Professional Learning

KASC offers a wide variety of Professional Learning focused on helping schools improve student achievement. Contact our training staff at (859) 238-2188 or E-mail to schedule your training session. Or register individually with our self-paced online training.

View our KASC Workshops Quick Reference Chart.

"...the KASC workshop re-energized my teacher perspective. I was so focused on implementing the strategies that she gave, that I looked over my lesson plans the next day and tweaked my lesson to include the new information."  — Karen Cobb, Language Arts Teacher at Lebanon Middle School

Our Professional Learning Sessions...

THE QUALITY CLASSROOM — A quality classroom is one where students not only master standards but also gain an appreciation for the learning process. Studies have consistently shown that these components create an environment for high-quality instruction and learning:

• high expectations for all
• active and cognitive student engagement
• teaching about and for the brain
• effective formative assessment with quality feedback

Participants will explore these components and take back strategies to use in the classroom to transform learning for students.

ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING

• dig into the “why” behind formative assessment
• experience the impact of formative assessment on the learning process
• walk away with a process for developing quality assessments based on high expectations
• discover options for making formative assessment doable

HIGHER-LEVEL QUESTIONING WITH QUALITY FEEDBACK — Learn how to raise the level of questioning in the classroom, lead effective discussions to improve student achievement, and provide quality feedback that engages learners. Participants of this 3-hour training will be prepared to design instruction that helps students process at higher levels for greater achievement.

TEACHER’S TOOLBOX — Our Teacher’s Toolbox is a three-hour exploration of the greatest hits of the research-based instructional strategies that teachers request most: student engagement, differentiated instruction, achievement gap closure, growth mindset development, and brain-based discipline techniques. The result: an achievement-focused session where proven strategies are modeled, discussed, and implemented to help teachers reach higher levels.

EFFECTIVE FEEDBACK TO IMPROVE LEARNING — Learn research-based strategies for feedback that propels learners forward. This 3-hour session allows participants to apply the characteristics of effective feedback and provides practice and tools for giving feedback to students.

TARGETING THE DISABILITY ACHIEVEMENT GAP — Schools continuously target specific gap populations, but the disability gap is not closing fast enough for students to meet standards. In this 3-hour session, participants will explore common factors that have created opportunity gaps in schools and gain an understanding of how to address those. This interactive workshop will provide instructional strategies that have been proven effective for students with disabilities.

DEVELOPING A GROWTH MINDSET CLASSROOM — During this 6-hour workshop, educators will rethink what makes students successful. The research of Carol Dweck helps professionals realize that talent and ability can be developed through dedicated effort, deliberate practice, and time devoted to improvement. Participants will leave this interactive experience ready to teach students and fellow staff members how to develop a growth mindset for life.

GROWTH MINDSET: A GAME CHANGER FOR LEARNING — Growth Mindset is defined as the belief that intelligence can be developed with persistence, effort, and focus on improvement. During this 3-hour session, based on the research of Carol Dweck and Mary Cay Ricci, participants will gain an understanding of how a focus on growth mindset helps all students perform, and struggle/mistakes actually help the brain. When students focus on improvement, it can be a game-changer for student success. This workshop will provide specific strategies to use in the classroom and practical ways to get buy-in from students, parents, and school staff.

"Love the balance of hands-on activities and instructional time."

5 PROVEN WAYS TO INCREASE ACHIEVEMENT — What factors really help students achieve in school? New programs and initiatives come and go, but the compilation of research studies can point educators in the right direction toward improved student achievement. This 6-hour workshop, suitable for all content areas, is based on the work of renowned educator, author, and researcher Eric Jensen. During this action-packed workshop, participants will gain strategies for implementing 5 proven factors that increase achievement: growth mindset, relationships, student engagement, feedback, and cognitive skill-building.

PROVEN WAYS TO INCREASE ACHIEVEMENT — Based on the research of Eric Jensen, this 3-hour session introduces high-effect size factors that promote student achievement: growth mindset, relationships, feedback, and student engagement. These factors will be explored and strategies will be shared for school-wide impact or for individual teacher implementation. Participants will understand how these factors impact achievement as they learn strategies to implement in their classroom/school to raise student achievement.

“Normally, after teaching all day the thought of a two-hour workshop would be just frightening. To my surprise, the KASC workshop presented re-energized my teacher perspective. I was so focused on implementing the strategies that she gave, that I looked over my lesson plans the next day and tweaked my lesson to include the new information. Analyzing constructed-response really helped me focus my vocabulary instruction within my prompts. I found the handouts very useful and look forward to the second part of this training.”     – Karen Cobb, Language Arts Teacher at Lebanon Middle School

STUDYING YOUR SCORES  — The first step in moving your school forward is understanding your data.  Our Studying Your Scores session takes participants through state accountability scores step by step, helping schools understand where the scores came from and what they need to focus on.  Large, colorful graphs created from released data files are used to help your teachers and council members analyze the data, identify strengths, determine areas of concern, and focus on the next steps.

 Paraeducator Sessions

PARAEDUCATORS AS PARTNERS IN INCREASING ACHIEVEMENT – Explore four factors proven to strongly impact student achievement: growth mindset, relationships, student engagement, and feedback. This 3-hour workshop explores the same concepts as KASC’s Proven Ways to Increase Achievement except that the focus is on the paraeducator’s role in the classroom. Paraeducators will be actively involved in activities to deepen their understanding of these research-based factors and will leave with strategies specifically tailored for the roles they play in educating students.

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR PARAEDUCATORS  — Paraeducators are valuable team members in classroom instruction; their daily work with students is critical in a school’s goal of improving student achievement.  In this 3- hour workshop, participants will receive research-based strategies for building positive relationships with students and their collaborating teachers, as well as learn specific instructional strategies to use with students. Do not miss out on this opportunity to make sure your entire team has the necessary skills to improve student achievement!

PARAEDUCATOR’S TOOLBOX — The role of paraeducator requires a varied skillset and differs from school to school. In this 3-hour session, participants will explore research-based strategies most requested for paraeducators. Topics include instructional strategies for teaching small groups, giving quality feedback, and coaching students through challenges.

"What a wonderful workshop! Very informative! You know your stuff!"

Do-It-Yourself — Or we will be happy
to come lead it for you!

Full Professional Learning Sessions, including all training materials and a detailed facilitator’s guide, allow you to easily lead your staff through either a 3-hour or 6-hour session.

Please view the available options above marked with the DIY icon.