🚀 Prosper Connects 25: Your Ultimate Professional Learning Adventure! 🌟 Get Ready for the Most Incredible Day of Learning in Prosper ISD!July 31st at Rock Hill High School | Over 300 Sessions Await! Calling all educators! Prepare for a day packed with inspiration, innovation, and incredible learning opportunities. From the electrifying drumline welcome to the delicious food trucks, this isn’t just another professional development day – it’s a celebration of education! ✨ Highlights:
Want to learn some easy to implement and impactful accommodations for your classroom? You found just the place! With SPED and 504 coordinator experience, we have found some cool ways to implement easy things with district resources that we already have access to!
Learn how to design and use graphic organizers that bring Depth and Complexity to life! This hands-on session will show you how to visually organize thinking, deepen student understanding, and make learning more engaging. Walk away with ready-to-use templates and the skills to create your own for any subject.
Learn how we identify and meet the instructional needs of gifted learners in Prosper. Learn about the referral process, what CogAT data actually tells us about student learners, and how students receive services in elementary, middle school and high school.
How to bring the Humanities (art, literature, philosophy, etc.) into on-level and Advanced Placement Social Studies classes to enrich and bring depth to learning. The Humanities can act as new access points to the course content and make that content more relevant to the student.
Explore vocabulary through play! Discover new words, their meanings, and connections to the world. Become a word detective, building vocabulary and word power in this engaging, interactive workshop suitable for any age or content level. Let's make learning vocabulary an exciting adventure!
Learn how to structure math workshop so your students can become successful, independent learners, allowing you to maximize small group instruction. This session will focus on structure, accountability, and expectations.
Mathematics Consultant & Author, Math Coach's Corner
My mission is to help math teachers and students feel more positive and confident about math. Math is a fascinating, beautiful, and creative subject. It’s about choosing the path that makes sense to you and engaging in robust mathematical discussions. It’s understanding that everyone... Read More →
Students exploring science concepts before receiving a formal explanation encourages students to construct their own understanding instead of passively receiving information. Come learn how using the phenomena found in the McGraw Hill program is the perfect launch to hands-on, inquiry-based exploration of science concepts, and then provides a great connection for students to explain their learning.
Cindy is a recently retired PK-12 Science Coordinator. She helped McGraw Hill create Texas Science and is excited to share all of the wonderful resources found in the program!
Students exploring science concepts before receiving formal explanation encourages students to construct their own understanding instead of passively receiving information. Come learn how using the phenomena found in Texas Science can launch to hand-on, inquiry based exploration of the science concepts, and then provides a great connection for students to explain their learning.
Come learn how to make STEMscopes work for you! We'll unpack the basics of STEMscopes and identify essential tools to make your planning more efficient and effective. We will also explore a few *hidden gems* that you may not know are included in STEMscopes. This session is perfect for teachers who have never used this curriculum AND teachers who have used STEMscopes but are looking to up their game.
Educators will learn several simple strategies to help those GT students who struggle with anxiety and perfectionism. These strategies can be done throughout the year while both the teacher and the student can create social and emotional goals in combating those anxieties and the mindsets of perfectionism that keep students from being successful.
Participants will increase their understanding of teaching Science with a 3D Framework while exploring the Science and Engineering Practices, the Science Content, and the Recurring Themes and Concepts in the TEKS during simple investigations according to the grade.
Teaching Up is NOT lowering communication expectations for students. Teaching Up is NOT about creating extra work for teachers (ain't nobody got time for that!). So what IS Teaching Up in World Languages? In this session, participants will learn what Teaching Up is and use that learning to create a lesson that applies Teaching Up principles.
Participants will explore practical applications of AI, from generating differentiated learning activities and creating personalized assessments to automating resource curation and analyzing student data. Discover how AI can alleviate planning burdens, freeing up valuable time for impactful instruction and meaningful student connections. Walk away with actionable strategies and hands-on experience to seamlessly integrate AI into your planning process, transforming your approach to teaching and learning.
Teacher with 15 years experience publicly and over 20 private and public combined. Have taught electives and core classes. World traveler and explorer. Avid technology advocate and life long learner.
Explore the Visual Non-Glossary, a student-driven approach to vocabulary that uses images and real-world connections instead of traditional definitions. Learn practical strategies to enhance comprehension, support diverse learners, and engage students in creating visual representations across subjects. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas for your classroom!
This session will equip teachers in grades 2-5 with the skills to effectively create and manage NWEA MAP testing sessions. Participants will also learn how to accurately organize and utilize MAP data to implement differentiated small groups across their grade level.
