Keynote Addresses
From topics that motivate and entertain to those relating to the latest in research, each keynote address is designed to captivate, educate, and motivate. Topics are tailored to specific audiences, as determined through conversation with clients. Including, but not limited to:
• Teaching is Not a Competitive Sport
• Celebrating Teachers: Where in the World Would We Be Without Them?
Is it just lip service, or does each teacher really make a difference? Are they interchangeable parts or kingpins for learning? Susan Jones blends serious business with a lighthearted approach to reveal the truth rarely spoken -- The Primary Teaching Tool is YOU! Motivate, excite and energize educators while familiarizing them with practical, research-based strategies that impact student performance.
• Today’s Instruction for Tomorrow’s World
• Instructional Leadership
• Parents as Partners (appropriate for “Back to School” events or community programs)
Staff Development Sessions
The following frequently requested topics are available currently, although trainings can be tailored upon request:
1. Smart Teaching: Strategies that Raise Student Achievement. Blueprint for Student Success!
This practical, fast-paced, interactive presentation draws on the most recent findings in research, modeling practices that maximize student learning. Participants will gain strategies that can be implemented immediately.
2. Instructional Leadership: What Every Administrator Should Know
Administrators responsible for supervising and evaluating classroom instruction, often lack a ready source for the latest research on how students learn - and the implications for classroom teaching. This session builds observation and coaching skills to help staff raise student achievement.
3. Improving Comprehension for Struggling Students – within Subject Area Classrooms! Help for the Struggling Student: Facilitating Learning and Literacy – (Appropriate for grades 4-12)
Finally, a training that addresses the question, “How do I improve comprehension and raise student achievement for students weak in literacy skills?” Gain strategies to build those skills - while teaching subject area content. This is a practical workshop, which models techniques easily incorporated into any classroom. A must for today’s teachers.
4. Strategies to Motivate Students and Improve Participation (Middle grades through HS)
Disengaged students are not successful learners. But how do we gain participation and increase motivation without sacrificing curriculum? Not a theoretical discussion of technique, this session is a professional learning experience for serious educators who seek strategies that work – and will work in your classroom. Experience tasks firsthand that trigger motivation and student participation to create more efficient learning environments.
5. Raising Achievement for the Secondary (or Elementary) Student: What Can I Do Tomorrow?
A session that models strategies using real classroom tasks. Practical, powerful.
6. Learning, Alive! Movement and Academics - Partners in Achievement
No gimmicks - just effective, research-based strategies to improve student comprehension and achievement. This fast-paced, interactive session focuses on the infusion of movement for powerful instruction. Positively impact student performance: even in math, science, social studies, and language arts! A variety of tasks will be demonstrated.
7. Early Childhood: Foundations for Learning!
Wiring a Brain for Literacy, Numeracy and Academic Achievement.
Educators seeking to lay a firm foundation for learning and achievement
know that early childhood and early school experience is critical. This
workshop provides strategies and activities to make optimum
learning a reality for each child.
8. Fine Arts and Physical Education: Key Components for Brain Compatible Learning
Budget cuts often start with Fine Arts and Physical Education programs. Yet emerging research suggest that these areas are essential for sound learning: as Robert Sylwester says, research supports “...integrative and cooperative learning, arts in education, and the importance of the humanities.” Discover how they can aid students in making connections for learning and mastery, planting memories, and engaging in higher level thinking.
9. Engaging All Students: Exciting Learning through Higher Level Tasks (Gr. 5-12)
It’s not just what, but how we teach that affects learning. Students must think with content, not simply master information. Experience an interactive series of captivating tasks, which inspire – demand – higher-level thinking for all students.
10. The Care and Teaching of the Adolescent: Instruction to Meet the Needs of the Secondary Student (Grades 6-12)
11. Confident Communication: Backstage Pass for Trainers, Facilitators, and Public Speakers
Do you find yourself in front of adult audiences, rich in knowledge but not confident in presentation techniques? Discover the keys of skilled, masterful communicators. Immediately impact your own presentation success!
12. Healthy Brains: Healthy Bodies
Lifestyle choices can affect one’s ability to function in the workplace and the classroom. This session makes real sense!
Ongoing In-District Training
A powerful learning environment is created only if both the school leadership and teaching staff recognize their role in maximizing learning for each student. They must recognize that excellence requires constant effort and improvement, and share a base knowledge of research and successful strategies for maximizing student achievement.
They must be willing to cooperate and collaborate on a professional level, and be open to observation, coaching, and constructive feedback. This takes time – and incremental steps – but the resulting learning environment is dynamite. Ongoing professional growth opportunities can involve training of a core building team or an entire staff. Districts should contact Susan to tailor a program to their needs in creating a “Best Practices” learning environment.
All professional development centers on maximizing learning for students. To truly and positively impact students and the teaching/learning in a district, there must be:
1) Administration buy-in and support of the change process
2) Teacher buy-in
3) Establishment of a common skill/knowledge base
4) Piloting of technique/skill
5) Practice and feedback for technique/skill
6) Sharing of Results: collaboration and discussion
7) Celebration/Fine-tuning by professional colleagues involved in the change process
8) Ongoing, cumulative efforts toward improvement
Districts should contact Susan to tailor a program to their needs in creating a “Best Practices” learning environment.
