Aledo ISD Empower 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to Aledo ISD’s Summer Learning Academy!

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8:30am CDT

Purposeful Craft: The Author's Purpose TEKS - 3-5

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Come dive into the Author's Purpose & Craft TEKS strand, with a specific focus on examining the different ways that organization is tested. Leave with resources, ideas, & lessons to use with students with every genre and every text.

Speakers

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

(say it Mc-GOY)
I am a certified English teacher who enjoys learning & sharing about literacy, leadership, assessment, curriculum design, & school improvement. I share free TEKS-based resources on my website: www.tinyurl.com/ToshShares

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B110

Reading/Language Arts

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

8:30am CDT

Simple is as Simple does at the Teacher Table

FILLING

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

B112

Limited Capacity filling up

Knowing what to do to grow readers and writers can be daunting. Taking a systematic and explicit approach can guarantee success for students and teachers alike. In this session, we will explore how progress monitoring can guide instruction and help form flexible student groups at the teacher table, allowing teachers to respond to student needs in real time. Participants will also learn how to leverage the instructional resources they already have, eliminating the need to spend time and money searching for endless supplemental materials. New approaches can feel overwhelming, but growth is the goal. Are you ready to grow?

Speakers

Rebekah Getz

Katie Harbour

First Grade Teacher, Aledo ISD

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B112

Reading/Language Arts

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

8:30am CDT

Unlocking Student Growth: Using MAP Insights with IXL

LIMITED

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT

B106

Limited Capacity seats available

MAP data provides powerful insight into what students know and what they are ready to learn next—but the real impact comes from making that data actionable. In this session, teachers will learn simple, low-effort systems for translating MAP results into targeted IXL skill assignments that meet students exactly where they are. Participants will explore how to use MAP data to identify skill gaps, assign meaningful practice, and monitor growth without adding to their workload. These practical strategies help ensure every student receives the right level of support and challenge, empowering them to grow farther and faster than we thought possible.

Speakers

Lexi Jones

Friday May 29, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
B106

Using Data Effectively

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

10:15am CDT

Purposeful Craft: The Author's Purpose TEKS - 6-12

LIMITED

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

B110

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B110

Reading/Language Arts

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

10:15am CDT

Studies Weekly - Your Questions Answered

LIMITED

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

B107

Limited Capacity seats available

Whether you're a pro at Studies Weekly or new to the resource, you will learn how to best utilize Studies Weekly in your integrated RLA/Social Studies lessons. This session also includes a Q&A portion to help with implementation.

Speakers

Danny Hulshult

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B107

Social Studies

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

10:15am CDT

Many Goals, One Classroom: The Workshop Model in a Resource Setting

FILLING

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

B202

Limited Capacity filling up

This session focuses on using the workshop model in a resource setting to effectively address multiple IEP goals within a single classroom. Participants will explore how structured routines and targeted small-group instruction allow teachers to individualize instruction, provide specific skill-based interventions, and deliver immediate feedback aligned to student goals. Emphasis is placed on practical strategies for managing diverse needs, flexible grouping, and goal-driven instruction to support student progress.

Speakers

Erin Gray

Kathryn Wilson

Brandi Shackelford

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
B202

Supporting Diverse Learning Needs

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

10:15am CDT

Winning at WIN- Connect Map and IXL

FILLING

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT

A101

Limited Capacity filling up

Discover how to use MAP data alongside IXL to form targeted student groups and intentionally plan instruction. Move beyond the recommended skill path to design focused, meaningful lessons that drive real growth—while saving valuable planning time.

Speakers

Brandy Arnold

5th Grade Math, Aledo ISD

I love teaching Math, but mostly I teach so that I can help kids feel valued and important. I have taught all grades 5-8th grade and also Pre-K. I love creating things and making learning fun and engaging.

Brittany Crimmings

Friday May 29, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT
A101

Using Data Effectively

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

1:00pm CDT

From Chaos to Clarity: Systems for Successful Small Groups

FULL

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B206

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

Want small groups that actually work? In this session, I’ll share the systems and routines I use to run successful literacy rotations in a 1st grade classroom. We’ll break down how to structure “Must Do/May Do” stations, build student independence, and make the most of guided reading time at the teacher table — all while keeping the rest of the class productively engaged!

Speakers

Kendra Adams

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B206

Classroom Management

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

1:00pm CDT

Focus on Revising! - 6-12

LIMITED

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B110

Limited Capacity seats available

Come explore the skills tested in the Revising passages with hands-on interaction. Leave with resources, lessons, and ideas to use with your students throughout the year.

Speakers

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B110

Reading/Language Arts

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

1:00pm CDT

Studies Weekly - Your Questions Answered

LIMITED

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

B107

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Danny Hulshult

Friday May 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
B107

Social Studies

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

2:45pm CDT

Focus on Revising! - K-5

LIMITED

Friday May 29, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B110

Limited Capacity seats available

Come explore the skills tested in the Revising passages with hands-on interaction. Leave with resources, lessons, and ideas to use with your students throughout the year.

Speakers

Tosh McGaughy

Educational Consultant, Tosh McGaughy LLC

Friday May 29, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT
B110

Reading/Language Arts

Audience K-5th
Subject Reading/Language Arts
Credit 1.5hr., CPE, FLEX

2:45pm CDT

Build-a-Bot Workshop: Practical MagicSchool Chatbots for Any Experience Level

LIMITED

Friday May 29, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm CDT

B109

Limited Capacity seats available

This session is designed for everyone, from first-time users to MagicSchool “magicians,” with clear entry points and extension options throughout. Teachers will learn how to move from using existing MagicSchool chatbots to designing custom bots that support instruction and student buy-in. We will start with common use cases like character conversations, debate partners, and writing feedback. Then we will explore custom bots for escape rooms, dynamic student interaction, and student goal creation. Teachers will leave with a polished, ready-to-use chatbot they can plug into instruction next year, plus collaboration strategies for building, revising, and sharing bots across a team so they stay valuable over time.

Speakers