Science Inquiry: Unlocking the Scientist in EVERY Child! (PK-5th grade)
Discover how to ignite curiosity and scientific thinking in every student! This hands-on, two-day workshop immerses PK-5th grade teachers in inquiry-based learning using the 5E Lesson Model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, Evaluate). Aligned with NGSS, this training integrates STEM and literacy, helping educators design engaging, real-world investigations that build critical thinking, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary connections. Conduct experiments, collaborate, and leave with ready-to-use lesson plans and strategies that will transform your classroom into a hub of exploration and discovery. Join us and inspire the next generation of young scientists, engineers, and innovators!

What to Expect:
Through hands-on experimentation, collaborative discussions, and lesson planning, participants will:

• Engage in inquiry-based learning and student-driven questioning.
• Explore through hands-on investigations, data collection, and engineering challenges.
• Explain by making sense of scientific concepts through discussion, reading, and writing.
• Extend/Elaborate through cross-curricular connections to math, literacy, and real-world applications.
• Evaluate student learning using assessment tools that measure understanding and scientific thinking.

This highly interactive training will model the 5E Learning Cycle across different science topics, providing teachers with strategies to replicate and adapt this approach in their own classrooms.

Science Inquiry: The Key to Unlocking the Scientist in EVERY Child! (PK-2nd grade)
Experience this hands-on workshop demonstrating how on-going science inquiry benefits ALL children through the facilitation of science activities. Implementing instructional strategies that develop science inquiry skills using the Project-Based Learning Approach increases student engagement, learning and achievement. Recognizing and identifying the connections between scientific inquiry, Project-Based Learning, STEM/STEAM activities, and the Common Core standards will maximize the learning opportunities for ALL children. Nurturing science inquiry skills by introducing science activities utilizing Project-Based Learning effectively guides ALL children toward becoming SUCCESSFUL scientists!

Agencies/Organizations Presented at/for:

• Golden Triangle Curriculum Cooperative (GTCC), 
• Montana Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)
• Young Child EXPO
• California STEAM Symposium
• Early Childhood STEM Symposium:
• NAEYC: Atlanta, Georgia
• EC STEM Conference 
• Southern California Kindergarten Conference

Math and Literacy Foundational Skills: Identifying the Predictive Indicators for School Success
This hands-on workshop will provide practical research-based math and literacy strategies that will help students increase their reading and math skills. The morning session will focus on developing an understanding of number sense as well as the latest methods to develop skills in subitizing, counting, one-to-one correspondence, and cardinality. Number sense is linked to future math achievement in a manner similar to the way phonological awareness has been linked to reading achievement (Kosanovich, Weinstein, & Goldman 2009.)
In the afternoon, the focus will be on developing an understanding of the phonological awareness continuum and the importance of these skills – along with strategies to support differentiation to meet the needs of each student. Come learn some fun strategies and activities that will allow you to create engaging and positive experiences where both children and staff have SUCCESS!

Intentional Planning for Math focusing on the Predictive Indicators for School Success
PK-Early Elementary
Number sense is linked to future math achievement in a manner similar to the way phonological awareness has been linked to reading achievement (Kosanovich, Weinstein, &; Goldman 2009.) Training will focus on predictive indicators for school success and how to develop a curriculum that includes balanced lesson delivery. Instructional strategies will be introduced that provide children with a variety of opportunities to practice and reinforce those key skills during their daily routines. A wide variety of inclusionary practices will be discussed as well as developmentally appropriate knowledge and skill acquisition strategies that are applicable to increasing the access to the curriculum for all children. This workshop will provide practical research and evidence-based math activities and games that will help students increase their math skills. The session will focus on developing an understanding of number sense as well as the latest methods to develop skills in subitizing, counting, one-to-one correspondence, and cardinality. Plan to join this training and learn some fun activities that will allow you to create engaging and positive math experiences for children!

