Aledo ISD Empower 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to Aledo ISD’s Summer Learning Academy!

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10:15am CDT

Brains Before Books: From Shutdown to Success in Reading and Writing

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

Limited Capacity seats available

When reading and writing feel overwhelming, many students respond by shutting down or avoiding the task. In this session, we explore how brain-based regulation strategies and foundational literacy supports can help struggling readers and writers re-engage in learning. Participants will leave with practical classroom strategies—such as movement, flexible seating, and emotional regulation tools—that reduce overwhelm and increase student confidence.

Speakers

Ashley Swords

3rd Grade Teacher

Jill Taloa

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A109

Classroom Management

Audience 3rd-5th, PreK-2nd
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, GT

10:15am CDT

Glow & Grow: Making Writing Feedback Work

LIMITED

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

B106

Limited Capacity seats available

Join us to explore how meaningful feedback can transform student writing! In this session, we’ll dive into teacher-led conferences, peer-to-peer feedback, and using Magic School to provide structured, actionable comments. Participants will learn strategies for building a culture of accountable talk, guiding students to give and receive “glows and grows,” and supporting all learners, including gifted and ESL students, through targeted, growth-focused feedback. Walk away with practical tools to make writing conferences engaging, efficient, and truly impactful.

Speakers

Hope Tuel

6th - 8th ESL, Aledo ISD

Emily Kelley

5th Grade RLA, Walsh Elementary

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B106

Student Feedback

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, GT, ESL

1:00pm CDT

Beyond the Basics: Cultivating Excellence in Early Literacy

LIMITED

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B108

Limited Capacity seats available

Move beyond standard benchmarks to foster a culture of high achievement in Aledo ISD. Grounded in the TEKS and a commitment to 'Growing Greatness,' this session explores how to set ambitious literacy goals that challenge every learner. We will dive into mastering the art of differentiation to meet diverse needs and discuss how elevating student expectations can unlock the full potential of our youngest Bearcats.

Speakers

Grace St.John-Staver

Autumn Starks

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B108

Differentiation

Audience PreK-2nd
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

1:00pm CDT

Yes, Even If You "Don't Like Poetry": Practical Strategies for Deep Analysis

LIMITED

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B110

Limited Capacity seats available

Poetry can feel intimidating — abstract, confusing, even inaccessible. But what if it’s actually the most efficient way to teach rigorous comprehension? In this hands-on session, we’ll demystify poetry and model simple, repeatable protocols that help readers unpack meaning, analyze craft, and support claims with evidence. Because poems can be brief, students can go deeper — and those thinking skills transfer seamlessly to novels, primary sources, and beyond. Even if you just need a moment surrounded by beautiful words and well-crafted lines, this session is for you.

Speakers

Staci Hammer

RLA Curriculum Coordinator, Aledo ISD

Staci Hammer coordinates the reading language arts curriculum for Aledo ISD. Her passions include developing teacher expertise and empowering students to identify as readers, writers, listeners, speakers, and thinkers.

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B110

Reading/Language Arts

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th, Administrators
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

2:45pm CDT

Building the Culture, Designing the Work: Creating Meaningful Collaboration in Secondary Classrooms

FULL

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B107

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Creating meaningful collaboration in the classroom requires more than simply placing students in groups—it requires intentionally building a learning environment where students feel safe sharing ideas, taking risks, and thinking beyond traditional approaches. This professional development session will focus on practical strategies teachers can use to foster a classroom culture that encourages collaboration, creativity, and student ownership of learning. The session will also address adaptations of familiar collaborative structures to incorporate technology, accommodate large class sizes, and enhance rigorous and creative thinking.

Speakers

Rachel Grier

Sarah Zedler

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B107

Collaboration

Audience 9th-12th
Subject Math, Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

2:45pm CDT

Choice Boards That Work: Make, Take, and Differentiate!

LIMITED

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B112

Limited Capacity seats available

Calling all primary teachers! Join us for a fun, hands-on professional learning session designed to spark creativity and empower your teaching practice. This Make & Take workshop is all about Differentiation, Extensions, and Choice Boards—and you’ll leave with ready-to-use tools that meet the diverse needs of your students from day one!
Whether you're looking to challenge high-flyers, support your little learners, or offer more student voice and choice, this session is packed with practical ideas, customizable templates, and engaging activities you can take straight back to your classroom.
Be ready to collaborate with colleagues as you differentiate, extend, and ignite learning together—see you there!

Speakers

Stacey Utley

1st Grade Teacher

Jennifer Sarvis

1st Grade Teacher

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B112

Differentiation

Audience PreK-2nd
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX, GT

2:45pm CDT

5 Questions for Any Text

FILLING

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B110

Limited Capacity filling up

This professional learning session introduces Marilyn Perle’s “5 Questions for Any Text” as a simple, powerful framework for helping students read more deeply and think critically about what they encounter. Participants will explore how the five questions guide students to analyze purpose, audience, message, and perspective across any type of text. Educators will leave with ready-to-use prompts that support stronger comprehension, discussion, and media literacy across content areas.

Speakers

Staci Hammer

RLA Curriculum Coordinator, Aledo ISD

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B110

Reading/Language Arts

Audience 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

2:45pm CDT

High Impact, Low Overwhelm: Practical RLA Moves That Strengthen Student Thinking

LIMITED

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B109

Limited Capacity seats available

Explore seven high-leverage RLA instructional shifts that deepen student thinking and discussion—without adding extra planning, materials, or grading.

Speakers

Katelyn Smith

RLA Instructional Specialist, Aledo ISD

Hi everyone! I’m Katelyn Smith, and I’m the 6-12 RLA Instructional Specialist. While AHS has been my home for several years, I’ve really enjoyed finding a new home at both AMS and MMS and getting to know those campuses this year. Although RLA is my primary focus and where my... Read More →

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B109

Reading/Language Arts

Audience 6th-8th, 9th-12th
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, ESL, FLEX, GT

10:15am CDT

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2:45pm CDT

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2:45pm CDT

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