2019 Alaska Cross Content Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome to the 2019 Alaska Cross Content Conference at West High School in Anchorage, AK, October 25th and 26th with follow up activities at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sunday, October 27th.

1:00pm AKDT

Poster session--Profiles of Contemporary Mathematicians

Mathematics is a living and creative subject. UAA students in the Art of Mathematics classes provide a glimpse into the lives of professional mathematicians today.

Speakers

Deborah Narang

Professor of Mathematics, University of Alaska Anchorage

Friday October 25, 2019 1:00pm - 6:00pm AKDT
Foyer and Hallways

Learning to Lead

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Mathematics

2:30pm AKDT

Grow New Connections for Engagement

Attendees will learn to engage students in hands on projects to capture learning for practice and review across multiple content areas.

Speakers

McGraw Hill

Friday October 25, 2019 2:30pm - 3:30pm AKDT
Room 22

Connecting Across Content Areas

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Literacy across all content

2:30pm AKDT

Energy Literacy and Application in K-12 classrooms

Energy is everything: It’s how we connect, how we travel, how we work, and how we play. Clean energy (including energy efficiency and renewable energy) has many benefits including lower carbon footprint, cleaner air, and reduced energy bills, yet it is not often taught in our schools. In this workshop, participants will be introduced to energy literacy principles and explore lessons from free curriculum for teaching hands-on energy lessons all geared towards energy awareness and usage reduction. Three main (free!) resources will be highlighted in this session: AK EnergySmart, Alaska Resource Education (ARE), and National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project. Participants will explore at least one activity that can be modified for all grade levels, so be ready to move around!

Speakers

Colleen Fisk

Education Director, Renewable Energy Alaska Project

Colleen has a Master's in Education from UAF, five years of student teaching and long-term subbing, six years as the Education Director at REAP, and extensive experience in the classroom and teacher training.

Sponsors

REAP

CC conference presentation 10.25.19 pptx

Friday October 25, 2019 2:30pm - 3:30pm AKDT
Room 24

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

2:30pm AKDT

Recognizing and Integrating Crosscutting Concepts

Examine crosscutting concepts through scientific discovery and build an understanding of how to integrate them into classroom instruction. This is a hands-on workshop for science, tech, art, math and language arts educators.

Speakers

Judy Sweeney

Denali PEAK

I love playing scientist. I have been implementing Next Generation Science Standards with student scientists at schools around the world including Dubai, Shanghai and Frankfurt. Currently we investigate NGSS at Denali PEAK in Anchorage.

Friday October 25, 2019 2:30pm - 3:30pm AKDT
Science Room 1

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Content Area Math, Language Arts

2:30pm AKDT

Teaching Through Culture in the K-12 Classroom

Presenter will share proven research-based strategies for being a culturally-responsive K-12 teacher. Take part in hands-on activities and share/gain ideas for creating a safe classroom environment and respectful climate where students are engaged and want to learn.Teaching Through Culture is all about respect, relationship-building, and knowing your students.

Speakers

Janice Littlebear

Friday October 25, 2019 2:30pm - 3:30pm AKDT
Room 3

Culturally Responsive and Place Based Teaching

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area All K-12 Content

2:30pm AKDT

Using Primary Sources to Create Reader's Theater in Social Studies and History

Create Reader's Theater from primary sources aligned with your Social Studies and History curriculum. This strategy increases both historical understanding of primary sources and literacy. Participants will create a Reader's Theater Script during the session.

Speakers

Karen Beranek

Science and Social Studies Facilitator, Bering Strait School District

Reader's theater ppt pptx

Friday October 25, 2019 2:30pm - 3:30pm AKDT
Room 6

Integrating Literacy Across Content Areas

Content Area 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area History/Social Studies

2:30pm AKDT

Desmos Explorations in High School Math

Participants will explore a variety of Desmos activities for high school math classes, and will have the opportunity to create their own Desmos activities

Speakers

Kristina Roehrig

Curriculum Coordinator -Secondary, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District

I'm in my fourth year in Fairbanks and I'd love to hear how people are doing great things in mathematics. I'm a big fan of Jo Boaler, Fawn Nguyen, Dan Meyer, Annie Fetter and Fred Dillon. If you are a fellow math nerd, please come talk to me about math.

