2022 NDMTSS Conference Sessions

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Monday Keynote: Building a Path to PROGRESS Through MTSS

Monday - Keynote (9:00 AM - 10:30 AM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Tessie Bailey - AIR PROGRESS Center

Dr. Tessie Rose Bailey is the PROGRESS Center project director. In addition to this role, she serves as a national expert in special education, transition, and MTSS/RTI for states and districts through the National Center on Intensive Intervention and the National Center for Systemic Improvement as well as several state contracts. Prior to her current work, she served as a university faculty member, education consultant, and classroom special education teacher. Dr. Bailey has conducted hundreds of professional learning workshops and presentations on effective instruction and assessment practices for struggling students and students with disabilities, MTSS/RTI, special education law and policy, and transition services. She has developed tools and conducted national webinars related to academic IEP goal setting, the Endrew decision, and intensive intervention. She completed her PhD at the University of Utah in special education and did postdoctoral work in MTSS/RTI and secondary transition at Lehigh University’s Center for Promoting Research to Practice.

Summary

How can we ensure all students, including those with disabilities, are on the path to progress? We just need the right bike and the right road. After 15 years of MTSS lessons learned, it seems that we may have found the right twists and turns!

Monday 1a: MTSS and Special Education: What General Educators Need To Know

Monday - Breakout 1 (10:45 AM - 12:00 PM)

Location

Embassy A & B - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Tessie Bailey - AIR PROGRESS Center

Summary

Did you know that MTSS provides general educators a validated approach for identifying and providing tiered instruction for students with disabilities? Join the PROGRESS Center to learn more and access free, practical tools to support implementation.

Monday 1b: PBIS Implementation in a Small School

Monday - Breakout 1 (10:45 AM - 12:00 PM)

Location

Executive & Board - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Lauren Bennett - New Salem - Almont
Brian Christopherson - New Salem - Almont
Ashley Kautzman - New Salem - Almont
Sabrina Yoney - New Salem - Almont

Summary

Steps and process to implementing PBIS in a small school. Where did we start? How did we get buy in? How did we grow and change?

Monday 1c: Intro to a Simple Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

Monday - Breakout 1 (10:45 AM - 12:00 PM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Charlie Hill - Behavior Advantage

Summary

The large majority of behavior problems in schools are not serious or severe, but disrupt the learning environment on a regular basis. Proactively addressing these behavior challenges with evidence-based strategies reduces the risk of these issues growing into larger problems. A Simple Behavior Plan designed to prevent, teach, and respond provides educators with the road maps they need to effectively and efficiently manage these behavior challenges. This workshop shows educators how to create and implement individualized Simple Behavior Plans using Behavior Advantage, making the process both efficient and practical.

Monday 1d: Personalizing Math Intervention at the Middle School Level

Monday - Breakout 1 (10:45 AM - 12:00 PM)

Location

Dakota Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Carlene Gustafson - West Fargo School District
Lindsey Lugsch-Tehle - West Fargo School District
Gabrielle Zilmer - West Fargo School District

Summary

In 2020, Liberty Middle School in West Fargo embarked on a journey of rebuilding its Math Intervention Model from a one-size-fits-all approach to a personalized learning approach for building foundational math skills. In the previous model, focus was on 'catching up' students so that they could re-enter Core Math. With this approach, we found transitioning back to Core Math was difficult. So we decided to dig deep and make a change. With the Personalized Learning model, students are engaged in Core Math standards while being supported in small group instruction to build foundational math skills to be successful for a lifetime. During this session, we will share the ‘why’ behind the transition, how data is supporting decisions, and what students and teachers are saying. Session Trailer: https://wfps-my.sharepoint.com/personal/cgustafson_west-fargo_k12_nd_us/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Fcgustafson%5Fwest%2Dfargo%5Fk12%5Fnd%5Fus%2FDocuments%2FMTSS%2FMTSS%20Academics%2FAlternate%20Math%2FNDMTSS%20Trailer%2Emp4&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Fcgustafson%5Fwest%2Dfargo%5Fk12%5Fnd%5Fus%2FDocuments%2FMTSS%2FMTSS%20Academics%2FAlternate%20Math&ga=1

Monday 1e: Introduction to the Science of Reading (SoR)

Monday - Breakout 1 (10:45 AM - 12:00 PM)

Location

Director's & Conference - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Kerri Whipple - SEEC

Summary

Most educational research takes 17 years to get to classroom practice. This session covers the major research components behind the science of reading.

