Pre-conference workshops

Presented by: Cherissa Legendre Vitter, Associate Professor IB Education, Southeastern Louisiana University

This session is designed for administrators, coordinators, and teachers who serve as instructional leaders. This pre-conference focuses on the facilitation of an environment where IB teachers are inspired and supported through coaching practices. Participants will explore cognitive coaching resources in concert with IB resources that may be used to elevate and support their IB teachers. Participants will unpack States of Mind techniques to reflect on equity in their current coaching practices and rehearse new methods. By the end of this session, participants will leverage cognitive coaching techniques to inspire IB teachers and help them realize their potential as life-long learners. This pre-conference is facilitated through rehearsal-style experiences. Participants are encouraged to leverage electronic devices to actively engage in developing professional practices and coaching plans while studying the data that informs individual practice. Participants will leave the workshop with an action plan to support teacher growth and professional environments for success.

Presented by: David Weiss, IBWS Head U.S. Public Schools, International Baccalaureate Organization

This session is intended for school district-level administrators or teams led by district-level administrators to workshop strategies to support IB programmes in the district. The workshop will utilize the conceptual framework of organizational learning theory to develop concrete strategies to support schools and teachers in delivering an IB education in the district's context.

Presented by: Corita Silapan, Year 5 Team Leader, Beacon Academy

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, creating a classroom environment that supports both emotional well-being and deep conceptual understanding is crucial. "Emotional Architects: Deepening Conceptual Understanding and Fostering Emotional Intelligence in the PYP Classroom" is an engaging and practical workshop designed for educators seeking to enhance their teaching strategies in the Primary Years Programme (PYP). This workshop will provide participants with: Innovative Strategies for Emotional Intelligence; Integration of Conceptual Understanding; Inquiry-Driven Learning Approaches and; Creating a Cohesive Learning Culture. Participants will engage in interactive activities, collaborative discussions, and practical exercises designed to translate these concepts into actionable strategies for their own classrooms. By combining evidence-based practices with a focus on student well-being, this workshop aims to equip educators with the tools to create an enriching and supportive learning environment that fosters growth and curiosity.

Presented in Spanish by: Analia Edith Oursi, IBEN Educator

Este taller tiene como objetivo generar una construcción conjunta de estrategias y acciones concretas para lograr un involucramiento activo de los alumnos en su evaluación. Se analizará la influencia que tiene la evaluación para el aprendizaje sobre la motivación y la autoestima del alumno. (bienestar)

Se trabajará sobre rutinas de evaluación para el aprendizaje teniendo en cuenta:

• la retroalimentación efectiva y formativa focalizada en los exámenes estandarizados del programa del diploma (PD).
• la necesidad del alumno de ser capaz de evaluarse a sí mismo y comprender cómo mejorar (agencia)
• el uso de la evidencia obtenida e interpretada de los logros del alumno, que permita conducir a acciones que favorezcan un mejor aprendizaje.
• la construcción de coherencia y entendimiento durante la evaluación para el aprendizaje.
• la importancia de desarrollar una cultura colaborativa de la evaluación.

Presented in Spanish by: Chloe Suberville, Senior IBWS Manager, International Baccalaureate Organization, and Ricardo Chiaradia, Senior IBWS Manager, International Baccalaureate Organization

Taller diseñado para mejorar el plan de aprendizaje profesional de su colegio. Los educadores experimentarán que el aprendizaje va más allá de los días impuestos de desarrollo profesional y los talleres obligatorios del IB. Esta preconferencia invita a investigar qué constituye un aprendizaje profesional continuo y cómo un enfoque intencional para el crecimiento de los docentes, los equipos directivos y el colegio como organización es fundamental para un aprendizaje efectivo de los estudiantes. Se mostrarán distintas posibilidades de aprendizaje profesional y su potencial para impulsar el cambio y se sugerirán oportunidades de aprendizaje integradas, como estudios de libros, mentoría instructiva, enseñanza en equipo y caminatas de aprendizaje. Asimismo, se expondrán posibilidades para planes de aprendizaje profesional personalizados que desarrollen capacidades e impulsen un desarrollo estratégico para un aprendizaje profundo de los estudiantes. Por último, los educadores conectarán el aprendizaje profesional con los planes de desarrollo de los programas del IB.

Presented by: Sarah Phillips, MYP Coordinator, Crescent Heights Academy

This workshop will explore how MYP coordinators and school leaders can foster a culture of effective collaborative planning and reflection among teachers. Participants will learn how the IB Approaches to Teaching can help both new and experienced teachers to connect their existing practices to the MYP framework. The session will highlight the MYP unit planner as a visible thinking tool that links educational theory with classroom practice. Coordinators and school leaders will discover how high-quality collaborative planning and reflection can be encouraged by focusing on the processes that lead to essential MYP documents such as unit plans, assessment tasks, and subject-group overviews. Emphasis will be placed on developing strong, collaborative practices rather than focusing solely on the final products.

