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Try out an SEL strategy and get it down "PATT"

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Begin your meetings with SEL-aligned norms

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Earthquake and Stage 2 Evacuation Presentation

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Earthquake and Stage 2 Evacuation Presentation

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Check out this article from Edutopia

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Using your voice to manage a classroom is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. Teachers vocalize to impart information through direct instruction, gauge student understanding by asking questions, facilitate transitions between activities-and also manage behavior by redirecting wayward learners and issuing directives when necessary. It's a deceptively complex, multifaceted tool, requiring constant modulation to fit changing classroom circumstances-and it can take teachers years to hone.

In a 2022 study, researchers set out to explore the nuances of tone, and especially how a teacher's tone of voice can shape classroom culture. Researchers from the University of Essex and University of Reading analyzed how elementary students reacted to common classroom instructions-"It's time to quiet down" or "Get in your seats, we're starting the lesson," for example-which were delivered in tones varying from controlling to neutral to supportive. While the words remained the same, shifts in tonality had a surprisingly large effect across multiple dimensions of classroom health, including students' sense of belonging, autonomy, and enjoyment of the class, as well as the likelihood that they'd confide relevant personal information to educators, like their interests or academic struggles.

The researchers concluded that controlling tones "undermined" students' sense of competence, while supportive tones "enhanced" their sense of connection with teachers. An authoritarian disposition can erect barriers: Controlling voices "dissuaded children from intentions to share secrets with their teachers," including whether students were being bullied, were suffering hardships, or had completed work they were proud of, said the researchers, eroding the bonds of trust that are needed to learn in the social setting of a classroom.

Yet tone remains difficult to master, and harder still to sustain in a chaotic classroom environment. That's why it's helpful to be mindful of how things like intonation, volume, and the pacing of your speech can influence behavior, and how these qualities of voice can be judiciously deployed in ways that are likely to reinforce learning.

Canary in the Coal Mine

Subtle changes in a teacher's tone of voice can be the first signal that something is awry in the classroom. A note of panic that slips into verbal directions, a rise in vocal register or volume, or a sudden barrage of repeated instructions may indicate to students that things are starting to spin out of control and trigger a fight-or-flight response in the classroom, ratcheting up the anxiety and leading to outbursts.

Emotions are contagious, researchers explain in a 2021 study. When teachers convey warmth and express interest in a topic, students are more likely to stay engaged-and stay out of trouble. Conversely, teachers who overreact to student disruptions or are emotionally distant can unwittingly create a combative or unfriendly atmosphere. Exhibiting passion for the topic works wonders: Teachers who enjoy being in the classroom "sustained their positive attitudes when students struggled and reported spending more time teaching," the researchers report.

Meanwhile, developing a steady, calm demeanor in a dynamic classroom setting takes time and practice, particularly when students know how to press your buttons. Take things slowly and work from a place of empathy and compassion. One way to prepare for the inevitable tests of your patience is by running scenarios in your head or with a partner. "Think through scenarios that might happen in your classroom and how you want to respond before the start of the year," suggests high school teacher and instructional coach Emily Terwilliger. "It will make those first redirects and interventions less intimidating."

As always, focusing on relationships first is a bedrock principle: " Bank time " with students and get to know them better, since these deposits can help ease future conflict. Finally, it's important to let go and start fresh; it's easy to overreact if a student keeps pushing your buttons. Try to start each day with a clean slate.

Finding the Warm in Your 'Warm Demander'

The ideal tone is a blend of both approaches, says middle school teacher Kristine Napper. "Neither high expectations nor kind hearts can do the job alone," writes Napper, who recommends adopting a warm demander tone that focuses first "on building strong relationships with students," and then "draws on that wellspring of trust to hold students to high standards of deep engagement with course content."

When students misbehave in Nina Parrish's classroom, she sees it as an opportunity to ask thoughtful questions and look for patterns. Did something spark the disruption? Are students trying to get attention from their friends, or are they bored? "Behaviors help students obtain something desirable or escape something undesirable," she explains. Instead of demanding compliance as a first step, meet your students halfway: Set high expectations, but also spend time trying to understand what makes them tick.

