By Design: A Journey to Excellence through Science for Grades 1-8

This engaging, rigorous, and developmentally appropriate curriculum nutures a child’s natural curiousity as they explore the wonderment of God’s creation through the lens of the Bible. The program focuses on the users’ experience so that all elements invite, engage, instruct, and motivate students and teachers to continue learning and buildling their science knowledge.

A Preventive Approach to Challenging Behavior

The presentation will address strategies that promote prevention and intervention practices in the social-emotional domain for children ages 2 through 5.

Helping Young Children Develop Spiritually

The early years are critical for the development of a conscience and character. This hands-on workshop will demonstrate how to support TAG (Time Alone with God) at a young age, develop a working knowledge of Bible stories, and use lessons from nature to help children build faith and support character development.

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All I do in Kindergarten is Play!

The goals of this interactive seminar are to share a thematic approach that makes the transition from home to classroom a significant and enjoyable developmental learning experience. The presentation will include a pictorial presentation of a vibrant classroom, a display and discussion of learning centers, and a time for questions.

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Strategies for Emergent Language Learners (Birth-Five)

How do we learn language? This seminar will answer that question and provide strategies for building language and literacy in the young child.

Church, School, Community: Partnering for Quality ECEC Programs

This will be an interactive panel discussion featuring ECEC directors from across the North American Division. (Robin Aaron, PUC; Sandy Hepp, MAUC; Rita Jackson, LUC; and Diana Wold, NPUC). They will share strategies that foster effective collaboration and partnerships with the local church, school and the community. There will be time for participants to ask questions and to share what’s working within their programs as well.

Read Aloud: Why It Can Change You and Your Classroom

Reading aloud to your students will change their lives in ways that seem too incredible to be real. Based on Mem Fox’s Reading Magic, this presentation will challenge teachers to make this part of their classroom routine and change their lives and their students’ lives forever.

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Developing an Author Study for the Elementary School Classroom

This presentation will walk through the process of developing an author study to be used in an elementary classroom. Focus will be on strengthening reading and writing skills in your students as well as creating an appreciation for an author’s work.

Kindergarten Stepping Stones Stairway to Reading Phonics

Be introduced to Stairway to Reading—a hands-on, individualized, step by step, sequential phonics program integral to Kindergarten Stepping Stones. The presenters will identify the Stairway to Reading components, explain how the program works, and give tips on how to organize the wealth of materials included in the phonics kit.

How to Implement Kindergarten Stepping Stones

Lead teachers and Kindergarten Steering Committee members who taught using Kindergarten Stepping Stones thematic units this past school year will share their experiences and give advice on how to implement this new curriculum.

How to Have an A+ PE Program With or Without a Gymnasium

Using the NAD curriculum, this presentation is filled with fun and exciting ideas, yearly themes, easy to teach physical, spiritual, social, and mental health-related activities for the elementary classroom teacher as well as the seasoned P.E. Instructor.

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Using DIBELS for Data-Based Literacy Instructional Planning

DIBELS are quick, inexpensive, easily administered individual assessments for children in grades K-3 to track literacy development. Learn how DIBELS can help you track student progress in those critical early years and pinpoint areas of difficulty which need more instruction. They can also be used in a Response to Intervention model.

READY…SET…GO MATH!

Receive an overview of the new elementary mathematics materials for the students in grades K-6. Each group will have an opportunity to look at the new “Go Math” materials, learn about the program’s organization and resources, view technology demonstrations, and interact with several activities designed to meet the needs of your classroom

Get the Big Picture about Big Ideas Math

Come for the snapshot tour of the Big Ideas Math Common Core Program for your 6-8 grade students. Big Ideas Learning will describe all the Big Ideas materials and how they will create enthusiasm, excitement and deeper understanding of mathematics for students. The album includes activities, Laurie’s Notes, cutting-edge technology and more.

Making Science Real with Lab Notebooks and Whiteboards

Any demonstration or lab activity can be enhanced by having students use lab notebooks to record data and observations. Large white boards can be used as a presentation tool where students are able to display their data, graphs, diagrams, or lab results.

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Do They Understand What I Just Taught?

This presentation will focus on formative assessment ideas and techniques to assist teachers in determining if their students understand a developing concept. An assessment technique can cue the instructor to adjust, reteach, or enrich a given lesson while it is in progress. Both formal and informal strategies will be provided.

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Keyboarding Online—Real Skills! No Hunting and Pecking!

