Midwest Conference on Differentiated Instruction

RTI is an effective method for helping all learners achieve academic success. Spend the day with Laureen and not only will you learn the what, how and why of RTI, but you'll also gain the skills to deliver research-based interventions and high-quality instruction matched to your students' needs. Laureen shares common-sense classroom and time-management techniques, tools for differentiation, Web and print resources, accepted best practices and more—everything you need to successfully implement RTI in your classroom.

Singapore Math is a unique curriculum that focuses on building students' mathematical foundations in number sense, place value, problem solving, mental math, and computation. By starting with the concrete, then moving to the pictorial, and finishing with the abstract, Singapore Math adds great depth to your instruction and improves students' mastery of basic math concepts. Join Char to see how you can put this powerful differentiated approach to work in your classroom.

Teach your entire class a single concept while meeting individual learning needs with engaging, tiered activities! Judy demonstrates how to "tier" your follow-up activities to appropriately challenge all levels of learners—from fast finishers to slow starters, and everyone in between.

Add to your repertoire Gayle's nine proven, research-based strategies for improving students' literacy. This session will focus on current and relevant brain-related research and provide specific instructional and assessment strategies appropriate for teaching adolescent learners—both boys and girls.

Your teachers have been trained in differentiating instruction, but is DI being effectively practiced in every classroom? And how can you make certain that it is? Learn what to look for when determining whether or not differentiated instruction is being implemented successfully school-wide. Betty shares tools for coaching teachers and providing support as they strive to meet the ALL students' needs.

Have you ever noticed that the louder you shout when reprimanding students, the louder they become? Learn how to manage a brain-compatible classroom without ever raising your voice. Marcia shows you how to prevent discipline problems as easily and efficiently as possible so you can still teach—from setting up your classroom and establishing routines to delivering engaging lessons and dealing with chronic behavior disorders.

Learn how to implement Charles's twelve dynamic strategies for reaching all learners—including difficult-to-teach and hard-to-reach students. You'll discover a variety of unique, classroom-proven techniques for engaging even your most reluctant learners.

Teach your students to live the life of a reader! In this session, you'll learn how to use literature circles, discussion groups, and Readers' Workshop to motivate your students to read. You'll discover innovative comprehension strategies and learn how to make well-matched book choices. And, you'll explore ways to encourage your students to get excited about reading both in the classroom and at home.

Learn how to help your students use all of their intelligences to listen effectively. Ellen leads you through the eight strategies found in her book, Magnificent Mind Listens Mindfully, and helps you adapt these strategies for your own students.

Behold the power of the short story! In this fun, interactive workshop on short stories, participants will learn how to help students use strategies such as visualization, inferencing, and synthesizing in order to read and write short stories.

Address head-on the problems and pitfalls commonly faced when teaching introductory statistics. Discover engaging in-class activities designed to help alleviate student confusion, anxiety, and misunderstanding of basic statistical concepts. What's more, these activities allow for interactive learning and can be easily adapted for middle and high school students.

Provide your students with meaningful, independent literacy center activities that reinforce important concepts and offer valuable opportunities for practice. Stephanie shares exciting center ideas that will engage your students while allowing you to work with small groups. Plus, you'll explore super ideas for reaching a wide range of readers and writers.

Motivate every young learner in your science classroom with low-prep, high-impact strategies. Sherri offers hands-on activities that differentiate your science lessons by using the multiple intelligences and by addressing varied learning styles. Watch your students become confident, competent investigators of the world around them. Please bring markers, glue sticks, and scissors.

Increase your DI implementation success with strategies that are practical and effective. In this dynamic session, Bertie shares a wealth of strategies, activities, and materials proven to simplify the planning process, minimize the preparation time, and ensure that the implementation (and management) of differentiated instruction in your classroom is frustration-free!

Seeing is believing! Discover ways to utilize visuals to boost students' independence, teach them to be better organized, and help them manage their behavior. And, learn how to quickly and easily implement and evaluate highly effective visual strategies.

Introducing technology in Physical Education! Come learn innovative ways to utilize visual aids and technology to teach fitness activities and skills while incorporating music and large-group management techniques. Leslie provides upbeat, fun, and motivating activities that emphasize 100% participation and success for all types of learners.

