Defy gravity and be the first to experience a Thrillifying day of unlimited blended learning at ignitED 2025 on July 15, 2025, at Northrop High School! You’ll be Popular just for showing up, and the knowledge you gain will have you feeling Changed for Good! Don’t miss this Wicked opportunity!
Are you ready to defy confusion and dive into the new ELA curriculum? Join us as we ease on down the yellow brick road of Domain 1! In this session, you'll explore the thoughtfully crafted teacher slides that support pacing, read-alouds, vocabulary, and checks for understanding. We’ll also uncover assessment options that help gauge student mastery—no crystal ball required. Whether you're just beginning or ready to take flight, you’ll leave with practical tools and a clear direction for launching your ELA lessons with confidence and a little bit of Oz-some flair.
In this session, educators will explore the critical role of background knowledge in student comprehension and academic success—especially within the structure of the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) program. Participants will examine:
Why Background Knowledge Matters: Understand how prior knowledge enhances reading comprehension and supports long-term learning. What Background Knowledge Includes: Explore the types of knowledge—content, vocabulary, cultural, and conceptual—that CKLA intentionally builds across grade levels. Strategies to Build Background Knowledge: Learn practical, research-based strategies that align with CKLA’s content-rich approach, including pre-teaching vocabulary, using visuals, and activating prior knowledge. Tips for Teachers: Discover actionable tips for scaffolding instruction, identifying knowledge gaps, and making cross-curricular connections that reinforce CKLA units
Beginner - this in a introductory session. Attendees do not have to have prior knowledge for this session. Literacy K - 2, 3 - 5 Canva Interactive (I'll show then we will do together)
Bring joyful learning to life through the power of Seesaw’s Learning Experience Platform! Teachers will explore Seesaw’s unique and creative multimodal tools that empower students throughout the learning process.
Explore how to document learning in student portfolios
Assign standards-aligned lessons to support and capture student learning
Mia is an instructional partner at Seesaw. Prior to joining the Seesaw team, Mia taught Kindergarten in Chicago Public Schools for 10 years. In her tenure as a teacher, Mia explored innovative methods to transform teaching and learning and empower her students daily. Mia is a Google... Read More →
Are you ready to defy confusion and dive into the new ELA curriculum? Join us as we ease on down the yellow brick road of Domain 1! In this session, you'll explore the thoughtfully crafted teacher slides that support pacing, read-alouds, vocabulary, and checks for understanding. We’ll also uncover assessment options that help gauge student mastery—no crystal ball required. Whether you're just beginning or ready to take flight, you’ll leave with practical tools and a clear direction for launching your ELA lessons with confidence and a little bit of Oz-some flair.
Jen Stewart is currently teaching a project based STEM class at Maxwell Intermediate School. This is her 26th year of teaching. Prior to this year she taught computer science, social studies, and language arts. Jen is a long-time Nearpod PioNear and a level three Nearpod Certified Educator. She is also an Apple Teacher and an Apple Learning Coach. She has led many PD sessions around the Midwest on using technology to increase student engagement and learning.
Beginner Session Interactive Session STEM/STEAM Focus K-2, 3-5, Middle School Will be able to utilize: Quizizz, NearPod, Google Suite
Beginner - this in a introductory session. Attendees do not have to have prior knowledge for this session. Literacy K - 2, 3 - 5, Instruction Coaches Interactive (I'll show then we will do together)
Learn how to deliver high-quality, standards-aligned, and interactive instruction with Seesaw that empowers students to show their thinking and learning.
Mia is an instructional partner at Seesaw. Prior to joining the Seesaw team, Mia taught Kindergarten in Chicago Public Schools for 10 years. In her tenure as a teacher, Mia explored innovative methods to transform teaching and learning and empower her students daily. Mia is a Google... Read More →
In this session I will show how attendees can use Google Slides to make choice boards for students to do independent work after finishing assignments. Attendees can get their own copies of the slides to modify for their needs. I will share useful websites that students can go to for extra practice. Many of the activities are literacy based but this can be used with math also.
Any - anyone is welcome in this session Literacy, Google, Math K - 2, 3 - 5 Hands-on (You will create something you can use later)
I was born and raised in Fort Wayne. I got my teaching degree in 2002 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. I also have my High Ability certification that I obtained in 2015. I have been teaching since 2004, and have taught 3rd grade for 13 years so far. I've also taught... Read More →
This session would discuss my doctoral research findings regarding student engagement and writing achievement when using Schoolai in writing instruction. Attendees will learn what Schoolai is, how it can be used in the classroom, and the impact it can have on student interest in writing and the quality of student writing. I would use Canva for my presentation. I would also use Schoolai, Google Docs, and Schoology to show how Schoolai can be used with students.
