Elementary teachers may find that “fitting it all in” is impossible! Using informational text and technologies, elementary teachers will discover that not only is it possible to “fit it all in” it is fun! Examine the North Carolina Essential Standards and make connections to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, ELA and Writing Standards. Investigate text sets and the role they play in integrating multiple contents. Create engaging cross-curricular instructional units with culminating projects for assessments.

Students are engaged when they are involved in their work, persist despite challenges and obstacles, and take visible delight in their accomplishments. Solving student engagement issues is complex. What works in one class may be a failure in the next, with every year presenting new challenges for engaging students in various lessons. This program will use a collaborative classroom process to address questions dealing with how to create a classroom culture and how to create classroom instructions that facilitates self-motivation, personal responsibility, and perseverance of students. Participants will also review and evaluate motivational strategies for engaging students that can be used upon their return to the classroom.

Designed for teachers of grades K–3.

Discover new ways to turn reading strategies into writing opportunities that deepen comprehension and extend student learning. This interactive program will explore multiple tools to unlock “thinking” in the classroom, including the use of journal responses, writing as inquiry across the content areas, and the power of authentic interactions with poetry and prompts.

Designed for ELA teachers of grades 6–8 and those who coach them.

Middle grades ELA inhabits a type of educational limbo. Intellectually, students are capable of taking on complex reading and writing tasks but many are still developing the necessary maturity to do so. This program will examine the knowledge and skills necessary to transition successfully from elementary to high school. Teachers will engage in and then craft their own language arts activities that engage both the child and the budding adult in each of their students. Activities will address reading, writing, thinking, speaking, and listening skills.

Designed for those that have participated in NCCAT’s “Canvas Connections: Beginning Users” program or that have comparable intensive Canvas training.

Canvas, North Carolina’s Learning Management System (LMS), is your place for one stop learning and course management. Teachers who are currently using Canvas will learn how to use buttons and banners to give their course a more professional look. Engage students by creating blended lessons using Canvas and a variety of Web tools. Design an ePortfolio for professional use. Become more familiar with using an LMS to collaborate with teachers from across the state. This program is designed for intermediate users and will allow teachers time to map their course for an entire semester using the calendar feature.

Extreme weather events offer multiple opportunities to create engaging lessons across grade levels and the curriculum. Real-time media coverage of devastating storms like Katrina creates the ideal catalyst for motivating student interest in science, math, literacy, technology, and social studies lessons. Hear accounts from Outer Banks residents who have experienced hurricanes firsthand and see evidence of damage caused by recent storms. Partner with science, literacy, and digital learning experts to explore how extreme weather events are the perfect curriculum storm for creating lessons that will enhance K–12 instruction.

The 21st Century has revealed a rapidly changing and evolving world that has affected teaching and learning. With advances in technology, teachers and students have instant access to vast amounts of information. What literacy strategies do teachers employ to help today’s learners process, critique, and analyze this endless stream of data? Participants will investigate information literacy, intentional questioning, and dialogue. Using informational text, teachers will explore how intentional questioning can foster student dialogue and effective communication. Additionally, teachers will examine how current events and technology can be used to foster critical thinking skills and collaborative problem solving.