There will undoubtedly be times when you'll need to raise your voice or speak sharply to a student, but the tactic should be used sparingly. "Developing a calm, neutral, assertive voice is part of the teacher's own self-regulation, which allows them to help students to be self-regulated and to be secure in the knowledge that the teacher will be receptive to them, but also in control," says Linda Darling-Hammond, president and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute.

A Dose of the Nonverbal

It's easy to forget that tone isn't just conveyed through your voice-it can also be conveyed by facial expressions, hand gestures, and body language, which "help guide facilitation of student learning," says Samford University professor Lisa Gurley in a 2018 study. Teachers often adopt a formal demeanor in the classroom, modeling behavior that mirrors a professional environment. Yet the difference between too-controlling and just-controlling-enough often relies not on what is said, but on the accompanying nonverbal cues that can soften perceptions.

Are you inadvertently frowning or looking exasperated when a student speaks up? Do you seem dismissive? Modern eye-tracking research suggests that teachers tend to make eye contact with students in the front row and the middle section, so consider circulating in your room and making an effort to acknowledge those sitting in the back (and on the peripheries) with your presence.

You can be formal by nature and formal in speech, and still connect. Students can detect and appreciate teaching authenticity in many forms, according to recent research. And students usually "respond positively to professors who treat them with dignity and seem approachable, even if those professors are more formal in their speech and demeanor," says Amber Dickinson, a political science professor at Oklahoma State University, in a 2017 study. Acknowledging students with eye contact or an approving nod can "reduce the psychological distance" and help build a trusting relationship without saying a single word, she writes.

The Case of the Disembodied Voice

Vocalizing is not the only way that tone is expressed; our voice continues to have influence even in the absence of our physical presence. When giving feedback on an assignment, writing emails, or having an online discussion, the right tone can be harder to pin down-but it remains crucial-when communicating with students.

"A professor in a classroom may provide succinct instructions that students understand and appreciate, but a short email from a professor may be interpreted as cold or uncaring," says Dickinson. In her study, she discovered that attempts to be efficient by communicating in a precise manner-such as giving clear instructions on how to upload an assignment-were often interpreted by her students as harsh. Stripped of the nonverbal cues that typically accompany a face-to-face conversation, her online persona became stern and distant, and she saw her students become less engaged as a result.

When writing messages to students, be sure to include personal touches, suggests Dickinson. It not only will make them feel more comfortable but also can create a more positive classroom culture and encourage students to reach out for help. "For example, I included content to offer general encouragement by saying things such as 'Don't give up, the semester is almost over, and your hard work will pay off,' or reminding students I was happy to help them in any way," she writes.

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How Tone of Voice Shapes Your Classroom Culture

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Using your voice to manage a classroom is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. Teachers vocalize to impart information through direct instruction, gauge student understanding by asking questions, facilitate transitions between activities-and also manage behavior by redirecting wayward learners and issuing directives when necessary.

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Use this template and the embedded tools to help you lesson plan with language development in mind

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Use this template to help you lesson plan in alignment with objectives

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Plan with Purpose Template  (Instructions and blank template)

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Generation Wellness Presentation from 10/6/2025

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Generation Wellness Presentation from 10/6/2025

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Generation Wellness Presentation from 10/6/2025

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Generation Wellness Presentation from 10/6/2025

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Copy of Mindfulness and Classroom Circles

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jennifer Yoo-Brannon.

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Login to access and create your next design.

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jennifer Yoo-Brannon.

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Here's a slide deck of different activities to do with your students

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Slide deck from PD Day #1

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From the Next Generation Science Standards to Content and Language Objectives

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From the Next Generation Science Standards to Content and Language Objectives

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Science Lesson Skeleton Education Presentation in a Beige Grey Red Lined Style

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Amazingly Simple Graphic Design Software - Canva

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presentation by Dr. Lewis

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EBP Content and Language Objectives: ELA and SocSci

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EBP Content and Language Objectives: ELA and SocSci

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jennifer Yoo-Brannon.

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EBP 1: Content and Language Objectives (Math and Science)

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EBP 1: Content and Language Objectives (Math and Science)

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Amazingly Simple Graphic Design Software - Canva

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EBP 1: Content and Language Objectives for CTE, VAPA, PE, Guidance and World Languages

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EBP 1: Content and Language Objectives for CTE, VAPA, PE, Guidance and World Languages

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(11/4 CTE, VAPA, PE & WL & Guidance) EMUHSD EBP1 PD

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jennifer Yoo-Brannon.

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EBP 1 Presentation: Content and Language Objectives

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EBP 1 Presentation: Content and Language Objectives

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jennifer Yoo-Brannon.

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Presentation slides from 8.16.24 (Rethinking Grading and Assessment)

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Presentation slides from 8.16.24 (Rethinking Grading and Assessment)

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Rethinking Grading and Assessment (Slides from 8.16.24)

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April 22nd Late Start: Spotlight on Social Science 

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April 22nd Late Start: Spotlight on Social Science 

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4.22 Late Start: Social Science Spotlight

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jennifer Yoo-Brannon.

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Make a copy, customize it, and use it!

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Copy of See, Mean, Matter (with structured academic talk)

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4.22 Late Start: Spotlight on Social Scence

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4.22 Late Start: Spotlight on Social Scence

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4.22 Late Start: Social Science Spotlight

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jennifer Yoo-Brannon.

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English Dept Presentation March 11, 2024

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6 Interactive Instructional Practices for Secondary ELs

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6 Interactive Instructional Practices for Secondary ELs

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Supporting Newcomer Social, emotional and mental health needs

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Supporting Newcomer Social, emotional and mental health needs

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Supporting Newcomer Social, emotional and mental health needs

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Supporting Newcomer Social, emotional and mental health needs

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Tips for Success with Student Academic Talk Practices

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Tips for Success with Student Academic Talk Practices

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Language Functions Toolkit + Sentence frames for classroom discussions

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Language Functions Toolkit + Sentence frames for classroom discussions

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School Wide Learning Objectives + MV Intentional Objectives Samples by subject area

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School Wide Learning Objectives + MV Intentional Objectives Samples by subject area

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English Learner Terms/Designated vs Integrated ELD

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English Learner Terms/Designated vs Integrated ELD

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Make a copy, customize it!

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Daily Check-in, activities, discussion prompts

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Daily Check-in, activities, discussion prompts

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We shared our SEL moments with the staff in 2021

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These strategies are great for online or in-person

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3 Signature SEL Practices for online learning

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Find information, strategies, protocols, and tools to promote curiosity and engage students in asking questions, thinking critically, and solving problems.

Create Learning Environments That Foster Inquiry

Plan Curriculum That Supports Inquiry

Use Strategies to Increase Inquiry in the Classroom

Query Books: Ask students to chronicle their ideas, ponderings, and questions. (Edutopia, 2014)

Hackathons: Check out a hackathon playbook to plan activities that provide experiences with overcoming failure. (Edutopia, 2015)

20 Percent Time: Try out Genius Hour (a.k.a. 20 Percent Time). (Edutopia, 2013)

Adventures with Dr. Smallz: Inspire students' need to know with a microscopic doctor lost in a patient's body. (Edutopia, 2014)

Questions Before Answers: Use great questions that motivate learning. (Edutopia, 2014)

School in the Cloud: Ask students to investigate a Big Question within a Self-Organized Learning Environment. (School in the Cloud)

Conduct Activities That Promote Inquiry

Downloads and Examples From Schools That Work

Edutopia's flagship series highlights practices and case studies from K-12 schools and districts that are improving the way students learn. Below, find downloads used by practitioners at featured schools, and dive into real-world examples of inquiry-based learning.

