Teaching & Learning Summit 2025
SESSION I PROGRAMS
VOICE & CHOICE SESSIONS
- SESSION I -
10:15AM - 11:00AM
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
Connecting Thinking Classrooms to the Portrait of a Learner
Teachers will participate in a Building Thinking Classrooms task to understand the student experience. We will connect the Thinking Task to Dedham's Portrait of a Learner competencies, seeing just how many of them can be addressed through these activities. You will have time to plan how you can incorporate Thinking Tasks into your math instruction.
Presenters: Kristen Mahoney and Aubrey Dolleman
Target Audience: K-5
Location: E231
Sessions Offered: I, II
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
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
Demystifying AI: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and What It Means for Teaching & Learning
AI is here — but what does that really mean for you as an educator? What does it mean for your students? In this session, we’ll clear up the confusion and talk plainly about what AI can actually do, what it can’t, and how to use it without feeling overwhelmed. We’ll look at real examples of classroom applications, discuss the risks and limitations, the need for AI literacy at every level, and try out a simple framework you can use to decide when and how AI might help you. You’ll leave with practical takeaways you can apply right away — and the confidence to approach AI on your terms.
Presenters: Erick Straghalis
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W206
Sessions Offered: I, II, III
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Global Citizens or Student Identity, Communication & Collaboration or Community, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection, Critical Thinking or Feedback
Department Chair / Director Working Group
This is a working session for Department chairs to meet with the Office of Teaching & Learning on developing rubrics aligned with Dedham's Portrait of a Learner.
Presenters: Heather Smith
Target Audience: Administrators
Location: W301
Sessions Offered: I
MTSS Practices: Global Citizens, Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Perseverance, Learner's Mindset
Empower Student Leadership Through Discourse
This session will focus on ways to empower student leadership by creating opportunities that promote productive discourse in the classroom. Strategies we discuss will be relevant for all educators and learners PK-12. Teachers are invited during this session to share out other instructional strategies they recommend as well. If this session sounds right for your students come talk with us!
Presenters: Kate Garand
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W308
Sessions Offered: I, II, III
MTSS Practices: Perseverance or Social/Emotional Learning, Communication & Collaboration or Community, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection, Critical Thinking or Feedback
From Chaos to Clarity: A Hands-On Google Workspace Workshop
This hands-on workshop will walk you through the process of organizing your digital life. You'll leave with a cleaner and better structured Google Drive, a personalized system for managing your to-do lists whether it be using Google Calendars, Tasks, Google Keep or Gmail. Get ready to get organized and start the school year with a clear mind and a streamlined digital system.
Presenters: Judy Foley
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W303
Sessions Offered: I, II
MTSS Practices: Communication & Collaboration or Community
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
Learn with Inquiry Journeys!
You teach all day...it's time for a change! Come be a student in an Inquiry Journeys class taught by Avery Asst. Principal Julia Oettgen. During the lesson, teachers will be able to see first hand how to execute an IQ lesson and identify teacher moves that promote engagement and curiosity!
Presenters: Julia Oettgen
Target Audience: K-5
Location: E331
Sessions Offered: I, II, III
MTSS Practices: N/A
Level Up Your Classroom: Strategies to Promote Student Engagement
Level up your classroom with innovative, hands-on activities that spark student engagement and differentiate instruction for all learners. Learn how a library media specialist and a classroom teacher collaborated to incorporate project-based learning units and empower students through tools like 3D printing, escape rooms, and makerspaces. These projects can be easily adapted to any content or grade level, allowing students to showcase their diverse skills and talents. The session concludes with hands-on time, where you can try the tools yourself and receive personalized support and answers from the presenters.
Presenters: Alice Johnson & Michael Medeiros
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W311
Sessions Offered: I, II
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Global Citizens or Student Identity, Perseverance or Social/Emotional Learning, Communication & Collaboration or Community, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Formative Assessments, Flexible Assessments, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection, Critical Thinking or Feedback
Number Sense: How Guppies, Lions, and Babies Do Math
Before children ever learn to count, they can already see quantity—and they’re not alone. Research shows that guppies, lions, and even newborn humans have an innate sense of number. This interactive workshop explores how our brains process numerical magnitude, why some students struggle with symbolic math, and what educators can do to strengthen number sense through visual, verbal, and tactile strategies.
