Stop wrestling with settings and start streamlining your workflow. This hands-on session explores the ins and outs of creating and assigning Canvas Assignments so you can spend less time troubleshooting and more time teaching. Key Topicsđź“‹
Creating an Assignment: Learn how to use the Rich Content Editor (RCE) to provide clear instruction, embed videos, or attach supporting documents.
Submission Types: Explore your options—from file uploads and text entries to website URLs and "on-paper" tracking.
Dates and Deadlines: Master the difference between Due Dates (when it's expected) and Availability Dates (when students can see or turn it in).
Google Assignments External Tool: Learn how to implement the Google Assignments external tool to assign Google Drive template documents to students—just like previously done in Google Classroom!
đź’» Hands-on workshop time is embedded into this session; remember to bring your OPS device and charger!
We will explore the many texts we have available to engage students in wide reading and increase their time in text in our elementary classrooms. We will engage in discussion around scaffolds and how they support students with this reading, provide effective fluency practice and help them make meaning from what they’re reading. Participants will walk away with ways to engage and support students in wide reading.
We are both instructional coaches with a passion for meaningful professional development that provides teachers with practical ideas they can take back and use in their classrooms.
Come join us for some "fresh" takes on your everyday lessons. We will investigate stratagies that help you keep the integrity to the resource and still add some "spice". Let's learn some new strategies that get kids moving and talking - adding some "zest" to your already amazing teacher "sauce".
As classroom teachers, we understand the challenges that come with preparing, planning, and teaching Wit & Wisdom. We will look at backwards planning, identifying the important parts of the lesson, and some fun ideas we have incorporated to increase student engagement. This collaborative session will include time to share ideas with teachers as we all dive into year 3.
Spelling is not a matter of visual memory; it is the visual representation of language. This session tracks the developmental trajectory of spelling from the primary grades through upper elementary, showing how early speech-to-print foundations evolve into advanced structural word study. In the first half of the session, we will focus on the primary orthographic pathway (Grades K–2). In the second half, we will shift to the intermediate grades (Grades 3–5) to explore the morphological advantage. Because English orthography is patterned by both sound and meaning, we will demonstrate how teaching meaning-bearing word parts stabilizes spelling for older students including sound-mapping frameworks and morphological matrices strengthen spelling.
Why limit math to 60 minutes a day? Join us for an interactive session where we transform math from a subject into a classroom culture. We’ll explore how to seamlessly weave mathematical thinking into every transition and corner of your schedule. From rhythmic songs and daily routines that build deep conceptual understanding to high-engagement games and cutting-edge online tools, you’ll leave with a ready-to-use toolkit. Discover how to boost student fluency and confidence by making math a constant, joyful presence in your students' day.
In Canvas, Modules and Pages serve as the structural backbone of your digital classroom. This session focuses on how to organize your content so that students can navigate your course intuitively and access materials without confusion. đź“‹ Key Topics
Module Organization: Learn how to use Modules to categorize and sequence your content logically.
Effective Page Design: Master the Rich Content Editor (RCE) to create central hubs for lessons, combining text, images, and video in one place.
đź’» Hands-on workshop time is embedded into this session; remember to bring your OPS device and charger!
We will explore the many texts we have available to engage students in wide reading and increase their time in text in our elementary classrooms. We will engage in discussion around scaffolds and how they support students with this reading, provide effective fluency practice and help them make meaning from what they’re reading. Participants will walk away with ways to engage and support students in wide reading.
We are both instructional coaches with a passion for meaningful professional development that provides teachers with practical ideas they can take back and use in their classrooms.
Schools collect large amounts of reading data, but translating that information into clear instructional decisions can be challenging. This session introduces the Quad Sort, a practical tool designed to illuminate patterns within FastBridge reading fluency data and transform progress-monitoring results into actionable insights for instruction. Participants will learn how to download reading fluency data from FastBridge, upload the data into the Quad Sort tool, and interpret the resulting analyses to better understand students’ reading needs. The Quad Sort organizes students based on key fluency indicators, helping educators quickly identify patterns in accuracy and rate to determine appropriate supports and instructional groupings. Through real examples and guided demonstrations, participants will see how the Quad Sort technique can bring clarity to reading data, streamline the process of grouping students, and support more targeted reading instruction. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for using existing assessment data to make more confident, data-informed decisions that illuminate the path toward improved reading outcomes.
