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Annual Conference North

February 28-March 2, 2014, Sacramento

More information coming soon...see last year's info below.

Supporting Students, Accelerating Achievement
Engaging all students in higher-order learning through the common core and more

March 1-3, 2013, Sacramento, CA

Featured Speakers | Ticketed Session | Conference Rates and Registration | Location and Schedule | Call for presenters

Learn new strategies and practices that lead to common core success for all students.
California's common core standards are now available for English language arts, content area literacy, mathematics and English language development ̶ and additional standards, full implementation and state assessments loom in the near future. Now is the perfect time for K-12 teachers and administrators to participate in high quality, in-person professional development designed to help individuals and teams navigate the necessary classroom and school-wide changes of the common core era.

Join colleagues from across the state at the CLS Annual Conference North to learn how you can help all students – including those who are under-resourced, English learners, and those with disabilities – improve college and career readiness through the new K-12 standards.

Interact with educators, schools and districts already implementing successful common core plans to see how they are incorporating project-based learning and other instructional strategies that develop conceptual understanding, foundational skills, real-world application, reading comprehension, critical thinking, additional 21st-century skills and more. Gain practical resources for your immediate use.

The Annual Conference North offers

  • Over 80 sessions by seasoned educators and specialists included with registration
  • Session strands for all content areas and grade levels
  • Computer labs with hands-on instruction
  • College credit available – sign up at conference registration
  • Over 14 quality professional development hours

Keynote Speaker Sessions

The following two general sessions are included with conference registration.

Dr. Pedro Noguera, Professor at New York University, researcher, author of The Trouble with Black Boys and Other Reflections on Race, Equity and the Future of Public Education
General Session, Friday, March 1, 2013, 8:00 am - 10:15 am

Creating the Schools We Need: The Role of Education in Countering Racial Inequality
Education features prominently in most prescriptions of what is needed to address the economic and social challenges confronting American society. However, policy makers and many in the reform movement never spell out what type of education is needed to create a more just society. Rather than fostering equity, schools in American society tend to reproduce the existing class structure and patterns of privilege. Explore the changes in policy and practice that are needed to create schools where equity and student needs are reflected in education and social policies.  

Dr. Douglas Fisher, Professor at San Diego State University, classroom teacher, co-author of Text Complexity: Raising Rigor in Reading 
General Session, Saturday, March 2, 2013, 8:00 am - 10:00 am

The Common Core: Teaching Students to Read Like Detectives
Preparing students who are career and college ready requires that they be able to read, write, discuss and think critically about informational and narrative texts. Yet in too many classrooms, worthy texts take a backseat as students gravitate toward personal connections. Without close reading and discussion of complex texts, students fail to learn how to read, think, write and act critically. See how you can bring the art and science of argumentation, rhetorical writing and critical literacy to your elementary or secondary classroom to address the Common Core State Standards. 

Optional Ticketed Sessions

Dr. Pedro Noguera: Creating the Schools We Need: A Blueprint for Countering Racial Inequality
Friday, March 1, 2013, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Explore an evidence-based model implemented in cities such as Oakland and New York that has successfully transformed schools, countered racial inequality and promoted local development through education for the whole child (health and other social services to meet the basic needs of children); education for empowerment (parents and communities as education partners for mutual accountability); education for economic and social development (learning linked to community development needs); and education for creativity and the development of intellectual potential (fostering problem solving, curiosity and critical thinking through technology and experiential learning). See how you can apply this model in your school or district. Price: $75

Dr. Douglas Fisher: The Common Core: Productive Group Work
Saturday, March 2, 2013, 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
The power of peer-to-peer learning has been well documented in the research on effective instruction; the Common Core State Standards encourage teamwork as a vital component of college and career readiness. Perhaps the most influential theorist on the role of peer-assisted learning is Lev Vygotsky, who believed that all learning is mediated by interactions with others, making collaboration with peers a necessary part of a student's learning process.  Examine the ways in which productive group work can complement instruction in a gradual release of responsibility framework that will aid in mastery of the new standards. Price: $75

iPad for Educators – includes the new iPad!
Friday, March 1, 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Get a new 16-GB wifi iPad and learn to use it! Price: $675

NEW! iPad for Educators - bring your own iPad!
Friday, March 1, 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Price: $75

BOTH SESSIONS: learn how to add content, how to make the most of iTunes U, and how to find the best educational apps - including apps for creating content and media on the iPad. An overview of mobile learning in the classroom, and volume licensing will be included. 

Conference information

Join Us in Sacramento!
The Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, site of the conference, features renovated guestrooms and a free wireless connectivity hub. Its downtown location means restaurants and shopping are in walking distance, the State Capitol is a block away, and Old Sacramento and the State Railroad Museum are a short drive away.

Suggested Funding Sources
Titles I-III, QEIA, SIG, Carl D. Perkins

Conference and Hotel Location
Hotel rooms, conference check-in, the exhibit hall and most sessions will be held at: The Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, 1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Special conference hotel room rate: $136, call the hotel directly at (916) 447-1700
Please reserve your hotel room for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights

Schedule of Conference Activities
Friday, March 1, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, March 2, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, March 3, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm

College Credit
College credit is available for $83 per semester unit – sign up at conference check-in.

Bookstore
The California League of Schools conference bookstore carries titles by your favorite education authors.

Exhibit Hall
Visit the exhibit hall booths for a full range of educational products and services.

Conference Rates
$239 members / $299 non-members: Not a current member? Get the best rates by firstjoining CLMS (middle school educators), CLHS (high school educators) or CLES (elementary school educators), then registering for the conference.

Register Online (secure online form)

Printable Registration Form (PDF)
Download Conference Brochure (PDF)

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation requests must be in writing and faxed to (562) 430-5607. Please call as soon as you fax your request to verify receipt at (562) 430-3136. ALL registrations submitted are subject to the cancellation policy. There is no refund for no-shows.

Through 1/4/13 - $60 fee; 1/4/13 through 2/1/13 - 50% fee; After 2/1/13 - no refund.
A colleague may substitute for you to avoid cancellation penalties.

Testimonial
"The experience inspired me to become a better teacher. I was reminded of why I became a teacher. I gained practical ideas and strategies as well as hope for the future."
-Elaine Ernst, Teacher, Vista Verde Middle School

About Us
California League of Schools is a nonprofit educators' association encompassing the California League of Middle Schools, California League of High Schools and California League of Elementary Schools. CLS is dedicated to helping K-12 educators improve student learning through useful, evidence-based professional development and other resources.

Conference information is subject to change. Meals are not included.