Like all effective teaching, our professional development opportunities take a variety of forms tailored to the needs of our community. We currently offer the following programs while remaining attentive and responsive to emerging possibilities.
Visiting Scholar Series
We bring the nation’s most respected education experts to our community to share proven classroom strategies and the theoretical foundations behind them with teachers in grades pre-K through 8. Teachers spend 6-20 full hours in conversation with our guest scholars at each session and develop a meaningful professional relationship with scholars over time.
Local Scholar Series
We also recognize the renowned experts within our community, providing opportunities to learn from content and pedagogy experts from Butler University, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, and other institutions in Indiana, still mindful of teachers’ need for practical strategies that can be immediately put to use in classrooms.
In-school Coaching
Engaging our network of both visiting and local scholars, we provide teaching demonstrations, curriculum development support, and individualized coaching at the building and classroom levels. Designed in consultation with participating teachers and school leaders, this often includes coordinated, collaborative applications for grant funding.
Leadership Groups
Small groups of teacher-researchers come together on a regular basis throughout the school year to think collaboratively and reflectively about their teaching. We currently offer one Mathematics Leadership Group and one Literacy Leadership Group. Admission to these groups is by application only.
Student Readings
True to the tenets of workshop teaching, we believe in showcasing student work within the larger community outside of the classroom. We routinely host public readings in bookstores, coffee shops, libraries, or other community venues, inviting students to experience “publishing” by sharing their completed texts or works-in-progress aloud in a modified open mic style, just as professional authors do.
Student Anthology
We periodically publish books that feature a wide variety of poems, memoirs, stories, articles, and essays written by Indiana students in grades preK-8. These anthologies typically include visual art created by professional Indiana artists in response to students’ texts as well. Our anthology project attracts significant national attention, having been featured in Katherine Bomer’s book Hidden Gems and in art magazines including How and Communication Arts. Copies of our most recent anthology, listening still, are available for purchase.
Online Resources
Access sample units of study, helpful articles, handouts for parents/families, and other curriculum materials in the Resources section of our website, all available at no cost to you. Get a curated view of inquiry-based classrooms in our Galleries. Be the first to know about new resources and upcoming events by joining our email list.
