Spring Conference 2014
‘Put to the Test’:
‘How our Schools are Changing
to Meet the Rigor of the New Standards’
Descriptions for Breakout Sessions for Spring Conference 2014
Monday, April 28
A.
Increasing Rigor Using Writing and Questioning Strategies
Presenter:
Mike Szydlowski, K-12 Science Coordinator, Columbia Public Schools
Target Audience:
K-12 Teachers, Curriculum Leaders
How often have you noticed that your students become quickly stressed out during state
exam time? It is most likely those students are stressed because the state assessment was far
more rigorous than the typical classroom assessments. The Common Core and Next
Generation Science Standards are demanding increased rigor on both the classroom level and
standardized assessments. This session will use easy to implement questioning and writing
strategies to increase the rigor all year long so that students are not as surprised when those
new rigorous assessments start.
B.
Differentiating in the High School Math Classroom
Presenters: Dalena Allen, West Plains School District R-VII
Targeted Audience: K-12 teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders
This session will provide a demonstration of how to provide students with varied avenues to
acquire content knowledge at deeper levels in the high school Algebra and Geometry
classroom. The presenter will also share methods for developing teaching materials and
assessment measures designed so that all students can learn effectively.
C.
Aligning Assessments to the Common Core (MLS)
Presenters:
Kim Amsden, Instructional Curriculum Coach and Sarah Long, Assistant
Superintendent, Farmington R-7 School District
Target Audience: K-12 Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders
This session will explore the use of a variety of assessments used collectively to prepare
students for the upcoming assessments that are to be aligned to new standards. The
presenters will share how the district has used both commercial products and locally
developed assessment materials to perform a student by student analysis of success based on
formative and summative assessments compared to state assessment results. They will share
the work their data teams have done in identifying trends, anomalies and successes. Join
them to learn how they are using data to help every student reach their maximum potential,
while also providing teachers the tools to facilitate this challenge.
D.
Increasing Rigor through STEM
Presenter:
Jim Hall, AP Physics and Engineering Teacher and Suzanne Hull, Assistant
Superintendent, Fulton 58 School District
Target Audience: 9-12 Teachers, Curriculum Leaders, Administrators
What began as a vision for a new course offering, Intro to Engineering, has exploded into a
full blown fabrication lab for Fulton Public Schools. Find out how the vacant Industrial Arts
classroom and shop area have been repurposed and transformed into a state-of-the-art Fab
Lab with the help of grant funding from MOREnet, which has been the springboard for
students to explore the engineering field.
With an emphasis on technical reading and writing skills partnered with higher-order thinking
skills in mathematics, has resulted an academically diverse group of students - using
technology to design practical and intriguing items every day. Come and listen to our journey
and gather ideas on how you can also create 21st Century technology-rich spaces and
learners.
E.
Unsolvable Problems and the Role of Polarity Thinking in Schools
Presenter: Jay Roth, SWRPDC
Targeted Audience: K-12 Teachers, Curriculum Leaders, Administrators
Many of the ongoing dilemmas facing schools today can be described as polarities, which are
intertwined and interdependent perspectives: for example, teacher growth / teacher
evaluation; accountability / local control; directive leadership/ shared leadership;
relationships / task; teacher autonomy / professional community; stability / change; etc. Is it
possible to balance any of these educational changes? Yes, but not with traditional solutionbased thinking! Without a new level of thinking, proponents will argue that their approach is
the “right” way - which is why there is an "educational pendulum.” Come and learn about
how to recognize polarities, map them, and how to transform your thinking from “either/or”
to “both/and.”
F. Increasing Expectations: Using Socratic Dialogues to Discuss Issues in History
Presenter: Ed Wright, Learning Consultant and Co-leader of Social Studies Resource
Consortium for Education Plus. Former teacher in Clayton and Brentwood school districts.
Targeted Audience: K-12 Teachers, Curriculum Leaders, Administrators
Participants in this session will have the opportunity to learn how using Socratic Dialogues
can effectively engage students to think at deeper and more critical levels when learning
about the issues that have formed history. Many documents contemporaneous with the issue
at hand will be studied and evaluated for their validity and effectiveness. Thus, using Socratic
Dialogues is an excellent way for Social Studies/History teachers to effectively segue into
implementing the Literacy Standards into their classroom learning culture. (e.g. ELA standards
for comprehension and collaboration). Come join us for some lively discussion and some
lesson plans.
G. Changes in Assessments
Presenter: Shaun Bates, Assessment Director, Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education
Targeted Audience: K-12 Teachers, Curriculum Leaders, Administrators
This presentation will be an overview of the proposed changes to the Assessments beginning
with the 2014-15 school year. Topics will include the Missouri platform, Interim and
summative assessments, understanding item types and the tools supporting them. Time will
be available to ask questions.
H. How Do I Make Connections (Monday, Only)
Presenters: Jo Anne Ralston, Director Early Learning Curriculum, Office of College and Career
Readiness, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Janet Rinehart, Director
Project Construct
Targeted Audience: Early Learning (Pre K, K) Teachers, Curriculum Leaders, Administrators
This session will focus on connecting Missouri Learning Standards, Missouri Early Learning
Goals, Project Construct curriculum goals, and the new Desired Results Developmental Profile
(DRDP) measures. Come and discover how easy making connections can be and how all of
these pieces can support quality early learning experiences in your classroom.
Q & A with BYOC (Monday Only 2:30 – 3:30)
Presenters: Chris Trina, BYOC/BYOA School Software Group
Targeted Audience: K-12 Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders
BYOC – You ask, We answer – This session is an unstructured Q&A / Show and Tell session
with Chris Trina, the founder of School Software Group and the original designer of Build Your
Own Curriculum. This session is for anyone with outstanding questions or others that just
want to hear what questions or issues other districts have.
