Professional Development for Secondary Educators
Challenge Success offers high-quality professional development workshops for public and private middle and high schools. Our interactive workshops are designed specifically for educators who are interested in learning practical tools for improving student well-being and engagement with learning.
Sponsored by individual schools or school districts, these workshops are delivered by highly-acclaimed Challenge Success presenters. The workshops have greatest impact when held in conjunction with Challenge Success parent education presentations and/or Challenge Success school conferences.
To inquire about a workshop, e-mail us at info@challengesuccess.org .
The Well-Balanced Student: Combating Academic Stress
In a high-stakes, high-pressure culture, parent and school expectations may have unintentional but damaging effects on students. Increasing demands on students may lead to unhealthy stress, resulting in burnout, disengagement, or debilitating physical and mental health symptoms. This workshop examines the parent, student and teacher "traps" that occur in and out of school over issues such as homework, grades, and the culture of competition. You’ll learn strategies to promote healthier school environments and reduce the pressures students face.
In this presentation, you will:
- Explore the latest research on youth health, school engagement, and school reform practices
- Examine how students today are coping--or not--with the academic pressures they face
- Learn effective ways to reduce academic stress without sacrificing achievement or engagement in school
Duration: 90 minutes – 2 hours
Making Homework Work
Homework is a hot topic today for educators, parents, and students. Teachers struggle to meet standards and prepare students for tests without assigning unreasonable amounts of homework. This workshop examines critical questions for educators to consider: What is the purpose of homework? How much homework is appropriate? What kinds of homework and policies are most effective?
In this workshop, you will:
- Learn the latest trends and research on homework
- Discuss best practices in creating effective homework assignments
- Examine the tensions and concerns about homework in your school community and explore practical and effective solutions
Duration: 2 - 5 hours
Teaching for Engagement: The Key to Real Learning
We know that children learn better and retain more information when they are genuinely engaged in classroom lessons. This workshop uses a “backwards design” model to help teachers plan engaging units and effective assessment techniques that bring learning to life for secondary students.
In this workshop, you will:
- Examine the concept of engagement and how the high-stakes culture may impede authentic learning
- Learn a process to develop engaging units and assessment tools that meet state standards
- Apply “engagement boosters” to existing units/lessons to maximize student motivation and learning in your classroom
Duration: 2 - 4 hours