Rigging The Role: Probability, Fairness, And Winning Every Time,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Rigging The Role: Probability, Fairness, And Winning Every Time, Lindsey Herlehy
Professional Learning Day
Step into the world of dice games with a twist! In this session, you’ll explore the fascinating interplay of fairness, strategy, and mathematical reasoning. Through a hands-on dice rolling competition, discover how to analyze theoretical and experimental probabilities and investigate what makes a game “fair.” Then, dive into the ultimate challenge: designing a “rigged” die to outmatch others in a roll-off. Perfect for middle school math classrooms, you'll leave with ideas to captivate learners while connecting probability to the real world. Join us to learn, play, and win—every time!
Musical Instrument Project,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Musical Instrument Project, Brooke Schmidt
Professional Learning Day
In our Physics: Sound and Light class at IMSA, students make musical instruments to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb." I'll introduce the project here and provide templates for you to replicate the project in your classes. Student samples will also be shared
Learning From Hank's Mistakes In Science Class,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Learning From Hank's Mistakes In Science Class, Kara Boyle,, Jennifer Fischer,, James Workman
Professional Learning Day
In this interactive presentation, we showcase a fictitious student named Hank and his group overcoming chemistry misconceptions through engaging daily bellringers. These scenarios prompt open discussions among students, encouraging self-awareness and reinforcing expected learning behaviors. These bellringers also help with AP preparation and integrate NGSS science practices in an entertaining and non-threatening way. Participants will participate in conversations to develop scenario-writing skills for various subjects
Helping Students Understand The Complexity Of Ecological And Environmental Issues Through Use And Creation Of Environmental Impact Statements,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Helping Students Understand The Complexity Of Ecological And Environmental Issues Through Use And Creation Of Environmental Impact Statements, Jessica Amacher, Desirae Klimek
Professional Learning Day
When discussing environmental issues, threats to ecosystems, and potential solutions, students tend toward a simplified view of these issues and how to fix them. To enrich their understanding of the complexities of these problems and the potential for real-life solutions, we developed a unit in which students create Environmental Impact Statements. This framework encourages students to consider the diverse perspectives of stakeholders in a specific ecosystem and to propose feasible and effective solutions.
New Ai Curriculum Overview,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
New Ai Curriculum Overview, Kavithaa Suresh Kumar, Dan Campbell
Professional Learning Day
Join us for an insightful session on our school's newly developed AI curriculum. We'll discuss its core components, learning objectives, and how it prepares students for a tech-driven future. Engage in conversations about hands-on projects and strategies for fostering critical thinking. This is an excellent opportunity for educators to learn about the IMSA's New AI Curriculum. Don’t miss out on shaping the future of learning!
Unsown Seeds: Eugenics, Immigration, Civil Rights In Twentieth-Century America,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Unsown Seeds: Eugenics, Immigration, Civil Rights In Twentieth-Century America, Dr. Shawn Bailey
Professional Learning Day
During this panel, we will discuss the intersection of Progressive Era reforms and the pseudo-science of eugenics, looking at their impact on civil rights and immigration in American history and theories of Nazi Germany. This will include a full lesson plan run-through, with a set of primary sources, a PowerPoint slide deck, and extension assignments available for class use.
Writing Educational Op-Eds That Engage: From Classroom Stories To Published Pieces,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Writing Educational Op-Eds That Engage: From Classroom Stories To Published Pieces, Charity E. Freeman
Professional Learning Day
This session equips educators with the skills and structure to write effective op-ed pieces that translate their classroom insights and expertise into compelling written pieces. Participants will learn the essential components of op-ed writing, including structuring a 700-word piece, crafting engaging narratives, and developing clear theme statements. Through guided practice and analysis of published examples, participants will discover key principles of successful op-ed writing, from incorporating student stories to offering concrete solutions on timely educational issues. Helping Students Understand the Complexity of Ecological and Environmental Issues Through Use and Creation of
Sorry, I Thought My Autopilot Wassupposed To Break!,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Sorry, I Thought My Autopilot Wassupposed To Break!, David Hernandez
Professional Learning Day
Even though the fully autonomous vehicle is not on the roads (yet!), many automakers are making great advances in the field by creating self-driving vehicle systems. During this session, you will explore how data is obtained, organized, and interpreted for a model to perform optimally and how "AI" plays a crucial role in our future.
Lessening The Elusiveness Of Limits: Let's Learn That Lesson,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Lessening The Elusiveness Of Limits: Let's Learn That Lesson, Dr. Janice Krouse Krouse
Professional Learning Day
What can we do to alleviate the confusion around limits? We’ll examine Algebra 2 topics that might better serve as building blocks for the limit concept with slight shifts in emphasis to existing lessons. Let’s explore ways to help students find more connections and push the limit of their thinking!
Poison Squad,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Finding Exoplanets,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Finding Exoplanets, Dr. Eric Hawker
Professional Learning Day
This session will engage teachers in exploring how students can look for exoplanets in TESS data. Participants will discuss the physics and math concepts that higher grade level students can apply to determine if the exoplanets they discover are potentially habitable. Attendees should bring a laptop or tablet to this session.
