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Welcome to ECTI 2026! You will be able to register for individual workshop sessions on Monday during our intention setting session.

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Tuesday, July 28
 

8:00am CDT

Breakfast & Intention Setting
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am CDT

Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am CDT
Discovery Building: H.F. DeLuca Forum 330 N. Orchard St Madison, WI 53715

8:45am CDT

Building a Community of Oracy
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
We’ve all had those moments where we wonder how to get our students talking more deeply without adding "one more thing" to our plates. This professional development session was all about finding those "hidden" opportunities for productive talk right within the routines you already have in place. Instead of seeing morning meetings or lesson transitions as mere housekeeping, we practiced viewing them as perfect windows for student voice and collaborative thinking.

The heart of our work focused on intentionality. We explored how to match your specific goal for a lesson—whether it’s building empathy, brainstorming solutions, or debating a concept—with the perfect talk structure that fits your unique classroom "vibe." It wasn't just about learning the theory; we spent time getting our hands dirty with planning. You walked away with a toolkit of multiple, ready-to-go talk tasks that you can plug into your schedule tomorrow morning.

By the end of the session, the shift was clear: we aren't just managing a classroom; we are building a community where every student’s idea has a seat at the table. It’s about making the most of every minute and turning our daily habits into powerful engines for student growth and connection. You’ve got the plan, you’ve got the tools, and your students are ready to be heard!

In this session, you will:
  • Identify daily routines in your classroom where you can incorporate productive talk. 
  • Connect the desired purpose of a talk task with an appropriate structure within the context of your classroom.
  • Plan multiple possible productive talk tasks for daily routines in your classroom. 

Presenters
avatar for Stacy Kay

Stacy Kay

Instructional Coach, Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
Stacy Kay is a dedicated and accomplished educator with 18 years of experience in the field of education, specializing in upper elementary and middle school instruction.  She has supported diverse student populations in developing academic language and achieving success in her roles... Read More →
AM

Amanda Montoya

Instructional Coach, Middleton Cross Plains Area School District
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Computer Sciences and Statistics: Room 1263

8:45am CDT

Adventures in PD: Exploring National & International Professional Learning Opportunities for PK-12 Teachers
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Join us in learning about an exciting range of summer and academic year PD and teaching opportunities designed for PK-12 classroom teachers in local, national, and international settings. We'll take look at program descriptions, timelines, application processes and deadlines, and funding supports, and will map out action steps. Tips, advice, and inspiring stories will be shared.

In this session, you will:
  • Learn about a range of summer and academic year professional learning and teaching opportunities that are available for PK-12 classroom teachers across local, national, and international settings. 
  • Explore related resources, materials, and schedules; map out timeline and strategies for applying and participating.
  • Hear perspectives and advice from UW alums who have participated in the past, and build connections with ECTI peers who similarly wish to expand their professional development options.

  • NOTE:  We will take some time to explore online resources - if possible please bring a laptop to this session
Presenters
avatar for Mary Klehr

Mary Klehr

Special Projects, UW-Madison Mary T. Kellner Teacher Education Center
avatar for Mariah Pol

Mariah Pol

Teaching Faculty & Secondary Social Studies Program Coordinator, University of Wisconsin-Madison
avatar for Abby Watson

Abby Watson

Principal, Lincoln Elementary -MMSD
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Discovery Building: Orchard View - Room 3280 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA
  Workshop

8:45am CDT

Beyond the Language Barrier: Using Mixed-Reality Simulations to Prepare Teachers of Multilingual Learners
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Step into the future of teacher preparation! This presentation describes the challenges of teaching science to multilingual learners and proposes innovative technology to create safe environments where future and new teachers are able to practice new skills. Using science education as a context, pre-service and novice teachers in the study engaged in a structured, two-cycle research process designed to refine their teaching techniques in a risk-free, mixed-reality environment. The presentation will share preliminary findings and invite participants to interact with student avatars in a mixed-reality environment.

Participants will also explore the advantages and limitations of the use of such technologies in teacher preparation. Those who join the session can expect an interactive opportunity to discuss, explore, and gain knowledge of strategies that support the instruction of multilingual learners in ways that integrate language and content.

In this session, you will:
  • Explore the use of innovative technologies in teacher preparation
  • Identify strengths and challenges in the teaching of science to multilingual learners
  • Gain knowledge of strategies that support the teaching of multilingual learners
Presenters
avatar for Mariana Castro

Mariana Castro

Director of the Multilingual Research Center, WCER
Mariana Castro serves as the current Deputy Director and the Interim Director of Business Services at WCER. She brings over 30 years of experience in education to her research and development work. Her extensive service to the field of education includes curriculum and instruction... Read More →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Computer Sciences and Statistics: Room 1221 Computer Sciences and Statistics, Madison, WI 53715, USA
  Workshop

8:45am CDT

Constructing Age-Accessible Learning about Mass Violence Though Students Perspectives
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
LEARN FROM INCREDIBLE STUDENTS! This session, co-led with student presenters, will support educators in teaching difficult histories of mass violence and/or genocide in ways that are accessible for their students. Participants will explore this new concept and students' understandings of it to consider how their own values, contexts, students, and assumptions shape their own ideas. Then, by analyzing and reflecting on student-generated data, participants will consider the connections and tensions between their conceptions and students’. Finally, they will work together to identify and modify part of a lesson to make it more age-accessible. This session aims to empower teachers in their capacity to facilitate the learning of complex and emotionally-provocative histories more broadly by centering the voices of students in their decisions-making. 

