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Idaho Annual STEM Conference: The Magic of STEM 2026
Type: Math clear filter
Wednesday, July 29
 

10:45am MDT

Math Technology That Connects: Intentional Tech in a Building Thinking Classroom
Wednesday July 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
This session, led by Senior STEM Product Specialist Cassondra Kauppi, explores how technology can be paired with Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) principles in the math classroom. Through intentional design, technology is used as a bridge for connection, communication, and collective sense-making in the mathematics classroom.
Rather than positioning technology as a replacement for interaction, this session centers technology as a way to amplify student voice, connect multiple representations, and make thinking visible. Students are able to see, compare, and build on one another’s ideas, strengthening both their understanding and their sense of belonging in mathematics.
Educators will leave with ready-to-use tasks that help transform technology from a potential distraction into a driver of community, reasoning, and deep mathematical learning.
Speakers
avatar for Cassondra Kauppi

Cassondra Kauppi

Conference Exhibitor, Amplify
Senior STEM Product Specialist, Amplify
Wednesday July 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Math, 6-8, 9-12, 3-5
  • global Y

10:45am MDT

Reaching More Students in Less Time, Elementary
Wednesday July 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Join me to teach differently than how we were taught AND differently than how we were taught to teach math. Let’s shift the focus from memorizing / mimicking to reasoning and math-ing. And get results. Math is Figureoutable!
Speakers
avatar for Pam Harris

Pam Harris

Founder, CEO, Math is FigureOutAble
Pam Harris is shifting the way we view and teach mathematics. She is a mom, former high school math teacher, university lecturer, and the founder of Math is Figureoutable. Math teachers around the world rave about her online Building Powerful Mathematics workshops. For over 20 years... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
TBA

1:00pm MDT

Developing Thinking Through Student-Centered Discourse
Wednesday July 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
In a student-centered classroom, students have frequent opportunities to wonder and make connections, share strategies, notice patterns, and justify their ideas. These opportunities support the development of student voice and choice, which are critical to learning and positive identity development. In this session, we will explore discussion structures and scaffolds to support discourse and agency in your classroom. While a device is recommended to access resources during the session, it is not required for participation.
Speakers
avatar for Rosalyn Miller

Rosalyn Miller

Conference Exhibitor, The Math Learning Center
Curriculum Consultant
Wednesday July 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
TBA
  Math, K-2, 3-5
  • global Y

1:00pm MDT

Modernizing Mathematics: Integrating Future-Ready Skills into the Standards for Mathematical Practice
Wednesday July 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
The Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs) were designed to describe how students engage with mathematics, yet in many classrooms they remain disconnected from daily instruction. This session introduces a modernized vision of the SMPs that integrates them directly with grade-level content, emphasizing coherence, student agency, and real-world application. Participants will explore practical frameworks for embedding the SMPs into lesson design, with a focus on sense-making, discourse, and purposeful use of representations—including data visualizations tied to audience and context. Through concrete examples, we will demonstrate how aligning content and practice creates richer learning experiences without adding instructional burden. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and a visual planning tool to support immediate implementation in their classrooms or districts.
Speakers
avatar for Shelbi Cole

Shelbi Cole

None of the above, Leading Educators
Deeply committed to ensuring that children have opportunities to experience mathematics that is meaningful and relevant to the world that they will continue to shape.
Wednesday July 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
TBA

1:00pm MDT

If We Don’t Name It, Students Can’t Use It: Making STEM Skills Visible Through Competencies
Wednesday July 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
STEM classrooms are full of problem solving, collaboration, and critical thinking, but those skills are not always named or reinforced in a consistent way. When that happens, students complete the work without always understanding what they are building or how it applies beyond school.
This session explores how the Idaho Career Readiness Competencies can serve as a shared language for making STEM skills more visible and transferable. Participants will look at how competencies already exist within STEM instruction and how small shifts in language, reflection, and feedback can help students recognize and apply those skills across contexts.
Examples from K-12, postsecondary, and workforce settings will highlight how a common language strengthens alignment and clarity. Participants will leave with one practical way to name and reinforce a competency in their own classroom. The goal is not to add more, but to make what is already happening more intentional.


