Saturday Schedule
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Time: 8:00 - 8:25
Location: Atrium
Info: Coffee and tea will be available
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Time: 8:30 - 9:30
Location: Auditorium
Presenter: Jennifer Serravallo
Teaching Like a Scientist
In this keynote, Jennifer Serravallo challenges educators to embrace scientific thinking in their teaching practice. Drawing from decades of research, she demonstrates how teachers can cultivate humility, curiosity, and willingness to revise their methods—just like scientists do. Serravallo explores the complexity of reading development, moving beyond oversimplified approaches to evidence-based strategy instruction that benefits all learners. She provides practical frameworks for understanding goals, skills, and strategies while emphasizing that effective professional learning must be ongoing, social, and deeply embedded in classroom practice. This presentation empowers educators to become reflective practitioners who continuously evolve their craft.
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Time: 9:30 - 9:55
Location: HS Floors 1 and 2
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Time: 10:00-11:!5
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📚Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction with Universal Design for Learning: Building a Foundation for MTSS (K-12)
Description: High-quality Tier 1 instruction is the cornerstone of a strong MTSS framework, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides the roadmap for getting there. This session will explore how UDL principles can empower teachers to design inclusive, flexible literacy instruction that meets the needs of all learners while reducing the need for intensive interventions. Participants will learn practical strategies for planning Tier 1 instruction through the UDL lens.
Facilitator: Johanna Cena
Location: A102
Resource:
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📚Text Forward Instruction: This Text, These Kids, This Purpose (K-12)
Description: Let’s get messy and do some work together! In this session, we will let the text be our driver as we collaboratively plan text forward instruction. Using a shared text, we will discuss the question “How do I support these kids to read this text for this purpose?” A text will be provided, but feel free to bring your own
Facilitator: Kalley Hoke
Location: A104
Resource: Padlet
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📚 Bringing Structured Literacy/UFLI Lessons to Life: Movement, Multisensory Techniques, Oral Language, Differentiation, and Fun (K-2)
Description: Learn practical ways to add movement, multisensory strategies, oral language routines, and small-group differentiation to your UFLI/structured literacy lessons. This interactive session highlights techniques that keep instruction explicit and systematic, joyful, and responsive to all learners.
Facilitator: Tanya Knight
Location: A106
Resource: Padlet
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📚Building Bridges with Language: Helping Students Write, Read and Speak with Confidence in Their Own Voices (G6-12)
Description: Want to support students in using their own languages while learning English? In this workshop, we will look into a real high school case study where mini-lessons are taught in English as a bridge, and students create their language and literature work in their identity languages. You’ll see how combining the teacher’s support, AI tools, and weekly sessions with an external tutor helps students feel confident and grow as writers, readers and confident speakers across languages. We’ll talk about simple, practical ways to make this happen in your classroom, so your students can express themselves fully and proudly in the languages that matter most to them. You’ll leave with ideas you can start using right away to create a welcoming space for multilingual learners.
Facilitator: Marta Luján
Location: A205
Resource:
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📚 Conferring with Readers Through the Reading Rope: Using observational insights to support student growth (K-12)
Description: Conferring is one of the most powerful ways to understand and support readers. In this session, we will explore how the strands of Scarborough’s Reading Rope can guide conferences, helping us notice what students can do, identify where they need support, and make responsive teaching decisions in the moment. Participants will leave with practical strategies for gathering formative data during conferences and using it to move readers forward in their development.
Facilitator: Justine Otte
Location: A207
Resource: Padlet
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Time: 11:20 -12:20
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🌱The Reflective Brain: Activating Creativity for Emotional Integration
Description: Creative reflection is more than expression — it’s a process the brain uses to integrate experience and regulate emotion. This session blends insights from neuroscience, philosophy, and expressive practices to explore how intentional creativity can foster clarity, calm, and deeper self-awareness. Participants will engage in simple, guided exercises for personal or professional use — no artistic background needed.