The language of science curriculum is complex, abstract, and can be quite a challenge to pronounce. Supporting all learners, especially English learners, as they internalize these terms is a complicated challenge for modern science teachers. Teaching Science to ELs highlights key strategies that are designed specifically for science and are targeted to support the four domains of language while making science content comprehensible for all learners.
Participants in this training will explore different types of questioning, options for designing and scaffolding open-ended questions, strategies for leading students (i.e., young scientists!) to formulate their own questions, and structures to facilitate productive discussions about their learning. Participants will receive and interact with a copy of the book, Teaching Science to ELs, which includes more than twenty activities designed to get kids reading, writing, speaking, and thinking as scientists.
Explore a formative assessment strategy that helps to provide a clearer picture of student understanding, allowing for targeted support and intervention. Learn how to foster a growth mindset while ensuring students achieve mastery of learning objectives through meaningful assessment and grading practices.
Discover how to create a dynamic Gifted and Talented (GT) Showcase where secondary students present individualized research projects in mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) to parents and community members. This session will provide practical strategies for guiding students through in-depth research, connecting math and literacy, and designing interactive presentations that include hands-on activities to demonstrate understanding. Learn how to structure projects, foster critical thinking, and create an engaging showcase that highlights student inquiry and innovation.
Learn how we identify and meet the instructional needs of gifted learners in Prosper. Learn about the referral process, what CogAT data actually tells us about student learners, and how students receive services in elementary, middle school and high school.
The Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) approach helps students build a deep understanding of math, but common misconceptions can keep teachers from using it effectively. In this session, we’ll clear up those misunderstandings and explore simple, practical ways to move students from hands-on learning to abstract thinking with confidence!
Mathematics Consultant & Author, Math Coach's Corner
My mission is to help math teachers and students feel more positive and confident about math. Math is a fascinating, beautiful, and creative subject. It’s about choosing the path that makes sense to you and engaging in robust mathematical discussions. It’s understanding that everyone... Read More →
Empower your 3rd-5th grade students to construct relationships and build connections using problem strings during your number sense routines. In this session, we will discuss the difference between number talks and problem strings and the huge impact we have seen them have on student growth.
Getting students to understand CER is important because it helps them think through the scientific process. All claims must have supporting evidence, and students should be able to explain the reasoning behind their thoughts. With Texas Science students work through the process while going through an entire lesson starting with the claim and adding evidence and reasoning as they gain scientific knowledge throughout the lesson. CER is science literacy for the win!
McGraw Hill Page Keeley Science Probes provide a unique way to pre- and post-assess student learning and increase student engagement. The session will offer a variety of ways to engage students with the Probes and offer tips on how to use them to assess student understanding of science concepts.
Cindy is a recently retired PK-12 Science Coordinator. She helped McGraw Hill create Texas Science and is excited to share all of the wonderful resources found in the program!
Research lauds the many benefits of utilizing stations in the classroom. But how can World Language educators leverage those benefits with the overarching goal of Communication? In this session, participants will analyze and create rigorous, communicative tasks that can be used as stations in their classroom.
Unlock the potential of graphic novels in the elementary classroom! This session will explore how graphic novels can enhance literacy, engage reluctant readers, and support diverse learning styles. Participants will discover strategies for integrating graphic novels across the curriculum, fostering a love for reading, and promoting critical thinking skills among young learners.
Explore Depth & Complexity and J Taylor Graphic Organizers to promote high level student engagement and discourse to elevate the thinking for all learners.
Explore the Visual Non-Glossary, a student-driven approach to vocabulary that uses images and real-world connections instead of traditional definitions. Learn practical strategies to enhance comprehension, support diverse learners, and engage students in creating visual representations across subjects. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas for your classroom!
With students spending more time in math workshop, it’s essential that they are provided with high-quality tasks and held accountable for the work they do. Example tasks, which you’ll be able to download, illustrate each of the tips in this session.
Mathematics Consultant & Author, Math Coach's Corner
My mission is to help math teachers and students feel more positive and confident about math. Math is a fascinating, beautiful, and creative subject. It’s about choosing the path that makes sense to you and engaging in robust mathematical discussions. It’s understanding that everyone... Read More →
Discover how Depth of Knowledge (DOK) transforms learning by moving students from recall to deep reasoning. This session equips educators with practical strategies to craft questions and tasks that promote critical thinking and meaningful engagement.
Dr. Kathy Hoernke is a dedicated educator with over 25 years of experience in teaching mathematics and science. She currently teaches Honors Algebra 2 and Statistics at Rock Hill High School and serves as a College Site Supervisor for student teachers across grades K – 12. Dr. Hoernke's... Read More →
You're not alone! Classrooms everywhere are dealing with attention issues, and GT kids are feeling it even more. We will explore why this is happening and how we can use some brain science to help students focus better and learn more effectively.