Friday October 25, 2019 2:30pm - 3:30pm AKDT
Room 8

Integrating Technology Into Learning

Content Area 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Mathematics

2:30pm AKDT

Get Nspired in the Science Classroom

The Ti Nspire Calculators are Finally Making Their Way to Alaska. Now's your chance to check it out and explore what makes these calculators more than just a calculator! This is a hands-on class that gives you a chance to conduct scientific experiments, record and analyze data.

Speakers

Ellen Piekarski

Math, ASD

Sponsors

Texas Instruments

Friday October 25, 2019 2:30pm - 3:30pm AKDT
Room W11

Integrating Technology Into Learning

Content Area 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Middle and High School Science Classes

2:30pm AKDT

What can NSTA do for you?

Come join this informal, discussion-based session to learn about NSTA resources that are available and leadership opportunities within the organization. You will also have the opportunity to provide feedback about NSTA that will be shared with the NSTA Board.

Speakers

Jeanne Chowning

Associate VP of Science Education, Fred Hutch Cancer Center

NSTA Benefits Presentation JC pptx

Friday October 25, 2019 2:30pm - 3:30pm AKDT
Room 1

Learning to Lead

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area General

3:45pm AKDT

Mineral and Energy Resources of Alaska

Explore the basics of Alaska’s mineral and energy resources. This session will provide you with a snap-shot of Alaska’s mineral and energy resources. We will cover where the resources are, how we get them, what we use them for, and the careers associated with them. We will also try out some hands-on activities that you can easily incorporate in your classroom. Jelly belly geology, mine a cookie, finding oil in a cupcake, and wind blade design to name a few! All activities include new vocabulary, meet state science standards, and can be applicable to science, social studies, Alaska Studies, Natural science of Alaska or a variety of other ASD classes.
This course is great for all grade levels as all of our activities are easily adaptable. You will also have the opportunity to get a free Alaska Resource Kit!

Speakers

Beki Toussaint

Program Director, Alaska Resource Education

Sponsors

Alaska Resource Education

Friday October 25, 2019 3:45pm - 4:45pm AKDT
Science Room 4

Connecting Across Content Areas

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area social studies, economics

3:45pm AKDT

Climate Change and My Community

Teachers will learn activities and tools from the Arctic and Earth STEM Integrating GLOBE and NASA Assets project, which engages learners in climate change research and action from local to global scales. This hands-on session will model activities to develop a scientific investigation and stewardship action project that aligns with changes elders and community leaders have identified as important, student observations and interests, curriculum standards, and data needs in climate science at larger scales.

Co-Presenters: Elena Sparrow (UAF International Arctic Research Center), Greg Kahoe (UAF School of Education)

Speakers

Katie Spellman

professor, UAF

Friday October 25, 2019 3:45pm - 4:45pm AKDT
Room 2

Culturally Responsive and Place Based Teaching

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Civic Engagement, Service Learning

3:45pm AKDT

Youth Engagement in Sustainable Communities in a Changing Environment

How can environmental educators build bridges between schools and rural and Indigenous communities to engage youth in efforts to respond and adapt to environmental change? Learn about training and supporting teachers to build community connections and engage students in community problem-solving with the support of a toolkit on AdaptAlaska.org.

Speakers

Elizabeth Trowbridge

Friday October 25, 2019 3:45pm - 4:45pm AKDT
Room W8

Culturally Responsive and Place Based Teaching

Content Area 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Content Area STEM, Citizen Science, Math

3:45pm AKDT

Featured Speaker Katherine McKnight: Literacy Across the Curriculum: Concrete Strategies for Adolescent Student Success

Today’s students are worldly, wired and widely exposed to a host of trans-media influences. So how does a modern-day educator meet the mandates of a standards-based curriculum while providing dynamic, student-centered instruction that amplifies literacy across the curriculum? Come discover concrete strategies adolescent student success with proven tools that are firmly rooted in decades of research about language, learning, teaching, and assessment across the disciplines. All in all, instead of trying to force the curriculum into our students’ live, effective teaching first considers our students, and then places their lives into the center of the curriculum. A session sure to provide ample solutions to real classroom challenges. This session is based on my recent book, Literacy & Learning Centers: Content Area and Disciplinary Literacy Tools for Grades 4-12.

