Kimberly Callaway & Page McMullen - St. George's Independent School, Amy Beatty – St.
Benedict at Auburndale
Upper School Teachers, Math
Order Up: Student Directed Learning Through EdCafes
Meet us in the EdCafe! Developed by Katrina Kennett and inspired by EdCamp conferences, the EdCafe
module encourages learning through student-led inquiry and discussion. Participants will learn about EdCafes
in theory through the presentation and will then learn in practice by participating in an EdCafe based on
inquiries from our Twitter backchannel. As an exciting take-away, we will share an Evernote document with an
adaptable EdCafe project overview, rubric, and Google doc sign-up template.
Presenters: Elizabeth Resnick & Sarah Jackson - Girls Preparatory School
Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All
Subjects
Prep Band 1-0-Won
This session will provide an overview of how Brentwood Academy has made it a priority to weave a high
quality instrumental music program into the busy lives of our prep school scholars/athletes. The session will
also facilitate a round table discussion amongst member school band directors to share scheduling ideas, best
practices, and uses of music education technology. We might also entertain the idea of developing honor band
and summer camp opportunities for indedendent school music students.
Presenter: Matt Nygren - Brentwood Academy
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Music
Quit Looking for New Apps and Master the Ones You Have
How many times do you feel overwhelmed trying to find apps for your iPads? There are so many great apps,
which one should you choose? In this session we will discuss why it is helpful to have two or three main apps
that you can use in all subject areas. There will be time to share what apps are working great in your classroom.
Presenter: Jessica Robinson - Brainerd Baptist School
Elementary Teachers, Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Technology
Block C – Page 5
Re-Kindle-ing Reading: Using ebooks in the English Classroom
E-books in the English class offer unique opportunities but also present unique challenges. Learn about how
one high school English teacher has incorporated the use of e-books and e-reading software into the study of
literature. This session will focus primarily on reading ebooks using the Kindle software and the web-based
software Actively Learn, primarily on PC laptops. This session will focus on the logistics of reading e-book
novels, using the technology to enhance the reading experience, and navigating the challenges of reading and
discussing ebooks.
Presenter: Meg Griswold - Harpeth Hall School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Tech Specialists, Librarians, Language Arts
Roundtable Discussions:
1st Grade Teachers – Led by What Teller - Christ Presbyterian Academy
2nd Grade Teachers – Led by Phyllis Gayton, Lisa Marley & Linda Yates – USJ
JrK Teachers – Led by Vicki Wilson – University School of Jackson
Librarians (Lower School) – Led by Stacey Glover – University School of Jackson
Division Heads (Lower School) – Led by Michelle Packer – Woorland Presbyterian School
P.E. Teachers (Lower School) – Led by Kimmy Campbell - Christ Presbyterian Academy
PreK Teachers – Led by Kelly Fuller - Christ Presbyterian Academy
Science App-titude
Has your science classroom lost its spark? Would you like to infuse new life into your weekdays? This session
is designed to provide teachers with resources that will motivate students using tablets. Opportunities for
creativity abound. Learn how students can participate in virtual labs, view 3D molecules, make their own field
guides, and do research. Working with tablets in the classroom is fun for students and teachers alike. Join us as
we share our experiences.
Presenters: Susan Leverette & Becky Oakley - Boyd-Buchanan School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Science
Seeing and Being Seen: Teaching Digital Citizenship to Upper School Students
Learn how to create and integrate a digital citizenship curriculum utilizing Common Sense Media. Lessons
focus on teaching principles for students to apply when posting and viewing material online. During class time,
students practice critical thinking skills when making decisions about their online presence. Emphasis is placed
on proactively creating a positive online identity. Skills can be applied to various subject areas, and sample
lessons will be shared.
Presenters: Cassie Peach & Ginann Franklin - Currey Ingram Academy
Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Seeing the World: Comparative Religions in TAIS Schools
This session has been cancelled.
Social Media Risk & Monitoring
Looking at social media with only occasional glances at social interactions may cause schools to miss ongoing
conversations by students and others. Social media risk is the fastest growing risk our schools face. As social
media use has grown, schools need to be aware of what is occurring. Also notable is the ever increasing body of
case law emanating from social media risk with significant consequences.
Guest Presenter: Jim Satterfield, Firestorm
Social Norms: Reducing Risk, Sharing Healthy Realities (This session is also offered in Block D.)
Although many students do not use alcohol or other drugs, students form attitudes about substance use based on
norms they perceive. When they do this, they naturally overestimate – and start to emulate – risky peer
behaviors. However, when students know their peers are making healthy decisions, they are more likely to
follow suit. In this session, FCD will guide attendees through the social norms approach to prevention and offer
simple strategies to prevent student substance abuse.
Featured Speaker: Renee Soulis - FCD Educational Services
Administrators, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Teaching Shakespeare in Today’s Classroom (Lessons 1 and 2)
PT’s Punctuation Pyramid and Attacking Iambic Pentameter - Get ready to unlock the Potential of Punctuation
and its impact on any Shakespeare Performance. Let Baylor School Performing Arts Faculty Member, Patrick
Tansor (Actors’ Equity Association Member and Carnegie Mellon School of Drama Graduate), help you
explore some techniques that will open up your classroom to the stage and your students to the power of the
Bard! There are no prerequisites to either of the sessions. Open to any and all that teach and/or love
Shakespeare!
Presenter: Patrick Tansor - Baylor School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Art, Language Arts
Team Skills in a Virtual World
The “flat” classroom requires more than just technology and projects, it requires working with team
collaboration skills. My presentation will include information about creating team charters, identifying team
roles, conflict resolution issues, communication channels, and organization for a class project that involves
students from geographically distant areas. All of these aspects have been applied to a real-world online
collaborative project between my sophomore English class and another class in Prescott, AZ, offering insight
from the students about best practices.
Presenter: Seth Burgess - Lausanne Collegiate School
Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects, Language Arts, Technology
The Tempest--Pro-Colonial Text?
One never knows what Shakespeare really believed, and his stance in "The Tempest" on British colonial
expansion is no exception. An argument can be made from the text of the play itself on either side of that
debate: pro or con. The session will cover texts that can be used to help students understand the underlying
issues of British colonial expansion, which was just beginning at the time that Shakespeare wrote "The
Tempest." Examples are drawn from middle-school classes but apply to upper-school classes as well.
Presenter: Patrick McGraw - St. George's Independent School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Language Arts
Things I Wish I Had Learned Years Ago: A Potpourri of Approaches and Attitudes for Young English
Teachers and Other Thieving Magpies
Having taught for thirty-four years in private schools in three states, David Sawyer has tinkered, groaned, and
grown in the classroom. This workshop is a reflection on some ideas that work, including occasional papers,
fragmented readings, and a better way to offer extra credit. Other musings include principles that have helped
prevent burnout and made teaching enjoyable for many years. Participants are encouraged to bring ideas that
have worked for them in the English classroom.
Presenter: David Sawyer - Brentwood Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Language Arts
Block C – Page 7
To Govern Well
How many governance sessions have you been through? Well, buckle up for another one. You will get to meet
the relatively new governance training from SAIS: The Board Speaks with One Voice™. Developed in
consultation with the members of the SAIS Legacy Club of retired Headmasters from SAIS member schools,
this training is clear, straight-forward, and just what is needed in independent education. We will take a look
under the hood at the content of the training and the delivery of the training (by the way, it is available on line!).
See if this is what your new board members need to hear. Did I mention it is intentionally aligned with SAIS
Accreditation and principles of effective practice?
Presenter: Damian Kavanagh – SAIS
Administrators
Untangling the Worry Web: Helping Anxious Children in the Classroom (This session is also offered in Block D.)
This session will offer practical strategies that teachers can implement immediately to help more effectively coregulate anxious children in the classroom setting. Since anxiety symptoms can often look like defiance and
non-compliance, a call to shift our paradigm about effective intervention with this population will frame our
time together. Creative techniques that can be implemented with whole classrooms will be shared as well as
classroom management strategies that help to SOOTHE the anxious child. Discussion will also include criteria
for when a child might need to be referred for more specialized anxiety treatment.
Featured Speaker: Paris Goodyear-Brown, LCSW, RPT-S
Administrators, All Teachers
Using Improv to Laugh, Learn, and Grow
The skills used by improv comedians are the same for any communicators! Have FUN while you do games that
help you be quick on your feet, work better as a team, be a better communicator, and keep attention... yours and
your students/faculty. This interactive workshop gets you on your feet doing many of the things you see on
"Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Presenter Barry McAlister is a professional improvisor when not working at his
school- and has trained in Chicago at the Second City. Come have some fun!!
Presenter: Barry McAlister - Montgomery Bell Academy
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary
Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Why Do We Need Summer Camp?
Summer camp on your campus can be your best marketing tool in the community. Summer camp allows you to
show off your facilities and campus to prospective parents. If your school is a secondary school, summer camp
provides employment and volunteer opportunities for your students. While fulfilling the need for summer
enrichment to families in your community, you in turn will see excitement about being on your campus at the
start of school. And a successful summer program can help with the budget for the upcoming school year! Most
importantly, summer is when memories are made!
Presenter: Kim Leffew - Girls Preparatory School
Administrators, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, All Subjects
Working with Music in the Foreign Language Classroom
Do you love music and want to share that love with your students? In this session, teachers will walk away with
multiple ways to incorporate music into their classroom. Teachers will also discuss ways in which that they
have used music in their classrooms.
