Region 18 Round-Up 2025: Learning Under the West Texas Sun

An introduction to Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats methodology, a structured approach to decision-making and problem-solving. This session will explore how educators can use this technique to foster diverse perspectives, enhance collaboration, and develop critical thinking skills among students in the classroom.

Are you looking for innovative strategies to captivate and challenge your gifted and talented students? This session delves into the compelling reasons behind the effectiveness of game-based learning, the cognitive science underpinning its success, and a wealth of resources to facilitate seamless implementation. Discover practical, advanced-level applications of gamification to enrich your teaching practices and cultivate profound understanding. Let's move beyond rote learning and unlock new levels of intellectual engagement.

In this engaging and interactive workshop, social studies teachers will explore strategies to develop students’ historical thinking skills. Participants will learn how to guide students beyond memorization of dates and facts to critically analyze sources, evaluate perspectives, and construct evidence-based historical arguments. Teachers will leave with practical tools, lesson ideas, and ready-to-use activities that align with inquiry-based learning and help students think like historians. This workshop will empower you to foster deeper historical understanding in your classroom.

Content-Based Instruction (CBI) prioritizes building students' knowledge first, followed by skill development. It encourages active engagement with texts, promoting deeper understanding and critical thinking as students explore and reflect on the content's meaning. Join us as we discuss the effectiveness of this approach in supporting students' overall reading comprehension using specific strategies for gifted learners.

Unlock the power of inquiry in your classroom with the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) — a simple, yet transformative strategy that helps students take ownership of their learning through the art of asking questions. In this session, educators will explore the core components of QFT, developed by the Right Question Institute, and learn how to implement it across all grade levels and subject areas.