NILS2024

In this workshop, participants will explore how to introduce and implement Socratic seminars into the elementary classroom where students can foster critical thinking and rich discussions. You'll learn strategies to adapt this instructional method for younger learners, including creating thought-provoking questions, guiding respectful dialogue, and encouraging deep reflection. By the end, you'll have practical tools to engage students in meaningful conversations that develop their listening, speaking, and analytical skills, all while making learning more student-centered. This approach can empower even our youngest learners to take ownership of their ideas and learning.

We invite you to join us for an exploratory session centered around the book *Unearthing Joy* by Gholdy Muhammad.  The session will provide an opportunity for collaboration, reflection, and innovation as we explore how the following five pursuits can play a critical role in the units we teach.  **Identity**: How does this unit help students learn something about themselves or others? 2. **Skills**: How does this unit respond to or build students’ skills for the content area? **Intellect**: How does this unit respond to or build students’ knowledge and mental capacities? **Criticality**: How does this unit engage students’ thinking about power, equity, and the disruption of oppression? **Joy**: How does this unit spread and amplify joy? As we look at units we already teach with the five pursuits lens, we will think about how we can infuse more joy for both staff and students in meaningful and justice centered experiences.

Come join us for a buffet of Natick's Superpower Tools and learn their impact in the classroom and beyond.  Whether it’s Canva, Book Creator, Magic School, Nearpod, BrainPOP, or Seesaw, we will highlight the superpowers within these fabulous tools that in turn, can unleash the superpowers in our students, ourselves, and each other. In the process, we will focus on accessibility, ways to support diverse learners, stories from the classroom, as well as student (and teacher!) agency.  With opportunities to learn from each other, you will hopefully leave supercharged to make an even greater impact in the classroom.  All are welcome but this is a great session for paraprofessionals to learn more about the online classroom tools students use.