Let’s finish the school year strong with high-quality Professional Learning! Welcome to Plano ISD’s Trade Learning Saturday! Ready to navigate through a playbook of innovative techniques, where winning strategies meet all-star approaches? All sessions qualify for 2024-2025 trade hours. You can score three trade hours by joining our team on March 1st!
Please bring your district device as some of the sessions may require technology.
Here are some helpful tips for Sched:
Filter by the session type by using the menu bar on the right side of the screen (All Levels, Elementary, Secondary, Session Times).
Participants will explore various communication methods, including phone calls, emails, and parent-teacher conferences, and learn how to tailor their approach for different family dynamics and cultures. The workshop will cover techniques for proactive communication, dealing with difficult conversations, and how to deliver constructive feedback while maintaining positive relationships. We will also discuss how to involve parents as allies in their child's academic journey, even when addressing challenging issues like behavior or performance concerns. Please bring a fully charged device.
Attendees will build a deeper understanding of adaptations in Special Education. This session will clarify the distinction between accommodations and modifications, and provide guidance on when and how each should be used to meet the requirements outlined in students’ IEPs. Educators will leave with confidence to select the most appropriate adaptation based on individual student needs, ensuring they are providing the necessary support for success. Join us to learn how to effectively implement accommodations and modifications to meet every student's unique learning needs.
Imagine an endless digital whiteboard where every student can showcase their creativity and connect with one another—that’s FigJam! Learn how you can use FigJam to guide students in sharing their reflections, encouraging each other, and identifying ways to grow in their learning. Build your community through its many interactive tools, widgets, and stickers. Get hands-on experience as we play together, and leave with a library of ready-to-use templates and activity ideas to take back to your classroom.
I'm currently a Digital Learning Specialist in Plano ISD and a former math teacher and technology auditor. My formal education includes an M.Ed. in Learning and Technology and BS in Accounting. Teacher certs: EC - 8 Generalist; EC-12 Special Education; 4-8 Math; and EC-12 ESL I can... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 9:00am - 10:20am CST
Jasper High School6800 Archgate Dr, Plano, TX 75024
This session explores how culturally relevant literacy can transform reading intervention by integrating students' cultural backgrounds, lived experiences, and critical thinking into literacy instruction. Participants will engage with practical strategies for selecting texts and learn methods to foster engagement and academic success. Please bring a current reading intervention lesson or text to analyze through a culturally responsive lens.
Do your students struggle with time management, task initiation, organization, and other Executive Functions? Increase your knowledge of Executive Functions, the air traffic controller of the brain. Leave with practical, implementable strategies across classroom settings to promote development of students’ executive functions for academic, social, and behavioral success!
This is my 20th year as a Special Educator in PISD. My passions include everything related to Social Skills and Executive Functions, with a splash of Behavior Intervention/Support! I also am a Google for Education Certified Trainer.As an avid reader, my favorite topic to research... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 9:00am - 10:20am CST
Jasper High School6800 Archgate Dr, Plano, TX 75024
Want to learn the best keyboard shortcuts, Chrome extensions and other cool moves to save time and do more? In this session, we’ll reveal some of the most popular tips and tricks that will help you navigate like a Boss the various Google tools we love and use so much such as Docs, Slides, Drive, Chrome, and more! Walk in as an everyday educator, walk out as a Google Guru.
I am thrilled to be a part of the Digital Learning Team! As part of the DLT, I support the curricular areas of Advanced Academics/PACE, Computer Science & Robotics, Fine Arts, ROTC, and Science K-12. My favorite aspect of my job is supporting and building connections with the... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 9:00am - 10:20am CST
Jasper High School6800 Archgate Dr, Plano, TX 75024
Participants will learn 10 strategies and supports they can implement immediately in their classrooms for students with high functioning autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Training will isolate strategies from the STOIC model that impact success for your most challenging students. "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated." - R. Collier
You’ve seen the expression in the PISD Instructional Model and heard it spoken of in PLC meetings. But do you ever wonder what cognitively complex tasks are and whether they’re happening in your classroom? Let’s delve into the work of Marzano to explore what the research says about this instructional element and identify ways we can increase the cognitive complexity our students experience.
