SIS Professional Development Menu

Standards Made Simple: Standards and Assessment in Music

In this interactive session, we will demystify and discuss the Colorado Academic Standards for music, connect standards to curriculum, and build assessments and rubrics based on the standards. 

Developing the Well-Rounded Musician

In this session, we will discuss the CAS in music and describe different ways to balance the emphasis on the different standards.

Voice and Choice in the Visual Arts Classroom

This session will explore ways to incorporate choice-based structures in the visual arts classroom. We will discuss strategies for fostering student voice and choice while maintaining high expectations and aligning lessons with the Colorado Academic Standards.

Trauma–Informed Practices in the Arts Classroom

Join the CDE Arts team to discuss how to implement Trauma-Informed Practices (TIPs) in the music, dance, drama, and visual arts classrooms to support student engagement and success.

Arts in Action: Project-Based Learning in the Arts 

Designed for arts teachers, leaders, and administrators, this session explores practical strategies for using project-based learning (PBL) in the arts classroom. In this session, we will use PBL as an approach to encourage student engagement, strengthen creative problem-solving, and support real-world artistic work in Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts, Music, and Visual Arts.

Building an Arts Community from the Inside Out

This session supports arts educators in developing impactful relationships and communities that lead to stronger academic outcomes. The session involves partner voices and robust discussions to explore driving questions that motivate partnerships and explores ways to work through obstacles that may inhibit strong collaboration.

Level Up Your Leadership: Leveraging Theatre Techniques to Achieve Measurable Outcomes

In this interactive session, participants will explore how theatre educators can use their unique training in communication, presence, empathy, and ensemble building to strengthen school communities and improve student outcomes, connections, and a sense of belonging. This session positions theatre as an essential tool for community building and workforce development.

Math Success Blueprint for Leaders

Description: Unveil the magic of math education leadership! Dive into the secrets of successful math classrooms, even if numbers aren't your forte. Discover the keys to engaging, fun math experiences and learn how to support them. Gain expert tools to evaluate any classroom in a 5-minute walkthrough, empowering you to boost student and teacher math enthusiasm and effectiveness. No equations needed—just a passion for transforming math education! Join us to revolutionize teaching practices, make math enjoyable, and empower your entire school community.

Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discourse

Description: Learn how to facilitate meaningful mathematical discourse. Effective teaching of mathematics facilitates discourse among students to build shared understanding of mathematical ideas by analyzing and comparing student approaches and arguments. Participants will be students while facilitators model the 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions. See how these practices increase student engagement and develop student capacity to construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

Assisting Students Struggling with Math

Description: In this interactive session, we will discuss the varying strategies currently employed to assist students who are struggling in math and their relative strengths and challenges.  We will review recent research on the topic and look at flexible implementation strategies to adapt to local conditions.  And we'll do some fun math too!

Making Meaning of Systems of Equations

Description: There's more to systems of equations than graph intersections, substitution, and elimination. In this session, we'll explore activities that use content-rich tasks and representations that support student understanding of algebra using principles of progressive formalization.

Using Contexts and Models to Promote Students' Meaningful Sensemaking of Ratios and Rates 

Description: How can the various uses of ratios and rates be made more relevant and sensible to students? This session will engage participants in the discussion and critical analysis of contexts, models, and strategies to develop student understanding of and engagement with proportional reasoning, ratios, and rates using principles of progressive formalization.

Making Algebra Meaningful: The Area Model from Arithmetic to Algebra (to Calculus!)

Description: Visual representations help to make mathematics meaningful for students. This is especially important in the transition from arithmetic to algebra. We’ll explore how a powerful representation—the area model—can be used to make algebra meaningful by connecting students’ mathematical understanding across grades, from arithmetic to algebra.

Empower Student Reasoning with Progressive Formalization: Making Sense of the World Using Logarithms 

Description: How can we make logarithms more relevant and sensible to students? This session will engage participants in activities from a unit designed to develop student understanding of and engagement with logarithms using the design principle of progressive formalization

State of the State of Math Education in Colorado and Beyond

Description: This session provides an update on math initiatives around Colorado and beyond, including standards revision, PD, interventions, curriculum recommendations, and more

Mapping Coherence Across the Curriculum 

Description: How do we prevent gaps in student learning and better handle them when they happen? In this session, we'll explore two tools, the Coherence Map and the Coherence Gap spreadsheet, that help teachers understand what knowledge might be needed before your next lesson, and what potential consequences lie ahead because of unfinished learning.

