Learning is the skill underneath every other skill. When we get better at learning, we get better at adapting to change, solving problems, and growing in our work. The good news is that learning is itself a skill — one we can get better at. This keynote breaks down what the research says about how learning actually works, and the key building blocks that help individuals and teams keep improving.
Trevor Ragan is the founder of The Learner Lab - an educational website designed to unpack and share the science of learning and development.
He spends his time with thought leaders and researchers from the worlds of psychology and developmental science, consumes their research, c... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am CDT Cafetorium
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.
The way leaders think and act shapes how their people learn and perform. This session covers three simple tools you can use to build a stronger learning environment for the people you lead.
Trevor Ragan is the founder of The Learner Lab - an educational website designed to unpack and share the science of learning and development.
He spends his time with thought leaders and researchers from the worlds of psychology and developmental science, consumes their research, c... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT Cafetorium
This informational professional learning session is designed to support staff who are interested in transitioning into specialized student support roles such as Speech-Language Pathology, Diagnostician, School Psychology, and related fields. Facilitators will share their personal journey into their current role, offer a realistic “day in the life” perspective, and highlight key skills and mindsets needed for success. Participants will also receive practical information about local and regional preparation programs, certification pathways, and resources that provide an accessible track for growing into these roles from within our district.
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
In this session, we will explore practical tips and shortcuts for using your Chromebook to complete everyday tasks efficiently. Participants will also learn key differences between Windows and ChromeOS, including navigation, file management, and common tools, to help make the transition smoother and more confident.
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
Create It, Teach It: Join us as we explore and create lessons utilizing Canva to enhance student engagement and achievement. A portion of this session will be focused on a Canva "Make and Take" to better prepare you for the upcoming school year.
Small Moves Big Gains, by Nancy Motley, Seidlitz Senior Educational Consultant, focuses on how small, everyday teacher habits can increase student talk, deepen thinking, and improve learning. This session highlights simple, high-impact strategies that make classrooms more interactive, language-rich, and student-centered — without adding extra work. You’ll leave with practical ideas you can use right away to help students talk more, think more, and achieve more.
Hi Bearcats!I'm excited to be starting my 24th year in public education and my 14th year as an ESL Specialist. It’s a true privilege to support the Emerging Bilingual families and staff of Aledo ISD!I began my teaching career in College Station ISD, working with 5th and 6th grade... Read More →
In this professional learning session, educators will explore how the L.E.A.D. framework can be used intentionally to support students and teachers in meaningful, practical ways. Participants will reflect on real classroom and campus scenarios, share strategies, and walk away with actionable ideas for building a culture rooted in learning, empathy, accountability, and dedication.
Students are more likely to engage, regulate, and learn when they feel safe, seen, and connected. This session explores the importance of building strong relationships with students before placing academic or behavioral demands. Participants will learn how connection serves as the foundation for regulation and positive behavior, and why correction without connection often leads to resistance, escalation, or shutdown.
Through real-world classroom examples, this presentation will highlight practical strategies for establishing trust, using co-regulation, and responding to challenging behavior with empathy and consistency. Educators will leave with tools they can immediately apply to reduce power struggles, support emotional regulation, and create environments where students are ready to learn.
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.
In this engaging, movement-based session, participants will experience several classroom-ready folk dances that help students internalize musical concepts such as beat, tempo, phrase, and form. Through active participation, we’ll explore how structured movement reinforces rhythmic literacy, strengthens ensemble awareness, and supports expressive music-making.
Beyond musical skills, folk dancing fosters collaboration, community, and joyful risk-taking—creating a classroom culture where every student belongs. Attendees will leave with practical strategies, adaptable dances, and clear connections to standards that can be implemented immediately in their own music classrooms.