In this session, you will:
  • Reflect, discuss, and identify what age-accessible learning looks like in your classroom.
  • Compare and contrast your notions of age-accessibility to students’.
  • Indentify or draft learning opportunities about/through difficult histories that are age-accessible for your students.
Presenters
DI

Dr. Irene Ann Resenly

Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education, Purdue Univerity
If you interested in the slides from todays presentation or have any questions, please feel free to reach out!
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Discovery Building: Steenbock's On Orchard 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA
  Workshop

8:45am CDT

Cultivating Care and Compassion
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Learn to cultivate care and compassion in yourself and your students through the exploration of current research, ideas and practices that create proactive, prosocial communities that nurture children’s abilities to thrive  Learn about an experiential course on human flourishing, related research and adaptation strategies from UW-Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds as well as connected resources from PBS Wisconsin Education that can support the wellbeing of the students and staff members you serve.

Here are the slides for the session.

In this session, you will:
  • Learn and practice strategies, grounded in wellbeing research from UW-Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds, that recognize and work with strong emotions in ourselves and our students.
  • Develop foundational practices that support students’ attentional and flexible thinking skills.
  • Explore free, bilingual resources from PBS Wisconsin Education that cultivate compassionate children and communities.
Presenters
avatar for Jami Hoekstra Collins

Jami Hoekstra Collins

Early Learning Engagement Specialist, PBS Wisconsin
Jami Hoekstra Collins is an Early Learning Engagement Specialist with PBS Wisconsin Education. In her role, Jami facilitates professional learning opportunities for educators around the state of Wisconsin that are integrated with PBS learning media and resources. Prior to her work with PBS Wisconsin Ed... Read More →
avatar for Teri Pipe

Teri Pipe

Professor of Practice, Center for Healthy Minds and School of Nursing, UW-Madision
Mindfulness, Compassion, Flourishing, Leadership, Healthcare
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Discovery Building: H.F. DeLuca Forum 330 N. Orchard St Madison, WI 53715

8:45am CDT

Cultivating Emotional Resilience for Teachers
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
This workshop uses Elena Aguilar's book Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators (2018) as a springboard to reflect and build practices to sustain educators in the profession. In this workshop, participants will reflect on the emotional components of teaching and the affordances and limitations of their current habits and practices. This reflection will include grappling with the complex and challenging structures and systems educators work within that often impact the ability to take care of oneself. Then, they will examine strategies and practices intended to cultivate emotional resilience, including engaging in some mindfulness exercises. Finally, participants will create individualized goals related to how they will build their emotional resilience in the next school year.

In this session, you will:
  • engage in reflection on the emotional components of teaching and the affordances and limitations of your current habits and practices.
  • examine strategies and practice strategies intended to cultivate emotional resilience, including short mindfulness exercises.
  • create individualized goals related to how they will build their emotional resilience in the next school year.
Presenters
avatar for Kerry Kretchmar

Kerry Kretchmar

Assistant Teaching Professor, UW-Madison
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Discovery Building: Room 1260 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA

8:45am CDT

Free Money No Whammies: Finding (grant) money for your school project is easier than you think!
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
As a teacher, one often wonders where they can get more resources or finance for special projects or programs for their content area. Believe it or not there are many revenue streams that go untapped for teacher professionals to receive grant funding for your program. This presentation will get you to consider ways to seek more finance/resources for your content area without having to do much work. 

Many schools have internal grants for school supported programming where there are emails or invitations for virtual sessions to review program ideas with grant committee chair. In one instance a grant committee chair stated, “Many times these grants are low hanging fruit, your idea sounds great look forward to seeing it!" 

In this session, we will explore types of grants, sources, and where funds might be found to support your program ideas. A general guidance across academic disciplines is the focus, reference to grants received in Health Education and Physical Education will be discussed along with the expectations for writing grants, why it is important to seek out these funds, developing ideas for a grant, and developing a list of potential funders by the end of the session.  

In this session, you will:
  • Explore types of grants, sources, and where funds might be found to support your program ideas. A general guidance across academic disciplines is the focus, reference to grants received in Health Education and Physical Education.
  • Review of expectations for writing grants, why it is important to seek out these funds.
  • Develop ideas for a grant and a list of potential funders.


