Instructional Support Services Full Calendar

Having students to work collaboratively isn't just something you do with your students in isolated moments - it's a culture you cultivate over time. In this newly updated and expanded version of the popular Making Groupwork the Norm workshop, we'll dive deeper into the classroom structures, routines, and mindsets that help collaborative learning thrive in […]

Are you and your students still navigating the nuances of the required investigations? This workshop focuses on using the investigations to foster student-centered learning, emphasizing the 3D aspects and the most challenging components for classroom management and student learning. It will serve as a refresher for the three mandated NYSED Biology Investigations. During the first […]

Deep-dive into Desmos graphing calculator functionality: -Introducing the free Geometry Tool -Using and creating exploratory tasks in the classroom with the Graphing Calculator and -Geometry Tool -Best practices for Desmos use on the Regents -Best practices for Desmos use on the SAT/ACT -Best practices for Desmos use on AP exams. Eligible for 6 hours CTLE […]

In this workshop, we will come together to explore what the science of reading research says about reading comprehension and content knowledge in early childhood. Participants will investigate, plan and collaborate around text sets, concept maps, shared experiences, explicit and incidental vocabulary word instruction, visual inferences, concepts of print, and how to take a play-based […]

Vocabulary is a crucial aspect of language development and plays a significant role in academic success and effective communication. Participants will explore a variety of research-based techniques for teaching words explicitly, teaching context clues, and teaching morphological analyses. The course will delve into the importance of utilizing a generative approach to vocabulary instruction to help […]

How do we know what students truly understand…and what to do next? This workshop focuses on using assessment as a powerful driver of instruction in inclusive classrooms. Grounded in the CIA (Curriculum-Instruction-Assessment) framework, educators explore how formative and summative assessment practices inform teaching decisions and support student growth. Participants engage in hands-on learning with tools […]

Audience: Classroom teachers grades 3-6, reading teachers, literacy coaches, ELL teachers and administrators Upper elementary teachers are increasingly encountering students who still lack essential foundational skills-gaps in phonics, decoding, and word recognition that make grade‑level reading feel out of reach. This workshop offers practical, hands-on guidance grounded in the science of reading to help you […]

In this workshop, we will spend the first part of the day unpacking the full article of the brief to understand the data and research presented while absorbing the classroom examples, reviewing the conclusion and recommendations, as well as the references and resources so we can work together to reflect and apply the revised instructional […]

Designed for teachers in their first years of implementing New Visions Earth and Space Science, this series of six unit-based workshops provides just-in-time support as teachers move through the curriculum. Each session builds understanding of an upcoming unit's storyline and key instructional decisions, with a focus on translating the pedagogical shifts of the NYSSLS - […]

A workshop based off the book The Four Agreements Through original meditation practices, focused on personal growth, critical reflection, and the pursuit of happiness, these practices aim to deepen the understanding of how the suffering of others can contribute to negativity in the workplace-and how greater awareness can foster a more compassionate, positive environment. Eligible […]

In this hands-on, collaborative workshop, participants will be guided through Paul Andersen's 10-step storyline process for designing three-dimensional, NGSS-aligned units in high school physics. Each step will be introduced and modeled using a completed storyline unit on kinematics, created by the facilitator. Participants will then apply each step to begin developing their own storyline unit […]

How does language shape the way students think, learn, and experience learning? This interactive workshop explores the powerful connection between language, cognition, and learning-and how these elements influence student identity, access, and achievement. Educators examine how language develops, how meaning is constructed, and how both verbal and non-verbal communication shape understanding in the classroom. A […]

Designed for teachers in their first years of implementing New Visions Biology, this series of six unit-based workshops provides just-in-time support as teachers move through the curriculum. Each session builds understanding of an upcoming unit's storyline and key instructional decisions, with a focus on translating the pedagogical shifts of the NYSSLS - phenomena-driven instruction, 3D […]

• Reawaken Your Imagination: A Creative Workshop for Adults • Rediscover Wonder: An Interactive Journey Back to Your Creative Self • Play Again: A Workshop for Grown-Ups Ready to Imagine More • Unlock Your Inner Spark: An Imagination Revival Experience • Return to Magic: A Hands-On Workshop for Curious Adults • The Imagination Reset: Explore, […]

The Science of Reading (SOR) movement has transformed early literacy but for educators in grades 6-12, a critical question remains: Why do students still struggle to read and make sense of texts across the disciplines? Adolescent literacy demands a more dynamic architecture. While traditional SOR focuses on word recognition and language comprehension alone, the Science […]

This day-long workshop offers support to teachers of Global History I and others through content knowledge, teaching strategies, and ready-to-use instructional materials. Gain confidence in teaching about religion, learning about best practices from the National Council for the Social Studies C3 Supplement on Teaching about Religion and applying these best practices to case studies. Then, […]

This interactive workshop explores the connection between executive functioning, Habits of Mind, and the Portrait of a Graduate-highlighting the essential skills and intellectual behaviors that set students up for success both in school and beyond. Grounded in brain research, participants examine how executive function develops over time and how skills such as attention, working memory, […]

Move beyond worksheets and isolated drills-this interactive workshop shows grades 3-8 teachers how to use powerful picture books as mentor texts for authentic grammar instruction aligned to the NYS Next Generation ELA Standards. Using texts by Matt de la Peña, Kwame Alexander, Andrea Wang, Joanna Ho, and more, participants will explore how grammar naturally lives […]

Getting started with free Desmos activities -Teacher facilitation and strategies running activities -Editing existing activities to meet your own needs -Building custom activities from scratch -Creating: card sorts, Polypads, and marbleslides -Introducing teachers to Computation Layer (Correct checks; student feedback; formatting and colors for notes and feedback) -Advanced Computation Layer (Hidden components; connecting tables/graphs; Match […]