Speakers
avatar for Jacque Deahl

Jacque Deahl

None of the above, Idaho Department of Education
Jacque Deahl serves as the GEAR UP Idaho Statewide Coordinator at the Idaho State Department of Education, where she works with colleagues and partners across the state to support college and career readiness efforts for students. Her work focuses on strengthening career connected... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
TBA

1:00pm MDT

Sentences & Sensemaking: Critical Thinking Made Visible
Wednesday July 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
Learn how sentence-level writing can unlock deeper understanding of complex concepts for learners. This interactive session blends practice and reflection as participants move between experiencing and facilitating high-impact writing tasks connected to content learning.  Lee has requested that IDE might provide the book The Writing Revolution 2.0 for the first 20 participants who attend--we await a reply.
Speakers
avatar for Lee Slichter

Lee Slichter

Current ISTA Member, Idaho Science Coach
Andrea Baerwald commented, "Lee brings warmth, enthusiasm, and a genuine passion for education to everything she does."
Wednesday July 29, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
TBA

2:15pm MDT

My Math, My Story: Fostering Confidence, Identity, and Belonging in the Elementary Math Classroom
Wednesday July 29, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
How students see themselves in math shapes not only what they learn, but how they engage, persevere, and grow. As Liesl McConchie notes, “A student’s emotional relationship with math is foundational to their cognitive relationship with math.” In this session, participants will explore practical strategies to help students author their own math stories—stories of confidence, competence, and belonging. Through hands-on examples and reflective activities, teachers will leave equipped to create classroom experiences that nurture positive mathematical identities, strengthen student agency, and make every learner feel seen, valued, and capable.
Speakers
avatar for Tammy McMorrow

Tammy McMorrow

teacher, Cynthia Mann Elementary, Boise School District
Tammy McMorrow has been teaching first grade for 32 years in Kuna, Idaho. In 2022 she began building a thinking classroom inspired by the work of Peter Liljedahl and was quickly won over by its magic and messiness. Determined to start a movement, she created a Facebook page for K-2... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Math, K-2, 3-5
  • global Y

2:15pm MDT

Pivotal Progressions: Designing a Coherent K-5 MTSS Math System
Wednesday July 29, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
This session introduces Pivotal Progressions as a powerful approach to strengthening mathematics systems to keep children in the learning. Rather than focusing only on standards coverage or isolated interventions, Pivotal Progressions establish a shared language for the most critical concepts that drive future learning and make visible how those ideas develop across grades.
Participants will explore how this shared language supports coherence across classrooms, sharpens instructional decision-making, and creates meaningful opportunities for vertical articulation. Using concrete K–5 examples, we will examine how educators can align around key mathematical ideas, anticipate what comes next in the progression, and connect daily instruction to long-term understanding.
Attendees will leave with practical strategies to identify opportunity points, strengthen Tier 1 instruction, and build more connected systems across grades. 
Speakers
avatar for Shelbi Cole

Shelbi Cole

None of the above, Leading Educators
Deeply committed to ensuring that children have opportunities to experience mathematics that is meaningful and relevant to the world that they will continue to shape.
Wednesday July 29, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Math, K-2, 3-5
  • global Y
 
Thursday, July 30
 

9:35am MDT

ALEKS and the Idaho Framework: Turning Vision into Practice
Thursday July 30, 2026 9:35am - 10:35am MDT
This session explores how ALEKS Math aligns to the Idaho Mathematics Instructional Framework and supports high-impact teaching practices that drive student success. Participants will see how ALEKS can be used to establish clear learning goals, promote reasoning and problem solving, support productive struggle, and elicit meaningful evidence of student thinking.
Through real classroom examples and data insights, we will highlight how ALEKS empowers teachers to differentiate instruction, facilitate mathematical discourse, and build procedural fluency from conceptual understanding. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for integrating ALEKS into daily instruction in a way that strengthens, not replaces, effective teaching practices.
No device is required, but participants may choose to bring one for optional exploration.
Speakers
avatar for Monica Bush

