Teachers will take a deep dive into the Alabama Course of Study and Elementary Math Content Standards analyzing mathematical practices, common math vocabulary, unwrapping critical math content standards specific to their grade level, and identifying the content priorities in math by grade level.
This 3-hour session focuses on the development of an understanding of numbers, and providing the foundation for understanding place value. Participants will participate in counting routines and explore one-to-one correspondence, rote count sequence, counting on, cardinality, subitizing, and their implications in K-5 mathematics classrooms.
This 1-day session is a prerequisite for AMSTI K-5 math content area trainings. It focuses on an overview of pedagogical strategies, the student and teacher math practices, and the power of collective teacher efficacy. Participants will analyze evidence of student understanding to inform planning of next instructional steps.
This course is the pre-requisite to attend ANY AMSTI Content Sessions. This is also required for all K-5 teachers and administrators when an Alabama Numeracy Act Funded Math Coach is established in your school.
Looking for a game-changer to streamline your classroom routines, boost engagement, and save your sanity? Come see why Classroom Screen is every teacher’s favorite digital sidekick! This all-in-one tool helps you manage transitions, timers, noise levels, and more—with just a few clicks. Whether you're teaching littles or teens, this session will have you saying, "Where has this been all my life?"
Warning: May cause extreme excitement, classroom calm, and jealous coworkers. 😎 Come scream (with joy) about Classroom Screen with us!
English learners have to juggle learning math and a new language at the same time. In this session, we’ll look at easy, practical ways to weave language supports into your daily math routines using the WIDA language standards. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and examples to boost both math and language learning.
In this session, participants will learn strategies to engage students in critical thinking and inquiry with Gizmos. Participants will also discuss best practices for using simulations, how to incorporate literacy and develop a deeper understanding to support student learning in a standards-based science classroom.
Tiffany Christian is an Area Implementation Coordinator with ExploreLearning in the Mid-Atlantic region. She has 17 years of experience in public education as a gifted math and science teacher, an academic coach, and a district K-12 science instructional lead. She currently lives... Read More →
Monday July 21, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT Room 93
When your class gets out of hand. You need a break! Your students need a break! But what do you do?!?!? Come to this session and obtain useful mini lesson plans that will give you the tools to provided your class easy to execute artistically mindful brain breaks. Brain Breaks are short structured activities designed to help students or even teachers to reset, refocus, and re-energize the mind. These breaks often incorporate movement, mindfulness, or sensory activity to improve focus and learning. They are quick and effective to reduce fatigue, boredom, and frustration. Just a few examples: altered book prompts and postcard sketches. But these are just a few....come to find out MORE ideas!
Hello!I am excited to be returning to GRITC as a presenter!I graduated with my bachelors of fine art and master's of education from the University of Montevallo, which is located in Montevallo, AL.I am married and we live in Loxley. I teach elementary art and I absolutely love it... Read More →
Imagine cutting hours off your planning time while delivering more engaging, personalized lessons—sounds like magic, right? Magic School AI is the ultimate AI-powered tool designed for all teachers, in all subjects, at all grade levels! From generating lesson plans and assessments to providing instant differentiation and feedback, this platform does the heavy lifting so you can focus on what truly matters—your students.
Join this session to see how AI can streamline your workload, spark creativity, and supercharge student learning. Whether you're a tech newbie or an AI enthusiast, you'll walk away with practical strategies to make AI your most powerful teaching assistant!
Let’s work smarter, not harder—because teaching should be magical!
This session is also offered on Tuesday and Wednesday.
This session will prepare elementary teachers as they grapple with the modern requirements from fractions to ratios and proportions to functions instruction in state standards. Participants will gain specific strategies for leading students to a conceptual understanding of fractions and learn techniques for differentiating instructions for students.
Tiffany Christian is an Area Implementation Coordinator with ExploreLearning in the Mid-Atlantic region. She has 17 years of experience in public education as a gifted math and science teacher, an academic coach, and a district K-12 science instructional lead. She currently lives... Read More →
Monday July 21, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT Room 214
Get started with Savvas Elevate Science K-6. We will share how to roll out this exciting new science program for students and teachers. We will share how to utilize hands on digital and print tools in the classroom.