Making It All Add Up! (PK-2nd grade)
“Let’s work together to make math meaningful, engaging, and accessible for every young learner. Join us for this dynamic session and take the first step toward making math count—every day, for every child!”
Join us for a comprehensive 6-hour professional learning experience designed for educators working with young learners in preschool through 2nd grade. "Making It All Add Up!" is a two-part session focused on building and reinforcing foundational math skills using developmentally appropriate, engaging, and inclusive strategies.
Part 1: Developing Children’s Number Sense
Explore the developmental progression of number sense, including subitizing, counting, one-to-one correspondence, cardinality, and hierarchical inclusion. Learn how to identify and support early numeracy skills through intentional instruction and playful, hands-on learning.
Part 2: Math EVERY Day for EVERY Child!
Discover how to naturally embed math into daily classroom routines and activities to support ongoing math development. Emphasis will be placed on inclusionary practices, differentiation, home-to-school math connections, and the creation of ready-to-use classroom resources.
This training empowers teachers with strategies to create a math-rich environment, ensure daily practice of key concepts, and support all learners through differentiated instruction and family engagement.

Teaching Cognitive Engagement in Math: It’s More Than Just Keeping Them Awake!
“Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your math instruction and ignite student thinking! Join us for a full day of practical strategies, interactive learning, and empowering tools that will help every student do the heavy lifting in math—thinking, reasoning, and truly understanding.
Have you ever wondered how to ensure your students are doing the real thinking—analyzing, discussing, problem-solving—in your math lessons? Based on the work of Lemov (2015) and grounded in current research on student engagement and brain-based learning, this full-day, 6-hour training session will equip K–6 educators with actionable strategies to increase cognitive engagement during math instruction.
Participants will learn how to embed high-impact, opportunities to respond (OTR) and checking for understanding (CFU) techniques into daily math routines. Emphasis will be placed on promoting deeper student thinking, encouraging active participation, and ensuring students take ownership of their learning. With a focus on practical application, teachers will leave this session with ready-to-use strategies and a clear understanding of how to apply them consistently to strengthen math understanding across all levels of learners.

Empowering Educators: Targeted Math Intervention Strategies for Grades 3–6
“Ready to close math gaps and boost student success? Join us for a powerful day of learning where you'll walk away with practical strategies, ready-to-use resources, and the confidence to deliver targeted math interventions that make a real difference! Let’s make math meaningful—and achievable—for every learner in your classroom!”
This full-day, 6-hour training is designed to equip educators with practical, evidence-based strategies to support students in grades 3–6 who are performing below proficiency in mathematics. Grounded in the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, this session provides a deep dive into how to use data to inform instruction, implement Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions, differentiate core instruction, and monitor progress consistently to ensure interventions are working. Educators will engage in hands-on learning, collaborative discussions, and resource exploration, all focused on building strong foundations in number sense, operations, fractions, and problem-solving. Teachers will leave with ready-to-use tools for small group instruction, progress monitoring templates, and actionable plans to accelerate math achievement for all learners.

Agencies/Organizations Presented at/for:

• Montana Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)
• NAEYC: Nashville, TN
• MCEC/MCASE: Missoula, MT
• Havre School District, Havre, Montana

Scheduling for Success: How to Maximize the Learning Experiences in Your Classroom
Scheduling can make the difference between chaos and calm in your early childhood and elementary classroom. This training will provide guidelines for scheduling your daily routines to provide a balanced experience for children in which they will experience success. Developmentally appropriate practices will be discussed and ideas shared on how to maximize learning time within your daily schedule recognizing that young children learn best through authentic play experiences. There will be time devoted to discussing how to make transitions meaningful throughout your daily routine. If you’re ready to maximize the learning experiences in your classroom, this training is for you!

Making the Most of Assessments: Finding the Diamonds in the Rough
Summative, formative – isn’t an assessment just an assessment? Using assessments to benefit students will be the focus of this session. What does a summative assessment tell us? How can we use that data to improve our instruction? How about using assessments formatively? Is it possible to find actionable data from those assessments? How to utilize assessment data to identify instructional skill levels for individual students which will support you as you strive to meet the individual needs of students. Progress monitoring will be discussed along with easy to use, quick tools that will effectively monitor student achievement providing valuable data that informs the next steps when differentiating instruction for students. Implementing goal setting based on assessment data is motivating and communicates the connection of skills to each students’ everyday experiences. We will dig deep to find those diamonds and use them to support student success

Data to Differentiation: Matching Instruction to Children’s Needs
How can we ensure that every child receives the instructional support they need to master the concepts and be successful in their school experience? What does it mean to differentiate instruction? Why is it important? How do you do it? How do you use formative assessments and observations to form small groups? How can we use transitions as teaching tools and progress monitoring? This training will address these and many more questions related to effectively and appropriately utilizing data from observation and assessment to differentiate instruction for individual children.

