Dr. Johnson will want to learn more about your school in order to tailor a training or coaching cycle to best meet your needs. Below are some examples of PD workshops that Dr. Johnson has recently offered in schools:

**All workshops and sessions can be customized as full-day workshops, multi-part series, or conference session strands to fit your district’s needs. Let’s connect to discuss the best format and refinements for your professional learning goals.**

1. Ditch the Venn Diagram!: Facilitate Complex Reasoning using the Comparison Matrix Instead
Step into a world where the Comparison Matrix transforms simple Venn diagrams into an exhilarating adventure of critical thinking! This session will show you how to spark a passion for critical thinking as students hone their complex reasoning skills. Learn to guide learners across every subject and grade level to connect ideas, analyze deeply, and engage with purpose..

2. Bringing Critical Thinking to Life: The Inductive Reasoning Process Made Simple
Every day, we piece together the world around us using inductive reasoning! In this session, you'll discover how to captivate your students with hands-on, thought-provoking activities that turn critical thinking into an adventure. Walk away with a clear roadmap for integrating the step-by-step process of inductive reasoning into your classroom and watch curiosity ignite learning like never before

3. Oops to Ah-ha!: Transforming Misconceptions into Meaningful Moments
Who said mistakes are just missteps? In this lively session, we'll turn those oopsies into golden teachable moments. Learn to capture those real-time teachable opportunities and transform every slip-up into a stepping stone for bold risk-taking. Let’s celebrate the art of learning from failure—and have a little fun along the way!

4. Talk That Talk: Energize Every Voice with Student Discourse
Imagine a classroom buzzing with curiosity, where every conversation becomes a gateway to deeper understanding. In this session, we’ll explore creative strategies to transform everyday chatter into thoughtful, engaging dialogue that illuminates complex ideas. You'll learn how to nurture conversations and facilitate academic conversations that not only foster deeper comprehension, but also spark curiosity and excitement in every learner.

5. Cultivating Respectful and Affirming Student Relationships: Boundaries, Rapport, and Professionalism
Imagine a classroom where every student feels secure, connected, and inspired to thrive. In today's world, creating a positive, structured, and nurturing community is more essential than ever. This session offers innovative strategies to forge meaningful relationships, build social capital, and cultivate a safe haven for learning. Reflect on your mindset and emotional intelligence while discovering dynamic approaches to foster a vibrant classroom culture that empowers every learner.

6. Restorative Classroom Management: Systems & Routines for a Learning-First Culture
Transform your classroom into a vibrant space where respect and learning flourish with our Restorative Classroom Management Cycle! This engaging session introduces a transformative four-step system designed to boost high expectations, maximize every minute of instruction, and make learning the heart of your day. Walk away with practical, creative strategies to turn challenges into opportunities and create a classroom where restorative practices empower every student.

7. From Consequence to Connection: Restoring Relationships After Discipline
Discipline shouldn’t be the end of the story—it should be the start of healing and growth. Too often, students return from a consequence feeling disconnected, resentful, or shut down, making it harder for them to re-engage in learning. So how do we repair the harm, rebuild trust, and get them back on track? This high-energy, solution-focused session will move beyond generic behavior reflection sheets and provide real, practical strategies for restoring relationships after discipline. Learn how to clean the slate, repair trust, and bring students back into the learning environment in a way that fosters accountability, respect, and connection—without sacrificing high expectations.

8. Hitting Pause, Sparking Insight: A Guide to Teaching Metacognition for Deeper Thinking
Step into a classroom where reflective learning evolves into sophisticated exploration. In this interactive session, you will discover a rich repertoire of hands-on strategies and creative techniques designed to transform everyday lessons into transformative journeys of metacognitive discovery. Using the 3 phases of metacognition, empower your students to hit the pause button on their busy minds, critically examine their thought processes, and unlock their inner potential to think through their thinking. This session guides you in cultivating an environment where learners move beyond merely engaging in metacognition to genuinely behaving metacognitively—actively monitoring, adjusting, and applying their reflective insights in real time.
 