Facilitator: Lupe Fernandez
Location: A104
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🌱 Literacy as a Path to Wellness: Integrating SEL into Reading and Writing
Description: Literacy is more than decoding words on a page — it’s about making meaning, finding voice, and connecting with others. The same is true for social-emotional learning (SEL). These are not just student skills; they are life skills that educators also need in order to sustain wellness, resilience, and meaningful connection in their work.
In this workshop, we’ll explore how the ISCA Student Standards Learning Progression provides developmentally aligned outcomes from Pre-K through Grade 12 that connect literacy instruction with SEL—and how those same competencies can support teacher wellness and growth.
Facilitator: Brooke Fezler
Location: A106
Resource: Adult SEL Reflection
Access ISCA Standards and Learning Progression
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🌱 Designing a Workout Plan for Busy Educators
Description: This session is for educators who want to feel stronger, move better, and protect their energy but don’t have time to waste on unrealistic wellness advice. We’ll break down the key components of a simple, research-informed fitness routine that works with your schedule and stress levels. Whether you train at a gym or at home, you’ll walk away with a fully customizable weekly plan, plus coaching strategies to build consistency, mobility, and strength over time.
Facilitator: James Overstreet
Location: A102
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🌱 Writing as Connection: Using Writing for Clarity, Confidence, and Community
Description: Writing isn’t only for students, it can be a wellness practice for educators too. In this session, we’ll explore how sharing your experiences through short, authentic writing builds clarity, reduces stress, and strengthens professional connection. You’ll try out practical routines for reflective journaling, then shape those reflections into pieces you could share with colleagues or a wider community. Walk away with simple structures you can use for LinkedIn posts, school newsletters, or team reflections, and a renewed sense of writing as a tool for both well-being and visibility.
Facilitator: Dr. Jenn Overstreet
Location: A107
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🌱 Train Your Brain: Neuroscience Tools to Ease Stress and Anxiet
Description: We all know that if we had time, we would meditate once a day. And if we don’t have time... we probably need it twice as much. But in the fast-paced world of teaching, finding time for ourselves can feel nearly impossible.
In this workshop, you’ll learn simple, effective tools to manage emotional and physical overload. We'll build a practical well-being toolkit to help prevent chronic exhaustion and regulate your nervous system, even on the most demanding days. Grounded in the latest findings from psychoneuroendocrinology, this evidence-based workshop offers quick, science-backed strategies to reduce stress, improve sleep, support emotional regulation, and prevent burnout - for your own well-being and to bring into your classroom.
Facilitator: Dr. Gisela P
Location: A205
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🌱 Body-Mind Connection with Polyvagal Power
Description: Learn how you can harness the power of the nervous system to regulate your stress levels, anxiety and emotions. This is a powerful aspect of our physiology that we can tap into to understand how our bodies are constantly communicating with us.
Have you experienced sweats, a racing heart, or shortness of breath in stressful situations? In this practical workshop style session you will be guided through a series of powerful breathwork and movement practices that can be done in just 2 minutes. We’ll explore situations at work or in the classroom which might dysregulate your nervous system and how to read the body’s signals. You’ll come away with some practical tools to navigate your day-to-day challenges with more awareness, presence, and crucially, learn how to self-regulate and come back to calm, intercepting the loop that can lead to chronic stress and burnout.
Instagram: yutori_coaching - LinkedIn: Liz Jones Solano
Facilitator: Liz Jones Solano
Location: A212
Resource: Website
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🌱 The Wellness of Collaborative Teams: Building Emotionally Healthy Communities Where Everyone Thrives
Description: As educators, so much of our work—and our wellbeing—depends on the relationships and teams we’re part of. Healthy, collaborative teams don’t just get more done; they also create spaces where teachers and students alike can flourish. In this session, explore practical strategies and research-based practices to strengthen the emotional health of your teams. Walk away with knowledge and tools to foster trust, resilience, and collaboration so everyone can thrive together.