Presenters
avatar for Michael L. Norris

Michael L. Norris

Teaching Faculty IV, Director of Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE), University of Wisconsin Madison - Kinesiology
I am interested in facilitating effective instruction in Education specifically Physical Education, Adapted Physical Education, and Health Education. My goal as an education professional is to support, promote, and guide students in their work.
avatar for Cindy Kuhrasch

Cindy Kuhrasch

Distinguished Teaching Faculty IV, Kinesiology, UW-Madison
I love the idea of creating inclusive learning communities and using experiential education as the basis for learning.
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Discovery Building: Room 1170
  Workshop

8:45am CDT

Mindful Math Pedagogy
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Learning math can carry heavy risks for students.  Math creates anxiety in students and there are often assumptions about who is “good” at math and who is “bad”.  A committed math teacher takes into account these fears when offering learning opportunities to help students grow in their math understanding.  Creating a rich classroom for learning math is not about lowering the rigor but about increasing the ability to take the risks of learning.  Tuyet Nguyen has been a middle school math teacher for over 20 years.  This session is about how to work with the fear of math to create the stamina for working with confusion.

In this session, you will:
  • Learn a short history of how math has vacillated between “traditional” methods and “new” methods and how the happy middle is always the place for success.
  • Understand how confusion can lead to shutdown, anger or giving up in students.
  • Explore how to help students work with confusion in order to build their stamina for taking risks in learning.
Presenters
avatar for Tuyet Nguyen

Tuyet Nguyen

Mindfulness Program Coordinator & 8th Math/Science Teacher, Madison Metropolitan School District
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Discovery Building: Room 2329 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA
  Workshop

8:45am CDT

Roots of Curiosity and Imagination: Integrating Science, Stories, and Art
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
This session is designed for elementary classroom teachers and elementary art teachers interested in interdisciplinary learning and the engagement of the imagination -- both tapping into their own imaginations as educators while developing curriculum that sparks their students' curiosity and imagination. We’ll explore the intersections of science, art, and literacy in this hands-on workshop centered on the book, Diary of a Worm.

In this session, you will:
  • Identify key facets of interdisciplinary curriculum that connect real-world observation with creative expression, supporting students’ scientific understanding, imaginative thinking and literacy development.
  • Develop strategies for fostering student curiosity, imagination and perspective-taking.
  • Engage in and reflect on hands-on, arts-based processes as learners in order to better understand student experience and to inform their own instructional decisions.

Presenters
avatar for Mary Hoefferle, PhD

Mary Hoefferle, PhD

Teaching Faculty, Art Education, UW-Madison
I've taught art to people of all ages in community and school-based settings for 26 years, and I am a lifelong maker-of-things. I've been in my role at UW-Madison as a Teaching Faculty member for 10 years and serve as a one-stop-shop for art education majors, serving as their academic... Read More →
avatar for Meri Lau

Meri Lau

Art teacher -retired, MMSD
I have taught art for 38 years in the public schools in Milwaukee and Madison with three additional years in Montessori Schools. My passion is to create art experiences with wonder and playfulness that will endure throughout the student's lifetime that will include the arts.The highlight... Read More →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Discovery Building: Room 1145
  Workshop

10:30am CDT

Accessing Arts and Arts-Integrated Education in MMSD and Beyond
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
In this workshop, individuals from UW-Madison’s PLACE Office, MMSD, and Any Given Child share information about arts opportunities, funding, and advocating for the arts within your district. Including online resources, the artist-in-residency program, residencies taught by outside teaching artists, small arts grants, and free opportunities to participate in Summer Camps for the arts, there are so many ways for you and your students to connect with the arts in MMSD and beyond. Bring the arts into your curriculum, into your classroom, or to your individual students—we can tell you how. 

In this session, you will:
  • Learn what arts and arts-integrated opportunities are available.
  • Learn how to connect with teaching artists and programs to bring them into your classroom.
  • Learn how to provide arts opportunities for your students outside of school time.


Presenters
avatar for Amanda Farrar

Amanda Farrar

Outreach Program Associate Director, Professional Learning and Community Education (PLACE)
Amanda Farrar is an Outreach Program Associate Director in the Professional Learning and Community Education (PLACE) office at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education. She collaborates with faculty to develop programs that bring research and practice into communities... Read More →
avatar for Dan Davidson

Dan Davidson

MMSD EE Strategist
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Discovery Building: Room 1260 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA

10:30am CDT

Becoming a Cooperating Teacher 101
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Calling all ECTI participants who are curious about stepping into the role of Cooperating Teacher (CT)! We are excited to offer this introductory workshop for those wanting to learn more about what it means to add “teacher educator” to your professional identity. We will dialogue around topics related to being a CT, including the responsibilities of mentorship and logistics of the role. We will also share resources around mentorship and coaching, and we will be joined by a few experienced CTs who will help illustrate the role and answer your curiosities. Whether you want to learn the lay of the land, have specific questions, or are interested in talking with others about what it would look, sound, and feel like to take this next step in your profession, we welcome you to this session.

