Early Career Teaching Institute: Full Schedule

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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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

Discovery Building: Room 1170

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

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.

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

Professional Practice Funding & Grants

10:30am CDT

Becoming a Cooperating Teacher 101

Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT

Discovery Building: Room 1170

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

Evan Moss

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

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

Learner Populations Teacher Preparation
Professional Practice Coaching & Mentoring

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

Discovery Building: Room 1170

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

Focus Group

1:15pm CDT

Introduction to Creative Coding

Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm CDT

Discovery Building: Room 1170

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: