Section List

Building Thinking Classrooms 3-5  

July 28, 2026

• ESU 10 - T&L
• Shepard, Taylor

3rd-5th grade teachers will have the opportunity to learn from Peter Liljedahl, the author of “Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics”, a book focused on encouraging students to go beyond just following along with instruction, but actually developing into mathematical thinkers.  
Teachers will spend the morning experiencing a Thinking Classroom from the point of view of a learner. Working in groups, participants tackle engaging non-curricular tasks while uncovering at least nine of the fourteen Thinking Classroom practices—all in a short burst of time. The session wraps with rich, collaborative reflection to connect the dots between what was experienced and the practices behind it.
The afternoon shifts gears to a full lesson in action. Teachers compare and contrast their morning experiences, then witness a complete curricular task unfold from start to finish—including launch, activity, consolidation, meaningful note-taking, and Check-Your-Understanding questions. It’s a chance to see Thinking Classroom practices come alive in both theory and practice.

ESSA Grant Application Workshop  

July 28, 2026

• ESU 10 - T&L
• Stukey, Heather

Nebraska Department of Education Federal Programs staff will provide an overview of the components in the  2026-2027 ESSA Grant application.

Science of Reading Community of Practice-From Reading Research to High-Impact Skills Instruction (Day 2 of 5)  

July 31, 2026

• ESU 10 - T&L
• Stukey, Heather

This professional learning workshop series supports K–3 educators in translating science of reading research into high-impact skills instruction. Through 2 full-day virtual Zoom sessions and 3 1.5 virtual Zoom check-ins, participants will engage in guided learning, collaborative planning, and lesson analysis using high-quality instructional materials aligned to foundational literacy skills.

Teachers will explore research-aligned instructional moves for phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, fluency, and assessment, and apply them directly to daily classroom routines. 

This workshop is designed for teachers who have completed a science-of-reading professional learning and are seeking practical support to strengthen skills instruction through effective use of high-quality materials.

Curriculum Work Day  

August 3, 2026

• ESU 10 - T&L
• Shepard, Taylor

Start your school year feeling prepared, focused, and supported. This workshop is designed to give educators dedicated, uninterrupted time to plan for high-quality instruction before students arrive. Whether you’re refining pacing guides, internalizing units, organizing materials, or aligning to standards, this day is built around what you need most, time to get ready.

In addition to structured work time, optional breakout sessions will be available to support your professional growth and classroom practice. Topics may include tools and strategies such as IXL, AI for educators, engagement techniques, scaffolding, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), teacher wellness, creativity tools like Canva, and more. Attend what’s relevant to you, or continue your planning. This day is flexible by design. Complete the SURVEY to identify breakouts that you would be interested in attending. 

Join colleagues across grade levels and content areas for a productive, low-pressure environment that prioritizes preparation, collaboration, and choice. Walk away with concrete plans, stronger clarity, and the confidence to begin the year strong.

Early Childhood Teacher Institute (Day 1 of 2)  

August 6, 2026

• ESU 10 - ADMIN
• Shaw, Trina

Administrators and paraprofessionals are highly encouraged to attend days one and two in August.
This two-day workshop focuses on:
- Understanding Rule 11
- ECERS-3 in Early Childhood Settings
- Using Ongoing Assessment in the Classroom (Teaching Strategies GOLD)

Additional dates in this series (register for each workshop separately):
September 11, 2026 - Creating Meaningful Large and Small Group Experiences
December 11, 2026 - Literacy-Rich Preschool Environments and Interactive Read-Alouds
February 5, 2027 - Engaging Preschoolers in Number Sense and Measurement

These workshops give early childhood staff the opportunity to choose topics that meet their needs while meeting the Rule 11 professional development requirements

LETRS Volume 2 (Units 5-8) Cohort 2 2026-2027 (Day 1 of 4)  

August 6, 2026

• ESU 10 - T&L
• Kennicutt, Claudine

Teachers matter more to student achievement than any other aspect of schooling. Teachers need professional development that provides deeper knowledge, skills, and practice to successfully address reading difficulties.

