General Education Services
On-Site District Sessions
Adults in a classroom

On-Site District Sessions

Our specialists come to you.

Get Started Today

For more information, contact a specialist or submit a request using our Google Form.

 

 

Customer Testimonial

I just want you to know [the ESC Region 12 specialists] all have done an absolutely amazing job in out district! Top notch. They have and will make a difference in the education of our students.

With on-site professional development, our specialists come to you! Choose courses customized to meet your district's needs. The menu below lists current presentations offered by ESC Region 12 staff. 

 

 

General Sessions


Texas Lesson Study

Texas Lesson Study (TXLS) is inquiry-based, job-embedded professional development where teachers work collaboratively to develop, teach, and assess research-based lessons. Teachers collaborate in teams of 2 - 5 to identify a concept students have difficulty understanding, research and design a lesson plan for teaching that concept, teach the lesson, reflect and refine the lesson and reteach it.

Learn More >


Marzano's Building Academic Vocabulary: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-12

This session will focus on direct vocabulary instruction using Marzano’s 6-Step Process to teach academic and content specific vocabulary crucial for deep understanding. Learn how to improve your students’ comprehension through intentional research-based instruction of academic vocabulary.

 

Journables in the Classroom: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-12

This session will explore how to set up and use journals in the classroom.  Teachers will explore writing and Foldable strategies to deepen content understanding and organize student learning. The following topics will be addressed: research, set-up, organization, Foldable structures, critical writing, and content connections.

 

Just in Time: Data Tools for High School: Grades 9-12

Bring your just released 2014 STAAR scores to this interactive training where you will engage in analyzing the unique needs of your high school campus. This session will allow time for using tools to input campus data, using data to lead conversations on campus, and designing action plans for this summer and next school year. Upon completion of this session, instructional leaders will be equipped to take their campus teams to the next level. Participants will need to bring campus data from 2014 STAAR. A wireless network will be available to access DMAC, eduphoria!, etc. through your own device as well. 

 

Just in Time: Data Tools for Elem/Middle School: Grades 3-8

Bring your just released 2014 STAAR scores to this interactive training where you will engage in analyzing the unique needs of your elementary and middle school campus. This session will allow time for using tools to input campus data, using data to lead conversations on campus, and designing action plans for this summer and next school year. Upon completion of this session, instructional leaders will be equipped to take their campus teams to the next level. Participants will need to bring campus data from 2014 STAAR. A wireless network will be available to access DMAC, eduphoria!, etc. through your own device as well. 

 

Poverty: The Effects of Poverty on the Student Brain: K-12

Come explore what research tells us about the effects of poverty on students' brain development and how these changes impact learning. This session is part of a 5-day poverty series, however, sessions from the series may be selected individually based on campus or classroom needs.

 

Poverty: Building Positive Attitudes to Support Academic Success: K-12 

Are you tired of poor attitudes and low motivation? Wondering what to do to improve student attitudes in your class? Come explore how attitudes and mindsets affect learning and how to promote positive attitudes and the growth mindset in your classroom. We will discuss and explore supporting the growth mindset, building hope and optimism, and promoting perseverance and grit. Join us to learn how to better support the economically disadvantaged students on your campus! 

 

Poverty: Teacher Interventions that Promote Success: K-12

Research shows us that children of poverty can experience success with some specific teacher interventions. Come learn how building relationships, creating a positive classroom climate, and implementing strategies for vocabulary development can dramatically increase student learning.

 

Poverty: Maintaining Positive Motivational States for Learning: K-12

Are your students lacking motivation to learn? Are you looking out into a sea of blank stares? Join us for a session that will help you create stellar states to support learning and academic success. By relentlessly reading and managing student's classroom states you will engender better attention, learning and participation. Come investigate this easy-to-learn skill that all top 20% teachers do automatically. 

 

Poverty: Building Key Skills to Increase Academic Success: K-12

Many children raised in poverty may be lacking in vital skills that are needed to facilitate learning. Participants will be presented information and strategies on how they can help these students develop and strengthen those skills.

