Section List

HAL: Battle of the Books - Elementary  

April 30, 2026

• ESU#3 Professional Learning
• Anderson , Lexie

In order to give ESU3 districts priority for these events, if you are outside of ESU3 and want to talk about registering please contact Adam Larson.

ESU 3 will host the Battle of the Books! Battle of the Books is all about READING…..and having fun while doing it.

Participating schools may register as many teams as they would like for the competition. Each team can have up to six members. When registering, please note, if your 6th grade is part of the elementary school system in your district, please register them for the elementary Battle of the Books (Grades 4-5-6). If your 6th grade is part of the middle school system, please register them for the middle school Battle of the Books (Grades 6-7-8).

This contest is a mix of comprehension book knowledge along with project based activities specific to the books. Students are not required to read all ten books, but instead the reading can be spread out amongst the team members.

Schedule (subject to change):

9:00-10:00 am - Challenge 1

10:00-10:30 am - Quick Challenge

10:30-11:30 am - Challenge 2

11:30-12:00 pm -Quick Challenge 2

12:00-1:00 pm - Challenge 3/Lunch

1:00-1:30 pm - Quick Challenge 3

1:30-2:00 pm - Awards

Note: Participating schools will purchase their own books for competition preparation.

Coaches: Battle of the Books will require at least one coach from each school to be a judge during the competition. 

Lunch: This is a brown-bag lunch event. Students and coaches will need to bring their own lunch - refrigerators are not available.

Photo Disclaimer: By participating in this event organized by ESU #3, you hereby grant permission to ESU #3 to use your image and likeness captured during the event for promotional and media purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. If you wish to withdraw your consent regarding the use of your media, please reach out to the primary contact of this event. 

HAL: Battle of the Books - Middle School  

May 4, 2026

• ESU#3 Professional Learning
• Anderson , Lexie

In order to give ESU3 districts priority for these events, if you are outside of ESU3 and want to talk about registering please contact Adam Larson.

ESU 3 will host the Battle of the Books! Battle of the Books is all about READING…..and having fun while doing it.

Participating schools may register as many teams as they would like for the competition. Each team can have up to six members. When registering, please note, if your 6th grade is part of the elementary school system in your district, please register them for the elementary Battle of the Books (Grades 4-5-6). If your 6th grade is part of the middle school system, please register them for the middle school Battle of the Books (Grades 6-7-8).

This contest is a mix of comprehension book knowledge along with project based activities specific to the books. Students are not required to read all ten books, but instead the reading can be spread out amongst the team members.

Schedule (subject to change):
9:00-10:00 am - Challenge 1
10:00-10:30 am - Quick Challenge
10:30-11:30 am - Challenge 2
11:30-12:00 pm -Quick Challenge 2
12:00-1:00 pm - Challenge 3/Lunch
1:00-1:30 pm - Quick Challenge 3
1:30-2:00 pm - Awards

Note: Participating schools will purchase their own books for competition preparation.

Coaches: Battle of the Books will require at least one coach from each school to be a judge during the competition. 

Lunch: This is a brown-bag lunch event. Students and coaches will need to bring their own lunch - refrigerators are not available.

Photo Disclaimer: By participating in this event organized by ESU #3, you hereby grant permission to ESU #3 to use your image and likeness captured during the event for promotional and media purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. If you wish to withdraw your consent regarding the use of your media, please reach out to the primary contact of this event. 

HAL: Visual Spatial Thinking (Private)  

May 6, 2026

• ESU#3 Professional Learning
• Anderson , Lexie

Piet Piet Mondrian will be the inspiration for this project. Students will learn how he tried to distill art down to its basic elements of shape, line, and color, and they will create their own artwork, using his technique. This art project will use rulers & markers.
 will be the inspiration for this project. Students will learn how he tried to distill art down to its basic elements of shape, line, and color, and they will create their own artwork, using his technique. This art project will use rulers & markers.

Visual/ Spatial thinking skills are important for many jobs, but they are often left out of school curriculum. This session is based on the work of Piet Mondrian. Students will stretch their minds to solve puzzles, play pattern games, and create art that uses these important visual/ spatial skills.  Prepare to be inspired!