Presenter: Freya Kridle - St. George's Independent School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Foreign Language
Block C – Page 8
Yoga, Toega, Fun, and Focus
Children move all the time. Our challenge is to make their movement meaningful - and helpful in the
educational process. A school counselor and first grade teacher have become children's yoga instructors and
have spent the past two years discovering how we can use yoga in the elementary school setting. We want to
share with our colleagues what we have learned in this amazing journey. Come ready to stretch your thinking
about how yoga can affect your teaching practices.
Presenters: Denise Cooper & Nicole Smith - The Bright School
Administrators, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, All Subjects
Block C – Page 9
Block D ~ Monday, 11:00 – 11:55
1:1 iPad Classroom
Implementation of technology can be scary when it comes to 1:1 in the classroom. This session is designed to
ease the fear and concentrate on specifics for first time complete immersion into the world of classroom
technology. Participants will walk away with apps designed to organize students and provide real-world
experiences which enhance learning.
Presenters: Kimberly Goad & Alicia McQueen - Clarksville Academy
Middle School Teachers, Technology
AP English Roundtable
Let’s get together to discuss AP English. Hear advice from current AP readers and gather ideas from fellow AP
teachers. Where are our students struggling and how can we better support them? What are some best practices?
How can teachers of AP Language and AP Literature support each other vertically?
Presenters: Heidi Rubín de la Borbolla & Jennifer Vasil - St. George's Independent School
Upper School Teachers, Language Arts
Beyond Email: New Tools for the Classroom
In my sophomore English classes, students engage with technology by seeing it as a tool beyond simple social
media. The use of Windows 365 tools, especially shared OneNote for collaborative note-taking and Skydrive
for paperless assignment submissions, as well as a highly structured Wordpress website
(lausanne10english.wordpress.com) that organizes class documents, full schedules, assignments, course notes,
journaling, and extra resources, all provide tools that create efficiency and transparency in a modern classroom.
My presentation will include working examples of these tools, as well as practical tips for teachers to implement
these technologies with a minimum amount of work.
Presenter: Seth Burgess - Lausanne Collegiate School
Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Upper School Teachers, Language Arts, Technology
Bible and Religion Teachers Roundtable Discussion
This is a chance to share, discuss, and gather resources and ideas that have been effective in high school religion
classes. Topics should include (but are not limited to):
--Helping students find relevance in religious texts
--Integrating spiritual disciplines into your curriculum
--Promoting critical thinking and reflection over simple regurgitation of facts
--Promoting and facilitating class discussion
Presenter: Matt Brown - Brentwood Academy
Upper School Teachers, Social Studies
Brainstorming Session: The Revised AP U.S. History Course
Collaborative sharing of resources and ideas for teaching the revised Advancement Placement U.S. History
course. Participating members are encouraged to bring copies of suggested lesson units, assessments, URL links
to websites, etc. The hope is that everyone leaves the session inspired and better equipped to finish the first year
of this new course on a high note!
Presenters: Marianne Leung - St. George's Independent School & Len Hamner - Briarcrest Christian School
Upper School Teachers, Social Studies
Block D – Page 1
Capture Our Voices: Turning Middle School Students into Published Writers
From first draft to final copy, explore poetry as an entrée to middle school writing instruction. Utilizing the
publications of famous writers and middle school students, practice techniques that encourage students to write
in quantity and with quality. Discover how teachers can offer personalized editing feedback to move each
student forward. Motivate your students as you encourage them to stretch and grow as sophisticated writers.
Use of the iPad will be incorporated into this class.
Presenter: Amy Cohen - Baylor School
Technology Integration Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Language Arts
Classy Chicks
We want to help teachers break out of their shells and create warm, inviting, beautifully organized classrooms.
This session will provide teachers with practical, time efficient strategies that will equip them to create leaning
environments that will foster a love of learning. Kathy and Angie are first grade teachers at Briarcrest Christian
School who love to create a "home away from home" atmosphere for their students. Their classrooms have been
featured in the award winning teaching blog and magazine, "School Girl Style."
Presenters: Angie Sneathern & Kathy McFerran - Briarcarest Christian School
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, All Subjects
Creating a News Broadcast Using Digital Film Media
If you want to create a high quality interactive news broadcast for your school you will want to attend this
session. I will present in detail how my 5 day a week class during regular school hours is able to produce a biweekly 20-30 min informative and entertaining news broadcast. This session will prove how important it is to
have a class designed to give students a real depiction of work force requirements needed for careers in
journalism, digital media production and just about any job that requires creative thinking, attention to details,
deadlines and communication skills. By the end of the session participants will help create a news story using
proper lighting, camera, green screen, audio and editing techniques.
Presenter: Sean Kelly - Currey Ingram Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Social Studies, Language Arts
Creating Lifelong Readers and Writers in Upper Elementary School Classrooms
Are you ready for an interactive, collaborative meeting of the minds? This session will offer new, research
based techniques in taking your classroom from a teacher-led environment to a student-led environment where
problem solving ignites, reading and writing stamina increases, student motivation for learning soars and
technology guides classroom instruction! We will share ideas on how to create lifelong readers and writers in
upper elementary school students while building community and fostering a love of reading that will last a
lifetime!
Presenter: Nicci Feathers - Woodland Presbyterian School
Elementary Teachers, Language Arts
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving in the Digital Age
Multiple studies show that critical thinking and problem solving have deteriorated among students. Digital
distractions and instant access have eroded these key intellectual abilities, but critical thinking is a necessary
skill for college and for many professions. There are many classroom activities and protocols that can build and
enhance these important skills, and this session is primarily about putting those skills into the hands of
educators. Participants will leave this session with multiple activities that can be utilized in their classrooms
immediately.
Presenter: Cindy Montgomery - Brentwood Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Block D – Page 2
Delivering E-Books: Any Way You Want It
A panel of four librarians will discuss connecting students and teachers with digital content for reading,
research, and enrichment. Discover several options for putting e-books on library e-readers, personal devices,
and computers, and hear questions and answers about removing outdated e-books, marketing new ones, and
understanding the digital vs. print dilemma.
Presenters: Bonnie Barnes & Nancy Arant - Memphis University School, Jeanine Akers - St. Mary’s Episcopal
School, and Sara Casey - St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School
Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, All Subjects
Design Star for Lower School Math
Help bring out the architects, engineers and chefs in your upper elementary math students with relevant projectbased assessments that complement and enrich your math curriculum. Utilize wikis, blogs, apps, and ipads to
engage your classroom in higher order thinking skills and collaboration. If you’re ready to get out of the
workbooks this session is for you! Sample classroom projects and resources will be shared.
Presenter: Diane Kemp - The Bright School
Elementary Teachers, Math
Effective Study Strategies
"Study for tomorrow's test." How many times have you written that homework assignment without knowing if
your students know or use effective study strategies? Studying is a skill that most teachers assume students
have mastered by the time they reach the upper school level. While the majority of students have developed
effective study skills, some students still struggle with note taking, assessment preparation and organization.
This session will focus on strategies upper school students can use to help them master the art of studying.
Presenter: Carmel Cordero - The Webb School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Energizing Brain Breaks for the Elementary Classroom
What if I said there was a simple, fun and easy way to transform and energize your classroom on a daily basis,
would you be interested? It is a well-known fact that movement in the classroom helps increase student
productivity, improves the quality of student work and creates an exciting learning environment. Through
“Brain Breaks” we have a purposeful way to get kids moving, thinking and energized. This session will provide
you with hands-on and interactive ideas to take back to your classroom. Get ready to move!
Presenter: Beverly Vyule - The Bright School
Administrators, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, All Subjects
Environmental Education Through Experiential Learning
This hands-on session will demonstrate ways to engage students of varying age groups around environmental
issues through experiential learning. Young people must first develop an appreciation for nature in order to
understand the importance of learning about environmental issues. In this session we will discuss ways to create
meaningful experiences outside and explore first-hand accounts of what is happening in our immediate
environment.
Presenter: Bill McClain - St. George's Independent School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Math, Science, Social Studies
Block D – Page 3
Exploring Encaustics
In this “hands on” session we will explore the ancient, now resurging, art form of Encaustic painting and its
classroom applications for middle and high school artists. The art of Encaustic painting involves layering
melted wax with pigments and textures to develop images and designs. This introductory class will cover the
basics including materials, how to make the wax, apply the wax, fuse and finish. Each participant will receive a
small practice panel so they can “learn by doing” and create a small Encaustic piece to take with them. This
workshop will give participants a basic foundation on which to begin exploration of Encaustic painting for your
art program. Join us for a time to create and see how basic materials can be combined to bring this timeless art
form to your studio classrooms.
Presenter: Janet Laws - Brentwood Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Art
Follow the Child! Meeting Curriculum Standards Through Emergent Projects in EC (Part 2 of 2)
How often do we really stop, watch and listen to the children we teach? Spontaneous experiences unite our
students, excite them, and will teach them to love learning. Our job is to connect our students’ interests with
standards and objectives, to facilitate their in-depth explorations, and to encourage problem solving.
Participants will be introduced to real life examples of emergent projects in both public and private early
childhood settings.
Presenter: Allison Warren - St. Mary's Episcopal School
Administrators, Early Childhood Teachers, All Subjects
Get ArtSmart with TPAC Education
Discover firsthand what an ArtSmart Teaching Artist residency would look like in your classroom! Play the role
of learner in a fun, hands-on activity, like those in ArtSmart lessons, but age-appropriate for you. Let your own
creativity surprise you in small group collaboration facilitated by a TPAC Teaching Artist. Then preview an
upcoming school-day performance at TPAC and revel in the “aha!” you experience as you recognize your own
art-making reflected in it!
