2018 CEA Convention

8:30am EDT

Exhibits

Come support our exhibitors!
Participate in the Exhibitors prize drawings!

Thursday October 25, 2018 8:30am - Friday October 26, 2018 12:45pm EDT
Open Space on River Level

9:00am EDT

Opening Worship

Limited Capacity seats available

Carol Bremer-Bennett will provide our keynote address.
"For the Life of the World: Know Your ABCD's"

Our 35 year honorees are:
Beth Diepenhorst - Holland Christian School
Deb Dykstra - Jenison Christian School
Doris Hendrikse - Oostburg Christian School
Ken Hiskes - South Christian High School
Brian Lemmen - Holland Christian High School
Jane Mulder - Jenison Christian School
Barbara Park - Timothy Christian High School
Sue Pluymert - Grand Rapids Christian Elementary School
Kristi Slotsema - Legacy Christian School
Jon Teune - Dutton Christian School
Brian Vredevoogd - Western Michigan Christian High School

Speakers

Carol Bremer-Bennett

Executive Director at World Renew, World Renew

Carol Bremer-Bennett is World Renew's U.S. Executive Director. Her experience in Christian ministry spans more than 25 years of organizational leadership, development, and administration. After graduating from Calvin College, Carol went to the Southwest to understand her Navajo heritage... Read More →

Thursday October 25, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Convention Hall A/B on the street level of the Century Center.

Opening Worship, SCECH

10:15am EDT

First time attendees

Is this your first time at the CEA convention?
Welcome!
There is a table set up in the hall outside the opening worship just for you!
There you will find:
1. Answers to your questions.
2. A light snack.
3. A chance to participate in a drawing for two $25.00 Amazon gift cards and two $25.00 Book Bug Certificates. This is for first time attendees only.

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:15am - 10:30am EDT
Convention Hall A/B on the street level of the Century Center.

First time attendees

10:15am EDT

House of Delegate Meeting

We would like to have all of the CEA delegates gather for a brief meeting in Discovery North immediately following the opening worship.
Be sure to fill in your completed Attention Delegate form to receive the thank you stipend.

Thanks for all that you do on behalf of the CEA!

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:15am - 10:30am EDT
Discovery North on the street level of the Century Center.

House of Delegate Meeting

10:45am EDT

Introduction to Project Based Learning - Pre-Registration Required

Limited Capacity seats available

Participating in this workshop is only for those who have pre-registered. This workshop will meet during all 6 sessions, 4 on Thursday and 2 on Friday. You will not be able to attend any other sessions. This workshop is designed help teachers gain an understanding of project based learning from a uniquely Christian perspective. Over the course of the two days, participants will learn how to build, assess, and manage a project with their students. Come prepared to learn, interact, and design!

Speakers

Kristyn Kamps

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, iTechnologies, LLC/Buck Institute for Education

During her 27 years in the classroom, Kristyn pioneered strategies for deepening student understanding in a one-to-one learning environment using project based learning as the structural framework. She has led PD workshops at district and state education conferences. In 2012, she... Read More →

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Salon A on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

10:45am EDT

PBL Workshop - Pre-registration required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Danae LeMoine

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, Education Consultant

Danae serves as a business owner and education consultant, working with schools and presenting at conferences in the areas of curriculum and instruction, strategic planning and leadership development. She has previous experience working internationally in the Dominican Republic as... Read More →

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Salon C on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

10:45am EDT

Algorithmic Thinking and Computer Science: Key Skills for the 21st Century

Limited Capacity seats available

Prof. Adams' wide-ranging presentation will include: some of the ways in which artificial intelligence, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and similar technologies will disrupt life as we know it; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections for the next decade; recent computer science curriculum initiatives from the College Board and the National Computer Science Teachers Association; "CS for All" and similar movements that seek to increase the participation of K-12 students from under-represented groups in order to democratize access to computing careers; and the plethora of educational tools available to help K-12 teachers prepare their students to be technology creators, rather than just consumers.

Speakers

Joel Adams

Chair of Department of Computer Science, Calvin College

Joel C. Adams is Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science at Calvin College, where he has taught since 1989. He has written dozens of technical papers, is the author of several successful textbooks, is Calvin's principle investigator in the NSF-funded project CSinParallel.org... Read More →

Chairperson

Linda Potter

Oak Lawn Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
St. Marys on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company 6th - 12th

10:45am EDT

AP Capstone - What it is, it's benefits and how it works!

Limited Capacity seats available

AP Capstone™ is a College Board program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. It cultivates curious, independent, and collaborative scholars and prepares them to make logical, evidence-based decisions. Participants will explore this program, it's benefits and how it can be implemented in their schools.

Speakers

Mark Parson

Director, K-12 State and District Partnerships, College Board

As a K-12 Director, State and District Partnerships, Mark acts as the face of the College Board by managing relationships through the state and school districts of Indiana. His goal is to develop and implement strategies that increase student access to rigorous coursework and post-secondary... Read More →

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
River Level Suite 6 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 8th - 12

10:45am EDT

Band Read- Through Session

Limited Capacity seats available

Bring your band instrument and let's make music together!

Speakers

Scott VandenBerg

Director of Band and Orchestra at Holland Christian School, Holland Christian High School

Scott is the band and orchestra director at Holland Christian high School

Chairperson

Matthew Veenstra

Holland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Convention Hall A/B on the street level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:45am EDT

Book Buzz: 5-8

Limited Capacity seats available

Heather and Meghan will present current middle grade books they have read in as wide a variety of genres and topics as they can fit in a one hour session!

Speakers

Heather VanDyke

Teacher and Curriculum Director, Kalamazoo Christian School

Heather loves to read and usually has two or three books going at a time. She has been in one role or another in education for 23 years, and has seen how reading plays a huge part of all subject areas.

Chairperson

Joy Vander Vennen

West Side Christian School

Meghan VanLente

Teacher, West Side Christian School

Meghan loves to read books (fantasy, fiction, mystery or biography - I love it all!) and be active (like swimming, biking, running, weight lifting, cross country skiing, water skiing - I'm not picky!). I also like to play games with my kids (new one at our house is spoons!) and tell... Read More →

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
River Level Suite 3 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 5th - 8th

10:45am EDT

Book Buzz: Picture Book Edition

Limited Capacity seats available

This fast-paced session will introduce you to the best new picture books and give you some suggestions for how to use them in your classroom and enhance your curriculum.

Speakers

Tricia Kiepert

Teacher at Hudsonville Christian School, Hudsonville Christian School

Tricia Kiepert is a first grade teacher at Hudsonville Christian School. She is an avid reader of children's books and loves sharing the great titles she finds with others. She lives in Hudsonville, Michigan with her husband Kevin and her cat Dandelion.

Chairperson

Mary Jo Staal

Elementary Teacher and Librarian, Hudsonville Christian School

Mary Jo Staal taught a variety of grade levels for 16 years before moving into the role of Elementary Teacher Librarian at Hudsonville Christian School. She is passionate about connecting students with the right book and helping teachers find new books to enhance their curriculum... Read More →

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Discovery North on the street level of the Century Center.

Company K - 5th

10:45am EDT

Brain Breaks for the World Language and Immersion Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

Come learn over 20 different brain breaks that you can start using with your students next week. No tennis shoes required but come ready to move and have fun! This will be a hands on sectional in which we will be learning each brain break by doing it ourselves.

Speakers

Jane VanderBeek

Spanish Teacher at Holland Christian High School, Holland Christian High School

Jane Vander Beek has taught Spanish at Holland Christian since 1994 and has been using proficiency-based teaching strategies for over 10 years. She loves traveling with her family and has twice taken a year leave of absence from teaching at HC so she and her family could live in Morelia... Read More →

Chairperson

Emily Sloterbeek

SW Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
River Level Suite 2 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:45am EDT

Building Personal Discipline for Long term Ministry

Limited Capacity seats available

We have a God-given desire to invest in others. What can we do now that will help us minister to others in the long term? Come let's look at this important topic together and leave with practical steps you can put in place as you go back to your classroom and busy life.

Speakers

Ben VanderKodde

Trainings Director at Grace Adventures, Grace Adventures

Ben Vander Kodde lives and works at Grace Adventures. He loves the Lord, loves people and desires to help others grow in their faith and leadership.

Chairperson

Clay Lubbers

Chicago Christian High School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
River Level Suites 10 & 11 on the lower level of the Century Center.

10:45am EDT

CANCELLED - Simple Steps to Tackle Big Learning Opportunities

Limited Capacity seats available

Project based learning is a topic that has been swirling about in the realm of education in recent years. While many of us have heard of it and are familiar with the basic ideas of the approach, actually getting a project started can be overwhelming. In this session you will hear about some projects that have been successful in my classroom and learn some basic steps to implement this dynamic learning approach in your own classroom.

Speakers

Jason Lohman

5th Grade Teacher, Lansing Christian School, MI

Jason Lohman is a fifth grade teacher at Lansing Christian School (MI). He has a background in Montessori education and enjoys bringing those student centered practices into his classroom. Jason has a passion for providing authentic learning opportunities for his students through... Read More →

Chairperson

Zach Schutte

Demotte Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Bethel on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company 4th - 12th

10:45am EDT

Championship Mentality Training

Limited Capacity seats available

This session the speaker will cover the concept of mentality training and Dr. Warners will give some practical ways for coaches and teachers to use with their teams and their students to help kids have the right mind set in order to succeed. She will address ways to help kids deal with pressure situations whether it be in competition or other daily life challenges.

Speakers

Amber Warners

Professor of Kinesiology and Volleyball Coach, Calvin College

Dr. Amber Warners is in her 17th year as head coach of the Calvin volleyball program. In 16 years as Calvin's head coach, she has compiled a record of 487-73 for a winning percentage of .868. Under Warners the Knights have won three national championships, in 2010, 2013 and 2016... Read More →

Chairperson

Jen Leenstra

Zeeland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Discovery South on the street level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:45am EDT

Changing the Story of Poverty

Limited Capacity seats available

As Christian schools seek to be transformative agents in a global classroom, educators need to remember their ABCD's and honor the image of God in every person beyond their classroom walls. Our kingdom calling is to change the story of a broken world, in every place and every circumstance, and to equip children to realize this call and respond in ways that heal, not harm.

Speakers

Carol Bremer-Bennett

Executive Director at World Renew, World Renew

Chairperson

Robyn Potts

Chicago Christian High School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Recital Hall on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:45am EDT

Does Digital Technology Help Christian Engagement with the World Outside School?

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will examine research findings about how digital technologies are being used in Christian schools. In particular we focus on the hope that learning with digital technology might help students to engage the world beyond the walls of the school in ways related to the school's Christian mission. How are teachers and students using digital technology to connect with the wider world? Is the effort to do this really changing learning? Based on extensive research in school classrooms, this session will provide useful insight for all schools using digital technologies.

Speakers

David Smith

Professor of Education, Calvin College

David Smith, Steve McMullen, Kara Sevensma, and Marj Terpstra are co-investigators on an extended research project examining educational technology and human flourishing in a Christian school system. The research is supported by the Kuyers Institute for Teaching and Learning and the... Read More →

Chairperson

Philip Siemer

Timothy Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
River Level Suite 1 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:45am EDT

Faith Development in a Social Media Culture

Limited Capacity seats available

How has popular culture, particularly social media, impacted the faith development of teenagers? This sectional will explore the impact of technology - both good and bad - on the faith lives of our students. Emphasis on what educators can do in their classrooms will also be discussed.

Speakers

Dan Landstra

Director of Spiritual Development, Unity Christian High School

Dan Landstra is a Bible teacher at Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville, Michigan. He has been at Unity for the past twenty- four years. Dan’s passion is leading students to see Christ in all areas of life, coaching them as followers of Christ to become leaders. Dan speaks... Read More →

Chairperson

Cathy Haan

SW Chicago Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
White Water Suites 14&15

Company 6th - 12th

10:45am EDT

Making the Most of the Tech You Have

Limited Capacity seats available

It's back! Whether your first time, or if you are in need of a refresher, come see why you don't have to be a 1:1 classroom to regularly integrate technology and engage students. This session will teach you simple "Monday morning" strategies for how to make the most of whatever technology you have in your classroom.

Speakers

Brandon Helder

3rd Grade Teacher, Grand Rapids Christian Schools - Iroquois

Brandon is a 3rd-grade teacher at Grand Rapids Christian. Previously he worked in 2nd grade at Hudsonville Christian School and 5th grade at Holland Christian. Brandon is the author of the semi-regular Thrifty Tech Teacher blog where he shares ideas for how to integrate technology... Read More →

Chairperson

Chad Bonnema

Muskegon Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
River Level Suites 8 & 9 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 1st - 6th

10:45am EDT

Planning For Adequate Retirement Income

Limited Capacity seats available

In this session the amount of retirement income provided by the CSI Pension Plan and Social Security will be demonstrated. Time will also be spent discussing he benefits and features of the CSI Pension Plan as well as what must be considered in planning for adequate retirement income.

Speakers

Howard VanMersbergen

Vice President of Employee Benefits, Christian Schools International

Howard Van Mersbergen is the Vice President of Employee Benefits at Christian Schools International. A graduate of Dordt College he holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst and Certified Employee Benefit Specialist designations.

Chairperson

Bill Ridder

Grand Rapids Christian High School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
White Water Suites 12 & 13 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:45am EDT

Reading With a Purpose: How the Discipline Sets the Strategy

Limited Capacity seats available

Reading with a clear sense of purpose in mind always improves our reading, but different disciplines read differently and hence read for different purposes. Students actually need to be taught multiple ways to approach their reading. We will examine the different approaches of different disciplines and then touch on methods that might help set purpose for readers in your classroom.

Speakers

Jeff DeVries

English Teacher, Iliiana Christian High School

Jeff DeVries has taught English for 23 years at Illiana Christian High School, and he serves as adjunct professor in the Education Department at Trinity Christian College. He has presented seminars on improving reading at various conventions and teacher in-service days over the y... Read More →

Chairperson

Larry Koontz

Crown Point Christian

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
River Level Suite 5 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 7th - 12th

10:45am EDT

That's Phenomenal! Science Teaching With A Twist

Limited Capacity seats available

Getting students to think beyond the vocabulary words is important in science. Explore how real-world phenomena can be used to investigate science concepts exercising a hands-on, inquiry-based approach!

Speakers

Robert Keys

Professor of Science, Cornerstone University

Rob Keys is currently Professor of Science at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI. Prior to Cornerstone, Rob was the lead environmental education specialist for the Millcreek Township School District in Erie, PA and the director of the Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids... Read More →

Chairperson

Kate Adama

Crown Point Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
River Level Suite 7 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 3rd - 8th

10:45am EDT

The Process of PBL

Limited Capacity seats available

Students who are engaged in their learning will take charge of their learning! Learn how to use the PBL model to make this happen, and hear about some strategies to use along the way. Some examples from the elementary level will be shared, but the content is appropriate to all grades.

Speakers

Chuck Commeret

4th grade teacher, Zeeland Christian School

M.A., Trinity Christian College, 4th grade teacher at Zeeland Christian School

Kim VanderZwaag

4th Grade Teacher at Holland Christian School, Holland Christian School

Kim has taught at the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade levels. She is also a wife, and mom of a 7th, 5th, and 3rd grader. She is always looking for new and better ways to teach, and is passionate that every student can and will learn in her classroom. Sometimes the trick is just finding out... Read More →

Chairperson

Kari Bonnema

Muskegon Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Suite 16 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:45am EDT

The Social Studies Teacher's Toolbox

Limited Capacity seats available

Need ways to enhance your social studies classes and make the lessons more engaging and interactive? Learn how to use some effective strategies that will move your social studies lessons beyond memorizing names, dates, and events.

Speakers

Erin LaRue

5th Grade Teacher at Crown Point Christian School, Crown Point Christian School

Erin LaRue is in her twelfth year of teaching. Throughout her career she has taught at Christian schools in Northern Virginia, Northern California, and Northwest Indiana. Erin has taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. In her spare time, Erin enjoys cooking, crafting, and reading books... Read More →

Chairperson

Laura Zondervan

Zeeland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Salon B on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company 2nd - 6th

10:45am EDT

Utilizing Desmos.com in the Secondary Math Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

Attendees must bring a laptop! This talk will introduce teachers to Desmos.com, a powerful online graphing calculator. Beyond learning how to simply use the features of the calculator, attendees will also be introduced to the Desmos Activity Builder, a way of creating online lessons where student work can be viewed and shared in real-time and formative assessment can be quickly leveraged. Key Twitter follows, blogs, and other resources will also be shared.

Speakers

Ben Herrman

Math Teacher at Holland Christian High School, Holland Christian School

Ben is in his 8th year as a math teacher at Holland Christian High School. He is passionate about leveraging technology in appropriate ways to increase understanding and sense-making in students. For most of his inspiration, Ben goes to the #MTBOS (Math Twitter Blogosphere) and shamelessly... Read More →

Chairperson

Jason Folkert

Holland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Notre Dame on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company 6th - 12th

10:45am EDT

Where Every Great Adventure Begins: Tuning Our Ears to the Voice of Jesus

Limited Capacity seats available

The greatest adventures don't depend on where we go, but on WHOM we follow! In this workshop, we'll unpack the truth of John 10:27 and discover how the posture of our ears impacts the potential of our faith. Together, we'll discover how fledgling faith can be transformed into flourishing faith as students learn to recognize the voice of Jesus and follow where He leads.