Four 30 minute rotation stations to get students thinking about patterns, form, color, and space.

One hour long art project based on Piet Mondrian's work


Disclaimer: By participating in this event organized by ESU #3, you hereby grant permission to ESU #3 to use your image and likeness captured during the event for promotional and media purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. If you wish to withdraw your consent regarding the use of your media, please reach out to the primary contact of this event.

Connecting and Supporting Success Criteria: Session 2  

May 7, 2026

• ESU#3 Professional Learning
• Kennedy, Jennifer

If you are a non-public school district that resides in the ESU 3 service area and would like to register for sessions with Toni Faddis, please contact Jennifer Kennedy at jkennedy@esu3.org for registration details. Currenlty, this workshop series is only open to the 18 schools districts that are serviced by ESU 3.


In 2025-2026, the ESU #3 Coaching Cadre is welcoming back Dr. Toni Faddis to support coaches in deepening their knowledge for developing and supporting teachers in implementing literacy focused success criteria. This will empower both teachers and students to understand and articulate learning intentions. This collaborative coaching cadre will continue to build shared knowledge around best practices in instructional coaching and support for all models, formats, and designs of coaching.

Additional Signup for 2025-2026

Coaching Cadre Kickoff 

ESU 3 State Literacy Training: Connecting and Supporting Success Criteria with Toni Faddis
Session 1

Regional Programming: Success Criteria with Toni Faddis
Session 1
Session 2


Disclaimer: By participating in this event organized by ESU #3, you hereby grant permission to ESU #3 to use your image and likeness captured during the event for promotional and media purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. If you wish to withdraw your consent regarding the use of your media, please reach out to the primary contact of this event.

HAL: Visual Spatial Thinking (Private) (Cancelled)  

May 11, 2026

• ESU#3 Professional Learning
• Anderson , Lexie

Piet Piet Mondrian will be the inspiration for this project. Students will learn how he tried to distill art down to its basic elements of shape, line, and color, and they will create their own artwork, using his technique. This art project will use rulers & markers.
 will be the inspiration for this project. Students will learn how he tried to distill art down to its basic elements of shape, line, and color, and they will create their own artwork, using his technique. This art project will use rulers & markers.

Visual/ Spatial thinking skills are important for many jobs, but they are often left out of school curriculum. This session is based on the work of Piet Mondrian. Students will stretch their minds to solve puzzles, play pattern games, and create art that uses these important visual/ spatial skills.  Prepare to be inspired!

Four 30 minute rotation stations to get students thinking about patterns, form, color, and space.

One hour long art project based on Piet Mondrian's work


Disclaimer: By participating in this event organized by ESU #3, you hereby grant permission to ESU #3 to use your image and likeness captured during the event for promotional and media purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. If you wish to withdraw your consent regarding the use of your media, please reach out to the primary contact of this event.

HAL: Visual Spatial Thinking (Private) (Cancelled)  

May 11, 2026

• ESU#3 Professional Learning
• Anderson , Lexie

Piet Piet Mondrian will be the inspiration for this project. Students will learn how he tried to distill art down to its basic elements of shape, line, and color, and they will create their own artwork, using his technique. This art project will use rulers & markers.
 will be the inspiration for this project. Students will learn how he tried to distill art down to its basic elements of shape, line, and color, and they will create their own artwork, using his technique. This art project will use rulers & markers.

Visual/ Spatial thinking skills are important for many jobs, but they are often left out of school curriculum. This session is based on the work of Piet Mondrian. Students will stretch their minds to solve puzzles, play pattern games, and create art that uses these important visual/ spatial skills.  Prepare to be inspired!

Four 30 minute rotation stations to get students thinking about patterns, form, color, and space.

One hour long art project based on Piet Mondrian's work


Disclaimer: By participating in this event organized by ESU #3, you hereby grant permission to ESU #3 to use your image and likeness captured during the event for promotional and media purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. If you wish to withdraw your consent regarding the use of your media, please reach out to the primary contact of this event.

HAL: Quiz Bowl Grade - 6 (Private)  

May 12, 2026

• ESU#3 Professional Learning
• Anderson , Lexie

Students competing in academic quiz bowl competitions will answer questions from a variety of topics.  