If we're not modeling what you're teaching, then you're teaching something else! Discover 20 strategies for actively engaging your staff in professional learning. After all, "Sit & Get" won't grow brain cells or result in meaningful behavior change.

The ability to read well is the key to learning success. And improving reading skills should be a pleasure for students. In this important session, Charles shares simple yet powerful strategies for boosting reading success, including interventions you can use with even your most reluctant readers.

Are you overwhelmed by the prospect of "integrating technology" into your classroom? Wondering how to do it, why you should do it, and where to begin? Discover timesaving, teacher-friendly ways to increase student learning through the use of technology. Lori demonstrates what integrated instruction looks like and explores how to overcome common barriers.

Your inclusive class may require different rules so that all your students can be successful. Experience 10 research-based strategies that are easy to implement, sensible to follow, and will minimize disruptions in your classroom.

To teach vocabulary effectively, you must consider each student's interests, learning style, and readiness. Join Gail to explore strategies that will help students with different learning needs make meaningful connections with words and enjoy improved comprehension.

Turn any math lesson into a math rally, complete with a rollicking ride through the streets of the imaginary town, Mathon. Discover action-packed activities that help your students master math skills and explore key concepts. You'll rev your students' engines with realistic problem-solving situations that engage them in the learning process while making them laugh.

Phonological awareness is a vital piece of the reading puzzle for all readers. Stephanie shares activities you can use to increase the phonological awareness of your students while laying a solid foundation for future reading success. You'll learn exactly what phonological awareness is as well as some exciting games and activities to support it.

Motivate your reluctant students and ignite their interest with low-prep, high-impact strategies that center on the learning styles and multiple intelligences of the learner. In this highly interactive session, Sherri demonstrates strategies that reach to teach ALL students in the science classroom. Experience many differentiated hands-on science activities that encourage SCIENCE SUCCESS. Please bring marker, scissors, and glue sticks.

Using humor and practical applications, Dr. Kingore translates achievement research into realistic and effective strategies for differentiating instruction in mixed-ability classrooms. Discover how to construct effective learning environments and learning experiences that work across the content areas and promote continuous learning for all students.

Discover how teaching the concepts of entrepreneurship can meet the social, emotional, and academic needs of your gifted learners. Classroom-friendly units will be shared that include math, literacy, visual arts, problem-based learning, and differentiated instruction.

Think your small private school or district lacks the personnel or resources to implement large scale changes? Think again! Using the very best RTI strategies, Colleen demonstrates how to design simple, school-wide systems that will revolutionize your approach to assessment and instruction while creating a data-based foundation for differentiation.

Everyone knows that "math" is the shortened form of the word mathematics. But did you know that it also stands for "math ain't that hard?" This is especially true when brain-compatible strategies are used. Experience how easy math can be when it's sung, drawn, visualized, danced, or modeled through a meaningful story.

Classrooms today consist of students with varying backgrounds, experiences, and ability levels. Gail examines the true meaning of a differentiated classroom, and demonstrates how to design curriculum to fit the unique needs of all of your students.

More than assessment and instructional tools, teachers need a decision making process and lesson plans that meet the needs of diverse learners. Examine the variety of ways differentiation can be planned with more precision so that you can address what students should know, do, and understand.

Get your teachers ready to meet the needs of all of their students! During this fast-paced session, Betty Hollas shares practical tips and provides step-by-step instructions to get your staff pumped and motivated to learn the skills of differentiation.

Make managing your differentiated classroom a positive experience! Charles offers management strategies that will reduce your stress and enhance your students' on-task behavior. Plus, you'll explore ways to help build community, maximize teacher-student interaction, and much more.

Tiered centers respond to the diverse learning profiles and instructional needs of all students in mixed-ability classrooms. Learn management systems, simple techniques, and timesaving ways to create and implement tiered centers that differentiate the complexity of learning tasks in your classroom.

Discover ways to engage your learners with a fantastic technology tool—the interactive white board. Lori demonstrates how to use a board, and shares resources for lesson creation. Plus, you'll learn ways to manage your documents and enhance your instruction.