Career and Technology Teacher- Family and Consumer Sciences, Prosper ISD
Personal Mission Statement:Educating learners of all ages and demographics in a safe and nurturing environment, challenging each student to actively participate in the learning process, and acknowledging that the term learner is a life long endeavor.Personal Vision Statement:Impacting... Read More →
Effective classroom discourse is more than just students talking. This session explores how to use classroom conversations as a powerful tool to gauge student understanding, identify misconceptions, and inform instructional decisions. Participants will learn practical strategies for facilitating rich discussions, analyzing student contributions, and using discourse data to adjust teaching in real-time.
Student created Interactive Word Walls can significantly increase student understanding of science concepts. The session will highlight how and when to use these McGraw Hill Interactive Word Wall graphic organizers during the 5E Model of Inquiry. Grade specific management tips will help teachers efficiently use the Interactive Word Walls with their students.
Cindy is a recently retired PK-12 Science Coordinator. She helped McGraw Hill create Texas Science and is excited to share all of the wonderful resources found in the program!
If you need an introduction or a refresh of Texas Science this is the session for you. You will be introduced to all aspects of Texas Science to make your job easier and will learn how to use the program for student success!
Explore Depth & Complexity and J Taylor Graphic Organizers to promote high level student engagement and discourse to elevate the thinking for all learners.
Explore the Visual Non-Glossary, a student-driven approach to vocabulary that uses images and real-world connections instead of traditional definitions. Learn practical strategies to enhance comprehension, support diverse learners, and engage students in creating visual representations across subjects. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas for your classroom!
Explore Depth & Complexity and J Taylor Graphic Organizers to promote high level student engagement and discourse to elevate the thinking for all learners.
Students exploring science concepts before receiving a formal explanation encourages students to construct their own understanding instead of passively receiving information. Come learn how using the phenomena found in the McGraw Hill program is the perfect launch to hands-on, inquiry-based exploration of science concepts, and then provides a great connection for students to explain their learning.
Cindy is a recently retired PK-12 Science Coordinator. She helped McGraw Hill create Texas Science and is excited to share all of the wonderful resources found in the program!
Students exploring science concepts before receiving formal explanation encourages students to construct their own understanding instead of passively receiving information. Come learn how using the phenomena found in Texas Science can launch to hand-on, inquiry based exploration of the science concepts, and then provides a great connection for students to explain their learning.
Explore the Visual Non-Glossary, a student-driven approach to vocabulary that uses images and real-world connections instead of traditional definitions. Learn practical strategies to enhance comprehension, support diverse learners, and engage students in creating visual representations across subjects. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas for your classroom!
Learn how we identify and meet the instructional needs of gifted learners in Prosper. Learn about the referral process, what CogAT data actually tells us about student learners, and how students receive services in elementary, middle school and high school.
The Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) approach helps students build a deep understanding of math, but common misconceptions can keep teachers from using it effectively. In this session, we’ll clear up those misunderstandings and explore simple, practical ways to move students from hands-on learning to abstract thinking with confidence!
Mathematics Consultant & Author, Math Coach's Corner
My mission is to help math teachers and students feel more positive and confident about math. Math is a fascinating, beautiful, and creative subject. It’s about choosing the path that makes sense to you and engaging in robust mathematical discussions. It’s understanding that everyone... Read More →
Getting students to understand CER is important because it helps them think through the scientific process. All claims must have supporting evidence, and students should be able to explain the reasoning behind their thoughts. With Texas Science students work through the process while going through an entire lesson starting with the claim and adding evidence and reasoning as they gain scientific knowledge throughout the lesson. CER is science literacy for the win!
McGraw Hill Page Keeley Science Probes provide a unique way to pre- and post-assess student learning and increase student engagement. The session will offer a variety of ways to engage students with the Probes and offer tips on how to use them to assess student understanding of science concepts.
Cindy is a recently retired PK-12 Science Coordinator. She helped McGraw Hill create Texas Science and is excited to share all of the wonderful resources found in the program!
Increase your understanding of teaching Science with a 3D Framework while exploring the Science and Engineering Practices, the Science Content, and the Recurring Themes and Concepts in the 9-12 TEKS while planning and performing simple investigations.
In this session, participants will dive deep into strategic unit planning by using science performance tasks as a design tool. Teachers will analyze performance tasks to identify the critical skills, practices, and knowledge students must develop throughout a unit. Teachers will create targeted instructional sequences that explicitly build the capabilities students need to successfully complete performance tasks. This approach ensures that every learning experience is purposeful, aligned, and designed to support student mastery.