Speakers

Alicia Bruxvoort

Freelance Writer and Speaker, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Alicia Bruxvoort is a writer and speaker who believes that life with Jesus is an incomparable adventure. A former English teacher, Alicia writes for Proverbs 31 Ministries and speaks at women’s events across the country. Alicia’s articles have been featured in today's top Christian... Read More →

Chairperson

Sheila Dokter

Holland Christian

Thursday October 25, 2018 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
River Level Suite 4 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

11:45am EDT

Lunch

AT 10:30 AM in Great Hall (River Level)
$4.00 - Soft Pretzel with Warm Cheese
$4.00 - Nachos with Warm Cheese
$4.00 - Hot Dog
$4.00 - Caesar Salad
$6.00 - Deli Sandwich: Turkey & Swiss or Ham & Cheddar
$6.00 - Chicken Caesar Salad
$6.00 - Cheese or Pepperoni Individual Pizza
$4.00 - With the Purchase of a Sandwich, Salad or Pizza ADD $4.00 to create a BOXED LUNCH
with Potato Chips, Big Cookie and Small Mandarin Orange and Plasticware with Napkin

Thursday October 25, 2018 11:45am - 1:00pm EDT
TBA

1:00pm EDT

Introduction to Project Based Learning . Pre-registration Required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Kristyn Kamps

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, iTechnologies, LLC/Buck Institute for Education

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Salon A on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

1:00pm EDT

PBL Workshop - Pre-registration required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Danae LeMoine

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, Education Consultant

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Salon C on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

1:00pm EDT

Book Buzz: 3-5

Limited Capacity seats available

Formerly known as Book Buzz, come hear all the latest and greatest books for students in grades 3-5 and how best to use them with your students and curriculum. This will sectional will be fast paced and you will leave with a plethora of new book ideas.

Speakers

Mary Jo Staal

Elementary Teacher and Librarian, Hudsonville Christian School

Chairperson

Tricia Kiepert

Teacher at Hudsonville Christian School, Hudsonville Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Discovery North on the street level of the Century Center.

Company 3rd - 5th

1:00pm EDT

Building a Robust AP Program for Now and for the Future

Limited Capacity seats available

Participants will explore AP Potential, a free, Web-based tool that allows schools to generate rosters of students who are likely to score a 3 or higher on a given AP® Exam based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 8/9, PSAT™ 10, or SAT. This session will also look at the enhanced resources on the horizon for 2019.

Speakers

Mark Parson

Director, K-12 State and District Partnerships, College Board

Chairperson

Jake Christiansen

SW Chicago Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
River Level Suite 6 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 9th - 12th

1:00pm EDT

CANCELLED - Loaves and Fishes about our Sister School in Philippines

Limited Capacity seats available

Zeeland Christian has partnered with a school in the Philippines for several years. We will share our story of connection, but we would love to hear your story as well. Do you partner with a school somewhere across the globe? Do you wish your school would partner? What is going well? What isn't? How can we make these connections meaningful? How can we use these connections to spread the gospel?

Speakers

John Buteyn

Zeeland Christian School

Chairperson

Tom Joustra

Zeeland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
River Level Suite 4 on the lower level of the Century Center.

1:00pm EDT

Creating Book Clubs for MS Reading Workshop: Tips and Ideas for Implementation and Unit Planning

Limited Capacity seats available

Are you ready to differentiate your teaching of reading in the middle school classroom? In this session we will unpack how we went about choosing varied literature for our book groups as well as how we introduce books, assign students to groups and monitor these groups throughout their reading.

Speakers

Angie Huttinga

Middle School Language Arts and History Teacher, Jenison Christian School

Angie Huttinga teaches 8th Language Arts at Jenison Christian School. She has 21 years of teaching experience at multiple levels. In addition to middle level teaching, Angie has 8 years of experience teaching in a reading workshop setting in Kindergarten.

Erin Schipper

7th Grade Teacher, Jenison Christian School

Erin Schipper teaches 5th-7th grade Language Arts at Jenison Christian School. She has taught at JCS for 3 years. Prior to teaching at Jenison Christian, she taught 5th and 6th grade at Parkview Christian Academy. In addition to teaching, Erin is pursuing a Masters in Literacy Studies... Read More →

Chairperson

Meghan VanLente

Teacher, West Side Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
River Level Suite 5 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 5th - 8th

1:00pm EDT

CSI Bible Instruction Symposium

Limited Capacity seats available

Christian Schools International is hosting a new professional development opportunity in Washington, DC, in February 2019.

Speakers

Heidi Dean

B.A., Covenant College; M.A., Reformed Theological Seminary; Th.M., Duke UniversityHeidi is a Bible Specialist working for Christian Schools International.

Rachael Heyboer

Director of Product Development, Christian Schools International

Rachael Heyboer has been a part of Christian Schools International's development team for over 12 years and has overseen the development of teacher resources and curricula. She provides leadership in area of equipping teachers in the area of bible and science within the community... Read More →

Chairperson

Dianne Buteyn

Central Wisconsin Christian

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
River Level Suite 7 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

1:00pm EDT

Duct Tape, Baling Twine, and the Headless Advancement Office: It takes a Team

Limited Capacity seats available

Growing a passionate vision for your school is the role of everyone in the school community - not just your advancement office (if you have one). Learn how to use resources already found in your constituency to kindle an excitement of growth opportunities for your school.

Speakers

Gregg Zonnefeld

Director of Advancement B.A., Dordt College, Central Wisconsin Christian School

For the last 27 years, Gregg Zonnefeld has served in various roles at Central Wisconsin Christian, as a teacher, coach, Athletic Director, and Administrator. At present he is the Director of Advancement, where he works in areas of admissions, stewardship development, public relations... Read More →

Chairperson

Jon Huisman

Hudsonville Christian Middle School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
River Level Suite 1 on the lower level of the Century Center.

1:00pm EDT

Educational Inequality and Christian Education

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation provides a framework for understanding educational inequality, inequity, and injustice and how a biblical perspective can inform our response. In addition, the presentation will consider the intersection of educational inequality and Christian education and discuss implications for Christian schools and teachers.

Speakers

John Walcott

Assistant Professor of Education at Calvin College, Calvin College

John Walcott is currently a professor in the Education Department at Calvin College. His teaching and research focuses on the social context of education, urban education, and issues of justice and equity in schools and society. Before coming to Calvin, John was the principal at The... Read More →

Chairperson

Dan Voetberg

Delavan Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
River Level Suite 3 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

1:00pm EDT

GAME TIME-----New Games for PE and indoor recess!

Come prepared to learn and participate in Gym activities . I have team building activities as well as fun games you can play in the gym.

Speakers

Dan Los

Elementary PE Teacher Hudsonville Christian School, Hudsonvile Christian School

Dan has taught PE for 30 years---both in Middle school and Elementary. He enjoys bringing FUN to Gym activities.

Chairperson

Sherry Schurman

Zeeland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Convention Hall B on the street level of the Century Center.

Company K - 8th

1:00pm EDT

Inclusive Education: Important Tools that Make it Work

Limited Capacity seats available

Are you currently including children that require more moderate to significant levels of support to be successful? Has your school had to say "no" to a family and your desire is to say "YES!"? With nearly 30 years of saying "YES", come discover important practical tools for a classroom teacher and school as a whole in making inclusion work. These tools will cover Biblical vision, behavior management, friendships, and important equipment and items to stock in your classroom. This will be helpful for schools and staff already doing inclusion and those who wish to begin.

Speakers

Stacy Deters

Teacher, Zeeland Christian School

Barbara Newman works for CLC Network and is partnered with Stacy Deters at Zeeland Christian School as they lead the inclusive education program in that place. Barbara is a special educator, author, and speaker to both schools and churches. Stacy is a special educator who is also... Read More →

Barb Newman

Special Educator and Consultant to schools and churches, Zeeland Christian School

Chairperson

Beth Diepstra

Ada Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Discovery South on the street level of the Century Center.

Company General

1:00pm EDT

Learn to lead with love: it starts with us! Leading and teaching leading.

Limited Capacity seats available

Using strategies from his book and other minds in leadership, Bob Siegel and Aaron Cole-Rouser speak about the importance of teaching leadership to students of all ages, and how to incorporate leadership into your classroom.

Speakers

Aaron Cole-Rouser

Teacher, Allendale Christian School

Aaron Cole-Rouser has taught for 9 years at Allendale Christian, teaching students about leadership and their role as leaders.