Speakers

KATHERINE MCKNIGHT

Engaging Learners

I am looking forward to presenting at the Alaska Cross Content Conference! I am a national expert in adolescent literacy and disciplinary literacy. and I teach and collaborate in classrooms all over the United States and internationally . As an author of 18 books and educator for... Read More →

Friday October 25, 2019 3:45pm - 4:45pm AKDT
Room W10

Integrating Literacy Across Content Areas

Content Area 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Making it Fit: Learning and Literacy Centers, Where Content Knowledge and Literacy Skills Intersect, grades 4-12

3:45pm AKDT

Get Nspired For the Math Classroom

The Ti Nspire Calculators are Finally Making Their Way to Alaska. Now's your chance to check it out and explore what makes these calculators more than just a calculator! This is a hands-on class that gives you a chance to check out quick polls, spreadsheets, scatter plots, geometry page, graphing screen, TVM program, and much more.

Speakers

Ellen Piekarski

Math, ASD

Sponsors

Texas Instruments

Friday October 25, 2019 3:45pm - 4:45pm AKDT
Room W11

Integrating Technology Into Learning

Content Area 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Middle and High School Math

3:45pm AKDT

Virtual Field Trips & Learning Opportunities

Virtual Field Trips do what? Want to take your class learning to great
new heights? Find out the epic ways to introduce your students to
the world beyond Alaska, from space exploration scientists and
innovative climate change scientists sharing out their expertise, to
explorers, authors, and experts in so many fields. Be prepared to
get excited for your year and take your class on epic journeys.

Speakers

Michelle Carton

6th Grade Elementary Classroom Teacher, ASD

Friday October 25, 2019 3:45pm - 4:45pm AKDT
Science Room 2

Integrating Technology Into Learning

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area ALL

9:45am AKDT

Anchorage Museum Resources for Teachers

Did you know ASD teachers can visit the Anchorage Museum for free? Learn about this and other ways the Anchorage Museum can support teachers and students both onsite and in classrooms. This session will cover everything from field trip offerings to primary sources and activities available for free online to professional development opportunities for teachers.

Speakers

Grace Graham

Science Educator, Anchorage Museum

Sponsors

Anchorage Museum

Saturday October 26, 2019 9:45am - 10:45am AKDT
Room W11

Connecting Across Content Areas

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area History, Culture, Art

9:45am AKDT

Observational drawing for all-ages and subjects

Kristin Link is an artist and scientific illustrator. During this hour session participants will get to draw from life, and consider how drawing helps one see. Drawing helps in understanding how something really looks and functions, and the language of visual arts provides tools for explaining what one sees. Participants will work to create descriptions with pictures and words, expanding our ability to communicate. We'll discuss applications for observational drawing with science and other subjects. Kim Sweeney is a long-time AAEC board member who will assist and introduce the Alaska Arts Education Consortium.

Speakers

Kristin Link

Kim Sweeny

Barbara Short

Saturday October 26, 2019 9:45am - 10:45am AKDT
Room W10

Connecting Across Content Areas

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Arts Integration May apply to all levels...not sure yet.

9:45am AKDT

Featured Speaker Michael DiSpezio: Learning and the Brain

Join Michael for an engaging, informative and entertaining general session in which you’ll experience best practices as you construct an understanding of how the brain learns. From discovering inertia to revamping experiences for higher level engagements, you’ll add not only new activities and approaches to your teaching repertoire, but construct a better understanding for maintaining a brain-friendly classroom environment.

Speakers

Michael DiSpezio

author and educator, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

From hosting National Geographic broadcasts to shepherding the Discovery Channel to their first Emmy Award nomination, Michael is a globally respected renaissance educator, speaker, TV host and science education author. A former marine biologist, Michael completed his graduate studies... Read More →

Sponsors

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Saturday October 26, 2019 9:45am - 10:45am AKDT
Auditorium West High School, 1700 Hillcrest Drive, Anchorage, AK, 99503

Learning to Lead

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Interdisciplinary

9:45am AKDT

Teacher Autonomy in the Service of Learner Autonomy

This session will present a synopsis of the research basis that links student autonomy and achievement with teacher agency and teacher professional autonomy, along a summary of my own teacher agency research project and findings. This presentation will conclude with an inter-active discussion among the educators that choose to attend this session.

