Winter Events Catalog 2014

Solutions W i n t e r 2014

Student success begins with you

Explore our world-class events!

Advance your expertise Take the first step to PD success

Join leading experts

Spark a change

Learn from thought leaders who specialize in providing research-based solutions on the critical topics you care about.

Bring a team that will return energized and ready to drive implementation on all that they’ve learned.

Collaborate with peers

Master your goals

Network and make connections you can use as resources for a lifetime.

Kick-start your PD program with events, then follow up with book studies and online courses to bring out the best in your staff.

Enhance your instruction Discover proven strategies and practices you can confidently implement to drive student achievement.

Share your ideas, tell your stories, and connect with fellow educators!

Glenda

@AllArmstrongg

A life changing experience! Thank you for giving me the confidence to move forward. #atplc 3:16 PM - 14 Nov 2013

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The journey continues

February 26–28

Phoenix, AZ

Whether you are just beginning to build a PLC or need to regroup for your next steps, this summit provides practical knowledge based on the three big ideas that drive a PLC, delivered by thought leaders who know the process best.

You will return to your school system ready to build staff capacity to work interdependently within high-performing collaborative teams committed to continuous improvement.

Mike Mattos, Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, and Robert Eaker

K eynotes

• Rebecca DuFour First Things First: Building the Solid Foundation of a Professional Learning Community at Work™

Additional presenters

• Richard DuFour Leaders Wanted: Keys to Effective Leadership in Professional Learning Communities at Work™

• Robert Eaker Kid by Kid, Skill by Skill: Being a Teacher in a Professional Learning Community

Luis F. Cruz

Douglas Fisher

Michael Fullan

• Michael Fullan Leadership: Maximizing Impact

• Mike Mattos More Powerful Than Poverty

Timothy D. Kanold

Anthony Muhammad

Regina Owens

Explore sessions online!

solution-tree.com/2014PLCSummit

Kenneth C. Williams

800.733.6786

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Build school culture

where learning thrives The Professional Learning Communities at Work™ process is increasingly recognized as the most powerful strategy for sustained, substantive school improvement. You’ll delve Mike Mattos, Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, and Robert Eaker

deep into the three big ideas of a PLC—focus on learning, build a collaborative culture, and results orientation—to gain specific, practical, and inspiring strategies. These

June 2–4 Las Vegas, NV

institutes give you and your team the knowledge and tools

June 5–7 St. Charles, MO*

to transform your school or district into a place where all

June 11–13 Minneapolis, MN

June 17–19 Orlando, FL*

July 9–11 Seattle, WA*

July 16–18 San Antonio, TX*

July 29–31 Memphis, TN

August 4–6 Lincolnshire, IL*

August 13–15 Grand Rapids, MI

students learn at high levels.

L earning O utcomes

• Build the capacity of staff to function as a PLC at Work™.

• Use the PLC at Work™ process to sustain continuous school improvement.

• Develop systems of intervention and enrichment for students who experience difficulty and for those who are already proficient.

• Use evidence of student learning to inform and improve professional practice.

• Effectively address resistance to engaging in the most promising practices to improve student learning.

September 24–26 Anaheim, CA

October 1–3 Tulsa, OK

October 15–17 Denver, CO

November 5–7 Charlotte, NC * Available as a hybrid

Register early—PLC at Work™ Institutes sell out!

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Streaming solutions, inspiring collaboration

Available hybrid events St. Charles, MO June 5–7

Experience the power of a PLC at Work™ Institute from the comfort of your own school! Live streaming video provides dynamic and engaging keynotes, breakouts, and panel discussions. A PLC at Work™ associate will be on-site at your school to facilitate discussions, offer feedback, and personalize the learning experience.

There’s no better opportunity to get your whole team on board!

Deadline: April 24

Orlando, FL June 17–19 Deadline: May 6

Seattle, WA July 9–11

Deadline: May 28

San Antonio, TX July 16–18

Deadline: June 4

Lincolnshire, IL August 4–6

Deadline: June 23

S treaming benefits

• A great option when faced with tight travel budgets.

• Staff won’t have to sacrifice personal time for travel.

• All school or district staff, rather than a small team, can participate firsthand.

• An on-site PLC at Work™ associate will facilitate the event for a personalized experience.

• Gain access to in-demand PLC at Work™ experts who may be unavailable for on-site PD.

• Available for 160–500 attendees.

Learn more!