Are you Kagan-trained but need a refresher? Looking for real-world applications to energize your classroom? This interactive session will have you experiencing Kagan structures firsthand—just as your students do! We’ll revisit key strategies, explore new ways to seamlessly integrate them into your daily instruction, and share success stories from fellow educators. Walk away with practical, ready-to-use ideas to boost engagement, deepen learning, and make cooperation the heart of your classroom. Come ready to move, collaborate, and leave inspired!
Makenzie Cunningham is an instructional coach at Rosinton with 11 years of experience in education. She has taught second, third, and fourth grades, as well as special education for pre-K through first grade. Makenzie has completed both Kagan Coaching and Instructional Coaching certifications... Read More →
Monday July 21, 2025 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT Room 214
Looking for ways to make social studies more meaningful while boosting literacy skills? In this interactive session, elementary educators will explore practical strategies for using primary source documents to deepen students’ reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing abilities. Participants will learn how to select age appropriate primary sources, scaffold complex texts, and design engaging standards aligned lessons that integrate historical thinking with purposeful reading and writing tasks. Walk away with ready to use ideas, digital tools, and classroom activities that bring the past to life while meeting literacy goals across the curriculum.
English learners have to juggle learning math and a new language at the same time. In this session, we’ll look at easy, practical ways to weave language supports into your daily math routines using the WIDA language standards. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and examples to boost both math and language learning.
The term "gifted" often carries the expectation of effortless success, much like a well-tended plant that seems to flourish on its own. However, the social and emotional challenges faced by gifted students are like hidden weeds in the garden—persistent and often overlooked.
Just as a thriving garden requires careful attention to the unique needs of each plant, gifted students need intentional, individualized support to grow. This interactive session will provide educators with practical tools and strategies to cultivate foundational wellness, planting seeds where brilliance blooms.
Gizmos is a STEM interactive learning tool used to provide opportunities for students to make connections, discover concepts, analyze data, and draw conclusions. Teachers can create deeper and meaningful lessons integrating academic standards and technology with Gizmos activities. Come ready to see how Gizmos can help support you and your students as we model lessons, share Gizmos and academic standard correlation lists, discuss experiences, and provide time to support you in exploring specific Gizmos for implementation in your classroom.
In this session, participants will learn strategies to engage students in critical thinking and inquiry with Gizmos. Participants will also discuss best practices for using simulations, how to incorporate literacy and develop a deeper understanding to support student learning in a standards-based science classroom.
Tiffany Christian is an Area Implementation Coordinator with ExploreLearning in the Mid-Atlantic region. She has 17 years of experience in public education as a gifted math and science teacher, an academic coach, and a district K-12 science instructional lead. She currently lives... Read More →
Monday July 21, 2025 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT Room 93
An overview of Power School Analytics will be provided. This will include Student Plans and Student Interventions. We will create a student plan and an intervention plan.
In this session participants will learn how to use the LETRS Phonics Framework to organize all resources into one complete package for ease of use and successful delivery. This framework is user friendly for all K-5th grade teachers and can be used for any tier of instruction.
Teachers will take a deep dive into the Alabama Course of Study and Elementary Math Content Standards analyzing mathematical practices, common math vocabulary, unwrapping critical math content standards specific to their grade level, and identifying the content priorities in math by grade level.
Teachers will take a deep dive into the Alabama Course of Study and Elementary Math Content Standards analyzing mathematical practices, common math vocabulary, unwrapping critical math content standards specific to their grade level, and identifying the content priorities in math by grade level.
This three-hour session focuses on the categories of daily math routines, connecting these various routines to the Student Mathematical Practices and the Alabama Course of Study K-5 content standards. Participants will participate in an interactive hands-on session that provides multiple opportunities to analyze and experience multiple math routines K-5. Participants will have the opportunity to purposefully plan routines alongside your colleagues empowering one to immediately incorporate these within the K-5 classroom.