Monday 2a: Special Education and MTSS: What Special Educators Need to Know

Monday - Breakout 2 (1:00 PM - 2:15 PM)

Location

Embassy A & B - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Tessie Bailey - AIR PROGRESS Center

Summary

Did you know that MTSS can support special educators in designing and delivering specially designing instruction across the tiers? Join the PROGRESS Center to learn more and access free, practical tools to support implementation.

Monday 2b: Planning for School, Family, and Community Partnerships

Monday - Breakout 2 (1:00 PM - 2:15 PM)

Location

Executive & Board - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Erin Lacina - NESC
Brenda Ehrmantraut - NDDPI
Rachel Tabler - NDDPI

Summary

This session will provide an overview of Epstein's Six Types of Family Engagement as well as upcoming state opportunities for schools to engage in professional development for application of this framework. Learn how the Six Types of Family Engagement can help your school's leadership team enhance existing strategic goals through aligned family and community engagement activities and annual plans.

Monday 2c: Teaching Replacement Behaviors and Self Regulation

Monday - Breakout 2 (1:00 PM - 2:15 PM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Charlie Hill - Behavior Advantage

Summary

Teaching students more appropriate ways to communicate and self-manage their wants and needs is an essential and effective intervention to reduce disruptive behaviors. Replacement behaviors are also important self-regulation skills that build independence.

Monday 2d: How to Make Adjustments to Your School System on Both Sides of the Triangle

Monday - Breakout 2 (1:00 PM - 2:15 PM)

Location

Dakota Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Summary

Ensuring ALL students learn at grade level or higher, using highly effective teaching strategies to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of each learner.

Monday 2e: Selecting a New Reading Curriculum 101

Monday - Breakout 2 (1:00 PM - 2:15 PM)

Location

Director's - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Kerri Whipple - SEEC
Erica Kindem - SEEC
Erica Carney - SEEC

Monday 2f: Making Math Teaching Matter

Monday - Breakout 2 (1:00 PM - 2:15 PM)

Location

Conference - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Kaye Andersen - GNWEC

Summary

'This workshop will explore evidence-based math strategies to increase engagement and achievement of struggling students in your math classroom. Topics addressed will include what strategies provide the strongest evidence of success and what they look like in our classrooms, with a high focus on building fact fluency. An overview of DreamBox Math Learning and Building Fact Fluency (Fletcher and Zager) will be shared.'

Monday 3a: Students With Disabilities

Monday - Breakout 3 (2:30 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Embassy A & B - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Lea Kugel

Summary

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines special education as specially designed instruction provided at no cost to the parents. The presentation will provide an overview of the special education process, beginning with assessing the student for a disability to the development of the IEP, which must include specially designed instruction if the student is identified as having a disability.

Monday 3b: Using PDSA Cycles For School Improvement

Monday - Breakout 3 (2:30 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Executive & Board - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Rachel Tabler - NDDPI
Amanda Peterson - NDDPI

Summary

This session will introduce educators to Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles, a key component of improvement science efforts. Improvement science is a problem-solving approach centered on continuous inquiry and learning-by-doing. Throughout this session we will build a shared understanding of how to incorporate PDSA cycles into continuous improvement processes, as well as highlighting how schools can use the school renewal handbook to identify both bright spots and breakdowns. The overall goal of the session is to assist with actions that can be taken to improve educational outcomes.

Monday 3c: Early Intervention and De-escalation Strategies

Monday - Breakout 3 (2:30 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Charlie Hill - Behavior Advantage

Summary

Early intervention and de-escalation strategies are effective and efficient in preventing and managing problem behaviors. Used consistently, these proven practices help students anticipate and plan for upcoming activities, as well as providing opportunities to practice important self-management skills. Effective de-escalation strategies will also be taught for instances when behavioral escalation cannot be prevented.

Monday 3d: Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction With Standards-Based Learning

Monday - Breakout 3 (2:30 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Dakota Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Danette Brown - SEEC
Derryn Johnson - NESC

Summary

Ensuring effective Tier 1 instruction in all classrooms can be an elusive goal. Teachers teach differently, and teach different content, so it can be difficult to isolate instructional practices that really move the needle for all teachers. Because all teachers have content standards in some form, one option to ensure consistency of instructional effectiveness is to focus on the way teachers interact with those standards. In this session participants will explore the concepts and practices of standards-based learning, and how standards-based learning can strengthen Tier 1 instruction.