Session will focus on common problems and solutions for web-based software—cheating, Internet down, bandwidth. Additional topics include breaking/preventing hunting and pecking, individualizing instruction for varied learning speeds, automatic grading and recording of scores and grades in Awesome Teacher Manager, and video presentation of correct keyboarding techniques.

Implementing Differentiation of Instruction in the SDA Classroom

After a general overview on Differentiation of Instruction, Associate Director (DI trained) Martha Havens, will address the compelling reasons for implementing DI in a Christian elementary classroom. Teachers will be encouraged to move beyond Differentiation 101 to implementation while validating many strategies of a Differentiated Classroom.

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From Faltering to Flourishing—Enrollment Solutions in Six Shifts in Practice

A K-8 school in southern Colorado has grown from 30 to 100 students, 80% of whom are not Adventist. Learn creative shifts in methodology that have revitalized our school and given us new mission in the community.

How We Doubled Average Reading Progress

For the last 20 years we have been getting two years of progress for every year in our classroom. We don’t use any special products. We use eight methodologies that have been around for decades, put together in a curriculum effective enough to guarantee parents that 4th graders leaving our classrooms after 4 years will read at an eighth grade level.

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By Design Supplemental Science Experiments and Hands-on Activities

If you are one of the smart teachers and want more ideas on how to teach science that point to our Creator God, then come explore some exciting By Design supplemental science lesson ideas that will enhance student learning. This will be fun!

Large Group Games and Physical Activities for School-Wide Events

During the school year, special school-wide events can become even more memorable when the entire student body has the opportunity to play together. In this action-packed session, Dr. Debbie Morgan will lead participants in games and activities for multi-grade groups where fun and cooperation are emphasized.

Intersections of Math and Literacy: Heuristic Patterns

Integration between subjects is essential for deep understanding, but what heuristic strategies are available to join math and literacy? This presentation offers children’s literature options in math and language linked to memorable hands-on activities.

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Music Education in the Classroom, Drama, Music Appreciation, and More

This presentation is for music teachers or any teacher that doesn’t have a music program in their school but strongly believes in the importance of music education for our children.

Leading Mathematical Discussions

A hands-on workshop for K-8 teachers to develop the ability to asess student understanding of mathematical concepts using classroom discussion.

Digital Storytelling

Good readers craft mental movies of images evoked by stories. In this presentation, educators will utilize digital storytelling as an innovative tool in their literacy development repertoire to teach twenty-first century students skills such as visual literacy, global awareness, information literacy, communication and technology literacy.

Engage, Inspire, and Transform Your Students through Service-Learning

What is service-learning? Should I implement it in my classes? How does this work? Do I really have the time to do it? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this practical, interactive workshop.

Interpreting Literature Through Art: Comparative Studies

Literature studies analyze authors’ exploration of the human soul—the desires, fears, and values that make us who we are. Art does the same through a different set of tools. At Puget Sound Adventist Academy, students have the opportunity to delve into both fields at once and their findings are truly inspiring.

The Value of Career Guidance

This is a presentation on recent research findings relating to the need for and delivery of career guidance to academy students in the Southern Union.

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No More Grammar Books!

Grammar in isolation is not applicable to students. Instead, grammar needs to be taught in conjunction with their own written work through exposure to different sentence structures. Students need to first see the ways phrases and clauses can be used in others’ work and then mimic those techniques in their own work.

Environmental Science: A Career Based Approach to Science and Math

Students have always asked, Why do I have to learn this? This presentation will provide a way to answer this question by integrating career role play into the science and math curriculum. Students become naturalists, environmental chemists, and environmental engineers to put into action the curriculum they have learned.

How to Develop a Christ-Centered Gymnastic Team

Learn how you can take your gymnastic or sports team to the next level. Physical skills are important, but if you want to see your team impacted for eternity, develop a Christ-centered team.

Singing Their Way to Zion

There was . . . a power in what was called [Millerite] Advent singing, such as was felt in no other. So wrote James White in 1868. Through singing some of our early Adventist hymns and learning how our pioneers used them, harness some of that power in your classroom.

Human Dignity in the Midst of War

Help your students become informed global citizens and understand war’s complexities through engaging lessons spanning cultures and time. Students read and interpret case studies and short stories while listening to voices from war. They develop empathy and practice critical thinking, discussing historical and contemporary dilemmas. Participants will receive ready-to-use lessons.

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Closing the Achievement Gap and Raising Math Scores by Increasing the Emotional Quotient (EQ).

