Learn how to effectively use the Indiana Department of Education’s instructional frameworks, item specifications, and performance level descriptors (PLDs) to guide instructional planning, classroom instruction, and assessment. This session will focus on understanding assessment expectations and using state resources to support rigorous, aligned instruction. Teachers will also have dedicated work time to apply these tools directly to their own planning and classroom practice.
Christina is a strategic instructional leader with extensive experience in classroom instruction, curriculum design, professional development, and instructional coaching. Now in her 30th year in public education, Christina spent 17 years as an English teacher at Carmel High School... Read More →
This session introduces teachers of all content areas to a three-phase critical reading framework designed to help all students, including struggling readers, engage with rigorous, complex texts. Participants will explore how to scaffold instruction across the Activate (planning and pre-reading), Engage (vocabulary and interaction), and Extend (application and analysis) phases. Through research-based practices and collaborative discussion, teachers will examine strategies for supporting students as they interact with complex texts and develop deeper comprehension skills.
Christina is a strategic instructional leader with extensive experience in classroom instruction, curriculum design, professional development, and instructional coaching. Now in her 30th year in public education, Christina spent 17 years as an English teacher at Carmel High School... Read More →
This session focuses on using Checks for Understanding (CFUs) as intentional, planned opportunities to gather evidence of student thinking during instruction—not just at the end. Teachers will examine various CFU strategies to determine their effectiveness and learn to interpret student responses in real time making immediate instructional adjustments through four key moves: clarifying, scaffolding, reteaching differently, or extending learning. Through hands-on "if-then" planning, participants will design CFUs for upcoming lessons and prepare responsive next steps based on whether students fully understand, partially understand, or do not yet understand the content. This session emphasizes actionable, in-the-moment teaching decisions that ensure all students reach the learning target.
Christina is a strategic instructional leader with extensive experience in classroom instruction, curriculum design, professional development, and instructional coaching. Now in her 30th year in public education, Christina spent 17 years as an English teacher at Carmel High School... Read More →