Monday 3e: Choosing and Using Text in Early Reading Instruction

Monday - Breakout 3 (2:30 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Director's - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Kerri Whipple - SEEC

Summary

Through interactive activities, we’ll explore the difference between using leveled and decodable materials for beginning reading instruction. Learn what to look for to use each effectively with beginning readers.

Monday 3f: ND Dyslexia Grant Update

Monday - Breakout 3 (2:30 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Conference - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Justine Gibbon - Kindred School District
Christine Litzinger - Grand Forks School District

Summary

The ND legislature provided funding to support a dyslexia pilot program (NDCC §15.1.32.26) to provide insight, guidance, and assist in making future determinations regarding dyslexia in North Dakota. The NDDPI chose pilot sites from a pool of applicants. In this session you will hear updates from the Grand Forks pilot site and the Southeast Consortium pilot site as well as some practical tips they have learned along the way.

Tuesday Keynote1: Unleashing Potential through the Power of Connections

Tuesday - Keynote 1 (9:00 AM - 10:30 AM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Tara Brown - The Connection Coach & Learner's Edge Consulting

Summary

It has been said that ‘we never touch another so lightly that we do not leave a trace’. In this humorous inspirational keynote, Tara emphasizes that we are all leaders in some capacity, regardless of title or position, and that kids are constantly seeking leaders who they can follow. Through powerful stories of her time spent both teaching and coaching diverse populations, Tara emphasizes the importance of embracing intentional actions that will inspire and motivate. Characteristics of great leaders will be discussed and attendees will take away tremendous encouragement with which to embrace the power of their leadership footprint on a daily basis.

Tuesday Keynote2: The Science of Math: Effective Instruction and Class-wide Intervention

Tuesday - Keynote 2 (10:45 AM - 12:15 PM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Amanda VanDerHeyden - Education Research and Consulting; SpringMath

Summary

Educators operate at the intersection of evidence-based principles and frontline realities in schools. Thus, we can be key actors in reducing tension when philosophies are pitted against evidence and assist schools to adopt and deliver more effective instruction at scale. Science of Reading (SoR), Science of Math (SoM), MTSS, and equitable practices are mutually supportive: each attempts to institutionalize the premise that (a) learning is a predictable outcome of highly effective instruction and (b) implementing highly effective instruction in all classrooms is possible with the right resource allocations and commitment to science over philosophy. This session will detail key scientific findings pertinent to teaching math along with research updates in MTSS. Effects on learning and specifically closing of equity gaps will be shared. Attendees will take away tactics to try right away in their own settings and web-based resources to start their own work to adopt science-based math instruction within their MTSS structures. Printed and video resources will be provided.

Tuesday 1a: How to Use Classwide Math Intervention

Tuesday - Breakout 1 (1:15 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Amanda VanDerHeyden - ducation Research and Consulting; SpringMath

Summary

MTSS is a model that promotes growth for all learners and produces a dataset that can be used to inform future instructional actions. When risk is high, classwide math intervention is a necessary feature of MTSS (Tier 1.5) that has the effect of lowering overall risk (i.e., improving overall proficiency), closing opportunity gaps, and providing much more accurate identification of students needing more intensive intervention. Classwide intervention produces a strong incremental cost effectiveness ratio meaning that it produces benefit to all students in a highly efficient way. This session will detail how to use classwide math intervention in your MTSS models. Sample protocols and printed and video resources will be provided.

Tuesday 1b: Embracing the Power of Your Leadership Footprint

Tuesday - Breakout 1 (1:15 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location

Director's & Conference - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Tara Brown - The Connection Coach

Summary

Organizational disruptor Seth Godin states: 'Culture beats strategy-so much that culture is strategy.' With the ripple effects from the pandemic, virtual learning, isolation, lack of connections, teacher shortages, etc., there has never been a more important time for administrators to focus on creating and fostering an amazing culture that focuses on connections. Great organizations realize that the environment that individuals step into on a daily basis is pivotal to how they feel, what they perceive and how they perform. Emotional safety, created by leaders who lead with their hearts and drive connections deep, increases motivation, engagement, creativity, risk-taking, loyalty and buy-in to the vision of the organization. This session will explore the: *neuroscience behind emotions as a driving force to increasing the bottom line *characteristics of great leaders who inspire and motivate those they lead *power of connections to unleash potential in people of all ages *components of great cultures and why they are crucial to organizational success