Supporting Successful Curriculum Adoption: Building Systems for Sustainable Implementation

Description: This session offers educators and leaders practical support for navigating the curriculum adoption and implementation process using Colorado Department of Education’s evidence-based guidance. Participants will explore how to build collaborative systems that honor stakeholder voices, align with district goals, and ensure instructional materials meet the needs of all learners. From evaluating current practices to sustaining long-term implementation, this session emphasizes strategic planning, educator support, and continuous professional learning to drive meaningful change in teaching and learning.

Math for Out-of-School-Time Programs 

Description: This session is an interactive session introducing out-of-school-time folks to best teaching practices and problems resources for working with students.

Routines for Reasoning 

Description: Instructional routines help teachers engage students in mathematical practices. In this session, we'll introduce an instructional routine and discuss implications for using it in the classroom. Instructional routines may include Contemplate then Calculate, Capturing Quantities, Connecting Representations, Recognizing Repetition, Three Reads, or Decide and Defend.

Making Sense of Research About the Teaching of Mathematics

Description: Direct instruction or discovery? Explicit or inquiry? In this session, we'll explore this false dichotomy and see how research is used (and sometimes misused) to make sweeping generalizations about the "best practices" for teaching

Colorado Adolescent Literacy Framework Overview and Feedback

This working session will provide an overview of the current state of the Colorado Adolescent Literacy Framework for grades 4-12 and give participants the opportunity to provide suggestions and feedback on the work completed thus far.

Internalizing the Writing Standards to Inform Explicit Writing Instruction 

This cooperative session will engage teachers in pursuing a deeper understanding of the writing standards by analyzing the declarative and procedural knowledge within the standards and examining the aspects of rigor to inform explicit writing instruction.

Designing Standards-Based, Rigorous Learning Targets

This cooperative session will engage 6-12 ELA teachers in pursuing a deeper understanding of their standards by analyzing the declarative and procedural knowledge within their standards and examining the aspects of rigor to write grade-level, standards aligned learning targets.

Translating CMAS Science Data into Classroom Instruction & Assessment

Support educators to use Colorado’s CMAS science data to identify a focus GLE, unpack the associated Evidence Outcomes (EOs), and translate them into next‑step instructional and assessment moves they can apply in their classrooms.

Aligning evidence-informed best practices in science instruction and assessment with CTE course work
Support educators to connect evidence‑informed science instructional and assessment practices with CTE course objectives, identifying where shared skills and concepts naturally align. Participants will pinpoint opportunities to strengthen both science learning and career‑connected outcomes through high‑leverage strategies.

Crosscutting concepts and science and engineering practices as tools to leverage students’ diverse sensemaking assets

Support educators to use crosscutting concepts and science and engineering practices as tools for eliciting and amplifying students’ diverse sensemaking assets. Participants will explore simple strategies to connect these dimensions of the standards to students’ lived experiences, ways of knowing, and problem‑solving approaches.

Anchoring Learning in Phenomena: Sensemaking for All Students
Support educators to anchor instruction in meaningful phenomena that invite all students into sensemaking. Participants will explore simple strategies for using phenomena to elicit diverse ideas, build shared understanding, and strengthen equitable access to science learning.

Leveraging AI tools to design relevant and authentic science classroom materials

Support educators to use AI tools to create relevant, authentic science classroom materials aligned to standards and student needs. Participants will explore simple ways free AI tools can streamline planning, generate phenomena-driven tasks, and enhance access without replacing teacher expertise.

Designing Coherent Assessment Systems for Science Classrooms

This session supports educators in designing coherent, three‑dimensional assessment systems that align classroom learning targets with program‑level tools like CMAS. Participants will explore how to use student sensemaking assets to inform instruction and access to editable, standards-aligned assessments they can implement immediately.