Bob Siegel

Principal at Valley View Elementary, Adjunct Professor at Aquinas College, Valley View Elementary - Rockford

Bob’s distinguished career as a teacher, varsity coach, principal, author, professor, and leadership consultant has led to many recognitions, including being named the Principal of the Year award in Rockford Public Schools, and the Most Distinguished Educator Award by the Diocese... Read More →

Chairperson

Ruth Frederick

Grandville Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Suite 16 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

1:00pm EDT

Making the Most of the Tech You Have

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Brandon Helder

3rd Grade Teacher, Grand Rapids Christian Schools - Iroquois

Chairperson

Tom Knapper

Illiana Christian High School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
River Level Suites 8 & 9 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 1st - 6th

1:00pm EDT

Pass it On: Creative Classroom Culture!

Limited Capacity seats available

My job is to be with 7 and 8 year old kids day in and day out and to be like a guide. Nobody wants a boring tour that has been done the same way every year. Kids crave a space that is exciting, fast paced, challenging, kid created, and filled with choice and high expectations. In this sectional, I want to "Pass on" how my classroom does reading, writing, and creating. From making music and movies, to recording poems and singing worship songs, each day is a new day to create! This sectional will have lots of practical classroom ideas and CDs will be available.

Speakers

Joel Meyer

Second Grade Teacher at Zeeland Christian School, Zeeland Christian School

Joel Meyer has worked in Christian Education for the last 17 years. He is a Creative Christ follower and will go anywhere and everywhere sharing the good news of Jesus. Joel delights in bringing music into the classroom and loves strumming and drumming throughout each day. He teaches... Read More →

Chairperson

Lindsey Slenk

Zeeland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
White Water Suites 14&15

Company K - 5th

1:00pm EDT

School in the Age of Ubiquitous Technology: A Promise Unfulfilled?

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will focus on how technology in schools has become nearly ubiquitous, but the promised gains and benefits are largely unfulfilled. Many schools now equip every student with their own device, but the devices are often merely substitutes for previous ways of doing school, with no real functional change. Come and explore how technology can still be catalyst for instructional change.

Speakers

Tim Kamps

Consultant, iTechnologies, LLC

Tim is a recovering middle school teacher, who spent 15 years as the Director of Technology for Holland Christian Schools, a five building, 1800 student school system in Holland, Michigan. Between 2005 and fall of 2009 the district deployed a 1:1 laptop program to over 1200 6th through... Read More →

Chairperson

Jim Kamphuis

Illiana Christian High School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
White Water Suites 12 & 13 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

1:00pm EDT

The Secondary Classroom as a Space for Character Growth

Limited Capacity seats available

As teachers, we hope that as we teach within our content area, students will learn more about how they are called to live. What if hoping they "get it along the way" isn't enough? This session will share practices that, regardless of content area, will grow students into a community of children and peers, as well as one day spouses, parents, employees, and citizens as they work to bring shalom to God's kingdom.

Speakers

Aaron Meckes

Teacher at Holland Christian High School, Holland Christian High School

Aaron teaches biology and coaches basketball at Holland Christian High School, where he has taught since his graduation from Calvin College in 2014. He is passionate about developing students to be active participants in God's redemptive plans for the world in whatever career pathway... Read More →

Chairperson

Ben Herrman

Math Teacher at Holland Christian High School, Holland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Recital Hall on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 8th - 12th

1:00pm EDT

Tips, Tricks & Troubleshooting: Making Daily 5 & Café Your Own

Limited Capacity seats available

Roundtable discussion on what is working, how problems have been solved, and continued ways of making it your own within Daily 5 and CAFE Literacy Framework. Come ready to share and learn!

Speakers

Morgan Swartz

Teacher, Zeeland Christian School

Judy Zwiep and Morgan Swartz are 1st and 2nd grade teachers respectively. They have had six years of experience with implementing Daily 5 and CAFE into their classrooms. They understand the structure, wrestled with the organization, and have worked to make it their own. They continue... Read More →

Sherri Tibbe

K-5 Reading Support / K-5 Lead Teacher, Zeeland Christian School

Sherri Tibbe serves at Zeeland Christian School as our K-5 Literacy Coach. She taught for 12 years in the classroom and has had 14 years of Reading Recovery experience.

Judy Zwiep

Teacher, Zeeland Christian School

Chairperson

Julie Walters

Grand Rapids Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
River Level Suites 10 & 11 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company K - 5th

1:00pm EDT

TPRS/CI in the World Language Classroom: Learning and sharing together

Limited Capacity seats available

The presenter will start by giving a brief overview of what TPRS/CI is and a few strategies that work well in her classroom. Then please be ready to share: do you consider yourself a TPRS/CI teacher? Please consider sharing some teaching strategies that have been successful in your classroom (or sharing struggles and challenges are OK too!). Do you want to learn more about using comprehensible input in your world language classroom? Come and ask questions. Let's learn and grow together so we can better equip our students in their language acquisition journey.

Speakers

Jane VanderBeek

Spanish Teacher at Holland Christian High School, Holland Christian High School

Chairperson

Samantha Snellink

Zeeland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
River Level Suite 2 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

Introduction to Project Based Learning - Pre-Registration Required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Kristyn Kamps

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, iTechnologies, LLC/Buck Institute for Education

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Salon A on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

PBL Workshop - Pre-registration required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Danae LeMoine

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, Education Consultant

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Salon C on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

A tribute to Dennis Stands "Fun PE Guy"

This session will get you moving and I will share as many ideas for Pre-K - 8th PE as time allows. Bring your active shoes you will not be sitting down much.

Speakers

Tom Kamp

K - 8 PE Teacher and Athletic Director at Crown Point Christian, Crown Point Christian School

Tom has completed 25 years of teaching and enjoys kids as much today as ever in his career. His wife and three son's provide great joy and some challenges as all parents and teachers can appreciate. He is looking forward to sharing games and ideas that will help you make PE more enjoyable... Read More →

Chairperson

Larry Koontz

Crown Point Christian

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Convention Hall B on the street level of the Century Center.

Company K - 8th

2:15pm EDT

CANCELLED - CEA Book Club - Station Eleven Emily St. John Mandel

Limited Capacity seats available

We'll discuss "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel together.

Speakers

Mark Hiskes

Teacher at Holland Christian High School, Holland Christian High School

He likes to read, write, talk, walk, teach, among other things. On good days, he manages to do most of these.

Chairperson

Jayne Boer

DeMotte Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
River Level Suite 4 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

Directing Theatre - What's Worked for You?

Limited Capacity seats available

After a brief presentation, this session will consist of round-table discussion about material selection, casting practices, rehearsal itinerary, crew structuring, and other topics pertinent to directing theatre at the secondary level. Come ready to share your wisdom & absorb wisdom from others!

Speakers

Justin Dreyer

Technology Director, Holland Christian High School

Elle Nieuwsma

Theatre Director & English Teacher, Holland Christian High School

Elle Nieuwsma serves as Director of Theatre at Holland Christian High School, directing three productions a year as well as overseeing Forensics (Individual Events), 24-Hour Theatre activities, and creating original Ethnographic performances with students. Her One Act team has won... Read More →

Chairperson

Tom Knapper

Illiana Christian High School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
River Level Suite 5 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 6th - 12th

2:15pm EDT

Effective Strategies for Supporting Trauma Affected Students

Limited Capacity seats available

Assuming an understanding of the trauma affected student, Dr. Grant will provide a brief overview regarding effective strategies for supporting students with histories of neurodevelopmental trauma. Information will be presented regarding the school environment, discipline techniques, and interventional strategies.

Speakers

Stephanie Grant

Director of the Reach Parent-Child Program and Trauma Informed Communities, Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health

Stephanie is trained as a Developmental Psychologist and is licensed as a Professional Counselor. She currently works as the Director of the Reach Parent-Child Program and Trauma Informed Communities at Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health in Holland, MI. She has separate masters... Read More →

Chairperson

Karen VanMeeteren

Kalamazoo Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Discovery South on the street level of the Century Center.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

Faith Development in a Social Media Culture

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Dan Landstra

Director of Spiritual Development, Unity Christian High School

Chairperson

Mac Wiener

Timothy Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
River Level Suites 8 & 9 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 6th - 12th

2:15pm EDT

Grit Leadership

Limited Capacity seats available

Why do we teach? When we boil it down, it is because we want to do what is best for the students we lead. We want to mentor them, to inspire them, to empower them, to provide them the tools they need to be successful in life. We want to make a difference. The big question is, “Are we actually doing that?” Inspired by Angela Duckworth, Carol Dweck, Paul Tough and more, "Grit Leadership" helps us realize what we are accidentally doing wrong when leading our students, and how we can make changes to more appropriately impact and empower our students for success.

