KINDER-1ST GRADE CCONFERENCE ONFERENCE GUIDE GUIDE January 17-19, 2026 | las vegas, NV | westgate
GYTO VEGAS 2026
make bold make bold moves moves A NOTE FROM OUR FOUNDERS Dear GYTO Vegas Attendees, As we gear up for the highly anticipated 2026 GYTO Vegas Conference, we are thrilled to welcome each of you to this transformative event. The GYTO community is a powerhouse of passionate educators, and we are honored to come together with those ready to make bold moves that create real, actionable change in education. This year, our theme is "Make Bold Moves." As educators, it’s time to go beyond dreaming and talking about change. It’s time to act. Bold moves require courage, vision, and a commitment to challenging the status quo to build better opportunities for our students and ourselves. This theme represents the actionable steps we take to innovate, advocate, and elevate our practices for the betterment of education as a whole. Bold moves are not just individual efforts; they are the result of a collective will to progress. Together, at the 2026 Vegas Conference, we’ll explore how to identify barriers, take purposeful action, and amplify the impact of our efforts. This is your chance to share your journey, learn from others, and forge the connections that will propel us all forward. The conference will feature dynamic speakers who will inspire you to take action, interactive workshops designed to equip you with tangible tools, and game-changing insights that will push you to think differently. You can also expect unforgettable surprises that will leave you energized and ready to lead boldly. Let’s commit to taking bold moves together and shaping the future of education—one step, one decision, and one classroom at a time. This is your time to move, lead, and create meaningful impact. We can’t wait to see you in Vegas, January 17-19, 2026, as we embrace this call to action and transform our passion into progress. Let’s take the steps that will define the future of education together. With excitement and anticipation,
Hope and Wade King
2026 gyto 2026 gyto vegas vegas *schedule is subject to change
1
2
SATURDAY JANUARY 17 1:00pm
VIP Early Registration & Shopping for VIP Attendees
3:00pm
Registration & GYTO Collective Merchandise Store Open
6:00pm
Opening Kick Off Celebration Doors Open (optional)
7:00pm
Opening Kick Off Celebration featuring Hope & Wade King and Steve Spangler (optional)
SUNDAY JANUARY 18 8:30am
3
Workshop 1
1:00pm Workshop 3
10:10am Workshop 2
2:45pm Workshop 4
11:30am Lunch Break
5:00pm GYTO Sneaker Ball (optional)
MONDAY JANUARY 19 8:30am
Workshop 5
10:10am Workshop 6
1:00pm Workshop 7 2:30pm GYTO SEND OFF
11:30am Lunch Break
OPtiONAL ACTIVITIES Optional activities are separately ticketed. Upgrade your experience by purchasing a VIP Experience Upgrade or Kick Off & Sneaker Ball Ticket!
@GETYOURTEACHON
WHY GYTO? WHY GYTO?
Our Get Your Teach On Leadership and Content Development team has worked to create an engaging and transformational educator professional development experience that aligns directly to the needs of schools and teachers across the country by helping educators develop consistent best instructional practices and processes from start to finish to accelerate student learning. These evidence and research-based best practices, strategies, and techniques will directly impact overall educator effectiveness and student achievement, transforming instruction and student learning like never before.
TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS
DATA & PROGRESS MONITORING
BUILDING THE TRANSFORMATIVE TEACHER
PLANNING & PREPARATION THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
STUDENT BEST ACCOUNTABILITY INSTRUCTIONAL & ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES
Developing Consistent Best Instructional Practices and Processes from Start to Finish to Completely Transform Your School PLANNING & PREPARATION
Intentional and meaningful planning, using specific grade level content standards and high-quality instructional materials that address the needs of all learners and support mastery of learning goals.
THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Creates and maintains a collaborative, safe, efficient, and effective learning environment that supports each student’s diverse needs and promotes recognition of student’s diverse personal experiences to build relationships of trust within the classroom.
BEST INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES
Implementation of evidence and research-based best instructional strategies and techniques to accelerate student learning, growth, and achievement through rigorous and consistent instruction, including opportunities for problem solving, critical and creative thinking, meaningful and purposeful discourse, and high-impact instructional delivery.
STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY & ENGAGEMENT
Builds engaging, intentional, and rigorous learning experiences through setting high expectations and consistency within instructional practices that requires all students to take ownership of and be held accountable for their individual learning.
DATA & PROGRESS MONITORING
Continually monitors and analyzes student learning and progress towards mastery of learning goals for all students using a variety of progress monitoring and assessment techniques to make immediate instructional decisions that support student growth and acceleration.
TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS
Develops strong foundational teaching practices and commitments that support best practices and professional growth through consistent reflection of professional practices to support student learning, development, and achievement at a high level.
@GETYOURTEACHON
Get Your Teach On sessions are intentionally selected for attendees to experience the full professional development experience. Each session is hands-on, interactive, collaborative, and allows time for teachers to take what they’ve learned and apply it to their specific grade level standards or content area. Sessions are structured to meet the needs of all learners in classrooms, modeling best practices for direct and immediate implementation in classrooms.
Kinder-1st SESSIONS Kinder-1st SESSIONS BUILDING A PHONICS DRIVEN WRITING PROCESS FOR YOUNG LEARNERS
Session Presented by: Lisa Peters
I GOTTA FEELING: MASTERING CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Session Presented by: Naomi O’Brien
DEAL THE RIGHT CARDS: TIER 1 INSTRUCTION THAT STACKS UP
Session Presented by: Naomi O’Brien & LaNesha Tabb
MATH IN MOTION: HIGH ENERGY ACTIVITIES FOR SUCCESS
Session Presented by: amy lemons
@GETYOURTEACHON
Kinder-1st SESSIONS Kinder-1st SESSIONS UNLOCKING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WITH WHOLE BRAIN TEACHING
Session Presented by: Andre Deshotel, Certified Whole Brain Teaching© Trainer
THE SCIENCE OF READING ROAD TO READING & WRITING WORDS
Session Presented by: Lisa Peters
NUMBER SENSE NINJAS: BUILDING STRONG MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATIONS
Session Presented by: Bryce Sizemore
@GETYOURTEACHON
BUILDING A PHONICS DRIVEN WRITING PROCESS FOR YOUNG LEARNERS
Session Presented by: Lisa Peters This session focuses on teaching young children how to write in a fun and engaging way that strengthens their phonics skills and introduces them to the essential reading and writing code. The goal is to give students the freedom to create and write their own sentences beyond just the ABCs, fostering creativity and literacy development. By incorporating movement and drawing on students' background knowledge, they will be able to unlock the codes of writing early. This session will cover a step-by-step writing process that helps children form and write complete sentences.
N STANDARD O I S S SES
ON RESEARCH I S S SE
Kindergarten:
e s s i o n Foundational D e s c r i p t i o nSkills to Foorman, B.S(2016). Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten through 3rd Grade.
CCSS.Print Concepts: Understand that words are separated by spaces in print CCSS Phonics and Word Recognition. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. a. Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary sound or many of the most frequent sounds for each consonant. CCSS Conventions of Standard English 2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. a. Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun I. b. Recognize and name end punctuation. c. Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes). d. Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.
Honig, B, Diamond,L & Gutlohn, L. (2018). Teaching Reading Sourcebook. Blevins, W. (2024). Differentiating Phonics for Maximum Impact. Burkins, J & Yates, K. (2021). Shifting the Balance.
@GETYOURTEACHON
I GOTTA FEELING: MASTERING CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Session Presented by: Naomi O’Brien If disruptive behavior and students not staying on task are throwing off your kindergarten flow, it’s time to remix your classroom management! Join Naomi for an upbeat, high-energy session that will help you turn the chaos into harmony and keep your classroom running like a well-tuned playlist. You’ll learn how to teach with urgency, so students stay engaged and in rhythm, leaving no time for off-task behavior. Discover how to build a classroom culture where students feel motivated to hit the right notes— participating, completing work, and staying on task. Plus, you’ll explore strategies to handle any blowups and get the class back on track smoothly, like a DJ dropping the perfect recovery track. By the end of this session, you’ll have a toolkit of strategies to: Turn down the noise—reduce disruptions and keep students in sync with learning. Set the tone—build a classroom atmosphere that’s upbeat, positive, and motivating. Drop the beat when things get off track—bounce back from blowups with confidence and ease. Keep the hits coming—maintain a smooth flow that makes every moment count. Get ready to hit play on a classroom management routine that keeps everyone engaged, focused, and ready to jam!