9. Leap of Learning: Embracing Risks in the Classroom
Join me for an interactive workshop designed to inspire students to step outside their comfort zones and embrace the power of risk-taking and vulnerability in their learning journey. "Leap of Learning" will guide participants through an engaging discussion that highlights the benefits of a “failing forward” classroom culture. Discover strategies to help students overcome fear, foster creativity, and enhance problem-solving skills—all while creating a supportive classroom environment. Whether it's tackling challenging projects or asking questions freely, this talk empowers students to view risks as opportunities for growth and innovation. Take the leap with me and redefine your approach and purpose to teaching and learning!

10. Accelerate Student Learning through Complex Reasoning: Rigor and Relevance in the 21st Century Classroom
Students who are encouraged to be critical thinkers and problem solvers invariably develop a sense of curiosity to process the world around them in the most creative ways. Dr. Johnson offers strategies to facilitate accelerated learning via complex reasoning skills in this session. You can apply what you learn in this hands-on session, and you'll be on your way to ramping up rigor in your classroom and making accelerated learning a dynamic and engaging experience for your students.

11. Word Alchemy: Innovative Vocabulary Strategies for Middle and High School Learners based on the Science of Reading
Unlock the power of language by merging the art of vocabulary instruction with the science of reading! In this vibrant professional development session, you'll explore research-backed strategies and hands-on activities that transform vocabulary lessons into creative journeys.
Learn how to harness the latest scientific insights to deepen students’ word knowledge, boost critical thinking, and spark their imaginations. Together, we’ll discover innovative, evidence-based techniques that make vocabulary both engaging and effective—empowering you to inspire middle and high school learners to think boldly, read deeply, and express themselves with confidence.

12. From Blah to Ah-ha! Revolutionizing Vocabulary Assessment for Real Learning
Tired of vocabulary quizzes that test memorization but miss real learning? In this fun and thought-provoking session, we’ll explore why traditional assessments fall short and introduce creative, research-backed alternatives like performance-based tasks, digital tracking, and portfolio-driven evaluations for vocabulary instruction. Walk away with practical tools to make vocabulary assessment more engaging, insightful, and impactful—because words should stick, spark curiosity, and empower students beyond the test!
 
13. Word on the Street: Creating a School-Wide Vocabulary Buzz
What if vocabulary wasn’t just an ELA thing but a school-wide movement? Imagine a world where math teachers decode academic language, science classrooms buzz with domain-specific terms, and even the hallways, lunchrooms, and morning announcements spark word curiosity! In this high-energy, hands-on session, we’ll explore how to create a school-wide vocabulary Initiative that makes words visible, interactive, and fun—far beyond boring memorization drills. Learn how friendly competitions, engaging activities, and creative challenges can transform vocabulary instruction into something students actually enjoy. Plus, discover how to bring families and the community on board to build a culture of word learning that lasts a lifetime. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and inspiration to make your school a place where words aren’t just learned—they’re lived!

14. Speaking Their Language: Asset-Based Approaches to Culturally Rich & Relevant Vocabulary Instruction
Language is more than just words—it’s identity, culture, and connection. In this interactive session, we’ll explore how asset-based pedagogies, such as culturally responsive, relevant, and sustaining teaching, can transform vocabulary instruction into a powerful bridge between students’ lived experiences and academic success. Learn how to honor and leverage students’ diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds to make vocabulary instruction more engaging, meaningful, and enduring. Through practical strategies, real-world examples, and hands-on activities, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas to make word learning feel authentic, empowering, and connected to the rich languages your students already bring to the classroom. Let’s move beyond memorization and into meaningful learning—because when we speak their language, students thrive!

15. Fuel the Spark of SEL: 10 Game-Changing Tips to Transform Your Classroom into a Thriving Community
Thriving students are the heartbeat of every successful school! In this session, Dr. Johnson explores the four essential SEL competencies that nurture both cognitive growth and emotional resilience. With challenges like rising anxiety, depression, and social isolation since COVID-19, supporting student well-being is more vital than ever. Discover 10 innovative tips to seamlessly weave SEL into your daily classroom activities, empowering students to build healthy identities, regulate their emotions, demonstrate empathy, and enhance interpersonal skills. Bring these transformative strategies back to your classroom and watch your students—and your school—truly shine.
 
16. Mic Drop Microteaching: Say It, Play It, Relay It!
Want to make every lesson stick? Microteaching is brought to life with the Say It, Play It, Relay It strategy and is a game-changer for keeping students engaged, actively processing information, and demonstrating understanding in real time. In this fast-paced, interactive session, we’ll break down how to deliver bite-sized instruction (Say), give students time to actively engage with the content (Play), and check for understanding in meaningful ways that stick (Relay). Learn how to avoid cognitive overload, boost retention, and ensure that every student is actively learning—not just passively listening.

17. Get on the MAP! Navigating True Lesson Alignment for Student Success Session Description:
Is your instruction truly aligned, or are you just holding on for dear life trying to keep up with the
curriculum pacing guide? In this session, we’ll take the guesswork out of alignment using the MAP Approach: Mission, Assessment Format, and Proficiency—your ultimate navigation system for standards-based instruction. You'll learn how to pinpoint what students really need to know and master, ensure assessments mirror the way students engage with content, and define the depth of thinking required for true proficiency. Through interactive alignment activities, you’ll unpack standards like a pro and confidently evaluate whether instructional materials—including publisher resources—are truly standards-aligned.

Professional Learning Workshop Series

18. ~Workshop Series~ Game-Changing PD: Crafting Transformational Learning for Educators
We’ve all sat through professional development that felt more like a compliance exercise than an opportunity to grow. But what if PD could be energizing, engaging, and truly transformative?This multi-part professional learning series designed to transform the way instructional leaders design and facilitate professional development. Across multiple sessions, participants will dive deep into adult learning theory, instructional best practices, and dynamic facilitation techniques to create PD that is truly engaging, meaningful, and sustainable. Each session builds on the last, ensuring leaders walk away with practical tools and a strategic approach to redefining professional learning in their schools and districts. Get ready to shift PD from passive to powerful!

Participants will walk away with actionable strategies to design, deliver, and sustain professional learning experiences that are interactive, purposeful, and aligned with real classroom needs. Whether you’re an instructional coach, administrator, or curriculum leader, this session will give you the tools to redefine PD so that it mirrors the best of what we expect for students—engaging, differentiated, and immediately applicable. Are you ready to disrupt the status quo and design PD that actually works? Let’s make it happen!

Session 1: The PD Dilemma—From Compliance to Commitment

● Explore adult learning theories, principles, and models that should drive effective PD.
● Examine traditional PD structures and what educators really want from professional learning.
● Situate PD within instructional best practices and shift the mindset from passive to active engagement.

Session 2: Backwards Design for Professional Learning—Start with the End in Mind

● Define clear, bite-sized learning objectives that align with instructional priorities.
● Identify key content and tailor experiences to diverse educator needs.
● Design high-impact activities (Power Plays) that drive authentic learning.

Session 3: Facilitation Magic—From Presenter to Engager

● Explore facilitator dispositions and how to lead with purpose and process.
● Learn how to engage adult learners through multiple modalities and differentiation.
● Master the art of observing and responding to participant needs in real time.

Session 4: The Heavy Lifting—Maximizing Engagement and Application

● Shift the cognitive load so that participants are doing the thinking, talking, and applying.
● Design activities that foster collaboration, problem-solving, and authentic learning.
● Integrate real-time feedback loops to ensure immediate application and reflection.

Session 5: Beyond the Session—Sustaining the Learning & Impact

● Develop a plan to sustain PD impact beyond the initial session.
● Explore structures and routines to reinforce learning in day-to-day practice.
● Address the logistics of managing space, timing, and processes to maximize engagement.

Who Should Attend?
Instructional leaders responsible for designing and facilitating professional learning—administrators, instructional coaches, curriculum directors, content facilitators, department chairs, and instructional leadership teams.

Why This Matters?
Professional learning should feel purposeful, relevant, and engaging—just like great teaching. This session will empower you to transform PD from a checkbox to a catalyst for real instructional change.

19. ~Workshop Series~ The AI Edge: Supercharging Literacy, Comprehension, and Critical Thinking in the Classroom

Session 1: Vocabulary 2.0 – AI as Your Teaching Sidekick!
What if AI could revolutionize vocabulary instruction? Imagine an AI-powered co-teacher that analyzes student needs, adapts instruction, and personalizes vocabulary learning in real time!

In this session, educators will:
● Explore AI-driven adaptive learning platforms that enhance vocabulary instruction.
● Discover how AI can assess, track, and support student learning.
● Develop an AI-powered vocabulary lesson plan to take back to the classroom.

Guiding Questions:
1. How can AI enhance vocabulary instruction to move beyond rote memorization and foster deeper word understanding?
2. In what ways can AI-powered tools personalize vocabulary learning to meet the diverse needs of students?
3. How can teachers integrate AI-driven vocabulary strategies while maintaining meaningful student engagement and critical thinking?

Session 2: Talk the Talk! AI-Powered Conversations for Richer Vocabulary & Discourse Session Description:
Do your students struggle with using academic vocabulary in discussions? AI-powered chatbots
and conversation simulators can transform classroom discussions into interactive, real-world learning experiences!

In this session, educators will:
● Explore AI-powered conversation tools that help students use richer vocabulary in discussions.
● Learn how AI-generated academic discourse prompts improve fluency and word retention.
● Design engaging, AI-enhanced discussion activities to foster critical thinking and academic discourse.

Guiding Questions:
1. How can AI scaffold academic discussions and improve word use?
2. How do AI-powered conversations enhance speaking, listening, and writing skills?
 3. How can AI tools be used for differentiated speaking practice?

Session 3: Mind Maps & Memory Hacks: AI & the Science of Word Connections Session Description:
Words don’t exist in isolation—they form networks in our brains! Research shows that semantic mapping and word association techniques enhance vocabulary retention by making connections between new and known words.

In this session, educators will:
● Explore AI-powered tools that generate semantic word webs and concept maps.
● Examine cognitive science research behind how the brain organizes vocabulary.
● Design AI-enhanced vocabulary lessons that foster deep learning and retention.

Guiding Questions:
1. How can AI tools help students visualize vocabulary relationships?
2. How does semantic mapping support long-term retention?
3. How can AI-powered word connections improve reading comprehension?

Session 4: Read, Recognize, Remember! AI as a Reading Comprehension Coach Session Description:
How do we ensure students truly understand and retain what they read? AI-powered reading assistants can break down complex texts, provide real-time definitions, and scaffold comprehension for diverse learners.

In this session, educators will:
● Explore AI-powered reading tools that assist students in decoding, defining, and comprehending text.
● Learn how AI-generated reading scaffolds improve vocabulary retention and fluency.
● Design AI-enhanced reading strategies for their classrooms.

Guiding Questions:
1. How can AI help students overcome vocabulary barriers in reading?
2. How does AI-driven real-time text analysis support comprehension?
3. How can AI be used for differentiation in reading instruction?

Session 5: Game On! Gamified AI Strategies for Vocabulary Mastery Session Description:
What if students learned vocabulary through play, competition, and interactive challenges? Gamification increases student motivation, engagement, and retention—and AI can take it even further by adapting word difficulty levels, tracking mastery, and generating customized learning experiences.

In this session, educators will:
● Explore AI-powered gamification platforms for vocabulary learning.
● Learn how AI adapts word challenges to student skill levels.
● Design interactive AI-driven vocabulary games to use in the classroom.

Guiding Questions:
1. How does gamification enhance vocabulary acquisition?
2. What role does AI play in differentiating learning through games?
3. How can teachers implement AI-powered interactive vocabulary competitions?

Session 6: Words in Action: AI & Writing for Deeper Vocabulary Development Session Description:
Vocabulary isn’t just about knowing words—it’s about using them effectively! Students often struggle with applying new vocabulary words in their writing in a way that enhances fluency, precision, and sophistication. AI-powered writing tools help students integrate rich vocabulary, refine word choice, and enhance sentence fluency while providing real-time feedback on clarity, grammar, and cohesion.

In this session, educators will:
● Explore AI-powered writing assistants that improve word choice and vocabulary integration.
● Learn how AI analyzes student writing to provide feedback on fluency, coherence, and tone.
● Design an AI-enhanced writing assignment that strengthens student vocabulary application.

Guiding Questions:
1. How can AI tools help students incorporate academic vocabulary into their writing?
2. What role does AI play in providing instant feedback on word choice and clarity?
3. How can AI be used to support struggling writers and ELL students?

Session 7: Speaking with Confidence: AI-Powered Pronunciation & Fluency Session Description:
How can we help students develop the confidence to articulate academic language clearly and fluently? Students often struggle with pronunciation, fluency, and expressive speaking, which affects their ability to engage in discussions, present their ideas, and use academic vocabulary effectively. AI-powered pronunciation tools provide instant feedback, targeted practice, and customized learning pathways to improve oral communication skills.

In this session, educators will:
 ● Explore AI-driven speech recognition tools that analyze pronunciation and fluency.
● Learn how AI-generated speech feedback enhances student confidence and engagement.
● Develop AI-integrated speaking activities to improve vocabulary retention and oral fluency.

Guiding Questions:
1. How does AI support pronunciation and fluency development for all students?
2. What role does AI play in providing real-time speaking feedback?
3. How can AI tools be used to differentiate speaking instruction for ELLs and struggling speakers?

Session 8: Beyond the List: AI-Generated Contextual Learning & Authentic Word Use
Memorizing vocabulary words isn’t enough—students need to use them in meaningful,
real-world contexts! Traditional vocabulary instruction often focuses on rote memorization of word lists, but students struggle to transfer these words into writing, discussions, and real-world application. AI-powered tools provide context-driven learning, generating personalized sentences, scenarios, and real-life usage examples to deepen student understanding.

In this session, educators will:
● Explore AI-powered contextual learning tools that reinforce authentic word use.
● Learn how AI generates personalized word sentences, adaptive prompts, and interactive discussions.
● Design AI-integrated vocabulary lessons that promote deep comprehension and active usage.

Guiding Questions:
1. How does AI help students move beyond memorization to word mastery?
2. How can AI-generated contextual learning experiences improve vocabulary retention?
3. How can AI support ELL learners and struggling readers in vocabulary acquisition?

Session 9: Tracking Growth: AI-Based Assessments & Progress Monitoring Session Description:
How do we measure vocabulary growth effectively and ensure students are making progress?
Traditional vocabulary assessments often fail to capture the depth of word understanding,
long-term retention, and real-world application. AI-powered assessment tools provide real-time data insights, adaptive testing, and personalized progress tracking, helping teachers monitor student learning more accurately and efficiently.

In this session, educators will:
● Explore AI-powered vocabulary assessment tools that track student progress.
● Learn how AI analyzes student performance and personalizes assessment feedback.
● Design an AI-driven vocabulary tracking system for their classroom.

Guiding Questions:
1. How does AI improve assessment accuracy and progress tracking?
2. What AI tools can provide real-time vocabulary mastery insights?
3. How can AI help teachers differentiate assessments for diverse learners?

Session 10: AI & The Future of Literacy: A Teacher's Toolkit for Success Session Description:
The future of literacy is evolving rapidly, and AI is reshaping how students engage with language, comprehension, and critical thinking. As educators, we must harness AI’s potential to personalize instruction, enhance engagement, and prepare students for a world where technology and literacy are deeply intertwined.

In this session, educators will:
● Reflect on the role of AI in enhancing vocabulary instruction, writing, speaking, and reading comprehension.
● Explore best practices for integrating AI literacy tools into daily instruction.
● Develop a personalized AI-enhanced teaching toolkit to take back to their classrooms.
● Collaborate with colleagues to design a sustainable AI literacy integration plan for their schools.

​Guiding Questions:
1. How can we responsibly integrate AI into literacy instruction while fostering critical thinking?
2. What are the ethical considerations of using AI in the classroom?
3. How can teachers ensure AI remains a tool for enhancement rather than a replacement for critical learning skills?

Contact me to learn more about working with
Dr. Kendrick Johnson!