Disclaimer: By participating in this event organized by ESU #3, you hereby grant permission to ESU #3 to use your image and likeness captured during the event for promotional and media purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. If you wish to withdraw your consent regarding the use of your media, please reach out to the primary contact of this event.

HAL: Extreme Math Elementary (Private)  

May 18, 2026

• ESU#3 Professional Learning
• Anderson , Lexie

This HAL COMPETITION event is a morning of student math problem solving, collaboration, and logic questions.  Student teams of 4, 5, or 6 members will participate in a Sprint Round, Team Round, and a Problem Solving Round during the morning. 
The spirit of the morning is collaboration and math achievement in an effort to recognize the importance of math problem solving. 
•       Students in elementary schools are invited to participate.
•       Each round is timed and student accomplishment will be recorded.
•       Recognition will be provided for individuals in the Sprint Round and for teams in the Team Round.
•       There is no school winner or leader at the end of the event.


REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Schools must include how many teams of 4, 5, or 6 students.
Schools must provide the names of the team members per team. 
Contact Adam Larson if you have enough teams to create your own day
ESU #3 will supply pencils.
Some calculators will be available, but schools may choose to bring their own.
School permission slips and all school field trip requirements are in effect.
At least one adult sponsor/teacher is required to attend with each school represented.
The adult sponsor/teacher will be asked to be a participant in supervision and correcting student papers from the morning.
Questions to alarson@esu3.org 

Disclaimer: By participating in this event organized by ESU #3, you hereby grant permission to ESU #3 to use your image and likeness captured during the event for promotional and media purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. If you wish to withdraw your consent regarding the use of your media, please reach out to the primary contact of this event.

Inclusive Practices Academy (Day 5 of 6)  

June 2, 2026

• ESU#3 Student Services
• Harvey, Amy

 Inclusive Practices Academy

The structure of this training is designed to empower teams with the knowledge and tools necessary to foster inclusive learning environments and build co-teaching partnerships. Each team must consist of at least one Special Education Teacher and one General Education Teacher, ensuring a collaborative approach to implementing newfound insights and practices to improve outcomes for all students. Outcomes will be developed throughout the series.

Day 1 - Conditions for Success: Developing Mindsets, Practices, and Co-Teaching Partnerships
Collaboration structures, teacher parity and collective responsibilities, co-teaching myths vs facts, learner variability

Day 2  - Co-Teaching: Effective Inclusive Environments
Foundations of co-teaching, creating effective environments, co-planning and scheduling, co-teaching models and incidental benefit

Day 3 - Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Foundations: Building a Roadmap Towards Inclusive Instructional Practices
UDL Framework, three principles of UDL, learner variability, tailoring instruction through IEPs, flexibility to support inclusive practices within your instructional model

Day 4 - Co-Teaching and Specially Designed Instruction (SDI)
Using the IEP as an instructional tool, key principles of SDI, connecting SDI to student needs and standards-based pre-requisite skills, high-leverage practices

Day 5 & 6 - Insights: Reflecting, Sharing, and Applying Learning to Shape the Next School Year
Building principals will be invited for “Conversation and Collaboration” to learn more about IPA and support goals for the upcoming school year.

Science of Reading For Multilingual Learners  

June 4, 2026

• ESU#3 Professional Learning
• Anderson , Lexie

What you'll learn:

SoR Essentials for Multilinguals
Learn how phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension work together to support reading development in multilingual learners.

Active View of Reading
Explore the Active View of Reading framework to understand how decoding, linguistic comprehension, and active self-regulation intersect in successful reading.

Vocabulary Instruction
Discover effective methods for teaching high-utility vocabulary that boost comprehension and support long-term language growth for multilingual learners.

Language Scaffolding
Learn practical, research-based scaffolding techniques that support multilingual learners’ access to complex texts and academic language across content areas.

Disclaimer: By participating in this event organized by ESU #3, you hereby grant permission to ESU #3 to use your image and likeness captured during the event for promotional and media purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, photographs, videos, and audio recordings. If you wish to withdraw your consent regarding the use of your media, please reach out to the primary contact of this event.