“Beyond the Box: Making Curriculum Work for YOUR Students”

a virtual workshop with Kate Roberts

November 12, 2026

8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

In this half-day workshop, Kate Roberts — co-author of Unboxing the Curriculum — works directly with the people living inside curriculum adoption: classroom teachers navigating a new program, team leaders and instructional coaches supporting others through the shift, and building and district leaders responsible for what happens across
every room. Together they take on the conversation most curriculum rollouts skip: fidelity to what, exactly? For teachers, that means walking away with permission and practical tools to tailor instruction to the students in front of them, without abandoning the coherence their team needs. For coaches and team leaders, it means real classroom examples and team- friendly protocols that apply to any subject, grade level, or program, so coaching conversations get specific instead of generic. For those launching a new curriculum, it means a clear-eyed way to re-think the road map: identify the gaps and misalignments in what’s been handed to teachers, and prioritize what matters most for students. Participants leave saying things like: “I finally have language for what should stay consistent across our building”; “I know what to look for now, in a lesson, in a walkthrough, in a coaching conversation”; and “I don’t have to choose between following the program and knowing my kids.”  This is not a session about throwing out your curriculum or defending it. It’s about empowering educators to tailor their teaching to the students in front of them, ensuring equity, engagement, and relevance in every lesson, while honoring both the coherence a school needs and the professional judgment its teachers require.

Recommended audience: Classroom teachers, instructional coaches, literacy specialists, interventionists, team leaders, building administrators, and district leaders involved in curriculum implementation.

About Kate:  Kate Roberts is an education consultant, author, and speaker known for her practical approach and deep respect for the art and labor of teaching. With decades of experience as an eighth-grade teacher, literacy coach, and consultant, she brings classroom-tested strategies and compassionate insight to every aspect of her work. Kate champions literacy practices that are meaningful and manageable, delivering clear, ready-to use content alongside practical strategies and structures that help educators maximize their time and effort. Among the many titles she has authored and co-authored is her newly released book, Unboxing the Curriculum (2026).

“Building the Writing Brain: Unlocking the Skills Behind Successful Writing”

a virtual workshop with Maggie Beattie Roberts

November 12, 2026

12:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Why do some students have so much to say, but struggle to get their ideas onto the page? Writing places enormous demands on the brain, and when foundational skills aren’t secure, even the simplest writing task can become overwhelming. In this interactive three-hour workshop, we’ll look beneath the surface of writing to uncover the skills that make writing possible. Drawing from Foundational Skills for Writing: A Brain-Based Guide to Strengthening Executive Functions, Language, and Other Cornerstones for Writers, we’ll explore the powerful connections among transcription, oral language, and executive functioning. Through engaging demonstrations, classroom examples, and practical routines, participants will discover ways to strengthen handwriting, spelling, sentence construction, working memory, and cognitive flexibility within everyday instruction. We’ll also consider how teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders can better recognize what may be getting in the way for writers and make thoughtful instructional decisions in response. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the foundational skills that support writing development, practical and research-informed approaches they can use or support in classrooms, and a stronger lens for helping a wider range of students move forward as writers.

Recommended audience: Classroom teachers, instructional coaches, literacy specialists, interventionists, team leaders, building administrators, and district leaders involved in literacy and writing instruction.

About Maggie: Maggie Beattie Roberts began her teaching career in the heart of Chicago before moving to New York City and completing graduate studies as a Literacy Specialist at Teachers College, Columbia University. She has post-baccalaureate certification in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity with specialization in Executive
Function from Landmark College. Her newest book, Foundational Skills for Writing: A Brain-Based Guide to Strengthening Executive Functions, Language, and Other Cornerstones for Writers, is evidence of Maggie’s passion for supporting teachers in creating inclusive classrooms. As a national literacy consultant, author, and highly sought-after professional learning facilitator, Maggie Beattie Roberts continues to empower educators with tools that enhance student learning and independence.