Durham Public Schools PL

Presenters: Erin Carroll | [email protected] | Presenter; Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Other... 1600 Mist Lake Dr (City of Durham Water Management)
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY Discover how Project WET’s lessons on water, climate, and environmental resilience align naturally with Montessori principles and practices. In this full day of hands-on professional development, you'll explore inquiry-based activities that connect water, climate, and environmental resilience to the curiosity and systems thinking your students are already developing. Every activity you experience is designed to be adapted and used directly in your Montessori setting - building on the same principles of independence, investigation, and purposeful work that already drive your classroom. You'll leave with resources you can put on your shelf and lessons you can teach with confidence from day one of the school year. Come ready for a full day of active, hands-on exploration. Please note we will be located at 1600 Mist Lake Dr, the City of Durham's Water Management Facility. There will be light breakfast provided starting at 8:30 before starting by 9:00, lunch will also be provided!
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Strategy-Based for any content
Topic(s): Outdoor Learning, Curriculum and Instruction, Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 5th Grade, 7th Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Teachers

Presenters: Beth Duffy | [email protected] | Presenter; Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator; Lisa Anderson | [email protected] | Presenter
Location: Other... MINC 405 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY This workshop will take place at MINC--The Montessori Institute of NC (405 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516). The workshop will be from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm with a one hour lunch break. Participants are encouraged to carpool. Parking information will be provided by email to those that register. How can we create Montessori classrooms where every child experiences belonging? Grounded in Montessori philosophy and informed by the work of current researchers, this interactive workshop explores how the prepared environment supports regulation, independence, and meaningful participation. Participants will leave with practical strategies, classroom design ideas, and observation tools to create more inclusive learning environments for all children.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Strategy-Based for any content
Topic(s): Culturally Responsive Practices, Social Emotional, Student Wellness and Advocacy, Building Learning System Capacity, Equity, Exceptional Children, MTSS, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Interventionists, Leads, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Assistant Principals, Instructional Assistants, Principals, School Counselors, Specialists, Teachers

Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Julia Champion | [email protected] | Presenter; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; India French-Adams | [email protected] | Presenter; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Justin Tosco | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Assistant Principals, Instructional Assistants, Principals, Teachers

Presenters: Ron Wahlen | [email protected] | Director of Digital Teaching and Learning; Kim Gugino | [email protected] | Media Lead and Media Coordinator
Location: City of Medicine Academy 209
Description: Participants will explore district guidelines for staff, students, and families; examine leading AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, etc., and learn how AI can support productivity, communication, instructional planning, and personalized learning.
Subject Area(s): Digital Learning Standards, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): Digital Teaching and Learning, Media Coordinators, Curriculum and Instruction, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade, Leadership
Targeted Roles: Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, Leads, Assistant Coordinators, Assistant Principals, Principals, Teachers

Presenters: Kenya Lawrence | [email protected] | School Support Specialist (HS Math Content)
Location: City of Medicine Academy 203
Description: Students may be able to solve the problem—but can they clearly explain how they know? In this hands-on session, teachers will use high-leverage strategies from the Hochman Method to turn mathematical thinking into clear, precise writing. We will move between student mode and teacher mode to strengthen explanations, justifications, and error analysis, then build ready-to-use prompts, sentence structures, and writing routines that can be embedded into upcoming lessons. Teachers will leave with practical classroom products designed to help students communicate their reasoning without turning math class into English class.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics
Topic(s): Culturally Responsive Practices, English Learner Services, Explicit Teaching, Assessment for Learning, Communication Skills, DPS Adopted Resources, Effective Feedback Strategies, Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers