Engage and Elevate WCSD 2025

Teachers will engage in intentional instructional planning through the evaluation of source complexity, critical concepts, and essential vocabulary. They will identify learning progressions and instructional strategies to support successful knowledge and skill acquisition in a way that builds student understanding over the course of a unit. The planning session that follows will provide teachers with an opportunity to collaboratively plan their first unit of study.

Understanding an author’s purpose and thinking critically about connections to other texts and relevant, real-world scenarios requires students to practice reading a text closely. Teachers will explore how the Notice & Note Signposts in HMH support instructional moves that develop students close reading skills and provide opportunity to exercise their close reading “muscles.” Teachers will collaborate explore use of these resources within the first unit of HMH to support the design of strategically sequenced learning progressions and assessment of student understanding.

This session focuses on aligning academic language from standards with clear, inclusive learning intentions. Participants will explore strategies for planning instruction that supports diverse learners, including English Learners and students with disabilities, using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. The session will also cover selecting accommodations that allow students to demonstrate proficiency without reducing rigor. Attendees will leave with practical tools to ensure all students can access and achieve academic success.