Come see how Discovery Education’s Learning Platform can support your learners anytime, anywhere. We will review how to search and filter through multimodal content to find the best resources to support your students’ learning journey. We will explore how to use instructional strategies that maximize the effectiveness of digital content as well as incorporate the use of Discovery Education’s Studio & AI Assessment Teacher Tools to show how students can communicate their learning.
Come learn about tie-dye. Learn how easy it would be to do tie-dye for yourself, a group, a class, a club, or even the entire school! Let's tie-dye Baldwin county!!!!
Bring a 100% COTTON T-shirt the morning of your session, drop it in the bucket, and then come back and tie-dye a beautiful creation!!!!
Hello!I am excited to be returning to GRITC as a presenter!I graduated with my bachelors of fine art and master's of education from the University of Montevallo, which is located in Montevallo, AL.I am married and we live in Loxley. I teach elementary art and I absolutely love it... Read More →
Join this Discovery Education session where we discuss how to bring meaningful conversations to your classroom through a wide span of diverse people and industries that power our world. Career Connect is a new tool that helps prepare students for career readiness and cross-curricular connections in an easy-to-use and accessible environment. With this tool you can connect your classroom to real professionals with real stories, in real-time. Spark engagement in your classrooms, no matter what subject you teach!
This interactive Learning Lab is your one-stop shop to achieve your Kami Level 1 AND 2 certifications. Our expert navigator will guide you through hands-on exercises and collaborative explorations, ensuring you deeply understand Kami's core features and unlock more advanced functionalities. From annotation essentials to collaborative document design and interactive assignments, you'll leave this session with the skills and certifications to confidently integrate Kami into your teaching and engage your students. Prepare to elevate your Kami prowess and cast off towards enhanced learning experiences!
Mantha Camacho is a Teaching and Learning Coordinator with Kami. Before joining Kami, she taught for 18 years in public education, with most of those years in a DAEP setting. She is a Google Level 2 Certified educator, was voted Teacher of the Year in 2008, and served in several leadership... Read More →
Building an engaging classroom community might be easier than you think! By facilitating cooperative learning opportunities and advocating for student choice, engagement and community build on one another.
This session will prepare elementary teachers as they grapple with the modern requirements from fractions to ratios and proportions to functions instruction in state standards. Participants will gain specific strategies for leading students to a conceptual understanding of fractions and learn techniques for differentiating instructions for students.
Tiffany Christian is an Area Implementation Coordinator with ExploreLearning in the Mid-Atlantic region. She has 17 years of experience in public education as a gifted math and science teacher, an academic coach, and a district K-12 science instructional lead. She currently lives... Read More →
Get started with Savvas Elevate Science K-6. We will share how to roll out this exciting new science program for students and teachers. We will share how to utilize hands on digital and print tools in the classroom.
AMSTI K-5 or 6-12 Math Foundations is a REQUIRED Prerequisite to attend this session. Participants will need to bring their math foundations material and Teaching Student Centered Mathematics Book they received during Math Foundations Training. (Extra books will not be available). Participants in this session will not receive additional manipulative materials.
This two-day session focuses on developing understanding and fluency of multi-digit multiplication and division to find quotients. Participants will dig deeply into the research and big ideas through content deepening and explore the use of manipulatives through activities and problems involving equal-sized groups, arrays, and area models. Participants will analyze evidence of student understanding to inform planning of next instructional steps.
AMSTI K-5 Math Foundations Course is a REQUIRED Prerequisite to attend this session. Please bring Student Centered Teaching Book and Math Foundations materials received during session. Extra books will not be available. Teachers will not receive manipulatives from AMSTI for attending this session. Teachers must attend both days.
This two-day session focuses on the development of students' understanding of the base-ten number system and properties of addition and subtraction. Participants will explore how counting and cardinality develop into unitizing, composing/decomposing numbers, related hands-on activities, and analyze evidence of students understanding to inform planning of next instructional steps.
Come see how Discovery Education’s Learning Platform can support your learners anytime, anywhere. We will review how to search and filter through multimodal content to find the best resources to support your students’ learning journey. We will explore how to use instructional strategies that maximize the effectiveness of digital content as well as incorporate the use of Discovery Education’s Studio & AI Assessment Teacher Tools to show how students can communicate their learning.
Looking for ways to make social studies more meaningful while boosting literacy skills? In this interactive session, elementary educators will explore practical strategies for using primary source documents to deepen students’ reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing abilities. Participants will learn how to select age appropriate primary sources, scaffold complex texts, and design engaging standards aligned lessons that integrate historical thinking with purposeful reading and writing tasks. Walk away with ready to use ideas, digital tools, and classroom activities that bring the past to life while meeting literacy goals across the curriculum.
The term "gifted" often carries the expectation of effortless success, much like a well-tended plant that seems to flourish on its own. However, the social and emotional challenges faced by gifted students are like hidden weeds in the garden—persistent and often overlooked.
Just as a thriving garden requires careful attention to the unique needs of each plant, gifted students need intentional, individualized support to grow. This interactive session will provide educators with practical tools and strategies to cultivate foundational wellness, planting seeds where brilliance blooms.
In this session participants will learn how to use the LETRS Phonics Framework to organize all resources into one complete package for ease of use and successful delivery. This framework is user friendly for all K-5th grade teachers and can be used for any tier of instruction.
Join this Discovery Education session where we discuss how to bring meaningful conversations to your classroom through a wide span of diverse people and industries that power our world. Career Connect is a new tool that helps prepare students for career readiness and cross-curricular connections in an easy-to-use and accessible environment. With this tool you can connect your classroom to real professionals with real stories, in real-time. Spark engagement in your classrooms, no matter what subject you teach!
In this session, participants will learn strategies to engage students in critical thinking and inquiry with Gizmos. Participants will also discuss best practices for using simulations, how to incorporate literacy and develop a deeper understanding to support student learning in a standards-based science classroom.
Tiffany Christian is an Area Implementation Coordinator with ExploreLearning in the Mid-Atlantic region. She has 17 years of experience in public education as a gifted math and science teacher, an academic coach, and a district K-12 science instructional lead. She currently lives... Read More →
Tuesday July 22, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT Room 93
Invention Convention Alabama is a new K-12 invention education program designed to inspire students in problem-identification, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and creativity. Through competitions, events, and a flexible, project-based curriculum aligned with educational standards, students develop real-world skills that prepare them for future success. This TEAMS approved workshop for 5th - 12th grade educators will provide tools and tips for how to get started with invention education in your classroom, afterschool program, or club.
In this interactive workshop, educators will discover how blacklight activities can boost student engagement across subjects. Learn the science behind UV light, explore creative lesson ideas, and try hands-on demos with fluorescent materials, invisible ink, and glow-in-the-dark elements. From science and literacy to SEL and classroom transformations, you'll leave with practical, glowing strategies to energize learning!
Syllable types are essential for mastering reading and spelling. Discover how to use diacritical markings to guide students in breaking down words into syllables, making it easier to tackle multisyllabic words and boost reading fluency.
This is an overview course of the first four evidence-based practices for mathematics instruction recommended by the Elementary Math Task Force. This course is designed for mathematics coaches and teachers.
Mrs. Amy Merryman serves as a Regional Coordinator for the Office of Mathematics Improvement (OMI) with the Alabama State Department of Education. Bringing 29 years of experience in education, her extensive career includes roles as a classroom teacher, ARI coach, K-12 instructional... Read More →
Connie Arnold currently serves as a Regional Coordinator for the Office of Mathematics Improvement (OMI) at the Alabama State Department of Education. Mrs. Arnold has over 15 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher and a Secondary Math Specialist with the Alabama... Read More →
Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT Room 96
Get started with Savvas Elevate Science K-6. We will share how to roll out this exciting new science program for students and teachers. We will share how to utilize hands on digital and print tools in the classroom.
Struggling to get students to write with clarity, depth, and purpose? Whether you teach kindergarten or high school, math or social studies, The Writing Revolution (Hochman Approach) provides simple yet powerful strategies to seamlessly integrate writing into your instruction—without adding to your workload!
Join this engaging session to discover how structured, explicit writing instruction can transform student learning, boost comprehension, and improve performance across disciplines. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies that will revolutionize the way you teach writing—no matter your grade level or content area!
Let’s empower students to think, express, and succeed—one sentence at a time!