Ai Tools For Intelligent Teaching And Learning,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Ai Tools For Intelligent Teaching And Learning, Dr.Phadmakar Patankar
Professional Learning Day
Discover the power of free AI tools designed to enhance teaching and learning! In this interactive session, we will explore tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Khanmigo, setting up access and experimenting with their features. While the session will showcase examples in math instruction, educators are encouraged to test these tools across various subjects such as science, English, and history. This workshop empowers teachers to integrate cutting-edge AI tools into their classrooms, fostering creativity, efficiency, and engagement.
Design Thinking: Empathetic Problem Solving,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Design Thinking: Empathetic Problem Solving, Cassandra Armstrong
Professional Learning Day
Design thinking is the intersection of engineering design and social-emotional learning. Today’s learners must be empathetic problem solvers capable of defining problems and designing appropriate solutions to meet the user's needs. Participants will experience design thinking through literature-based scenarios appropriate for early learners in this session. They will analyze and compare their models to those of others and compose a lesson that will engage students in the design thinking process.
2025 Teaching Leadership In The Classroom: Leadership Theory, Activism, And Unsd Goals,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
2025 Teaching Leadership In The Classroom: Leadership Theory, Activism, And Unsd Goals, Emma Wilson Parker
Professional Learning Day
IMSA’s Leadership Education & Development (LEAD) program is a student-led course focused on developing leadership skills for sophomores. Students explore leadership theories, models,and global impact through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and activism.Peer discussions, hands-on activities, and group work challenge students to think critically about leadership. Join us for an interactive experience packed with leadership activities perfect for the classroom!
The Titration Olympics,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
The Titration Olympics, Joseph T Golab, Hoitung (Terry) Leung
Professional Learning Day
The “Titration Olympics” is the capstone experiment at the end of the Spring semester’s Advanced Chemistry Acid-Base-Buffer unit. In this lab exercise, students compete to determine the concentration of an unknown acid solution using a sodium hydroxide solution they prepare and standardize using KHP. The winner is determined using a rubric that accounts for (a) overall lab time, (b) preparation and general lab technique, (c) data table, (d) quality of the phenolphthalein endpoints, (e) accuracy of the unknown acid’s molarity, (f) use of significant figures, and (g) clean up skills. Students enjoy the competitive spirit of the experiment and realize …
Teaching With A Full Deck: Card Activities In Mathematics,
2025
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Teaching With A Full Deck: Card Activities In Mathematics, Lindsey Herlehy
Professional Learning Day
Card sorts encourage students to do what we value most: talk and reason. Beyond simple matching, card sorts allow students to classify, rank, sequence, and map out ideas, creating a natural context for critical thinking and discussion. Join me for a series of math-focused card sorts where students will engage in activities like sorting equations by type, sequencing steps for solving multi-step problems, analyzing characteristics of graphs, and collaborating to solve clothesline math problems. This easy-to-prep tool will help students deepen their understanding of math concepts, fostering algebraic reasoning, graph analysis, and collaborative problem-solving skills.
(Virtual) Radians: Units Are Important And Why The Unit Circle Is Not,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
(Virtual) Radians: Units Are Important And Why The Unit Circle Is Not, Matthew Mccutcheon
Professional Learning Day
Have you ever wondered why we have radians as a unit of measure for angles? Aren't degrees good enough? I like them. After all, a right angle is a nice, round 90degrees – so why complicate things? While degrees are useful, radians bring a unique significance. Units matter, even in the world of mathematics!
Understanding The European Union: Why You Don’T Teach It But Should,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Understanding The European Union: Why You Don’T Teach It But Should, Dr. Lee Eysturlid
Professional Learning Day
Border crisis, currency crisis, populism, culture wars, real war? No, that is the European Union (EU). This session will introduce the basic history and functional elements of the EU's intent, structure, and function (dysfunction?). Based on work and travel with the Center for EU Studies, attendees will get everything they need to teach the topic.
Getting Students To Do Authentic Academic Research,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Getting Students To Do Authentic Academic Research, Dr. Peter Dong
Professional Learning Day
Most classroom experiences bear little resemblance to actual research, and aspiring scientists and other researchers have no exposure to authentic academic work, in many cases, until graduate school. Giving high school students genuine research experience is possible and helpful for their understanding. This session will share lessons learned from IMSA's research programs and discuss ways, both big and small, that teachers and their schools can get students involved in real research.
Focus Over Frenzy: An Educator’S Guide To Strategic Opportunity Selection,
2025
Illinois Math and Science Academy
Focus Over Frenzy: An Educator’S Guide To Strategic Opportunity Selection, Charity Freeman
Professional Learning Day
Is your professional plate overflowing with commitments? This session challenges common productivity and time management myths while introducing practical tools for making decisions about your time and energy. Learn why "switch tasking" might make you feel productive but drains your cognitive resources. In this session, explore a comprehensive framework for evaluating opportunities that come your way, from aligning with your core priorities to assessing stakeholder dynamics. Leave with concrete strategies for saying "yes" or "no" confidently, setting meaningful boundaries, and making choices that support your effectiveness as an educator.