Monica Bush

Conference Exhibitor, McGraw Hill Education
Monica has spent the past 25 years in education, beginning her career in Montessori classrooms serving both general education and special education students. During her time in the classroom, she earned two master's degrees in the field and developed a passion for personalized learning... Read More →
Thursday July 30, 2026 9:35am - 10:35am MDT
TBA

10:45am MDT

State of Mathematics in Idaho
Thursday July 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Join Katie Bosch-Wilson from the Idaho Department of Education for a deep dive into Idaho math content. This session will explore updates related to Idaho’s math transitions, introduce Project IMPACT and its professional learning opportunities for grades 3–8 educators, and highlight key priorities from the Department of Education. This session will provide updates surrounding Idaho’s Comprehensive Math Plan and Idaho’s Math Instructional Guide. Time will also be included for questions and discussion around professional development and important considerations for math from the state perspective. 
Speakers
avatar for Katie Bosch-Wilson

Katie Bosch-Wilson

Current ICTM Member; Current CSTA Member, Idaho Department of Education
Computer Science and Secondary Math Coordinator
Thursday July 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
TBA
  Math, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
  • global Y

10:45am MDT

Workforce Development Council + STEM: A Practical Guide to Funding, Programs, and Career Connections
Thursday July 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
If you’ve ever thought:
  • “There are so many programs… where do I even start?”
  • “How do I connect what I teach to real careers?”
  • “What opportunities are  worth my time and my students’ time?”
This session answers that.


You will walk away with:
  • A clear map of Workforce Development Council + STEM's key programs and how they connect
  • Practical ways to bring career relevance into your classroom immediately
  • Direct access to opportunities like  LAUNCH, I STEM, (IDSF) Science fairs, externships, and grants
  • Ready to use tools and a practical guide for all WDC + STEM Programming
  • Insight into how Idaho is aligning education with workforce needs
And just as important, you’ll have space to share your ideas, challenges, and needs so this work continues to improve with educator voice at the center.
Speakers
avatar for Branzell Porchia

Branzell Porchia

None of the above, Workforce Development Council
This interactive session offers a clear and practical look into Idaho’s STEM and workforce ecosystem, designed specifically for educators, school leaders, and career advisors.Participants will gain an inside perspective on key statewide initiatives including LAUNCH, I STEM, Idaho... Read More →
avatar for Amanda Paterson

Amanda Paterson

None of the above, Workforce Development Council
This interactive session offers a clear and practical look into Idaho’s STEM and workforce ecosystem, designed specifically for educators, school leaders, and career advisors.Participants will gain an inside perspective on key statewide initiatives including LAUNCH, I STEM, Idaho... Read More →
Thursday July 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
TBA

10:45am MDT

Bridging the Gap Between Curriculum and Assessment
Thursday July 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
To better support your students in demonstrating their knowledge and abilities on the summative assessment, this session will break down the gap that exists between curriculum adopted at a local level and the state assessment students take. The design of each of these components are intentionally done, but do not always have direct alignment. The focus will be on understanding how content standards drive the creation of these two components, and how the standards are represented in each are different. Come explore these two pieces of the learning puzzle and plan for stronger connection between what you teach and how students will demonstrate their understanding.
Speakers
avatar for Austin Ambrose

Austin Ambrose

Current ICTM Member, Idaho Department of Education
As the ISAT assessment coordinator at the Idaho Department of Education, my role is to support implementation and interpretation of the statewide summative assessment for all grades and content areas (ELA, Math, and Science). I come from a background of working in schools, primarily... Read More →
Thursday July 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
TBA

10:45am MDT

Beyond Compliance: A Social Model for Neuro-Inclusive STEM
Thursday July 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
As the Idaho STEM Action Center joins the Workforce Development Council in July 2026, the focus on a "STEM-literate workforce for all" has never been higher. However, systemic cognitive barriers, especially in online classes, often sideline neurodivergent learners. STEM rigor should not be a barrier to STEM access. Drawing on the Social Model of Disability, this session reframes learning struggles in online STEM as design misalignments. We will explore how cognitive load and split-attention tasks in digital labs disproportionately affect neurodivergent learners. Rather than waiting for a 504 or IEP adjustment, attendees will learn to implement Universal Design strategies that benefit all students, focusing on the off-screen scaffolding with physical tools that bridge the gap between the screen and the student’s working memory.
Speakers
avatar for Merrie Rampy