Ordinary to Extraordinary: Program-wide Transformation through Developmentally Appropriate, Intentional, and Engaging Learning Environments which results in SUCCESS for EVERY child!
This workshop will provide practical research-based applications aligned with Creative Curriculum demonstrating how to set up and manage an effective learning environment. Emphasis will be on the value of focusing on developmentally appropriate routines, schedules, and management procedures with the goal of creating and sustaining an engaging, safe, positive atmosphere where children, staff, and families experience SUCCESS!

Teaching for Cognitive Engagement: It’s more than just keeping them awake!
Have you ever wondered how to really be sure your students are doing as much of the cognitive work as possible – the writing, the thinking, the analyzing, the talking? (Lemov, 2015) This session will explore instructional strategies that are geared toward increasing the cognitive engagement of each student while embedding a variety of opportunities to respond (OTR) and checking for understanding (CFU) strategies throughout your lessons. Emphasis will be on practical application within your daily routines that maximizes learning for every student.

Creating a Culture of Success: Building Engaging, Developmentally Appropriate Learning Environments for TK – 2nd Grade Students.
This workshop equips PK-2nd grade teachers with practical, evidence-based strategies to create developmentally appropriate and engaging learning environments where every child experiences success daily. Participants will learn how to set up and manage effective routines, schedules, and procedures that foster cognitive engagement and build executive functioning skills. With a focus on sustaining a positive, safe, and inclusive classroom culture, this session empowers teachers to create a space where children, staff, and families thrive together

Developmentally Appropriate, Intentional, and Engaging Learning Environments = SUCCESS! (PK-2nd Grade)
This workshop will provide practical research-based applications aligned with the MELS demonstrating how to set up and manage an effective learning environment. Emphasis will be on the value of focusing on developmentally appropriate routines, schedules, and management procedures with the goal of creating and sustaining an engaging, safe, positive atmosphere where children, staff, and families experience SUCCESS!

Agencies/Organizations Presented at/for:

• Montana Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)
• NAEYC
• Ronan School District, Ronan, Montana
• Whitehall School District, Whitehall, Montana
• Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB), Great Falls, Montana
• Libby School District, Libby, Montana
• Montana Literacy and Education Conference, Helena, Montana
• Montana Preschool Development Grant (MPDG) Summer Institute, Helena, Montana

AI for Educators: Work Smarter NOT Harder! Empowering Educators: Exploring the Potential of AI in and out of the Classroom.
All teachers, administrators - Session (6 hours)
Join us for a comprehensive training session designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in both classroom and real-world settings. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential of AI in enhancing personalized learning, improving student outcomes, and streamlining administrative tasks. Explore real-world case studies and learn practical strategies for integrating AI tools and platforms into the classroom. The challenges associated with integrating AI in the classroom will be discussed, providing practical strategies for educators to navigate these hurdles effectively. Don't miss this opportunity to discover new possibilities and unlock the transformative potential of AI in education!
Note: This training is customizable according to the needs of the educators. Both content and time frame may be modified as requested.

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Practical AI Tools for Busy Educators
"Simple tools. Big impact. Discover how AI can save you time, energy, and stress."
Feeling overwhelmed by lesson planning, emails, and endless writing tasks? Discover how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can become your new personal assistant! This engaging, hands-on training introduces educators to practical, time-saving AI tools they can use professionally and personally. From writing newsletters and generating classroom materials to planning vacations and polishing resumes—AI can help you do it all faster and more effectively.
Participants will explore a variety of user-friendly AI tools designed to support writing, planning, communication, and productivity across educational and personal tasks. With guided support, they will write powerful prompts, practice real-world applications, and leave with tools they can use immediately. This session boosts productivity, creativity, and work-life balance.

Empowering Special Education Professionals with AI: From IEPs to Insights
“Unlock the power of AI to streamline paperwork, strengthen data use, and enhance student support.”
Tired of spending hours writing IEP goals, analyzing data, and juggling complex schedules? This session provides targeted support for Special Education professionals, demonstrating how AI can simplify key responsibilities like IEP development, progress monitoring, and planning
Participants will learn how to use AI to support revising and writing goals, create schedules, track student data, and streamline communication. The session includes hands-on practice with AI tools, guided prompt writing, and real-world examples that demonstrate the potential of AI to enhance accuracy, save time, and better support students with diverse needs.

