INSPIRATION STATION WORKSHOPS
Inspiration Station workshops are an informal way to bring together a small group to share perspectives about specific area(s) of interest. Hosting an Inspiration Station is a great opportunity to share best practices, discuss new ideas, get feedback through a focus group, or offer a Make-It, Take-It session. There is NO COST for conference attendees and exhibitors to facilitate an Inspiration Station workshop Inspiration Station workshops can accommodate up to 8-10 attendees and are held within the Exhibit Hall.
Joining an Inspiration Station is a chance to learn something new, outside the traditional workshop setting, and to join groups of your peers who share similar challenges, questions, and ideas that you have. It's a great chance to build connections and create opportunities for collaboration.
The annual deadline to submit an Inspiration Station workshop application is January 31st.
Wednesday, April 30
10:30AM - 11:15AM
Station A
Join Us For A Quick Eye & Ear On The Fundamentals Of Funtology, Barbertology, Nailtology and Skintology
TeQuilla Holloway, Founder, Funtology Fundamentals, Augusta, GA
Join us for a dynamic and engaging session as we give you a quick "Eye & Ear" on the essentials of Funtology, Barbertology, Nailtology, and Skintology. Learn the foundational skills, techniques, and industry insights that make these programs an exciting pathway for students in grades 3-12. Whether you're interested in beauty, grooming, or personal care, this session will introduce you to innovative, hands-on learning opportunities designed to inspire and empower the next generation.
M, H, ULA, MLA, DS
Station B
Domino Math Games + Pizza = An Awesome Family Math Games Night
Jane Felling, Consultant & Author, Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks, Edmonton, Alberta, CA
Come prepared to play our favorite domino math games that are perfect for hosting an Elementary Math Games Night. If you pair it up with "Pizza" you have a perfect recipe for Success! Handouts and games supplied.
PK, E, MLA, DS
Station C
STEAMVentures: Cultivating Curiosity and Innovation in Young Learners
Suzy Haislip, Director of Business Development & STEM Education Specialist, PCS Edventures, Boise, Idaho
An innovative approach to engage TK/K students through hands-on activities centered on Flight, Transportation, and Food. This workshop integrates STEAM principles into early childhood education, fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Educators will gain strategies to create inclusive learning environments and lead captivating STEAM explorations, preparing students for lifelong curiosity and success in elementary school.
PK, E, MLA, DS
Station D
Station E
Station F
11:30AM - 12:15PM
Station A
Add Bilingual Learning to Your Program, Even Without Bilingual Teachers
Anne-Louise Nieto, Co-Founder, Habbi Habbi Bilingual Books & Toys, San Francisco, CA
Think multilingualism is a superpower? Want to add language to your program, but struggle to find fun, approachable materials or bilingual teachers?
Learn how other programs (afterschool, public, private, dual language & more) use Habbi Habbi’s books, toys & magical talking Reading Wand® to foster a multilingual, multicultural environment - even without bilingual teachers! Independent play, small group or teacher-led; 7 languages. Plus take home a free bilingual book (while supplies last).
PK, E, MLA, DS
Station B
Station C
Adding Fun to Math to Multiply Outcomes
Mary Curry, Math Enthusiast, MANGO Math, Palm Desert, CA
In this workshop, educators will discover creative ways to make math engaging and fun for students. Through games, hands-on activities, and real-world examples, you'll learn how to turn math lessons into dynamic learning experiences. The focus will be on boosting student motivation, improving retention, and deepening understanding. Whether you’re a seasoned teacher or new to math, you'll leave with practical tools to enhance student success!
E, DS
Station D
Empowering All Students for Success: Multimodal Instruction & Game-Based Learning
Diana Christopherson, Account Manager, Legends of Learning, Laurel, MD
Afterschool and out-of-school time (OST) programs provide opportunities to engage students beyond the classroom. Game-Based Learning (GBL), paired with multimodal instruction, offers an engaging solution by fostering active participation and deeper understanding. This approach helps OST educators enhance student achievement and engagement. Join this session to learn how GBL can revolutionize your program and drive student success.