Speakers

Kevin Broene

Athletic Director, Grand Rapids Christian High School

Kevin has worked in educational athletics as an athletic director and coach at the middle school and high school levels for the past 13 years. Seven of those years were spent in the south Chicagoland area at the Chicago Christian Schools (Palos Heights, IL), and for the past six years... Read More →

Chairperson

Jake Christiansen

SW Chicago Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
River Level Suite 4 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

Intentional Instructional Practices with Technologies

Limited Capacity seats available

What does it look like when teachers leverage digital technologies to engage students, enhance student learning, extend student learning beyond the classroom, and examine student formation? This session will review instructional practices observed as part of the Technology and Educational Flourishing (TEF) study of a P12 Christian school system.

Speakers

Marj Terpstra

Associate Professor at Calvin College, Calvin College

Marj Terpstra is a principal investigator on the Technology and Educational Flourishing (TEF) study. She and her colleagues studied a Christian school system heavily invested in digital technologies and are looking forward to the completion of their upcoming book on the research results... Read More →

Chairperson

Joyce Koster

Crown Point Christian

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
River Level Suite 1 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

Learning as Worship

Limited Capacity seats available

In Christian communities the word 'worship' is often used as a synonym for singing, but what would happen if curiosity and discovery were fueled and fostered worshipfully? How might reimagining education in the context of profound worship change the way we learn and teach?

Speakers

Bryant Russ

Bible Teacher at Holland Christian High School, Holland Christian High School

Bryant is a Bible Teacher at Holland Christian High School. He is also a husband and a dad to two young daughters.

Chairperson

Keith Blystra

Holland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Discovery North on the street level of the Century Center.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

Purposeful Poetry

Limited Capacity seats available

Poetry is fun! Poetry is a useful tool to engage learners of all ages. This session will cover using poetry to raise cultural awareness, teach grammar, and motivate students. You will walk out with ideas to use in your classroom on Monday morning.

Speakers

Becky Witte

Doctoral Student, Michigan State University

Becky Witte is a former teacher at Ada Christian School. This fall she started on a new adventure as a doctoral student at Michigan State University. She has an interest in infusing social justice into middle grade classrooms.

Chairperson

Andrea DeYoung

Ada Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
River Level Suite 2 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 3rd - 6th

2:15pm EDT

Responding Effectively to Student Anxiety

Limited Capacity seats available

Educators are often first responders when student anxiety gets high. This presentation will provide helpful perspectives on anxiety for students, along with practical tips for how to respond effectively.

Speakers

Irene Kraegel

Director, Center for Counseling and Wellness, Calvin College

Irene Kraegel is Director of the Center for Counseling and Wellness at Calvin College. With fifteen years of experience as a licensed clinical psychologist, much of it in educational institutions, she has worked extensively with students around a wide variety of mental health issues... Read More →

Chairperson

Jennifer Borgman

Grant Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
River Level Suites 10 & 11 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

School in the Age of Ubiquitous Technology: A Promise Unfulfilled?

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Tim Kamps

Consultant, iTechnologies, LLC

Chairperson

Matthew Falk

West Side Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
White Water Suites 12 & 13 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

Starting Outside: How We Started a Nature Based Science Program, and How YOU Can Too

Limited Capacity seats available

Our story of how we began an outdoor science program, and how it started to influence more of our classroom than we anticipated. We will share some of the successes of our first year, as well as some of the mistakes we have made. You will also take some practical ideas back to your classroom that you can use to get your class outside.

Speakers

Aaron Cole-Rouser

Teacher, Allendale Christian School

Aaron Cole-Rouser has taught for 9 years at Allendale Christian, teaching students about leadership and their role as leaders.

Nathan Wiechel

Middle School Teacher at Allendale Christian, Allendale Christian School

Nathan is a middle school teacher at Allendale Christian School.

Chairperson

Judy Zwiep

Teacher, Zeeland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
River Level Suite 7 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 5th - 8th

2:15pm EDT

Supporting Students Who Struggle: Tips, Tricks and Encouragement for K-8 Grade Students

Limited Capacity seats available

Think for a moment about that one child who always lags behind when it comes to academics. The one who seems to always need help, doesn't understand basic grade level concepts, and stares with a blank expression at books, white boards, and tests. This is the child who either sits quietly in your classroom trying not to be noticed or energetically bounces around your classroom as if they were on springs. Now that you've got a face firmly in your mind...come attend my session. Over the course of one hour I will give you 60+ ideas to take back to your classroom and immediately implement for the student God has just placed on your heart. If you attended last year's session I would warmly welcome you back! New and exciting information will be presented along with a few classic repeats for those who missed last year's presentation.

Speakers

Candyce Tjarks

Academic Support Center Teacher, Lansing Christian School, MI

Candyce is an Academic Support Center teacher for Lansing Christian School in Lansing, MI. She received a post-bachelorette degree in special education from Spring Arbor University and has taught in 5th grade, high school and now works with students in kindergarten through eighth... Read More →

Chairperson

Becky Schaafsma

SW Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
White Water Suites 14&15

Company K- 8th

2:15pm EDT

Teaching Advice From Mary Poppins and Her Bag

Limited Capacity seats available

Mary Poppins gets it when it comes to educating young children. In one scene, she pulls out a lamp, a mirror, a tape measure, and even a coat rack and a plant out of her carpet bag. In this sectional, Judy hopes that your Mary Poppins bag will be filled with ideas to encourage imagination, learning, and experiencing wondrous adventures with your preschoolers. “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and SNAP! The job’s a game!”

Speakers

Judy Friend

PreSchool Teacher, DeMotte Christian School

Judy Friend is currently teaching the 3 year old class as well as the 4 & 5 year old preschool classes at DeMotte Christian. She has taught at the early childhood level for over twenty five years. Currently, this is her 19th year at DeMotte Christian. She has deep love and passion... Read More →

Chairperson

Maria DeJong

Delavan Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
River Level Suite 3 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company PS - K

2:15pm EDT

The Power of Memory Retrieval and the Testing Effect

Limited Capacity seats available

Memory retrieval (i.e. the testing effect) has been shown to result in some of the largest positive learning outcomes ever seen in education. We will discuss the theoretical basis of memory retrieval, but our focus will be on implementation of memory retrieval in the classroom.

Speakers

Ken Bergwerff

Professor, Calvin College

Ken, Crystal and Jim constitute the Science Education Group at Calvin College, where their teaching and research focus centers on science learning and teaching for grades K - 16.

Crystal Bruxvoort

Professor, Calvin College

Ken, Crystal and Jim constitute the Science Education Group at Calvin College, where their teaching and research focus centers on science learning and teaching for grades K - 16.

Jim Jadrich

Professor of Science Education and Physics, Calvin College

Ken, Crystal and Jim constitute the Science Education Group at Calvin College, where their teaching and research focus centers on science learning and teaching for grades K - 16.

Chairperson

Clay Lubbers

Chicago Christian High School

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Recital Hall on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

2:15pm EDT

Using Data to Drive Instruction

Limited Capacity seats available

We will be discussing how data is used to drive and differentiate instruction. We will be looking at whole group and small group instruction to reach ALL learners in the classroom.

Speakers

Heidi Teach

Director of Student Services at Illiana Christian High School, Illiana Christian High School

Heidi is a graduate of Calvin College with a Masters from the University of New England in Inclusive Education. She has 10 years experience with Chicago Public Schools teaching in self contained, inclusive and resource classroom settings. She is now the Director of Student Services... Read More →

Chairperson

Jill Dahm

Crown Point Christian

Thursday October 25, 2018 2:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
River Level Suite 6 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 9th - 12th

3:30pm EDT

Introduction to Project Based Learning - Pre-Registration Required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Kristyn Kamps

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, iTechnologies, LLC/Buck Institute for Education

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon A on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

3:30pm EDT

PBL Workshop - Pre-registration required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Danae LeMoine

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, Education Consultant

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Salon C on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

3:30pm EDT

Addressing Concerns and Questions about Technology in Education

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will examine research findings from the Technology and Educational Flourishing (TEF) study of a P12 Christian school system, in particular the concerns about digital technology use in a Christian school. Drawing on survey and observation data, this session examines issues and practices around screen time, distractions, filtering and monitoring.

Speakers

Steve McMullen

Associate Professor of Economics, Hope College

Chairperson

Nate Pettinga

SW Chicago Christian School - Oak Lawn

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
River Level Suite 1 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

3:30pm EDT

Behaviors Management in Special Education and Inclusive Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

We will be discussing behavior management strategies and supports that will create a positive learning environment in the classroom for ALL learners. We will be thinking about transitions, schedules, ticket reward systems, point systems, collecting data about behaviors, ABC Charts, setting expectations, classroom rules, and more.

