Our Events
The FIRST Educational Resources Conferences, Workshops, and Webinars are designed with the needs of educators and leaders in mind. Our presenters represent some of the premier thought leaders in education today.
Events
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Summer
In-Person Summits
INSPIRATION | EXCITEMENT | LEARNING
We Got This Summit
Detroit Lakes, MN
June 20-21, 2023
The "We Got This Summit" is the conference that will not only prepare educators with practical tools and strategies for the 2023-24 school year, but will also provide a renewed sense of energy and optimism for this great profession. From the opening keynote with Jimmy Casas, to all 30 breakout sessions to choose from, our focus is “WE GOT THIS!”
Back to School Summit
Appleton, WI
August 1-2, 2023
The "Back to School Summit" will provide a renewed sense of energy and optimism for this great profession and help educators and leaders to prepare for the 2023-2024 school year. This year’s summit will conclude with a keynote from Elizabeth Smart, who will help us understand how to be resilient in the face of the trauma around us. Join us at the FIRST Education Back to School Summit and leave inspired around this great profession.
Standards Based Assessment Bootcamp
October 25 and November 29, 2022
Looking for support in designing and aligning standard or target aligned assessments? Join us for a virtual, 2-day event! During this bootcamp, participants will learn how to clearly define and identify measurable and observable learning targets, how to choose appropriate assessment measures, and much more!
Repair Kit for Grading
December 6, 2022
Based on Ken O’Connor revised edition of “A Repair Kit for Grading: 15 Fixes for Broken Grades,” attendees will be examine all 15 Fixes and walk away with a deeper understanding of Fix # 14 in which attendees will receive tools and resources that focus on emphasizing more recent achievement.
Clarity Roadmap Series
January 17, 24, February 7, and 21, 2023
During this highly interactive 4 part series Dr. Garth Larson will examine what it means to have clarity throughout the entire STAGR Process (Standards, Targets, Assessment, Grading and Reporting). Not only do we want to know what those targets are, but what does it look like for students and teachers to be successful within those standards and targets.
15 Fixes for Broken Grades
January 30-31, 2023
Based on Ken O’Connor revised edition of “A Repair Kit for Grading: 15 Fixes for Broken Grades,” attendees will be guided through all 15 Fixes and provided with revised examples and iterations to ensure educators are able to move to the highest level when answering these questions.
Center for Civil Rights in Education
CREATING EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH A SHARED COMMITMENT TO ACTION
Coaching That Transforms Collaborative Teacher Teams
Multiple Cohort Options
As coaches, if we aren’t coaching for equity we are complicit in reproducing an inequitable system. We have a professional obligation to lead and coach in a way that surfaces and interrupts inequities and transforms practices that help us to create the schools children deserve. This series will offer an opportunity to learn how to support teams in navigating the stages of team development, with equity at the center.
Developing an Incident Response Framework for Hate Speech in Schools
December 1, 2022
Hate speech in schools throughout the United States is on the rise. In this free webinar, Percy Brown, Director of the FIRST Education Center for Civil Rights in Education will provide examples of hate speech scenarios in public schools and then give key details that are important to ensure schools are prepared with an incident response framework.
Equity is a Verb: Strategically Leading to Create Access and Opportunity
January 18 and 25, 2023
Success for every student depends on connecting organizational change to core values, capabilities, and vision. Through purposeful engagement, participants will build a deeper understanding of what it means to be an equity-minded leader in order to strengthen and support leadership capacity.
Jenni Donohoo Center for Collective Efficacy Events
RAISING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT TOGETHER
Fostering Collective Efficacy Institute
February 7, 2023
During this full day session, participants will learn what collective efficacy is and why it’s important. Audience members will also examine the enabling conditions for collective efficacy along with a model for leading collective efficacy in schools.
Instructional Coaching Center
Events
STRENGTHEN AND GROW YOUR PRACTICES
Instructional Coaching Toolkit Series
Multiple Cohort Options Available
Whether you are a brand new coach, or a coach looking to expand your skillset, the Instructional Coaching Toolkit Series is for you! Drawing upon a variety of coaching approaches and models, this series will support coaches in learning entry points for coaching relationships. Coaches will learn how to determine the best approach for any situation they might face.
Coaching for Observable Impact Network
Ongoing Dates Throughout the 2022-2023 School Year
Members of the Coaching for Observable Impact Network will learn strategies and tools that will deepen the work they do with teachers. Coaches will also learn strategies for measuring the observable impact of their coaching efforts on the teachers they coach and the classrooms they support. Finally, coaches will have the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from their colleagues in schools and districts near and far. Together, we will connect our actions to our impact!
