4/27/2021
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

PD POP: ~*Let's Write! (K-2) - Presented by Donna Whyte!
The importance of young children's writing in developing literacy is based upon understanding how reading, spelling, knowledge of the alphabet, and speech sounds develop together and support each other in meaning-making among beginning writers. Donna works with the authors of this best-selling book to bring it to life for teachers ready to support successful little writers.

5/3/2021
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

PD POP: ~*What About Our High Kids? (K-2) - Presented by Donna Whyte!
So many times, we search for interventions for struggling students. This sessions will focus on the skills that should be taught to those students that read at or above grade level. Leave with ideas for ensuring that these students are challenged to move forward at their pace.

5/5/2021
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

PD Pop: ~*Engaging and Effective Interventions (PK-2) - Carolyn Howard & Carol Grady
Interventions support the growing learner. Effective interventions are research based and developmentally appropriate. In this workshop, we will explore ways to take the traditional intervention session components “out to the playground”. Discover easy activities and ideas that we have used to take traditional small group intervention curricula to a new level. We will share instructional strategies that excite imagination and creativity, while maintaining the fidelity and integrity of the research behind the intervention.

5/6/2021
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

*HOBART: Smekens: Best-practice Strategies for Teaching Vocabulary (K-12) - Virtual
This strategy-rich workshop for teachers in grades K-12 is all about helping students improve comprehension by developing a deep understanding of core academic vocabulary. No more is vocabulary instruction about rote memorization. Now the emphasis is on providing students with multiple exposures to key terms so that they truly “own” content-area words. This workshop will unveil current research on teaching vocabulary while tying these findings to dozens of instructional strategies that are both practical and engaging. This will be a virtual workshop.

5/11/2021
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

PD Pop: ~*Blended Learning Models for the Post-COVID Classroom (K-12) - Michele Eaton
As we look to a brighter future, without the constraints that come with living and teaching during a pandemic, there's a lot that can change in our classrooms moving forward. Join this session for a discussion on leveraging what you have learned over the past year to blend your future classroom. Michele Eaton, author of The Perfect Blend, will share models that are best for traditional classrooms and several templates and tools you can use right away with your students.

5/12/2021
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

PD Pop: ~*Reading Strategies with Digital Text (K-12) - Michele Eaton
You’ve heard the debate by now. Which is better: print or digital? Let’s end that debate today. There’s a place for both in the modern classroom. In this session, let’s discuss the research behind how we read online, review teaching strategies for improving comprehension of digital media, and share tips for creating effective digital content for the classroom.

5/14/2021
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM

~2021 Virtual STEM Kids Conference for 5th Grade Classrooms - May 14 (WVEC Member Schools Only)
Event is Full: Accepting Wait List Registrations
Your 5th Grade classroom is invited to attend the 2021 Virtual STEM Kids Conference hosted by Purdue’s Center for Advancing the Teaching and Learning of STEM! Students will use 21st Century skills such as collaboration, creativity, and communication as they engage in two 90-minute STEM activities. Choose either May 13th (Put Me in the Zoo/Tall Tower Challenge) or May 14th (Robot Artist/Secret Codes for Kids). Materials and a teacher guide will be delivered to each classroom. Registration is limited to 15 classrooms. THIS REGISTRATION IS FOR MAY 14th. (For WVEC Member Schools only)

6/3/2021
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

HOBART: Moving Away From the Quit, Stop, Don'ts - Strategies for Promoting Social Emotional Learning - Virtual
This active workshop is designed to prepare educators to implement strategies in their classroom that promote social emotional learning and decrease student challenging behavior. Participants will learn to design and implement multi-tiered class wide, small group, and individualized systems of support to promote social emotional development for learners from Pre-K to 6th grade. This workshop will be virtual and all times are CENTRAL TIME.