Teachers, by learning how to increase their Emotional Intelligence, can reduce math phobia and math apathy in the classroom and therefore increase students’ mathematical achievement.

NoodleTools, Blogger, YouTube, and Nings: How is Technology Giving Us Wings?

Technology takes teaching to a whole new level. We’ll share how we use technology tools, programs, websites, and services in our Math/Religion and English classes. We’ll explore technology-based project development and asynchronous learning options. And we’ll look at the dangers and limitations of technology.

What is the Best Predictor for Wins? A Statistics Activity

During this session, attendees will engage in a statistics activity centered around baseball and how to best predict wins. The activity is designed as a unit capstone project that combines bivariate data analysis with the excitement of the World Series.

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That’s My Story: Sharing Your Journey with Your Students

We all have stories. Sharing them with our students shows that God works in real lives today, not just in past eras, faraway places or fictional tales. Teacher and writer Rita Barrett provides inspiration and pointers to help you share your story with your students through short essays.

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Using the Growing Disciples Inventory to Assess Christian Spiritual Development

How is your school assessing student Christian spiritual development across courses and levels? What tools are available to facilitate self-assessment, discovery of spiritual strengths, and spiritual growth planning? Learn how to use the researched Growing Disciples Inventory, online at growingfruitfuldisciples.com/gdi, with adolescent and young adult students this year.

SHOPTALK: Secondary English

Celebrating Our Adventist Past

Discover ideas for curriculum development that celebrate our Adventist past through fun activities, visiting Adventist heritage sites (and how to go about developing an Adventist Heritage Tour), and various resources that will help you as a teacher make our Adventist past something fun and inspirational to celebrate for students.

Mindful Teaching for Brain Compatibility

Unravel the mystery of subject matter organization so students can learn it more efficiently and effectively. Students who practice being more thoughtful about their schoolwork become more efficient learners and increase their capacity to learn additional material. This technique guides students through a specific way the brain frames new material as it learns.

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The Small School Choir

Your possible choir member pool is less than 40. How should you do an audition? What kind of repertoire should be used? How can you make the choir good enough so that students (especially teenage boys) want to join? These topics and more are addressed in The Small School Choir.

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How Students and Senior Citizens Can Work Together and Mutually Benefit

Ten thousand baby boomers are turning 65 every day. What lessons can retirees and students learn from each other? Come to this session to hear proven, exciting ideas for community service projects and much more. Seniors have so much wisdom to share and children have energy and creativity. It is a very synergistic effect.

Make Disciples for Jesus

Learn how to foster discipleship to Jesus Christ through the Bible curriculum. This presentation will give Bible teachers a lesson plan template they can use to bring intentional discipleship into the current Bible curriculum.

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Building for Eternity

This presentation is a call to arms on the necessity of Seventh-day Adventist Christian education and how teachers, pastors, and administrators can encourage church members to establish or renew their commitment to SDA Christian education.

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Using Learning Styles to Differentiate Instruction for the Millenial Learner

Explore a simple framework for creating dynamic and challenging instruction that moves students beyond surface knowledge to deep learning. Expand instruction to appeal to the new generation of learners through high impact teaching strategies that increase student motivation, encourage knowledge exploration and help students adapt learning in unique ways.

Fluency and Readers Theater

Help students gain fluency and learn content across the curriculum by acting with their voices through the use of Readers Theater. This is an interactive workshop with presenters and participants performing sample scripts. Both religious and secular scripts will be featured. Paper and electronic handouts will be provided.

Comprehensive Health Curriculum: The Gardening Module

Understand the need for a comprehensive health approach that is inclusive of gardening and cooking classes. We will discuss how to engage and motivate students in cultivating gardens and learning healthful meal preparations. Learn from successful implementations of these important contributors to the health of individuals, families, and communities

AVID – Advance Via Individual Determination

AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a college readiness system that is designed to increase school-wide learning and performance. The AVID College Readiness System (ACRS) accelerates student learning, uses research-based methods of instruction, provides professional development, and acts as a catalyst for systemic reform and change.

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Bullying In School, The Myths and the Facts

Take the first step in reducing the threat of bullying on campus by learning what is myth and what is fact. The public believes many things about bullying, some from experience and more from the media. Come learn how 35 years of research data from Dan Olweus and others can dispel the myths which enable bullying to remain a problem for schools.

Meeting the Needs of Special Needs Students

This workshop will address strategies that you can use in working with special needs and special education students in your classroom.