Go online to preview what streaming looks like, investigate costs, and watch a webinar featuring educators who have hosted a hybrid successfully!

solution-tree.com/Hybrids

solution-tree.com/Hybrids 800.733.6786

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Find your perfect match Revitalize your learning approach Enjoy attending large events featuring

Workshops

Institutes

Summits

Workshops

Institutes

Summits

75–150

500–1,800

2,000+

2

2–3

3

Number of presenters

1–2

2–12

4–12

Research-based strategies

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Expert guidance

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Honest conversations

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Capacity

keynote speakers and breakout sessions?

Learn best in intimate, hands-on settings working closely with presenters? No matter what your preference, we have what you’re looking for.

Days of training

Panel discussions

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Forums

Your team is making a huge difference in education. Please keep up this incredible and important work. Thank you so much!”

—Brett Jackman, principal,

La Grande Middle School, Oregon

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Interactive team training

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Customizable content

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Intensive, topic-specific breakout sessions

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Critical support on key leadership issues

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Hybrid events available

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Mobile application

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On-site bookstore

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Built-in team time

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Leadership

NOW

#leadnow14

Remarkable leadership, remarkable learning results

April 1–3

Las Vegas, NV

Whether you are a leader at the district, school, or classroom level, you will be more effective when you clarify the work that needs to be done and create the conditions that allow others to succeed in their specific roles. This summit will expand your capacity for leadership and help

Rebecca DuFour

Richard DuFour

Tammy Heflebower

Timothy D. Kanold

Robert J. Marzano

Anthony Muhammad

Phil Warrick

Kenneth C. Williams

you contribute to creating reliable systems that drive best practices in every classroom.

L earning O utcomes

• Gain an understanding of how to promote high standards of achievement for all students.

• Ensure collaborative learning through shared leadership and accountability.

• Acquire techniques for consensus building, strategic planning, and vision development.

• Develop effective systems of job-embedded professional development.

• Obtain tools, tips, and templates proven to impact team effectiveness and student learning.

The presenters were engaging, entertaining, and presented their messages with clarity and passion.”

solution-tree.com/LeadershipNOW

—Todd Dawson, assistant principal, Snow Canyon Middle School, Utah

800.733.6786

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#rtiaw

April 29–May 1 Toronto, ON October 27–29 Des Moines, IA November 19–21 Dallas, TX

The key to unlocking powerful interventions What does successful response to intervention look like when all the pieces come together? With access to recognized

Austin Buffum

Mike Mattos

experts, you’ll discover how to lead the RTI process at the site and district levels. Learn how to create a proactive process to identify students who need help, place them in the proper intervention, monitor their progress, and determine when they no longer need additional support.

L earning O utcomes Laurie Robinson

Chris Weber

This conference was beyond expectations!

I came hoping to learn strategies to give to teachers for reteaching and came away with a vision for schoolwide team building and shared responsibility to ensure all students learn.”

• Understand the critical components and implementation of a behavioral RTI system.

• Utilize a site leadership and intervention team to support schoolwide interventions.

• Design master schedules that provide core instruction, interventions, and elective options for students at risk.

• Identify effective Tier 3 interventions for students struggling with reading, writing, number sense, and English language.

• Determine the best ways to utilize schoolwide support staff in the RTI process, including psychologists, counselors, special education teachers, and intervention specialists.

—Beatrice Benjamin, school improvement coordinator, Taylor School District, Michigan

solution-tree.com/RTIInstitutes Speakers are subject to change.

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Simplifying Response to Intervention 2-day workshops

#stworkshops

Proven techniques to

close learning gaps

March 12–13 March 19–20

April 3–4

April 9–10 May 22–23

Omaha, NE Seattle, WA Boston, MA San Antonio, TX Prince George, BC

RTI is not a series of implementation steps to cross off on a list, but a way of thinking about how educators can ensure each child achieves success. Learn why paperwork-heavy, test-score-driven approaches fail—and then learn how to create an RTI model that works. Acquire four essential guiding principles—collective responsibility, concentrated instruction, convergent assessment, and certain access—and

Austin Buffum

Mike Mattos

experience a simple process for bringing these principles to life in your school.

L earning O utcomes

• Use the four guiding principles to guide thinking and implementation.

• Build team structures for collaboration.

• Define essential learnings in a program of concentrated instruction.

• Create a toolbox of effective interventions.

• Develop a system of convergent assessment to identify students for intervention, determine their unique needs, monitor their progress, and revise or extend learning based on their progress.