Facilitator: April Stout
Location: A207
Resource: Padlet
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Time: 12:30 - 13:15
Location: Cafeteria
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PK-2 - A107
G3-5 - A104
G6-12 - A207
Coaches & Coordinators - A205
Learning & Language Support - A106
School Leaders - A102
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Time: 14:00 - 14:10
Location: HS Floors 1 and 2
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Time: 14:15 -15:30
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📚The Research Question Lab: Using AI to Design, Revise, and Solidify (G5-12, AP/IB)
Description: Turn research anxiety into research excitement! Transform your students from "I don't know what to research" to "I've got this!" using AI. Pulling on the latest research, this hands-on session puts you in the driver's seat of a three-step process: design, revise, and solidify research questions with AI as your co-pilot. Experience these strategies first hand, then discover how to bring them into your classroom—whether guiding 5th graders through science investigations or supporting IB students with the Extended Essay.
Leave this session with practical prompts, clear implementation guides, and the tools to harness AI for effective student research, for effective student learning.
Facilitator: KyleAnne Kiraly
Location: A102
Resource: Padlet
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📚 Planning with Purpose: Literacy Practices That Build Scientific Knowledge (EC-G2)
Description: In this session we’ll explore how to design and deliver high-impact reading practices that are grounded in meaningful science concepts. We’ll unpack how to align these instructional practices with specific science standards and concepts across grade levels, making reading purposeful and content-rich. You'll also dive into planning tools and resources, with dedicated time to collaborate and begin crafting your own integrated lessons. Walk away ready to strengthen both science understanding and literacy skills in your classroom.
Facilitator: Emily Loughead
Location: A104
Resource: Padlet
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📚Small Sentences, Big Impact: Building Writers While Boosting Comprehension: Simple strategies to help students read closely and write clearly (K-5)
Description: Want a simple way to boost both comprehension and writing? Start with sentences! In this hands-on session, we’ll explore the ThinkSRSD GIST routine, where students capture the “gist” of what they read in short, powerful sentences. You’ll try out playful oral rehearsal and collaborative writing strategies that help students summarize texts, build vocabulary, and grow as writers—all at the same time. We’ll look at easy ways to weave grammar and sentence practice into daily lessons without it feeling like a chore.
You’ll leave with ready-to-use routines that make sentence-level work engaging, doable, and fun—while giving students the confidence and skills they need to read closely and write clearly.
Facilitator: Miles Madison
Location: A205
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📚 Elements of Engaging Explicit Instruction
Description: Drawing from Jennifer Serravallo’s latest and bestselling book, Teaching Reading Across the Day, this session will explore the elements of explicit, engaging instruction. Jen will briefly overview nine research-based elements, and will then spend the next portion of the session engaging participants in lesson study. Through video examples and guided observation, participants will watch short excerpts from a range of grades and subjects, of different lesson types, and of different group sizes, to recognize the elements. Then, participants will be guided to apply their learning as they create their own grade-appropriate lesson plan.
Facilitator: Jennifer Serravallo
Location: HS Library
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📚Feedback That Sticks: Giving impactful feedback and getting kids to actually use it. (G5-12)
Description: Tired of pouring time into feedback that students barely glance at, fail to apply, or ignore altogether? You’re not alone! Come discover powerful, easy-to-implement strategies that turn feedback from “just another comment” into a catalyst for real learning. Walk away with practical tools you can use the very next day to save time, boost student ownership, and spark lasting growth.
Facilitator: April Stout
Location: A207
Resource: Padlet
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Sunday Schedule
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Time: 8:30 - 9:30
Location: Auditorium
Presenter: Brooke Fezler
We Rise Together: Community, Wellness, and our Work as Educators
What can the castellers — Catalonia’s human towers — teach us about community? Why is community essential for wellness? And what role do educators play in creating it?
In this keynote, Brooke draws from the powerful metaphor of castellers to explore how strong communities are built. She invites us to reflect on the foundations we create in schools, the responsibility we share in holding one another steady, and the ways our collective strength allows learners to rise.
This keynote is both a challenge and a reminder: wellness and resilience are never individual pursuits. We rise higher when we rise together.
