Let's Give Them Something to Talk About: Cultivating Critical Conversations and Student Led Discussion - Virtual

Let's Give Them Something to Talk About: Cultivating Critical Conversations and Student Led Discussion

Held Virtually

Friday, June 7, 2024 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

A 30 minute lunch break

$25 for Support Staff 

$50 for NASA Members 

$75 for Non-NASA Members

Due to Washoe County School District (WCSD) salary advancement requirements, WCSD participants will be asked to submit a brief written summation of how this professional learning event will transfer learning into practice before a certificate is issued. WCSD participants: please use the link provided on the Guidance/Link sheet for each event to submit. Lastly, when completing events that are (1) or more credits, please submit your tracker to the PGS Department in Washoe and to ahendersonnasa@gmail.com

Workshop Description:

Current research supported practice informs us that students learn best when they have time to discuss and process with peers (Fisher & Frey, 2021). Recently, there has been a marked decline in students’ willingness to engage in classroom conversations. Teachers and leaders need to create increased opportunities for productive student-led conversations to increase engagement and active learning, deepen and solidify critical content, and to provide opportunities for teachers to observe students as they apply and extend knowledge. Our learning will focus on the content and structure of successful critical conversation to explore the modeling, scaffolding, observation, and feedback necessary for rich and stimulating student conversations.

Key Takeaways & Outcomes:

ALL PreK-12 participants will be able to immediately implement engagement strategies that help all students make meaning and access the content through discourse and other strategies. Through the collaborative tasks in this workshop, participants will be able to increase student involvement, decrease all learning inequalities,and actualize activities where the students are now facilitating their own learning. By using research proven best practices, every level of educator will be able to develop frameworks of effective critical discussions, delving into the demonstration, support, observation, and feedback needed to facilitate vibrant and engaging student conversations.

Key Objectives:

• Review the research of student-led discussions that have a positive effect on self-efficacy and learning.
• Discuss the attributes and importance of effective student-led group work.
• Explore and use the framework for student-led group critical conversations.
• Analyze explicit modeling skills and strategies to engage students.
• Examine strategies to increase student voice and leadership.
• Practice using feedback models and instruments to observe and guide students into deeper, more meaningful conversations.

Tangible Outcomes:

Participants will set four personal goals aligned to this learning experience:

• Vision Plan: Write a personal vision for cultivating critical conversations and/or student led discussions in their current role. (Leaders can use the resources to develop their vision of supporting teachers.)
• Strategy Implementation: Identify 3-4 strategies to use in their classroom or coaching practice over the next few weeks.
• Plan A: Develop a plan for a full student led discussion using the structured framework. Include an observation by a peer or student to apply the feedback process.
• Personalized Feedback Model: Modify the observation and feedback template to use when implementing their lesson plan and strategies learned in their own practice.

Biography of Presenter:

Dr. Bonnie D. Houck is a multifaceted expert, blending the roles of writer, consultant, coach, speaker, and trainer, with a singular focus on literacy leadership development, disciplinary literacy, and catalyzing positive school transformation. Her contributions resonate across the educational landscape, as Bonnie delivers pioneering leadership training to state associations, school districts, and institutions. Her work, prominently featured in research journals and the acclaimed book, "Literacy Unleashed: Fostering excellent reading instruction through classroom visits," has been instrumental in reshaping literacy education. Notably, Bonnie's stewardship has been a cornerstone in the Literacy Academy for the Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association (MESPA), spanning over a decade. Furthermore, she extends her expertise to national and state organizations, where her consultations have birthed rich literacy cultures in hundreds of schools and districts, resulting in heightened motivation and improved test scores. /Drawing from a rich educational tapestry, Bonnie has served as an Associate Literacy Professor at Bethel University, overseen the K–12 Teacher of Reading Program at the University of Minnesota, and held the role of State Reading Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Education. Her tenure as Program Director for the Education and Learning program at a leading philanthropic organization adds a unique layer of insight to her expertise. Accumulating over 25 years in the field of education, Bonnie Houck possesses a profound understanding of the intricate elements driving school reform and the dynamic field of literacy education. Her recent publications underscore the vital importance of inclusive and effective instruction across the curriculum, solidifying her status as an education luminary. Dr. Houck's extensive licensures encompass elementary education, Prek-12 reading development, K-12 principal administration, and K-12 literacy administration.

​Participants will earn .5 credit (7.5 hours) toward license renewal!

This workshop ALSO counts for step advancement in Clark and most Nevada School Districts! & In CCSD, those in non-administrative licensed positions may count this workshop for license

renewal AND ALSO CU accrual - THOSE IN NON-ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS EARN BOTH!

In CCSD, administrators and professional-technical administrators may count this workshop for license renewal OR hour accrual toward step-advancement - not both for administrators.

Washoe County participants will be required to also register for this course in "MyPGS" in order to receive in-service credit toward salary advancement.

Become a NASA Member and register at a lower rate!

Anyone can become a NASA Member!

To become a NASA Member go to:

WWW.NASANV.ORG