Curriculum Map for Grades K-5: Download this chart to understand how Wildwood aligns its lines of inquiry to specific curricular themes, central ideas, and key concepts throughout the year.

Personal Project Questions: Download a worksheet that includes prompts to help students focus and think through the topics of their research.

Sample Research Worksheet: Download a sample "My Personal Project" worksheet to learn how teachers at Wildwood help students organize plans for projects; students record questions, research notes, unfamiliar vocabulary, and how they will demonstrate what they've learned. For another resource of this type, see Wildwood's Personal Project Planner.

Personal Project Skills Survey: Download a project skills survey to discover how Wildwood students reflect on the skills they've tapped and personal work habits they've practiced while working on their projects.

At Wildwood IB World Magnet School, teachers use student questions to drive lessons, and channel student curiosity into student-centered projects. These are a few of Wildwood's inquiry-based teacher tools.

See how Ralston Elementary School teachers guide the inquiry process over a series of lessons and teach students how to ask deeper questions to prepare them to lead their own inquiry into specific problems.

Learn how educators at Crellin Elementary School use students' "I Wonder" questions to drive lesson planning, differentiate instruction, and foster student curiosity.

Science students at Casey Middle School begin with a central question and seek answers through research, experimentation, and data analysis. Review a sample question and lesson plan to understand how this works in practice.

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Resources and Downloads to Facilitate Inquiry-Based Learning

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Find information, strategies, protocols, and tools to promote curiosity and engage students in asking questions, thinking critically, and solving problems.

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Build a culture of inquiry with just 3 questions:

What's going on in this picture?

What do you see that makes you say that?

What more can we find?

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Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS): Critical Thinking and Inclusive Discussion

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VTS is an education nonprofit providing schools and museums with curriculum, professional development, and training in critical thinking skills.

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A great resource to practice VTS (visual thinking strategies)

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Intriguing Times images stripped of their captions — and an invitation to students to discuss them live.

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The Question Formulation Technique in a High School Science Class

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March 4th, 2024 PD Day: Focus on Structured Academic Talk

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March 4th, 2024 PD Day: Focus on Structured Academic Talk

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jennifer Yoo-Brannon.

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Strategies: Which One Doesn't Belong? Always, Sometimes, Never, and Number Talks (mental math activities)

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jennifer Yoo-Brannon.

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Make a copy of this template and start intentionally planning for CFUs (Checks for Understanding)

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Best Practice: 4 Showcase: Give multiple opportunities for students to show their understanding

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Best Practice: 4 Showcase: Give multiple opportunities for students to show their understanding

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Intentionally Planning for Checks for Understanding

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Intentionally Planning for Checks for Understanding

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Article from Smarter Balanced

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Articles and Readings about Structured Academic Talk

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Articles and Readings about Structured Academic Talk

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MVHS Instructional Presentation to the Board 3.20.24

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MVHS Instructional Presentation to the Board 3.20.24

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jose Banas.

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10.2.23 PD Day: Planning for Academic Talk

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10.2.23 PD Day: Planning for Academic Talk

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Writing Intentional Objectives: Content and Language Objectives

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Writing Intentional Objectives: Content and Language Objectives

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Structured Academic Talk Directions Slides

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Structured Academic Talk Directions Slides

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Make a copy of the one you want and customize it!

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Late Start 11.27.24 ABCs of Positive Student/Educator Interactions

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Late Start 11.27.24 ABCs of Positive Student/Educator Interactions

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Late Start 9.25 Spotlight on Science: QFT

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Late Start 9.25 Spotlight on Science: QFT

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Check out this Presentation designed by Jennifer Yoo-Brannon.

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Welcome Back Presentation PD Day 8.15.23

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Welcome Back Presentation PD Day 8.15.23

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Developed in the 2017-2018 academic year, the MVHS Best Practices serve as our guide to our daily approach to instruction.

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VLC Brainstorming Session: Developing the Instructional Vision May 2023

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VLC Brainstorming Session: Developing the Instructional Vision May 2023