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Time: 9:30 - 9:40
Location: HS Floors 1 and 2
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Time: 9:45 -11:00
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📚Building Text Sets: A behind the scenes look (K-12)
Description: Our time is short and the books are plentiful… how might we efficiently build text sets for effective literacy forward instruction? Get a behind the scenes look at some of EKC’s processes and protocols for curating integrated text sets, and walk away with an understanding of how you might begin to curate the text sets needed for your students, your units, your school.
Facilitator: Kalley Hoke
Location: A106
Resource: Padlet
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📚Inquiry and Direct Instruction: A Symbiotic Relationship (K-8)
Description: Are you a PYP or inquiry based teacher? Have you been struggling with finding the balance between inquiry and direct instruction? Are you starting to think you have to choose, or that you can’t have it all? Then I encourage you to join this session. During this time we will explore the idea of when in terms of inquiry instruction. We will look at what cognitive science says about how to make learning stick, and consider the question: Do my learners have enough background knowledge to take an inquiry approach? This is about equity, engagement and above all, learning. Together we will look at the stages of learning and consider how they connect with the various inquiry cycles we know and love.
Facilitator: Courtney Hughes
Location: A102
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📚Small Moments, Big Impact: Short, powerful literacy moments all day long (EC-G5)
Description: Join us for a practical session designed to help you infuse literacy-rich practices into short but powerful moments of your day— morning meeting, brain breaks, transition times, and closing circle. Grounded in Scarborough’s Reading Rope, this session will highlight how to boost key components of literacy through engaging, meaningful practices. You’ll walk away with practical strategies, ready-to-use resources, and time to plan and collaborate with fellow educators.
Facilitator: Emily Loughead
Location: A104
Resource: Padlet
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📚Finding Voice, Building Argument: Nonfiction Writing Units That Empower Student Thinkers (G9-12)
Description: How can nonfiction writing become a space where students discover their voice and sharpen their academic skills? In this workshop, we’ll explore how to design writing units that guide students through the full process of academic research—while helping them write with clarity, purpose, and power. You’ll learn how to scaffold skills like questioning, sourcing, note-taking, and synthesizing ideas, all while boosting academic language and confidence. We’ll share flexible unit structures that let students write about topics they care about, and tools to support them in building strong arguments with evidence and voice. Walk away with practical strategies to help students grow as researchers, thinkers, and academic writers—on any topic they choose.
Facilitator: Marta Luján
Location: A205
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📚 Building Conceptual Understanding Through Writing in Math: Supporting students to think, reason, and communicate their ideas with clarity (G1-5)
Description: Let’s explore how writing in math supports students as thinkers and communicators. You’ll try out routines that help students explain reasoning, connect concepts, and strengthen mathematical language. Participants will walk away with practical strategies for using journals, prompts, and exit slips to make student thinking visible and deepen conceptual understanding.
Facilitator: Dr. Jenn Overstreet
Location: A207
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Time: 11:05 -12:20
📚Every Language Counts: Translanguaging Strategies for Belonging and Empowerment (K-8)
Description: In today’s multilingual classrooms, translanguaging is more than an instructional approach: it is a way to honor identity, build belonging, and empower both students and teachers. This session offers day-to-day strategies educators can use to make space for students’ full linguistic repertoires, while also reflecting on our own multilingual journeys as teachers. Participants will explore practical examples such as multilingual word walls, class agreements, purposeful grouping, and other flexible strategies that strengthen comprehension and connection. Together, we will reflect on how translanguaging bridges languages, cultures, and personal stories, ensuring that every language truly counts in the classroom.
Facilitator: Ana Cabanzón
Location: A102
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📚Centering the Text, Centering the Reader: Planning for Whole-Class Novels (G6–12)
Description: We’ve all heard it: students are reading fewer long-form texts than ever before. And yet, whole class text experiences are still one of the most powerful opportunities to build community, deepen comprehension, and nurture joy in reading - when we plan for them with intention.
In this session, we’ll explore how to plan for a novel or anchor text in grades 6–12 in ways that balance rigor with joy, structure with agency, and challenge with accessibility.