Tyler Kitson is a nationally certified school psychologist and recognized leader in educational systems change. Tyler has led local, state, and national efforts to strengthen the school psychology workforce, streamline service delivery, and promote equity. He currently serves as the... Read More →
This refresher session is a repeat of our 12/19 professional learning over Introducing: Canvas. This session is designed to give you a solid foundation before you dive into more specialized topics. Whether you are seeing the platform for the first time or simply want a comprehensive review of the essentials, this session provides the space to get comfortable with the interface and ensure your digital classroom is ready for students. đź’» Hands-on workshop time is embedded into this session; remember to bring your OPS device and charger!
Stop wrestling with settings and start streamlining your workflow. This hands-on session explores the ins and outs of creating and assigning Canvas Assignments so you can spend less time troubleshooting and more time teaching. Key Topicsđź“‹
Creating an Assignment: Learn how to use the Rich Content Editor (RCE) to provide clear instruction, embed videos, or attach supporting documents.
Submission Types: Explore your options—from file uploads and text entries to website URLs and "on-paper" tracking.
Dates and Deadlines: Master the difference between Due Dates (when it's expected) and Availability Dates (when students can see or turn it in).
Google Assignments External Tool: Learn how to implement the Google Assignments external tool to assign Google Drive template documents to students—just like previously done in Google Classroom!
đź’» Hands-on workshop time is embedded into this session; remember to bring your OPS device and charger!
Fluency in mathematics is more than just speed or memorization. According to the book "Figuring Out Fluency in Mathematics", fluency is the ability to use efficient, flexible, and accurate strategies to solve problems. In this session we will dive into key components of fluency, what fluency is NOT, how fluency develops, and why fluency matters. We will also explore the Eureka strategies and discuss which strategies to prioritize. Please bring a district device (Surface Pro or iPad) to use during this session.
I have been with OSD for 33 of 37 years teaching. I have taught second and third grade at Indian Creek Elementary and have enjoyed being a Title math interventionist now for 22 years. I enjoy getting to work with K-5th grades and love watching them grow in math and feel good about... Read More →
I have worked in Olathe School District for 9 years. I have taught 4th and 5th grade. Â I currently am the math interventionist at Indian Creek Elementary. Â I love working with K-5 grades grow in their math journey!
Wednesday May 27, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT Room 814
In this session, we’ll dig into Wit & Wisdom lessons to uncover the rigorous questions already built into the curriculum and explore how they can spark meaningful student conversations. We’ll share simple engagement strategies that create more opportunities for students to think deeply, respond to one another, and participate in discussion. With intentional planning, we can shift from teacher talk to student talk and build classrooms full of curious, active, and engaged learners.
Schools collect large amounts of reading data, but translating that information into clear instructional decisions can be challenging. This session introduces the Quad Sort, a practical tool designed to illuminate patterns within FastBridge reading fluency data and transform progress-monitoring results into actionable insights for instruction. Participants will learn how to download reading fluency data from FastBridge, upload the data into the Quad Sort tool, and interpret the resulting analyses to better understand students’ reading needs. The Quad Sort organizes students based on key fluency indicators, helping educators quickly identify patterns in accuracy and rate to determine appropriate supports and instructional groupings. Through real examples and guided demonstrations, participants will see how the Quad Sort technique can bring clarity to reading data, streamline the process of grouping students, and support more targeted reading instruction. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for using existing assessment data to make more confident, data-informed decisions that illuminate the path toward improved reading outcomes.