I felt lost and overwhelmed, but after listening to you for two days I was refreshed, revived, and ready to go back to my school! RTI is an amazing program, and the way you presented it made it totally doable.

Thanks!”

—Kim Fairchild, teacher, Terra Centre Elementary School, Virginia

solution-tree.com/Workshops 800.733.6786

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Building Common Assessments 2-day workshops

March 10–11

March 17–18

April 1–2

April 1–2

April 7–8 November 18–19

Omaha, NE Seattle, WA Boston, MA Denver, CO San Antonio, TX Boston, MA

#stworkshops

Inform your practice

with strategic assessments Learn how to work as collaborative teams to develop common formative assessments. Your team will establish a consistent way to effectively monitor student learning, respond to results, implement informed practice, and raise expectations. Leave with a framework for working interdependently to create high-quality assessments and to collect meaningful instructional data that

Cassandra Erkens

Angela LaBounty

Sarah Schuhl

informs interventions and enrichment planning.

L earning O utcomes The presenter’s big picture was really helpful right from the outset. Having day two set up as a series of very meaningful, optional workshops paired with teamwork time was exactly what our group needed.”

• Understand the rationale for using common formative assessments.

• Learn the common formative assessment process from beginning to end.

• Focus on the keys to accurate design and effective use of assessments.

• Gain supportive tools, such as planning templates and protocols.

—Peter Booth, teacher, Champlain Valley Union High School, Vermont

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Standards I

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Driving success in the

Common Core classroom

April 29–May 1

Glendale, AZ

Schools throughout the nation face a new challenge of transitioning to the Common Core State Standards. How do you align current curriculum with these new initiatives? Which assessments best monitor students’ progress and engage them in learning? For answers to these questions and more, we’re

Victoria L. Bernhardt

Diane J. Briars

Tim Brown

Cassandra Erkens

Douglas Fisher

Thomas R. Guskey

Timothy D. Kanold

Robert J. Marzano

Meg Ormiston

Mary Kim Schreck

Nicole Vagle

bringing you experts who have worked on the new CCSS for mathematics and English language arts. You’ll have time to explore, network, and discover new tools for implementing practical strategies.

L earning O utcomes

• Learn how to design standards-based assessments that tell you immediately whether your students are hitting their learning targets.

• Examine how instruction and assessment will need to change in order for students to be successful with the CCSS for mathematics and English language arts.

• Determine how to “power” the Common Core.

• Learn the current status of the assessment consortia (PARCC and Smarter Balanced), and analyze content-specific implications for your school or district.

• Discover a process to unpack the new CCSS and design simple formative assessments.

solution-tree.com/CCSA 800.733.6786

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Common Core

NOW #corenow

July 28–29

Boston, MA

Deeper implementation,

stronger results Transform stress into success. At this empowering event, discover the promise of learning embedded in the implementation challenges of the Common Core. Find strategies to successfully prepare students and staff for high-stakes testing—to persevere

Luis F. Cruz

James W. Cunningham

Juli K. Dixon

from the first raw results to lasting achievement. You’ll leave equipped with techniques for tackling specific requirements for English language arts and mathematics; collaborating with peers on work that really impacts learning; reaching English learners; enlisting parental support; and measuring student progress every step of the way.

Cassandra Erkens

Timothy D. Kanold

LeAnn Nickelsen

L earning O utcomes

All the presenters are knowledgeable and engaging. I always leave Solution Tree events with materials and ideas I can bring back and start using right away.”

—Colleen Roy, teacher, South Meadow Middle School, New Hampshire

• Align curriculum design, resource selection, instruction, and assessment to ensure college and career readiness.

• Gain up-to-date information on the PARCC and Smarter Balanced assessments.

• Acquire strategies proven to help students develop critical thinking skills.

• Examine and try highly engaging reading, vocabulary, and writing strategies.

• Make sense of teaching for depth through the Standards for Mathematical Practice.

• Learn how to identify and adapt tasks for cognitive demand.

Register by April 25 for early bird rates!

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Implementing Common Core Standards With Total Instructional Alignment

2-day workshops

#stworkshops

Prepare for smooth and

effective implementation

April 7–8 April 14–15 April 22–23

St. Louis, MO Orlando, FL San Diego, CA

Plan ahead to ensure a seamless transition from current state standards to the new Common Core State Standards. Successful alignment of instruction must begin with teachers developing a clear and consistent understanding of what students are expected to learn and sound assessments to determine the effectiveness of instruction.

