Join us for an Edcon25 Pre-Conference
Tuesday, April 8 | 9am-3pm | International School of Panama
Jump into the conference experience with a learning opportunity during our Pre-Conference experience at The International School of Panama. Choose to register for one of the following offerings for a day of learning with a content facilitator:
Jessica Werner
Founder,
Northshore Learning
Classroom Management for the 21st Century: Creating a Calm and Positive Classroom Culture
In this pre-conference workshop, we will explore the most effective strategies and techniques that teachers can implement so that they are able to spend more time facilitating instruction and cultivating student relationships in their classrooms, and less time handling low-level student behavior issues, such as disrespect, interruptions, inattention, and reluctance to follow directions. We will also discuss proactive classroom management practices that create a positive, engaging learning environment where all students can thrive. Participants will leave this session with new strategies they can implement immediately in their classrooms.
Jessica Werner, Ph.D., is the Founder and CEO of Northshore Learning. Dr. Werner works with schools worldwide as an instructor, a professor of education and classroom management, and as a consultant. She is passionate about helping schools support and retain effective teachers, as the job of educators becomes more challenging due to increases in student academic, behavioral, and mental health needs. Dr. Werner specializes in behavior support, social and emotional learning, student regulation and self-management, and holistic approaches to student behavior and educator wellness.
Esther Bettney
School Network Researcher
Multilingual Learning Research Center
Bridging Research and Practice: What We Know and What We are Learning about Multilingual Learners in International Schools
Research is essential for designing, evaluating, and improving the effectiveness of students’ learning environments and school leaders are increasingly expected to ensure school environments are informed by the latest research. The most recent Cognia Performance Standards state: “Leaders promote action research by professional staff members to improve their practice and advance learning” (Standard 25). Many leaders are looking for opportunities to develop their and their teachers’ capacity to engage with and in educational research, but research can often feel disconnected from daily experiences in classrooms and schools. How can we close this “gap” between research and practice?
The Multilingual Learning Research Center (MLRC) is a new university-based research center, focused on conducting socially just research about teaching multilingual students. As a global-research practice partnership, we are committed to providing opportunities for international school educators to engage with and participate in relevant research across three key areas: teacher collaboration, translanguaging and inclusive learning for multilingual students. Participants will expand their research literacy skills through exploring current, relevant research across these three research topics.
Additionally, participants will learn about key components of action research through insights from AMISA educators who have engaged in action research projects, focused on questions about teaching multilingual learners. Participants will identify key areas for future research to inform the ongoing development of the MLRC Research Agenda, giving voice to the language-related expertise and questions relevant to the AMISA region.
Esther Bettney Heidt has been based in the AMISA region since 2006, as a classroom teacher, school administrator, teacher educator and educational researcher. Currently based in Medellín, Colombia, Esther’s work reflects her commitment to support, advocate for and engage in research that centers the experiences of multilingual students, their families, and their schools. Currently, she is the School Network Researcher at the Multilingual Learning Research Center (MLRC), a research center located within the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education. The MLRC School Network is a global research–practice partnership designed to explore common problems of practice in teaching multilingual learners within international schools. Esther holds a PhD from the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her dissertation research focused on equitable approaches to language education within international schools in Latin America.
Fiona Reynolds
Chief of Learning, UnconstrainED
Classroom Management for the 21st Century: Creating a Calm and Positive Classroom Culture
In this pre-conference workshop, we will explore the most effective strategies and techniques that teachers can implement so that they are able to spend more time facilitating instruction and cultivating student relationships in their classrooms, and less time handling low-level student behavior issues, such as disrespect, interruptions, inattention, and reluctance to follow directions. We will also discuss proactive classroom management practices that create a positive, engaging learning environment where all students can thrive. Participants will leave this session with new strategies they can implement immediately in their classrooms.
Fiona Reynolds is an accomplished and forward-thinking educational leader with over 30 years of experience in international schools across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Previously serving as the deputy head of school at the American School in Bombay, Fiona has established herself as a professional learning leader. She is a member of multiple academic boards, as well as advisory and steering committees working to bring evidence based practices to all schools and students. Fiona has presented at a variety of conferences on topics such as fostering trusting school cultures, facilitating organizational change, and creating schools that are responsive to developmental needs.
Madeleine Maceda Heide
Educational Consultant
Classroom Management for the 21st Century: Creating a Calm and Positive Classroom Culture
In this pre-conference workshop, we will explore the most effective strategies and techniques that teachers can implement so that they are able to spend more time facilitating instruction and cultivating student relationships in their classrooms, and less time handling low-level student behavior issues, such as disrespect, interruptions, inattention, and reluctance to follow directions. We will also discuss proactive classroom management practices that create a positive, engaging learning environment where all students can thrive. Participants will leave this session with new strategies they can implement immediately in their classrooms.
Oather Strawderman has taught Physics in Lawrence, Kansas since 1997. He currently serves as the Science Department Chair at Lawrence Free State High School. He has worked as a Question Leader at the annual AP Physics Reading since 2012. As a College Board endorsed AP Physics International Consultant, he has presented daylong and week-long workshops in over 35 states. In addition, Oather is honored to have had the opportunity to present International Workshops in Kunming, China, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Ontario, Canada, and Shanghai, China. Oather served for seven years as the Co-Chair of the AP Physics Development Committee where he helped develop the exam and worked on the preparation of the New Curriculum Frameworks. He trains other AP Consultants and mentors new AP Physics Consultants for College Board as the Lead Consultant for AP Physics. Oather also is an Instructor for AP Daily in AP Classroom and AP Daily Live Review on YouTube. He serves as the Chair of the College Board Science Academic Advisory Committee for which he advises College Board on all things Science related. Oather can be reached at www.PhluidPhysics.com.
Oather Strawderman
CollegeBoard Consultant
AP Course Skills and Practices Workshop
This workshop will provide an overview of the intersection of skills that cross the 38 AP courses and exams and will address the skills critical for college and career success. This workshop will help all high school teachers (those teaching AP and those not teaching AP) understand how to build skill development within and across the curriculum. It will not only address baseline skills. It will also show participants how the skills increase in complexity and offer strategies to address those more complex skills. Specific topics include: teaching for understanding and transfer, applying critical reasoning and thinking processes, importance of practice and formative assessments, using AP resrouces to enhance instruction.
Oather Strawderman has taught Physics in Lawrence, Kansas since 1997. He currently serves as the Science Department Chair at Lawrence Free State High School. He has worked as a Question Leader at the annual AP Physics Reading since 2012. As a College Board endorsed AP Physics International Consultant, he has presented daylong and week-long workshops in over 35 states. In addition, Oather is honored to have had the opportunity to present International Workshops in Kunming, China, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Ontario, Canada, and Shanghai, China. Oather served for seven years as the Co-Chair of the AP Physics Development Committee where he helped develop the exam and worked on the preparation of the New Curriculum Frameworks. He trains other AP Consultants and mentors new AP Physics Consultants for College Board as the Lead Consultant for AP Physics. Oather also is an Instructor for AP Daily in AP Classroom and AP Daily Live Review on YouTube. He serves as the Chair of the College Board Science Academic Advisory Committee for which he advises College Board on all things Science related. Oather can be reached at www.PhluidPhysics.com.