English learners have to juggle learning math and a new language at the same time. In this session, we’ll look at easy, practical ways to weave language supports into your daily math routines using the WIDA language standards. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and examples to boost both math and language learning.
Imagine cutting hours off your planning time while delivering more engaging, personalized lessons—sounds like magic, right? Magic School AI is the ultimate AI-powered tool designed for all teachers, in all subjects, at all grade levels! From generating lesson plans and assessments to providing instant differentiation and feedback, this platform does the heavy lifting so you can focus on what truly matters—your students.
Join this session to see how AI can streamline your workload, spark creativity, and supercharge student learning. Whether you're a tech newbie or an AI enthusiast, you'll walk away with practical strategies to make AI your most powerful teaching assistant!
Let’s work smarter, not harder—because teaching should be magical!
This interactive Learning Lab is your one-stop shop to achieve your Kami Level 1 AND 2 certifications. Our expert navigator will guide you through hands-on exercises and collaborative explorations, ensuring you deeply understand Kami's core features and unlock more advanced functionalities. From annotation essentials to collaborative document design and interactive assignments, you'll leave this session with the skills and certifications to confidently integrate Kami into your teaching and engage your students. Prepare to elevate your Kami prowess and cast off towards enhanced learning experiences!
Mantha Camacho is a Teaching and Learning Coordinator with Kami. Before joining Kami, she taught for 18 years in public education, with most of those years in a DAEP setting. She is a Google Level 2 Certified educator, was voted Teacher of the Year in 2008, and served in several leadership... Read More →
Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT Room 243
Attention all fearless and innovative math and science teachers in upper elementary, middle, and high school! You know who you are—I see you! If you’re ready to ditch the mundane and harness the power of gaming to supercharge student engagement, this session is for you.
Step into the world of Minecraft: Education Edition, where equations come to life, science gets explosive (safely, of course!), and students collaborate, create, and problem-solve in ways that traditional methods just can’t match. In this informational session, we’ll explore how to transform your math and science classroom into an immersive, interactive learning environment—one block at a time!
This is an informative session all about how you can use Minecraft in the classroom. We'll shoot the breeze about tons of cool stuff like how to actually use it, where to kick things off, and even how to incorporate it into different subjects. After our chat, you can jump right in and give it a go yourself in our hands-on "Minecraft Learning Lab" session. Make sure to sign up for that too! Who's stoked to learn and play with Minecraft together? Let's do this thing! 🎮✨
😉 P.S. Bonus lesson included on using AI to enhance communication, give clear directions, and craft engaging lesson plans that bring Minecraft into your classroom! Disclaimer: This description was "spiced up" with AI)
This session will provide practical strategies for setting clear classroom norms that promote respect, responsibility, and engagement. Teachers will learn to co-create norms with students to encourage ownership and accountability while implementing collaborative learning techniques that enhance teamwork and critical thinking. Through interactive discussions and hands-on activities, participants will gain ready-to-use strategies to foster a positive, cooperative classroom environment.
This session will prepare elementary teachers as they grapple with the modern requirements from fractions to ratios and proportions to functions instruction in state standards. Participants will gain specific strategies for leading students to a conceptual understanding of fractions and learn techniques for differentiating instructions for students.
Tiffany Christian is an Area Implementation Coordinator with ExploreLearning in the Mid-Atlantic region. She has 17 years of experience in public education as a gifted math and science teacher, an academic coach, and a district K-12 science instructional lead. She currently lives... Read More →
Come learn about tie-dye. Learn how easy it would be to do tie-dye for yourself, a group, a class, a club, or even the entire school! Let's tie-dye Baldwin county!!!!
Bring a 100% COTTON T-shirt the morning of your session, drop it in the bucket, and then come back and tie-dye a beautiful creation!!!!
Hello!I am excited to be returning to GRITC as a presenter!I graduated with my bachelors of fine art and master's of education from the University of Montevallo, which is located in Montevallo, AL.I am married and we live in Loxley. I teach elementary art and I absolutely love it... Read More →
English learners have to juggle learning math and a new language at the same time. In this session, we’ll look at easy, practical ways to weave language supports into your daily math routines using the WIDA language standards. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and examples to boost both math and language learning.