Speakers

J. Kevin Spink

Saturday October 26, 2019 9:45am - 10:45am AKDT
Room 20

Learning to Lead

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Teacher Leadership and Teacher Education

9:45am AKDT

What is the Alaska Education Network?

The Alaska Education Network – Project ECHO is a statewide initiative focused on uniting Alaska’s educational leaders with the intention of building a support network to reduce isolation while strengthening the link between leadership and student achievement.
As educators, our job is to support students, but who is supporting us? Having support from people with similar interests and passions greatly enhances your chances of success. It is important to have a good support network that you can bounce ideas off of and get feedback from. A good support network offers benefits that cannot be achieved otherwise. Most research seems to agree that an educator’s feeling of support (or lack thereof) can make or break a decision to stay in the field. (Philosophy of Education, Article 2)
Come to this session and find out about how to be part of this network which will help you reduce that feeling of isloation and get you connected to your peers and counterparts in education from across the state.

The Alaska Education Network is here to support you. FREE and open to participate. There are 43 online sessions offered via Zoom from October 2 - April 29. That means you can join from anywhere. You can choose to attend just one session or multiple sessions. Each session has an opportunity for information-sharing and problem-solving about everyday practices. Check us out at www.echoeducationak.com.
Together we are better.
Moving Knowledge Not People!

Speakers

Raquel Schroeder/Carey Gray

Project Coordinators, Alaska Education Network - Project ECHO

Sponsors

ECHO Network

Flyer 2019 20 (11) pdf

Saturday October 26, 2019 9:45am - 10:45am AKDT
Room 2

Learning to Lead

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area The Alaska Education Network is a statewide initiative focused on uniting Alaska’s educational leaders with the intention of building a support network to reduce isolation while strengthening the link between leadership and student achievement. ECHO sessi

11:00am AKDT

Do science labs support learning? The effects of a paired laboratory experience on introductory biology student course outcomes

Science labs are fundamental to the curriculum, and it is rare to see a secondary or postsecondary science class without one. Researchers at the University of Alaska Anchorage examined data from thousands of introductory biology students - some who took just the lecture section, and others who took the same course with a paired lab. We match students on a variety of academic, demographic, and course characteristics to infer a causal relationship between the lab and course outcomes. The presentation and planned discussion will consider how the findings support science curriculum, assessment, and policy.

Speakers

Dayna DeFeo

ISER faculty, UAA

Dr. Dayna DeFeo joined ISER in 2014 and is currently a research assistant professor and the director of the Center for Alaska Education Policy Research. She holds a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction form New Mexico State University. Dayna's primary research interests include college... Read More →

Saturday October 26, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm AKDT
Room 19

Connecting Across Content Areas

Content Area 9, 10, 11, 12

11:00am AKDT

Need a booster class for Evolutionary Science? We can help

The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science is an entirely teacher-run project to help middle school science teachers. We provide evolution content and ready-to-use resources for the classroom, including presentation slides, online sites, and hands-on labs. Everything is free and high-quality. With over 92 workshops completed across the country in just three years, our goal is to inform interested middle school science teachers about the most up-to-date concepts of natural selection and evolution. The session has four parts. It includes a bell-ringer activity on evolution misconceptions, a presentation with valuable evolution content, a brief tour of the peer-shared resources on our webpage, and an inquiry-based activity illustrating how the environment and genetic variation contribute to natural selection. Everything will be free and

available to the participants, including many active learning ideas for the classroom found in the slide presentation.

Speakers

Jamie Kupfner

Teacher, TIES

Re presentation items zip

Saturday October 26, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm AKDT
Science Room 3

Connecting Across Content Areas

Content Area 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Science- Middle School- Evolution- Life Science

11:00am AKDT

Building Collaborative Teams In Your Classroom

In many classrooms, students’ sitting together in teams does not guarantee effective mathematical discourse. Activities will be modeled that encourage students to talk, write and share ideas. Status is important so some of these activities will address this issue. Participants will experience study team and teaching strategies that particularly deal with discourse and see how the Standards for Mathematical Practices will be tied into and highlighted by these strategies.