In this interactive workshop, teachers will learn two research-based questioning routines that help students ask better questions, make meaningful connections, and think more deeply about content. By using protagonists, participants will explore the Question Pencil Routine—a framework that helps students generate intentional questions across eight question stems—and the Hexagonal Questioning Routine—a collaborative strategy that makes conceptual connections visible and builds higher-order thinking skills. Through hands-on practice, teachers will discover how to implement these routines in their classrooms, scaffold for diverse learners (including English language learners), and use these strategies to guide student inquiry and learning. Perfect for teachers seeking to move beyond surface-level questions and foster genuine curiosity and engagement!
Teachers will learn fresh ideas about science notebooking, including differentiation strategies, vocabulary supports, and ways to increase rigor and relevance.
Liz has been in education for 15 years and holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in GT. She is passionate about STEM, differentiation, and creating meaningful, hands-on experiences for students.
The way leaders think and act shapes how their people learn and perform. This session covers three simple tools you can use to build a stronger learning environment for the people you lead.
Trevor Ragan is the founder of The Learner Lab - an educational website designed to unpack and share the science of learning and development.
He spends his time with thought leaders and researchers from the worlds of psychology and developmental science, consumes their research, c... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT Cafetorium
This session will focus on practical, classroom-ready strategies which align to IEP goals. Participants will explore how to design meaningful accommodations and modifications in their lessons and use data binders to track progress efficiently to support student growth. Teachers will leave with concrete tools, examples, and systems they can immediately apply to strengthen IEP implementation and progress monitoring.
This session introduces practical theatre-based strategies that increase cognitive engagement, academic language development, and depth of understanding across content areas. Through structured approaches such as perspective reading, hot seating, tableaux, and guided discourse, teachers will learn how to strengthen literacy, student voice, and standards-driven rigor while supporting multilingual learners and diverse levels of readiness.
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
In this session, educators will gain practical tools and strategies to effectively support K-12 students with active-neuro minds (ADHD) in the school setting. Participants will explore the unique ways these learners process information, regulate emotions, and engage with their environment. The session will focus on understanding how the ADHD brain works, identifying common challenges faced by these students, and implementing proactive supports to foster academic and social success.
Educators will leave equipped with evidence-based strategies for classroom management, flexible instruction, and physical movement integration to help these students thrive. Join us to discover how engaging both the mind and body can transform learning experiences for students with active-neuro minds.
I am a Special Education Resource and Co-Teacher with over 12 years of experience supporting students across inclusive classroom settings. I specialize in working with learners with ADHD, Autism, Specific Learning Disabilities, and behavioral challenges. As both a teacher with ADHD... Read More →
I am have been a occupational therapist for 12 years with my primary focus of practice with a pediatric population. Where I have provided occupational therapy services in a pediatric hospital setting, home health setting, and school-based setting. I have served as a school based occupational... Read More →
Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) is a holistic, attachment-based, and trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. Developed by Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross at he Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development (KPICD) at Texas Christian University,
Discover how MagicSchool reclaims hours of your week through powerful time-saving features like Class Writing Feedback, Quizzes, and Teacher Tools. Learn real-world strategies to eliminate after-school grading and streamline lesson planning so you can focus on what matters most—connecting with students.
Professional Development and Community Specialist, MagicSchool AI
Allen Schagene is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and has taught in both private and public schools in Houston, Texas. He is a lifelong learner dedicated to helping educators, caregivers, and students develop meaningful AI literacy skills. With twelve years of experience as... Read More →
What happens when students discuss ideas without speaking? Powerful thinking. In this session, teachers will experience a Chalk Talk from the student perspective and learn how this simple strategy can transform classroom discussions. We’ll explore how silent written conversations can build participation, deepen thinking, and naturally lead to stronger questions and richer dialogue. Participants will leave with ready-to-use prompts, facilitation tips, and strategies to help students move from quick answers to thoughtful, higher-level responses.
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!
This professional development session will focus on practical strategies for creating a differentiated classroom that meets the diverse needs of all learners. Participants will explore ways to adjust content, process, product and environment based on the student.
