Teaching & Learning Summit 2025
SESSION IV PROGRAMS
VOICE & CHOICE SESSIONS
- SESSION IV -
2:00 - 2:45PM
AI Working Group
In this collaborative session, educators will explore Dedham’s emerging AI guidelines, discuss the purpose and potential of AI for teaching and learning, and engage in dialogue to inform a multi-year district plan aligned with DESE’s new Massachusetts Guidance for Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Education.
Presenters: Heather Smith
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W301
Sessions Offered: IV
MTSS Practices: Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials
Annotation Strategies for the Content Areas
This session highlights annotation techniques that turn reading into active thinking. We will focus on methods such as the X Marks the Spot, the 4As, and the Three Levels of Response to help students analyze and understand complex texts. Participants will leave with a set of practical tools that improve comprehension and support stronger critical analysis in any subject.
Presenters: Mai-Linh Cummings
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: E229
Sessions Offered: II, III, IV
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Flexible Methods, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection, Critical Thinking or Feedback
ATLAS
Join this virtual session to explore Atlas, our district’s new curriculum mapping platform. Participants will learn how to navigate the system, access curriculum maps, and more to ensure alignment across grade levels and content areas. This session will help teachers feel confident using Atlas as a tool to support curriculum planning, reflection, and continuous improvement.
Presenters: ATLAS Consultant
Target Audience: 6-12
Location: DLL - Virtual
Sessions Offered: III, IV
MTSS Practices: Global Citizens or Student Identity, Perseverance or Social/Emotional Learning, Communication & Collaboration or Community, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection, Critical Thinking or Feedback
Be Fearless With AI In the Classroom
Have you ever wondered how AI tools can help students and educators succeed in the classroom? In this session you will discover how to be fearless in using AI. I will share firsthand how small, easy-to-use AI tools have made a big impact in not only my learning and growth but my students. You’ll see how we’ve used AI in creative ways to support our education. I will give you examples of how tools like ChatGPT, Magic School AI, Brisk, and Canva have helped me personalize learning, simplify tough topics, and get immediate feedback for students. You’ll see how AI is a thought partner in my classroom community when it comes to writing tasks, creating visuals, and breaking down complex subjects into manageable parts, all while helping the learners stay engaged and motivated. I am excited to show you how AI has made a big difference in my education and that of my students, and you will leave with ideas on how you can help your students use these tools to achieve success too!
Presenters: Rayna Freedman
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: E326
Sessions Offered: III, IV
MTSS Practices: N/A
CKLA Problem Solving Session in Grades 3-5
Join your fellow educators for an interactive 45-minute professional development session focused on solving real-world challenges with our CKLA curriculum. Bring a specific "problem of practice" you're currently facing, and we will use a collaborative protocol to identify its root cause, brainstorm practical solutions, and leave the session with a concrete, actionable plan to implement in your classroom. This is an opportunity to get to the heart of our shared challenges and work together to find effective solutions.
Presenters: Nina Mancinelli
Target Audience: K-5
Location: W202
Sessions Offered: I, II, IV
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Communication & Collaboration or Community, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection, Critical Thinking or Feedback
Co-Planning Session for Secondary Level Math Co-Taught Classrooms
During this 45-minute session, co-teaching partners will have focused time to plan upcoming lessons, review student needs, and coordinate strategies for supporting all learners. The goal is to strengthen collaboration and ensure cohesive, engaging instruction in every classroom.
Presenters: Kristine Holloran
Target Audience: 6-12
Location: E221
Sessions Offered: IV
MTSS Practices: N/A
Creativity Meets Service Learning
Students have ideas, passions, and the power to make a difference—but they need guidance, support, and a spark to get started. In this interactive session, Jacob Cramer will share stories from his decade-long journey creating Love For Our Elders, a national initiative connecting students with older adults through letter writing. Participants will explore how small acts can grow into meaningful service projects, discover strategies for integrating service learning into classrooms, and leave with actionable tools to ignite curiosity, empathy, and action in their students.