Speakers

Darrell Trussell

RC/Instructional Coach, CPM Educational Program

I have a great desire to support math teacher with implementing student engagement activities. This simple change from a teacher centered to student center classroom changed my perspective on how students learn and retain information. I would love to share what I have learned, the... Read More →

Sponsors

CPM

Creating Collaborative Classrooms.pptx pdf

Building Collaborative Teams pdf

Saturday October 26, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm AKDT
Room 13

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Secondary

11:00am AKDT

Energy Literacy and Application in K-12 classrooms

Speakers

Colleen Fisk

Education Director, Renewable Energy Alaska Project

Sponsors

REAP

CC conference presentation 10.25.19 pptx

Saturday October 26, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm AKDT
Room 12

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area STEM and social studies

11:00am AKDT

Seminars in the Science Classroom: Social Dimensions of Argumentation

We will explore the Science and Engineering Practice (SEP) of Argumentation, specifically its important social and discursive dimensions. Learn about using seminars in the science classroom and have the opportunity to participate in a sample seminar. We will also discuss existing resources for scaffolding argumentation in the classroom.

Speakers

Jeanne Chowning

Associate VP of Science Education, Fred Hutch Cancer Center

Sponsors

NSTA

ACCC 191026 pptx

Chowning Socratic Seminars SciTch 09 pdf

Chowning TwistOnDNA SciTchr 2019 pdf

Stupidity in Scientific Research (modified) copy docx

Saturday October 26, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm AKDT
Room 10

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Multiliteracies, Presenting

11:00am AKDT

Become a National Geographic Certified Educator

In this interactive session, educators will discuss how they teach with a global and geographic perspective, reflecting on their teaching missions and collaborating to build upon one another’s best project ideas. They’ll also be introduced to National Geographic’s Learning Framework, which is a set of attitudes, skills, and knowledge areas that embody the attributes of an explorer—one who seeks solutions to our world’s most pressing problems.

This session counts as Phase 1 of the free professional learning program known as the National Geographic Educator Certification Program. As educators go on to complete Phases 2 and 3, they will have the opportunity to try out new lessons and activities that challenge students to solve real-world problems. National Geographic Certified Educators also receive special access to National Geographic education resources and an online community of like-minded peers.

Speakers

Alexandra Perrotti

Alexandra (she/her/hers) serves as Director of Educator Network at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. Each and every day she has the pleasure of working with young people and educators who are addressing the planet's most pressing problems. Previously, Alexandra... Read More →

Sponsors

National Geographic Education

Saturday October 26, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm AKDT
Room 2

Culturally Responsive and Place Based Teaching

Content Area 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area science

11:00am AKDT

Featured Speaker Katherine McKnight: Affect Impacts Effective Literacy Skill Development

The ability to read, write and speak with proficiency is essential for student success. Students who struggle in school may not possess accurate literacy tools or self-regulation strategies for college and career readiness. This inspiring presentation will showcase how an integrated school-wide literacy and self-regulation plan resulted in at least 15% student growth in one academic year and how you can lead your school to a similar outcome. Research suggests that academic improvement can occur when a self-regulatory model is integrated with strategic literacy instruction that fosters self-efficacy and independence.

Speakers

KATHERINE MCKNIGHT

Engaging Learners

Saturday October 26, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm AKDT
Room 8

Integrating Literacy Across Content Areas

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Literacy k-12

1:45pm AKDT

An introduction to the new Science Standards for Alaska

Please join DEED staff as they outline and highlight the updated Science Standards for Alaska. These standards mark a significant update to the Science GLEs and bring Alaska in line with other state standards based on the Framework for K-12 Science Education. The new standards place a greater focus on comprehension and problem-solving, and integrate content from across the curriculum.

