Welcome to the 2025 Pretzel Winter Institute! Please select sessions appropriate to your role! Most sessions will be held at Freeport Middle School and Freeport High School while a few will be at Empire Elementary School and Lincoln-Douglas Elementary School. Remember to check session descriptions the night before the Institute to confirm times and locations. If you have any questions, please contact Alex T. Valencic, our Professional Learning Coordinator, at alex.valencic@fsd145.org. Thank you!
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Create hands-on literacy resources tailored to the needs of your grade level, 4th and 5th grade, to engage and empower young readers. Activities will include : Roll and write Vocabulary Common and Proper Nouns Inference Riddles Prefix/Suffix - Build a word Add an Adjective
MTSS Reading Support Specialist, Freeport School District #145
I have taught in the Freeport school district for 24 years. I have taught fifth grade, sixth grade, third grade, and I am currently a reading specialist at Blackhawk elementary.
How do we stop academically trapping our students...QUIT using the word 'smart'! Growth Mindset, Resilience, Perseverance, Grit: These are all words we keep hearing, but how do we, as educators, put into practice strategies that will help cultivate a Growth Mindset for our students, which in turn, fosters a development of Grit, Resilience, & Perseverance? In this session, you will learn practical classroom tools you can use with your students to enhance how you teach in a way that is equitable for all students; no matter their grade level or ability.
I will be outlining the challenges of working with our Gen Z / Gen Alpha students, and providing ideas on how to connect with those students rather than working "against" them.