Tyler Kitson is a nationally certified school psychologist and recognized leader in educational systems change. Tyler has led local, state, and national efforts to strengthen the school psychology workforce, streamline service delivery, and promote equity. He currently serves as the... Read More →
This session focuses on how to build digital assessments that can provide immediate feedback to students and valuable data to you. Whether you are looking to create a quick "exit ticket" or a comprehensive end-of-unit exam, we will walk through the process of building, managing, and moderating quizzes within your course. Key Topics 📋 Question Types: Explore a variety of formats—from simple multiple-choice to more interactive options like matching and fill-in-the-blank. Question Banks: Discover how to organize and store your questions so you can easily reuse them across different assessments or school years. Quiz Settings: Learn how to manage time limits, shuffle answers, and set up multiple attempts to fit your instructional goals. Moderation & Accommodations: Learn how to grant extra time or attempts for specific students to ensure every learner's needs are met. 💻 Hands-on workshop time is embedded into this session; remember to bring your OPS device and charger!
This session will provide an overview of findings from the 2025 Kansas Teacher Retention Survey, conducted during the second quarter of the school year. With a strong response rate from Olathe educators, the data offers a highly representative view of the elementary teacher experience across USD 233. Participants will receive a brief foundation of the research approach, followed by a summary of key district-level findings related to teacher experience, engagement, and factors influencing retention. The session will then transition into a facilitated focus group, where elementary educators will have the opportunity to reflect on the data, share perspectives, and provide context that helps deepen understanding of the results. The goal of this session is to pair quantitative findings with educator voice to better understand what is shaping the elementary teaching experience in USD 233.
In this session, we’ll dig into Wit & Wisdom lessons to uncover the rigorous questions already built into the curriculum and explore how they can spark meaningful student conversations. We’ll share simple engagement strategies that create more opportunities for students to think deeply, respond to one another, and participate in discussion. With intentional planning, we can shift from teacher talk to student talk and build classrooms full of curious, active, and engaged learners.
Spelling is not a matter of visual memory; it is the visual representation of language. This session tracks the developmental trajectory of spelling from the primary grades through upper elementary, showing how early speech-to-print foundations evolve into advanced structural word study. In the first half of the session, we will focus on the primary orthographic pathway (Grades K–2). In the second half, we will shift to the intermediate grades (Grades 3–5) to explore the morphological advantage. Because English orthography is patterned by both sound and meaning, we will demonstrate how teaching meaning-bearing word parts stabilizes spelling for older students including sound-mapping frameworks and morphological matrices strengthen spelling.
This refresher session is a repeat of our 12/19 professional learning over Introducing: Canvas. This session is designed to give you a solid foundation before you dive into more specialized topics. Whether you are seeing the platform for the first time or simply want a comprehensive review of the essentials, this session provides the space to get comfortable with the interface and ensure your digital classroom is ready for students. đź’» Hands-on workshop time is embedded into this session; remember to bring your OPS device and charger!
This session is designed to help you master the Canvas Gradebook and SpeedGrader—two powerful tools that work together to streamline your grading workflow and provide meaningful, timely feedback to your students. Whether you are looking to automate your grading process or enhance the quality of your student feedback, this session will show you how to spend less time on paperwork and more time on instruction. 📋 Key Topics Gradebook Fundamentals: Learn how to set up grading schemes, weighted groups, and "Missing" or "Late" policies to automate your workflow. SpeedGrader Mastery: Discover how to view, grade, and annotate student submissions all in one place without downloading a single file. Rubrics for Success: Build and attach rubrics to assignments to ensure consistent grading and clear expectations for students. Effective Feedback: Explore various ways to provide feedback, including inline comments, text summaries, and even video/audio clips. 💻 Hands-on workshop time is embedded into this session; remember to bring your OPS device and charger!
This session will provide an overview of findings from the 2025 Kansas Teacher Retention Survey, conducted during the second quarter of the school year. With a strong response rate from Olathe educators, the data offers a highly representative view of the elementary teacher experience across USD 233. Participants will receive a brief foundation of the research approach, followed by a summary of key district-level findings related to teacher experience, engagement, and factors influencing retention. The session will then transition into a facilitated focus group, where elementary educators will have the opportunity to reflect on the data, share perspectives, and provide context that helps deepen understanding of the results. The goal of this session is to pair quantitative findings with educator voice to better understand what is shaping the elementary teaching experience in USD 233.