Speakers

Deborah Riddle

Division Operations Manager, Dept. of Education and Early Development

Sponsors

DEED

Saturday October 26, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm AKDT
Science Room 1

Connecting Across Content Areas

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

1:45pm AKDT

Hands-on lessons to start teaching Evolutionary Sciences now

Speakers

Jamie Kupfner

Teacher, TIES

Re presentation items zip

Saturday October 26, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm AKDT
Science Room 3

Connecting Across Content Areas

Content Area 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Middle school- Science- evolutionary science- life science

1:45pm AKDT

Featured Speaker Katherine McKnight: Yes…and for the Classroom

Dr. McKnight is the foundational researcher and developer of using improvisation in the classroom to develop literacy skills content knowledge within a social emotional learning experience. Her powerful research in this area has led to insights into creating classrooms where all students are charged up about learning. In this engaging and active session, learn how to create focused learning activities that are classroom ready. Dr. McKnight co-authored The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom, the “go-to” resource for improv in the classroom. See https://engaginglearners.com/sites/default/files/EL_YesAndClassroom_Web.pdf . for the white paper and resource guide for this presentation!

Speakers

KATHERINE MCKNIGHT

Engaging Learners

Saturday October 26, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm AKDT
Library Annex

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Literacy----all content areas and grades

1:45pm AKDT

Featured Speaker Michael DiSpezio: Awesome STEM Activities for the 21st Century Classroom

Join Michael for a motivating, informative and exciting hands-on session during which you’ll participate in a variety of inexpensive and easy-to-repeat activities for the 21st century elementary school classroom. During this session, you’ll explore the pedagogy changes inherent to 3D teaching and apply them to a variety of activities in both science and engineering. From engineering a paperclip wheel-and-axle to exploring the science of flight, you’ll experience understanding through the facilitation of process experiences. You’ll also explore sound by constructing a variety of instruments that will be used as a landscape on which the SEPs are applied to further understanding in physical science. So why not join Michael for a fun, practical and enlightening workshop from which you’ll leave with a variety of new ideas for teaching science!

Speakers

Michael DiSpezio

author and educator, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Sponsors

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Saturday October 26, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm AKDT
West High Library Main Area

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area All content areas

1:45pm AKDT

Long Division: It's Not Synthetic Anymore

Manipulatives in a secondary math classroom? You will see how successful it can be. Actively engage with algebra tiles and the area model to multiply polynomials before moving to factoring and completing the square. Use the area model to do polynomial long division. Supporting students transition from the concrete (manipulative) to the abstract (paper and pencil) is the goal.

Speakers

Darrell Trussell

RC/Instructional Coach, CPM Educational Program

Sponsors

CPM

Saturday October 26, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm AKDT
Room 22

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area 8, 9, 10
Content Area Secondary

1:45pm AKDT

Climate Change - Model Mathematically Data from The Climate Reality Project Leadership Training with Al Gore

Have your students model the most current data about climate change, its causes and consequences, and discover the correlations among various sets of data. Find out what we learned from attending the Climate Reality Project Training with former vice president Al Gore (An Inconvenient Truth) this past August for 3 days. Obtain all materials: data, student worksheets, teacher notes and solutions, and a detailed step-by-step blog.

Speakers

Tom Reardon

Math teacher and technology specialist, Fitch High School / Youngstown State University

Tom Reardon taught mathematics for 35 years at Fitch High School, where he served as department chair, and for 39 years at Youngstown State University in Ohio. He has been doing Professional Development in mathematics technology for school districts across the U.S. and internationally... Read More →

Saturday October 26, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm AKDT
Room 24

Integrating Technology Into Learning

Content Area 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Statistics, Modeling

3:00pm AKDT

Math Trails: Visited and Revisited

Teachers will learn about the components of a math trail, including how to lead students in creating a math trail in their own communities. Examples of existing math trails will be shared, and time to develop a plan to engage students in creating a math trail will be given. Let’s share ideas about math trails and how we can leverage a trail to bring the math practices alive!

Speakers

Alison "Sunny" Mall

Saturday October 26, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm AKDT
Room 8

Culturally Responsive and Place Based Teaching

Content Area 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Mathematics, Writing in the Content Area

3:00pm AKDT

Mathematical Modeling and Social Awareness: Pay Day Loans, Opioid Deaths, Plastic Straw Pollution

Use current and important real-world data to teach mathematics and make students aware of social problems, situations, and solutions. Have the students discover the whopping interest rates charged by Pay Day Loan companies. Make students aware of how many people are dying from opioids. And be amazed at the number of plastic straws that we use in the US daily. Regressions, math modeling, problem solving, units conversion, technology. Obtain all materials.