ON RESEARCH I S S SE Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (2009). The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher. Hammond, Z. (2015). Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students.
@GETYOURTEACHON
DEAL THE RIGHT CARDS: TIER 1 INSTRUCTION THAT STACKS UP
Session Presented by: Naomi O’Brien & LaNesha Tabb Tier 1 instruction has to be strong enough for all. In this Uno inspired session, discover how to play your best card first by aligning learning targets and tasks, build a winning hand with lessons that are clear, engaging, and differentiated, and reverse confusion with quick checks for understanding that guide your next move. You'll walk away with practical strategies to reach when kids don't get it and extend learning when they do. Because great teaching isn't about luck, it's about stacking the deck with strong Tier 1 instruction.
ON RESEARCH I S S SE Fredricks, J. A., Blumenfeld, P. C., & Paris, A. H. (2004). School Engagement: Potential of the Concept, State of the Evidence. Goodwin, B. (2011). Engaged Students Are More Likely to Succeed. Hattie, J. (2012). Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning. Marzano, R. J., & Pickering, D. J. (2011). The Highly Engaged Classroom. Marzano, Robert (2017). The New Art and Science of Teaching. Rosenshine, B. (2012). Principles of Instruction. Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (2009). The First Days of School: How to be an Effective Teacher.
@GETYOURTEACHON
MATH IN MOTION: HIGH ENERGY ACTIVITIES FOR 2ND GRADE SUCCESS
Session Presented by: Amy Lemons Get ready to energize your math instruction with engaging, hands-on activities designed to get your students moving, thinking, and mastering key skills! In this interactive session, you’ll experience activities like Musical Math Mayhem and Poppin’ into Place Value that make learning fun and dynamic. We'll explore strategies to enhance place value understanding, build fact fluency, and develop confidence in math concepts through movement and collaboration. Walk away with a toolkit of highenergy ideas that will keep your classroom buzzing with excitement and success!
N STANDARD O I S S SES 2nd Grade: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.NBT.A.1 Understand that the three digits of a three-digit number represent amounts of hundreds, tens, and ones CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.NBT.A.3 Read and write numbers to 1000 using baseten numerals, number names, and expanded form. CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.NBT.A.4 Compare two three-digit numbers based on meanings of the hundreds, tens, and ones. CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.NBT.B.8 Mentally add 10 or 100 to a given number, and mentally subtract 10 or 100 from a given number. CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.OA.B.2 Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies.
ON RESEARCH I S S SE Session Description
Hoboken Public School District (2023) Math Fact Fluency: Everything You Need To Know Sandberg, Harriet Frances (2009). Get Moving! The Effects of Music and Movement on Student Attention Spalding, Molly (2023). Four Ways Math Games Can Motivate Your Students Reed, Kristen & Young, Jessica (2018). Math Games to Excite Young Minds
@GETYOURTEACHON
UNLOCKING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WITH WHOLE BRAIN TEACHING
Session Presented by: Andre Deshotel, Certified Whole Brain Teaching© Trainer 3, 2, 1, Blast off! This fast track to Whole Brain Teaching is jam-packed with easy-to-implement, effective strategies that increase active, visual student engagement instantly! Got 99 classroom problems? Let’s solve some of the BIGGEST: 1.How do I get my students’ attention … all year long? 2.How do I cultivate a positive, supportive climate on day one, hour one? 3.How do I focus my students’ brains on their learning? 4.How do I involve my students in delivering brain-friendly lessons? 5.How do I get real-time assessment feedback from my students? During this highly interactive session, fueled by brain-based research, you will learn Whole Brain Teaching while doing Whole Brain Teaching. By the time you descend back to earth’s surface, you will be ready to run into any classroom with a powerful and purposeful toolbox for activating student engagement, maximizing instructional time, and creating a fun learning environment for all students!
SION RESEARCH S E S Biffle, C. (2023). Whole Brain Teaching: 2nd Edition. Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel (2014). Make it Stick. Jensen & McConchie (2020). Brain-based Learning: Teaching the Way Students Really Learn. McTighe & Willis (2019). Upgrade Your Teaching: Understanding by Design Meets Neuroscience.