Get started with Savvas Elevate Science K-6. We will share how to roll out this exciting new science program for students and teachers. We will share how to utilize hands on digital and print tools in the classroom.
The goal of this PD is to help teachers use the ACAP resources for math to plan out their lessons so that they understand the expectation of learning for students (evidence statements) and know how standards will be assessed (sampled stems) so that their daily instruction will be aligned with statewide assessment. Participants need access to their teacher textbook guide or student textbook and pacing guide.
AMSTI K-5 or 6-12 Math Foundations is a REQUIRED Prerequisite to attend this session. Participants will need to bring their math foundations material and Teaching Student Centered Mathematics Book they received during Math Foundations Training. (Extra books will not be available). Participants in this session will not receive additional manipulative materials.
This two-day session focuses on developing understanding and fluency of multi-digit multiplication and division to find quotients. Participants will dig deeply into the research and big ideas through content deepening and explore the use of manipulatives through activities and problems involving equal-sized groups, arrays, and area models. Participants will analyze evidence of student understanding to inform planning of next instructional steps.
AMSTI K-5 Math Foundations Course is a REQUIRED Prerequisite to attend this session. Please bring Student Centered Teaching Book and Math Foundations materials received during session. Extra books will not be available. Teachers will not receive manipulatives from AMSTI for attending this session. Teachers must attend both days.
This two-day session focuses on the development of students' understanding of the base-ten number system and properties of addition and subtraction. Participants will explore how counting and cardinality develop into unitizing, composing/decomposing numbers, related hands-on activities, and analyze evidence of students understanding to inform planning of next instructional steps.
Are you interested in obtaining your National Board Certification, but do not know where to begin? Join us for an informative session on the National Board Certification process. This session will cover key aspects of the program, its benefits, and practical tips for success.
I am the Library Media Specialist at Stonebridge Elementary. I have been an educator for 12 years. I spent 5 of those years as an elementary school teacher and the other 7 as a Library Media Specialist. In our school library, I like to promote a culture of reading while also including... Read More →
Wednesday July 23, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT Room 8
Looking for ways to make social studies more meaningful while boosting literacy skills? In this interactive session, elementary educators will explore practical strategies for using primary source documents to deepen students’ reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing abilities. Participants will learn how to select age appropriate primary sources, scaffold complex texts, and design engaging standards aligned lessons that integrate historical thinking with purposeful reading and writing tasks. Walk away with ready to use ideas, digital tools, and classroom activities that bring the past to life while meeting literacy goals across the curriculum.
In this session, participants will learn strategies to engage students in critical thinking and inquiry with Gizmos. Participants will also discuss best practices for using simulations, how to incorporate literacy and develop a deeper understanding to support student learning in a standards-based science classroom.
Tiffany Christian is an Area Implementation Coordinator with ExploreLearning in the Mid-Atlantic region. She has 17 years of experience in public education as a gifted math and science teacher, an academic coach, and a district K-12 science instructional lead. She currently lives... Read More →
Wednesday July 23, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am CDT Room 93
English learners have to juggle learning math and a new language at the same time. In this session, we’ll look at easy, practical ways to weave language supports into your daily math routines using the WIDA language standards. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and examples to boost both math and language learning.
Come learn about tie-dye. Learn how easy it would be to do tie-dye for yourself, a group, a class, a club, or even the entire school! Let's tie-dye Baldwin county!!!!
Bring a 100% COTTON T-shirt the morning of your session, drop it in the bucket, and then come back and tie-dye a beautiful creation!!!!
Hello!I am excited to be returning to GRITC as a presenter!I graduated with my bachelors of fine art and master's of education from the University of Montevallo, which is located in Montevallo, AL.I am married and we live in Loxley. I teach elementary art and I absolutely love it... Read More →
Teachers will gain a foundational understanding of i-Ready, prepare for iReady Math diagnostic administration success, learn how to use the Diagnostic data to guide instruction, and prepare for a successful start to the year. Time permitting, they’ll also explore ways to engage students in data conversations.