In this session, you will: 
  • Understand the responsibilities associated with becoming a Cooperating Teacher for various UW-Madison teacher preparation programs, including logistics, policies, and opportunities
  • Consider how what you already know and do as a teacher connects to what CTs know and do 
  • Explore a few beginning tools, resources, and activities around mentoring and coaching preservice teachers
  • Hear perspectives and advice from experienced Cooperating Teachers, including the joys and challenges of this work
  • Build connections with a collaborative community of future CTs


Presenters
avatar for Evan Moss

Evan Moss

Manager of Outreach and Partnerships, UW-Madison, Mary T. Kellner Teacher Education Center
avatar for Mary Klehr

Mary Klehr

Special Projects, UW-Madison Mary T. Kellner Teacher Education Center
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Discovery Building: Room 1170 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA
  Workshop

10:30am CDT

Discover, Discuss, Design: Integrating New Children's Literature into Your Curriculum and Classroom
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
📚 Book Giveaway! 📚
🥤🧊 Cool Refreshments 🧊🥤

Walk over to the CCBC (225 N. Mills, 4th floor) for this session and...
Pick out a FREE book to take with you! 🎉

THEN STAY TO...
📖 Learn about great new books
🔎 Enjoy cool refreshments while learning how to search for books that meet your unique classroom needs
🥳 Tinker with ways to incorporate new children's literature into your classroom  

This session (slides here) is a celebration and exploration of children’s literature, co-planned and co-faciliated by CCBC librarians and Elementary Education literacy methods instructors. First, we’ll highlight a subsection of picks from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices 2026, including a book talk. Next, we’ll provide a brief overview of the resources offered by the CCBC for teachers (i.e., book challenge consultation, recommended book search). Then, participants will have time to explore some of the best new children’s literature from the past year and collaborate with peers on ways to incorporate new texts into their classrooms. Finally, participants are invited to bring in a particular curricula unit or lesson they would like to supplement, modify, or replace with new literature. We’ll offer structured support for exploring how to integrate new literature into existing lessons with the participants’ curricular requirements in mind. Plus, every attendee is invited to select a book to take with them. 

We view children's literature broadly and texts may include anything written by children’s authors specifically for children, tweens, teens, and young adults, including picture books, graphic novels, young adult fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. 

In this session, you will:
  • Explore a subsection of selections from the Children’s Cooperative Children’s Book Center 2026 list.
  • Learn about the resources offered by the CCBC for teachers (e.g., book challenge consultation, recommended book search).
  • Through a workshop structure, you will determine new literature that could supplement, modify, or replace literature for a particular curricular unit or lesson plan you will use in the upcoming school year.   

Presenters
avatar for Kerry Kretchmar

Kerry Kretchmar

Assistant Teaching Professor, UW-Madison
avatar for Tessa Michaelson Schmidt

Tessa Michaelson Schmidt

Director, Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Tessa Michaelson Schmidt is the Director of the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC), a library of the School of Education at UW-Madison. 
avatar for Valerie Hammer

Valerie Hammer

PhD student, UW-Madison

MF

Madeline Freimuth

Librarian, CCBC

Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Cooperative Children's Book Center 225 N. Mills Street, 4th Floor
  Workshop

10:30am CDT

From Classroom Community to the Community Becoming Your Classroom: Experiential Learning & PBL
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
In this workshop, we will make connections between popularized and powerful educational philosophies/models like community building, social/emotional learning, experiential learning, and project based learning. Participants will have an opportunity to participate in a number of community building exercises and explore how these in class experiences can prepare students for dynamic learning opportunities outside the four walls of a classroom through experiential learning and project based learning (PBL). Our goal will be to walk away with some new community building tools as well as some big picture context, models, and structures to create more innovative learning opportunities for students of all ages.

In this session, you will:
  • Engage in community building activities you can apply to your practice.
  • Better understand models of the stages of group development, experiential learning cycle, and project based learning in order to apply it to your classroom context. 
  • Reflect on how youmight be able to implement more authentic experiences in your classroom setting.
Presenters
avatar for Brian Counselman

Brian Counselman

Teacher and Project Based Learning Coordinator, Malcolm Shabazz City High School (MMSD)
Brian Counselman is teacher and project based learning (PBL) coordinator at Malcolm Shabazz City High School. Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education biology, broadfield science, and English as a second language (ESL) from UW - Madison, as well as a master’s in... Read More →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Discovery Building: Steenbock's On Orchard 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA

10:30am CDT

Loupe-y With Wonder- Nurturing Curiosity and Joy in Nature
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to ignite their own sense of wonder by taking a closer look at a favorite text "The Sense of Wonder" by naturalist Rachel Carson. We will connect the text to our own nature explorations with early childhood students. We will introduce you to a tool called a loupe and follow the Private Eye Protocol of look, write, draw and theorize. You will have a turn to look closely at objects from the natural world and learn how to think by analogy.