Merrie Rampy

None of the above, Southern Utah University
Merrie Rampy is an instructional designer at Southern Utah University’s Center for Teaching Innovation and a doctoral student in Educational Psychology and Technology. With over 30 years in STEM education, including leadership roles in curriculum and statewide initiatives, she focuses... Read More →
Thursday July 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
TBA

10:45am MDT

Beyond the Ban: Ethical & Effective AI Use in Secondary Classrooms
Thursday July 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
As generative AI tools become more accessible to students, many educators are asking big questions about ethics, academic integrity, and instruction. This spring, a new credit-approved courseEDIN50772: Beyond the Ban: Ethical & Effective AI Use in Secondary Classrooms—will focus on helping middle and high school teachers move beyond banning AI and instead teach students to use it responsibly and productively. Participants will explore current research, ethical considerations, classroom AI policies (including a 🟢🟡🔴 stoplight model), and redesign assignments using the SAMR framework so AI supports thinking, not copy/paste.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Melyssa Ferro

Dr. Melyssa Ferro

Current ISTA Member; Current IdEEA Member, Caldwell School District
Caldwell School District #132K-12 Digital Innovation and Integration Specialist, STEM coordinator, Middle School Science TeacherCaldwell, Idaho
Thursday July 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
TBA

1:00pm MDT

Chatter That Matters
Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
"Chatter that Matters: Developing an active math community where students thrive": Math is not a spectator sport! All students should see themselves as doers of math by engaging in productive tasks every day. Imagine Learning's Imagine IM offers an instructional design that puts students at the center of their learning. This session will model digital and hands-on activities that build thinking, collaboration, grit and confidence. 
Speakers
avatar for Cameron Barger

Cameron Barger

None of the above; Conference Exhibitor, Imagine Learning: Twig Science
I’m Cameron Barger, and I’ve spent the last 20 years teaching STEM in K–12 classrooms in Kansas. Most of my work has focused on helping teachers create classrooms where students are actively thinking, problem‑solving, and making sense of learning together. I now work as a... Read More →
Thursday July 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm MDT
TBA
  Math, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
  • global Y

2:15pm MDT

Affirming Multilingual Learners in the PK-5 Mathematics Classroom with Language Routines
Thursday July 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
When we affirm multilingual learners and their multicultural identities in the math classroom, we support their success by encouraging participation and reducing the cognitive load of learning new concepts alongside English language development. This interactive session explores how predictable instructional routines and language goals provide the necessary scaffolding to help educators structure learning experiences that prioritize both content and language. We will examine how routines lower the affective filter, allowing students to focus on complex mathematical ideas while developing linguistic precision. Participants will engage first-hand with specific routines such as Notice and Wonder or What Comes Next integrated with visuals, tools, sentence frames, and strategic grouping. By experiencing these routines from a student’s perspective, educators will gain insights into fostering a sense of belonging and agency. You will leave with a practical toolkit of ready-to-use strategies that honor students’ home languages and amplify the brilliance of your PK-5 multilingual mathematicians.
Speakers
avatar for Mike Wallus

Mike Wallus

Conference Exhibitor, The Math Learning Center
The Math Learning Center is a nonprofit developer of elementary math materials that support teachers in making mathematical ideas understandable, igniting curiosity, and helping learners become critical thinkers and capable problem solvers.
Thursday July 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Math, K-2, 3-5
  • global Y

2:15pm MDT

Games and Books in the Math Classroom!
Thursday July 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
We know that many of our K–12 students and teachers delight in engaging stories and meaningful games. In this session, we explore options for K–12 educators to connect mathematical concepts to literature and games in the classroom. This cross-curricular approach allows us to immerse students in rich texts—ranging from picture books in the primary grades to novels, informational texts, and visual media in the upper grades—while simultaneously deepening their understanding of mathematics.
Participants will examine examples of how literature and games are being used to increase student engagement in Idaho K–12 classrooms and consider additional resources appropriate across grade bands. We will also explore how these strategies can evolve as students progress, maintaining both rigor and relevance. The session will conclude with a roundtable discussion focused on practical implementation, including how to support students in deeply engaging with grade-level content standards as well as the Standards for Mathematical Practice through the intentional use of literature and games in the math classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kacey Diemert