Guest Presenters from Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Having Fun with Spanish Stuff
In this day and age where most things are computerized, why not use smart phones, computers, and tablets to
enhance your Spanish classroom experience? In this session we will explore ideas for creatively engaging
students via these technologies, including using Duolingo as a homework tool; filming students to develop
their vocabulary and communication skills; creating teaching videos for YouTube; and classroom projects to
make learning Spanish fun.
Presenter: Juan M. Garcia - Christian Brothers High School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Foreign Language
Helping Students Put Their Best Foot Forward: The Importance of Effective Letters of
Recommendation
Much of the college application and admission process involves empowering students to advocate for
themselves. That said, our advocacy on their behalf is just as integral. Join us for a mock admissions committee
that will demonstrate the importance of effective letters of recommendation from counselors, teachers, and
administrators. Fill the shoes of an admissions counselor at a selective university--and be ready to defend your
favorite applicants!
Presenters: Beverly Brooks - St. George's Independent School & Chancey Thompson- St. Mary's Episcopal School
Administrators, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Block D – Page 4
Implementing Effective Physical Security Programs in a Private School Environment (Part 2 of 2)
This double session is designed to introduce the process of creating and implementing effective security control
measures in a private school, understanding private school culture, how that culture relates to the security field
and how to develop effective communication in a cross-cultural environment.
Instructors include: Security expert Michael Mann, Security Manager for Westinghouse Electric Company,
owner of Masada Consulting and Sergeant Jason Beddoe, a retired police officer and current Security Manager
of Brentwood Academy.
Presenter: Sergeant Jason Beddoe & Michael Mann - Brentwood Academy
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary
Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Innovate: Lessons from the Underground Railroad (This session is also offered in Block C.)
Dr. Syb explains how the Underground Railroad is among the most effective, disruptive and innovative
networks in American history, and compares it to the Internet by establishing how the past and the present
virtually collide to create the future in real time. When you think about the ingenuity that went into creating
such an organized network of movement and communication during the time of the Underground Railroad and
you compare that same concept to how individuals move and share information through the Internet, the
comparisons are too obvious to ignore. This book reveals how both platforms serve as avenues for expression
of freedom, justice and equality whether networking through portals and links to branding and ownership.
Using Dr. Syb's Seven Elements of Innovation, problem, principle, purpose, perspective, pioneering, passion
and play, she explains how school's can benefit from these lessons in the digital age.
Featured Speaker: Dr. Sybril Bennett - Belmont University
Administrators, All Subjects
Integrating Vernier LabQuest Equipment and Probes in the Biology and Physics Classrooms
Does your school have a set of Vernier handhelds and you haven't touched them because you are a little
overwhelmed by the technology? Or...is your department thinking about purchasing them? In either case, join
us for a hands-on demonstration of several easy-to-implement labs that utilize Vernier equipment.
Approximately 10 handheld devices will be available for small group use during the session.
Presenters: Karen Deal & Ashley George – St. Cecilia Academy
Upper School Teachers, Science
Intentional Teaching: Help your Early Childhood Students Get the Most Out of Each Day
This session has been cancelled.
Kinetic Sculptures: Art and Engineering with littleBits
Fine Art and engineering skills are perfectly matched in this interdisciplinary STEAM project. This session will
discuss the collaboration of the GPS Fine Arts and Engineering faculty to facilitate the Kinetic Sculpture project
in the elective engineering class. Learn about the project-based model of the class and also get hands on
exposure to littleBits (http://littlebits.cc/), a wonderful tool to bring engineering into any classroom!
Presenter: Jill Pala, Isabel McCall & Kristi Bryson - Girls Preparatory School
Technology Integration Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Art, Math, Science, Technology
Block D – Page 5
Libology: Merging Library and Technology (No Surgery Required)
Feeling tired and overworked? Give yourself a booster shot by attending this session on building a united
library and technology team. The LibTech team from Currey Ingram Academy will share their success in
transforming the library/technology culture at their school. Pick up tools for improving advocacy,
collaboration, communication, and creating a unified image.
Presenters: Ginann Franklin, Kevin Goscha, Melissa Powers, & Levi Hamilton - Currey Ingram Academy
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Technology
The Lighting of a Fire: Portfolio Capstone Experience for Middle School
An interview with Olivia de Havilland, an equestrian demonstration on the front lawn of the school, a handcarved lacrosse stick, a chili fundraiser featuring handmade pottery bowls: all of these experiences have grown
out of the Portfolio Project at the Episcopal School of Knoxville. The Portfolio Project, a capstone experience
for eighth graders at our K-8 school, features three components: a research paper, an artifact, and community
service. All of these components grow out of a topic chosen by each student, and completing the components
takes a full school year. This session will describe the collaboration that led to the Portfolio Project, an
overview of the structure and pacing of the project, and a discussion of how to use this project in other schools.
Presenters: Susan Lancaster & Cary Busby - Episcopal School of Knoxville
Administrators, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
The Magic of Music (Part 2 of 2)
This session has been cancelled.
Mathematics Teachers Roundtable (Middle and Upper School)
How much technology (including calculators) should we allow/encourage our students to use in the math
classroom? How do we develop that ever important "grit"? How do we get our students over their test
anxiety? Should we teach Calculus or Statistics? Do we want to move to digital textbooks? Please come share
your thoughts on these questions and add questions of your own. Learn what your colleagues are doing in their
math classrooms. If you think talking about math is fun, this session is for you.
Presenter: Liz Quinn-Stine - Saint Andrew's Sewanee School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Math
Measuring the Mission
Data analysis is pretty tough – especially when you don't know the language and when you don't really
understand the concepts (I can’t tell you how long it took me to understand z-scores and now I don't know what
life was like before). As a method of teaching some basic and some more advanced concepts, we will review
the SAIS Value Narrative Survey design methodology, validity and reliability studies, and some of the results
and global norms and consider what this data is actually trying to tell us about the state of independent schools
right now.
Guest Presenter: Damian Kavanagh, SAIS
Administrators
Musical Literacy in the Choral Rehearsal and General Music Classroom
There are many advantages to instilling students with critical listening skills and basic musicianship tools in
choral and general music classrooms: more productive rehearsals, consistent mastery of musical concepts,
student self-correction and improvement, and a strong basis for a lifetime of musical enjoyment. This session
will explore several specific, effective, and fun ways of incorporating these skills in the everyday rehearsal and
classroom environment.
Presenter: Vincent Oakes - Baylor School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Music
Block D – Page 6
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program - A Model for Change
Four years ago, Saint Bernard Academy embarked on a systemic effort to prevent bullying at the Pre-K-8th
grade school. This session will focus on the school’s implementation of the Olweus Bullying Prevention
Program, an internationally renowned bullying prevention program. Learn about the program, the why’s and
the how’s of a successful implementation, as well as the challenges. Data on the impact of the program at SBA
will be shared.
Presenter: Hannah Dwyer & Seraphine Bitter - St. Bernard Academy
Administrators, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Publishing a Lower School Newspaper
Learn how to create and publish a school newspaper for students in grades 2-4. Find out what jobs to create for
the students and how to manage them as they meet their deadlines. You’ll get ideas on topics that the kids can
write about in the paper and be prepared for the the problems you’ll face while starting the newspaper. You’ll
know how to keep things running smoothly while you publish your paper.
Presenter: Mark Littlefield - University School of Nashville
Librarians - Media Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Language Arts, Technology
Quotations Quest: Finding Meaning in Literature
This session will demonstrate how to teach students to think about literature in a purposeful way, using
quotations as the teaching tool. Participants will leave with 3-5 successful strategies, each based on close textual
analysis, which can be paired with any literary text. These activities will enable students to see that “getting the
book” like an English teacher isn’t a mystery. It just involves paying close attention to the author’s words!
Presenter: Leanne Ricketson - St. George's Independent School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Language Arts
Reading as Portraiture: An Arts Integrated Method
This session will explore the use of portraits and photographs to build a deeper understanding of content taught
in your classroom. The content in this session can be used in language arts, social studies, music and art
curriculums; or any curriculum centered around reading. Participants become the students in this session to
provide a truly hands-on experience with this method.
Presenter: Tammy Holt & Dennis Whitehead - St. George's Independent School
Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Music,
Art, Social Studies, Language Arts
Replace Whiteboards, Flip Classrooms, and Transform Classes with Doceri
The Doceri app is not only a whiteboard app that allows teachers to save, reuse, print, email and post
whiteboards. Use it to flip classrooms. Make backgrounds of anything (worksheets, guided-notes, maps,
PowerPoints, textbooks, etc), then write, draw, or highlight them. Come see these methods demonstrated and
taught, and learn how Doceri can transform your classroom.
Presenter: Tim Hickman - Brentwood Academy
Administrators, Technology Integration Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Roundtable Discussions:
Academic Deans – Led by Angela Rasnick – Webb School
Division Heads (Middle School) – Led by Rhonda Smith – Christ Presbyterian Academy
Language Arts Teachers (Middle School) – Carey Dincause - Christ Presbyterian Academy
AP Chemistry Teachers – Led by Jeff Bryan – Brentwood Academy
Division Heads (Early Childhood) Led by Beth Hudson – University School of Jackson
Block D – Page 7
Social Norms: Reducing Risk, Sharing Healthy Realities (This session is also offered in Block C.)
Although many students do not use alcohol or other drugs, students form attitudes about substance use based on
norms they perceive. When they do this, they naturally overestimate – and start to emulate – risky peer
behaviors. However, when students know their peers are making healthy decisions, they are more likely to
follow suit. In this session, FCD will guide attendees through the social norms approach to prevention and offer
simple strategies to prevent student substance abuse.