Speakers

Heidi Teach

Director of Student Services at Illiana Christian High School, Illiana Christian High School

Chairperson

Angela Roonsma

DeMotte Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
River Level Suite 6 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

3:30pm EDT

Book Clubs in the World Language Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

Book clubs are an interesting way to incorporate reading in the upper level language classroom. Join us as we explore ideas for using book clubs to encourage reading comprehension, speaking, and writing in the target language. This presentation will outline guidelines for incorporating book clubs in the classroom. It will include ideas for books, formative and summative assessment rubrics, speaking and writing prompts, final project ideas and rubrics, and some fun examples.

Speakers

Kathryn Deacon

Teacher, Grand Rapids Christian High School

Elizabeth and Kathryn have been teaching high school Spanish together for several years. They recently made the shift to teaching Spanish through comprehensible input. They are excited about this transition, and love the improvements they have seen in their students comprehension... Read More →

Elizabeth Hoving

Spanish at Grand Rapids Christian High School, Grand Rapids Christian High School

Chairperson

Amanda Cisneros

Holland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Recital Hall on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 9th - 12th

3:30pm EDT

CANCELLED - Christian School Educators Science Academy

Limited Capacity seats available

Association of Christian Schools International and Christian Schools International are offering a unique professional development academy to K-8 teachers of science. This academy is designed to support transformation of Christian science teaching to a practice-based culture. Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your science classroom with this innovative educational model, specifically tailored to the Christian School setting.

Speakers

Heidi Dean

B.A., Covenant College; M.A., Reformed Theological Seminary; Th.M., Duke UniversityHeidi is a Bible Specialist working for Christian Schools International.

Rachael Heyboer

Director of Product Development, Christian Schools International

Chairperson

Sian Zylstra

Grand Rapids Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
River Level Suite 4 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company K - 8th

3:30pm EDT

Creating a Reading Culture

Limited Capacity seats available

Are you ready to ignite a passion for reading in your students? This session will cover our most effective tips and tricks for helping kids fall in love with reading.

Speakers

Tricia Kiepert

Teacher at Hudsonville Christian School, Hudsonville Christian School

Mary Jo Staal

Elementary Teacher and Librarian, Hudsonville Christian School

Chairperson

Laura Moes

Moline Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Discovery North on the street level of the Century Center.

Company K - 8th

3:30pm EDT

Effective Strategies for Supporting Trauma Affected Students

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Stephanie Grant

Director of the Reach Parent-Child Program and Trauma Informed Communities, Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health

Chairperson

Janet Versweyveld

Delavan Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Discovery South on the street level of the Century Center.

Company General

3:30pm EDT

Learn to lead with love: it starts with us! Leading and teaching leading.

Limited Capacity seats available

The Creative Sequence is a process through which students progress through various stages of exploring a driving question. In this interactive presentation, learn about the Creative Sequence and how to use it to frame deep learning and creating experiences in all subject areas and for students of all ages.

Speakers

Aaron Cole-Rouser

Teacher, Allendale Christian School

Aaron Cole-Rouser has taught for 9 years at Allendale Christian, teaching students about leadership and their role as leaders.

Bob Siegel

Principal at Valley View Elementary, Adjunct Professor at Aquinas College, Valley View Elementary - Rockford

Chairperson

Rachel DeVries

Illiana Christian High School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
River Level Suite 7 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

3:30pm EDT

Pass it On: Creative Classroom Culture!

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Joel Meyer

Second Grade Teacher at Zeeland Christian School, Zeeland Christian School

Chairperson

Mark Sneller

Zeeland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
White Water Suites 12 & 13 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company K - 5th

3:30pm EDT

Relational Leadership

Limited Capacity seats available

We need this in our lives and we can provide it for our students. We will look at ideas and practices that will help us effectively influence the next generation. How to purposefully build relationships that demand the best as well as support along the way.

Speakers

Ben VanderKodde

Trainings Director at Grace Adventures, Grace Adventures

Ben Vander Kodde lives and works at Grace Adventures. He loves the Lord, loves people and desires to help others grow in their faith and leadership.

Chairperson

Karyl Morin

Zeeland Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
River Level Suites 10 & 11 on the lower level of the Century Center.

3:30pm EDT

Seesaw - An app for teaching and learning

Limited Capacity seats available

Seesaw in an interactive online journal where students can participate in collaborative community with each other and the teacher. It empowers students to take hold of their own learning and documents growth in their understanding of topics in the classroom. It also allows the teacher to differentiate instruction by student to create a thriving classroom environment.

Speakers

Sarah Fennema

1st Grade Spanish Immersion Teacher at Grandville Christian School, Grandville Christian School

Sarah Fennema is a 1st grade Spanish Immersion teacher at Grandville Christian School. She loves teaching and trying new things in her classroom. She has been teaching in first grade for 5 years and appreciates being able to help each unique child learn. Sarah has a degree from Calvin... Read More →

Chairperson

Kelly Caryl

Hudsonville Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
River Level Suite 5 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company K - 4th

3:30pm EDT

Social Justice Activities for the Elementary Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

Simulations, ideas, and resources centered about justice-related issues will be shared.

Speakers

Becky Witte

Doctoral Student, Michigan State University

Chairperson

Gretchen Snape

SW Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
River Level Suite 2 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 3rd - 6th

3:30pm EDT

Supporting Students Who Struggle: Tips, Tricks and Encouragement for K-8 Grade Students

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Candyce Tjarks

Academic Support Center Teacher, Lansing Christian School, MI

Chairperson

Pat Kuyper

Moline Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
White Water Suites 14&15

Company K - 8th

3:30pm EDT

Tips on Marketing, Recruitment, Retention and Making Your School a Welcoming Culture

Limited Capacity seats available

Practical, economical, immediately put to use, suggestions, ideas, and a template calendar for recruitment and retention.

Speakers

Joyce Workman

Mission Advancement Consultant, Independent Consultant

Joyce served Western Michigan Christian for nearly 12 years as the Director of Advancement:Raised Funds (Annual, Capital, Endowment) ,coordinated special events, worked with volunteers, connected with alumni, mentored students, oversaw marketing, social media and written materials... Read More →

Chairperson

Peter Boonstra

Illiana Christian High School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
River Level Suite 3 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

3:30pm EDT

Utilize Your Schoolyard Outdoor Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

Research supports the benefits of taking student learning outdoors. We'll equip participants with resources to translate student learning experiences to your schoolyard classroom.

Speakers

Katelyn Egnatuk

Teacher, West Side Christian School

What started a vision has become a reality after this dynamo duo teamed up to transition a traditional preschool setting into a place for nature-based learning. The two, working in collaboration with Blandford Nature Center, combined the benefits of nature- infused learning experiences... Read More →

Janet Staal

Director of Nature-based and Outdoor Education, West Side Christian School

Thursday October 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
River Level Suites 8 & 9 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company K - 2nd

8:00pm EDT

River City Improv

Come for a free night of fun and laughter!
Get your staff together to enjoy!
River City Improv returns to 2018 CEA!

Thursday October 25, 2018 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Convention Hall A/B on the street level of the Century Center.

Entertainment

7:00am EDT

5K Run

Meet at the Information Desk at the Century Center to organize and then take off running or walking to enjoy the morning along the beautiful St. Joseph River.

Friday October 26, 2018 7:00am - 8:00am EDT
Information Desk

5K Run

8:30am EDT

CANCELLED - Traveling Sensory Classroom

Limited Capacity seats available

The Traveling Sensory Classroom is an experiential workshop that helps attendees understand what it is like to have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). The classroom is split up into three sections. The first section is an informative lecture on the signs and symptoms of SPD and how it affects the behavior of children. The second section is classroom simulation where participants will receive some personal exposure to overwhelming sensory input. For the final section will be to debrief the simulation as well as discuss strategies to support children who have SPD.

Speakers

Latrieva Boston

Family Services Manager, ASK Family Services

Latrieva is employed by ASK Family Services and Amy is employed with Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and they both serve families with children who have mental health or developmental challenges. They supervise Family Support Partners who are caregivers themselves to children with... Read More →

Amy Helmuth

Family Services Manager, ASK Family Services

Chairperson

Rachel DeVries

Illiana Christian High School

Friday October 26, 2018 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Discovery South on the street level of the Century Center.

