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During the summer, we organized several educational workshops and presented at conferences nationwide on various educational subjects. Our most popular workshops included "Did AI Write That?”, "Data-Driven Small Groups Made Easy," "Elementary Centers with a Blended Twist," and "How to Increase Student Engagement.” The engagement level during all our workshops and presentations was outstanding. This can be attributed to our approach of delivering content in bite-sized chunks, allowing teachers to share, reflect, and implement the strategies, and providing hands-on learning opportunities for the participants. While reflecting on the successful workshops and presentations, I wanted to share some of my favorite engagement activities that you can try in your classroom, at a staff meeting, or in your next workshop. All the resources and ideas can be found in the blog post, along with videos showing how we implemented the activities.  We are currently booking workshops for the 2024/25 school year, and summer workshops for 2025. Book today and receive a discount along with a copy of the Field Guide. |
| As educators, we know that setting up differentiated instruction is one of the best ways to meet all learners' needs within a single classroom. However, sometimes differentiated instruction can seem overwhelming when there is already so much to prepare for a single lesson. During the workshop "Data-Driven Small Groups Made Easy," we showcase how changing one word can change the outcome of a small group lesson. The activity showcases a five-step process that helps to quickly create Differentiated small group lessons, and it all starts with changing one word: the verb. |  Click Here for FREE Copy of the Bloom Verbs |
Five Easy to Follow Steps for Differentiated Small Groups
Step One: Deploy a formative assessment after teaching a concept or as an assessment.
Step Two: Place the students into groups based on the data
Step Three: Write out the learning objective and student outcome.
Step Four: Change the Verb using Bloom’s Taxonomy Guide
Step Five: Rewrite the lesson overview with a new verb from the Blooms Guide
Helpful Hint: Use Eduaide.ai for lesson ideas that align with Bloom’s Taxonomy outline.
For a copy of our Bloom's Taxonomy Verbs, click here.
Step Two: Place the students into groups based on the data
Step Three: Write out the learning objective and student outcome.
Step Four: Change the Verb using Bloom’s Taxonomy Guide
Step Five: Rewrite the lesson overview with a new verb from the Blooms Guide
Helpful Hint: Use Eduaide.ai for lesson ideas that align with Bloom’s Taxonomy outline.
For a copy of our Bloom's Taxonomy Verbs, click here.
Making Connections
A Fantastic IceBreaker and Student Engagement Activity
Grab a copy of the Making Connections Activity
A Fantastic IceBreaker and Student Engagement Activity
Grab a copy of the Making Connections Activity
| As a professional development provider and an instructional coach, part of my job is to build professional relationships with the educators I am working with on a daily, weekly, or even a one-time learning session. One of the activities that I used over the summer was making connections. This allows time for the participants to share qualities about who they are when they are not at work. Not only was it an excellent way for me to learn more about the educators in the room, but it also allowed other educators a chance to learn more about each other and find connections among the group members. "Connections" is a daily game published by The New York Times. The game consists of four categories with sixteen words placed in a grid. The objective is to find groups of four words that are related to each other. You continue grouping the words until all sixteen words are connected to each other. |  |
Click here to grab your copy of the Connection Activity
In this icebreaker activity, we'll start the lesson by having the participants fill in a grid of sixteen words that match up to suggested categories.
After that, I'll give the participants some time to turn their words into a connection game using the provided website during the workshop. They will then have the opportunity to share their connections with at least one other member of the workshop.
At the end of the workshop, we will discuss how we can use this activity to engage the students in an upcoming lesson or with vocabulary words.
After that, I'll give the participants some time to turn their words into a connection game using the provided website during the workshop. They will then have the opportunity to share their connections with at least one other member of the workshop.
At the end of the workshop, we will discuss how we can use this activity to engage the students in an upcoming lesson or with vocabulary words.
Checklist Exploration Activity
From the Student Engagement and Ownership Workshop -
Checklist and Choice Boards For the Win
From the Student Engagement and Ownership Workshop -
Checklist and Choice Boards For the Win
I love a good checklist. Every day before I head home from work, I make a checklist of things that I need to complete or work on for the next day. I design my checklist into four categories: High-Priority Work Items, Contacts, Ongoing Projects, and Social Media posts.