E, M, MLA, DS
Station E
Station F
Building Better: Activities to Enhance Group Connections
Raynee Russell, Operations Manager/Lead Teacher, Global Kindness Initiative, San Francisco, CA
Join us as we discover engaging, easy-to-do activities designed to strengthen relationships and group dynamics with both Youth and staff! This 45-minute session is designed to teach creative, interactive, hands-on activities that foster trust, communication, and collaboration, and empower participants to build deeper connections with staff and Youth to work more effectively as a group.
E, M, MLA, DS
2:45PM - 3:30PM
Station A
Books, Bubbles, & Beakers-Teaching Science the Quirkles and Fuddlebrook Way!
Terri Johnson, Owner/Developer, Creative 3, LLC-Quirkles and Fuddlebrook Science Series, Springfield, MO
Do you want to be the educator that kids remember for a lifetime? Create experiences instead of just lessons. Sounds hard? It's NOT! Come and learn how to integrate fun hands-on science with fun storytelling. Learning has never been more engaging or relevant. Eggs will fly, cans will lean and water will disappear all while teaching science standards. Great for summer and afterschool programs. We've done the work for you! Just teach and have fun!
E, DS
Station B
Playing for Keeps, Hands-on Materials for Math and Reading
Rich Stuart, Director, Learning Wrap-ups, a Division of EDC, Layton, UT
Attendees will play with and keep materials that will help elementary students master critical Math and Reading skills. All materials are hands-on, self-correcting and FUN!
PK, E, MLA, DS
Station C
Station D
Station E
Station F
Thursday, May 1
10:00AM - 10:45AM
Station A
Creating Tomorrow's Legends Today, Through the Magic of Drones
Scott Buell, Founder/CEO, Drone Legends, Cherry Hill, NJ
Buckle up for an exhilarating ride with our Action Labs workshop! You'll team up to pilot classroom-friendly drones on a real-world mission. Discover firsthand the transformative power of drones, their academic relevance, and the potential future careers for students. Ignite your teaching and catapult your classroom into the 21st century!
E,M, MLA, DS
Station B
Build-A-Bot, Save a Species
Marci Klien, Owner/President, 3duxdesign, Fairfield, CT
Engineering design meets environmental science in this Bot Safari workshop! Design and build a motorized bot, then join fellow conservationists to create habitats that protect these endangered creatures. This session fosters team building and explores real-world challenges through playful, hands-on, engineering activities. We will share a variety of ways to weave in cross-curricular learning opportunities based on learning goals. (yes- you can keep your bots!)
E, M, MLA, CB, DS
Station C
Sight Word Fun: Engaging Activities for Afterschool Programs
Chandra Roughton, Administrative Program Director, Luminous Minds, Loomis, CA
Ready to make sight word practice fun for your afterschool program? Join us for a hands-on workshop with creative games, multisensory activities, and strategies to help students master sight words. From catchy songs to partner games, fluency grids, and interactive worksheets, you'll learn playful techniques to boost retention and engagement. Perfect for Directors or care providers, this workshop offers adaptable tools to support student success in a fun, low-pressure environment!
PK, E, MLA, CB, DS
Station D
Station E
Station F
11:00AM - 11:45AM
Station A
Multisensory Language Learning Kits
Connie Romaniuk, Co-Founder & Creative Director, Communakit, Ardrossan, Alberta, Canada
Explore these incredible kits, expertly designed by an SLP to foster early language development. Each kit offers a multisensory, multilevel, and multipurpose approach, making them accessible and beneficial for all learners. These kits help children enhance their communication skills in a fun, interactive way that engages all their senses. Learning a language never felt so good!
PK, E, MLA, DS
Station B
Station C
Station D
How to use ELO-P to Close the Expanded Learning Gap
Helen Wang, CEO/Co-Founder, 6crickets, Inc, Bellevue, WA
(ELO-P) is an unprecedented opportunity to close the opportunity gap and to bring innovative, quality, and choice-driven learning to every student, but with great funding comes great responsibility. We will discuss how to implement student choice, measure results, and promote engagement. Additionally, we'll share challenges, triumphs, and creativity in meeting ELO-P intent, tackling staffing shortages, engaging both students and parents, and managing operations efficiently and effectively.