Featured Speaker: Renee Soulis - FCD Educational Services
Administrators, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Strategies for a Successful Accreditation Collaboration
If your school will soon be undertaking accreditation through SAIS-SACS, this session is for you! Learn how
to utilize digital collaboration to streamline your self-study committees, response to standards and indicators,
strategic plan, and school report. Creating your process with the "end in mind" will allow you to not only
protect your face-to-face collaborative time, but will also empower all school stakeholders to meaningfully
participate in this important process.
Presenter: Lori Williamson - St. George's Independent School
Administrators, Technology Directors, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All
Subjects
Teaching Science Information in a "Discovery Channel World"
How do we teach the child who "knows" everything? What are the appropriate modeling/lab/classroom
techniques to teach the scientific method and theory to the student who is immersed in fact overload and instant
information from electronic devices.
Presenters: Connie Cude & Johnna Hutchison - Sumner Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Science
Teaching Shakespeare in Today’s Classroom (Lessons 3, 4 and 5)
Words, Words, Words (what does this stuff mean?) meets FUNdamental Staging Principles (can we get these
students moving please) and Putting It All Together (Plot and Story). Let Baylor School Performing Arts
Faculty Member, Patrick Tansor (Actors’ Equity Association Member and Carnegie Mellon School of Drama
Graduate), help you explore some techniques that will open up your classroom to the stage and your students to
the power of the Bard!
Presenter: Patrick Tansor - Baylor School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Art, Language Arts
Teaching the Arts in Independent Schools
This roundtable discussion seeks to engage arts educators and administrators in conversation about the unique
contribution the arts make in developing 21st Century creative problem solvers. Areas for discussion could
focus on current arts education research and the newly released National Coalition for Core Arts Standards. The
group could also identify challenges that may still exist in academic institutions with an eye to developing
effective arts advocacy. It is an exciting time to be working in dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual art!
Presenter: Cathie Kasch - Girls Preparatory School
Administrators, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Music, Art, Technology
Think About the Possibilities! Critical & Creative Thinking as a Habit of Mind
How do educators make critical and creative thinking an integral part of their daily instructional practices? This
question will be addressed in this session by pairing theory with strategies for creating learner discourse and
opportunities for higher-level thinking. Participants will walk away with ways to differentiate their instruction
and cultivate student thinking and discourse.
Guest Presenter: Tamra Stambaugh - Vanderbilt University
Everyone
Block D – Page 8
Untangling the Worry Web: Helping Anxious Children in the Classroom (This session is also offered in Block C.)
This session will offer practical strategies that teachers can implement immediately to help more effectively coregulate anxious children in the classroom setting. Since anxiety symptoms can often look like defiance and
non-compliance, a call to shift our paradigm about effective intervention with this population will frame our
time together. Creative techniques that can be implemented with whole classrooms will be shared as well as
classroom management strategies that help to SOOTHE the anxious child. Discussion will also include criteria
for when a child might need to be referred for more specialized anxiety treatment.
Featured Speaker: Paris Goodyear-Brown, LCSW, RPT-S
Administrators, All Teachers
Using Improv to Teach Skills and Boost Learning
This workshop looks at using improv exercises to teach a wide variety of content areas and boost skills that are
crucial for student learning: listening, teamwork, communication, idea-genreation, vocabulary, and more. The
exercises can be used to teach a wide variety of subjects, as well as build classroom community and develop
cooperative learning skills. Plus, they're just plain fun- for students and for teachers! Based on programs
developed by The Second City in Chicago.
Presenter: Barry McAlister - Montgomery Bell Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Winterim/Janterm Roundtable
Searching for ways to improve your Winterim (or Janterm) program? This round table discussion will allow
you to share details of your program and garner ideas from other TAIS schools. Bonnie Hall and Shannon Frost
will facilitate this discussion, which will include but not be limited to the following topics: registration
procedures, ideas for classes, assessment of learning.
Presenters: Bonnie Hall & Shannon Frost - Brentwood Academy
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Yoga in the Classroom
Our students live in a fast-paced society where pressures and expectations are high. Between busy parents,
multiple lessons, video games and media many students are becoming stretched and overstimulated. Yoga
helps students focus on their breathing, develop body awareness and concentration in the midst of all the action.
It is a marvelous tool in the classroom to create calm and engage focus and memory. We will discuss yoga's
benefits for children, curriculum connections and practice easy, accessible poses that can be used in the
classroom.
Presenters: Melanie Mayo & Kat Cantelou - St. Nicholas School
Block D – Page 9
Block E ~ Monday, 1:20 – 2:15
2e: What Does It Mean for Me?
Intellectually gifted students are often our shining stars in the classroom; they think deeply, ask great questions,
and can reach to high levels at a rapid pace. We know that curriculum must be modified to differentiate to
create greater challenge and complexity for our gifted students. But, what if something else needs our attention?
360,000 gifted students are considered twice-exceptional, meaning that they are both intellectually gifted and
have an additional label, whether ADHD, Specific Learning Disability, Autism, or any other diagnostic
educational label. Twice-exceptional students are a special group in that they have educational needs for both of
their labels, which is often difficult to manage. This presentation will discuss methods of identifying and
serving twice-exceptional students. Participants will learn about the major types of twice-exceptionality, signs
to look for, and strategies to use to complement students’ strengths and accommodate for their weaknesses.
Guest Presenter: Megan Parker Peters, PhD, NCSP - Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth
Everyone
A Space of One’s Own: Using Blogs to Empower Voices and Expand Audience in the English Classroom
Have your students ever asked you for more time to work on their own writing or to pursue additional academic
interests? Have you fielded requests for assignments that “allow us to write/work on/create whatever we
want”? Come see what students will create when given this opportunity and discuss ways that a class blog
might allow for voice, experimentation, and original work as an extension of your classroom.
Presenter: Armistead Lemon - The Harpeth Hall School
Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
A Trivial Pursuit: Our Students' Quest for Grades over Knowledge
Why do our students study? An informal poll yielded terrifying results: they study to receive good grades. That
doesn't sound too frightening, but valuing grades over lasting knowledge is an epidemic that pervades American
education. So what do we do? Participants in this session will be introduced to techniques for motivating
students toward a true pursuit of knowledge, ranging from engaging formative assessment ideas to studentdriven grading scenarios.
Presenter: Kyle Christmas - Clarksville Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Active Brains and Bodies! (In Control)
Engage your students in physical activity breaks throughout the day to energize their minds and help them focus
on the next learning activity. Brain breaks and brain gym activities will be shared along with “fun minute to
win it” games. We will also include fun and effective techniques for classroom management.
Presenter: Grace Wilkinson - Harding Academy and Leslie Wheeler – Grassland Elementary School
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, All Subjects
Appy Hour!
Join us for APPY HOUR and get a taste of our favorite classroom apps. Teachers from SAA-SDS will discuss
and demonstrate some practical and fun ways to utilize iPads in your classroom. You will gain a better
understanding of how to implement iPads into every subject area, take the necessary internet and
safety precautions, as well as how to get students collaborating on projects. Attendees will leave with a list of
practical apps that can be quickly applied to their curriculum. Bring some of your favorite apps to share as well!
Presenters: Sara Casey, Alison Garibaldi, Terry Schmitt - St. Agnes Academy - St. Dominic School
Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Technology
Block E – Page 1
Art + Nature: Programs for Students & Teachers at Cheekwood
Explore programs for students and teachers at Cheekwood as you learn about upcoming exhibitions, free garden
and art tours for school groups, and professional development opportunities for you! Then take part (and receive
lessons!) for two hands-on activities.
Guest Presenter: Karen Kwarciak - School and Outreach Coordinator, Cheekwood
Lower School Teachers
Bridging the Gap of All Ages
This session will leave you with many ideas to develop activities to fuse students of all ages throughout your
school. While building relationships through these activities students will gain school pride and lasting life
skills. Come and learn how to plan a year’s worth of activities for a Kindergarten/Senior Buddy Program that
will enhance and bridge the gap between the young and old of your school.
Presenter: Diana Samuels - Clarksville Academy
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Challenge Based Learning: A Paradigm Shift
Learn how to implement the format, utilizing the CBL framework, and change the typical classroom model.
This hands on, inquiry-based learning style fosters collaborative thinking, innovative approaches, and results in
sustainable solutions with community impact. The CBL journey affords practical, real life applications of
students’ education. CBL inspires critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity. Change the directional flow of
your classroom dynamic while incorporating standards in a cross curriculum setting.
Presenter: Joanne Askew - Clarksville Academy
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Creative Connections (Part 1 of 2)
Creative teachers inspire students with a variety of learning styles to succeed in school. Looking at scientific
evidence of right brain and left brain tendencies, we can better understand the learning personalities of our
students which can help teachers understand their students' weaknesses and strengths. In order to inspire success
for our students, we need to learn how to accept students’ basic learning styles and provide them with an
approach in teaching that meets all needs. Teachers will participate in a variety of creative and/or artistic
exercises that will help them relate to their students’ learning challenges. By providing educators with media
resources, lesson plans and web links, teachers will be inspired to enhance their teaching styles. The
information will be informative to all teachers but the session will be inspired by a visual art foundation. This
session is targeted for the elementary and middle school curriculum. Teachers who have the desire to motivate
their students through creativity will enjoy this session.
Presenter: Allison Egan - Davidson Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Art
Cultivating Creativity Using Improv (Part 1 of 2)
Do you feel like you do the same thing every day? Do your students' responses barely scratch the surface?
Would you like some tools to help them think outside the box, through the box, or look, that box has a turtle in
it! Come join two improv actors turned teachers as they get you playing improv games that encourage critical
thinking skills and creativity and encourage students to trust their ideas and instincts.