Instructional Coaching Toolkit 2.0 (Advanced Pathways)
Multiple Pathways Available
Whether you participated in our original Instructional Coaching Toolkit series, or have several years of coaching experience under your belt, it’s time to take your desire to continually learn, develop, and refine your coaching practices and join us for the Instructional Coaching Toolkit 2.0, where you choose your learning pathway! Pathways include: Digging Deeper into Coaching Cycles, Planning and Facilitating Professional Learning for Staff, and Developing an Instructional Playbook.
New Teacher
Learning Series
Monthly Sessions Throughout the 2022-2023 School Year
Your first year of teaching will be exciting, nerve-racking, and overwhelming. Sometimes all at the same time! We've been there and have supported hundreds of new teachers in your same spot. Join us, and a community of fellow new teachers, as we help you navigate the highs and lows of your first year in the greatest professional there is!
Coaching That Transforms Collaborative Teacher Teams
Multiple Cohort Options
As coaches, if we aren’t coaching for equity we are complicit in reproducing an inequitable system. We have a professional obligation to lead and coach in a way that surfaces and interrupts inequities and transforms practices that help us to create the schools children deserve. This series will offer an opportunity to learn how to support teams in navigating the stages of team development, with equity at the center.
Equity Minded Coaching for Systems Change
Multiple Session Options
In this 3 part series, participants will interrogate their beliefs, learn key organizational considerations to address inequities, and analyze strategies needed to support an effective coaching culture. Participants will leave with tools and other resources to enact transformational change and create equitable conditions leading to high outcomes for all students.
Literacy
Center
Events
EXCELLENCE AND EQUITY IN LITERACY INSTRUCTION
Small Groups in the Secondary ELA Classroom
November 7, 14, and 21, 2022
Small group instruction has an abundance of benefits to support students growth in reading and is often an overlooked strategy in the secondary classroom. Small groups help us engage and inspire students all while fostering collaboration and increasing our ability to differentiate for students needs. This workshop will provide you with what you need to get started or to enhance your small groups!
Mathematics Center
Events
HIGH QUALITY, HIGH IMPACT MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTION
“Help! They Don’t Know Their Facts!”
Moving Beyond Memorization by
Developing Fact Fluency
Multiple Session Options
Have you ever wondered why students don’t know their basic facts? In this 90 minute virtual session, we will explore the difference between fluency and memorization, barriers, and how to build fact fluency through conceptual understanding and developing students’ number sense.
Productive Struggle: Strategies and Tasks
for Promoting Perseverance in your Mathematics Classroom
Multiple Session Options
During this session, we will explore the meaning of productive struggle and how it encourages risk-taking in the classroom. We will learn the importance of valuing perseverance and how mental stamina can be built through problem solving.
Best Practices in Secondary
Math Instruction: Incorporating Small Groups and Teams
Multiple Dates
Instruction using grouping strategies provides strategically planned lessons that promote student discourse, problem solving, risk-taking, inquiry, and increased student engagement that results in deep conceptual understanding of mathematics concepts to maximize student learning outcomes. Join us to learn how to bring small group instruction to your 6-12 Math Classroom!
Advanced Learner Summit
January 19, 2023
Advanced learners have unique and varied learning needs that require educators to have flexibility, out-of-the box thinking and a belief that all students deserve an opportunity to learn and grow regardless of their intellectual ability. During the virtual one-day FIRST Education Advanced Learner Summit, educators will be able to engage with thought-leaders and practitioners to gain new ideas and perspectives, experience opportunities that explore the how and the why and maximize personal fulfillment and potential in our learners.
Math Workshop: Laying the Groundwork for Differentiation in your Math Classroom
Multiple Dates
Math workshop is a flexible instructional format that allows teachers to meet the diverse needs of students in their classroom. During this series, participants will learn the how-to’s for a math workshop model, as well as an exploration into workshop structures and classroom organization in order to meet the needs of the diverse learners in the math classroom.
Rethinking PLCs in Today’s Schools
December 7, 2022
The research behind professional learning communities collaborating to improve their teaching is clear, but the application of professional learning communities and collaborative time can be foggy for educators at all levels of the system. Join us for the FREE 60 minute webinar on how to Rethink Your PLCs to ensure each of your collaborative teams are functioning with a sense of purpose to ensure the collaborative actions they engage in lead to the highest level of observable impact in each of their schools and classrooms.