Building a Shared Vision for Science Learning and Vertical Articulation

This session supports educators in developing a shared, vertically articulated K–12 vision for science learning grounded in three‑dimensional standards, equity, and student sensemaking. Participants will collaboratively clarify what coherent instruction looks like across grade levels and access editable Colorado‑developed three‑dimensional assessments to support alignment and continuity.

From Science Classroom to Career: Evidence‑Based Teaching and Assessment for Career‑Connected Learning

This session supports educators in integrating evidence‑based science instruction and assessment practices that naturally connect classroom learning to real‑world career pathways. Participants will identify small, high‑leverage shifts that strengthen both science understanding and career‑connected skill development.

Science Curriculum Adoption Support: Tools for unpacking and evaluating instructional materials in science

This session equips educators with practical tools for unpacking and evaluating science instructional materials to determine alignment, coherence, and usability. Participants will learn how to apply clear criteria to identify materials that support high‑quality, three‑dimensional science teaching and learning.

Student‑Centered Science: Adapting Classroom Materials for Student Relevance and Impact
This session helps educators adapt existing science materials to reflect Colorado’s unique ecosystems, communities, and contexts. Participants will explore simple strategies for increasing local relevance and enhancing student engagement through place‑based connections.

Integrating Colorado’s Seal of Climate Literacy into Existing STEM Courses
This session supports educators in embedding the Seal of Climate Literacy into current science courses without adding a new curriculum. Participants will identify natural points of alignment and develop practical strategies for integrating climate concepts, skills, and applications.

Connecting Quantum Information Systems and Technology (QIST) Concepts to Science Standards Through Authentic Performance Tasks

This session introduces educators to foundational QIST concepts and how they align with existing science standards. Participants will design or adapt authentic performance tasks that make emerging technologies accessible and meaningful for K–12 learners.

Science at Its Peak: Colorado Standards in Action

In these free workshops exclusively for CO teachers, we will explore the Colorado Academic Standards for science and consider strategies to implement aligned instruction. Together, we will investigate:

• What are the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) for science?
• How can instruction aligned to CAS support student learning?
• What does it look like to organize CAS aligned instruction around phenomena?
• What resources are available for me to implement CAS in my classroom?

Each workshop is 6 hours. 

Access more information and register.

Using Inquiry in the Secondary Social Studies Classroom

Inquiry-based learning invites students to think and act like historians, geographers, economists, and civic leaders by posing questions, analyzing evidence, and constructing their own interpretations of the past and present. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore strategies for designing and facilitating inquiry lessons that support critical thinking, student voice, and engagement in secondary social studies classrooms.

Pairing Primary sources with Literature in the Elementary Classroom

This session will explore how integrating primary sources into literature lessons can deepen students' understanding and bring historical contexts to life. Teachers will learn strategies to help students connect the fictional world of a story with real-world events, people, and perspectives, fostering critical thinking and empathy. This session will equip you with ideas to make your classroom more interactive, informative, and engaging for your students!

Using Primary Sources in the Classroom: Unlocking the Power of Authentic History

In this dynamic session, discover how incorporating primary sources into your secondary classroom can transform the way students engage with history. Primary sources are powerful tools that offer students a direct connection to the past. Learn how to use these materials to foster critical thinking, promote historical inquiry, and develop students’ skills in analysis and interpretation. Participants will leave with practical strategies, lesson ideas, and resources to create rich, inquiry-based learning experiences that encourage students to question, analyze, and form their own interpretations of history.

“From Source to Story: Strengthening Student Writing Through Primary Sources in the Secondary Social Studies Classroom”

In this interactive session, participants will explore practical strategies for using primary sources as a foundation for authentic writing in secondary social studies classrooms. We’ll examine how engaging with photographs, letters, maps, oral histories, and artifacts can strengthen students’ historical thinking, argument writing, and disciplinary literacy. Attendees will leave with tools that support sourcing, contextualization, and corroboration while also developing students’ voice and confidence as writers. Whether you teach U.S. or world history, geography, or civics, this session offers ready-to-use strategies that blend literacy and inquiry to deepen student understanding and make writing a natural extension of historical investigation.