Productive struggle is a necessary component of learning mathematics, but how can you ensure students engage in productive struggle rather than unproductive struggle? In this session, we will answer this question through an examination of engaging tasks, classroom videos, and the mathematics teaching practices. Be ready to collaborate and have some mathematical fun!
Attention all fearless and innovative math and science teachers in upper elementary, middle, and high school! You know who you are—I see you! If you’re ready to ditch the mundane and harness the power of gaming to supercharge student engagement, this session is for you.
Step into the world of Minecraft: Education Edition, where equations come to life, science gets explosive (safely, of course!), and students collaborate, create, and problem-solve in ways that traditional methods just can’t match. In this hands-on session, we’ll explore how to transform your math and science classroom into an immersive, interactive learning environment—one block at a time! Bring your computer (and a controller if you have one), and let’s "play"—I mean, learn! 😉 P.S. Bonus lessons included on using AI to enhance communication, give clear directions, and craft engaging lesson plans that bring Minecraft into your classroom! Disclaimer: This description was "spiced up" with AI)
Are you Kagan-trained but need a refresher? Looking for real-world applications to energize your classroom? This interactive session will have you experiencing Kagan structures firsthand—just as your students do! We’ll revisit key strategies, explore new ways to seamlessly integrate them into your daily instruction, and share success stories from fellow educators. Walk away with practical, ready-to-use ideas to boost engagement, deepen learning, and make cooperation the heart of your classroom. Come ready to move, collaborate, and leave inspired!
Makenzie Cunningham is an instructional coach at Rosinton with 11 years of experience in education. She has taught second, third, and fourth grades, as well as special education for pre-K through first grade. Makenzie has completed both Kagan Coaching and Instructional Coaching certifications... Read More →
Wednesday July 23, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT Room 214
In this interactive workshop, educators will discover how blacklight activities can boost student engagement across subjects. Learn the science behind UV light, explore creative lesson ideas, and try hands-on demos with fluorescent materials, invisible ink, and glow-in-the-dark elements. From science and literacy to SEL and classroom transformations, you'll leave with practical, glowing strategies to energize learning!
This session is designed for K-12 educators seeking to optimize their use of both popular and underutilized technical applications to enhance overall teacher effectiveness. We'll cover topics such as effective utilization of Artificial Intelligence by educators in the classroom and time management, along with effective methods for providing instructional differentiation to meet the needs of all students. Additionally, participants will receive access to a website featuring updated content originally created for Troy University students.
Imagine cutting hours off your planning time while delivering more engaging, personalized lessons—sounds like magic, right? Magic School AI is the ultimate AI-powered tool designed for all teachers, in all subjects, at all grade levels! From generating lesson plans and assessments to providing instant differentiation and feedback, this platform does the heavy lifting so you can focus on what truly matters—your students.
Join this session to see how AI can streamline your workload, spark creativity, and supercharge student learning. Whether you're a tech newbie or an AI enthusiast, you'll walk away with practical strategies to make AI your most powerful teaching assistant!
Let’s work smarter, not harder—because teaching should be magical!
Syllable types are essential for mastering reading and spelling. Discover how to use diacritical markings to guide students in breaking down words into syllables, making it easier to tackle multisyllabic words and boost reading fluency.
This is an overview course of the first four evidence-based practices for mathematics instruction recommended by the Elementary Math Task Force. This course is designed for mathematics coaches and teachers.
Mrs. Amy Merryman serves as a Regional Coordinator for the Office of Mathematics Improvement (OMI) with the Alabama State Department of Education. Bringing 29 years of experience in education, her extensive career includes roles as a classroom teacher, ARI coach, K-12 instructional... Read More →
Connie Arnold currently serves as a Regional Coordinator for the Office of Mathematics Improvement (OMI) at the Alabama State Department of Education. Mrs. Arnold has over 15 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher and a Secondary Math Specialist with the Alabama... Read More →
Wednesday July 23, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT Room 96
Get started with Savvas Elevate Science K-6. We will share how to roll out this exciting new science program for students and teachers. We will share how to utilize hands on digital and print tools in the classroom.