In this session, you will:
  • Ignite your own sense of wonder so you can share that sense of wonder with students.
  • Use a loupe to explore objects more closely
  • Practice the Private Eye protocol: Look, write, draw and theorize, so you can share it with your students.
Presenters
avatar for Bridget Christenson

Bridget Christenson

Teaching Faculty, C&I, UW Madison
I love my job working with preservice teachers and their mentor teachers. Being in classrooms with Littles brings me so much joy. They are naturally curious and oh so wonderful. When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time in nature. Hiking in the mountains is one of my favorite... Read More →
avatar for Mary Eilleen Hayes

Mary Eilleen Hayes

Teacher, Madison Metropolitan School District
Love my job, love vacation, love my family and friends, love learning, love lounging, love lots of things. Talk to me about anything except teaching, it's still vacation time, people......!
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Discovery Building: Room 2329 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA
  Workshop

10:30am CDT

Low Stakes Writing for Good Classroom Vibes
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
“How long does it have to be?”
“Is this graded?”
“Can we have the rubric first?”
What if we created classroom communities where students instead asked “when do we get to write”? Join us for this interactive session and engage in a variety of low-stakes writing activities you can turn around and use to bring summer vibes to your classroom all year long. Whether you want to add fun writing activities  to your classroom, get kids more comfortable writing and sharing with one another, help students use writing as a tool for thinking, or create a classroom environment where students can respectfully explore difficult and controversial issues, this is the session for you. Write with us, share with one another, and leave with a plan for how you can use low-stakes writing that inspires joy, creativity, community, decision-making, and deep and meaningful learning.

In this session, you will:
  • Develop an understanding of how to use writing to build community.
  • Develop a set of writing to learn strategies that can be used across grade-levels and content areas.
  • Experience joyful writing.

Presenters
MD

Mark Dziedzic

Director, Greater Madison Writing Project
Mark Dziedzic is the director of the Greater Madison Writing Project, University of Wisconsin–Madison’s affiliate of the National Writing Project. He has been facilitating professional learning and teacher action research with pre-K-12 educators from across Wisconsin with the... Read More →
avatar for Bryn Orum

Bryn Orum

Greater Madison Writing Project, University of Wisconsin-Madison
I am a director of the Greater Madison Writing Project at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. I am interested in educational equity; supporting youth advocacy and activism; argument writing and civil discourse; and place-based, project-based, and democratic education.
KV

Kate Vieira

Professor, C&I
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Discovery Building: Orchard View - Room 3280 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA
  Workshop

10:30am CDT

Strategies for Introducing Cutting Edge Practices in Fatigued and Tradition Bound Programs
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Many early career educators enter the field energized by current research, modern pedagogy, and a desire to create meaningful learning environments—only to encounter schools where program leaders feel exhausted, discouraged, or deeply attached to long standing practices. This interactive workshop equips teachers with practical tools to navigate those realities with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
Participants will explore why innovative fatigue occurs in PE programs and examine the systemic, emotional, and cultural factors that contribute to resistance. Through hands on activities, scenario analysis, and small group problem solving, educators will learn evidence based strategies to:
(1) introduce new practices without triggering defensiveness, 
(2) build collaborative buy in, and 
(3) elevate student-centered, standards based, and justice oriented PE instruction—even in contexts that feel “stuck.”
The session centers on empowering early-career teachers to lead from where they are, model high quality practice, and foster meaningful change while honoring the experiences and human needs of veteran colleagues.

In this session, you will learn evidence-based strategies to:
  • Introduce new practices without triggering defensiveness.
  • Build collaborative buy-in.
  • Elevate student-centered, standards-based, and justice-oriented PE instruction—even in contexts that feel “stuck.”


Presenters
avatar for Cindy Kuhrasch

Cindy Kuhrasch

Distinguished Teaching Faculty IV, Kinesiology, UW-Madison
I love the idea of creating inclusive learning communities and using experiential education as the basis for learning.
avatar for Michael L. Norris

Michael L. Norris

Teaching Faculty IV, Director of Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE), University of Wisconsin Madison - Kinesiology
I am interested in facilitating effective instruction in Education specifically Physical Education, Adapted Physical Education, and Health Education. My goal as an education professional is to support, promote, and guide students in their work.
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Discovery Building: Room 1145
  Workshop

10:30am CDT

Translation is not a strategy: Serving ML Newcomers from Less-Common Linguistic Backgrounds
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
In a time of increasing numbers of multilingual learners and decreasing amounts of funding and resources to serve those students, teachers are often faced with choosing supports and scaffolds to meet the needs of their English Learner (EL) populations. For many teachers, translated materials, curriculum, and assignments are some of the most common and easily implementable supports, especially for Spanish-speaking students.  However, not all EL populations fit cleanly into an English-Spanish Bilingual model, and growing numbers of ELs come from less commonly represented language backgrounds.  For newcomer students, a reliance on translation into their home language may result in less time and fewer resources committed to their English language development during a critical time in their journey toward communicative fluency in English. 