Fluency in mathematics is more than just speed or memorization. According to the book "Figuring Out Fluency in Mathematics", fluency is the ability to use efficient, flexible, and accurate strategies to solve problems. In this session we will dive into key components of fluency, what fluency is NOT, how fluency develops, and why fluency matters. We will also explore the Eureka strategies and discuss which strategies to prioritize. Please bring a district device (Surface Pro or iPad) to use during this session.
I have been with OSD for 33 of 37 years teaching. I have taught second and third grade at Indian Creek Elementary and have enjoyed being a Title math interventionist now for 22 years. I enjoy getting to work with K-5th grades and love watching them grow in math and feel good about... Read More →
I have worked in Olathe School District for 9 years. I have taught 4th and 5th grade. Â I currently am the math interventionist at Indian Creek Elementary. Â I love working with K-5 grades grow in their math journey!
Thursday May 28, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am CDT Room 814
As classroom teachers, we understand the challenges that come with preparing, planning, and teaching Wit & Wisdom. We will look at backwards planning, identifying the important parts of the lesson, and some fun ideas we have incorporated to increase student engagement. This collaborative session will include time to share ideas with teachers as we all dive into year 3.
Meeting the individual needs of every student takes a village, especially when behavior and mental health struggles are extreme. This session will evaluate two case studies with practical tips for partnering with team members and collaborating with parents. We will also focus on how to navigate obstacles including resistant staff members or parents. We will address the 4 R’s of collaboration: Relationships, Resources, Responsibilities, and Results.
Juliana has been a Behavior Coach for Olathe Schools for six years. Prior to that, she has been a general education teacher, resource teacher, and SER teacher. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She actively collaborates with teams to problem-solve and... Read More →
Deb has been an elementary counselor for 12 years (8 in Olathe Schools) as well as a general education teacher.  Deb is passionate about working collaboratively with all stakeholders to best meet the emotional and behavioral needs of all students. She could not do her job without... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT Room 315
In Canvas, Modules and Pages serve as the structural backbone of your digital classroom. This session focuses on how to organize your content so that students can navigate your course intuitively and access materials without confusion. đź“‹ Key Topics
Module Organization: Learn how to use Modules to categorize and sequence your content logically.
Effective Page Design: Master the Rich Content Editor (RCE) to create central hubs for lessons, combining text, images, and video in one place.
đź’» Hands-on workshop time is embedded into this session; remember to bring your OPS device and charger!
As millennial parents increasingly shape the K–12 education landscape, schools must reconsider how they approach family engagement. This workshop presents findings from a qualitative study exploring millennial parents’ perceptions of parental involvement in elementary education in the JOCO area. Participants will review key themes from the research, including parents’ expectations for transparent communication, consistent access to information, and meaningful opportunities to collaborate with schools. The session will also highlight the most common concerns parents raise and examine how leadership practices influence school-family relationships. Participants will then explore how PBIS can serve as a framework for creating more inclusive and responsive family engagement practices. Through discussion and reflection, attendees will identify strategies to strengthen partnerships with families and build school cultures grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
Juliana has been a Behavior Coach for Olathe Schools for six years. Prior to that, she has been a general education teacher, resource teacher, and SER teacher. She recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She actively collaborates with teams to problem-solve and... Read More →
Thursday May 28, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT Room 315
Participants will experience what true math engagement looks and feels like by stepping into the role of learners during a model lesson. This self-paced session focuses on the concept development and debrief components of a Eureka Math lesson, highlighting strategies that actively engage all students in making sense of mathematics. Attendees will explore how Kagan structures can be used to increase participation, accountability, and collaboration, while also learning practical discussion strategies that deepen thinking during the debrief.
 I have spent all of my career in Olathe teaching 2nd grade and being an instructional coach.  I love supporting teachers, new educators and the school improvement plan at the building level.