• Understanding the content and methodology of research-based, explicit, structured literacy instruction

• Deep knowledge of the cognitive and language factors that shape student learning and of pedagogical detail

• Information about how to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all student

mCLASS DIBELS 8th Edition Administration and Instruction Essentials for Teachers  

August 7, 2026

• ESU 10 - T&L
• Walters, Amy

Early Childhood Project Approach (Day 1 of 2)  

August 13, 2026

• ESU 10 - ADMIN
• Shaw, Trina

Experience the Power of Project-Based Learning!
Preschoolers have a natural curiosity and love to explore their surroundings! Engaging them in the project approach means involving them in investigations. Of topics that capture their interest and are valuable for their understanding. By incorporating this approach into the curriculum, teachers can align with the Nebraska early learning guidelines while fostering a genuine enthusiasm for learning among their students.

Over the course of this two-day workshop, participants will learn from fellow colleagues who were trained in the project approach and have been implementing it over the past two years.

Skills/activities include:
· Delve into project phases, key experiences, and roles of educators and students
· Emphasize the creation of inclusive, high-quality learning environments
· Examine a variety of real classroom projects that were designed and implemented
· Actively engage in a guided process for developing a 4 to 6 week study, including lesson plans to implement the following school year

As an added bonus, participants will receive Sallee Beneke’s book, The Project Approach for All Learners: a Hands-on Guide for Inclusive Early Childhood Classrooms.

Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your teaching and to ignite passion and curiosity in your students like never before

ESU 10 Leadership Network Session 1-2 2026-2027 (Day 1 of 2)  

August 25, 2026

• ESU 10 - T&L
• Clapp, Kelly

The Leadership Network is a professional learning opportunity sponsored by ESU 10.  Participants will be divided into teams of 3 or 4 focused on providing feedback in the areas of instruction, school culture, and effective learning environments within the leader’s local setting.  This partnership agreement details the expectations for each partner.

Network Purpose

• To engage teams of principals who support each other in identifying and executing evidence-based practices likely to impact problems of practice contributing to persistent equity gaps at each of their respective schools.

• To engage network teams in data-rich (quantitative & qualitative) conversations that lead to improved equitable student outcomes.

• To give and receive growth-producing feedback with triad peers that is specific, timely, positive, and delivered in a non-directive voice.

Day 1- 2 

-Orientation to the Process

-Quantitative School Data Analysis

-Qualitative Data Collection

-Instructional Improvement in Action

-Develop Problem Statement and Problem of Practice

ACT Instructional Mastery Reading (Day 1 of 2)  

September 1, 2026

• ESU 10 - T&L
• Walters, Amy

In this two-day session, participants will grow their mastery of instructional skills for preparing their students for the ACT in the specific subject area they teach. In addition to a certificate of attendance, participants can earn a credential of course content mastery by passing the course-specific Knowledge Check assessment.

The ACT Instructional Mastery Reading course provides candidates with the information necessary to understand Reading test structure and content, identify and recommend Reading test strategies, and provide effective Reading test preparation instruction. This course is highly interactive and experiential. Participants will explore and examine different strategies applicable to students of different abilities and reading speeds. Exercises completed in this course allow candidates to know what it feels like to be a pressed-for-time student who needs to get a good score.

Includes:

• Helping readers learn smart strategies to get more questions right more quickly and manage limited time effectively

• Discovering which approaches work best for which types of student

• Understanding Reading test Reporting Categories

• Analyzing Reading test items to determine what is being measured

• Practical, logical, and easy-to-understand approaches to each type of question

• Examining ways to embed Reading test prep into high school curriculum

Why Take It?

• Acquire practical skills to pass on to your students

• Gain insights into the skills the test assesses and how you can help your students develop those skills

• Discover powerful tactics for answering each ACT Reading item type you can share with students.