VCU T/TAC

Transition does not start in high school. For elementary and middle
school practitioners, transition is about building the conditions for
later success: skills, expectations, language, and systems that travel
with the student over time.

Join us for a time of learning and collaboration.
https://cvent.me/aRYWW3

As the school year comes to a close, many teachers, coaches, and school divisions are reviewing their curriculum materials and making decisions as to how they can improve instruction for next school year. Many school divisions have adopted VDOE-recommended high quality instructional materials, or HQIM, but some teachers still find their students are struggling. This graphic provide 10 instructional moves that can strengthen instruction, support students, and lead to better outcomes. For the full post on LinkedIn, visit https://bit.ly/10_HQIM_supports.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟭𝟬 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗤𝗜𝗠 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀:

𝟭. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀
↳Short targeted routines help strengthen foundational skills without replacing grade-level work.

𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘀
↳Identify the “access skills” students need before the lesson begins.

𝟯. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆
↳Supplement through targeted intervention groups based on real-time data.

𝟰. 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀
↳Many students need concrete and visual representations before abstraction.

𝟱. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲
↳Students build understanding by explaining, defending, and revising thinking.

𝟲. 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆
↳Especially important for multilingual learners and students with reading gaps.

𝟳. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲
↳Revisit major concepts consistently so learning sticks over time.

𝟴. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
↳Do not wait until exit tickets to discover misconceptions.

𝟵. 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸
↳Coverage does not equal mastery.

𝟭𝟬. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹
↳Students who believe they can succeed engage differently in mathematics.

Supplementing HQIM to Meet Student Needs | Dwight S. Williams posted on the topic | LinkedIn 𝗛𝗤𝗜𝗠 - 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 - 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗶𝘅. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿.....

Have you heard of an optimistic closure? It is a way to end a lesson or class that provides students the opportunity to refect on their learning or to identify next steps. Edutopia's three minute video, "Finishing Class Strong With Optimistic Closures," shares five optimistic closures that engage students and assist them with reflecting on what they learned or how they will apply the new learning. You can find the informative video at

Finishing Class Strong With Optimistic Closures The best closing activities use social and emotional practices to reinforce the day’s lessons, so students leave feeling confident—and competent—on their learning journey.

Leading Across Generations: Strategies for a Stronger, More Collaborative Team
June 4, 2026, @ 2:00 PM

Join this webinar focused on equipping leaders with the tools needed to engage, motivate, and guide a multigenerational team effectively. Participants will analyze research on generational characteristics and adapt their communication skills to optimize overall team performance. Through interactive activities, the session provides practical strategies to foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing workplace culture.

Early Childhood Webinars – Free Online Childcare Training Free, expert-led early childhood education webinars offering practical strategies and inspiring insights. Serving over 3 million early education professionals, join to learn and receive certificates.

Help students build healthier tech habits that support focus, balance, and real‑world connection. Digital Well‑Being Week is May 18–22, 2026, highlighting an easy opportunity for educators to teach skills that protect attention, reduce stress, and promote healthier online choices as students head into summer.

Digital Well-Being Week | Common Sense Education Common Sense Education provides educators and students with the resources they need to harness the power of technology for learning and life. Find a free K-12 Digital Citizenship curriculum, reviews of popular EdTech apps, and resources for protecting student privacy.

Accessibility and UDL as Partners in Inclusion: From Compliance to Belonging
May 21, 2026 @ 3:00 PM

Join this webinar to explore how integrating accessibility into the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework creates inclusive environments where all learners can thrive. A panel featuring experts and a student perspective discussing how accessible design enhances flexibility, engagement, and learner agency. Attendees will gain practical insights to move beyond basic regulatory compliance toward meaningful educational belonging.

https://home.edweb.net/webinar/inclusiveeducation20260521/"

Accessibility and UDL as Partners in Inclusion: From Compliance to Belonging - edWeb Explore how CAST advances accessibility as a core component of UDL to create learning environments where all learners can thrive.

Beach chair? ✔️
Sunscreen? ✔️
Professional learning playlist? ✔️🎧
As you get beach ready this summer, take a listen to Cult of Pedagogy Podcast episode “Five Skills that Get Students to Take Ownership of Their Learning” (Episode 263) This episode has us thinking about “learning to learn” skills and how we can create classroom environments where students are more independent, engaged, and invested in their learning. What learning podcasts are on your summer listen list?

https://youtu.be/1bqKi34egUE?si=-i7_Pe9qe7SAkTI3

HOT OFF THE PRESSES!!!!

VDOE's science instructional team has just released the instructional guides for science. You can find them here: https://bit.ly/ScienceInstructionalGuides

The VDOE is also offering several webinars to help all become familiar with these new guides. These webinars will be held on:

May 18 at 4 p.m.
May 26 at 4 p.m.
August 4 at 4 p.m.
August 25 at 4 p.m.

Find out more information and register here: https://bit.ly/ScienceInstructionalGuides

Standards of Learning | Virginia Department of Education The Instructional Guides are companion documents to the 2018 and 2025 Science Standards of Learning and will support teachers and leaders in implementing standards-aligned instruction. The guides have several sections, including Understanding the Standard, Skills in Practice, Concepts and Connection...

For a limited time only, you can also use the discount code 26VACEC for 20% off all CEC membership categories and levels (Valid Now until 6/1/2026) Note: One-time use per contact/cart. Not valid for division memberships, group memberships, event registration, merchandise, or other promotional items.