Events

Membership Opportunity

Van Andel Institute for Education, in partnership with the Michigan Equitable Service Collaborative (MESC), is offering fifty free memberships to the VAI Educator's Studio. The membership includes access to creativity-sparking, classroom-tested resources aligned to 7 Essential Skills for Success and designed to save you time, engage students, and support you in teaching the way you know is best for your students…all while making learning FUN! As a bonus, most resources are built in Google Suite, so you can quickly edit, assign, and make it your own without any hassle.

Members will receive free access for one year, allowing you to plan over the summer and continue to use resources through the majority of the 2026-27 school year. Interested in the membership? Complete the form below, and we will send you more information and directions on how to access the membership.

This opportunity is a resource for teachers and is not SCECH eligible..

Many schools are currently experiencing low student engagement, inconsistent academic growth, and teacher burnout driven by classrooms that rely heavily on compliance rather than ownership. Join Dr. Kristine Malik from KM Education Consulting for a session that will introduce a clear, actionable framework that helps leaders shift from teacher-driven instruction to student-centered learning environments where students take responsibility for their progress. Administrators will gain a practical understanding of what learner agency looks like in action and walk away with three high-impact strategies their faculty can implement immediately. These strategies are designed to lay the foundation for measurable improvements in student achievement and classroom outcomes.

This two-day in-person experience is designed to prepare educators for the school year with clear, actionable classroom management systems that create calm, predictable, and productive learning environments.

Focus Areas:

• Establishing strong Tier 1 classroom systems that reduce behavior disruptions

• Responding to student behavior through a relationship-centered approach

• Creating predictable routines that support all learners

• Supporting diverse learners without immediate escalation to Tier 2/3

• Teacher wellbeing through clarity, consistency, and reduced overwhelm

Outcomes:

• Increased instructional time and reduced behavioral interruptions

• Greater teacher confidence entering the school year

• Stronger classroom culture and student engagement 

Recommended for teachers, grades K-8

There is a $50.00 registration fee to cover lunch for both days.

Lesson plans are boring; learning experiences are memorable. In this session, take a traditional math lesson and learn a process to transform any lesson into an inquiry-based experience. Share strategies for managing a rich learning environment and continually strengthening habits of mind. Come willing to transform everyday lesson plans into memorable, inquiry-based learning experiences. Leave with strategies and tools to make it happen. 

Recommended for teachers, grades K-8

Before students experience belonging, educators need to feel it first. This session equips teachers and staff with a clear, practical framework for building belonging within their teams. Participants will explore how connection impacts collaboration, morale, and overall school culture—and identify simple ways to create more meaningful interactions with colleagues. Through guided reflection and interactive strategies, educators will learn how to:

• Build trust and connection with coworkers

• Identify shared experiences and points of connection

• Reduce isolation and strengthen team cohesion

• Contribute to a culture where every adult feels supported and valued

With a strong adult foundation in place, this session turns to the classroom—where belonging directly impacts student engagement and success. Educators will be equipped with simple, ready-to-use tools and routines that build connections with students and foster positive peer relationships without adding to their workload. Participants will experience and walk away with strategies such as:

• Daily check-ins that create consistency and emotional awareness

• Structured conversation tools that deepen student connection

• Classroom routines that promote inclusion and participation

• A classroom reflection tool to assess and strengthen relational culture

These practical tools help educators create environments where students feel safe, supported, and motivated to engage. 

Help bring the power of inquiry learning into math instruction! In this workshop, teachers will have an opportunity to see the world through their students’ eyes by learning brand new math content. As they move from concrete, hands-on experiences to abstract understanding, teachers will gain a deeper appreciation for how powerful mathematics instruction can be when it’s fueled by curiosity and deep conceptual understanding. Participants will also explore how to create a rich learning environment, how inquiry math integrates with the Common Core State Standards, and how to implement specific strategies to become the world’s most incredible math teachers!