Presenters: Jacob Cramer
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W203
Sessions Offered: I, II, III, IV
MTSS Practices: Global Citizens or Student Identity, Perseverance or Social/Emotional Learning, Communication & Collaboration or Community
Dedham Public's New PD Tracking - Frontline
DPS is using a new PD tracking software, Frontline Professional Growth! Change is hard, but come to this session to ease your mind as we walk through how to use the program, including: signing up for PD, attending conferences, completing Continuing Education Plans and more!
Presenters: Ed Paris
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: E327
Sessions Offered: III, IV
MTSS Practices: N/A
Epic! School Plus
K–5 educators will explore Epic! School Plus, a digital reading platform that gives students access to thousands of high-quality books and audiobooks. Participants will learn how to set up student accounts, assign texts aligned to curriculum goals, and track reading progress. The session will also highlight ways to use Epic! to foster independent reading, build vocabulary, and promote a love of literacy in every classroom.
Presenters: Cherish Mims (Epic! Consultant)
Target Audience: K-5
Location: E325 - VIRTUAL
Sessions Offered: III, IV
MTSS Practices: Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials
How to Become a Screencastify Superstar
Making videos for lessons can be a great way to engage students in ways you never have before! Come learn easy and manageable ways of how to use Screencastify, a tool for planning a UDL lesson!
Presenters: Jenny Dolan and Meghan Armstrong
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W107
Sessions Offered: II, III, IV
MTSS Practices: Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection
Increasing CKLA Engagement Through Stations
Join us for a hands-on session focused on bringing energy and engagement to your CKLA station rotations! We’ll explore simple, practical ways to set clear routines, design meaningful station activities, and keep students focused and independent throughout rotations. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas, management tips, and one ready-to-use strategy to make your next CKLA rotation run smoothly and keep students excited about learning. *Be sure to bring your Chromebooks and materials (digital or hard copy) of a unit you want to plan!
Presenters: Heather O'Toole and Audrey Bolinger
Target Audience: K-5
Location: E227
Sessions Offered: III, IV
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials
Is Leadership Your Next Step? A Conversation About Growing Into Instructional Leadership
Are you thinking about leadership being the next step in your career? Join Nan for an open conversation about the many pathways to instructional leadership. Whether you’re considering school-based or district-level opportunities, this informal session is your chance to ask questions, hear real stories, and explore how your strengths can shape the future of teaching and learning. Come ready to connect, reflect, and imagine your next step in education leadership!
Presenters: Nan Murphy
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W310
Sessions Offered: I, IV
MTSS Practices: N/A
Keeping Focus on Personal Growth
The growth mindset represents an attitude toward learning and achieving, but what tools empower growth and what common barriers to success can derail it? Adopting successful strategies including prioritizing and listening skills are important, as is avoidance of distractions (online and off) and risks to physical and mental health.
Presenters: Greg West
Target Audience: 6-12
Location: W306
Sessions Offered: IV
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Communication & Collaboration or Community, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection, Critical Thinking or Feedback
Make It Vertical: Jump-Start Your Building Thinking Classroom - Elementary
Experience Building Thinking Classrooms using vertical boards and random groups, then see how using hints & extensions sustain productive struggle. Walk out with a one-page quick start lesson frame you can try tomorrow. A friendly intro for anyone curious about BTC—no prior experience needed.
Presenters: Sue Looney
Target Audience: K-5
Location: W201
Sessions Offered: III, IV
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Communication & Collaboration or Community, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Formative Assessments, Learner's Mindset, Critical Thinking or Feedback
Musical Transitions
Moving students from one activity to another can be tricky: lost instructional time, behavior issues, etc. In this session, you'll experience movement breaks and musical transitions that maximize student learning and re-energize students, ready for the next activity of the day.
Presenters: Heather Kirby
Target Audience: K-5
Location: E322
Sessions Offered: II, IV
MTSS Practices: Communication & Collaboration or Community
One for All
Teaching can often feel like juggling endless initiatives—UDL, SEL, CLSP, behavior supports, and more. This session will reframe that challenge by showing how one well-chosen practice can meaningfully address multiple components at once. Grounded in the vision of One Dedham, educators will learn and design strategies that multiply their impact, simplify their planning, and ensure that all students are included, supported, and challenged to thrive.