This presentation will explore how ChatGPT and AI tools can be utilized to create more engaging and personalized lessons for lower elementary students. By incorporating AI into the classroom, teachers can enhance storytelling, interactive activities, and creative learning experiences, making lessons more fun and effective. The session will showcase practical examples, including generating custom stories, offering differentiated learning, and simplifying complex concepts, all tailored to young learners. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to integrate AI into their teaching, saving time and fostering creativity in the classroom.
This hands-on class will cover practical strategies that promote positive behavior and create a supportive learning environment. You’ll learn how to implement visual aids that clarify expectations, enhance communication, and foster student independence. Participants will explore a variety of ready-to-use supplies, including charts, visual schedules, and behavior trackers, that can be seamlessly integrated into your classroom starting tomorrow. With collaborative activities and real-life examples, you’ll leave with a toolkit of resources and actionable ideas to enhance your classroom management skills. Let’s transform your classroom into a space where every student can thrive!
This session will support educators in fostering their own wellness while enhancing instructional strategies for Emergent Bilingual students. Through meaningful student interactions and research-based scaffolds, teachers will explore ways to create a balanced, engaging, and linguistically supportive classroom environment. Participants will engage in reflective practices, collaborative discussions, and hands-on applications of strategies such as the Picture Word Inductive Model (PWIM), Summary of Learning techniques, and explicit academic vocabulary development to strengthen students’ language fluency and comprehension.
Feeling like there just aren't enough hours in the day? You're not alone. Join us for "Beat Burnout: AI Tools to Simplify Your Day" and discover how generative AI can help you breathe easier. Whether you're crafting lesson plans, managing communications, or analyzing data, we'll show you practical ways to save time and reduce stress—so you can focus on what really matters: supporting your students and yourself. No tech expertise required—just bring your curiosity and leave with tools you can start using right away. Let’s make your day a little lighter, together.
This session is designed for new special education teachers or those seeking a refresher on the basics of using Frontline’s IEP and ARD preparation software. We will provide an overview of the system’s key features, focusing on navigation and foundational tools to help you get started. This training does not cover detailed task breakdowns but offers a solid starting point for understanding the software’s capabilities. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how to access, explore, and utilize the system for IEP and ARD preparation. Please bring a charged device with access to Frontline and your district login credentials.
Join us for an engaging, interactive, graduate-style seminar that will help students grasp the enduring questions in the humanities. You will gain practical knowledge on how to use philosophical texts to inspire and provoke deeper thought and discussion in the ELA and Social Studies classrooms. We will move through excerpts ranging from the classical, modern, and post-modern traditions. Excerpts will include foundational insights from some mix of Genesis, Plato, Dante, Hamlet, Machiavelli, Locke, Baudelaire, Nietzsche, and more. Come prepared to learn and participate! Please see the attached document for expectations during the seminar.
Attendees will engage in a deep dive into the world of modifications. This session will guide participants through a step-by-step process of making informed decisions about modifications based on a student's IEP. Educators will gain hands-on experience, applying what they've learned. Join us for this interactive session designed to give you the tools and confidence to modify instruction effectively to meet each student's unique needs. Bring your Charged Device, a student IEP, and an upcoming lesson to modify.
Feeling like there just aren't enough hours in the day? You're not alone. Join us for "Beat Burnout: AI Tools to Simplify Your Day" and discover how generative AI can help you breathe easier. Whether you're crafting lesson plans, managing communications, or analyzing data, we'll show you practical ways to save time and reduce stress—so you can focus on what really matters: supporting your students and yourself. No tech expertise required—just bring your curiosity and leave with tools you can start using right away. Let’s make your day a little lighter, together.