6/7/2021
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

*Summer SPARK 2021 (Virtual Conference)
Join us for our second SPARK Educator Conference…..SUMMER SPARK! Our SPARK Conference will be hosted by three DYNAMIC presenters who will share short SPARKS of Professional Learning Experiences with you throughout the month of June. All sessions will be recorded so you can listen to them at a time convenient for you!! One price for the entire month of Summer SPARK sessions!! Join Melissa Gill for rich discussions as she guides you through Dr. Lori DeSautels new book: Connection over Compliance. Engage with Kevin Dill as he presents his professional learning series for Student Community, and hear wonderful ideas and strategies from Indiana Educator, Phyllinga Jackson on supporting and engaging your diverse learners.

6/8/2021
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

PD POP: ~*Quick Tips for UDL Implementation: Engagement, Action & Expression, and Representation (K-12)
Participants will gain an understanding of the three brain networks associated with Universal Design for Learning. Participants will utilize that understand to audit their learning environments. In addition, participants will gather specific strategies to design their learning environments and support learner variability.

6/15/2021
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

*SIOP Train the Trainer Series - Cohort 1 - WVEC
This training is for trainers who will be providing SIOP training in their schools. Trainers will learn the 8 components of SIOP, as well as strategies, resources and techniques for each component of the SIOP model. This series consists of three days in the summer - June 15, 16, 17 that will be held at WVEC and two additional days in the fall with dates to be decided later.

6/22/2021
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

*SIOP Train the Trainer Series - Cohort 2 - NIESC
This training is for trainers who will be providing SIOP training in their schools. Trainers will learn the 8 components of SIOP, as well as strategies, resources and techniques for each component of the SIOP model. This series consists of three days in the summer - June 22, 23, 24 that will be held at NIESC in Mishawaka from 9:00-3:00 EASTERN TIME each day. Two follow-up days will be held in the fall at dates to be determined.

6/29/2021
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

*SIOP Train the Trainer Series - Cohort 3 - CIESC
This training is for trainers who will be providing SIOP training in their schools. Trainers will learn the 8 components of SIOP, as well as strategies, resources and techniques for each component of the SIOP model. This series consists of three days in the summer - June 29, 30, and July 1 that will be held at Central Indiana Education Service Center and two additional days in the fall with dates to be decided later.

8/4/2021
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

~*Digital Creation Tools (K-12)
Tired of the same slideshow presentation turned in by every student? Shake up the way students demonstrate their learning by giving them choices. Attendees for this workshop will explore websites and discuss ways to introduce them to students. Tools featured during this session will include Adobe Spark, Canva, Book Creator, Screencastify, Google Earth, and more! Note: Most features covered will be the free versions of these tools. (K-12) Presented by Sarah Margeson.

9/2/2021
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

21-22 Reading Specialists Networking Meetings
Have you been identified as the Reading Specialist for your school or district? If so, these networking meetings are for you! Come and learn from the experts in the field, as well as spend some quality time with others in the same position as you. There will be time built into each meeting for sharing, discussing, and asking questions about critical topics such as scheduling, when to screen K, appropriate interventions and more.

9/28/2021
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

~*Using Identified Picture Books that Develop Social Emotional Learning Competencies by Creating a Culture of Wonder and Curiosity (PreK-2)
Teachers will learn how to use a collection of picture books as a vehicle to support Indiana's Social Emotional Learning Competencies. This is for teachers of grades Pre-K to 2 (General Ed, Title III, and High Ability).

10/13/2021
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

~How Do We Play Fact Fluency Games When Kids Can't Share Materials? (K-6)
Learn a variety of games to help students learn their basic math facts! Although, traditionally, these games are taught with paper gameboards and physical materials (dice, two color counters, playing cards, etc.), participants will learn to transfer these games to digital environments. In doing so, kids can play games together as they sit 6 feet apart, from across the classroom, or from home after they leave our classrooms. We'll discuss ways that the pandemic has shifted our thinking in relation to online spaces and the benefits of technology in teaching fact fluency games. [K-6]

11/17/2021
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

~*Deepening Our Students' Understandings of Elementary Mathematics (K-6)
Teachers often note that their students can accurately compute; however, their students' understandings of mathematics don't seem to match their computational accuracy. This workshop will delve into ways to move beyond correct answers, to delve into the mathematical justifications children must know and understand in order to thrive in our ever-evolving world. [K-6]