Valley Schools Conference
Engaging Learners in the 21st Century
Friday, March 9, 2012
Conference Agenda
8:00 – 8:30
Refreshments
8:30 – 10:15
Keynote in Gym:
Jonathan LeMaster
Critical Reading Strategies as Classroom Interventions
The keynote address will emphasize the importance of teamwork as we move more students
toward proficiency and prepare them for college and careers. We will have a chance to explore
the differences between a student who completes work and a student who develops competency
in both content and skills. Lastly, we will deepen our understanding of 21st century skills and how
teaching specific skills can ready students for the diverse challenges and expectations they will
face in school and at work.
10:15 – 10:30
Break
10:30 – 11:45
Session #1
11:45 – 12:30
Lunch
12:30 – 1:45
Session #2
1:45 – 2:00
Break
2:00 – 2:50
Session #3:
Grade Level/Subject Specific Groups
3:00 – 3:30
Wrap Up and Raffle in Gym
Session #1 Descriptions
(10:30 – 11:45)


SECONDARY Break-out Sessions
LeMaster Breakout Session: SECONDARY (GYM)
There is a great need for explicit reading instruction in secondary (and post-secondary)
education. When considering the types of academic tasks that students will need to complete
throughout their education, and considering the types of reading and writing tasks they will be
asked to do at work, it becomes clear that our students must develop the ability to read with
high levels of proficiency in order to succeed in academic and professional environments. This
session will explore practical reading, speaking, and writing strategies that will enhance
instruction and begin to develop students' 21st century skills.
AVID Strategies for Secondary Classrooms
(Room B1)
Focused note taking for Middle and High School: this in-depth session will supplement
Jonathan LeMaster’s keynote session by exploring multiple ways to use Cornell
Notes to support effective reading strategies. Teachers will learn how to emphasize note taking
strategies during and after class.
Grade Level: 6-12
Julie Lopez
SLOCOE
ELEMENTARY Break-out Sessions

K-3 ELA Resources in the SBCEO Portal
(Room C3)
Bring early reader books to life with quality video clips; learn to use emergent reader resources
perfect for classroom learning centers, and discover online encyclopedia tools build with
primary students in mind. Primary teachers will leave with engaging online tools that can be
implemented in the classroom the very next day.
Steven Keithley and Susan Salcido
SBCEO

Deployment & Integration Strategies for iPads in the Classroom
(Room C4)
Discover planning tools, questions that you should ask prior to deployment, and application
uses for iPads in the classroom.
Description details:
 Considering a 1:1 program, or small group use? Planning and question strategies will be
provided to help you consider all the pros and cons of using iPads in the classroom.
• What is available for students? You will discover some of the thousands of resources
available for students, with time to explore together.
Grade Level: K-5
Steve Hillery and Jennifer Gibson
SBCEO

AVID Strategies for Elementary and Middle Years
(Room B2)
Critical questioning and thinking is an essential skill for students to have, and it is especially
helpful if students are introduced to these concepts and techniques at an early age. Costa’s
Levels of Thinking help students to think on a conceptual level, be creative, analyze, and
construct new meaning from information and facts. By combining Costa’s Levels of Thinking
with the Socratic Methods, students learn to question text, analyze details, relationships, and
information, and construct new, critical arguments and reasoning.
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Christie Richards
SYV Charter School

Googly Google Goo, We've Got Apps for You
(Library)
Find out how you AND your students can take advantage of the numerous free tools from
Google. Some of the free tools we'll explore include: Docs, Calendar, Search, Google+,
Sketchup and many more. You won't want to miss this great opportunity to learn about all the
free programs from Google. Did we mention they're all FREE?
Grade Level: K – 6
Chris Scott and Joe Donahue
College SD

Mastering LeMaster for Elementary Classrooms (Room E3)
This session will emphasize using Jonathan LeMaster strategies broken down into bite-size
chunks for easier consumption by younger students. We will start with the basics i.e.
habitually reading the text twice, text charting, note taking, organizing notes, notes to
paragraphs.
Grade Level: K – 6
Nathalie Ireland
Franklin Elementary School

Infuse Lessons with Active Student Participation (Room C2)
Learn about the instructional advantages to increased student talk and take away easy-toimplement strategic partnering and productive grouping techniques proven to activate
student participation and use of academic oral language.
Grade Level: K-5
Kris Bergstrom and Maria Larios-Horton
SBCEO

Rev Up Your Vocabulary Instruction
(Room C1)
Come learn about highly effective practices sure to engage your students while developing
deep word knowledge.
Grade Level: K-5
Gina Branum and Kathy Hollis
SBCEO
K - 12 Break-out Sessions

Thinking Hats: Improving the Thinking and Discussion Process for Teachers and
Students (Room LB1: Beside Little Theater )
This workshop will introduce participants to a thinking and discussion method originated by
Edward de Bono. The “lateral thinking” approach is helpful in broadening the thinking process
and in taking the emotional component out of making difficult decisions. Participants will
receive ideas for staff and classroom applications.
Carol Johansen
SBCEO

A Culture of Thinking: "The Thinking Classroom"
(Room E2)
This session will focus on the creation of a thinking school and a thinking classroom. Teachers
will be immersed in the research from Harvard University's Project Zero. Participants will have
the opportunity to learn and explore the use of learning tools such as Dispositions of Learning,
Thinking Routines and Teaching for Understanding in order to actively engage students and
make thinking visible.
Heidi Crane, Lynne Cummings
Montecito Union SD

Working with Students on the Autism Spectrum
(Library Computer Lab)
Top 10 things you need to know about student on the spectrum, and what you can do about it
tomorrow. Participants will receive in-person and online training in specific ways to work with
students who are on the autism spectrum.
Vicki A. Moeller, M.A.
Innovative Education Systems