You’ll leave with practical planning moves, lesson ideas, and guiding principles to help whole-class texts become shared experiences of insight, connection, and joy rather than one-size-fits-all assignments.
Facilitator: Jenny Killion
Location: A104
Resource: Padlet
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📚Making Clear Visuals Work for your Structured Literacy Instruction: Create clear, intentional visuals that foster independence and support explicit, systematic instruction (K-2)
Description: Join us for a hands-on, practical workshop designed to elevate literacy instruction through the power of intentional visuals. Explore why visuals matter for student learning and engagement, practice easy-to-learn drawing techniques (no artistic talent required!), and gain strategies for boosting student independence. Learn what makes an anchor chart truly effective, discover different types of classroom visuals, and create your own tools to support explicit, systematic instruction.
You’ll walk away with practical resources and fresh inspiration to make your teaching more visual, accessible, and powerful.
Facilitator: Tanya Knight
Location: A106
Resource: Padlet
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📚Striking the Balance: Teaching Literacy the Way the Brain Learns Best (K-12)
Description: Learning to read, write, and think with confidence doesn’t happen by accident—it happens when we match what we know about the brain with what we do in the classroom. Research on how learning works shows that explicit instruction at the start helps focus attention, ease cognitive load, and build working memory. Once those foundations are strong, students are ready for more inquiry, exploration, and independence. In this hands-on session, you’ll try out practical routines and planning tools that make literacy lessons clear, engaging, and brain-friendly. Come ready to experiment, reflect, and walk away with strategies you can use right away to help students thrive as readers, writers, and problem solvers.
Facilitator: Miles Madison
Location: A205
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📚Leading the Shift: Coaching, Data, and Designing Literacy for Today’s Classrooms (Curriculum Coordinators, Literacy Coaches, School Leaders)
Description: As schools move away from highly scripted literacy units toward more customized unit design, coaches and curriculum coordinators are at the forefront of leading this shift. This roundtable session provides a space for leaders to share experiences, successes, and challenges in supporting teachers with evolving literacy practices. Together, we’ll explore approaches to collecting and using literacy data, strategies for guiding unit planning, and ways to foster sustainable instructional growth. Rather than a presentation, this facilitated conversation invites participants to exchange ideas, compare practices, and leave with new insights and connections to strengthen literacy leadership in their own schools.
Facilitator: Justine Otte
Location: A207
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Time: 12:30 -13:15
Location: Cafeteria
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Time: 13:30 -14:30
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🌱 The Stories Our Bodies Tell: Women in Leadership and the Call to Wellness
Description: Leadership takes strength, but too often, it comes at the cost of our health. Women leaders, in particular, are at heightened risk for stress-related illness when self-care takes a back seat to our work lives. This interactive session invites you to reflect, connect, and share through storytelling, drawing on both personal narratives and collective wisdom.
Join this session if your health has ever been compromised, you’ve walked through a health challenge, or you want to strengthen your wellness practices before you reach that point.
Facilitator: Dr. Johanna Cena
Location: A102
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🌱 Brains in Balance: Science-Based Approaches to Support Learning and Well-Being
Description: How can we create learning environments that support both cognitive performance and emotional balance for students and educators alike? This session offers accessible, research-informed tools to support nervous system regulation throughout the school day. We’ll explore how brain states shape behavior, attention, and connection, and how small, intentional practices can help create calm and readiness in the classroom.
Facilitator: Lupe Fernandez
Location: A104
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🌱 Literacy as a Path to Wellness: Integrating SEL into Reading and Writing
Description: Literacy is more than decoding words on a page — it’s about making meaning, finding voice, and connecting with others. The same is true for social-emotional learning (SEL). These are not just student skills; they are life skills that educators also need in order to sustain wellness, resilience, and meaningful connection in their work.
In this workshop, we’ll explore how the ISCA Student Standards Learning Progression provides developmentally aligned outcomes from Pre-K through Grade 12 that connect literacy instruction with SEL—and how those same competencies can support teacher wellness and growth.