In this session, I’ll share how I introduce and develop ukulele skills in the elementary music classroom through intentional preparation and joyful music-making. Beginning with rich preparatory experiences—steady beat, chord readiness, singing games, and movement—students build the musical and technical foundation they need before ever picking up the instrument. I’ll demonstrate how I scaffold instruction over time, moving from exploratory play and single-chord accompaniments to confidently strumming along with age-appropriate pop songs. Participants will also see how I create space for student creativity, allowing children to compose, improvise, and arrange using the skills they’ve developed. This session highlights a process that builds independence, musicality, and genuine excitement for making music together.
Join us for an inspiring panel discussion featuring our 2025-2026 Campus Teachers of the Year, recognized for their outstanding classroom practices and student impact. Moderated by Dr. Crissey, this session will highlight effective teaching strategies, innovative instructional techniques, and practical tips that drive student success. Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned educator, you'll leave with actionable ideas and renewed enthusiasm for your craft.
Liz has been in education for 15 years and holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in GT. She is passionate about STEM, differentiation, and creating meaningful, hands-on experiences for students.
Communicating with parents is HARD. Like a game of telephone, information can be interpreted and shared differently, leading to unintentional confusion or frustration for staff, students, and families. In this interactive session, participants will role-play several parent communication scenarios that inevitably arise each year. Together, we’ll practice navigating difficult conversations with families: How do you broach sensitive topics? How do you maintain a positive working relationship while addressing concerns? Participants will leave with practical strategies for deciding when to send a Remind message, when to email, and when it’s best to pick up the phone and call. Shared resources will include sample scenarios and phone scripts to support productive, respectful conversations with the people who love our students the most.
This session will provide a practical introduction to the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP), an assessment tool used to evaluate language, learning and social skills in early learners with autism and related developmental delays. Participants will learn how to administer, score and interpret the VB-MAPP and how to use assessment results to guide appropriate goal writing.
In this session, teachers will learn how to implement visual supports for their students to increase independence, student engagement and success in the general and special education classrooms.
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
What happens when Aledo ISD’s LEAD statement meets the relationship-driven practices of Capturing Kids’ Hearts? Powerful classrooms where leadership, connection, and purpose thrive. In this session, educators will examine the alignment between the LEAD statement and the EXCEL model and discover practical strategies for embedding both into everyday classroom practice. Participants will leave with clear connections and actionable ideas to help students grow as learners and leaders.
Maggie Lozano is a passionate literacy leader committed to strengthening foundational reading and writing instruction in classrooms. She partners with teachers to use data-driven practices to identify student needs, design targeted interventions, and close literacy gaps. In addition... Read More →
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
This session is designed to empower teachers to design differentiated lessons that foster critical thinking, student choice, and creative expression—essential for meeting the needs of GT learners. In this station-based workshop, participants will walk away with practical strategies, adaptable resources, and a personalized action plan to implement differentiation immediately in their classrooms.
Shelly Morrill has been an educator for over 20 years and holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with Specialization in GT. Parenting her own gifted children sparked her interest in finding better ways to nurture, inspire and educate gifted students. Shelly has served... Read More →
During this session we will go over the process of writing a grant from the Aeldo Education Foundation. We will go over the grant writing process, tips and tricks, and how to make your project stand out.
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?
This session will show how to use a modified classroom version of capture the flag as an engaging tool for reviewing new and old concepts. It will also show how this could be tied to multiple areas of the Rigor and Relevance Rubric. Cross-curricular examples will be given, so this session can be for all contents.
We will examine effective strategies to support students before and during dysregulation so that we can provide proactive measures to ensure learning and safety for all students.
Purpose: Help teachers understand gifted learners beyond test scores—how they think, feel, and experience school—and what teachers can do immediately in response. Outcomes Teachers will: • Understand common social-emotional and cognitive traits of gifted learners • Reframe “challenging” behaviors • Identify small shifts that make a big difference
How do we ensure every child is thinking, responding, and learning during foundational literacy lessons? In this session, teachers will explore engagement strategies based on the explicit instruction practices of Anita Archer. Through modeling and collaborative practice, participants will experience routines that increase opportunities for student responses, support active participation, and strengthen early reading instruction in PreK–2 classrooms.