Agencies/Organizations Presented at/for:

Montana Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)

Language and Literacy: Building a Strong Foundation by Providing Opportunities for EVERY Child to Experience SUCCESS EVERYDAY!

• Creating a Literacy-Rich Classroom Environment
  • Effectively creating a literacy rich classroom environment will be the focus of this session. Strategies to promote speaking, listening, reading, and writing in all aspects of the environment will be shared and how those strategies support the practice and reinforcement of foundational literacy skills throughout the day.
• Oral Language Development: Speaking and Listening throughout the Day
  • Speaking and listening are the foundational literacy skills for later developing reading and writing literacy skills. Research has identified a strong need for early childhood classrooms to intentionally provide on-going practice and reinforcement throughout their daily routines to support the development of oral language which is foundational to later literacy skills. Strategies that support the development of speaking and listening that are easily embedded into your daily routines will be shared.
• Intentional Planning for Literacy: EVERY Child Successful EVERYDAY!
  • This section will focus on the phonological awareness continuum and the importance of these skills - and how to develop a curriculum that includes balanced lesson delivery. Instructional strategies will be introduced that provide children with a variety of opportunities to practice and reinforce those key skills during their daily routines. A wide variety of inclusionary practices will be discussed as well as developmentally appropriate knowledge and skill acquisition strategies that are applicable to increasing access to the curriculum for all children. This workshop will provide practical research and evidence-based literacy activities and games, easily integrated into your daily routines, which will support the acquisition of literacy (speaking, listening, reading, writing) skills.

A Sound Beginning: The Importance of Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
Phonological awareness involves the development of auditory skills, which are later connected to a child’s understanding of the written word (Fitzpatrick, 1997; Phillips, 2008). The research is clear that it is during the preschool years that much of this awareness is developed. This interactive session will contain a review of research related to phonological awareness, including the phonological awareness continuum of developmental stages. Ultimately, participants will learn why phonological awareness is important and how to address it as a part of a comprehensive early childhood program, including easy methods for implementing it in the classroom in fun and interactive ways.
Note: This session aligned to the Montana Learning Standards (MELS) for the domains of Communication and Cognition

Math and Literacy Foundational Skills: Identifying the Predictive Indicators for School Success
This hands-on workshop will provide practical research-based math and literacy strategies that will help students increase their reading and math skills. The morning session will focus on developing an understanding of number sense as well as the latest methods to develop skills in subitizing, counting, one-to-one correspondence, and cardinality. Number sense is linked to future math achievement in a manner similar to the way phonological awareness has been linked to reading achievement (Kosanovich, Weinstein, & Goldman 2009.)
In the afternoon, the focus will be on developing an understanding of the phonological awareness continuum and the importance of these skills – along with strategies to support differentiation to meet the needs of each student. Come learn some fun strategies and activities that will allow you to create engaging and positive experiences where both children and staff have SUCCESS!

Teaching Language and Literacy in The Environment
When the environment is effectively established and utilized, it becomes an educator in its own right in the early childhood classroom. Using this explanation as a foundation, this session will focus on approaches to promote speaking, listening, reading, and writing in all aspects of the environment, including classroom design, intentional instruction, and facilitation of language and literacy by teachers and staff. Participants will walk away with tangible strategies and resources that can be easily implemented and used to improve language and literacy environments in their classrooms.

Oral Language Development: Making a Meaningful Difference for Children
You may have heard about the “30 Million Word Gap” but what does it truly mean for early childhood educators and how they address early language and overall development in all children in their classrooms? Incorporating a research-to-practice perspective, this session will explore the critical role that vocabulary, storytelling, and plain conversation play in the development of children’s oral language.

Intentional Planning for Literacy: Every Child Successful Every day!
Training will focus on the phonological awareness continuum and the importance of these skills - and how to develop a curriculum that includes balanced lesson delivery. Instructional strategies will be introduced that provide children with a variety of opportunities to practice and reinforce those key skills during their daily routines. A wide variety of inclusionary practices will be discussed as well as developmentally appropriate knowledge and skill acquisition strategies that are applicable to increasing the access to the curriculum for all children. This workshop will provide practical research and evidence-based literacy activities and games, easily integrated into your daily routines, that will support the acquisition of literacy (speaking, listening, reading, writing) skills. Plan to join this training and learn some fun activities that will allow you to create engaging and positive literacy experiences for children!