Learn easy-to-implement, research-based reading comprehension and vocabulary strategies you can use as interventions in your classroom. Experience a variety of strategies and learn which ones to use before, during, or after learning. And, discover how to match these interventions to your learners.

Discover how math songs, math commercials, puzzles, puppet skits, origami, and lots of other "off-the-wall" ideas can make your math instruction more memorable, meaningful, and fun. Even if you don't teach math, you'll want to attend this session because many of the ideas are transferable. Be prepared to laugh aloud, a lot! Please bring markers, a glue stick, and scissors.

Discover how to use differentiated instruction strategies in both large-group lessons and independent work to address the needs of gifted learners in your classroom. You'll gain strategies for building higher-order thinking skills without having to create several sets of lesson plans.

Frequent and on-going assessment is a hallmark of the differentiated classroom. Learn how to assess your students daily in order to plan more targeted instruction. No matter what subject you teach, you'll leave this session with a toolbox full of quick, easy-to-use assessment techniques.

Spark excitement for writing—with journals! Sherri offers engaging, hands-on journaling activities for inspiring the emergent readers and writers in your classroom. You'll find out how to use journals to promote lasting literacy skills. And, you'll discover how to use journals interactively to foster joyful enthusiasm for writing. Please bring markers, scissors, and glue stick.

Discover how to provide a low-cost, choice-based alternative to the traditional recess. Explore researched-based strategies and procedures that increase cardiovascular activity, address bullying and safety, and provide engaging differentiated activities on the playground.

Book clubs for small group instruction? You bet! Learn specific strategies for differentiating your small group instruction and motivating students to read for fun! Take home practical ideas and ready-to-use reproducibles that encourage students to read independently and take responsibility for their literacy learning.

In the differentiated classroom, students need opportunities to work in various instructional formats. In this session, you'll discover practical strategies for managing both large and small groups of students. And, you'll explore a variety of activities that respond to the learning needs of every student.

Turn on the cognition switch with intrinsic motivation strategies that really work! Charles shows you how to get your students interested in new subjects and personal learning goals. You'll learn how to nurture an internal incentive for academic achievement and to set in motion a drive for lifelong learning.

Today's students are technology savvy. So how can you engage your digital learners while meeting the standards? Learn 25 easy-to-use, research-based instructional strategies that will hook your learners, keep them motivated, and increase achievement.

How can you challenge your gifted students while meeting the needs of everyone else in the classroom? Discover strategies for implementing concept-based instruction, tiered differentiation, and academic vocabulary that together will motivate and engage your gifted learners and let them work as intensely as they wish.

Learn how to effectively intervene before initiating the special education process. Ellen shows you how to identify each student's cognitive profile in order to help you select the best intervention strategies. Plus, you'll take home ready-to-use strategies for creating an environment where every student is motivated to learn.

Some students lack confidence in their own ability to think and reason in a logical, mathematical manner. Learn several simple yet intriguing games that help students improve their problem-solving skills. These games can be used with small groups or the whole class. Be prepared to laugh and learn a lot.

Help your ESL students develop powerful English language skills—even if you don't know their home language! You'll learn scaffolding strategies in reading and writing for successfully supporting your English language learners. Plus, you'll discover how ESL strategies work well with all students!

Visual supports such as choice boards and menus can promote independence and enhance learning for all students. In this workshop, Judy will teach you how to link the multiple intelligences with Bloom's Taxonomy to produce developmentally appropriate choice boards and menus for your diverse learners. You'll receive real examples as well as models to design your own end-of-unit assessments.

Pique the curiosity of students in your social studies classroom with high-impact nonfiction strategies. Sherri offers activities that teach predicting, inferring, questioning, and visualizing in ways that bring social studies to life. Plus, learn terrific hands-on techniques that reach different learners and address their learning modalities in the classroom. Please bring scissors, markers, and glue sticks.

Como se dice Differentiation? Differentiation is definitely a foreign concept in many foreign language classrooms. In this session, Jessie translates DI principles and practices, and demonstrates how to differentiate lessons for students based on their learning styles and interests. Come discover why DI is not so foreign after all.

Tired of spending more time disciplining than teaching? Learn exciting new methods and strategies for creating a peaceful learning environment. Discover how to keep your students actively engaged in each lesson, not actively engaged in disruptive behavior.