Company General

9:00am EDT

Introduction to Project Based Learning - Pre-Registration Required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Kristyn Kamps

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, iTechnologies, LLC/Buck Institute for Education

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Salon A on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

9:00am EDT

PBL Workshop - Pre-registration required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Danae LeMoine

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, Education Consultant

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Salon C on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

9:00am EDT

A Pleasure to Measure: Classroom Activties for Grades K-5

Limited Capacity seats available

How well do your students really understand length, area, and volume measurement? Join us to explore several measurement learning activities in grades K-5 that will help you assess and prompt growth in your students' understanding.. See related website: http://www.childrensmeasurement.org

Speakers

Jeffrey Barrett

Professor of Math Education, Illinois State University

Jeff has been a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics at Illinois State University since 1997. His teaching and research interests focus on the coordination of number and space as students learn mathematics, on the professional growth of teachers in K-8 teaching positions... Read More →

Dave Klanderman

Professor of Mathematics Education, Calvin College

After 28 years at Trinity Christian College, Dave recently joined the mathematics department at Calvin College. His teaching and scholarship help prepare future elementary, middle, and high school mathematics teachers. He has helped to implement math events for students at the elementary... Read More →

Chairperson

Brenda Flikkema

Delavan Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
River Level Suite 2 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company K - 5th

9:00am EDT

Addicted to Media: The Impact on Today's Generation and What Teachers Can Do About It

Limited Capacity seats available

Today's teens have never experienced life without the Internet. An addiction to social media and smartphones has implications in the classroom; from declining SAT scores to increased mental health issues, students today are very different from students ten years ago. This interactive session will explore the effects of social media on today's generation and discuss solutions for managing classrooms with students impacted by the current culture.

Speakers

Laurie Burgess

Division Chair and Associate Professor of Education, Cornerstone University

Dr. Laurie Burgess lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband and three children. Currently, she teaches in the Education Division at Cornerstone University and serves as the Division Chair. In May of 2018, she defended her dissertation entitled, "Instructor Sense of Community... Read More →

Chairperson

Stacey Smies

Central Wisconsin Christian

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
White Water Suites 14&15

Company 4th - 8th

9:00am EDT

CANCELLED - Change Your Mindset - Change Your Life!

Limited Capacity seats available

A growth mindset creates a powerful passion for learning. Those with a growth mindset believe that ability can change as a result of effort, perseverance, and practice. Don’t we all want this for our young people? Let’s explore what a growth mindset is and see how with it we can view mistakes as ways to learn, embrace challenges, and be better versions of ourselves.

Speakers

Gwen Luban

Program Developer, Careerline Tech Center

Gwen Luban is a co-developer for the futurePREP'd program, a program of the OAISD in Ottawa County. The program trains teachers in Design Thinking and Project-Based Learning. Prior to this position, Gwen taught for fourteen years and was also the Director of the Love In the Name of... Read More →

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
White Water Suites 12 & 13 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

9:00am EDT

Capturing Student Voices and Learning through Podcasting

Limited Capacity seats available

Podcasting is an effective way to capture and share authentic learning in the classroom. This sectional will focus on the why and how to best use podcasting in your classroom.

Speakers

Tricia Kiepert

Teacher at Hudsonville Christian School, Hudsonville Christian School

Mary Jo Staal

Elementary Teacher and Librarian, Hudsonville Christian School

Chairperson

Christian Altena

Chicago Christian High School

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Discovery North on the street level of the Century Center.

Company General

9:00am EDT

Gospel: The Message Behind the Music

Limited Capacity seats available

This interactive session will cover the background and history of Gospel Music. We will also dive in and discover what is the message that drives this style of music and how it can inspire children, youth and adults from all walks of life.

Speakers

Nate Glasper Jr.

Adjunct Professor, Calvin College

Nate is an Adjunct Professor of Calvin College and Director of the Calvin College Gospel Choir. He is a member of Grace for the Nations Church in Grand Rapids, MI. where he serves as Worship Director. He is the founding director of Camp Judah: Fine Arts Experience, in partnership... Read More →

Chairperson

Heather Altena

SW Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
River Level Suites 10 & 11 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

9:00am EDT

Lord, Will Only a Few be Saved?

Limited Capacity seats available

This question was widely debated during Jesus’ time. On one occasion Jesus was asked this question directly. (Luke 13:23) How did Jesus answer? Is this a question our students ponder? How do theologians relate the wideness of God’s mercy to the righteousness of God’s justice?

Speakers

Don Huizinga

Retired High School Bible Teacher, Retired

Since retirement, I've pursued teaching adult education at church, leading a sectional each year at CEA, reading, and I love to run and race. I've been married to my wonderful wife, Dorothy, for 50 years and together we have four children. I've attended Madison Square Christian Reformed... Read More →

Chairperson

Mac Wiener

Timothy Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
River Level Suite 5 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

9:00am EDT

MTSS/RTI Frameworks to Ensure High Levels of Learning for All Students

Limited Capacity seats available

Participants will get an overview of how MTSS (multi-tiered systems of support) can give each student what she/he needs to thrive in a school community.

Speakers

Brad Mockabee

Principal, Grand Rapids Christian School

This is Brad's 20th year at Grand Rapids Christian High School. Over the last 20 years, Brad has served in a variety of roles. He spent many years in the classroom as a Spanish teacher. He was the GRCHS varsity football coach for 9 years. In 2012, he started the school's Winterim... Read More →

Chairperson

Beth Nyenhuis

Grand Rapids Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Recital Hall on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

9:00am EDT

Prophets of a Future Not Our Own

Limited Capacity seats available

It's complicated. The complexities of the social, political, and religious pluralism of the United States in the twenty-first century have challenged the way we do Christian schooling. Join a discussion, maybe a movement, on what the future of Christian education could look like.

Speakers

Tm VanSoelen

Director of Center for Advancement of Christian Education, Dordt College

Dr. Van Soelen serves as the director for the Center of the Advancement of Christian Education (CACE) as well as a professor of Education at Dordt College. Married to the best school librarian in the world and a dad to three gifted adult children, Tim is passionate about helping grow... Read More →

Chairperson

Jenna Batts

Kalamazoo Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Suite 16 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

9:00am EDT

Spiritual Warfare in America's Classrooms

Limited Capacity seats available

The mass school shootings that have been plaguing our nation for a while now are not simply the result of mental illness or the ready availability of guns in our society. They are a clear manifestation of spiritual warfare invading our schools and classrooms. The purpose of this teaching is to show how Christian teachers can be instruments of God's freedom in a school culture saturated with Rebellion, Lust, Despair, and Violence.

Speakers

Paul Mpindi

Executive Director, Misson French Africa Ministries

Reverend Paul Mpindi is a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dr Mpindi holds a PhD in Historical Theology from Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids Michigan. Reverend Mpindi is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. He presently... Read More →

Chairperson

Cristin Lenters

Chicago Christian High School

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
River Level Suite 1 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

9:00am EDT

Teaching Advice From Mary Poppins and Her Bag

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Judy Friend

PreSchool Teacher, DeMotte Christian School

Chairperson

Shannon Hahn

Calvin Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
River Level Suite 3 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company PS - K

9:00am EDT

Ten Educational Technology Tools That You Can Use On Monday

Limited Capacity seats available

Technology is ever changing and the number of engaging, fun, and free Ed Tech tools is amazing! Come and learn about ten simple (and free) Ed Tech tools that you can start using tomorrow to bring innovation and creativity to your classroom. It is time to wow your students and your coworkers as you discover your techie side!

Speakers

Dan Hoekstra

Teacher and Technology Coach at Grand Rapids Christian High School, Grand Rapids Christian High School

Dan Hoekstra is a high school science teacher and instructional technology coach at Grand Rapids Christian High School. He is passionate about Ed Tech and is excited to help teachers use technology to create more impactful learning experiences. When Dan is not teaching, coaching or... Read More →

Chairperson

Tom Knapper

Illiana Christian High School

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
White Water Suites 12 & 13 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 6th - 12th

9:00am EDT

The Genius of the "And"

Limited Capacity seats available

In our personal and professional activities, it can be easy to fall into two-dimensional thinking—setting up life as a series of either/or scenarios that find us waking up one day with a profound sense of longing for something more. What if the key to what we're after isn't best found in an either/or mentality, but rather by embracing the genius of the "and" for true flourishing? This session will invite and inspire you to consider Christian education and the Christian life from a different perspective—one that could transform your teaching and the work of your school.

Speakers

Dan Meester

Superintedent of Holland Christian School, Holland Christian High School

Dan Meester currently serves as the Superintendent of Holland Christian Schools in Holland, MI. His 23-year journey in Christian education has also taken him through the roles of high school English teacher, basketball and tennis coach, and college counselor. Christian education holds... Read More →

Chairperson

Katie Clausing

Holland Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
River Level Suites 8 & 9 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:15am EDT

Introduction to Project Based Learning - Pre-Registration Required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Kristyn Kamps

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, iTechnologies, LLC/Buck Institute for Education

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Salon A on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

10:15am EDT

PBL Workshop - Pre-registration required

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Danae LeMoine

Educational Consultant/National Faculty Member, Education Consultant

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Salon C on the second floor of the DoubleTree Hotel.

Company General

10:15am EDT

A STEM Program on a Shoestring

Limited Capacity seats available

Are you missing a STEM coordinator, a maker's room or extra money for an elementary STEM program? Come see how Kalamazoo Christian has "engineered" a program despite these restrictions.