Presenters: Scott Field & Elizabeth Banks - Currey Ingram Academy
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Humanities & Art
Block E – Page 2
Cultivating Number Sense in the Younger Years
Number sense matters. Young children who develop number sense early have more success in math in the later
years. This session provides strategies for helping young children develop four critical facets of number sense:
number meaning, relative value, flexible strategies and mathematical judgement. During the session we will
have hands-on materials for participants to explore. These number sense experiences and activities are easy to
implement into the daily routines of your early childhood classroom.
Presenter: Betsy Whipple & Liz Gano - St. George's Independent School
Early Childhood Teachers, Math
Digital Curriculum Mapping: One Tool to Enhance Multiple Initiatives
If you could use one tool to achieve multiple goals, would you choose to use it? Digital curriculum mapping is
the one tool that can help your school meet its goals in the areas of teacher collaboration, diversity of
assessment, and alignment of the curriculum. Come and hear ways to use your teacher’s mapping to enhance
your school’s professional learning community.
Presenter: Katherine Koonce - Christ Presbyterian Academy
Administrators, Technology Integration Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Effectively Communicating Your School's Mission
Are you frustrated by the "mixed messages" you hear about your school's mission from faculty, parents, and
prospective families? Do you find it difficult to succinctly describe what sets your school apart from other
independent schools in your area? How does branding play a part in your communications efforts? Join us for a
roundtable discussion where we will share ideas and test our own knowledge about the target our schools are
attempting to hit in the busy world of communication.
Presenter: Susan Shafer - Brentwood Academy
Administrators, Technology Directors, All Subjects
ELL: Developing and Assessing Oral English Language Proficiency
Advancing students’ abilities to speak in English requires classroom instruction that ensures extended discourse,
creative use of language, and narration. This session will share lesson plans and contextualized communicative
activities that help students move towards higher levels of English language proficiency. Spoken performance
assessment criteria on four analytical subscales will be used for performance indicators of acquisition.
Presenter: Daiva Berzinskas - The Webb School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Foreign Language
Experiential Learning in the Social Studies Classroom (Part 1 of 2)
This conference is intended to show various lesson plans regarding experiential learning in the History and
Geography classes. We will be looking at challenging students using a gaming website, learning through food,
and discovering how real experience gives students a cutting edge education they will never forget. We will
taste chocolates, memorize 56 founding fathers, and navigate our path with only a compass.
Presenter: Russell Olds - Our Savior Lutheran Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Social Studies
Favorite Poem Podcast
Adapted from Robert Pinsky’s Favorite Poem Project (http://www.favoritepoem.org/project.html), students
select a poem and create a podcast using Garageband software. Poetry, music, photography, technology, and
copyright instruction are incorporated into the assignment. Students must record an oral interpretation of an
approved poem and an introduction with personal reflection into the meaning of the poem. Audio loops and
copyright free photography/art or the student’s own photography are used to illustrate and support the tone of
the presentation.
Presenters: Briget Clark & Beth Vise - University School of Jackson
Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Language Arts
Block E – Page 3
Foldable Learning--- How to Use Foldables and Interactive Notebooks to Perk Up Student Learning
Make learning more creative, cohesive and accessible with interactive notebooks and foldables. Learn why
interactive notebooks are so popular, find out how to implement them in your classroom and discover some
additional resources for even more ideas. Learn how to make a few simple foldables and pop-ups that can
transform a mediocre page of notes or a boring worksheet into an efficient and powerful learning tool. These
methods can be used in any subject area at any grade level. Bring your imagination and let's get folding!
Presenter: Kelly Klingbeil - St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Science
Getting Motivated with Technology Enhanced Project Based Learning Units
This session will introduce various free technology applications that can easily be incorporated into any
classroom. The session will focus on incorporating those technology tools into cross-curricular problem and
project based learning activities for upper elementary, middle and high school levels. There will be an opportunity
for participants to explore some of the technology tools first hand and share tools that have worked for them.
Please BYOD. In addition, each participant will leave with access to an example of a problem/project based
learning unit geared toward middle school students, in which students throw a philanthropic party.
Presenter: Andrea Meyers - Benton Hall Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
How Commercial Music Education Can Revolutionize Your Music Program (Part 1 of 2)
Five years ago I created a commercial music ensemble at Briarcrest that focused on singing and playing all
styles of commercial music including Jazz, Pop, Rock, etc… This ensemble became known as SoundScape.
Using commercial music as the medium, our curriculum focuses on ear training, reading proficiency,
improvisation, ensemble playing techniques and exposure to relevant technologies. These students are
exceeding all national standards for music proficiency and have developed a vibrant passion for the art.
Presenter: Michael Parsons - Briarcrest Christian School
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Music
Implementing a Successful Digital Learning Initiative
Research has shown that there are nine key success factors that schools should consider in a successful
implementation of a digital learning initiative. From developing your mission and vision to measuring success,
plan to be totally engaged on best practices as your school is reshaping today’s educational environment
through teaching and learning. Hear from Apple leadership and Apple Distinguished Schools who have made
the journey to a 1:1 educational environment with amazing success.
Guest Presenter: Matt Brooks, Apple Inc.
Administrators, Technology
Incorporating Lego Mindstorm EV3 into Classroom Instruction (Part 1 of 2)
Lego Mindstorm EV3 and NXT are fascinating to teachers. They would like to incorporate them into their
classroom, but, do not know where to start. In this workshop, teachers will be learning to program robots using
Lego Mindstorm EV3 while solving student challenges. Teachers will leave with resources that will help them
incorporate Lego Mindstorm EV3 into their classroom.
Presenter: Jonathan Reveal - The Ensworth School
Technology Integration Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Math, Science, Technology
Block E – Page 4
Introducing Engineering to Elementary School Students
The session will include an overview of the Museum of Science Boston’s Engineering is Elementary program,
including its structure and availability, with a focus on its match to standards and appropriateness for the
integrated elementary classroom. Attendees will also participate in classroom ready lessons on defining
technology and introducing the engineering design process to K12 students. Participants will find that they
have naturally followed the engineering design process – Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Test, Improve.
Presenter: Stacy Klein-Gardner - Harpeth Hall School
Administrators, Elementary Teachers, Science
Kindergarten Readiness
Do you need some new strategies to help preschoolers increase their readiness for kindergarten? This session is
packed full of fun, interactive kindergarten readiness strategies to keep your students motivated and excited
about learning!
Presenter: Becky Cox - St. Peter's Episcopal School
Early Childhood Teachers, All Subjects
Living Herstory: Turning Students into Historians
Highlighting a collaborative project involving school archives, the advancement office, technology department,
and many others, 5th and 6th grade students interviewed alumnae who graduated between 1931 and 1951 and
wrote their biographies. Through this high-interest activity, students were exposed to primary and secondary
sources, research and interview skills, and the history of their school, gaining a concept of culture to help
develop their own sense of place and enhance their exploration of world geography.
Presenters: Garen Eadie & Bethanie Cosman - The Harpeth Hall School
Technology Integration Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Social Studies, Language Arts, Technology
Looking for a Chemistry Course that Will Stimulate Those Students with Science Phobia?
Chemistry in the Community is a chemistry program that introduces fundamentals of chemistry through real
world topics and applications. Topics include Air, Petroleum, Water and Metals. This presenter has taught this
course for 7 years and will introduce the concepts in this inquiry-based, laboratory intensive course.
ChemCom also promotes collaboration among students. This course is particularly well suited for future nonscience majors; yet it can also be a pre-requisite for AP Chemistry. ChemCom is a registered trademark of the
American Chemical Society. I have received permission to conduct this workshop.
Presenter: Leone Broadhead - The Webb School
Upper School Teachers, Science
Make Learning and Teaching Easier with Technology (Part 1 of 2)
Do you want to integrate technology in your classroom but you've run out of ideas? Are you interested in
learning how to use technology in the classroom to easily enhance learning and teaching? Come explore
technology in the classroom including iPads, digital flashcards, Apple TV, and Promethean Boards. Come see a
sampling of ways technology can make learning fun and lesson planning a snap. Bring your laptop for some
hands-on practice!
Presenter: Dita Rose - Currey Ingram Academy
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Technology
Making the Grade - Standards-based Grading as an Efficient Feedback System
Throughout the quest to better prepare students for college, traditional grading methods have often raised a
question: What does a grade truly represent? Standards-based grading provides a feedback scaffold which
emphasizes an acquisition of knowledge rather than an aptitude for “playing school.” By aligning the
curriculum with reasonable, attainable standards, student progress can effectively be measured, analyzed, and
interpreted independent of student behavior. Promote higher-order thinking skills and healthy academic habits
with standards-based grading!
Presenter: Trey Cokeroft - Currey Ingram Academy
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Block E – Page 5
Minecraft Clubs
Go beyond the craze and learn how Minecraft can be used in an after school curriculum to enhance learning.
Minecraft Edu and World of Humanities were designed by teachers for teachers to use in the classroom. Learn
about our first year using these Minecraft educational tools in our after-school clubs grades 5-8. We will also
discuss ways to incorporate Minecraft projects into different subject areas.
Presenters: Caitlin McLemore – Harpeth Hall School & Levi Hamilton - Currey Ingram Academy
Technology Integration Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Technology
The Paperless Middle School English Classroom: Taking the Leap with Tech Tools
With one-to-one laptop initiatives and the push to go paperless, middle grade English teachers must find new
ways to teach literature and writing. In this session, we will highlight technology tools that keep students
organized, focused, and interactive. Come see how Microsoft OneNote, Google’s Blogger, Haiku’s Discussion
Boards, LibGuides, and Turnitin.com can transform your classroom and the teaching of Anne Frank: The Diary
of a Young Girl and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. You will leave this session with a blog to use in your
classroom, an electronic notebook containing resources for To Kill A Mockingbird, and other resources to move
you closer to a paperless classroom. Bring a computer and join us!