Tuesday 1c: Reading Is An Equity Issue: All Tiers Matter

Tuesday - Breakout 1 (1:15 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location

Dakota Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Lisa Stewart - Minnesota State University Moorhead

Summary

This session will explore the power of language and reading as a resiliency factor for children and setting up a system where Tier 1, 2 and 3 reading instruction meets the needs of ALL students. In order to do this participants will reflect on the resources and barriers that exist in their school system and communities at each of the Tiers. The focus will be on K-3 literacy instruction -for the whole child and the whole system not just within the walls of a particular classroom. The role of writing, spelling, and vocabulary will be included.

Tuesday 1d: Tier 2/3 Behavioral Health Problem Solving and Collaboration

Tuesday - Breakout 1 (1:15 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location

Embassy A & B - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Bismarck - Simle Middle School

Summary

The Simle team will discuss problem solving, interventions and collaboration with internal and external partners.

Tuesday 1e: Three Schools' NDMTSS Journey

Tuesday - Breakout 1 (1:15 PM - 2:30 PM)

Location

Executive & Board - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Kulm Public School ND
North Sargent Public School
Hankinson Public School

Summary

North Sargent, Kulm and Hankinson MTSS teams will describe their journeys developing a MTSS system. The teams will share successes and creative solutions they have found along the way as well as the many bumps in the road, continuing efforts to revise and improve all parts of the system, and the integration of academics and behaviors as one MTSS system.

Tuesday 2a: How to Build a More Powerful Intervention

Tuesday - Breakout 2 (2:45 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Amanda VanDerHeyden - ducation Research and Consulting; SpringMath

Summary

We have learned a lot about intensification in MTSS. This session will provide research updates on how to deliver truly intensified instruction. Using math as an example, Dr. VanDerHeyden will take attendees from the risk decision to diagnostic assessment to an intensified math intervention aligned with the student's measured learning needs. Implementation support will be detailed and evaluation of intervention success (RTI) will be unpacked.

Tuesday 2b: ABLE – Transforming Possibilities for All™

Tuesday - Breakout 2 (2:45 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Director's & Conference - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Kim Pladson - President & CEO, TNT Kid's Fitness, Fargo
Kelli Odden, Ed.D. - Associate Professor of Education, Mayville State Univeristy
John Porter - South Valley Special Education Director

Summary

Think of the possibilities and opportunities if an inclusive curriculum was created to meet the learner’s ability to learn and perform at their individual level and be successful? ABLE to Work. A School to Work Ecosystem being designed for students with special needs scaled throughout grades K-12. Goals are to create a systemic effect to change how we prepare children throughout each school transition. A new curriculum that is 100% inclusive, focusing for the first time on a vocation training model for students with special needs ignited by a PE curriculum to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in public schools that can transform the student and peer as they explore choice-ready options to enter the workforce or further their education.

Tuesday 2c: Evidence-Based Practice or Practice-Based Evidence: Improving Outcomes

Tuesday - Breakout 2 (2:45 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Dakota Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Lisa Stewart - Minnesota State University Moorhead

Summary

Evidence Based Practice is a well worn phrase in education, but what if how you work with students doesn't have a research article behind it but has great outcomes? This session will outline the similarities and differences between selecting Evidence Based Practices for your classroom and interventions versus Practice Based Evidence. The two are not mutually exclusive; one focuses on selecting well researched practices to try and the other focuses on making sure you are matching instruction to your students and using data about whether it works to guide your decisions. The assessment data and tools used for each and developing habits and systems within your school that support the use of both will be explored.

Tuesday 2d: District-Wide Implementation of MTSSB: Behavior, Mental Health, and Data Based Decision Making

Tuesday - Breakout 2 (2:45 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Embassy A & B - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Dawn Miller - West Fargo School District
Annie Richards - West Fargo School District

Summary

This session will provide an overview of how West Fargo Public Schools integrates behavioral health supports within the MTSSB system. Examples of how to systemically include different data sources to understand behavioral health in a school system will be explored. This overview will also describe a method for vertical alignment of MTSSB system work across the K-12 system and a three tiered model of supporting schools through coaching, teaming, and accessing resources.

