Gifted PD & Book Studies: Fall '26!
Rigor, Student Leaderhip, AI, and More!
Four In-Person Meetings, 12 Contact Hours
Target Audience: Grades 5-12
Description: Leadership. Would you like to equip your students for leadership of the future? Help them gain the tools they need for strong foundations, self-awareness, accountability, and leadership? Then, join us for Habitudes!
Many of our gifted and talented students have amazing skills and abilities, but sometimes along the way, they miss the foundations listed above. Can you think of celebrities, media moguls, or business giants – gifted in their respective fields – whose lackluster leadership resulted in massive disgrace? Would you like to help your students foster a foundation that will carry them through life? Would you like to grow in your own leadership as well?
If this sounds like a plan, here are the details. (Warning: this group may also result in strong personal growth and reflection for us, too! :) )
What: procure a copy of each book. Complete assigned readings, tasks, and reflection. Attend four in-person meetings.
When: Four in-person meetings after school (Sidney Annex, 4:00-5:30, dates TBD)
Technicalities: Gifted competencies d, e
Details: Registration Deadline: Friday, September 25th at 3:00 pm
Facilitator: Erica Baer-Woods
Format: In-Person meetings with assigned readings and reflections
Cost: MRESC-aligned districts taking gifted services: $30
MRESC-aligned districts NOT taking gifted services & outside districts, $65
Contact Hours: 12
Formal (15 Contact Hours)
Description: "Rigor": we often hear the "buzzword", but what does "rigor" actually look like in our assignments? Our assessments? Our discussions?
In the publisher's own words, "In Rigor by Design, veteran educator Karin Hess offers not only a clear vision of what makes learning deep and rigorous but also a systematic approach for engaging students of all ages in rich learning tasks. To that end, she outlines five essential teacher moves that foster thinking and learning:
1. Ask a series of probing questions of increasing complexity.
2. Build schemas in each content area.
3. Consider ways to strategically scaffold learning.
4. Design complex tasks that emphasize transfer and evidence-based solutions.
5. Engage students in metacognition and reflection throughout the learning process.
"From there, Hess details how to create an "actionable" assessment cycle that will drive learning forward in any classroom.
"This book offers a treasure trove of strategies, student "look-for" behaviors, and templates to guide teachers in their work as well as an array of rich performance-based assessments to engage and challenge students. School leaders and instructional coaches can also benefit from the variety of teacher-friendly supports to foster rigorous learning in their schools. Ultimately, Rigor by Design, Not Chance helps educators empower students to take greater ownership of their own learning" (Amazon, 2026).
Join us as we "level up" to explore rigor, student engagement, and truly meaningful education and assessment strategies!
Link to book: Rigor by Design Link to podcast: click here
Click here for class schedule and additional information (available soon)!
Details: October - March, 2026-2027 (Seven meetings: intro, 5 content, conclusion)
Registration Deadline: September 25th, 2026 at 4:00pm
Facilitator: Erica Baer-Woods
Format: Google Classroom, Zoom meetings, & action plan
Contact hours: 15
Cost: MRESC districts taking gifted services*: $30
All other districts: $75
Ashland Credit: available for $235/ credit hour
Gifted Competencies: a, b, c, f, g
* = Botkins, Fairlawn, Ft. Loramie, Houston, Hardin Northern, Jackson Center, Ridgemont, Riverside, Russia, Sidney, Tipp City, and USV. These districts can take the study for the reduced fee.