Beginner - this in a introductory session. Attendees do not have to have prior knowledge for this session. Artificial Intelligence, Writing Instruction Grade Level: 3 - 5 Lecture (I'll show)
Learn more about School AI for the elementary classroom Any - anyone is welcome in this session Program Used: SchoolAI Interactive (I'll show then we will do together)
Beginner - this in a introductory session. Attendees do not have to have prior knowledge for this session. Literacy, Science of Reading K - 2, 3 - 5, Instruction Coaches, Admin Team, ELL/EL, SpEd Interactive (I'll show then we will do together)
Are you ready to defy confusion and dive into the new ELA curriculum? Join us as we ease on down the yellow brick road of Domain 1! In this session, you'll explore the thoughtfully crafted teacher slides that support pacing, read-alouds, vocabulary, and checks for understanding. We’ll also uncover assessment options that help gauge student mastery—no crystal ball required. Whether you're just beginning or ready to take flight, you’ll leave with practical tools and a clear direction for launching your ELA lessons with confidence and a little bit of Oz-some flair.
This session will be a 3rd grade specific overview of the newly adopted FWCS ELA curriculum. We will take you through the key components and provide background on the flexibility you will have with your instruction, as well as 3rd grade specific pieces. You will leave with a solid understanding of how the CKLA Amplify components fit together, and how the slide deck can support your students' success.
Beginner - this in a introductory session. Attendees do not have to have prior knowledge for this session. Science of Reading, ELA Curriculum Seesaw, Kami, Google Suite Lecture, (I'll Show)
I have been an educator with FWCS for 26 years. I have been an elementary classroom teacher, an elementary instructional coach, a math interventionist, and I currently work in the HCM department supporting new teachers, coaches, and interventionists.
Are you ready to defy confusion and dive into the new ELA curriculum? Join us as we ease on down the yellow brick road of Domain 1! In this session, you'll explore the thoughtfully crafted teacher slides that support pacing, read-alouds, vocabulary, and checks for understanding. We’ll also uncover assessment options that help gauge student mastery—no crystal ball required. Whether you're just beginning or ready to take flight, you’ll leave with practical tools and a clear direction for launching your ELA lessons with confidence and a little bit of Oz-some flair.
Are you ready to defy confusion and dive into the new ELA curriculum? Join us as we ease on down the yellow brick road of Domain 1! In this session, you'll explore the thoughtfully crafted teacher slides that support pacing, read-alouds, vocabulary, and checks for understanding. We’ll also uncover assessment options that help gauge student mastery—no crystal ball required. Whether you're just beginning or ready to take flight, you’ll leave with practical tools and a clear direction for launching your ELA lessons with confidence and a little bit of Oz-some flair.
Mia is an instructional partner at Seesaw. Prior to joining the Seesaw team, Mia taught Kindergarten in Chicago Public Schools for 10 years. In her tenure as a teacher, Mia explored innovative methods to transform teaching and learning and empower her students daily. Mia is a Google... Read More →
The foundations of number sense and algebraic thinking developed in Grades K–2 are essential for upper-elementary, middle school, and high school mathematics, yet they are often misunderstood. In this highly interactive session, we will explore the progression of learning spanning from kindergarten to secondary mathematics. Using a variety of manipulatives from hand2mind, participants will experience how skills developed in the early years prepare students to use the distributive property with whole number and fraction computation and polynomial computation in Algebra I. No matter what grade you teach, you will find something to use with your students to propel them forward.
Beginner - this in a introductory session. Attendees do not have to have prior knowledge for this session. Math K - 2, 3 - 5, Middle School iReady Math Interactive (I'll show then we will do together)
Leah Stayer is an Educational Consultant with Curriculum Associates. She received her B.A. in Education from Indiana State University and her M.S.E. in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University. In Indiana, she taught students for ten years in elementary, middle school... Read More →
Formative assessment is critical in the classroom when making data-informed instructional decisions. Learn how to create auto-graded formative assessments in Seesaw to gain meaningful insights into student understanding.
Mia is an instructional partner at Seesaw. Prior to joining the Seesaw team, Mia taught Kindergarten in Chicago Public Schools for 10 years. In her tenure as a teacher, Mia explored innovative methods to transform teaching and learning and empower her students daily. Mia is a Google... Read More →
This session will offer an overview of the PreK-5 online resources offered at FWCS through Media Services. We will briefly discuss Swank Video Streaming, PebbleGo, PebbleGoNext, Capstone Connect, and other elementary resources. This session is not just for FWCS employees; but would be a great opportunity to see how these online resources might be used in your school or classroom.
Anyone is welcome PreK - 5, Instructional Coaches Swank and Pebble Go Interactive Session
Media Services Manager, Fort Wayne Community Schools
I've been a K-12 library media specialist for 17 years. My passion is sharing the love of reading. My newest interests are listening to podcasts and learning to travel on a limited budget.