*Please note this is a repeat of Saturday’s session
Facilitator: Brooke Fezler
Location: A106
Resource: Adult SEL Reflection
Access ISCA Standards and Learning Progression
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🌱 Liberating Painting Techniques
Description: Liberate yourself and sweep, swirl, layer, comb, scrape, blow, yarn pull, squeegee, tin foil texture or create gradients using acrylic paints. We will be experimenting on mixed media paper as well as on canvases that you will be able to take home afterwards! Come and discover new techniques while creating beautiful art!
Facilitator: Samantha McGuinness
Location: A107
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🌱 Nourish, Don’t Punish: Cut Back on Diet Guilt & Boost Your Mental Health
Description: We’ve all had that moment: you eat something “unhealthy,” and suddenly you’re promising to be “good” tomorrow — but by Thursday, you’re stress-eating cereal out of the box and wondering what happened. You feel like you've lost "control" and food is one more thing you can’t get right.
But what if feeling better with food wasn’t about more willpower, but less guilt?
This workshop blends psychology and nutrition to unpack how food impacts your mood, focus, and emotional resilience — and why being “good” with food often backfires. Learn simple tips to balance blood sugar (and emotions) and nourish yourself — guilt-free.
Facilitator: Jennifer Olejarz
Location: A205
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🌱 Design the Life You Want: Vision Boarding for Balance and Clarity
Description: Reflection, growth, and joy can absolutely go hand in hand, especially when we make space for both the logical and intuitive parts of our mind. In this workshop, we’ll gently move from structured thinking to a more holistic perspective, using storytelling and visual metaphors to help you reconnect with what truly matters.
Through guided practices, you’ll explore your personal vision of work-life balance and express it through a creative, meaningful collage, using a visual language your subconscious mind understands deeply.
Facilitator: Gisela Pi
Location: A207
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🌱 7 Steps to Healthy Habit Formation: Create a lifestyle you love and hack your hormones for lasting change
Description: A powerful, interactive session where you'll learn the science behind habit formation, 7 steps to successfully bring this to life, and you’ll also have the space to effortlessly create and implement your own action plan. We’ll explore some of the most impactful healthy habits and practical strategies for workplace wellbeing.
Identify your true motivators, break free from self-sabotage, and hack your hormones for lasting change. This is your chance to get back in the driving seat, supercharging your energy, performance, and mindset.
Instagram: yutori_coaching - LinkedIn: Liz Jones SolanoFacilitator: Liz Jones Solano
Location: A212
Resource: Website
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Time: 14:30 - 14:40
Location: HS Floors 1 and 2
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Time: 14:45 - 15:30
Location: Auditorium
Presenter: Erin Kent
The Global Landscape of Literacy: Where We Were. Where We Are. What’s Next.
What if your school’s story is part of something much bigger?
In this keynote, Erin Kent draws on EKC’s work in hundreds of international schools to paint a global picture of how reading and writing are evolving - and how schools are tackling change in thoughtful, sustainable ways.
You’ll hear what’s working (and what’s not), which regions are leading the way (and why), and the real, measurable impact these shifts are having on learners around the world.
This closing session is a chance to zoom out, reflect, and reconnect with the bigger movement we’re part of - and leave with renewed clarity for your school’s next steps.
Because when we learn from others’ journeys, we do better in our own communities.
Let’s leverage the world to lift the world.
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Time: 15:45
FAQs
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ASB is located in Esplugues de Llobregat, which is about 20 minutes from downtown Barcelona. You can share the address below with any taxi driver to get out to campus. You can also say "el colegio americano en esplugues"
For the weekend conference it is more convenient to enter through the bottom gate, located on Carrer de la Via Augusta, across the street from La Mallola housing complex.
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2 EKC Online Courses
4 EKC Coffee mugs
1 EKC Community access for a school division
1 EKC Text set
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If you’re going straight to the airport after the conference, we will have luggage storage available on Sunday as well as a bus from the school to the airport
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Karen Hendren: karen@erinkentconsulting.com
