The Illinois State Board of Education invites ALL classroom teachers to deepen their understanding of how to teach and reach gifted and talented students. This gifted seminar is a 45 hour course of study replacing the former "Gifted Education Institute." This training is a combination of 24 hours of face-to-face participation and 21 hours of independent work using a USB drive which will be provided to each participant. The training consists of the following modules: Overview and Perspectives, Knowing the Gifted, Differentiation, and Gifted Models for the classroom. Two books will be given to participants: “Achieving Excellence Educating the Gifted and Talented” by Frances Karnes & Kristen Stephens and “Differentiation: Simplified, Realistic, and Effective” by Bertie Kingore. LEARN HOW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS IN YOUR CLASSROOM.*** A $200 deposit is required at registration to confirm your seat. If the deposit is not received your seat may be released. If the workshop is taken for graduate credit the deposit will be used to cover that cost. For participants who do not wish to take the course for credit the deposit will be returned after completion of all course requirements. Upon completion of all course requirements participants will receive a $250 stipend. Note: Private and parochial school teachers who hold a teaching certificate are eligible to enroll in the Gifted Education Seminar. Please contact the KIDS office for further information on the enrollment criteria and registration procedure.

Go high tech on a low budget! Learn easy-to-use tech applications for the K-12 classroom. Through hands-on instruction, participants will learn Photo Story, Movie Maker, Audacity, advanced features of PowerPoint, classroom response systems, document cameras, and more. Several programs used in this class are freeware. You don't need to be a technology expert to take this class; instructors will differentiate to meet individual needs.

Current research indicates that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence affects approximately an average of 1 child in every 110(1 in 80 boys). Educators are more concerned than ever with the increased number of students with autism in our schools today. This course is designed for elementary and secondary educators interested in learning how to utilize effective strategies in teaching children with autism. Participants will get hands on experience in the areas of communication, social skills, sensory integration, visual supports, adapting and modifying curriculum

Current research indicates that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence affects approximately an average of 1 child in every 110(1 in 80 boys). Educators are more concerned than ever with the increased number of students with autism in our schools today. This course is designed for elementary and secondary educators interested in learning how to utilize effective strategies in teaching children with autism. Participants will get hands on experience in the areas of communication, social skills, sensory integration, visual supports, adapting and modifying curriculum

For over a decade, the Feast, in junction with the University of Illinois, has engaged nearly 10,000 participants throughout the state in using cutting edge tecnologies. The Feast covers a variety of topics including SMART, Moodle, web development, RtI, podcasting, Office 2007, Windows 7, Google applications, Web 2.0 tools, and many more. School districts sending 5 or more teachers please call (309)828-7115 for special discount pricing.

Participants in this session will study the research which supports the importance of teaching these important skills for early readers. They will learn the scope and sequence of the skills, as well as ways to teach phonemic awareness. They will study sight word vocabulary, letter/sound correspondence skills as well as structural analysis skills. Participants will examine the relationship between all of these skills and how an effective word identification program can support reading and writing.

A mathematics course designed for K-9 educators focusing on math in nature and the natural world. This course focuses on Fibonacci sequence, circumference and measurement in nature, symmetry, classification, shapes, indirect measurement, surveys and populations in nature. This course meets state goals for Algebra, Geometry, Data and Probability, Measurement and Numbers.

Participants in this workshop will be introduced to the components of a balanced literacy program that will allow you to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all of your students. This academy will center around the following components: phonics and word study, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Activities will be shared that will help you to model, guide and reinforce all students as you provide a strong classroom curriculum for the Tier I students (Response to Intervention model). Strategies and interventions for the Tier II and Tier III students will also be shared. Teachers will learn where to apply strategies and how to engage ALL students to become independent readers and writers. Participants will receive copies of two textbooks, “Art of Teaching Reading” by Lucy Calkins and “On Solid Ground” by Sharon Taberski.

On Day 2 participants will learn a scaffolded approach to early writing that moves students toward sound writing. Participants will be amazed at the ease of teaching writing with a five day plan of instruction.

StarLab is an inflatable portable planetarium system. This training will cover the set up and take down of the planetarium dome, mechanics of the projection system, equipment maintenance, StarLab resources, planet positions, moon phases, and overview of the night sky. This training is required before renting the StarLab from KIDS. For more information and to register, call Discovery Center Museum at 815-963-6769 or download registration form at www.DiscoveryCenterMuseum.org.