L earning O utcomes

• Learn tools and processes to successfully unpack and align the national Common Core Standards through curriculum, assessment, and quality instruction.

• Write clear learning goals that are specific, measurable, and aligned to higher-order thinking.

• Create high-quality assessments designed to frequently measure individual student learning progress.

• Explore vertical and horizontal teams that embed flexible grouping and differentiated instructional practices.

• Align your school system as a culture in which time—not learning—is the variable and standards, curriculum, assessment, and instruction are connected.

Lisa Carter

I was able to begin building a plan to start the rollout of Common Core Standards. This workshop provided some extremely helpful clarity!”

—Laura Wharff, principal, Sylvan Union School District, California

solution-tree.com/Workshops 800.733.6786

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Common Core for English Language Arts 2-day workshops

March 27–28 Sacramento, CA November 3–4 San Diego, CA

#stworkshops

Set the stage for student mastery Educators must re-evaluate their practices to align with the rigor and relevance demanded by the Common Core. The CCSS for English language arts demand that students learn to justify their responses with evidence and to read increasingly complex text.

Nancy Frey

Participants will learn what changes to curriculum are necessary to meet the standards, gain assessment strategies for developing student proficiency, and leave with an action plan to ensure student achievement.

I learned several things I could take back to my school and start working on with my team. I’m not sure I’ve ever been able to say that about a workshop. Really had a good time and am looking forward to more!”

—Patricia Leatherman, teacher, Washington Elementary School, Oregon

Host a premier workshop!

You’ll experience the excitement of hosting while providing educators in your area the chance to improve their practices.

Contact your director of educational partnerships to learn more. solution-tree.com/Director

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L earning O utcomes

• Identify the conceptual shifts in the CCSS for English language arts.

• Enumerate the anchor standards in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language, and foundational skills.

• Comprehend the components of text complexity, text-dependent questions, and close reading.

• Analyze lesson vignettes and videos for compliance with the key tenets of the CCSS.

• Evaluate a collaborative planning team process, and identify areas of strength and need.

Beyond the Common Core Mathematics in a Professional Learning Community

2-day workshops

#stworkshops

Maximize your learning results

March 25–26 April 3–4

Sacramento, CA Denver, CO

Achieving excellence in mathematics education begins by understanding the thousands of instruction and assessment decisions teachers and teacher teams make every year as they inspire students to learn. This high-energy and collaborative K–12 workshop provides teachers, teacher teams, and administrators with a deeper understanding of the Mathematical Practices,

Diane J. Briars

Timothy D. Kanold

Sarah Schuhl

their impact on daily instruction, and the necessary formative assessment protocols. You will learn how to develop, unit by unit, meaningful mathematics instruction and assessment with the rigor and coherence expected by all states—regardless of whether they have adopted the CCSS-M.

L earning O utcomes

• Implement the powerful PLC teaching-assessing-learning cycle.

• Use and design daily lesson planning protocols that reflect the expectations of rigorous, focused, coherent CCSSaligned mathematics instruction.

• Understand why and how to develop high cognitive demand tasks aligned to the CCSS-M.

• Design and use high-quality unit-by-unit common assessment instruments aligned to the CCSS-M.

• Improve your collaborative team and school actions for response to intervention in mathematics.

Very motivating speaker! I am ready to meet the PLC teams in my school and develop their skills in the area of looking, analyzing, and making decisions in the best interest of the student.”

—Kathryn Zanin, math specialist, Tucson Unified School District, Nevada

solution-tree.com/Workshops 800.733.6786

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Response to Intervention in Math 2-day workshops

April 9–10

April 16–17

April 24–25 November 20–21

St. Louis, MO Orlando, FL San Diego, CA Boston, MA

#stworkshops

Give every student

the opportunity to succeed When planning multitiered interventions, students who struggle with mathematics often get overlooked. Your K–12 mathematics leadership team will work out a comprehensive approach to important RTI decisions, determining where holes in learning exist

William N. Bender

Darlene Crane

and how to intervene. This intensive workshop helps educators gain research-based solutions and processes for designing intervention plans for all grade levels.

L earning O utcomes The workshop was very well presented and professionally done! The presenters were extremely knowledgeable and prepared.”

—Jeany Salter, teacher, Huron Elementary School, South Dakota

• Learn how to use assessments for universal screening and benchmarking in mathematics.

• Gain strategies specific to middle and high schools for using RTI in mathematics.

• Understand how differentiated instruction strengthens Tier 1 instruction for all grade levels.

• Examine how the new Common Core State Standards initiative impacts RTI.

