DTAL Conference 2026

Participants will engage in a live Socratic Seminar using an anchor text to experience how structured academic dialogue builds thinking classrooms across disciplines (ELA, science, social studies; ES–HS). This session models how to de-front instruction, increase student discourse, and promote deeper reasoning through evidence-based conversation. Educators will leave with practical structures, questioning techniques, and facilitation moves to create inclusive, student-centered discussions that support future-ready learners.

Discover how teacher clarity serves as a powerful lever to elevate student agency, equity, and belonging. This session explores practical strategies including clear learning intentions, success criteria, and effective feedback to empower students, identify growth barriers, and foster a welcoming environment where every learner can reach their full potential.

This session will focus on how to effectively implement IXL in a secondary English classroom. The sesson will focus on new features, best practices, and Spark Studio AI. Teachers will have the opportunity to explore all the new features IXL offers, including Spark Studio. We will share best practices to actively engage students in their learning using IXL. In addtion, teachers will gain insights on how to use the NWEA Map Skill Plans available for each student within IXL. Josh Voss, a representative from IXL will help facilitate this session and be available to answer any questions.

This session will focus on how to effectively implement IXL in a secondary mathematics classroom. The sesson will focus on new features, best practices, and Spark Studio AI. Teachers will have the opportunity to explore all the new features IXL offers, including Spark Studio. We will share best practices to actively engage students in their learning using IXL. In addtion, teachers will gain insights on how to use the NWEA Map Skill Plans available for each student within IXL. Josh Voss, a representative from IXL will help facilitate this session and be available to answer any questions.

Ready to provide advanced students with meaningful challenges? In this session, we’ll dig into how to extend the VBCPS Secondary English Curriculum in ways that spark inquiry, deepen thinking, and truly engage gifted learners. Using the first unit as our starting point, you’ll see how to layer in differentiation without overhauling what you already teach, then explore how to carry those moves into the rest of the school year.

This session explores how Sphero Indi cars can be used in elementary classrooms (K–5) to build foundational computer science and problem-solving skills through hands-on, screen-free coding. Participants will engage in interactive challenges that integrate science, math, and critical thinking while promoting collaboration and creativity. Aligned with strategic goals of preparing future-ready learners, this session highlights how purposeful technology use fosters independence, perseverance, and real-world application of skills. Attendees will leave with ready-to-implement ideas that inspire meaningful student engagement.

Meeting the diverse academic and social-emotional needs of middle school students requires intentional structures that are both flexible and sustainable for educators. This session is designed for teachers and specialists and will showcase how our middle school developed and implemented Thrive Time—a daily, schoolwide class embedded into the master schedule that provides targeted academic support, enrichment opportunities, and meaningful student choice. Participants will explore multiple models and practical approaches for implementing a similar structure in their own schools, with a focus on balancing student needs, teacher capacity, and schoolwide consistency. The session will emphasize how Thrive Time promotes collaboration among teachers and specialists while aligning instructional practices across the building.