FOR CREC STAFF ONLY
This district-wide Professional Learning day will focus on content area curriculum/goals/objectives as well as the introduction of the 2026-2027 areas of focus.
Who Needs to Attend?
Sessions are customized based on your specific position and content area.
Building Foundations: The First 20 Days of Behavior Management, through Restorative Practices.
In this PD, participants will implement a systematic approach, modeled after the First 20 Days framework, to establish consistent behavior norms and restorative practices from the start. Staff will learn structured systems for reinforcing positive behavior, aligning with organizational policies, and ensuring equitable outcomes for all students.
Instructions for Participants: Please bring note taking items
AM: Visual Representations in Intervention: A High Leverage Strategy AI's and tutors will explore how visual representations help students to develop conceptual understanding and plan to implement these representations in their small group lessons. Instructions for Participants: Please bring a computer or the following Bridges binders (by grade level): Grades K and 1, Volume 1 Grade 2, Volume 2 Grades 3 and 4, Volume 3 Grade 5, Volume 5 PM: AI, Student Data, and Digital Wellness: Practical Guidance for Associate Instructors This interactive workshop provides Associate Instructors with a practical introduction to artificial intelligence, including how AI works, its limitations, and key considerations when handling student information. Participants will also explore professional expectations for digital device use around students, identify important look-fors and listen-fors related to student device use, and review appropriate documentation and reporting practices through a mandated reporter lens. The session includes real-world scenarios, a simple red-yellow-green decision-making framework, and strategies that can be applied immediately in school settings.
Building Strong Partnerships: Advancing Family Engagement Through Collaboration and Growth
As a result of the Family Engagement training, staff will demonstrate increased knowledge and confidence in implementing engagement practices that strengthen relationships with families, promote shared accountability for student success, and contribute to a positive culture of learning, collaboration, growth, and continuous improvement.
Instructions for Participants: None
Secondary Mathematics Instruction and Assessment
In this session participants will continue to explore small group instruction and its application in the secondary mathematics classroom, plan for common assessment, analyze data from spring assessments, and plan for the start of the school year.
Instructions for Participants: Please bring a charged laptop.
Connected and Comprehensive: Centering, Valuing, and Nurturing Students Through School Counseling
School Counselors will connect and collaborate across developmental bands to purposefully plan a comprehensive school counseling program for their school/students in 2026-2027.
Success for All Students in Science
Participants will apply strategies for starting the year with instructional practices for success for all students.
Instructions for Participants: Please bring your laptop and print curriculum materials if preferred.
Social Studies Launch 2026
Participants will understand the continued work of “The Right Work,” including High Quality Instruction, Centering Student Learners, and Portrait of a Learner; identify areas of excellence and opportunities in Social Studies instruction; and work collaboratively to create instructional goals, lessons, and assessments for the upcoming school year.
Instructions for Participants: Please bring your laptop, laptop charger, and writing utensils.
The Collaborative IEP Process - Best Practices in Meeting All Students Needs
Participants will review best practices in creating collaborative IEPs.
Please note: Participants will be spending part of the day with English classroom teachers. More information will be sent by the SPED Supervisors closer to the date with the exact schedule and locations.
Please note: Participants will be spending part of the day with Math classroom teachers. More information will be sent by the SPED Supervisors closer to the date with the exact schedule and locations.
AM: The Collaborative IEP Process - Best Practices in Meeting All Student Needs (S1044)
PM: Speech and Language Launch 2026-2027 (S1048)
Participants will explore topics of recurring relevance and interest to school SLPs, centering on CREC's Right Work model, and values.
AM (8:30 - 9:30): How can we design English curriculum and instruction to help all students be successful? (Arts HS FD Cafeteria)
Participants will determine strategies and goals to increase independent reading of books and writing with pen/paper; collaborate with grade level colleagues on instructional goals, assessments, rubrics and lesson plans; review summative data points to determine strengths and challenges in order to create action steps; understand the continued work of "The Right Work" including high quality instruction, centering student learners and portrait of a learner.
AM (9:30 - 12:00): Grade-Level Collaboration Time (Breakout Rooms at Arts HS FD)
PM (1:30 - 3:30): Renewing Partnerships (Hartford Public Library)
While at the Hartford Public Library, participants will experience the opportunities the Library can provide to support this year's goal: to increase independent reading of books and writing with pen/paper as well as project-based learning.
Instructions for Participants: Please bring a fully charged laptop and your unit plans for quarter one.
AM (8:30 - 9:30): How can we design English curriculum and instruction to help all students be successful? (Arts HS FD - Cafeteria)
AM (10:00-12:00): Renewing Partnerships (Hartford Public Library)
While at the Hartford Public Library, participants will experience the opportunities the Library can provide to support this year's goal: to increase independent reading of books and writing with pen/paper as well as project-based learning. PM (1:00 - 3:30): Grade Level Collaboration Time (Breakout Rooms at Arts HS FD) Instructions for Participants: Please bring a fully charged laptop and your unit plans for quarter one.