@GETYOURTEACHON
THE SCIENCE OF READING ROAD TO READING AND WRITING WORDS KINDER
Session Presented by: Lisa Peters In this session, we will explore the two essential "roads" that must collide for a child to successfully read and write: spoken language and written language. A strong foundation in both is key to literacy development. We will travel down both roads, focusing on key areas such as letter knowledge, phonological awareness, sound spelling, and phonics. You will gain practical strategies to address common challenges teachers face in the classroom and leave with effective techniques to strengthen these foundational skills, ensuring your students are well-equipped to become confident readers and writers.
N STANDARD O I S S SES
ON RESEARCH I S S SE
Kindergarten:
e s s i o n Foundational D e s c r i p t i o nSkills to Foorman, B.S(2016). Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten through 3rd Grade.
CCSS.Print Concepts: Understand that words are separated by spaces in print CCSS Phonics and Word Recognition. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. a. Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary sound or many of the most frequent sounds for each consonant. CCSS Conventions of Standard English 2. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. a. Capitalize the first word in a sentence and the pronoun I. b. Recognize and name end punctuation. c. Write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes). d. Spell simple words phonetically, drawing on knowledge of sound-letter relationships.
Honig, B, Diamond,L & Gutlohn, L. (2018). Teaching Reading Sourcebook. Blevins, W. (2024). Differentiating Phonics for Maximum Impact. Burkins, J & Yates, K. (2021). Shifting the Balance.
@GETYOURTEACHON
NUMBER SENSE NINJAS: BUILDING STRONG MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATIONS
Session Presented by: Bryce Sizemore Unleash your inner math ninja and discover strategies that lay the foundation for lifelong mathematical success! Building strong number sense is essential—it’s the bedrock upon which all future math skills are built. In this action-packed session, you’ll master powerful "ninja moves" designed to help children deeply understand numbers, not just memorize them. Through hands-on exploration and practical demonstrations, learn how to seamlessly integrate number sense routines into your daily instruction. These routines go far beyond rote counting, teaching children to visualize numbers, grasp quantity relationships, and develop mental math strategies with confidence. Backed by research, these techniques foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and a love for math that lasts a lifetime. Join us to empower your learners with a rock-solid mathematical foundation and leave equipped with tools that make numbers come alive in exciting, meaningful ways!
N STANDARD O I S S SES Kindergarten: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.A.1: Count to 100 by ones and by tens. CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.A.2: Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1). CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.4: Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality. a. When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one object. b. Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted. c. Understand that each successive number name refers to a quantity that is one larger. CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.CC.B.5: Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1–20, count out that many objects. CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.NBT.A.1: Compose and decompose numbers from 11 to 19 into ten ones and some further ones, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each composition or decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 18 = 10 + 8); understand that these numbers are composed of ten ones and one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or nine ones.
ON RESEARCH I S S SE S e s sH.; i o nSarama, D e s c r iJulie p t i o(2021) n Clements, Douglas Learning and Teaching Early Math: The Learning Trajectories Approach
MacDonald, Beth L.; Wilkins, Jesse L.M. (2019) Subitizing Activity Formats and Their Theoretical Alignments: The Case of Finger Pattern Recognition Shumway, Jessica F. (2017) Number Sense Routines: Building Numerical Literacy Every Day in Grades K-3
@GETYOURTEACHON
me m ee et t y yo ou ur r p pr re es se en nt te er rs s NAOMI O’BRIEN
@READLIKEAROCKSTARTEACHING
Naomi O'Brien is an experienced educator and reading expert with over 11 years of teaching elementary school students and educators. Specializing in evidence-based approaches, Naomi has a proven ability to help K-6 students make significant reading growth by breaking down complex research into engaging, effective, and easy-to-implement strategies. With endorsements in Gifted Education, Early Childhood Education, and ESOL, she empowers teachers to transform their instruction, ensuring students build the skills they need to become confident, successful readers. Naomi’s visual, systematic approach has made her a trusted leader in helping teachers achieve real, lasting results for their students. Naomi is constantly exploring new, creative approaches to instruction that make learning feel dynamic and fun. She believes in taking a hands-on, systematic approach to teaching that addresses each student's unique needs. By integrating the latest research from the science of reading, Naomi has developed strategies that allow teachers to make rapid progress with their students while ensuring long-term retention and mastery. Her methods empower educators to confidently transform struggling readers into strong, skilled ones with measurable success.