Explore Depth & Complexity and J Taylor Graphic Organizers to promote high level student engagement and discourse to elevate the thinking for all learners.
In this session, we will examine the significant impact of visual representations on improving the understanding of academic vocabulary. Additionally, we will discuss methods by which students can utilize visuals to demonstrate a deeper grasp of their knowledge.
Explore the Visual Non-Glossary, a student-driven approach to vocabulary that uses images and real-world connections instead of traditional definitions. Learn practical strategies to enhance comprehension, support diverse learners, and engage students in creating visual representations across subjects. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas for your classroom!
Want to learn some easy to implement and impactful accommodations for your classroom? You found just the place! With SPED and 504 coordinator experience, we have found some cool ways to implement easy things with district resources that we already have access to!
This session will focus on practical, high-impact strategies to ensure all students thrive in your Tier 1 instruction. Accommodating instruction, not just tests, provides a foundation for equitable access and genuine engagement and creates a classroom where every student feels seen, heard, and empowered to learn.
ESL Specialist, Prosper Independent School District
My educational passion is streamlining processes so I'll have more time to help my students. I like utilizing programs that are engaging, intuitive, and time-saving. My background is in language acquisition, and I believe this gives me unique insight to all subject content at all... Read More →
In this session, teachers will explore how to strategically design a week-long instructional sequence using Stage 1 of the Unit Framework Design (UFD). Participants will learn to create a purposeful progression of scientific skills that begins with an investigation and culminates in students' ability to construct scientific explanations. By focusing on carefully scaffolded learning experiences, educators will develop the capacity to guide students from initial exploration to conceptual understanding through strategic instructional planning.
Are you curious about *Building Thinking Classrooms* but unsure where to start? This session will introduce elementary teachers to Peter Liljedahl’s framework for transforming math instruction. We’ll break down key elements such as non-permanent vertical surfaces, visible random groups, and rich problem-solving tasks, showing how they create an environment where all students think and engage deeply with math. Teachers will leave with practical strategies, easy-to-implement first steps, and the confidence to begin fostering a thinking classroom in their own elementary math lessons. Whether you're brand new to the concept or looking for ways to start small, this session will set you up for success!
Learn how we identify and meet the instructional needs of gifted learners in Prosper. Learn about the referral process, what CogAT data actually tells us about student learners, and how students receive services in elementary, middle school and high school.
Stop spending hours trying to figure out who needs what! Transform your classroom with WIN (What I Need) time using Formative's grouping tools. Students use their data to focus on exactly what they need - whether that's closing gaps or taking on new challenges. During our session, we'll explore DOK levels, create targeted intervention and extension activities, and give you time to plan your own WIN sessions. Perfect for anyone ready to make Formative work better in their classroom!
Social Studies High School Instructional Coach, Prosper ISD
Hello! I am about to enter my 18th year in education and my second year as a Social Studies Instructional Coach in Prosper ISD. I love everything about Social Studies. I love learning about highly effective instructional strategies to assist us in cultivating critical thinking... Read More →
Student created Interactive Word Walls can significantly increase student understanding of science concepts. The session will highlight how and when to use these McGraw Hill Interactive Word Wall graphic organizers during the 5E Model of Inquiry. Grade specific management tips will help teachers efficiently use the Interactive Word Walls with their students.
Cindy is a recently retired PK-12 Science Coordinator. She helped McGraw Hill create Texas Science and is excited to share all of the wonderful resources found in the program!
If you need an introduction or a refresh of Texas Science this is the session for you. You will be introduced to all aspects of Texas Science to make your job easier and will learn how to use the program for student success!
Join us for an engaging and interactive session designed for educators looking to enhance their instructional strategies through the effective use of small group tables and learning stations. This session will explore the benefits of small group learning, including differentiated instruction, increased student engagement, and collaborative skills development.
Educators will learn several simple strategies to help those GT students who struggle with anxiety and perfectionism. These strategies can be done throughout the year while both the teacher and the student can create social and emotional goals in combating those anxieties and the mindsets of perfectionism that keep students from being successful.
Increase your understanding of teaching Science with a 3D Framework while exploring the Science and Engineering Practices, the Science Content, and the Recurring Themes and Concepts in the 6-8 TEKS while planning and performing simple investigations.
Explore the Visual Non-Glossary, a student-driven approach to vocabulary that uses images and real-world connections instead of traditional definitions. Learn practical strategies to enhance comprehension, support diverse learners, and engage students in creating visual representations across subjects. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas for your classroom!
