2026 GOCSD Innovation Summit

Do your read-alouds spark surface-level recall or deep inquiry? After implementing high-level questioning frameworks in my classroom, student engagement during literacy blocks soared. In this session, participants will move beyond passive listening to design interactive read-aloud experiences that demand critical thinking. We will practice "think-aloud" modeling and develop strategic stopping points that require students to analyze, infer, and evaluate. Attendees will leave with a "Read Aloud Planner" template and a curated list of complex texts perfect for K-8 inquiry. Please bring a favorite picture book to use during our hands-on planning workshop.

This session provides practical strategies for addressing challenging behaviors in both special education and general education classrooms. The presentation incorporates insights from CPI, Autism Helper, and Conscious Discipline, along with classroom-tested approaches developed through years of experience. Attendees will also explore a visual schedule format that has been successfully implemented and adapted over the past decade to align with evolving curriculum demands and the integration of educational technology.

In a world of instant answers, innovative classrooms must shift from information retrieval to "Cognitive Wrestling." This hands-on session provides a practical framework to transform searchable assignments into high-rigor challenges AI can’t solve alone. Participants will audit a current lesson using our "Un-Googleable Rubric" and leave with four "Task-Hacking" strategies to immediately deepen Tier 1 instruction. Move beyond the AI panic and rediscover the power of task design that demands human critical thinking.