2026 GOCSD Innovation Summit

Get ready to rethink the power of manipulatives! This hands-on session will show how giving students the opportunity to physically touch, move, and build with math tools can spark deeper understanding than screen-based practice alone. While manipulatives are often associated with early primary grades, they can be game-changing for upper elementary students—especially those who have struggled to connect with math in the past. Participants will explore how to use manipulatives to connect mathematical concepts to real-world situations, helping students make sense of what they are learning through building, modeling, and proving their thinking. This approach moves beyond rote memorization and drill-based learning, empowering students to develop lasting conceptual understanding. Teachers will leave with ready-to-use strategies, engaging lesson ideas, and interactive games they can implement immediately. This session is ideal for educators teaching grades 2–5.

School-wide music video. Pickleball tournament. Community Car Shows. Building a marimba. Journaling. Mental Health Education. Senior projects can be more than a capstone—they can be a catalyst for real change. In our program, students identify something that would improve their lives, the school, or the community, then turn their research into action. This session will share how we structure student-led projects that move beyond compliance to authentic impact. Participants will learn practical frameworks for guiding inquiry, supporting project management, and assessing real-world learning so students can apply what they know in meaningful ways.