Presented by: Cindy Obi, Head IB Coordinator for Group SEB premium schools, Escola Bilingue Pueri Domus; Sphere International school and Escola Bilingue Carolina Patricio

This workshop aims to provide an environment that will promote how educators can recognize and embrace diversity within school communities that may appear predominantly homogeneous. Participants will explore how to identify cultural dynamics and understand their impact on students’ experiences. We will focus on fostering an inclusive environment that values diverse cultural perspectives, harmonizing cultural expectations while integrating diverse voices into the curriculum and school policies. Attendees will collaborate on actionable strategies for promoting open dialogue about cultural differences and similarities among students, faculty, and parents, helping to build a respectful and enriching community. Through interactive sessions and real-world case studies, this workshop will empower participants to create educational environments that thrive on diversity, enhancing the overall learning experience for all students. Join us in fostering a culture of inclusion that celebrates every individual’s unique background and contributions!

Presented by: Kristen Machczynski, IB District Support Specialist, Chicago Public Schools and Sara Fliehman, IB District Support Specialist, Chicago Public Schools

To what extent are stakeholders for your school or district supported in creating strategic and actionable plans to improve and sustain successful IB programmes? This session will utilize components and philosophies from all IB programmes to foster an understanding of how targeted universalism can support IB schools. As a result, participants will learn and practice strategies to amplify and advocate for the IB in the larger district or school’s mission and vision. Participants will actively engage in inquiry, visible thinking routines, and structured collaboration. Examples from Chicago Public Schools’ extensive support structures for administrators, coordinators, and teachers will help bring this learning to life. Participants will leave with clear action plans for improving IB programmatic and pedagogical support for the school year. The audience for this session is superintendents, district leaders, administrators, IB coordinators, and other school-based leaders from all IB programmes.

Presented by: Phil Evans, Senior Market Research Manager, DP Assessment, International Baccalaureate Organization and Chad Lower, IB Schoolwide Adoption Specialist, International Baccalaureate Organization

Managing change is one of the greatest challenges, leaders face. This pre-conference session will guide participants through strategies that help identify the magnitude of change and deepen understanding for the ways mental models, public value, operational capacity, and legitimacy and support contribute to whether a community accepts or rejects change. Further, through collaboration and networking with other school leaders, this session will facilitate application of change theory to the education systems and frameworks the IB has designed to cultivate flourishing IB World Schools. If you feel as though your community is divided regarding their perceptions of the value and purpose of IB education, or maybe you and members of your team have imagined an IB World School that is not yet reflected by the current state, this session can offer strategies to transform aspects of your school, to reach your school defined optimum.

Presented by: Melissa Cuculich, Senior IB World Schools Manager, International Baccalaureate Organization and Laura Lane, Senior IB World Schools Manager, International Baccalaureate Organization

Join us for an interactive workshop designed to enhance your school’s professional learning journey. Educators will experience that professional learning goes beyond mandated professional development days and required IB workshops. This pre-conference invites participants to inquire into what constitutes continuous professional learning and how an intentional approach to growth of the individual teacher, leader and the learning organization is fundamental to student learning. We will navigate a variety of professional learning engagements and their potential for driving change. Embedded learning opportunities, such as book studies, instructional coaching, team teaching, and learning walks, are suggested as possibilities for personalized professional learning plans that can build capacity and drive strategic development for deeper student learning. Educators will connect professional learning to their current focus of IB programme development.

Presented in French by: Rémy Lamon, Senior IB World Schools Manager, International Baccalaureate Organization

Rejoignez-nous pour un atelier interactif conçu pour améliorer le parcours de formation professionnelle de votre établissement. Vous découvrirez que la formation professionnelle va au-delà des journées de développement professionnel et des ateliers obligatoires de l'IB. Cette pré-conférence vous invite à vous interroger sur ce qui constitue une formation professionnelle continue et sur la manière dont une approche intentionnelle du développement des enseignants, des leaders et de l'organisation apprenante est fondamentale pour l'apprentissage des élèves. Nous explorerons une variété d'engagements en formation professionnelle et leur rôle innovatif. Les opportunités d'apprentissage intégrées, comme les études de livres, le coaching pédagogique, l'enseignement en équipe et les promenades d'apprentissage, sont suggérées comme de possibles plans de formation professionnelle personnalisés pour renforcer les capacités et stimuler le développement stratégique en vue d'un apprentissage plus approfondi des élèves. Les éducateurs relieront la formation professionnelle et leurs objectifs actuels de développement des programmes de l'IB.