Use code EARLYBIRD at checkout by Jan. 30 to receive 50% off spring Professional Development Institute courses.

“PDI:

Courses

Bringing Math to Life in 6th-12th Grade

Do you want to make your math class more hands-on? Do you wish abstract math concepts could be more concrete and accessible for your students? If so, you are not alone! Join us as we investigate strategies for making sense of abstract concepts by using hands-on materials and experiences, and explore a variety of tools and resources that you can implement in your math classroom. CPDUs: 4.5

Friday, April 10, 2026, LLCC-Medical District Room 202

Designing Career-Connected Projects: Bringing Real-World Learning to Every Classroom (6-12)

Prepare students for life beyond the classroom. This full-day, hands-on workshop helps grades 6-12 educators transform existing lessons into authentic, career-connected projects that build both academic mastery and essential employability skills. Participants will explore how to integrate the Illinois PaCE and Essential Employability Skills frameworks, develop rubrics that measure collaboration and professionalism, and create meaningful assessments that mirror real workplace expectations. By the end of the day, educators will leave with a ready-to-implement project and the tools to make learning more engaging, relevant, and future-focused. CPDUs: 4.5 hours

Monday, May 4, 2026, LLCC-Medical District Room 202

Engage & Empower: Boosting Student Engagement through Essential Questions & Accountable Talk

In this session professional educators who are seeking to increase or enhance student engagement and accountable discussion in their K-8 classroom will learn how to create and use essential questions, practice and use a variety of discussion techniques, and learn how to explicitly measure and teach students how to be accountable to the content knowledge, their learning communities, and rigorous thinking. CPDUs: 2.75 hrs.


Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

Getting Students Talking About Math in 6th-12th Grade

Do you want your students to be more excited about sharing their ideas in math class? Do you wish your students worked together more effectively? If so, you are not alone! Join us as we investigate proven strategies for supporting student collaboration and conversation in math class, and explore a variety of tools and resources that you can implement in your math classroom. CPDUs: 4.5

Friday, March 20, 2026, LLCC-Medical District Room 202

Level Up Learning: Gamification Strategies for Engaging Math Classrooms

In this session, grades 2-6 educators will explore the power of gamification to enhance student learning in math. Participants will discover how to integrate both digital and hands-on games to boost engagement, motivation, and comprehension. The session will cover practical strategies for incorporating educational technology, interactive activities, and game-based learning techniques that align with curriculum goals. Participants will also learn how games can aid in assessing student understanding of skills. Teachers will leave with ready-to-use resources and ideas to transform their classrooms into dynamic, game-infused learning environments that make math more interactive and enjoyable for students. CPDUs: 2.75 hrs.


Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

Making Math Meaningful in 6th - 12th Grade

Do you want your students to be more engaged in math class? Do you wish your students had more perseverance to do critical thinking and problem-solving in math? If so, you are not alone! Join us for a day of exploration and collaboration as we tackle these common math class struggles. In this session, participants will learn about proven strategies for increasing student engagement in math and explore a variety of tools and resources for classroom implementation. CPDUs: 4.5

Friday, February 27, 2026, LLCC-Medical District Room 202

Send your Students to Space with Challenger Learning Center

Discover how online citizen-science projects can turn your grade 5-8 middle-schoolers into active partners in real space research. In this hands-on workshop, you'll test easy-to-use activities that let students explore authentic space data while building teamwork, problem-solving, and analysis skills. Next, step into a Challenger Learning Center live, virtual mission to see those same skills drive an immersive training simulation, modeled after NASA's training missions. You'll leave with flexible lesson plans, pacing tips, and NGSS-aligned materials that fit tight class periods and small budgets. CPDUs: 1.75 hrs.


Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

Supporting Math Fact Fluency in 6th-12th Grade

Do you want your students to have better number sense? Do you wish your students felt more confident in their basic facts and mental math? If so, you are not alone! Join us as we dive deep to understand "fluency", and explore a variety of tools and resources that you can implement in your math classroom to support your students in developing true math fluency. CPDUs: 4.5

Friday, May 8, 2026, LLCC-Medical District Room 202

Trauma Informed Practices (K-12)

This interactive workshop equips educators with the knowledge and tools to better support students impacted by trauma. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of how trauma shapes behavior, emotions, and learning. Insights that are essential for building inclusive and responsive classrooms.Educators will explore strategies for creating safe, supportive learning environments where students feel secure enough to engage and thrive. The session also covers practical, easy-to-use approaches to fostering resilience, helping students develop the skills to recover and grow from challenges they face both inside and outside the classroom. CPDUs: 3.75

Thursday, March 19, 2026, LLCC-Medical District Room 202

Work Ready Classrooms: Embedding Professional Skills into High School Instruction

Designed for high school educators, this workshop equips teachers to embed essential employability skills into academic content and classroom management systems. Participants will learn how to align soft skills with career readiness goals, use performance rubrics that reflect professional expectations, and simulate real-world workplace behaviors in the classroom. CPDUs: 2.75 hrs.


Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.