Agencies/Organizations Presented at/for:

• Montana Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)
• NAEYC
• Whitehall School District, Whitehall, Montana
• Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB), Great Falls, Montana
• Libby School District, Libby, Montana
• Montana Literacy and Education Conference, Helena, Montana
• Montana Preschool Development Grant (MPDG) Summer Institute, Helena, Montana
• Riverside Preparatory School District, Oro Grande, California

The Many Hats of the Paraeducator:
This comprehensive 6-hour training program titled "The Many Hats of the Paraeducator," is designed to empower paraeducators with essential skills and knowledge to effectively support students and collaborate with educators within your district. This training aims to enhance the quality of support provided to students and contribute to a more cohesive and effective educational environment.
Join us for "The Many Hats of the Paraeducator," a comprehensive 6-hour training designed to enhance your skills and understanding of the essential roles of a paraeducator. This session will cover nine key components: supporting students, collaborating with teachers, creating, and promoting a positive environment, providing behavioral support, assisting with instructional strategies, monitoring student progress, supporting classroom management, and collaborating with related service providers. Engage in interactive activities, practical discussions, and reflection to gain valuable insights and strategies for excelling in your role and contributing to a successful learning environment.

Agencies/Organizations Presented at/for:

• Montana Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)
• Whitehall School District, Whitehall, Montana
• Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB), Great Falls, Montana
• Lancaster School District, Lancaster, California

Executive Functioning: Skills That Make a Big Difference for Children
PK – 12th - (6 hours total)

Why all the talk about executive functioning? Would you like to find ways to actively support the development of appropriate social interactions? Do you wonder why some students struggle with following instructions and routines each day? If you’d like to gain insight into how executive functioning skills support all aspects of learning and social interactions, then this is the training for you. Adaptable thinking, planning, self-monitoring, self-control, working memory, time management, and organization are all executive functioning skills that can be encouraged in classroom environments. Research supports intentionally providing guidance and experiences that encourage the development of those executive functioning skills in young children to increase social awareness, self-regulation, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. A variety of easy to implement strategies will be shared that focus on executive functioning skills that can be practiced and encouraged within daily routines in early childhood through high school classroom environments.

Understanding the Power of Guidance: It is a Win/Win for Both Children and Adults! (PK-12th grade) (6 hours total)
This workshop will forever change the way you look at opportunities to guide children in your classroom! Both you and your students will be winners when you implement the principles of guidance. Effectively guiding children is a BIG part of every educator’s day! The principles of guidance will be introduced along with practical classroom management strategies that create and sustain a positive classroom environment. The functions of behavior, strategies, and action steps to addressing inappropriate behaviors will be included in the training. Real life scenarios will be discussed, and practical applications shared. Come prepared to leave excited and ready to implement the principles of guidance!

Effective Instruction through Transitions:
Ways to maximize opportunities for learning  throughout your daily routines.
How to maximize your instructional time and avoid idle wait time by utilizing the transitions throughout your day to practice and reinforce concepts.  Feeling like you aren’t sure which students have mastered which concepts? Tired of ‘herding cats’ every time you change activities in your classroom? This workshop will provide you with a variety of transition strategies that you can use tomorrow that will turn those transition times into intentional, meaningful learning times.

Creativity Counts!
Children are naturally creative! Come prepared to ignite your own creativity as you participate in a wide variety of creative activities that encourage and affirm creative expression. You will leave inspired and ready to offer practical, affordable creative activities in which every child will experience success! Art activities that affirm and encourage creative expression will also encourage exploration and discovery-based learning. By offering children the opportunity to self-select and work independently as they plan, explore, discover and create they will be developing self-confidence, risk taking, decision making, as well as many other skills that are vital to later success in school and life!

Agencies/Organizations Presented at/for:

• Montana Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)
• Whitehall School District, Whitehall, Montana
• Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB), Great Falls, Montana
• Libby School District, Libby, Montana
• Montana Literacy and Education Conference, Helena, Montana
• Montana Preschool Development Grant (MPDG) Summer Institute, Helena, Montana
• Riverside Preparatory School District, Oro Grande, California
• Lancaster School District, Lancaster, California