• See how other schools in the nation handle implementation problems.

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2-dayWORKSHOPS

Hosted by Mid-Del Public Schools

#mrlworkshops

Enhancing the Art & Science of teaching with technology

February 4–5

Midwest City, OK

Prepare students for college and career success in the 21st century. Learn how to leverage existing technologies— computers, interactive whiteboards, clickers, laptops, tablets, and student devices—to enhance instruction and improve student engagement and achievement.

Vocabulary for the Common Core

Robert J. Marzano

Sonny Magaña

February 6–7

Midwest City, OK

Understand the difference between general and academic vocabulary and how learning vocabulary relates to building background knowledge. This multilayered, interactive workshop provides teachers with the why and how of learning and teaching vocabulary and offers concrete strategies for improving instruction.

Robert J. Marzano

Mitzi Hoback

Diane E. Paynter

marzanoresearch.com/Events 800.733.6786

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Canadian Events solution-tree.com/CanadianEvents

April 14–15

Montreal, QC

Transforming School Culture 2-Day Workshop #stworkshops

Learn strategies that address staff cohesion issues and maximize human potential in schools and districts. Explore the root causes of staff resistance to change, and leave with concrete strategies that will improve school culture and lay the foundation for a powerful learning environment.

Anthony Muhammad

April 29–May 1

Toronto, ON

RTI at Work Institute TM

#rtiaw

Austin Buffum

Mike Mattos

Laurie Robinson

Learn how to create a proactive process to identify students who need help, place them in the proper intervention, monitor their progress, revise interventions as needed, and determine when students no longer need additional support.

Learn more about this event on page 8.

Speakers are subject to change.

Chris Weber

May 22–23

Prince George, BC

Simplifying RTI 2-Day Workshop #stworkshops

Austin Buffum

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Mike Mattos

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Learn why bureaucratic, paperwork-heavy, compliance-oriented, test-score-driven approaches fail—and then learn how to create an RTI model that works. Acquire four essential guiding principles and a simple process for implementation to help your school make RTI efficient, effective, and equitable.

Learn more about this event on page 9.

The keynote speakers were top-notch as always with Solution Tree events! The content presented was exactly what my school team needed.”

—Jeanne Montigny, principal, L’essor School, Ontario

21st Century Skills 2-Day Workshop

October 17–18

Vancouver, BC

#st21c

Ensure your students are prepared to step up, both as learners and as the new generation of productive global citizens. Learn teacher-friendly strategies to utilize problem-based learning, clear communication, and metacognitive reflection for inspiring and engaging students.

William M. Ferriter

Cheryl Lemke

Will Richardson

There’s no better way to use your provincial PD day!

Assessment NOW Canada

November 3–5

Victoria, BC

#asmtnow

Quality classroom assessments need to be both accurate and valid in order to provide educators with the information they need to assess student understanding. Explore frameworks for rigor and relevance in assessment design that are fair and motivating to all students.

Karen Branscombe

Damian Cooper

Anne Davies

Tom Hierck

Ken O’Connor

Ainsley B. Rose

L ear n i n g O u tcomes

• Experience how to make curriculum meaningful, coherent, and relevant.

• Review processes to design differentiated instruction that is responsive to students’ needs.

• Develop quality assessments that can drive learning.

• Discover options for developing local rigorous and relevant assessments.

• Learn a process to create proficiency scales and rubrics.

Featuring Canadian presenters!

Gerry Varty

800.733.6786

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PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID SOLUTION TREE

555 North Morton Street Bloomington, IN 47404

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S treaming benefits

• A great option when faced with tight travel budgets.

• Staff won’t have to sacrifice personal time for travel.

• All school or district staff, rather than a small team, can participate firsthand.

• An on-site PLC at Work™ associate will facilitate the event for a personalized experience.

• Gain access to in-demand PLC at Work™ experts who may be unavailable for on-site PD.

• Available for 160–500 attendees.

Streaming solutions, inspiring collaboration Experience the power of a PLC at Work™ Institute from the comfort of your own school! Live streaming video provides dynamic and engaging keynotes, breakouts, and panel discussions. A PLC at Work™ associate will be on-site at your school to facilitate discussions, offer feedback, and personalize the learning experience. There’s no better opportunity to get your whole team on board!

Call your director of educational partnerships at 800.733.6786 to learn about streaming an institute live to your school.

Check out page 5 for a list of upcoming hybrid events.

solution-tree.com/Hybrids