In this session, we will share the ways in which an over-reliance on translations as supports for ELs reinforces a “monolingual mindset” and undermines implementation of true translanguaging strategies. We will discuss the limitations of translated materials and alternative methods for serving students from a wider variety of language backgrounds. Teachers will leave this session with a better understanding of translanguage practices and practical strategies and supports for serving students from less-commonly represented language backgrounds and newcomer students in general. 

In this session, you will:
  • Differentiate translation from translanguaging.
  • Identify the limitations of translation in students' English Language Development journeys.
  • Learn strategies that support students from less-common linguistic backgrounds.



Presenters
avatar for Kaycee Rogers

Kaycee Rogers

CLASS Program Coordinator, CESA 2
LV

Lisa Velarde

Teaching Faculty II, UW-Madison
Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Discovery Building: H.F. DeLuca Forum 330 N. Orchard St Madison, WI 53715
  Workshop

12:00pm CDT

Invitation Only - Lunchtime Feedback Session for Former Participants of Teachers as Policy Agents Workshops
Tuesday July 28, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
This OPTIONAL 30-minute session is by invitation only for teachers that participated in the Teachers as Policy Agents workshops during their time at UW-Madison. Since 2018, members of WCER's Clinical Program have worked with UW's teacher candidates to facilitate teacher-driven conversations about education policy. We'd love to reflect with you on any impact the workshops may have had on your understanding of yourself in relation to educational policy, how policy shows up in your classroom/school today, and how we might continue to help new teachers navigate policy issues.
Tuesday July 28, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
Discovery Building: Room 1170

12:00pm CDT

Lunch
Tuesday July 28, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

Tuesday July 28, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Discovery Building: H.F. DeLuca Forum 330 N. Orchard St Madison, WI 53715

1:15pm CDT

Analyzing Student Learning in Coaching/Mentoring Conversations
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
How can we use data to support coaching/mentoring conversations and plan for differentiation in the classroom? We'll focus on building a culture of collaboration, collective efficacy, reflective practice, and teacher ownership of student learning through utilizing data to inform coaching/mentoring practices. We will dive into formative assessments and analyzing student learning to inform next steps in instruction through coaching/mentoring conversations or in a cycle.

In this session, you will:
  • Use the analyzing student learning template from the Dane County New Teacher Project.
  • Use the results of an ASL tool to collaborate with student teachers on differentiation and instructional next steps.
  • Use coaching moves and questions in planning conversations.
Presenters
avatar for Lisa Hennessey

Lisa Hennessey

Teaching Faculty and Secondary Math Program Coordinator, UW-Madison
Pro-active | Communicator | Organized | Coach | Problem-solverDetermined lifelong learner and educator. Dedicated to leading team and individual growth and development, centering equity. Warm demander in all relationships.My purpose is to ensure that all students are seen and valued... Read More →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Computer Sciences and Statistics: Room 1221 Computer Sciences and Statistics, Madison, WI 53715, USA
  CT ONLY Workshop

1:15pm CDT

American Revolution, Local Stories: Teaching with PBS
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
If the American Revolution defines our national identity, why does our teaching about it feel concentrated in a handful of places on the East Coast? This session examines that tension by arguing that local history is not an add on to Revolutionary era instruction but a way to deepen it. Using a variety of free resources, we will demonstrate how different perspectives, including regional, local, and Indigenous, can reshape the national narrative around the Revolutionary era.  

In this session, you will:
  • Interact with primary sources that demonstrate the impact of the Revolutionary Era in Wisconsin.
  • Come away with free media resources that demonstrate inquiry into historical eras.
  • Discuss ways you can make the Revolutionary Era relevant and engaging to your students.
Presenters
avatar for Nick Ostrem

Nick Ostrem

Education Engagement Specialist, PBS Wisconsin

Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Discovery Building: Room 1260 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA

1:15pm CDT

From “Help!” to “I’ve Got This”: Collaborative Protocols to Navigate Real Problems of Practice
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
New educators quickly realize that teaching is complex and that many instructional challenges are difficult to solve alone. This interactive session introduces practical, structured protocols that transform collegial conversations into purposeful problem-solving opportunities grounded in reflection, equity, and empathy. Participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies for refining problems of practices and building collaborative professional networks that sustain growth.

In this session, you will:
  • Articulate a problem of practice and use reflective questioning and conscious communication strategies.
  • Network with other educators to engage in research informed protocols to generate potential solutions with tangible action steps.
  • Identify protocols or actions they may want to use with future colleagues.