Presenters: Traci Keller, Rachel Van Dyke & CJ Jones - Harpeth Hall School
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Language Arts
Partnering with Parents about the Digital World
Growing up in a digital world is vastly different than the world in which we were raised. In an effort to
strengthen our partnership with our parents, we have initiated a new program at Harpeth Hall – Get In Her
World: The Digital World. This program consists of meetings with parents during the school year with the
focus on a variety of topics. In addition to these meetings, we have created a public reference webpage for our
parents. This series has allowed us to create conversation with parents around society’s expectations for our
students and ensure the healthy development of our girls. Within our session, we will simulate parts of our
parent sessions and have roundtable discussions to discuss issues around digital citizenship. Participants will
leave our session with resources that they can use at their school as well as access to our Haiku reference
webpage.
Presenters: Molly Rumsey & Jennifer Adams - Harpeth Hall School
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology
Project Serve - Service Learning Through Technology
This session will take participants through the design and implementation of a service learning unit called
“Project Serve.” This unit focuses on the value of quality video production to help non-profits educate,
advocate, stimulate volunteer participation, and solicit donations. Students learn to critique videos and develop
their own. In a series of 10-12 lessons, fundamental concepts in service learning are covered while learning
video editing and production skills. Resources will be provided so that session participants can customize the
unit to meet their curriculum goals.
Presenters: Brenda Huff & Kelly Huddleston - Franklin Road Academy
Technology Integration Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Public Speaking in the Classroom
A Department of Education survey claims that effective communication skills top the list when considering an
employee for hire (even more than GPA). Additionally, executives spend at least 75% of each working day
communicating in some fashion. Research shows students learn best when they are in control of the content.
Public speaking provides the perfect avenue for students to show ownership of their learning. It also allows
instructors to easily assess student comprehension. In this session, we will discuss the value of integrating
public speaking and presentations as a part of our student-centered pedagogy. In addition to the practical aspect
of public speaking, students inevitably retain information at a much deeper level. Come with lessons in mind, as
we work to involve more public speaking within our curricula.
Presenter: Ryan Hubbard - Brentwood Academy
Block E – Page 6
Roundtable Discussions:
Librarians (Middle School) – Led by Hillery Efkeman – St. George’s Independent School
Librarians (Upper School) – Led by Rebecca James – Christ Presbyterian Academy
AP Biology – Led by Tom Cox – Brentwood Academy
AP Physics – Led by Wendy Stallings – Brentwood Academy
French (Upper School) – Led by Marcia Bowen – Brentwood Academy
Latin (Upper School) – Led by Barry Robbins – Brentwood Academy
5th Grade Teachers – Led by Carol Lockrow – St. Peter’s Episcopal School
6th Grade Teachers – Led by Patrick Jordan – Christ Presbyterian Academy
Dean of Students – Led by Andy Bradshaw – Brentwood Academy
Division Heads (Upper School) – Led by Tom Morris – St. George’s Independent School
School Gardens: Growing Your Own Food is Like Printing Your Own Money (Part 1 of 2)
This workshop will provide an introduction to School Gardens for the direct application of using an outside
classroom to teach math, science, food production skills, motor skills, team-building exercises, and a connection
with nature. This presentation will include a short history of food production, practical handouts to create
healthy soil and design ecological gardens, and extensive guides to resources in teaching about organic
gardening and personal self-sufficiency. If students grow broccoli, students eat broccoli.
Presenter: Wade Archer - Benton Hall Academy
Administrators, Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers,
All Subjects
Sew Cool: Projects to Integrate Simple Sewing into Your Language Arts Units
Growing up with a mother who sewed all day every day, adding sewing to my classroom was simple. I have be
able to integrate it into several stories that we read throughout the year. The story that I will be highlighting in
my session shows how to take a fiction story about a penguin and turn it into a non-fiction unit of study.
The students are assigned a specific penguin to research and the end product is a life size stuffed penguin. I
have found that not only does the sewing add excitement to the lesson but it also teaches eye hard coordination,
fine motor skills, and patience. You do not need any previous sewing skills.
Presenter: Amelia Cowan - Woodland Presbyterian School
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Art, Language Arts
So, You Want to Be a Head of School?
Have you ever thought of being a head of school at an independent school? Join Trina Secor, Senior Search
Consultant for Carney Sandoe, and Ken Cheeseman, Head of School at St. Paul Christian Academy, to learn
about the search process, what boards and schools are looking for in their new heads and the challenges and
blessings of being a head of school.
Presenter: Ken Cheeseman, St. Paul Christian Academy & Trina Secor, Carney Sandoe
Administrators, All Subjects
Socratic Seminars for Enhancing Classroom Discussion
Socratic Seminars engage all students in a class in answering a Central Question that addresses material that
resists a single interpretation. With a minimum of teacher involvement, students are assessed as much for his
ability to listen to fellow classmates and understand their ideas, as for his ability to make his own argument.
This Session will introduce the fundamentals of, and documents necessary for, a Socratic Seminar. Session
participants will then engage in a shortened version of an actual seminar, with time afterwards for brainstorming
ideas for his/her own classroom.
Presenter: Christopher Lundgren & Matt Hutton - Montgomery Bell Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Music, Art, Social Studies, Language Arts
Block E – Page 7
Teaching Christian Theology in an Interdenominational Setting
Recent research shows that many college age Christians are not capable of explaining the basic tenets of the
Christian faith, which may play a part in why a large percentage of those Christians leave the Church. With over
33,000 different Christian traditions and with a lack of adequate theological material for High School students,
introducing Christian theology can be difficult. Information and resources will be given that will help students
begin to grasp and understand their faith.
Presenter: Steven Sorrell - Davidson Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Social Studies
United We Stand, Divided We Fall: Introducing the PLC
Building a Professional Learning Community is a process, not a program. The framework for a PLC provides
opportunities for educators to collaborate, share data, and discuss new ideas, eliminating the outdated model of
one teacher working in isolation. Administrators and teachers of all grade levels will learn how the PLC can
transform your congenial groups into high-performing collaborative teams that change the culture of your
school and positively impact student achievement.
Presenters: Angela Rasnick & Shelley Akers - The Webb School
Administrators, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Video Analysis and iPads: Discovering Mathematical Models
Video analysis can be an engaging way for students to collect data and can help them make connections
between real-world events and mathematical models. By marking the position of an object as the video
advances, the resulting graphs can be analyzed to determine the appropriate mathematical model. For this
workshop, we will be using the Vernier Video Physics and Graphical Analysis apps, and iPads will be available
for your use.
Presenters: Crista Smothers & Lauri Jensen - St. George's Independent School
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Math, Science
We Like to "Move It! Move It!"
Need a little push to keep your lessons moving and motivational? Getting all your students focused, eager, and
on task is challenging. We’re here to offer some strategies for keeping lessons lively and your students actively
engaged through movement where they create meaning from the mundane through experiential learning. We’ll
teach you management skills that will help you deliver and strengthen movement strategies. Mix up your
teaching style and let’s “Move It, Move It!”
Presenters: Desiree' Allen & Mandi Hill - St. George's Independent School
Middle School Teachers, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts
What is a GameSalad and Does it Come With Croutons? (Teaching Computer Applications in Middle
and Upper School)
What does fantasy sports have to do with Microsoft Office and 3D printing? Can you really learn programming
without knowing code? Join us as we explore some different ways to teach Computer Applications in a middle
or upper school curricula, and learn about some free programs that can be used in multiple disciplines.
Presenter: Steve Hollis - Brentwood Academy
Technology Integration Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Technology
World Languages and Cultures for Elementary and Middle School
Come explore a pilot program we have launched at St. Paul Christian Academy called World Languages and
Cultures. In this session, you will experience a snapshot of the WL&C experience for the Upper School at St.
Paul, engaging in sample lessons and discussing the benefits of this holistic approach. As we prepare students to
step into an increasingly connected world, equipping them to interact with other cultures in sensitive and
knowledgeable ways is critical. Join us and see how St. Paul is preparing our students to that end!
Presenter: Shannyn Harris - St. Paul Christian Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Foreign Language, Music, Art, Social Studies, Language Arts
Block E – Page 8
Block F Sessions (Monday, 2:20 – 3:15)
Advisory: Rethinking, Reshaping, and Renovating
This session will provide tips on how to improve teacher, student, and parent buy-in within an advisory
program. Together, we will share ways to energize students, empower teachers, and engage parents by creating
an advisory program that really works. If your school does not currently have an advisory program, if you want
to improve your advisory program, or if you have advice to share, this session is for you!
Presenter: Jay Salato - Franklin Road Academy
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Aiming for the Heart:
Applying the Thinking of James K. A. Smith to Help Students Love What They Learn
Philosopher James K. A. Smith has revived the notion that humans are not primarily thinking creatures, but
rather desiring creatures. Simply put – “We are what we love.” Thus, if we seek to inculcate a worldview or to
instill knowledge, we must acknowledge that the head follows the heart. In this workshop, we will explore
ways to aim for students’ hearts and perhaps discover that in so doing we more effectively engage their brains
as well.
Presenter: Parker Page - St. Paul Christian Academy
Administrators, Librarians - Media Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Ch-ch-changes! In the Middle School Math Classroom
Tired of your students forgetting material over a long weekend? Wondering why you are teaching fractions for
the fourth year in a row? Are you desperate for a change in your middle school mathematics classroom? In this
session, we will focus on how we can slowly make some changes in our classrooms to use worthwhile
mathematical tasks to help students understand what they are doing, not just execute procedures.