I am entering my 24rd year in education with a deep passion for teaching Reading and Language Arts and empowering young learners. As a proud mom of four amazing boys and a wife of 25 years, I cherish both my family and my career. My heart is in literacy education, and I am dedicated... Read More →
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.
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.
Limited Capacityfull 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!
In this high-energy, hands-on session, participants will experience how whole-body movement unlocks deep rhythmic understanding in elementary students. Through Dalcroze-inspired activities, we’ll walk, clap, gesture, and explore beat, division, and multiple before ever looking at notation. Attendees will discover how embodied learning leads naturally to iconic and traditional rhythm reading — making abstract concepts click. Walk away with ready-to-use activities, a clear instructional sequence, and practical strategies to make rhythm literacy joyful, active, and accessible for every learner.
This session explores how intentional, high-level questioning can strengthen thinking, engagement, and language development in early childhood classrooms. Participants will examine the research and background behind effective questioning strategies and why moving beyond simple recall questions is essential for supporting deeper learning in young children.
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.
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
The first and last five minutes of a lesson can make or break student learning. In this session, participants will learn simple, high-impact engagement and closure strategies that promote student thinking, support language development, and extend learning for gifted students, without adding extra prep. Teachers will leave with tools they can use immediately in any classroom.
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
This session explores how virtual reality can be used to integrate Gifted and Talented and ESL instruction through immersive, language-rich learning experiences. Participants will learn how VR supports higher-level thinking, inquiry, and creativity while providing visual and contextual supports that enhance language development and access for English learners. Teachers will leave with practical strategies for using VR to extend learning beyond the classroom for diverse student populations.
Feeling left behind while everyone’s making Canva Slides? Don’t worry, you don’t have to dive in headfirst! This session is perfect for Google Slides users who want to dip their toes into Canva presentations without the overwhelm.
You’ll get hands-on practice creating slides that look polished and professional - and yes, bring your laptop! By the end, you’ll have a few tricks up your sleeve and the confidence to experiment with Canva at your own pace.
Create and utilize google sheets for progress monitoring, analyzing assessment results, and motivating students. Walk away with templates that you can incorporate on day one of next year! An added bonus in this session includes discussion connecting trackers and higher ratings on rubrics for the CT Continuum and T-TESS.
Communicating with parents is HARD. Like a game of telephone, information can be interpreted and shared differently, leading to unintentional confusion or frustration for staff, students, and families. In this interactive session, participants will role-play several parent communication scenarios that inevitably arise each year. Together, we’ll practice navigating difficult conversations with families: How do you broach sensitive topics? How do you maintain a positive working relationship while addressing concerns? Participants will leave with practical strategies for deciding when to send a Remind message, when to email, and when it’s best to pick up the phone and call. Shared resources will include sample scenarios and phone scripts to support productive, respectful conversations with the people who love our students the most.
We will be presenting on how we set up our student driven inquiry projects. Students guide themselves through independent learning tasks and then apply their knowledge to engineering some type of a project. We will share how we set up the learning tasks and facilitate without giving the answers. How we guide students through their own creative process in the design phase, and finally how we add in elements of critical writing.
Limited Capacityfull Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.
Unlock ways to support all readers across content areas in this empowering session. Explore strategies and practical tools to help struggling readers — including those with dyslexia, specific learning disabilities (SLD), emerging bilinguals (EB), and even gifted learners (GT) — reach their full potential using morphology to enhance vocabulary and comprehension.
Feeling left behind while everyone’s making Canva Slides? Don’t worry, you don’t have to dive in headfirst! This session is perfect for Google Slides users who want to dip their toes into Canva presentations without the overwhelm.
You’ll get hands-on practice creating slides that look polished and professional - and yes, bring your laptop! By the end, you’ll have a few tricks up your sleeve and the confidence to experiment with Canva at your own pace.