BRYCE SIZEMORE
@THETEACHINGTEXAN
A current classroom teacher of 11 years, Bryce Sizemore has worked in K-2 classrooms creating joyful and impactful learning experiences for his students. He lives in Dallas, TX where he also attended Southern Methodist University to earn his Master of Education degree. He works with teachers across the country to empower them to maximize their efficiency, create hands-on learning experiences, and keep the fun alive in teaching. He enjoys sharing ready-to-use ideas and strategies with teachers across the globe through his website www.theteachingtexan.com.
LISA PETERS
INSTAGRAM: @LISAELAINE_ TIKTOK: @LISAELAINE_ FACEBOOK: MRS. PETERS CLASS
Lisa was born in San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Education and Dance/Fine Arts. With 13 years of experience in education, she has taught students across all grade levels, from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Currently, Lisa teaches Kindergarten and believes it is the most magical place to be, where young learners begin their academic journeys. Lisa is passionate about early literacy and creates learning resources that support students in developing essential reading and writing skills. Her materials have helped children and adults worldwide improve their literacy, allowing them to read and write with confidence. Lisa’s attention to detail and intrinsic motivation make her a dedicated educator, always striving to help every child make significant leaps in their learning. Through her years of experience, Lisa has honed a deep understanding of how young minds learn, and she is committed to fostering an environment where each child feels supported and empowered to reach their fullest potential.
@GETYOURTEACHON
me m ee et t y yo ou ur r p pr re es se en nt te er rs s LANESHA TABB
@LANESHA_TABB
LaNesha Tabb is a passionate educator, author, and literacy consultant with over 19 years of classroom experience. As the founder of Reimagine Writing, she is dedicated to transforming writing instruction for K-5 teachers by providing practical, research-based strategies that empower students to become confident and independent writers. Known for her innovative approach to literacy, LaNesha emphasizes the connection between reading and writing, helping teachers create cohesive, engaging learning experiences across all subjects. She is the co-author of several books, including works on social studies, equity, and literacy, and frequently collaborates with educators nationwide to inspire meaningful changes in instruction. LaNesha’s mission is to help teachers fall in love with teaching writing while giving students the tools to succeed in school and beyond. Her work balances structured frameworks with creativity, fostering classrooms where both teachers and students can thrive. When she’s not helping educators reimagine their writing blocks, LaNesha enjoys creating resources, writing books, and spending time with her family in Indianapolis, Indiana.
AMY LEMONS
@MSAMYLEMONS
Amy Lemons is passionate about providing students with both engaging and effective standards-based Math and ELA lessons. Throughout her 11+ years in education, she discovered that students need opportunities to see content presented in a variety of ways. She is passionate about creating resources that are hands-on, meaningful, and that captivate students’ interests. Amy's goal is to equip teachers with highly effective lessons and activities that allow them to walk into their classrooms feeling confident and excited about the day! You’ll also notice that she gets overly enthusiastic when she finds a beautiful picture book, completes a fun directed drawing, or creates a new math game.
@BRAINENGAGER
ANDRE DESHOTEL
Andre Deshotel has been passionately serving education for over 15 years. His experience ranges from middle school teacher, district instructional coach, and elementary assistant administrator. In his current role as administrator, he progressively supports students by applying a neuroscience lens on behavior, strengthens teacher capacity in classroom management and student engagement, and collaborates with families and community partners to enhance student achievement. For the last ten years, Andre has been a certified Whole Brain Teaching trainer that has provided him with vast experience in crafting and facilitating professional development across the nation. In addition, he provides schools and districts with engaging, robust classroom management and behavior training, along with coaching/mentoring 0-3 year teachers, turning both his applied research and on-the-ground experiences into meaningful and practical support. Andre is always ready to jump into the trenches to serve teachers and students any way he can!
@GETYOURTEACHON