Presenter: Melissa Aldy - St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School
Middle School Teachers, Math
Cognitive Chemistry and the 21st Century Classroom
Groundbreaking technologies in the field of cognitive science are opening new windows to the workings of our
students’ brains. Utilizing this new knowledge has profound potential to affect positive change in our
classrooms and teaching practices. This presentation will speak to this new cognitive research and how it
intersects with the field of education. Innovative teaching techniques and ideas will be presented that utilize the
brain's natural chemistry to promote greater student engagement and deeper learning.
Presenter: Kim Nunn - Christ Presbyterian Academy
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Come Island Hopping With Us! Professional Development and Collaboration Among the Fine Arts
As a fine arts teacher, finding new ideas and implementing them effectively in the classroom can be a challenge.
Additionally, each discipline can sometimes feel like a bit of an island! For this session, the fine arts team at St.
Paul Christian Academy will share some resources and collaborative ideas that have worked well for us,
detailing where we get ideas and inspiration, how we create meaningful experiences for our students, and ways
that we can "island hop" and collaborate. During the first part of our session, we will present our sources and
how we use them (for the categories of musical theater, cultural studies, art, library, and music). The last part of
the session would be a round table discussion where other teachers can share additional resources and
inspiration.
Presenter: Shannyn Harris, Jennifer Atema, & Lou Alice Rogers - St. Paul Christian Academy
Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Foreign Language, Music, Art, Social
Studies, Language Arts
Block F – Page 1
Competition in the Language Arts Classroom
Young people are all competitive by nature. The desire to play and to win, or just to take on a challenge, lifts a
student's energy and motivation. Although little Billy may be an underachiever with no interest in writing a
sonnet, once a judge and team points are involved, don't be surprised if he turns into little Willy Shakespeare.
Come see how collaboration and competition can affect results on essays, quizzes, and note taking. Revitalize
your classroom and have fun at the same time.
Presenter: Tim Mathews - Currey Ingram Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Language Arts
Content Modification for Differentiated Learning
Accessing the general curriculum at the middle school and high school levels can be a struggle for poor readers.
Whether the student is learning disabled or simply behind, there are effective strategies we can teach that can
help these students efficiently identify the key ideas and concepts of required reading. Making students aware of
expository writing and the structure of text books, as well as providing them with effective and simple reading
comprehension strategies can help immensely. During this session we will discuss various strategies and then
apply them to chapter sections in text books.
Presenter: Larry O'Brien - Benton Hall Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts
Creative Connections (Part 2 of 2)
Creative teachers inspire students with a variety of learning styles to succeed in school. Looking at scientific
evidence of right brain and left brain tendencies, we can better understand the learning personalities of our
students which can help teachers understand their students' weaknesses and strengths. In order to inspire success
for our students, we need to learn how to accept students’ basic learning styles and provide them with an
approach in teaching that meets all needs. Teachers will participate in a variety of creative and/or artistic
exercises that will help them relate to their students’ learning challenges. By providing educators with media
resources, lesson plans and web links, teachers will be inspired to enhance their teaching styles. The
information will be informative to all teachers but the session will be inspired by a visual art foundation. This
session is targeted for the elementary and middle school curriculum. Teachers who have the desire to motivate
their students through creativity will enjoy this session.
Presenter: Allison Egan - Davidson Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Art
Creative Options for Project Features Outside the Walls: Video-conferencing, Virtual Museum Vistis &
More
Museums, private collections and Web-Walls become interactive templates for teacher-student collaboration on
project design. Extend student learning beyond your school walls and down the halls of museums such as the
Smithsonian American Museum, the Biltmore Mansion, and China’s Forbidden City. With Classroom
Videoconferences, APPs like City 360 and virtual tours, the most exotic destination is just a class session away.
From real-time, free of charge, videoconferencing via museum docents of the American Museum at the
Smithsonian to samplings of APPs, and sites rich with cultural opportunities, this session will inspire you to add
that special ingredient to what might otherwise be just another predictable project.
Presenter: Linda Braddock - Davidson Academy
Librarians, Technology Specialists, All Teachers
Cultivating Creativity Using Improv (Part 2 of 2)
Do you feel like you do the same thing every day? Do your students' responses barely scratch the surface?
Would you like some tools to help them think outside the box, through the box, or look, that box has a turtle in
it! Come join two improv actors turned teachers as they get you playing improv games that encourage critical
thinking skills and creativity and encourage students to trust their ideas and instincts.
Presenters: Scott Field & Elizabeth Banks - Currey Ingram Academy
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Humanities & Art
Block F – Page 2
Designing and Implementing Effective Teacher Professional Learning
The time has come for schools to engage teachers in learning the way other professions do—continuously,
collaboratively, and on the job. This workshop includes research and theory, but it is primarily intended to be a
practical resource that teachers and school leaders can use to create meaningful, effective professional
development programs in their schools to build the structures and capacity needed to bring about real
improvements in instructional practices and student learning.
Presenter: John Murray - Franklin Road Academy
Administrators, Technology Integration Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Dittos to Digital and Ink to iPads
This session has been cancelled.
Effective STEM Curriculum for Girls
Each summer the Center for STEM Education for Girls (http://stemefg.org) hosts two week camps for high
school girls called the STEM Summer Institutes. Our curriculum revolves around real engineering design
projects for the Lwala (Kenya) Community Alliance. The curriculum is truly STEM integrated and is an
effective model for school-wide STEM based programming. This workshop will share the research results and
curriculum from these programs, including the opportunity to participate in one engineering design project.
Presenter: Stacy Klein-Gardner - Harpeth Hall School
Upper School Teachers, Science
Ending the Year Thoughtfully
Keeping focus is a challenge at the end of the school year. Why not end the year with an engaging project that
calls on the writing skills your students have been honing since August and create a special book at the same
time? Learn how to set up an end-of-the-year book project and host an authors' reception so parents can
celebrate the year with you and their children. Handouts provided.
Presenter: Robin Smith - Ensworth School
Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Language Arts
The English Justice League: Working Together to Solve the World's Problems (and to discuss best ways
to teach grammar, research, and writing)
Calling all English teachers to a roundtable discussion of all things English: best practices and current trends for
online texts, research papers, vocabulary, grammar, and more. We will also discuss the best way to create an
“English Justice League”—a professional network of English teachers in TN independent schools. Bring your
ideas!
Presenters: Clifton Kaiser - Franklin Road Academy, Leah Handelsman – Battle Ground Academy, Meg
Griswold – Harpeth Hall School, and Jim Miller – Ensworth School
Upper School Teachers, Language Arts
Enhance Classroom Management with Technology
This session has been cancelled.
Block F – Page 3
e-Portfolios: The Development of a New Showcasing Tool for Students
What is the best way to showcase student’s work? How can we create a digital footprint of tangible output that
tracks a student’s learning journey? What is an additional way we can empower a student to realize her
potential? Each of these questions was at the forefront of conversation as our team of 7th grade teachers at
Harpeth Hall began investigating answers. The answer for us came in the form of an e-portfolio.
The benefits of this e-portfolio program are far-reaching. It helps students realize their potential, supports lifelong learning, and showcases individuality. This process mirrors all three prongs of our mission statement:
“think critically, lead confidently, live honorably.” It is a tool to use for student parent conferences, and it
provides a four year overview of student work and growth. This session will lead the participants on the
development of our program.
Presenter: Jennifer Adams - Harpeth Hall School
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, All Teachers, All Subjects
Experiential Learning in the Social Studies Classroom (Part 2 of 2)
This conference is intended to show various lesson plans regarding experiential learning in the History and
Geography classes. We will be looking at challenging students using a gaming website, learning through food,
and discovering how real experience gives students a cutting edge education they will never forget. We will
taste chocolates, memorize 56 founding fathers, and navigate our path with only a compass.
Presenter: Russell Olds - Our Savior Lutheran Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Social Studies
How Commercial Music Education Can Revolutionize Your Music Program (Part 2 of 2)
Five years ago I created a commercial music ensemble at Briarcrest that focused on singing and playing all
styles of commercial music including Jazz, Pop, Rock, etc… This ensemble became known as SoundScape.
Using commercial music as the medium, our curriculum focuses on ear training, reading proficiency,
improvisation, ensemble playing techniques and exposure to relevant technologies. These students are
exceeding all national standards for music proficiency and have developed a vibrant passion for the art.
Presenter: Michael Parsons - Briarcrest Christian School
Administrators, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Music
Incorporating Lego Mindstorm EV3 into Classroom Instruction (Part 2 of 2)
Lego Mindstorm EV3 and NXT are fascinating to teachers. They would like to incorporate them into their
classroom, but, do not know where to start. In this workshop, teachers will be learning to program robots using
Lego Mindstorm EV3 while solving student challenges. Teachers will leave with resources that will help them
incorporate Lego Mindstorm EV3 into their classroom.
Presenter: Jonathan Reveal - The Ensworth School
Technology Integration Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Math, Science, Technology
Instant Replay: Grading on Video
Football players study game film to improve their performance on the field. Why shouldn't your students do the
same in the classroom? This session will focus on the benefits of recording video commentary while grading
papers. By sharing these videos with your students, you will give them personalized resources they can review
again and again. Key examples will come from 9th grade English papers, but this practice could work well for
large assignments in any subject area.
Presenter: Elijah Reynolds - Montgomery Bell Academy
Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Invigorating Social Studies Through Storyline
Learn the philosophy of Storyline, an engaging way to teach Social Studies and Science. See examples of how
teachers have used this method to teach using hands on experiences. Storyline allows you to create your own
units based on the content you want your students to learn.
Presenters: Sally Smith, Margaret Howell, & Leila Eads - The Oak Hill School
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts
Block F – Page 4
Is the Graphing Calculator Obsolete?
Are graphing calculators holding math students back? Learn about the latest software (much of which is free!)
that liberate math teachers and their students from low-resolution, monochromatic, tiny screens. We will
explore a few of the hundreds of educational resources available to math teachers online, and share student
activities and projects that take advantage of them.
Presenter: Thaddeus Wert - Harpeth Hall School
Technology Integration Specialists, Upper School Teachers, Math, Technology
Know Where to Start with TEL
Finding supplemental texts, without the hassle of extra fees, is easy if you know where to start. The Tennessee
Electronic Library gives you and your students access to millions of articles, World Book Encyclopedia,
practice tests and language learning. You’ll leave this session with practical ways to integrate TEL into your
classroom, giving your students digital literacy skills and resources for inquiry learning.
Presenter: Joan Lange – Pope John Paul II High School
Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All
Subjects
Learning about Learning: Drawing Parents into Your School’s Learning Community
Every school has a unique learning community in which its members continually learn from each other and are
challenged by new knowledge and experiences. But we often miss the opportunity to include parents in this
process. In this session we will share unique ideas for enlisting parents as allies in your learning initiatives by
extending learning opportunities to include them.
Presenter: Katherine Koonce - Christ Presbyterian Academy
Administrators, All Subjects
Learning Services Roundtable
Does your school have a learning services program? Are you looking to start, develop, or amend your
program? This roundtable discussion will cover important topics for starting a program including how to
develop an appropriate mission, and how and when to communicate with parents and faculty about essential
program policies and procedures. We will also address issues around program development such as specifying
staffing needs, defining the roles of staff, and the necessity of flexibility in order to help enact change.
Representatives from each school level/division will share successes as well as challenges faced through this
process.
Presenters: Allison Hammat, Carol Byrd & Fran Linley - Franklin Road Academy
Administrators, All Subjects
Make Learning and Teaching Easier with Technology (Part 2 of 2)
Do you want to integrate technology in your classroom but you've run out of ideas? Are you interested in
learning how to use technology in the classroom to easily enhance learning and teaching? Come explore
technology in the classroom including iPads, digital flashcards, Apple TV, and Promethean Boards. Come see a
sampling of ways technology can make learning fun and lesson planning a snap. Bring your laptop for some
hands-on practice!
Presenter: Dita Rose - Currey Ingram Academy
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Technology
Block F – Page 5
My Language Classroom is a Learning Lab… Come Play!
What if homework showed students' best work, not just their first thoughts? What if students got instant,
specific feedback that actually helped them improve? What if homework could be challenging enough to be
interesting for everyone? What if you could easily see HOW - not just what - your students are learning, then
differentiate accordingly - without driving yourself crazy? These questions led me on a four-year journey with
my students, and what I've been learning keeps changing how I teach! Bring your iPad or laptop, become a
Latin I student (and teacher) for a day, and learn about the classroom beta opportunities I am offering for other
Latin-based languages.
Presenter: George Rietz - Battle Ground Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Foreign Language
Plato's Allegory of the Cave and 21st Century Learning
How does Plato promote the ideas of 21st Century learning from 400 B.C.? Find out how the ancient founder of
Philosophy entices students today to think critically, be creative, use reason, and problem-solve. This session,
designed for social studies classrooms but open to everyone, will focus on how to teach the content of social
studies while helping students develop essential 21st century skills. Participants will leave with practical ideas
to take to their classrooms.
Presenter: Rod Jones - Franklin Road Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Social Studies, Language Arts
Play and Learn in P.E. – Fresh Ideas to Create Life Long Fitness
Every Kindergarten through 6th grade P.E. coach wants fresh ideas that will help establish lifelong fitness goals
in students. Come examine and participate in exciting games and activities guaranteed to meet your objectives
for student coordination, motor skills, and agility.
Presenter: Neill Unland - Davidson Academy
Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Science
The Projector: Modeling the Writing Life for Our Students, a Reading
This high school teacher, adjunct professor, and two-time Pushcart Prize nominated poet will read from his
developing manuscript. Poems that have been published world-wide will be featured, in addition to more recent
work. Connections between these poems and literature read in the classroom, events at school, and life in
general, will be briefly explained, demonstrating the potential interconnectedness between scholarship and art
for all of us. This presentation hopes to serve as an encouragement to teachers. As best we can, teachers need to
participate in the discipline they teach, providing real-life models for our students.
Presenter: Kevin Marshall Chopson – Davidson Academy
Reel Them in With Books: How to Host an Effective Parent Book Study
School counselors have various roles, one being a support for parents in assisting them through the ins and outs
of parenting. Build and strengthen your relationship with parents while improving their parenting skills. By
attending this program, you will learn the nuts and bolts of facilitating parent book studies. You will leave not
only with the resources needed, but the spark to start your own book study at your school. This session is
intended for school counselors at all levels - lower, middle, and upper school.
Presenter: Charlotte Scholl, Jeanna Reid, & Layne Pickens - Battle Ground Academy
Administrators, Librarians - Media Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, All Subjects
Block F – Page 6
Rotate and Motivate: Sanity for Small Groups in LS Literacy and Math
Come learn and share practical ways to implement literacy and math rotations so the teacher can meet
with small groups and individuals. We will focus on how to motivate students to do their best work
independently by using the Daily 5 literacy and math rotations in addition to a textbook/basal program.
In literacy, learn how to transition from managing traditional centers to creating procedures and
routines that foster independent learning behaviors such as Read to Self, Read to Someone, Word
Work, Work on Writing, and Listen to Reading. In math, learn how to establish routines involving
math games, purposeful practice, and math tools to engage students while you differentiate instruction
for small groups. Although most examples are geared toward grades 1-5, they can also be modified to
apply to Kindergarten and Middle School. We will have time for grade-level specific round table
discussions so come prepared to share your own tips!
Presenter: Claire Webb - St. Paul Christian Academy
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Math, Language Arts
School Gardens: Growing Your Own Food is Like Printing Your Own Money (Part 2 of 2)
This workshop will provide an introduction to School Gardens for the direct application of using an outside
classroom to teach math, science, food production skills, motor skills, team-building exercises, and a connection
with nature. This presentation will include a short history of food production, practical handouts to create
healthy soil and design ecological gardens, and extensive guides to resources in teaching about organic
gardening and personal self-sufficiency. If students grow broccoli, students eat broccoli.
Presenter: Wade Archer - Benton Hall Academy
Everyone
Service Learning Roundtable
Facilitators: Erin Molitoris, Megan Blalock, & Emily Smothers – Christ Presbyterian Academy
Singing & Playing Your Way Through the Foreign Language Classroom
Techniques and activities to actively engage the Middle School or first year Upper School student in the target
language will be presented. Examples will be given in Spanish, but all activities/techniques can be used in any
foreign language class. Bring ideas to share that work in your classroom.
Presenter: Sarena Pettit - Sumner Academy
Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Foreign Language
Sketchbooks and ePortfolios: Assessment Tools for the Elementary Art Room
Presenters will share four exemplary lessons from planning stages to assessment including technology
demonstrations that support teaching and student understanding in the elementary art room. The presenters will
also review the process of creating digital portfolios and describe how the portfolios document student’s
artwork and provide a strong communication tool for parents, students and teachers.
Presenters: Susie Elder & Sarah Schuyler, The Oak Hill School
Technology Integration Specialists, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Art, Technology
Technology in the Math Classroom - Roundtable Discussion
What is your vision for technology use in your math classroom? How can the use of technology help your
student to come to a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts? From calculators to iPad apps, from
Vernier probes to emulator software, share what has been successful in your classroom and learn from the
success of other math educators. Content will be focused on mathematics from pre-Algebra through AP
Calculus.
Presenter: Sister Cecilia Anne Wanner - St. Cecilia Academy
Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Math, Technology
Block F – Page 7
Using Learning Targets in the Elemiddle Classroom (2nd – 8th Grade)
Learn to design a unit that meets all your students' needs and enhances curriculum. Use results from the unit pre
test to inform instruction and differentiate learning throughout the unit. You will see how to use test results to
create skill based groups, differentiate both content and instruction, track student achievement, and asses using
both formative and summative tests. You will see the entire process from planning to the summative
assessment. Examples and necessary organizational documents will be provided, and you will leave ready to
design your next unit. We will also provide sample test rubrics and documents for grouping based on skills and
abilities.
Presenters: Jennifer McGee & Carlton Stewart - The Oak Hill School
Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Math
What's New in Children's Literature?
Learn about the best children's books of this year and last--picture books, novels, and nonfiction. We'll talk
about the Caldecott and Newbery Awards and several others. We'll even offer predictions of what might win the
2015 awards. A handout will be provided.
Presenter: Dean Schneider - Ensworth school
Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Art, Science, Social Studies, Language
Arts
Your Digital Brain: Our Relationship with Technology
We use technology to improve our lives, but can we have too much of a good thing? Learn about the latest
research on how technology is affecting children’s brains, relationships, and learning. Take away tips for
improving the way you utilize technology in the classroom and in your home.
Presenters: Caitlin McLemore – Harpeth Hall School & Melissa Powers - Currey Ingram Academy
Administrators, Technology Directors, Technology Integration Specialists, Librarians - Media Specialists, Early Childhood Teachers, Elementary
Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Upper School Teachers, Technology
Block F – Page 8