Presenters
AU

Alice Udvari-Solner

Professor Emeritus, UW-Madison
avatar for Amy Krauthamer-Maloney

Amy Krauthamer-Maloney

Instructional Coach & SBC, Huegel Elementary
Graduate of UW Madison with a BS in Special Education & MA in Curriculum and Instruction. Currently works in the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) as an Instructional Coach at Huegel Elementary. 30+ years working as a special educator, general educator, and now an instructional... Read More →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Discovery Building: Steenbock's On Orchard 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA

1:15pm CDT

Introduction to Creative Coding
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
In 2025, WI DPI released new Computer Science Standards, with a stated goal that “All students are introduced to fundamental CS ideas starting in elementary school, with opportunities to explore problem solving, computational thinking, and ethical technology use through integrated and interdisciplinary learning.” Participants will be introduced to some introductory computer science concepts and use a new tool that can be used to introduce computer science and creative computing across subject areas. While, this workshop will focus on an elementary arts & ELA connection, the practices and tools can be used across contexts to create models, digital stories, games, or interactive art.
During the workshop we will create collage portraits inspired by children’s author Hanoch Piven. Then we will then animate the portraits using Octostudio, a block-based coding app. The projects will be saved as animated GIFs which can quickly be shared with family and friends. This creative coding workshop is based on work from the MIT Media Lab and the Exploratorium and uses physical (craft and making supplies) and digital (block-based coding and cameras) materials to try new ideas, iterate, and develop as creative thinkers.

Participants will need a personal phone, tablet, or Chromebook with the ability to install apps to use during this workshop. Participants without access to a device may opt to work with a partner. Octostudio was developed by the same team who developed the Scratch programming platform and is available for free on iOS and Android devices.

In this session, you will:
  • Learn basic computer science concepts 
  • Gain experience with a low floor, free coding tool
  • Try an activity that is easy to adapt and replicate in various learning contexts

Presenters
avatar for Peter Kirschmann

Peter Kirschmann

Instructor and K12 Outreach Lead, UW-Madison Department of Computer Sciences
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Discovery Building: Room 1170 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA

1:15pm CDT

Practical Strategies for Teaching Multilingual and Multicultural Students
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
In today’s classrooms, many of our students navigate more than one language and culture. Students come with diverse language experiences and different degrees of cultural connection, and those realities influence how they see themselves and interact in the classroom. In this interactive workshop, teachers of any subject who work with multilingual and multicultural students will explore practical, research-informed strategies for supporting their students across a variety of classroom contexts. Participants will learn how to get to know their students more deeply by identifying their previous language and cultural experiences. We will consider how multilingualism and multiculturalism can manifest differently across individuals, and participants will gain the skills to learn about, validate, and appropriately inquire about students' traditions and backgrounds. We will reflect on how teacher biases and personal experiences can shape classroom expectations and interactions. Participants will learn about dialectal variation and how to recognize students’ linguistic backgrounds without reinforcing linguistic hierarchies. They will also explore the identity-related pressures that many multilingual students face, including internal linguistic discrimination. While many examples in this workshop will focus on Heritage Language Learners of Spanish, these principles and strategies can be applied to many languages and cultures. Finally, attendees will apply these ideas to hands-on examples and case studies from real classroom scenarios. Instructors at all levels are welcome, and we look forward to hearing your experiences and working collectively to improve the classroom for our students.

In this session, you will:
  • Learn how multilingual identities impact classroom dynamics.
  • Examine personal and systemic language bias.
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Discovery Building: Orchard View - Room 3280 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA
  Workshop

1:15pm CDT

Selecting Words From Text: Providing Research-based Vocabulary Instruction
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Vocabulary is one of the strongest predictors of reading comprehension and a critical instructional area to support a wide range of learners, including students with disabilities and multilingual learners.  Vocabulary development plays a key role in building background knowledge and supporting students’ growth in content-specific instruction. Given the breadth of vocabulary across subject area domains (e.g., math, science, social studies), teachers often struggle to identify words to teach and the best instructional approaches to ensure student mastery of key terminology. In this practical session, participants will learn how to select valuable/Tier 2 words from grade-level texts and how to deliver targeted vocabulary instruction using four research-validated strategies: inferring meaning from context and morphemic analysis, providing brief explanations, and offering powerful, robust vocabulary instruction. This session would be most appropriate for teachers working with students in grade 4 or higher. 

In this session, you will:
  • Define the three tiers of vocabulary in texts.
  • Explore how to select useful vocabulary from texts.
  • Practice instructional routines for explicitly teaching useful vocabulary to support students’ growth in vocabulary and reading comprehension.


Presenters
avatar for Lauren Zepp

Lauren Zepp

Assistant Professor, Special Education, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Lauren Zepp (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses on special education, reading and writing interventions for students with disabilities, and reading... Read More →
avatar for Beverly Trezek

Beverly Trezek

Associate Professor, RPSE, UW-Madison
Beverly Trezek is an Associate Professor and the Tashia F. Morgridge Distinguished Chair in Reading in the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Trezek’s research focuses on teacher preparation in reading as well... Read More →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Discovery Building: Room 2329 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA
  Workshop

1:15pm CDT

Teejop Tales and Trails
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Many of the roads and pathways of the Teejop (Four Lakes) region are built upon the trails of the Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk) people. Before European settlers arrived, the beauty and bounty of the lands and waters were loved and respected by the indigenous people. Janice Rice, Hoocąk elder, will share values, teachings, kinship, land ethics, and relationships that frame a Ho-Chunk world view. The presentation will include a PPT slide show, photos, a bibliography, and maps. The format will follow a lecture style, along with opportunities for small group interaction and audience participation. Attendees will receive material that will inspire them to develop their own lesson plans for the classroom and on field trips.