AM: Empowering Every Student, in Every Classroom, Every Day (Gym)
Grades K-5 classroom teachers, SPED teachers, and Elementary Coaches will apply the principles of HQI (High Quality Instruction) and CREC's Portrait of a Learner in order ensure success for all students.
PM (Grades K-2): UFLI (Library)
Participants will strengthen UFLI instruction; calibrate UFLI instruction using the Implementation checklist; calibrate the administration of the DIBELS assessment; and apply the principals of High-Quality Instruction (HQI) in order to ensure success for all students
PM (Grades 3-5): Fraction Models (Gym)
Participants will work to apply fraction models in the classroom.
Instructions for Participants: Please bring planning materials for your first ELA and math module, unit, or album. Please also bring a charged laptop and headphones.
Grades K-5 classroom teachers, SPED teachers, and elementary coaches will apply the principles of HQI (High Quality Instruction) and CREC's Portrait of a Learner in order ensure success for all students.
PM (Grades K-2, including Montessori Primary/Lower El): UFLI (Gym)
Participants will strengthen UFLI instruction; calibrate UFLI instruction using the Implementation checklist; calibrate the administration of the DIBELS assessment; and apply the principals of High-Quality Instruction (HQI) in order to ensure success for all students.
PM (Grades 3-5): Fraction Models (Black Box)
PM (Montessori Upper El): Math and Montessori (Room TBD)
Instructions for Participants: Please bring planning materials for your first ELA and math module or unit. Please also bring a charged laptop and headphones.
Grades K-5 classroom teachers, SPED teachers, AIs, and Tutors will apply the principles of HQI (High Quality Instruction) and CREC's Portrait of a Learner in order ensure success for all students.
PM: The Collaborative IEP Process - Best Practices in Meeting All Students Needs (Design Lab 108)
PM: The Collaborative IEP Process - Best Practices in Meeting All Students Needs (Library Classroom)
Grades K-5 staff will apply the principles of HQI (High Quality Instruction) and CREC's Portrait of a Learner in order ensure success for all students.
AM: Speech and Language Launch 2026-2027 (Room 210) Participants will explore topics of recurring relevance and interest to school SLPs, centering on CREC's Right Work model, and values.
PM: The Collaborative IEP Process - Best Practices in Meeting All Student Needs (Design Lab 108) Participants will review best practices in creating collaborative IEPs.
AM: Speech and Language Launch 2026-2027 (1038 - Music Room) Participants will explore topics of recurring relevance and interest to school SLPs, centering on CREC's Right Work model, and values.
PM: The Collaborative IEP Process - Best Practices in Meeting All Student Needs (Library Classroom) Participants will review best practices in creating collaborative IEPs.
Library Media Specialists Launch
Participants will discuss the district focus for the 2026-2027 school year.
Reconnecting and Refining Instruction for Multilingual Learners
Participants will reflect on student progress and identify instructional priorities for the upcoming semester.
Instructions for Participants: Bring electronic devices, LAS Links and CAAELP scores, and caseload.
Technology Integration in the Music Classroom
In partnership with The Bushnell Education Foundation, music teachers will attend an interactive workshop to integrate MusiQuest, a gamified music creation platform, into their curriculum. The session focuses on technology and core curriculum best practices. By the end, participants will identify one instructional strategy to implement this school year.
Instructions for Participants: Please bring a laptop, charger, water/hydration, and a light snack.
Therapies in the School 26th Annual Conference 2026
During these sessions all OTs and PTs will participate in webinars that focus on:
Realigning PE and Health Goals
The goal of this session is to review the curriculums to see what works and what doesn't. We will discuss what our shared vision for the department is and what the curriculums should look like to get us there.
NAEYC Accreditation & High Quality Practices
Participants will be able to describe the purpose, components, and key expectations of NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation; identify current system requirements and explain the steps in the accreditation/quality process; and make connections between high quality practices and child centered learning and how they impact an accreditation visit.
Instructions for Participants: Please bring a water bottle and your own lunch and a laptop per teacher/para teaching team.
CREC’s Right Work 2026 Planning
Updates on Standards-Aligned Grading and CREC's Right Work will guide planning for the year.
Social Workers and School Psychologists Launch
Participants will review best practices in developing IEPs and supports for students with social and emotional needs.
Technology Launch
The district focus for the 2026-2027 school year will be shared. Technology teachers will have time to work collaboratively on the High Quality Instruction (HQI) initiative.
Visual Arts Launch
Participants will be introduced to the district's 2026-2027 areas of focus and work on common assessments in grades 5, 8 and 12.
Backwards Planning and Forward Thinking
Teachers will review new standards organization, backwards planning of learning targets and setting up WL benchmarks and rubrics. Look at curriculum, HQI, and backwards design that aligns with upcoming standards aligned grading.