Building an engaging classroom community might be easier than you think! By facilitating cooperative learning opportunities and advocating for student choice, engagement and community build on one another.
Discover how the Alabama Virtual Library provides easy access to research databases tailored for students. Learn how to integrate this valuable tool into your classroom or library to enhance student research skills and discover authentic research project ideas to engage all learners.
I am the Library Media Specialist at Stonebridge Elementary. I have been an educator for 12 years. I spent 5 of those years as an elementary school teacher and the other 7 as a Library Media Specialist. In our school library, I like to promote a culture of reading while also including... Read More →
Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT Room 8
English learners have to juggle learning math and a new language at the same time. In this session, we’ll look at easy, practical ways to weave language supports into your daily math routines using the WIDA language standards. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and examples to boost both math and language learning.
“My eyes! My eyes!” Phoebe and Rachel said it best, but what does this quote have to do with teaching and learning mathematics? In this session, we will SEE this connection through classroom stories and engaging problems. Spoiler Alert: It isn’t really about un-seeing – it’s about un-understanding.
When your class gets out of hand. You need a break! Your students need a break! But what do you do?!?!? Come to this session and obtain useful mini lesson plans that will give you the tools to provided your class easy to execute artistically mindful brain breaks. Brain Breaks are short structured activities designed to help students or even teachers to reset, refocus, and re-energize the mind. These breaks often incorporate movement, mindfulness, or sensory activity to improve focus and learning. They are quick and effective to reduce fatigue, boredom, and frustration. Just a few examples: altered book prompts and postcard sketches. But these are just a few....come to find out MORE ideas!
Hello!I am excited to be returning to GRITC as a presenter!I graduated with my bachelors of fine art and master's of education from the University of Montevallo, which is located in Montevallo, AL.I am married and we live in Loxley. I teach elementary art and I absolutely love it... Read More →
An overview of Power School Analytics will be provided. This will include Student Plans and Student Interventions. We will create a student plan and an intervention plan.
Teachers will gain a foundational understanding of i-Ready, prepare for iReady Math diagnostic administration success, learn how to use the Diagnostic data to guide instruction, and prepare for a successful start to the year. Time permitting, they’ll also explore ways to engage students in data conversations.
The goal of this PD is to help teachers use the ACAP resources for math to plan out their lessons so that they understand the expectation of learning for students (evidence statements) and know how standards will be assessed (sampled stems) so that their daily instruction will be aligned with statewide assessment. Participants need access to their teacher textbook guide or student textbook and pacing guide.
This session is designed for K-12 educators seeking to optimize their use of both popular and underutilized technical applications to enhance overall teacher effectiveness. We'll cover topics such as effective utilization of Artificial Intelligence by educators in the classroom and time management, along with effective methods for providing instructional differentiation to meet the needs of all students. Additionally, participants will receive access to a website featuring updated content originally created for Troy University students.
This interactive Learning Lab is your one-stop shop to achieve your Kami Level 1 AND 2 certifications. Our expert navigator will guide you through hands-on exercises and collaborative explorations, ensuring you deeply understand Kami's core features and unlock more advanced functionalities. From annotation essentials to collaborative document design and interactive assignments, you'll leave this session with the skills and certifications to confidently integrate Kami into your teaching and engage your students. Prepare to elevate your Kami prowess and cast off towards enhanced learning experiences!
Mantha Camacho is a Teaching and Learning Coordinator with Kami. Before joining Kami, she taught for 18 years in public education, with most of those years in a DAEP setting. She is a Google Level 2 Certified educator, was voted Teacher of the Year in 2008, and served in several leadership... Read More →
Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT Room 243
This session will provide practical strategies for setting clear classroom norms that promote respect, responsibility, and engagement. Teachers will learn to co-create norms with students to encourage ownership and accountability while implementing collaborative learning techniques that enhance teamwork and critical thinking. Through interactive discussions and hands-on activities, participants will gain ready-to-use strategies to foster a positive, cooperative classroom environment.
In this session participants will learn how to use the LETRS Phonics Framework to organize all resources into one complete package for ease of use and successful delivery. This framework is user friendly for all K-5th grade teachers and can be used for any tier of instruction.