Presenters: Sara Stetson
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: E225
Sessions Offered: I
MTSS Practices: N/A
Retrieval Practices & The Science of Learning
This session will delve into the implications of the science of learning for classroom instruction, defining retrieval practice as a powerful strategy for memory and boosting student learning. We'll explore best practices for effective implementation, including the importance of low stakes and varied formats, and clarify the difference between useful examples (like brain dumps or quizzes) and common non-examples (like simple re-reading). Participants will then see practical application examples tailored for elementary grades and leave with a curated list of further resources to continue their professional learning journey.
Presenters: Amanda Porter and Olivia Eastwood
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W102
Sessions Offered: I, II
MTSS Practices: Flexible Methods, Formative Assessments, Flexible Assessments, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection, Critical Thinking or Feedback
STAR360
Grade 6-8 teachers will take a deeper dive into how to use data from Star360 to inform instruction and support their students.
Presenters: Wendy Miller
Target Audience: 6-8
Location: E320 - Virtual Program
Sessions Offered: I, III
MTSS Practices: N/A
Structures for Improving Student Executive Functioning Skills in your Classroom
In this session we will address whole class systems for supporting all students with a focus on "STOP and Read the Room" language. We will additionally provide templates, tools and tricks that support students ability to attend to tasks, and build their skills as a independent learner.
Presenters: Kimberly Hermesch
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: E330
Sessions Offered: I, II, III
MTSS Practices: Perseverance or Social/Emotional Learning, Communication & Collaboration or Community, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Learner's Mindset or Self-reflection
Student Analytics: Exploring Classroom Tools for Teachers
In this course, learn how to use Student Analytics to access a variety of student information. Learn how to navigate the system and use system tools; then explore the classroom dashboard metrics to drive instructional decisions.
Presenters: Susan Brock (PowerSchool Consultant)
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: DLL - Virtual Presentation
Sessions Offered: I, II
MTSS Practices: N/A
Student Collaboration and Writing Instruction: Students Helping Students
This session will illustrate how collaborative writing activities promote student engagement, accountability, critical thinking, and skill development while preparing students to meet writing expectations.
Presenters: Tricia Rocha
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W103
Sessions Offered: I, II
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Communication & Collaboration or Community, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Formative Assessments, Learner's Mindset, Critical Thinking or Feedback
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
Unlocking CKLA: Library Supports and Creative Extensions
In this interactive session, elementary teachers will learn how to strengthen their CKLA units by tapping into the power of the school library. Participants will explore how to access and use library resources that directly connect to CKLA content, discover additional online tools that provide equitable access through translation and audio features, and design engaging STEM/Makerspace challenges that extend CKLA themes into creative, hands-on learning opportunities. Teachers will leave with practical strategies, ready-to-use resources, and new ideas for enriching their CKLA instruction.
Presenters: Katie deWit, Wendy Garland, and Ingrid Mayyasi
Target Audience: K-5
Location: W111
Sessions Offered: I, II
MTSS Practices: Communication & Collaboration or Community, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Critical Thinking or Feedback
Using Artifacts to Engage Students Across the Curriculum
The presenters will share material from the Dedham Museum educational collection, demonstrating how objects and documents can be used to engage students in critical thinking. Attendees will brainstorm about potential historic and everyday objects/materials that can have connections with curriculum, and possible activities associated with such objects.
Presenters: Johanna McBrien and James Parr
Target Audience: 2-8
Location: W306
Sessions Offered: I, II
MTSS Practices: Communication & Collaboration or Community, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials
Using the Wonder of Science Mini Lessons to Teach NGGS Science Practices at Any Grade Level
This session will introduce participants to the Wonders of Science beginning with the NGGS practices terms. Then participants will explore the resources available to support the practices. Finally participants will learn how to teach system modeling using a mini-lesson that is designed to be simple and accessible to all learners.
Presenters: Christine Casali
Target Audience: All Educators
Location: W112
Sessions Offered: I, II
MTSS Practices: Learning Objectives, Flexible Methods, Flexible Materials, Formative Assessments, Flexible Assessments