FIRST Education
PLC Summit
February 1 - 2, 2023
At the FIRST Education Virtual PLC Summit, we will address common PLC challenges to help attendees reimagine what their PLCs can be. Participants and schools will walk away from this virtual event with a renewed sense of energy, passion and focus to maximize the observable impact of their work in PLCs.
Publishing Center
Events
PRINT RESOURCES THAT ARE PRACTICAL AND ENGAGING
How to Think Differently about Learner Engagement
January 16 and 17, 2023
Too often educators are evaluated, judged and told what to fix. It’s time to shift our focus to notice engagement in an appreciative manner. To discover, dream, design and deliver how we can enhance what’s already working. This session will focus on an inquiry process to get curious, to notice and value ourselves. Appreciation is one of the most compelling and powerful feelings we possess, so why don’t we use it more often in education? Together let’s find our spark to Think Differently.
Advanced Learner Summit
January 19, 2023
Advanced learners have unique and varied learning needs that require educators to have flexibility, out-of-the box thinking and a belief that all students deserve an opportunity to learn and grow regardless of their intellectual ability. During the virtual one-day FIRST Education Advanced Learner Summit, educators will be able to engage with thought-leaders and practitioners to gain new ideas and perspectives, experience opportunities that explore the how and the why and maximize personal fulfillment and potential in our learners.
Science
Center
Events
RELEVANT LEARNING WITH CURRENT PRACTITIONERS
1 Day Virtual Science Summit
December 7, 2022
During the one-day FIRST Education Virtual Science Summit, educators will be able to engage with thought-leaders and practitioners to gain new ideas and perspectives, gather tons of tools and resources to develop critical thinkers and maximize potential in your learners.
Join us for this exciting one-day summit and be prepared to walk away inspired, energized to engage and challenge your students to become more passionate science learners!
Cross-Curricular Education Through Hydroponics
December 12, 2022
What is hydroponics? In this session, you will learn not only the ins and outs of hydroponics but how to engage students cross-curricularly to create an impact that will ripple through your school and community.
Social Emotional Learning Center
Events
UNLEASHING THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS
Supporting Executive Functioning Skills in the Classroom
Multiple Options
Executive functioning skills, like organization, focus, and controlling impulses and emotions, are needed by all students. Students need support in the classroom to strengthen their executive functioning skills. Throughout this four part series, participants will learn more about what executive functioning skills are and strategies to incorporate into the classroom to support all students in strengthening these skills to improve both their social skills and increase their academic achievement
Classroom Vibe
February 7, 2023
Classroom culture is a lever for school improvement. In this workshop, learn more about the Classroom Vibe framework and how teacher credibility and clarity lends itself to support teachers in enhancing the vibe in their classrooms.
Incorporating Intersectional Needs of Students: Disability, Culture and Inclusivity in Schools
January 23, January 30, and February 6, 2023
This series will be focused on implementing and cultivating practices to acknowledge and incorporate our students’ backgrounds and experiences, especially for students who receive special education services.
FIRST Education
SEL Summit
February 9, 2023
This conference will explore the “HOW” of Social and Emotional Learning. Participants will hear from experts within the field of education on “how” they implement SEL within classrooms and schools around the country.
Cultivating Teacher Credibility
February 14, 2023
Teacher credibility is one of the most vital factors in maximizing student learning. During this workshop, learn more about what students see as teacher credibility and how to use practical strategies to cultivate teacher credibility.
Event Registration Policies
By agreeing to the registration terms, you understand and acknowledge that this is a legal binding agreement and payment will be due in full whether you attend the event or not. If you are unable to attend, you may send a substitute at no extra cost, provided that you notify us of the change at least 5 business days prior to the Event. Substitutions must be communicated by email to FIRST Educational Resources (info@firsteducation-us.com).
By agreeing to the registration terms, you understand and acknowledge you can cancel your registration to this Event as long as it’s 15 business days prior to the Event, and will be refunded in full for the cost of payment received, minus a $10.00 administration fee and 3.49% of the total registration cost if you paid by Credit Card.
By agreeing to the registration terms, you understand and acknowledge if you cancel less than 14 business days prior to the Event or non-attendance, you will be liable for the full cost of the registration. No reimbursements will be made for travel, accommodation or any other costs incurred by you in connection with the Event which you do not attend or cancel.