Imagine an endless digital whiteboard where every student can showcase their creativity and connect with one another—that’s FigJam! Learn how you can use FigJam to guide students in sharing their reflections, encouraging each other, and identifying ways to grow in their learning. Build your community through its many interactive tools, widgets, and stickers. Get hands-on experience as we play together, and leave with a library of ready-to-use templates and activity ideas to take back to your classroom.
I'm currently a Digital Learning Specialist in Plano ISD and a former math teacher and technology auditor. My formal education includes an M.Ed. in Learning and Technology and BS in Accounting. Teacher certs: EC - 8 Generalist; EC-12 Special Education; 4-8 Math; and EC-12 ESL I can... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 10:40am - 12:00pm CST
Jasper High School6800 Archgate Dr, Plano, TX 75024
This session explores how culturally relevant literacy can transform reading intervention by integrating students' cultural backgrounds, lived experiences, and critical thinking into literacy instruction. Participants will engage with practical strategies for selecting texts and learn methods to foster engagement, and academic success. Please bring a current reading intervention lesson or text to analyze through a culturally responsive lens.
Do your students struggle with time management, task initiation, organization, and other Executive Functions? Increase your knowledge of Executive Functions, the air traffic controller of the brain. Leave with practical, implementable strategies across classroom settings to promote development of students’ executive functions for academic, social, and behavioral success!
This is my 20th year as a Special Educator in PISD. My passions include everything related to Social Skills and Executive Functions, with a splash of Behavior Intervention/Support! I also am a Google for Education Certified Trainer.As an avid reader, my favorite topic to research... Read More →
Saturday March 1, 2025 10:40am - 12:00pm CST
Jasper High School6800 Archgate Dr, Plano, TX 75024
In this session, attendees will learn effective strategies for increasing student peer collaboration in the classroom. Participants will learn how to design activities that encourage teamwork, communication, and shared problem-solving, ultimately enhancing student learning outcomes. Examples and tools will be shared to help attendees implement these strategies in their own classrooms where all students are engaged and supported. Participants will leave with actionable ideas to boost peer interaction and academic success. Please bring a device and any questions you have about peer collaboration in your teaching practice
National Board Certification is a rigorous process in which educators demonstrate their accomplished teaching using a set of standards designed by educators for educators. The standards also help educators identify best practices to ensure every student learns and grows. In this session, we will explore the standards related to differentiation and learn more about PISD’s support for educators pursuing certification. Whether you are thinking about pursuing National Board certification or just want to increase your skills, this session will have something for you!
Participants will learn 10 strategies and supports they can implement immediately in their classrooms for students with high functioning autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Training will isolate strategies from the STOIC model that impact success for your most challenging students. "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated." - R. Collier
This presentation will explore how ChatGPT and AI tools can be utilized to create more engaging and personalized lessons for lower elementary students. By incorporating AI into the classroom, teachers can enhance storytelling, interactive activities, and creative learning experiences, making lessons more fun and effective. The session will showcase practical examples, including generating custom stories, offering differentiated learning, and simplifying complex concepts, all tailored to young learners. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to integrate AI into their teaching, saving time and fostering creativity in the classroom.
This hands-on class will cover practical strategies that promote positive behavior and create a supportive learning environment. You’ll learn how to implement visual aids that clarify expectations, enhance communication, and foster student independence. Participants will explore a variety of ready-to-use supplies, including charts, visual schedules, and behavior trackers, that can be seamlessly integrated into your classroom starting tomorrow. With collaborative activities and real-life examples, you’ll leave with a toolkit of resources and actionable ideas to enhance your classroom management skills. Let’s transform your classroom into a space where every student can thrive!
This session will support educators in fostering their own wellness while enhancing instructional strategies for Emergent Bilingual students. Through meaningful student interactions and research-based scaffolds, teachers will explore ways to create a balanced, engaging, and linguistically supportive classroom environment. Participants will engage in reflective practices, collaborative discussions, and hands-on applications of strategies such as the Picture Word Inductive Model (PWIM), Summary of Learning techniques, and explicit academic vocabulary development to strengthen students’ language fluency and comprehension.