Tuesday 2e: Standards Based Learning Panel

Tuesday - Breakout 2 (2:45 PM - 4:00 PM)

Location

Executive & Board - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Danette Brown - SEEC
Derryn Johnson - NESC
Richland School District
Minto School District

Summary

Join us for an informative panel discussion to help support your understanding of standards-based learning at a systems' level. Hear from the administrators, MTSS team members, and teachers about how to engage your staff in standards-based conversations and move towards standards-based learning. Learn a variety of approaches and engage in collaboration at varying levels.

Wednesday Keynote1: Pain Power Honor: Transformative Actions That Lead to Learning

Wednesday - Keynote 1 (8:00 AM - 9:30 AM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Andratesha Fritzgerald - Building Blocks of Brilliance LLC

Summary

'Acknowledge the pain of staying the same. Disarm the danger of “power”. Transform the code of power into the code of honor. Controversy is born the moment dreamers begin taking actions to invite the marginalized ones into the secret society of success. It takes bravery to dream beyond the locked gates of educational access for all. When we say “all” we need to be brave enough to identify the students who the system has not traditionally served. It’s more important than ever that we recognize that our systems are not socially just or equitable for our students with disabilities, our English language learners, our LGBTQ students, our students who experience trauma, students who are economically disadvantaged and our Black and Brown students. In order to design learning environments that are safe, welcoming, inviting and empowering we have to learn how to: Acknowledge the pain of staying the same. Disarm the danger of “power”. Transform the code of power into the code of honor. This workshop will cover stories and strategies to actualize the pathway to access and success for all learners. This workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to make personal connections to the keynote presentation. Participants will begin identifying pathways to implementation by: Examining their knowledge of Universal Design for Learning as an equity building framework. Evaluating their personal practice to identify the intersections of interest and needs in their design. Emotionally inventorying the pain, power and honor components as fuel for individual and systemic change. Embracing the necessary action steps that are essential to their practice by planning and committing to implementation of Universal Design for Learning. '

Wednesday Keynote2: Helping Our Students Live, Learn, and Thrive in Challenging Times

Wednesday - Keynote 2 (9:35 AM - 10:50 AM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Stephanie Malia Krauss - First Quarter Strategies

Summary

Pandemics. Extreme weather. Divisive politics. Community and family challenges. Today's kids are growing up in changing and challenging times. As educators and counselors, it's our job to help them be ready and well enough to live and learn, now and in the future. In this presentation, attendees will hear from Stephanie Malia Krauss, author of 'Making It: What Today's Kids Need for Tomorrow's World,' about the science and strategies educators can use that will promote student well-being and help prepare them for an uncertain future.

Wednesday 1a: Using UDL in the Classroom: Practical Strategies to Get Started

Wednesday - Breakout 1 (11:00 AM - 12:15 PM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Andratesha Fritzgerald - Building Blocks of Brilliance LLC

Summary

Now that you've heard a bit about UDL, you may be wondering, 'How will I find the time to plan lessons that follow the principles of UDL? How can I possibly pull it off?' This session will give teachers practical tools for designing and implementing inclusive, universally designed instruction.

Wednesday 1b: ND Resources to Support Local Implementation of Social Emotional Learning

Wednesday - Breakout 1 (11:00 AM - 12:15 PM)

Location

Executive & Board - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Lyndsi Engstrom - CREA & ND SEL Network
Keely Ihry - SEEC & ND SEL Network

Summary

The ND Social Emotional Learning Network, a Community of Practice comprised of ND educators and launched in January of 2020, has curated and generated a plethora of resources to support ND school districts in expanding their local MTSS processes to include addressing social and emotional needs of students. This session will provide an overview of the “Greatest Hits” list of implementation resources.

Wednesday 1c: Literacy for Young(est) Learners

Wednesday - Breakout 1 (11:00 AM - 12:15 PM)

Location

Dakota Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Emily Koterba - SEEC
Kerri Whipple - SEEC

Summary

The SEEDS of Learning professional learning curriculum resources promote age-appropriate activities that prepare our littlest learners for eventual school success. This session will introduce activities that promote vocabulary and phonological awareness skills by talking, reading, and writing with our youngest learners through songs and play.

