RSAC 2024

Our presentation will show how our district implemented leadership and character education into our school day to help students understand what it means to be a leader. We wanted to implement something in the district that would be universal for all grade levels.
We have worked on social emotions skills with K-4th grade. Some of these lessons focus on responsible decision making and coping strategies. Our social emotional skills program has provided students with a sense of belonging. They are learning that everyone has big emotions, ways to handle these emotions, and these lessons have helped them to feel connected to others in the building.
Our 5th-8th grade has been focusing on leadership and what it means to be a leader. We have common ideas such as “model the way” that we use when talking to students about behavioral choices. We have done projects that help students learn about the challenges of leadership and how to inspire a share vision for what we want our building to be.
Even with all of these lessons going on, we made time for fun! We created “families” within our entire district. We have had several family days this year where we have done some fun projects and bonding. During these family days, students are practicing the skills they have learned in our social emotional and leadership lesson time.
The work we have done has provided a great experience for all this year. We feel that we have a welcoming and positive environment for all of our students and staff. We have seen a decrease in our discipline numbers and an increase in our attendance.

Participants will get ideas of how to incorporate a "Thinking Classroom" into their junior high math classes by getting students up and moving around to promote engagement. This format allows all students to take part in randomized groups and collaboratively work together on solving curricular problems. Teachers will learn how to turn their current curricular questions into "thinking" questions that better allow their students to do the thinking. Teachers will also participate in a BTC lesson, so they can see how this looks in a classroom. Teachers will also be shown possible templates to use for their BTC problems and how to utilize them in their classrooms.

Unlock the potential of your middle school ELA classroom with this session dedicated to fostering engagement within your classroom community. Dive into dynamic techniques and proven strategies designed to captivate and inspire young learners. From interactive activities to multimedia integration, discover practical methods to create an environment where every student thrives. Get inspired & revolutionize your approach to teaching ELA in the middle school setting.

By offering students creative ways to showcase and share their knowledge, we not only help them understand the content better but also teach them how to use design thinking in navigating their learning path. This thinking and creating approach can be adjusted and applied to different subjects.

Join Camille, a seasoned art teacher with 18 years of experience, as she introduces techniques to enhance your current curriculum by introducing imaginative avenues for students to display their learning. Discover numerous chances to inspire your students to explore their studies more deeply, boosting their confidence and giving them tools for real-world situations. We will explore contemporary artists who serve as examples for demonstrating learning, such as those who have transformed weather data into sculptures and musical compositions.

You will also create your own samples to prepare yourself for offering these opportunities to your students. For instance, you can use Adobe Express AI text-to-image for ELA students to visually represent character descriptions. With certifications in Google Level 1, Adobe Creative Educator Level 1 & 2, and as an Adobe Creative Educator Innovator, Camille will showcase basic techniques using Google and Adobe Express to improve student outcomes. Our primary focus will be on utilizing free computer-based tools, so please bring a device of your choice.