Presenters: Shannon Sheldon
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W101
Sessions Offered: II, IV
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Global Citizens or Student Identity, Perseverance or Social/Emotional Learning, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection, Critical Thinking or Feedback
Show What You Know: Performance Based Assessments
Massachusetts is shifting toward performance-based assessments, with the 2027 Gr 5 and 8 STE MCAS serving as an early example of this statewide change. In this interactive session, participants will unpack what makes a strong performance task and experience examples developed by MA DESE alongside select local DHS science assessments that bring these ideas to life in classrooms. Teachers will leave with practical tools and inspiration to design or adapt performance tasks that align with both state expectations and the Dedham's Portrait of a Learner goals.
Presenters: Amy Hill
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W305
Sessions Offered: II, IV
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Flexible Methods, Critical Thinking or Feedback
Strategies for Making Content Comprehensible for Multilingual Learners
We will look at specific strategies on what helps second language learners (and what does not). Please bring a lesson to take a deep dive into how you could possibly revamp it to engage all students.
Presenters: Alison Guifarro
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: E226
Sessions Offered: II, IV
MTSS Practices: Global Citizens or Student Identity, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials
Supporting All Learners with CKLA
In this session, teachers will explore the supports already embedded in CKLA lessons that promote access for all learners. Together, we will brainstorm and build a bank of scaffolding strategies to strengthen CKLA instruction so that every student can be meaningfully included in the lesson.
Presenters: Sara Follen
Target Audience: K-5
Location: W105
Sessions Offered: I, III, IV
MTSS Practices: Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials
The Power of the Puzzle: Integrating ST Math Puzzle Talks with Your Curriculum
This session will guide you through the process of integrating ST Math Puzzle Talks into your curriculum. We'll explore how these visual, interactive discussions build students' conceptual understanding and foster problem-solving skills. You'll leave with simple, ready-to-use strategies to lead engaging, interactive puzzle talks that get students excited about building their math understanding.
Presenters: Ken Toomey
Target Audience: K-5
Location: W307
Sessions Offered: I, III, IV
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Perseverance or Social/Emotional Learning, Communication & Collaboration or Community, Flexible Methods, Critical Thinking or Feedback
UFLI Foundations: Simple, Systematic, and Science-Based Reading Instruction
This workshop introduces UFLI Foundations, a comprehensive and explicit reading program that builds strong foundational reading skills. The curriculum is evidence-based and provides teachers with a systematic, eight-step lesson routine. We'll explore how this program targets essential skills like phonemic awareness, grapheme-phoneme correspondences, and decoding automaticity. You will leave with a clear understanding of UFLI Foundations and the tools to implement this powerful, research-based program in your classroom. Participants will also leave the workshop with a UFLI Teacher’s Manual.
Presenters: Michelle Canty and Allison Kieffner
Target Audience: K-3
Location: W108
Sessions Offered: I, II, IV
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Formative Assessments, Flexible Assessments
Unleashing Student Creativity and More with Screencastify
This session will show you how to turn Screencastify into a powerful creative platform for your students. Get ready to learn practical, hands-on strategies for getting students to create their own videos. We'll cover everything from student-led presentations to using videos for authentic assessments that give you a real window into their understanding.
Presenters: Judy Foley
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W303
Sessions Offered: III, IV
MTSS Practices: Global Citizens or Student Identity, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Formative Assessments, Flexible Assessments
Using Boost Data to Inform Instruction
Come learn from our Amplify consultant how to leverage the data in your Boost Teacher Dashboard to determine areas of strength, opportunity, and next steps for your students.
Presenters: Melanie Munoz (Amplify Consultant)
Target Audience: 3-5
Location: E321 - VIRTUAL
Sessions Offered: III (K-2), IV (3-5)
MTSS Practices: N/A