Speakers

Kim VanLoo

4th grade teacher at Kalamazoo Christian School, Kalamazoo Christian School

Kim has taught for over 20 years in various grade levels and also as a special education teacher. She loves the engagement that STEM projects provide for all students, but most especially the students who sometimes have a hard time in the regular curriculum.

Chairperson

Amy Boerman-Cornell

Calvin Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
River Level Suite 7 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company K - 5th

10:15am EDT

Boys to Men: Helping Our Boys Grow Into Men of God

Limited Capacity seats available

It may be difficult for our boys today to understand what it means to be a Godly man by watching athletes, TV sitcoms, and even politicians. This session will talk about the importance of investing in the lives of our boys and emphasizing to them the importance of such things as leadership, integrity, purity, commitment, responsibility.

Speakers

Jeff Stallinga

Middle School Bible and Grammar Teacher, Crown Point Christian School

Jeff Stallinga has taught in Christian Schools for 28 years, bouncing around from grades 4 through 8 during that time. He has also spent time doing junior high youth ministry for a couple different churches at various times. Currently, he teaches 6th grade Bible and grammar at Crown... Read More →

Chairperson

Lora DeVries

SW Chicago Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
River Level Suite 5 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 5th - 12th

10:15am EDT

CANCELLED - Change Your Mindset - Change Your Life!

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Gwen Luban

Program Developer, Careerline Tech Center

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
White Water Suites 12 & 13 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:15am EDT

CANCELLED - Finding Hope in Teaching in an Age of Accountability. Renewing the Profession of being a Christian School Teacher

Limited Capacity seats available

The 1985 report A Nation at Risk put public education in the United States on a pathway of accountability, measurement and testing. Christian schools are well positioned to counter this trend and offer a deeper, broader understanding of teaching and schooling and to avoid the mistake of reducing teaching to what can be tested. This workshop will focus on the importance of staying connected to the complex, creative, and compassionate realities of being a teacher.

Speakers

Jim Rooks

Dean of Education at Calvin College, Calvin College

Jim has been an elementary school teacher, high school teacher and principal as well as professor of education at Redeemer College and Calvin College. He currently teaches literacy courses and serves as the Dean of Education and Director of the Graduate Studies in Education program... Read More →

Chairperson

Dale Eizenga

Holland Christian High School

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
River Level Suite 3 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:15am EDT

CANCELLED - Justice Work in Spanish Immersion Classrooms

Limited Capacity seats available

Spanish immersion students are in a unique position to partner with the Hispanic community in justice work, but how do we find the time to make meaningful connections that lead to real advocacy? Come participate in a simulation that teaches students about injustices for West Michigan farmworkers and discuss how justice work can become the basis for all content areas!

Speakers

Sara Seth

Spanish Immersion Director, Grand Rapids Christian Schools

Sara Seth is the Spanish Immersion Director of Grand Rapids Christian Schools. She has been involved in the program since it was started in 2010. She and her husband, Steve, live in Grand Rapids and their three boys attend Grand Rapids Christian Schools.

Krista VanderZee

2nd grade teacher, Grand Rapids Christian Elementary

Krista is in her seventh year of teaching second grade Spanish immersion at Grand Rapids Christian Elementary. Krista loves discipling students in two languages and preparing them to serve others. Outside of school, Krista spends most of her time with her husband, Chris, and one year... Read More →

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
River Level Suite 6 on the lower level of the Century Center.

10:15am EDT

Creating a Flexible Daily Schedule that Makes Learning Constant and Time a Variable

Limited Capacity seats available

This session reveals the evolution of Grand Rapid Christian High's daily schedule, specifically highlighting the use of office hours and a "focus period" to make sure each student gets what she/he needs.

Speakers

Brad Mockabee

Principal, Grand Rapids Christian School

Chairperson

Jan DeJong

Borculo Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Recital Hall on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:15am EDT

Developing a Positive Reading Culture: Book A Day

Limited Capacity seats available

Are you in need of a few solid ideas to kick-start a vibrant reading culture in your classroom? Come join Christina as she shares about her experiences in reading a picture book every day to her 5th grade class, and other ways she has built a positive reading culture.

Speakers

Christina Kortering

5th Grade Teacher, Hudsonville Christian School

Christina currently teaches 5th grade at Hudsonville Christian Elementary School. She lives in Holland, MI with her husband Matt, one year old daughter, Esther, and eleven year old golden retriever, Bella. Christina loves to teach, but she also loves to play music, go on nature adventures... Read More →

Chairperson

Jill Dahm

Crown Point Christian

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Suite 16 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 3rd - 8th

10:15am EDT

Faith and Doubt

Limited Capacity seats available

At the close of the Gospel of Matthew, after the disciples had personally witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus and right before they were commissioned to make disciples of all nations, we are told: "When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted." Why do some people doubt while others worship? What causes religious doubt? How do we respond to it? Are faith and doubt incompatible? Join us as we reflect on these questions and their implications for the Christian teacher and classroom.

Speakers

Larry Borst

Bible & Theology Teacher at Grand Rapids Christian High School, Grand Rapids Christian High School

Mark VanderWerf and Larry Borst teach Bible and Theology at Grand Rapids Christian High School.

Mark VanderWerf

Bible & Theology Teacher at Grand Rapids Christian High School, Grand Rapids Christian High School

Mark VanderWerf and Larry Borst teach Bible and Theology at Grand Rapids Christian High School.

Chairperson

Mac Wiener

Timothy Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
River Level Suites 10 & 11 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company 7th - 12th

10:15am EDT

Helping Students Get Along: How to Reduce Mean Behavior and Increase Caring and Connection

Limited Capacity seats available

In this presentation, classroom-based and school-wide efforts to reduce mean behavior, including bullying, will be discussed. Research-based prevention and intervention techniques will be highlighted through the use of demonstrations, role-play, and video-clips. Strategies for enhancing pro-social behavior such as altruism, empathy, and inclusion will also be shared.

Speakers

Marcia McEvoy

Licensed Psychologist, McEvoy Consulting, LLC

Dr. Marcia McEvoy is a Licensed Psychologist who has worked in a variety of settings including public schools, community mental health centers, child diagnostic clinics, and two universities. She presently owns her own consulting business. For over 20 years, Dr. McEvoy has worked... Read More →

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Discovery South on the street level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:15am EDT

I Am Simon and Michael's Mom

Limited Capacity seats available

Adoption is wonderful and hard and beautiful and ugly and a picture of God's relationship with us. As more families adopt, teachers welcome into their classrooms children who may come with luggage they may not recognize. Although Shanda Sprick is not an adoption expert or a social worker, she is an adoptive mom who wants to share her thoughts and ideas about how to show great love to adopted children in your classroom.

Speakers

Shanda Sprick

Homemaker and Public Speaker, Kingdom

After teaching Bible in middle and high school for 10 years, Shanda got married and became a full time homemaker. God blessed her with five children, two of whom are adopted from China. She is also the legal guardian of her friend who is 64 and has Down's Syndrome. Now that all of... Read More →

Chairperson

Cristin Lenters

Chicago Christian High School

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
River Level Suites 8 & 9 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:15am EDT

Learning as Worship

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Bryant Russ

Bible Teacher at Holland Christian High School, Holland Christian High School

Bryant is a Bible Teacher at Holland Christian High School. He is also a husband and a dad to two young daughters.

Chairperson

Jeff Minkus

Zeeland Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Discovery North on the street level of the Century Center.

Company General

10:15am EDT

PBL: Inventions Presented in Spanish

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation showcases an example of project based learning being applied to the classroom. A kindergarten classroom partakes in problem solving through inventions.

Speakers

Victoria DeEsteva

Spanish Immersion Kindergarten Teacher, Muskegon Christian School

Victoria De Esteva is an educator from the Dominican Republic with more than 25 years of experience in the educational field. She has been applying project based learning in International schools for over 20 years. She is a true believer that project based learning will prepare students... Read More →

Chairperson

Laura Zondervan

Zeeland Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
River Level Suite 2 on the lower level of the Century Center.

Company K - 3rd

10:15am EDT

Using Ed Tech to Construct Knowledge in (AP) Biology

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn how a variety of simple Ed Tech tools can help your Biology / AP Biology students construct knowledge by having them create, make and produce to achieve better understanding. Activities may include digital posters, diplaying lab results, stop-motion movies describing DNA replication, videos detailing operons, digital comic strips illustrating the immune system, animated action potentional models, digital drawings of topics such as prezygotic factors, founder effect and water flow. Activities can be adapted between AP biology and entry-level biology course.)

Speakers

Dan Hoekstra

Teacher and Technology Coach at Grand Rapids Christian High School, Grand Rapids Christian High School

Chairperson

Nicki Jager

Lansing Christian School

Friday October 26, 2018 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
River Level Suite 4 on the lower level of the Century Center.