Wednesday 1d: Assessments 101

Wednesday - Breakout 1 (11:00 AM - 12:15 PM)

Location

Embassy A & B - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Brandie Ulland - NDMTSS
Kayla Durkin - NDREA

Summary

Do you ever wonder what assessments to give and how often? If so, join us as we dive into the four purposes of assessments: Universal Screener, Diagnostic, Progress Monitoring, and Outcomes. We will take a look at how often you should be assessing your students, how to build these assessments into your school/district calendar, and we will go through a few examples of the common benchmark and diagnostic screeners that are being used across ND.

Wednesday 1e: (REPEAT) Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction With Standards-Based Learning

Wednesday - Breakout 1 (11:00 AM - 12:15 PM)

Location

Director's - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Danette Brown - SEEC
Derryn Johnson - NESC

Summary

Wednesday 1f: (REPEAT) Making Math Teaching Matter

Wednesday - Breakout 1 (11:00 AM - 12:15 PM)

Location

Conference - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Kaye Andersen - GNWEC

Summary

Wednesday 2a: Start Your Engines: A Leadership Conversation to Build Equitable Expressways to Success for ALL Students

Wednesday - Breakout 2 (1:40 PM - 2:55 PM)

Location

Great Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Andratesha Fritzgerald - Building Blocks of Brilliance LLC

Summary

School leaders know that supporting implementation of Universal Design for Learning is both hard work and heart work. This session is focused on district/building leaders who are stepping into the role of leading critical conversations around equity in their schools. Each participant will leave with strategies and tools to support dialogue and actions that lead to equitable outcomes.

Wednesday 2b: Working Together: Title I and MTSS

Wednesday - Breakout 2 (1:40 PM - 2:55 PM)

Location

Executive & Board - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Stephanie Two-Crow - NDDPI
Michelle Koepplin - NDDPI

Summary

This session provides attendees with an overview of what is Title I, the differences between schoolwide and targeted assistance, the benefits of a schoolwide program, and the use of Title I funds. Stef and Michelle will discuss how the Title I program works together with evidence-based strategies and interventions in a multi-tiered system of supports.

Wednesday 2c: Tier 1 Content-Area Literacy Instruction: Using Writing to Deepen Comprehension

Wednesday - Breakout 2 (1:40 PM - 2:55 PM)

Location

Dakota Hall - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Angela Hase - Red River Valley Writing Project
Ben Melby - Red River Valley Writing Project
Lisa Gusewelle - Red River Valley Writing Project
Kim Rensch - Red River Valley Writing Project

Summary

'Typically, content-area literacy instruction brings to mind reading interventions; however, layering writing instruction with reading instruction can be the missing link students need to deepen their comprehension. Studies have shown that “writing about a text proved to be better than just reading it, reading and rereading it, reading and studying it, reading and discussing it, and receiving reading instruction” (Graham and Herbert, 2010, p. 14). This session will present the positive gains students can make using research-based writing strategies in literacy instruction, give easy-to-integrate writing strategies any educator can use in the classroom, and provide a brief overview of how the Red River Valley Writing Project can assist schools and educators with professional development. Understand the importance of writing in content-area literacy instruction Learn different strategies teachers can use to incorporate Learn about how RRVWP programming can assist in writing instruction Reference: Graham, S., & Perin, D. (2007). Writing next: Effective strategies to improve writing of adolescents in middle and high schools -- A report to Carnegie Corporation of New York. Washington, DC: Alliance for Excellent Education. '

Wednesday 2d: PBIS Tier 1 Strategies for Classrooms

Wednesday - Breakout 2 (1:40 PM - 2:55 PM)

Location

Embassy A & B - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Brandie Ulland - SEEC

Summary

Your school has implemented behavior expectations for all students in your building, but how does that look inside each classroom? Learn strategies to make those expectations your own along with appropriate ways to respond to student behavior.

Wednesday 2e: Leveraging Professional Learning for Paraeducators

Wednesday - Breakout 2 (1:40 PM - 2:55 PM)

Location

Director's - Holiday Inn Fargo

Speakers

Danette Brown - SEEC

Summary

Join us for this session and learn more about how your local REAs are supporting North Dakota schools’ paraeducators in the acquisition and application of instructional practices deemed effective for increasing K-12 students’ learning outcomes.