Special Education and Inclusive Practices in K-12

This presentation will provide educators with information, strategies and materials about how to integrate special education into the regular education classroom (general education and multi-grade settings).

Characteristics of an Effective Communicator

Learn the details of preparing with focus, delivering with clarity and speaking with power to any audience. It may be your students, the parents, administration or even your church. Define the characteristics and practices of effective communicators, and deliver better lessons, presentations and speeches than you ever have before.

Quick & Easy Computer Activities for Kids

Discover many quick and easy-to-create projects that integrate technology into all areas of the elementary curriculum, using Microsoft Office and the Internet. Activities are aligned to the ISTE standards and to the Multiple Intelligences. You’ll leave with dozens of clever ideas you can use tomorrow in your classroom!

Free iPad Apps

Many free apps exist in all curricular areas and that are useful and have educational value in the classroom and by students anytime, anywhere. Explore ways to engage students with activities using multiple apps. Bring the name of your favorite free app to share with others.

AVLN Pathways Wiki

Come learn about the AVLN Pathways Wiki: A resource full of ideas for integrating technology with the themes of Pathways. Ideas and lesson ideas for each theme will be shared.

Poetry in Motion, Making Movies Without a Camera

Bring your iPhone, iPad or iPod and you will make and post to the internet a movie from your favorite short poem. Please have iMovie, Vimeo, Splice or another video editing App installed and be ready to put poetry into motion!

Technology Done Right: In the Classroom and in the Office

A modeling of best practices in implementing technology in the classroom and the office. Not just cool ideas, but systems and how-to’s. Get access to custom forms, links, and resources that help drive the systems. Learn where to start, what tools to use, and how to get support!

Harnessing the Power of the iPad in the Classroom

With brilliant graphics and multi-touch interface, touch devices like the iPad are proven to provide a wealth of possibilities in the classroom. This session will share a treasure trove of educational applications for the classroom that can be used to plan and conduct interactive instructional activities that promote critical thinking.

Integrating Collaborative Web 2.0 Tools into the Curriculum

Our students must learn to communicate and collaborate using a variety of digital media and environments. Group collaboration in the classroom can become Web 2.0 collaboration using appropriate tools. Many Web 2.0 links will be available online to view later. We will discuss several, along with classroom integration ideas.

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Blended Learning—Expanding the Classroom Walls Using Edmodo Technology

Edmodo provides teachers and students a secure place to connect and collaborate, share content and educational applications, and access homework, grades, class discussions and notifications. This workshop will provide practical lessons on how to use the Edmodo platform to provide blended learning across the curriculum.

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iPads – From Idea to Reality in Your School

Find out what is involved in getting a 1-1 iPad program started at your school. Topics include budgeting, leases, deployment, infrastructure, and IT needs. If you are considering adopting iPads, this presentation should be attended by your principal, treasurer, and IT personnel.

How to get the most out of your Sysco MA.

Your Sysco MA can do more for you than take orders. Put them to work for you. They can help with your menus, your budget and planning. Kevin will show you how to talk to your MA and get them working with and for you.

RenWeb’s Online Enrollment

Save parents the frustration of completing the same paper enrollment forms year after year, and your staff from re-keying demographic data into RenWeb. Online Enrollment is a powerful new tool that provides end-to-end enrollment and reenrollment processes for new and returning students.

RenWeb’s Mobile Applications For School and Home

Enhance access and use of RenWeb by school personnel, while improving families’ experience in monitoring their child’s progress and information. RenWeb’s mobile applications allow users to perform critical tasks like entering grades and attendance, creating alert messages, and enabling parents access to a host of services including grade progress and attendance data.

InformationNOW Classroom Attendance, Rosters, and Reports

This hands-on style session, designed for the classroom teacher, will guide InformationNOW users through the process of taking attendance, viewing and managing rosters and seating charts, and running reports from within the classroom menu.

InformationNOW Classroom Lesson Plan, Grade Book Setup and Entry

InformationNOW teachers will be led through a hands-on style session that will cover initial grade book setup, daily activity and lesson plan entry, and using the grade book as tool to communicate with parents.

SSM IS MESSING UP MY REPORTS!

This session will teach you what to look for and areas to check to ensure that your reports print correctly each and every time. Following the short presentation there will be time for participants to receive individual help.

Cyber Risks for Teachers and Students

Cyber dangers are not limited to students. How safe is social media? Do you have student friends on Facebook? How can teachers, students and parents minimize the risks that surround us in cyberspace? Come and learn, and share your experiences.