Dr. Kacey Diemert

Current ICTM Member, Lewis-Clark State College
Dr. Kacey Diemert is a Professor of Mathematics - Education entering her 12th year at Lewis-Clark State College in the Teacher Education and Mathematics Division where she also serves as the Mathematics Program Coordinator. She has been fortunate to continue her love of working with... Read More →
avatar for Becca Hill

Becca Hill

Current ICTM Member, Lewis-Clark State College, Regional Math Center, Region II
Becca is in her third year as a Regional Mathematics Specialist at LC State, where she helps teachers find joy in teaching mathematics. Her background is in teaching elementary students and educating adults. She enjoys going on adventures with her husband, and their little dogs, Hatch... Read More →
Thursday July 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
  Math, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
  • global Y

2:15pm MDT

Fast & Curious: Bringing Math Vocabulary to Life in Every Grade
Thursday July 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
In this interactive session, you’ll experience the Fast & Curious EduProtocol and see how it can be used to build math vocabulary across all grade levels. Through engaging strategies like the Great American Race, Thin Slides, and more, you’ll explore simple, repeatable activities that get students actively using and understanding math language. We’ll also look at the research behind why vocabulary is critical for math success and how strengthening it can improve student outcomes. You’ll leave with practical, ready-to-use ideas to bring math vocabulary to life in your classroom right away. (These strategies can be used in any subject area, but our focus will be math.)
Speakers
avatar for Shelley Nash

Shelley Nash

Current ICTM Member, ICTM
Award winning teacher from Idaho :)
Thursday July 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA

2:15pm MDT

Beyond the Test: Turning ISAT Items into Instructional Tools
Thursday July 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
Most teachers encounter ISAT sample and interim items once a year — during test prep. But the educators who see the strongest student outcomes aren't saving these tools for the final stretch. They're using them in October, in January, for a Tuesday warm-up. And it changes how they teach.


This session makes the case for integrating single assessment items throughout the year as instructional tools — not test preparation. Participants will experience a brief model lesson built around one item, then explore practical strategies for embedding items into bell ringers, collaborative activities, and formative assessment checkpoints. The goal is building students' capacity to think through complex problems, communicate
 their reasoning, and show what they know — all year long.
Examples draw from math and science, but strategies apply across content areas. No device required, though digital resources will be shared.
Speakers
avatar for Amber Van Vooren

Amber Van Vooren

Current ICTM Member, Idaho Department of Education
Amber Van Vooren works as the Interim and Formative Assessment Coordinator at the Idaho Department of Education, where she supports LEAs and schools across the state in developing and implementing coherent, balanced assessment systems. Her work spans interim and formative assessment... Read More →
Thursday July 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA

2:15pm MDT

micro:bit Essentials: Fast, Fun, and Classroom-Ready Activities
Thursday July 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
This fast‑paced, hands‑on session introduces educators to the power and simplicity of the micro:bit as a tool for engaging, standards‑aligned STEM learning. Participants will explore easy‑to‑implement coding and engineering activities designed for K–12 classrooms, with a focus on creativity, problem‑solving, and real‑world application. No prior coding experience is required, educators will learn by doing as they experiment with sensors, LEDs, and block‑based programming to build quick prototypes they can immediately bring back to students. Attendees will leave with ready‑to‑use lessons, classroom management tips, and strategies for integrating micro:bit projects across content areas, from science and math to literacy and the arts. This session is ideal for anyone looking to boost student engagement, expand STEM opportunities, and build confidence with microcontrollers in a supportive, fun environment.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Gina Kwid

Dr. Gina Kwid

Current ISTA Member; Current CSTA Member, Galileo STEM Academy
I am an elementary educator continuously developing a hands-on, project-based learning environment for my students. I have experience presenting STEM, AI integration, coding, and robotics skills to educators across Idaho. I am committed to preparing future-ready learners and the educators... Read More →
Thursday July 30, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm MDT
TBA
 
Idaho Annual STEM Conference: The Magic of STEM 2026
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