By using a checklist in the classroom during small group instruction days, students can become more independent, engaged, and able to work through the learning activities at their own pace. As part of the Checklist and Choice Boards for The Win Workshop, participants engage in an activity where they can explore various checklists.
The checklists all look different. They showcase a variety of activities, and the examples are from Pre-Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. This activity aims to showcase that there is not just one type of checklist, but they all have similar elements.
By using a checklist in the classroom during small group instruction days, students can become more independent, engaged, and able to work through the learning activities at their own pace. As part of the Checklist and Choice Boards for The Win Workshop, participants engage in an activity where they can explore various checklists.
The checklists all look different. They showcase a variety of activities, and the examples are from Pre-Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. This activity aims to showcase that there is not just one type of checklist, but they all have similar elements.
Click here to grab a copy of this activity for you next workshop.
 | Keeping Track of All The Data An activity from "Impact Achievement With MAP" Workshop |
"Data is not just another thing to add to your plate but rather the first thing that should go on your plate." I came across this quote over the summer on social media, talking about data points in the classroom. Now, I share it at the start of every workshop. Data often feels like a lot of work, but if we change our mindsets and consider the impact that data has on the classroom structure and the individual students, then maybe we should explore data as the first thing at the beginning of each lesson.During the Impact on Achievement workshop, I shared an easy way to keep track of observation, formative, summative, and even MAP data. This strategy is not new but rather a tried-and-true method that helps to form differentiated small groups in minutes. The sample teacher data tracker showcased here can be replaced with the student roster. You don’t need to get fancy; start keeping track of ongoing data on a daily basis.
Padlet.com
The most used website from all of my workshops and conference sessions.
The most used website from all of my workshops and conference sessions.
Over the years, I have learned to keep things simple. The more complex a topic, website, or activity, the more likely the participants will get frustrated and give up. Therefore, I always use padlet.com as my backchannel - a place to post resources, facilitate collaboration activities, and more. Now, Padlet has AI built into the platform and a new Sandbox, which seems to make planning engaging activities a little bit easier for both the classroom and professional development workshops.
My top ten reasons why Padlet is always a part of my workshops.
10. Allows everyone to have a voice throughout the workshop
9. Promotes a sense of community
8. Still a “freemium” website - three boards for free
7. Embed the Padlet into a Website or LMS
6. Easy to create a post, video, photo, drawing, and so much more
5. Digital “Parking Lot” for Questions or comments
4. Post resources and links in the moment
3. Great way to authenticate the learning
2. A replacement to Flip.com
1. No usernames or passwords required for posting
My top ten reasons why Padlet is always a part of my workshops.
10. Allows everyone to have a voice throughout the workshop
9. Promotes a sense of community
8. Still a “freemium” website - three boards for free
7. Embed the Padlet into a Website or LMS
6. Easy to create a post, video, photo, drawing, and so much more
5. Digital “Parking Lot” for Questions or comments
4. Post resources and links in the moment
3. Great way to authenticate the learning
2. A replacement to Flip.com
1. No usernames or passwords required for posting
Book a Workshop or Coaching Session with Marcia Kish
We are currently scheduling both coaching and workshops for the 2024/25 school year. Additionally, we are beginning to schedule workshops for the Summer of 2025. If you would like Marcia Kish to present at your next workshop or conference, please feel free to send a direct email to Marcia, or click on the links below for the workshop that aligns best with your school’s vision.
Discount and A Free Copy of The Field Guide
To promote the start of new school year, we are offering discounts for both the coaching and workshop sessions. Plus, you will also receive a copy of the "Field Guide" *
Discount and A Free Copy of The Field Guide
To promote the start of new school year, we are offering discounts for both the coaching and workshop sessions. Plus, you will also receive a copy of the "Field Guide" *
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Marcia Kish is a Blended Learning Specialist, Instructional Coach, and author of The 12 Elements of Student Engagement and Ownership Field Guide, dedicated to helping educators create dynamic, student-centered classrooms.
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