ELA/R Sessions

 

Reader's Workshop Overview: Grades K-2 or 3-6 or 6-12

In order for students to be successful on STAAR assessments, they will need to be able to read and analyze various genres at high levels. Participants will learn how to begin and how to manage a reading workshop in their classroom to extend learning for the advanced reader and scaffold learning for the student who is struggling.

 

Writer's Workshop Overview: Grades K-2 or 3-6 or 6-12

In this session, participants will learn the basics of Writer's Workshop. The session will include: how to get started, how to set up for daily writing, management, and instructional mini-lessons.

 

Figure 19: Reading Comprehension Strategies: Grades K-2 or 3-5 or 6-8 or 9-12

Don't just ask questions as your method of teaching comprehension - use great instructional strategies! This session will help teachers design lessons for each of the comprehension strategies addressed in the Figure 19 TEKS of ELA/R.

 

Attack STAAR Personal Narrative or Expository: Grades 3-7

Participants will analyze the STAAR rubric and released annotations, create a student friendly version of the rubric, and score sample student writing. Minilessons and writing activities that address the components of the STAAR rubric will also be explored.

  • Math Talks: K - 5

    This session will explore the "why" of mathematical conversations and support teachers in creating classrooms filled with math discourse. Participants will experience hands-on strategies for managing classroom discussions and applying the math process standards found in the TEKS.

     

    Marvelous Math Models: 3 - 5

    This session will explore mathematical models that help support student concept development, learning, and understanding in the math classroom.. Models include number lines, ratio tables, strip diagrams, and open arrays. This series will promote a focus on the math process standards and strategies for building numeracy. 

     

    Perplexities: 3 - 5

    We will explore Dan Meyer's concept of perplexities in math class. Time will be spent creating lessons for those units that will engage students. We will explore, using Perplexities and effective questioning techniques, how to assess student's levels of understanding and how to use this knowledge to direct your instruction. Teachers will be given time to create questions to use in their classrooms. They will also see how to access a plethora of ready-made perplexities on the web. 

     

    Personal Financial Literacy: K - 5

    Come explore the big ideas in the Personal Financial Literacy strand of the Revised Math TEKS. Participants will track the vertical alignment of the big ideas in this strand and dig into the new student expectations for specific grade levels. Teachers will explore resources created for Texas students to meet these NEW student expectations which will be implemented in 2014-2015.

     

    Creating Clever Centers for Primary Math: Pre-K - 2

    This session explores everything you ever wanted to know about centers and more. What makes a great center? How do I set them up? What should students be doing? How do I know if they are doing what they should be doing? What do I do with all my materials? What classroom structures need to be in place? Got questions? We’ve got answers!  Half-day session or Full-day session including make-and-take

     

    Developing the BIG Ideas of Multiplication & Division: Grades 2 & 3

    Teachers will explore and experience the big ideas of multiplication. We will focus on identifying contextual situations which represent multiplication and division, developing models for representing these situations, understanding the variety of problem structures, and using knowledge of mathematical properties to solve problems. Half-day session

     

    Digging into the Data Standards: K - 5 

    This session helps teachers digest our new state standards addressing data representation and analysis. Teachers will explore the vertical progression of data representations from Kindergarten through 6th grade and see how their own grade level student expectations fit into the big picture. We will work together to develop clear definitions, key characteristics, and examples of each graph type included in the Revised Math TEKS. Teachers will consider the overarching purpose behind data collection and how that purpose should drive the conclusions and generate rich questions related to the data. Full day session

  • 5E Model: 6 - 12

    Join in the challenge and learn to engage students using the 5E Model. The 5E instructional model is based on the constructivist approach to learning, which says that learners build or construct new ideas on top of their old ideas or current level of understanding. Participants will discuss the elements of a 5E lesson, work through a 5E lesson, and as a team convert an existing lesson into a new 5E format.

     

    Formative Assessment for Mathematics: K - 12

    Primary and secondary math teachers and support staff will learn how to assess their students' learning and adjust instruction or intervention accordingly. We will use two primary resources to help us better understand the concept of formative assessment and its benefits. Participants will walk away with a plethora of strategies to dig into the thought process of any math student. With formative assessment we can peek inside the inner workings of the mathematical brain.