Audience: School administrators and literacy coaches This workshop equips K-6 leaders and literacy coaches to champion science‑of‑reading-aligned instruction through a clear understanding of research, instructional shifts, and coherent systems that strengthen early literacy. -Revisit the research base behind the science of reading and the major instructional shifts for K-6 classrooms. -Use NYS Literacy Brief 7: […]

This interactive workshop helps high school science teachers design and implement NYSSLS-aligned jigsaw activities that also build collaboration and social-emotional skills. Participants will experience two jigsaw activities-one science-based and one about the jigsaw structure itself-before designing their own. Teachers will learn how to: -structure student "families” and expert groups, -use ice breakers and social skill […]

Choice time is often treated as downtime-but when designed intentionally, it becomes a powerful driver of student independence, communication, and problem-solving. This session focuses on how to structure choice blocks that are purposeful, predictable, and academically meaningful. Educators will learn how to design engaging learning centers, establish clear routines that build independence, and use this […]

This workshop explores how the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) can be used to help students make sense of scientific phenomena through collaborative questioning and inquiry. Participants will engage in the QFT protocol while learning strategies that help students produce, improve, prioritize, and reflect on their own questions to strengthen reasoning and written explanations. Examples across […]

Get ready to meet New York State's new Portrait of a Graduate expectations for Personal Finance Education. When taught well, personal finance is relevant to students' lives and research shows that students find it interesting, recognize its importance, and are naturally motivated to engage with it. This workshop will help you harness that motivation while […]

Function-based thinking (FBT) is a proactive, systematic approach for teachers to understand why a student misbehaves-typically to get or avoid something-and to select interventions that match that function, rather than just reacting to the behavior's appearance. It empowers educators to address minor, persistent behaviors before they require complex, intensive assessments such as FBA/BIP, focusing on […]

This interactive workshop will provide an overview of the text with a special focus on the first eleven chapters. Building Thinking Classrooms is designed to help students go beyond rote memorization and repetitive calculations and transition into critical thinking, creating an ideal setting for deep mathematics learning to occur. Participants will learn how to create […]

Participants will learn how to develop small group reading sessions to help strengthen comprehension skills while building confidence and a love of reading. The small groups will cover all areas of reading comprehension such as -improving reading fluency, -expanding vocabulary skills, -identifying main ideas and supporting details, and -practice making predictions. The participants will learn […]

Audience: administrators, literacy coaches, reading teachers, grades 5-8 ENL, general and special education teachers whose students are reading approximately on these levels. As students transition into the middle grades, the writing demands of the NYS ELA exam require a tremendous amount of executive function, organization, and reading stamina. Join us for an intensive seminar designed […]

Students need real reasons to read, and reading more improves reading. We will learn more about "Read-All-the-Words” texts versus "Read-in-Other-Ways” texts and how to divide Self-Selected Reading time to provide opportunities for students to read in these different ways. Participants will learn how to use small group instruction during Self-Selected Reading time to teach readers […]

Let's bring back book clubs to develop love of reading, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and team work. In this workshop, the teachers will develop a systemic way of creating fun book clubs on the reader's level and interest. A variety of different book club templates will be shared and time will be allowed for the participants […]

Learn how to use AI to effectively differentiate instruction and meet the needs of every learner. Explore practical strategies to scaffold content, adjust reading levels, generate targeted questions, and create flexible learning pathways for both struggling and advanced students. Walk away with ready-to-use resources, adaptable lesson ideas, and clear approaches for integrating AI in a […]

What if your students were doing more of the thinking than you are? In this hands-on workshop, we'll explore how to redesign your STEM classroom so that students are active participants in their own learning, not passive recipients of yours. Discovery-based, student-centered instruction is about doing the work before students walk through the door so […]

Knowledge building is essential for strong reading comprehension; it provides the foundation students need to understand, analyze, and engage with texts deeply. When readers bring background knowledge to texts, they can make connections, infer meaning, and grasp complex ideas more easily. In this workshop, teachers will learn how taking a knowledge-rich approach to reading helps […]

This interactive workshop supports educators and leaders in designing and implementing meaningful systems for the Seal of Civic Readiness. Participants explore how to move beyond compliance and checklists to create authentic civic learning experiences that build student responsibility, agency, and real-world application. Through collaborative discussion and real district examples, participants clarify roles, timelines, assessment practices, […]

-Understand the key similarities and differences between a child's home language and English (e.g. phonology, grammar, vocabulary) and leverage the use of cognates to bridge language gaps and enhance language acquisition -Encourage home language discussions with same language peers to support building context knowledge -Allow students to write in their home language when appropriate and […]

This interactive session supports educators in aligning their actions, behaviors, and instructional practices with the expectations they have for students. Using the New York State Portrait of a Graduate framework, participants will reflect, analyze, and design a personal "teacher portrait” to strengthen their impact. Participants will: -Build community with fellow educators -Analyze the components of […]

Audience: administrators, literacy coaches, reading teachers, grades 3-5 ENL, general and special education teachers whose students are reading approximately on these levels. Equip your 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students with the tools they need to confidently tackle the writing portions of the NYS ELA assessment! This dynamic seminar is specifically tailored to the foundational writing […]

How can teachers use mentor texts to model strong writing while honoring students' diverse identities? In this workshop, participants will discover culturally responsive picture books that inspire writing, foster identity, and spark meaningful classroom conversations. Using the New York State Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework and the Next Generation Learning Standards, teachers will explore picture books […]