Deepening Your Devotions as a Teacher

How can we be effective, evangelistic teachers in Adventist schools if we’re not daily learning to hear God’s voice and accept His grace? A focus on what is needed in busy Adventist teachers’ lives with practical, creative and encouraging ways to tend and deepen your daily devotional walk.

Stupid Things People Do With Their Money

Have you ever wondered how to manage money on a teacher’s salary? This is a crash course that will teach you how. You will learn how to get out of debt, develop a budget, control credit cards, buy real estate and automobiles and invest for retirement.

The Bible, Emotional Intelligence, and the Successful Professional

We cannot change the intelligence with which we were born. However, the Bible opens up to us the area of emotional intelligence (EI). The rules of EI presented in the Bible bring success in dealing with supervisors, parents and students.

Mindsets, How They Help and Hurt in Your Classroom

Have you ever wondered why some untalented people succeed while some very talented ones never live up to their potential? Research is showing us that the underlying cause is our own minds. Learn how to find personal and classroom success by understanding how your mind is leading you.

Adventist Schools: Communities of Faith, A Model (Part 2)

Adventist schools are viewed as communities of faith in which every aspect contributes to the ultimate goal of Christian education – comprehensive restoration. This thoroughly biblical, Christ-centered model offers an integrated framework for Christian educators to evaluate their work, both individually and corporately, and to address recognized needs systematically.

The Renaissance Network

This is your chance to learn all about the Renaissance Network, AAF’s new program that provides secondary schools with leadership, resources, training and management expertise. Come learn what it means to become a Renaissance school, leader and teacher. Ask all your questions, and discover how the Renaissance Network is empowering Adventist education!

Cyberbullying Initiatives and Approaches

Hear about the problems of cyber bullying and how Hinsdale Adventist Academy has dealt with educating our students, parents and staff about this issue. See statistical data on how teenagers perceive, use and support technology and the Internet.

Planning Your Life for Success

Learn how to plan your finances so you can live within your income, avoid or get out of debt, make major purchases wisely, minimize stress, and stay financially faithful with God.

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ENVoY—Managing Students Into Focus, Engagement, and Productivity

ENVoY non-verbal classroom management eliminates verbal conflicts, off-task behaviors, and student-teacher frustrations by using influence over power. Seven respectful counter-intuitive skills immediately create calm, highly productive classrooms and student achievement soars! This interactive session provides framework information, data results, and skill demonstrations that transform K-12 classrooms.

Insurance 101-Knowing Your Policies

Join a fun and practical session that will help you understand your school’s insurance policies.

Gandhi Beats the Bullies: Going to War While Your Heart is at Peace

Getting tough with bullies can simply create tougher bullies… unless you develop skills in meeting violence with non-violence. Learn to empower the targets while redeeming the bullies. This may require a personal makeover and a school-culture renovation, but God can help you manage both.

When the Budget Won’t Budge: Making the Hard Financial Decisions

Find ways to prepare and maintain a realistic school budget despite decreased enrollment, increased operation expenses, family financial hardship and a lack of commitment to Christian Education.

The Culturally Sensitive Classroom

In today’s highly diverse world, understanding how various cultural groups within our organization’s environment function, think and act is highly significant for leadership success. This session alerts the participant to cultural norms and behaviors and includes application exercises and discussion.

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Locally Funded Employees

North American Division policy is now requires that all employees of churches and schools be employees of the conference rather than the local organization. Is your school ready for the changeover? What you will need to know about the new policy and how it will affect your school.

Principally Speaking

An interactive session in which school administrators will share best practices and effective skills for leading successfully. This session will provide a wonderful opportunity for principals to network and collaborate with other school leaders across the NAD.

The Business of Successful School Management

Applying best practices from business to education, this presentation provides insights to help leaders at all levels successfully manage and grow their schools. Bring burning questions about vision and mission, marketing, managing change, finances, and HR, and learn how you can be in the business of successful school management.

Establishing and Improving Fundraising at Your School

Interested in creating or expanding your current fundraising efforts? Worried about hidden pitfalls or missteps? This session combines best practice theory and concrete suggestions that allow educational fundraising programs to grow successfully.

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Online Lead Explosion—How to More Than Triple New Family Leads (Part 2)

Continuation of a comprehensive and detailed look at every major Internet strategy to generate prospective parent leads. Every aspect of the session is focused on one goal: finding new prospective parent families. Participants receive over 50 pages of related handouts.