PK, E, ULA, MLA
Station E
Station F
1:15PM - 2:00PM
Station A
Station B
Station C
Electric Exploration: Motorized Pinwheels for Purposeful Learning
Dr. Ellie Honardoost, CEO/Founder, InnovEd, Fresno, CA
Dr. Ellie Honardoost, with over 25 years of experience in STEAM, is an expert in hands-on learning & how to tackle classroom management challenges. This workshop features building a motorized pinwheel, showcasing key principles of electricity & purposeful learning. You'll also get to take home your pinwheel, a tangible example to inspire similar projects in your own programs. See how projects boost engagement & ease classroom management. Join us to empower your students through active learning!
E, M, MLA, DS
Station D
Speak with Multilingual Brenda, TeachMe TV®'s Proprietary AI Learning Assistant
Carolyn Sloan, Founder/CEO, TeachMe TV®, Brooklyn, NY
Ever wonder if you could get your students to be more curious? Have you ever wanted your students to ask better questions? Here's your chance to talk to TeachMe TV®'s AI Study Buddy to practice formulating great questions that yield the most informative and directive answers. Brenda is voice-activated, age-appropriate, and multilingual! Come try her out at our Inspiration Station Workshop!! Guidance will be given and then you can play all you want with Brenda, and maybe even learn something!
E, MLA, DS
Station E
Station F
Inspiration Station Workshops contacts:
Kristen Gonzalez |
Blanca Orellana |
Inspiration Station Workshop FAQS
Who can host an Inspiration Station?
Anyone who attends the BOOST Conference can facilitate an Inspiration Station workshop. To be eligible, you must be registered for the conference and your account paid in full. Once you have registered and paid, you are eligible to submit an application. Please note we are only able to accept one application per organization/agency. The annual deadline to submit your Inspiration Station workshop application is January 31st.
How much does an Inspiration Station cost?
Hosting an Inspiration Station workshop is free for all registered and paid BOOST Conference attendees, presenters, sponsors, and exhibitors.
Do I have to register for the conference to host an Inspiration Station?
Yes. Inspiration Station workshops are accepted and scheduled on a first-come, first-scheduled basis, based on your registration status. You must be registered and paid in full for the current year's BOOST Conference before your application is accepted and your Inspiration Station workshop is scheduled.
Where and when do Inspiration Stations take place?
Inspiration Station workshops take place in the Exhibit Hall at round tables on Wednesday and Thursday during the conference. There are three different 45-minute time slots on each day that take place concurrently with workshop sessions. Please view the Exhibit Hall map above to see where Inspiration Station tables are located.
What are PROMISING PRACTICES for Inspiration Stations?
Successful Inspiration Station workshops start with a shared interest. Are you a Middle School leader looking for inspirational ideas to engage your students? Do you work with students with special needs and need strategies for making your program more inclusive? Are you trying to develop a measurement and evaluation plan for your organization? Use your Inspiration Station to collaborate with other organizations on the same mission.
Inspiration Stations are also an opportunity for BOOST Conference presenters to continue the conversation from their workshop, whether it be more in-depth to the topic of your workshop or another area of expertise you can offer BOOST Conference attendees.
For BOOST Conference exhibitors, Inspiration Station workshops are a great way to receive feedback on user interest in their product. With the help of BOOST Conference attendees, you can develop more ideas for possible or existing products and strategies for using the product more effectively.
The intent of an Inspiration Station workshop is that it is a small, intimate learning session. Please note that facilitators are not able to move/add tables or chairs and must abide by the Fire Marshall Code.
How are Inspiration Stations selected?
Inspiration Station workshops are scheduled on a first-come, first-scheduled basis. Once we receive your application, we will confirm your registration and that your account is paid in full. We will then schedule your workshop at your preferred time slot based on availability. Please note we are only able to accept one application per agency/organization/company.
What A/V is provided for Inspiration Stations?
We do not provide A/V for Inspiration Station workshops. Since Inspiration Station workshops are intimate sessions, we recommend that you facilitate an Inspiration Station workshop that does not require any audio-visual. Note: There is no electricity provided at Inspiration Stations.
Please note: Name badges are required to attend all BOOST Conference events including meals and workshops.