Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

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10:00am CDT

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Tired of the "teach to the test" cycle? Join us for a hands-on exploration of assessment strategies that reflect what your students know. In this session, we’re ditching the Scantron and Google Form in favor of high-engagement alternatives. We will dive into the versatility of Choice Boards, the storytelling power of Podcasts, and the visual synthesis of One Pagers. You’ll also learn how to spark deep classroom discourse with Parlay Ideas and empower students with the “You Write the Test” approach. Leave with a digital toolkit ready to transform your next unit.

Presenters

Nikki Minoso

Teacher, ELA, Spanish Fort High

Dianne Casolaro

ELA Teacher, Baldwin County Public Schools

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 206

Differentiation Digital Citizenship ELA Reading Social Studies

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

11:00am CDT

The Discussion Revolution: Building Student Agency, One Round Table at a Time with Parlay Ideas

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 206

Transform your classroom from a teacher-led lecture into a vibrant, student-driven community with Parlay Ideas. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore the Parlay Universe to find ready-made prompts that spark critical thinking and dive into the Written Round Table to see how anonymous peer feedback empowers even your quietest students. You’ll experience a Live Round Table firsthand to see how real-time data and discussion mapping can facilitate civil discourse and provide instant engagement analytics. Join us to learn how to step back as a lecturer and step up as a coach, using Parlay to make every student’s voice visible and every discussion measurable.

Presenters

Nikki Minoso

Teacher, ELA, Spanish Fort High

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 206

Assessment Differentiation Digital Citizenship ELA Professionalism Reading Social Studies

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

12:00pm CDT

Let the Games Begin: Simple Strategies to Increase Student Engagement

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 206

In this session, you will learn quick and easy activities to use in any classroom to boost student engagement. This session will be interactive! You will have a time to try out some of the activities you will be learning about.

Presenters

Monica Shaner

Curriculum Leader, Spanish Fort High

Hello, I am Monica Shaner, the Curriculum Leader at Spanish Fort High School. With sixteen years experience in education, my focus is on academic growth and achievement through problem-based learning, differentiated instruction, and data driven resources. I strive to support teachers... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 206

Artificial Intelligence Assessment Community Building Community Engagement Differentiation eMINTS Technology

Level All Teachers

2:00pm CDT

Retro Report: Bringing Real-World Relevance to Science, History, and ELA

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 206

How does a 40-year-old news story help a student understand today’s biology lab, tomorrow’s history essay, or next week’s novel? Join us for a hands-on exploration of Retro Report, a free library of short-form documentaries that bridge the gap between historical events and modern-day impacts. Whether you are a Science teacher exploring the ethics of medical breakthroughs, a History teacher connecting past policies to current headlines, or an English teacher analyzing bias and narrative structure, Retro Report offers the primary source material you need. We will dive into their subject-specific collections, explore ready-to-use lesson plans, and learn how to use investigative storytelling to build critical thinking and media literacy skills in every classroom.

Presenters

Nikki Minoso

Teacher, ELA, Spanish Fort High

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 206

Digital Citizenship ELA Reading Science Social Studies

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference - GRITC 2026

10:00am CDT

Nikki Minoso

Dianne Casolaro

11:00am CDT

Nikki Minoso

12:00pm CDT

Monica Shaner

2:00pm CDT

Nikki Minoso

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