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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.

Tuesday, July 28
 

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

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
 
Wednesday, July 29
 

8:45am CDT

Imagining Authentic Writing in All Classrooms
Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
What is the role of writing? Few things we can imagine are as controversial and bridging, broad and specific, constricting and freeing as writing. In practice, writing is in everything we do, but it is becoming less of a focus and harnessed skill among youth. This is not to say that youth do not write - they do - but the variety, skill, scope, purpose, and joy of writing tend to wander aimlessly in the ether of the digital world. Unfortunately, this is not unique to youth. Even the most seasoned and thoughtful teachers can lose sight of the authenticity and power of writing in their own classrooms, in their own literacy lives. 

This workshop is not a fix-it session. Rather, it is a regrounding in the things we already know and love about writing in our own experiences. We want to come together and shape what writing can be in our classrooms despite the pressures, structures, and expectations that are constantly vying for our attention and compliance. The workshop itself is the first stage of collaborative work that we hope revitalizes writing in your classrooms, giving you a platform from which to build. The second part carries past the session and offers an opportunity to engage with a community of teachers who want to share their work and learn from others, cultivating a writer’s community. ALL teachers across ALL subjects and grades are invited to this workshop and community participation. Writing is not just for some, it is for all. 

In this session, you will:
  • Explore foundations and qualities of authentic writing. 
  • Identify barriers and limitations classroom contexts on authentic writing. 
  • Outline and draft possible authentic writing implementations in classrooms (small, medium, large sizes/scales).
Presenters
LV

Lisa Velarde

Teaching Faculty II, UW-Madison
avatar for Danny Miller

Danny Miller

Teaching Faculty II, UW-Madison
Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Computer Sciences and Statistics: Room 1263
  Workshop

10:30am CDT

Prioritizing Growth: Your students' and your own
Wednesday July 29, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Growth motivates better than compliance. We will look at how to use standards to: assess growth, involve students in their own progress monitoring, use formative assessments to drive instruction, engage planning teams in student-centered planning, and use coaching supports to continuously improve practice.

In this session, you will:
  • Understand the importance of using student learning to drive instruction.
  • Be an advocate on veteran teams for student-centered planning.
  • Understand the importance of being a reflective practitioner.
Presenters
avatar for Kathleen Doherty

Kathleen Doherty

Lecturer (Retired MMSD New Educator Mentor & Instructional Coach), UW-Madison LaFollette School of Public Affairs
I've been involved in K-12 education for more than 30 years, 25 with MMSD. I've worked in a range of positions: a middle and high school social studies teacher; curriculum, technology & learning consultant; new educator mentor; and instructional coach. I believe strongly in the power... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Computer Sciences and Statistics: Room 1263
 

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