Explore Day 3 of the 2025 Summer Professional Learning Retreat
The 2025 Summer Retreat wraps up on Thursday, June 19, with a powerful day dedicated to instructional excellence. Whether you're exploring lesson internalization, making the most of your HQIM, or strengthening classroom practices through small group instruction, formative assessment, or inclusive strategies, Day 3 is all about equipping educators with high-impact tools that elevate student learning.
The session lineup includes something for every grade level and content area. From unpacking PLDs and Depth of Knowledge, to diving into 3D science learning, universal design, and performance-based grading, each session offers concrete strategies you can take back to your classroom or school immediately.
As always, all sessions are virtual and count toward professional development hours. If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time! Sign up today to access the full retreat experience—including live sessions and post-event recordings of every session.
Scroll down to see the full Day 3 lineup and start planning your final day of learning under the theme: It’s All About Instruction.
8:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M.
Get to Know the PLDs
Presenters: Cheryl Blue and Stefanie Smithey from APSRC
Join APSRC's Cheryl Blue and Stefanie Smithey to dive into the Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) to gain a deeper understanding of this amazing resource. Come ready to learn what PLDs are and the impact this resource can have on your instructional practices.
9:40 A.M. – 10:40 A.M.
PLDs and DOK
Presenters: Cheryl Blue and Stefanie Smithey from APSRC
In this session, Cheryl and Stefanie will continue to focus on using PLDs to drive instruction. This session will take the conversation a step further to focus on how Performance Level Descriptors can help teachers create questions of differing Depth of Knowledge (DOK), while remaining withing grade level standards.
10:50 A.M. - 11:50 A.M.
PLDs and Aligning Instruction
Presenters: Cheryl Blue and Stefanie Smithey from APSRC
In our 3rd session focusing on the power of the PLDs, we will dive into how this resource can be used for instructional alignment. With a continued focus on teachers providing grade level instruction for ALL students, performance level descriptors can make a teacher's job a little easier by framing each standard and what a student must be able to accomplish to perform at a Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, or a Level 4 understanding of grade level material.
12:50 P.M. - 1:50 P.M.
PLDs and CFAs
Presenters: Cheryl Blue and Caroline Nail from APSRC
In this session, APSRC's Co-Director of Teaching & Learning, Caroline Nail, will join Cheryl Blue to discuss how the PLDs can be used to support the creation of standards aligned Common Formative Assessments (CFAs). CFAs are used to drive instruction all across the state of Arkansas.
Join this session to learn how we can make sure that data is consistently aligned to standards and how we can utilize that data to truly grow ALL students.
2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
PLDs and Performance-Based Grading
Presenters: Cheryl Blue and Caroline Nail from APSRC
In the final session on PLDs, Cheryl and Caroline will discuss how this tool simplifies performance-based grading. The tool can help individual teachers, teacher teams, and entire campuses align their instructional expectations.
This will increase the ability of students, parents, and educators to be on the same page and working together to ensure all students can meet grade level expecations.
8:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.
Empowering Educators: Elevating Elementary Teaching Through High Quality Instruction
Presenters: Katie Chacon and Anne Holder from ADE
Session Description Coming Soon
10:50 A.M. - 11:50 A.M.
Level 1 on ATLAS at the Secondary Level? Now What?
Presenters: Jessica Wright and Kim Bowerman from APSRC
Join us to discuss motivational and instructional strategies on how to move secondary students out of the Level 1 range on ATLAS.
12:50 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Engaging all Students in 3D Science Learning
Presenters: Katie Chacon & Stephanie Johnson-Carlton from ADE
Session Description Coming Soon
8:30 A.M. - 10:40 A.M.
Inclusive Practices/UDL
Presenters: Caroline Nail and Sandra Doggett from APSRC
In this session, participants will explore how to embed inclusive practices and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into everyday instruction to ensure that ALL students show growth and a focus that the lowest 25% show growth regardless of background, ability, or learning style.
10:50 A.M. - 11:50 A.M.
Small Groups Elementary
Presenters: Annette Neely and Tally Harp from APSRC
Participants will explore various strategies, tools, and skills in order to build effective learning centers in the classroom.
8:30 A.M. - 10:40 A.M.
Successful Implementation of Lesson Internalization with Secondary Teachers
Presenters: Jessica Wright, Kim Bowerman, and Tally Harp from APSRC
Have you heard this new buzz phrase - lesson internalization?? Join us to get answers to the following questions: What is it? Why is it important? What are key factors for success with this practice at the secondary level.
12:50 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
Successful Implementation of Lesson Internalization for Elementary Level HQIM
Presenters: Jessica Wright, Kim Bowerman, and Tally Harp from APSRC
Have you heard this new buzz phrase - lesson internalization?? Join us to get answers to the following questions: What is it? Why is it important? What are key factors for success with this practice at the elementary level.
Ready to Register?
Day 3 brings the Summer Retreat to a strong finish with a focus on practical, actionable instruction. Whether you’re fine-tuning what you already do well or building confidence in a new area, there’s something here for everyone.
While we hope you'll join us live, we understand that summer schedules can be unpredictable. All registered participants will receive access to session recordings and materials after the event, but you must register in advance to receive them.
Looking back? View the full retreat schedule—including session topics for Days 1 & 2—by visiting the Summer Retreat webpage. There, you can explore daily themes and register for sessions directly through Discere.