Tuesday, April 28
A.
Increasing Rigor Using Writing and Questioning Strategies
Presenter:
Mike Szydlowski, K-12 Science Coordinator, Columbia Public Schools
Target Audience:
K-12 Teachers, Curriculum Leaders
How often have you noticed that your students become quickly stressed out during state
exam time? It is most likely those students are stressed because the state assessment was far
more rigorous than the typical classroom assessments. The Common Core and Next
Generation Science Standards are demanding increased rigor on both the classroom level and
standardized assessments. This session will use easy to implement questioning and writing
strategies to increase the rigor all year long so that students are not as surprised when those
new rigorous assessments start.
B.
Differentiating in the High School Math Classroom
Presenters: Dalena Allen, West Plains School District R-VII
Targeted Audience: K-12 teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders
This session will provide a demonstration of how to provide students with varied avenues to
acquire content knowledge at deeper levels in the high school Algebra and Geometry
classroom. The presenter will also share methods for developing teaching materials and
assessment measures designed so that all students can learn effectively.
C.
Aligning Assessments to the Common Core (MLS)
Presenters: Kim Amsden, Instructional Curriculum Coach and Sarah Long, Assistant
Superintendent, Farmington R-7 School District
Target Audience: K-8 Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders
This session will explore the use of a variety of assessments used collectively to prepare
students for the upcoming assessments that are to be aligned to new standards. The
presenters will share how the district has used both commercial products and locally
developed assessment materials to perform a student by student analysis of success based on
formative and summative assessments compared to state assessment results. They will share
the work their data teams have done in identifying trends, anomalies and successes. Join
them to learn how they are using data to help every student reach their maximum potential,
while also providing teachers the tools to facilitate this challenge.
D.
Increasing Rigor through STEM
Presenter:
Jim Hall, AP Physics and Engineering Teacher and Suzanne Hull, Assistant
Superintendent, Fulton 58 School District
Target Audience: 9-12 Teachers, Curriculum Leaders, Administrators
What began as a vision for a new course offering, Intro to Engineering, has exploded into a
full blown fabrication lab for Fulton Public Schools. Find out how the vacant Industrial Arts
classroom and shop area have been repurposed and transformed into a state-of-the-art Fab
Lab with the help of grant funding from MOREnet, which has been the springboard for
students to explore the engineering field.
With an emphasis on technical reading and writing skills partnered with higher-order thinking
skills in mathematics, has resulted an academically diverse group of students - using
technology to design practical and intriguing items every day. Come and listen to our journey
and gather ideas on how you can also create 21st Century technology-rich spaces and
learners.
E.
Unsolvable Problems and the Role of Polarity Thinking in Schools
Presenter: Jay Roth, SWRPDC
Targeted Audience: K-12 Teachers, Curriculum Leaders, Administrators
Many of the ongoing dilemmas facing schools today can be described as polarities, which are
intertwined and interdependent perspectives: for example, teacher growth / teacher
evaluation; accountability / local control; directive leadership/ shared leadership;
relationships / task; teacher autonomy / professional community; stability / change; etc. Is it
possible to balance any of these educational changes? Yes, but not with traditional solution-
based thinking! Without a new level of thinking, proponents will argue that their approach is
the “right” way - which is why there is an "educational pendulum.” Come and learn about
how to recognize polarities, map them, and how to transform your thinking from “either/or”
to “both/and.”
F. Increasing Expectations: Using Socratic Dialogues to Discuss Issues in History
Presenter: Ed Wright, Learning Consultant and Co-leader of Social Studies Resource
Consortium for Education Plus. Former teacher in Clayton and Brentwood school districts.
Targeted Audience: K-12 Teachers, Curriculum Leaders, Admin
Participants in this session will have the opportunity to learn how using Socratic Dialogues
can effectively engage students to think at deeper and more critical levels when learning
about the issues that have formed history. Many documents contemporaneous with the issue
at hand will be studied and evaluated for their validity and effectiveness. Thus, using Socratic
Dialogues is an excellent way for Social Studies/History teachers to effectively segue into
implementing the Literacy Standards into their classroom learning culture. (e.g. ELA standards
for comprehension and collaboration). Come join us for some lively discussion and some
lesson plans.
G. Changes in Assessments
Presenter: Shaun Bates, Assessment Director, Office of College and Career Readiness,
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Targeted Audience: K-12 Teachers, Curriculum Leaders, Administrators
This presentation will be an overview of the proposed changes to the Assessments beginning
with the 2014-15 school year. Topics will include the Missouri platform, Interim and
summative assessments, understanding item types and the tools supporting them. Time will
be available to ask questions.
H. Build Your Own Curriculum (BYOC) (Sessions I and II, Tuesday Only)
Presenters: Chris Trina, BYOC/BYOA School Software Group; and Randy Jennings, Education
Technology Partners (ETP)
Targeted Audience: K-12 Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Leaders
In this session, participants will receive a demonstration of the Build Your Own Curriculum
(BYOC) web-based curriculum management tool that allows districts to customize the
configuration of their format to follow the philosophy of Understanding by Design or other
identified district specific approaches to curriculum and instruction. BYOC staff will show
teachers can locate current curriculum requirements and resources to easily update and
customize their units and lesson plans in alignment with district/state/national standards and
expectations; how administrators can gain instant access to the learning paths in each
building, grade, and classroom – and view this information by standard(s), by teaching
objective, and key concept. Reports, linkage to classroom websites for curriculum and lesson
assignment, student and public access and other useful features of this curriculum
management product will be presented.