Lawyers. Accountants. Computer programmers. That’s what our parents encouraged us to become when we grew up. But Mom and Dad were wrong. The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind. The era of “left brain” dominance, and the Information Age that it engendered, is giving way to a new world in which “right brain” qualities - inventiveness, empathy, meaning - predominate. That’s the argument at the center of this provocative and original book, which uses the two sides of our brains as a metaphor for understanding the contours of our times.
In this insightful and entertaining book, Daniel H. Pink offers a fresh look at what it takes to excel. "A Whole New Mind" reveals the six essential aptitudes on which professional success and personal fulfillment now depend, and includes a series of hands-on exercises culled from experts around the world to help readers sharpen the necessary abilities. This book will change not only how we see the world but how we experience it as well.
This KIDS group discussion will look further into what this book’s message means for learning, teachers, classrooms & for “our” kids coming of age in a changing world. The book will be mailed to your home 2 weeks prior to the class. Registration fee includes the cost of the book.

Cathy Toll demonstrates what effective literacy coaching looks like through key questions, theoretical and practical rationales, copy-ready masters, and vignettes of real-life coaching conversations. Participants will cover minimizing the negative impact of mandated classroom observations and separating coaching from supervising. This is the ideal workshop for elementary literacy coaches and those administrators and lead teachers who support their work.

This course will provide administrators with the knowledge and skills to supervise and evaluate certified staff (administrators, teachers & school service personnel). Public school administrators who evaluate certified staff are required by state law (105 ILCS 5/24A) to complete this course prior to beginning any evaluations. This course includes a pre-instruction reading and writing assignment and a post-instruction application/dissemination component assignment.

TeacherFeast comes to Rockford and DeKalb! These highly popular technology Feasts have been held in other parts of the state for many years. The TeacherFeast covers a variety of topics including SMART, Moodle, web development, RtI, podcasting, Office 2007, Windows 7 google applications, Web 2.0 tools, and many more. Trainers provide 1 to 1 suport and just-in-time enrichment based on daily feedback.

This academy focuses on constitutional rights of students and parents. Sub-topics to be covered include: First Amendment Rights, residency rights, discipline procedures, search and seizure, homeschooling, and student handbooks. For those desiring Administrator Academy credit, participants will need to develop an action plan to update school procedures and to inservice staff members on constitutional law issues.
Co-sponsored with Northern Illinois University Society of Educational Administrators (NIU-SEA). ADMINISTRATORS’ ACADEMY credit available; however, any educator may attend. Cost includes NIU-SEA membership.

This course will provide administrators with the knowledge and skills to supervise and evaluate certified staff (administrators, teachers & school service personnel). Public school administrators who evaluate certified staff are required by state law (105 ILCS 5/24A) to complete this course prior to beginning any evaluations. This course includes a pre-instruction reading and writing assignment and a post-instruction application/dissemination component assignment.

There are two things that a school community is concerned about - their children and their money. With principals, assistant principals, department chairs, athletic directors and central office personnel realizing that the trend is to site-based fiscal management, they need to understand school finance in a way that is simple and easy to understand. Soon managing line items in the budget that pertain to an administrator's area of responsibility will be part of your job description. With this in mind, "School Finance Made Easy" is the program for you. This enjoyable hands on academy will result in understanding school finance, being able to partner and dialogue with your business manager and superintendent and even to understand your home tax bills and assessments. At the end of the program, you will have completed a mini budget and tax levy to illustrate the productivity of the day. ADMINISTRATORS’ ACADEMY credit, however, any educator may attend

This is an event you can’t afford to miss! This session will begin by looking at some of the liability and insurance issues districts now face related to technology. This will be followed by extensive discussions on the types of technology threats confronting districts and appropriate policies/procedures/systems districts should have in place to address those threats. Leave with a plan of action! Teams of technology coordinators and administrators are encouraged to attend. You must make your own room reservation at Eagle Ridge. Call 1-800-892-2269 and ask for the rooms held for the Learning Technology group to get a special conference rate. Dinner Tuesday night at Vinny Vannuchi’s in Galena is sponsored by H2IT and CISCO Systems!

With the advent of increased use of innovative technologies in education and in life, administrators are faced with new learning opportunities and challenges. This academy gives participants opportunities to examine applicable educational research, investigate exemplary uses of these networking tools, and make plans to utilize these tools effectively to support learning in their school environments. ADMINISTRATORS' ACADEMY credit available; however any educator may attend.