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Professional Development, Anytime You Need It

Flexible, research-based PD sessions you can watch on your own time. Choose from free trainings or Spotlight PDs, with new sessions added every month.

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Engagement, Games Ascend SMARTER Intervention Engagement, Games Ascend SMARTER Intervention

The Literacy Game Plan: Using Games to Teach, Engage, and Differentiate

The Literacy Game Plan is your go-to guide for using games to make literacy instruction more effective and more fun. In this training, we’ll walk you through how to intentionally use games to target specific reading and language skills, keep students engaged, and make differentiation simple. You’ll see how just one game can be adapted in multiple ways to meet different goals—and walk away with ready-to-use templates and ideas to build your own game-based activities. Whether you're working 1:1 or with a small group, you'll leave with a game plan that works.

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Data & Assessment Ascend SMARTER Intervention Data & Assessment Ascend SMARTER Intervention

Progress Monitoring Made Simple: How to Set Goals and Track What Matters

This training is all about making reading growth visible without adding hours to your day. Whether you’re tracking student progress for small group instruction, Tier 2 intervention, or IEP goals, this training walks you through simple strategies and tools—including our customizable Google Sheets progress tracker with built-in graphs. Learn how to use your daily lessons and student responses to guide instruction, communicate progress, and confidently answer the question, “Is this working?”

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Structured Literacy, Free, Elementary Ascend SMARTER Intervention Structured Literacy, Free, Elementary Ascend SMARTER Intervention

Delivering Effective Elementary Literacy Intervention: The 5-Step Framework for Grades K-6

Elevate your intervention game with Ascend SMARTER Intervention’s FREE on-demand professional development designed specifically for elementary educators. In just 1 hour, you’ll discover a research-backed, structured framework rooted in the science of reading and structured literacy

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Data & Assessment Ascend SMARTER Intervention Data & Assessment Ascend SMARTER Intervention

From Data to Decisions: A Framework for Targeted Instruction

Tired of staring at student data and not knowing what to do next? This high-impact training gives you a simple, actionable framework to confidently interpret data and design instruction that actually meets student needs. Whether you're in a classroom, intervention group, or private practice, you’ll walk away with the tools to turn numbers into next steps.

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Structured Literacy, Secondary, Free Ascend SMARTER Intervention Structured Literacy, Secondary, Free Ascend SMARTER Intervention

Delivering Effective Secondary Literacy Intervention: The 5-Step Framework for Grades 6–12

Elevate your intervention game with Ascend SMARTER Intervention’s FREE on-demand professional development designed specifically for secondary educators. In just 1 hour, you’ll discover a research-backed, structured framework rooted in the science of reading and structured literacy

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Structured Literacy Ascend SMARTER Intervention Structured Literacy Ascend SMARTER Intervention

The Reading Rules We Teach (and Why They Matter)

In this practical, engaging training, you'll learn exactly which reading rules matter most, why they’re essential for student success, and how to teach them effectively across grade levels. Whether you’re just getting started or refining your structured literacy approach, this session will give you the roadmap—and the motivation—you need to make a lasting impact.

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Phonics, Phonological Awareness, Fluency, Comprehension, Vocabulary Ascend SMARTER Intervention Phonics, Phonological Awareness, Fluency, Comprehension, Vocabulary Ascend SMARTER Intervention

Using Book Clubs to Engage Your Students

Elevate your teaching with our transformative training on utilizing high-interest book clubs to enhance vocabulary, comprehension, and phonics in a way that captures your students' interest. This engaging approach not only helps students connect with the material but also fosters a love for reading that lasts a lifetime.

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Vocabulary Ascend SMARTER Intervention Vocabulary Ascend SMARTER Intervention

Vocabulary Instruction That Works

You’ll learn how to define words using a 4-part system, build student engagement, and create meaningful practice opportunities across all content areas. Grounded in decades of literacy research, this vocabulary approach helps students make stronger semantic connections, promotes long-term retention, and supports comprehension. These same strategies are used successfully in both general education and intervention settings.

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Executive Functioning Ascend SMARTER Intervention Executive Functioning Ascend SMARTER Intervention

Supporting Executive Functioning Through the Grade Levels

Learn practical, evidence-based strategies to strengthen students’ executive functioning skills with Smarter Intervention’s on-demand professional development course. Explore a step-by-step framework to support organization, attention, working memory, and self-regulation, and earn a PD certificate you can apply immediately in your classroom.

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