8:30 – 11:10
- “Mindsets & Mastery: Why Am I Grading This?”
Presenter: Matt & Kate Wells
Grade level: All
Description: a humorous deep dive into the pitfalls of traditional grading practices, asking questions about what kind of mindset these practices foster in our students, followed by an overview of several alternative solutions with real-world examples. Works best when there is an opportunity for participants to work in grade-level/content groups to plan a rubric, practice dissecting an instructional unit or deconstruct an existing unit exam.
11:15-12:00– Lunch
12:30-3:00
“Mindsets & Media: How Does Social Media Influence Student Mindsets?”
Presenter: Matt Wells
Grade level: All (but most appropriate for middle and high)
Description: an exploration of a national study on tween/teen mental health and the role that social media plays in reinforcing fixed mindsets, unrealistic worldviews and poor self-esteem. How has social media changed our brains? Closes with practical classroom strategies for addressing the problems, boosting student self-esteem, and fostering a growth mindset.
“Re-focusing the Student Mind: Addressing The Attention Epidemic”
Presenter: Matt Wells
Grade level: All
Description: an overview of the global attention crisis, and a deep dive into the neurology of attention, focusing on how media and advertisers have learned to exploit and “hack” the vulnerabilities of human attentional systems. What can teachers (and parents) do to stem the tide of lost focus and poor attention in class (and in life!), and help students be more “present” during instruction?
12:30-3:00
“Depth and Divergent Thinking to Engage Learners in Elementary Classrooms”
Presenter: Kate Wells Grade level: Elementary
Description: Our students are not all thinking deeply. We are trying to challenge our students with curriculum instead of with complex thinking strategies. We will be unpacking depth and complexity challenges from short to long term and from loose to highly structured. Come and learn to get your students thinking.
“Bringing creativity into the classroom: Encouraging Ideas to Flourish in your classroom”
Presenter: Kate Wells
Grade level: Elementary & Middle
Description: Playing is not wasted time. Playing is learning. Students need time to have fun and play as part of their learning. From Rubik Cubes to De Bono’s 6-Hats, come and learn about many tried and tested ideas to get the creative synapses connecting in your elementary and middle-school classrooms as your students learn through play.
3:00-3:30– Questions and Follow-up