Speakers

Tom Reardon

Math teacher and technology specialist, Fitch High School / Youngstown State University

Saturday October 26, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm AKDT
Room 24

Integrating Technology Into Learning

Content Area 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area 8th grade math, algebra, geometry, algebra 2, precalculus

3:00pm AKDT

Growing Teacher Leadership for School and System Transformation Through a Grass-Roots, Teacher Lead Professional Learning Network

Participants will learn about the theory of action, the practical work and the impact for teachers of a blended Professional Learning Network (PLN), AKRISE (Alaska Rural Innovation and Student Engagement Network), designed to engage educators from rural schools across Alaska in face-to-face collaborative design work (to be implemented virtually between face-to-face meetings) to tackle contextual challenges and share impactful instructional practices. The theory of action of the network is grounded in the theories of professional capital (Hargreaves and Fullan, 2012) and collaborative professionalism (Hargreaves & O’Connor, 2018); that by engaging teachers in deeper, specific types of collaborative joint work (action research, lesson study, co-curriculum design, and video reflection) through a blended PLN of both face-to-face and commitment to connecting virtually, rural teachers experience increased sense of belonging and connection, willingness to risk-take and innovate, ability to self-regulate their own learning, agency and empowerment, and equity of student learning experiences. Teachers who are usually the only teacher at their grade-level or site develop deeper pedagogical content knowledge and expertise by the opportunity to work with other teachers at their grade-level or content area, as well. It is important for teachers to know that this is not extra work! A goal of the network is to develop the capacity and collective efficacy of teachers in districts to meet the goals, priorities and needs of their home districts and address authentic questions from their contexts—not to add an additional initiative.

Speakers

Karen Martin

Instructional Coach, Denali Borough School District

Saturday October 26, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm AKDT
Room 6

Learning to Lead

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Cross Content

4:15pm AKDT

Teach About Wildfire in Alaska's Changing Climate

Whether you have students directly affected by Alaska’s recent wildfires, or students in communities who will be affected by climate change and Alaska’s fire regime in the future, this session will give you the tools needed to engage students in exciting learning experiences relating to fire ecology, fire effects, fire management, FireWise practices and climate change and fire. The Alaska Natural Resource and Outdoor Education Association (ANROE) has developed a number of classroom ready resources now available to assist K-12 educators in teaching about fire. Learn about engaging hands-on PD opportunities in the upcoming year. You will walk away from this session with a flash drive containing ready-to-go curricula and powerpoint presentations for MS and HS, as well as ideas for teaching about wildfire to elementary students. You will view samples of the new Project Learning Tree online Alaska fire modules just launched. The session will be presented by Cathy Rezabeck, Project Coordinator and Deb Berg, elementary teacher from Tok.

Speakers

Cathy Rezabeck

Contractor, Alaska Natural REsource & Outdoor Education Association

The Alaska Natural Resource and Outdoor Education Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting & implementing excellence in natural resource, outdoor and environmental education for all Alaskans. We are implementing the Alaska Natural Resource and Environmental Literacy... Read More →

Saturday October 26, 2019 4:15pm - 5:15pm AKDT
Science Room 1

Connecting Across Content Areas

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Connecting Across Content Areas

4:15pm AKDT

Argument-Driven Inquiry in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics: Lab Investigations for Grades 9–12

This session is an introduction to a new approach to lab instruction called Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI). ADI is an innovative instructional model that is based on current research about how people learn science and is designed to foster the development of science proficiency. ADI gives students an opportunity to learn how to use core ideas, practices, and crosscutting concepts of science to make sense of natural phenomena. This instructional approach also gives students an opportunity to learn how to read, write, and speak in the context of science. In this session, participants will learn about the stages of the ADI instructional model, how it was designed to address the shortcomings of current laboratory experiences, and how it helps students develop discipline-specific literacy skills.