In this session, you will:
  • Receive a brief introduction to history and geography of the landscape.
  • Receive an introduction to land ethics, values & Hoocąk kinship system.
  • Engage in group work to identify key concepts for curriculum development.
Presenters
avatar for Janice M. Rice

Janice M. Rice

Janice Rice is an enrolled member of Ho-Chunk Nation and is an educator, emerita librarian, environmentalist, and indigenous dancer. I would enjoy talking with fellow educators and emerging educators about ways to reach young people and share ideas about the lands and waters of the... Read More →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Discovery Building: H.F. DeLuca Forum 330 N. Orchard St Madison, WI 53715
  Workshop

1:15pm CDT

The Power of Play: Building Inclusive Classroom Communities Through Games
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
In the modern classroom, academic success is deeply intertwined with a student's sense of belonging. This session,The Power of Play: Building Inclusive Classroom Communities Through Games, explores how the intentional use of games can serve as a primary engine for community building, moving beyond simple "icebreakers" into sustained social-emotional development.

The focus of this workshop is twofold: the mechanics of inclusive play and the cultivation of empathy. Participants will examine how specific game structures can break down social barriers and provide a safe space for students to take risks. We will specifically address how to design play-based activities that encourage participation from all students—including those who are traditionally more reserved—by leveraging collaborative goals rather than purely competitive ones.

Connection to Practice:
This session is designed to be experiential and immediately applicable. Rather than just discussing theory, attendees will:
  • Engage in Live Demonstrations: Practice a curated "menu" of games that require minimal equipment but yield high engagement.
  • Facilitate Empathy Debriefs: Learn how to lead post-game reflections that help students translate their in-game experiences (navigating frustration, supporting teammates) into real-world empathy skills.
  • Adapt for Inclusion: Collaborate on strategies to modify games for diverse learners, ensuring every student feels empowered to join in.
By the end of the session, early career educators will leave with a versatile toolkit of activities and a clear framework for using play to transform a group of students into a cohesive, empathetic community.

In this session, you will:
  • Engage in a variety of collaborative games.
  • Learn to faciliate in empathy debriefs in post game reflections.
  • Learn to adapt these games for an inclusive classroom.


Presenters
avatar for Kyle Curran

Kyle Curran

Hi my name is Kyle Curran (h/h/h). I am a 7th grade Social Studies Teacher at Toki Middle School. You can come talk to me about teaching, outdoor activities, sports, all things nerdy.
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Computer Sciences and Statistics: Room 1263

1:15pm CDT

Thinking Routines in Your Classroom
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
A thinking routine is a set of questions or a brief sequence of steps used to scaffold and support student thinking. Researchers have developed a variety of thinking routines that are applicable across disciplines, topics, and age groups, and can be used at multiple points throughout a learning experience or unit of study. This workshop will briefly introduce the concept of thinking routines, engage participants in the use of one particular routine: Parts, Purposes and Complexities, along with a hands-on activity, and design ways to adapt a thinking routine for participants' classrooms.    

In this session, you will:
  • Identify key ideas defining thinking routines.
  • Apply the Parts, Purposes and Complexities thinking routines.
  • Design potential ways to adapt the thinking routine to implement in your own classroom. 
Presenters
avatar for Peter Wardrip

Peter Wardrip

Associate Professor, School District/ Higher Education
Peter is Associate Professor of STEAM Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on the design of maker-based learning, professional communities and research practice partnerships. Peter enjoys playing soccer, euchre and drinking hot cocoa with his fam... Read More →
Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Discovery Building: Room 1145
  Workshop

3:00pm CDT

Full Group Reflection
Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:00pm - 3:15pm CDT

Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:00pm - 3:15pm CDT
Discovery Building: H.F. DeLuca Forum 330 N. Orchard St Madison, WI 53715

3:15pm CDT

Group Photo
Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:15pm - 3:30pm CDT

Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:15pm - 3:30pm CDT
Discovery Building: Atrium

3:30pm CDT

Early Career Networking
Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:30pm - 3:50pm CDT

Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:30pm - 3:50pm CDT
Discovery Building: Atrium

4:00pm CDT

Keynote: 2025 National Teacher of the Year
Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT



Tuesday July 28, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Discovery Building: H.F. DeLuca Forum 330 N. Orchard St Madison, WI 53715

5:00pm CDT

Reception
Tuesday July 28, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT

Tuesday July 28, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Discovery Building: Atrium
 

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