  • Science and Literacy: K - 2

    Children (and teachers) love to read picture books! What if there was a way to integrate literacy with science investigations? There is! This session will show teachers how to use grade level picture books to promote young minds to investigate the world of science around them. Come experience some lesson ideas and walk away with classroom-ready activities.

     


    Science Process Skills: K - 2

    Explore ways to have your pre-kindergarten through second grade students actively involved in "doing science." Even these grade levels can start preparing for STAAR by developing inferencing and reasoning skills through hands-on, engaging instruction. Design an interdisciplinary and differentiated approach to learning science. 

     

    Science and Literacy: 3 - 5

    Children (and teachers) love to read picture books! What if there was a way to integrate literacy with science investigations? There is! This session will show teachers how to use grade level picture books to promote young minds to investigate the world of science around them. Come experience some lesson ideas and walk away with classroom-ready activities. 

     

    Science Process Skills: 5 - 8

    This session will focus on equipping teachers with the tools for embedding process skills in their curriculum, including problem solving, communication, reasoning, investigating, inquiry, and safety.
    Teachers will explore how these skills can enhance student learning and how to create student-centered lessons designed to maximize acquisition of knowledge. 

  • Routines for Achieving Retention in the Science Classroom: 6 - 12

    This session will focus on establishing routines for daily reflective practices that will enhance students ability to retain and master science concepts. Teachers will experience techniques that foster critical thinking, knowledge retention, and application of science skills.

Social Studies Sessions

 

Engaging Activities in Social Studies: Grades 4-12

What is the best way to prepare students for a standards-based assessment? The answer is engaging standards-based instruction! During this session, participants will explore a variety of strategies and resources to make learning active and engaging. 

 

Movers and Shakers in American History: Grade 8 Social Studies or US History

Shake things up by doing something new in your U.S. History classroom! In this session, participants will learn to implement a variety of strategies for teaching people, places and events.

 

Teaching Social Studies in Texas: Grades 4 - 12

In this broad training on Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, social studies teachers will unpack the TEKS for the essential content information, work the standards through the lesson cycle using multiple strategies, and implement various forms of formative and summative assessments.

TEKS Resource System (CSCOPE)

 

TEKS Resource System 101 - Foundation Training for Educators: K-12

TEKS Resource System is a customizable, online curriculum management system aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). TEKS Resource System's high quality curriculum and assessment components assist schools in meeting the high standard of rigor and relevance required in the TEKS and STAAR assessments. TEKS Resource System 101: Foundation Training for Educators is specifically designed for NEW TEKS Resource System users. Through investigation and discussion, participants will develop a solid understanding of each component and how to effectively navigate the online system. Using the system to meet the needs of all students will be addressed.

 


Purposeful Planning with the IFD: K-12

This training is a hands-on, activity-based session with a step-by-step process for planning instruction using the IFD. It will incorporate research-based instructional strategies so that teachers can design instruction aligned to the TEKS and better prepare students for STAAR.

 

Targeting STAAR with the IFD in Math, Science and Social Studies: K-12

This session will focus on TEKS RS documents and STAAR data and blueprints. Teachers will use these resources to plan for upcoming units of instruction. A process for analyzing data, planning instruction, and targeting student needs will be modeled and explored. Teachers will have the opportunity to plan a unit using the new process and tools discussed in the session.

 

TEKS Resource System and Balanced Literacy Overview: K-12

This session will give teachers new to Balanced Literacy, an overview of each framework component and information on how each component is integrated in TEKS Resource System. Participants will understand the gradual release model of instruction and be introduced to word study, reading, and writing instructional approaches.

 

Perplexities, PAs, and Assessment in Mathematics: K-12

This session will explore Dan Meyer's concept of perplexities in math class and see how to tie them to the TEKS RS performance assessments for upcoming units. Time will be spent creating lessons for those units that will engage students. We will explore, using Perplexities and effective questioning techniques, how to assess student's levels of understanding and how to use this knowledge to direct your instruction. Teachers will be given time to create questions to use in their classrooms. They will also see how to access a plethora of ready-made perplexities on the web.

Press ENTER key to focus on the active panel