(Room E5)
Best Practices in Classroom Behavioral Management
Learning positive behavioral supports through interventions, expectations and strategies that
promote appropriate classroom behavior.
Paul Eybel, Psychologist
SY Valley Consortium
Session #2 Descriptions
(12:30 – 1:45)


ELEMENTARY Break-out Sessions
LeMaster Breakout Session: ELEMENTARY (GYM)
Research and teaching professionals tell us that explicit reading instruction stops after the
third grade as content becomes the focus of the curriculum. And although there are a number
of good reasons why this shift happens, we must realize that gaps in our students' abilities to
read start here. As texts become more sophisticated and reading assignments more
challenging, students need to continue developing the academic skills necessary to perform
well in rigorous learning environments. This session will explore reading comprehension
strategies and basic writing skills that our young students need to advance successfully into
secondary education.
Grade Level: K – 6
AVID Strategies for Elementary and Middle Years
(Room B2)
Critical questioning and thinking is an essential skill for students to have, and it is especially
helpful if students are introduced to these concepts and techniques at an early age. Costa’s
Levels of Thinking help students to think on a conceptual level, be creative, analyze, and
construct new meaning from information and facts. By combining Costa’s Levels of Thinking
with the Socratic Methods, students learn to question text, analyze details, relationships, and
information, and construct new, critical arguments and reasoning.
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Christie Richards
SYV Charter School

AVID Strategies for Elementary and Middle School Classrooms
(Room B1)
Focused note taking for Upper Elementary and Middle School: This in-depth session will
supplement Jonathan LeMaster’s keynote session by introducing Cornell Notes so students get
the most out of this valuable tool.
Grade Level: 4 – 8
Julie Lopez
SLOCOE

Gr. 4-6 Online Social Studies Tools in the SBCEO Portal
(Room C3)
This session will focus on digital, online resources that will enhance instruction on the CA
Content Standards and upcoming Common Core Standards for the upper elementary grades.
Teachers will learn how to quickly and easily access tools to engage students using video clips,
databases, and links to safe and appropriate websites.
Steven Keithley and Susan Salcido
SBCEO
SECONDARY Break-out Sessions

Mastering LeMaster for Secondary Classrooms (Room E3)
This session will focus on implementing critical reading and writing strategies at the secondary
level.
 Learn how a science teacher has successfully incorporated the strategies into the 7th grade
science curriculum on a daily basis.
 Learn how a 10th grade World History teacher has used the critical reading strategies to
successfully support her English Learners.
 Learn how an Administrator was able to expand the strategies school wide at a junior high
school and high school level.
Grade Level: 7 – 12
Elise Simmons
Santa Barbara Unified SD

Rev Up Your Vocabulary Instruction
(Room C1)
Come learn about highly effective practices sure to engage your students while developing
deep word knowledge.
Grade Level: 6-12
Gina Branum and Kathy Hollis
SBCEO

Infuse Lessons with Active Student Participation (Room C2)
Learn about the instructional advantages to increased student talk and take away easy-toimplement strategic partnering and productive grouping techniques proven to activate student
participation and use of academic oral language.
Grade Level: 6-12
Kris Bergstrom and Maria Larios-Horton
SBCEO

Googly Google Goo, We've Got Apps for You (Library)
Find out how you AND your students can take advantage of the numerous free tools from
Google. Some of the free tools we'll explore include: Docs, Calendar, Search, Google+,
Sketchup and many more. You won't want to miss this great opportunity to learn about all the
free programs from Google. Did we mention they're all FREE?
Grade Level: 7 – 12
Chris Scott and Joe Donahue
College SD

Deployment & Integration Strategies for iPads in the Classroom
(Room C4)
Discover planning tools, questions that you should ask prior to deployment, and application
uses for iPads in the classroom.
Description details:
 Considering a 1:1 program, or small group use? Planning and question strategies will be
provided to help you consider all the pros and cons of using iPads in the classroom.
• What is available for students? You will discover some of the thousands of resources
available for students, with time to explore together.
Grade Level: 6-12
Steve Hillery and Jennifer Gibson
SBCEO
K – 12 Break-out Sessions

Best Practices in Classroom Behavioral Management
(Room E5)
Learning positive behavioral supports through interventions, expectations and strategies that
promote appropriate classroom behavior.
Paul Eybel, Psychologist
SY Valley Consortium

A Culture of Thinking: "The Thinking Classroom"
(Room E2)
This session will focus on the creation of a thinking school and a thinking classroom. Teachers
will be immersed in the research from Harvard University's Project Zero. Participants will have
the opportunity to learn and explore the use of learning tools such as Dispositions of Learning,
Thinking Routines and Teaching for Understanding in order to actively engage students and
make thinking visible.
Heidi Crane, Lynne Cummings
Montecito Union SD

Dealing with Difficult People
(Little Theater)
This workshop will offer practical ideas to prevent or handle difficult situations with people.
Participants will learn tested strategies and have the opportunity to practice.
Carol Johansen
SBCEO

Working with Students on the Autism Spectrum
(Library Computer Lab)
Top 10 things you need to know about student on the spectrum, and what you can do about it
tomorrow. Participants will receive in-person and online training in specific ways to work with
students who are on the autism spectrum.
Vicki A. Moeller, M.A.
Innovative Education Systems

Santa Barbara County’s United for Literacy Initiative: Address the needs of all
readers grades 3 – 12. (Room E4)
Reading Plus® picks up where phonics and oral reading instruction leave off, providing rapid
and sustainable comprehension and silent reading fluency gains. The system’s assessments,
individualized dynamic intervention, and progress monitoring provide the solutions needed to
effectively identify and remediate struggling students, as well as others who could benefit
from silent reading fluency development.
Laura Finlay
United Way / Reading Plus