Speakers

Jennifer Kaszuba

Graduate Research Assistant, UT Austin STEM Center

Jennifer works to find ways to engage all students in authentic science experiences to help them realize the wonders of science.

Saturday October 26, 2019 4:15pm - 5:15pm AKDT
Science Room 2

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area 9, 10, 11, 12

4:15pm AKDT

Critical and Analytical Thinking: Why are We Failing to Develop Critical Thinking Consistently and Reliably in Students?

This session will demystify, discuss, and provide application techniques for fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills in secondary schools. Primarily for research-based transformative implementation of best practices the discussion will review leveraging The College Board® resources. In an academic context, attendees will draw connections by briefly becoming research-practitioners through analyzing and critiquing case studies. Assessing data trends in Analytical Essay writing. Best practices for instructing problem-solving will be reviewed and illustrated including how to clarify weighing alternative instructional solutions, analytical essay instruction, vertical curriculum alignment, MTSS, and how and when to re-calibrate instructional practices.

Speakers

Maureen Cronin

Anchorage School District

Saturday October 26, 2019 4:15pm - 5:15pm AKDT
Room W9

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area English, Social Sciences, STEM

4:15pm AKDT

Inspiring kids through FIRST Robotics (it's so much more than robots!)

Make a mark in your community and your school! FIRST is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future. Ninety-eight percent of participants report improved problem solving skills and 88% better understand how STEM is used to solve real-world problems. Come learn how you can use robotics to inspire your kids and build tomorrow's leaders. Options for all grade levels. Learn about FIRST, talk to participants, and play with robots! All session participants will be entered to win a robotics kit for your classroom.

Speakers

Rebecca Soza

Statewide Coordinator, FIRST in Alaska

FIRST is a community of learners that are excited about so much more than robots and LEGO! Find me or join our session to learn about how FIRST can inspire your students and our next generation of STEM leaders. We have programs for kids in grades K-12 with participation across the... Read More →

Saturday October 26, 2019 4:15pm - 5:15pm AKDT
Room W11

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Cross-content. STEM, literacy

4:15pm AKDT

Project Invent: Making & Coding for Social Good

Want to empower students through Project Based Service Learning and help close the gender gap in STEM education? Project Invent's free on-line resources may be your answer. Start a team or simply incorporate these hands-on activities into your existing STEM curriculum. Turn your Maker Space into an impactful space driving social change.
Project Invent empowers students with the 21st century skills to succeed individually and impact globally. Our goal is to create a generation of fearless problem solvers. Project Invent's free digital curriculum is written by real engineers turned educators. Utilizing design thinking, engineering, and entrepreneurship, Project Invent's 7 lesson plans and 30+ tools guide students through solving real problems with technology.
Hear how Girdwood K-8 School is implementing Project Invent in their community and learn first-hand from 6th Grade students as they share the mini-lessons they're teaching to K-5 classrooms and prototype inventions they've developing with community partners to solve real-world problems.
If this sounds like the type of important work you want to be doing, then come learn how you can bring Project Invent to your community. https://projectinvent.org/

Speakers

Leola Rutherford

ELA, ASD

6th Grade Teacher at Girdwood K-8 School in the Anchorage School District. Code.org CS Discoveries Facilitator and Certified Pear Deck Educator.

Saturday October 26, 2019 4:15pm - 5:15pm AKDT
Room 23

Creating Critical Thinkers and Problem Solvers

Content Area 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area Computer Science, Project Based Social Learning

4:15pm AKDT

Creative Activities, Strategies and Technology to Better Prepare Your Students for the Revised SAT

The content on the SAT is what we teach but the questions are worded very differently. Get interactive activities that align directly to the types of questions that are on the newly revised SAT that promote conceptual understanding and de-emphasize memorizing procedures and formulas. Also obtain proven SAT test-taking strategies that encourage multiple solution paths. We will integrate graphing technology to help achieve our goal: students learn and retain the math better, not just score better on the SAT!

Speakers

Tom Reardon

Math teacher and technology specialist, Fitch High School / Youngstown State University

Saturday October 26, 2019 4:15pm - 5:15pm AKDT
Room 24

Integrating Technology Into Learning

Content Area 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Content Area algebra, geometry, algebra 2, trigonometry, precalculus