KEYNOTES

What Can You Expect?

Customizable Topics

Are you looking for a kick-off to the school year?  Or perhaps a rejuvenating session during the year?  Barbara’s keynotes are inspiring, lively, humorous, and engaging.  Keynotes appeal to teachers of all grade levels and subject areas, as well as school and district leaders.  Her most popular topics are listed below, but keynotes are typically customized to your specific audience.

"I can highly recommend Barbara as a keynote speaker. She is also a very skilled seminar leader with engaging and practical content, and one who can make anything from a breakout session to a full-day event a huge success. During my time as a central office administrator, we brought Barbara in to conduct our back-to-school keynote. Her message was one of hope that inspired us long after the day was over. Her words of, “On your worst day, you are someone's best hope” are hard to forget. Since that time, she has continued as a prolific author and a speaker in high demand. Her work on rigor has made her possibly the education arena's top authority on the subject.”

--Dr. Frank Buck, Talladega City Schools, Alabama

Popular Topics Include:

RIGOR AND THE COMMON CORE
Are you implementing the Common Core State Standards? Do you see them as the solution to increasing rigor? The Common Core State Standards are just the floor, not the ceiling! It’s our instructional strategies in tandem with the standards that make the difference.

"I really enjoyed your presentation in Atlanta at the SREB conference.  I thought you had some great ideas on how to use Lexiles. You had the best presentation BY FAR at the conference--you really helped me get a handle on the Lexile Framework (a key part of the CCSSs).

--Karen 

IT'S ALL ABOUT MEE!

Motivation, Engagement, and Expectations!
What are our biggest challenges in the classroom today? Three of the major ones are student motivation, student engagement, and high expectations for learning.  How can we make a difference in each of these areas to positively impact student learning?

"Each year teachers gather to begin a brand new school year. They have been off during the summer and the transition can be hard. Talladega City Schools was fortunate to have Barbara Blackburn to help us kick off an awesome school year. She was creative, knowledgeable, and passionate about the teaching of students. She touched our teachers' heartstrings and helped them remember the joys of being an educator. They were ready!"

--Patti Thomas, Alabama

RIGOR IS NOT A FOUR-LETTER WORD
Rigor is a key focus of today’s educational reform.  What exactly is rigor?  What does it look like in the classroom?  What are the myths about rigor? Rigor is not a negative; it can be integrated into everyday lessons by teachers to increase learning for students.

"Barbara Blackburn is an outstanding authority on raising the rigor in the instructional program. Dr. Blackburn brings her many years in education to provide concrete examples that educator can easily implement in their classrooms. Her presentations are stimulating, lively and relevant for the needs of today's students. I highly recommend Dr. Blackburn as a consultant, speaker, and presenter. Participants will receive invaluable resources and ideas to raise the academic achievement of all students."

--Rosie Young, Executive Director, KY Association of Elementary

   School Principals

RIGOROUS SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS:  LEADING THE WAY!

Implementing rigor at the classroom level is best supported by leadership practices.  There are a variety of strategies leaders can incorporate to spur school-wide change and to encourage teachers to raise the level of rigor in their classrooms.

"I strongly encourage anyone who is seeking a change agent for increased rigor to acquire her services."

--Adrian Leday, Administrative Intern Garland ISD, TX



MOTIVATING THE UNMOTIVATED: BE THE DIFFERENCE FOR THAT STUDENT
Do you have students who are unmotivated?  That’s a myth!  Learn about the myths of motivation and the two keys to creating an environment in which students are more motivated to learn.

 
"I sincerely hope that every teacher can be inspired by you. My measure of success as a teacher is that students leave my class feeling respected as an individual and cared for-I think you and your book are all about that."

--Lori Nicholson 


ENGAGING INSTRUCTION: FOCUSED, FUNCTIONAL, AND FUN!
Is each student engaged at high levels?  Creative instruction that engages all students doesn’t have to be difficult.  We just need to focus on practical strategies that work in every grade level and content area—strategies that can be implemented tomorrow. And by the way, they can be fun!

"I enjoyed this session very much. I particularly enjoyed learning about 'Fun' ways of presenting information-for material I thought could not be done."

        --Franklin Mitchell 


LEADERSHIP FOR CHANGE: A TOOL FOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK!
Are you looking for something designed just for your leaders?  This message includes a positive view of the leader’s role in changing school culture, and provides five practical strategies—one for each day of the week—that leaders can use in any situation or school improvement process.

"This will be my 1st year as a leader and to be honest I'm overwhelmed but I do have a success story . . . your positive ideas and words."

--Participant, Chicago Public Schools

MOTIVATING YOURSELF AND OTHERS
Do you need a jumpstart for the year or the semester?  Are you tired, and at times hopeless about the progress of your students? Inject hope and nourishment for teachers’ souls, and mix in strategies for a motivational classroom.

"I loved your presentation. The morning flew by. As a returning-after-many-years teacher, I need the inspiration and the dream as much as the hands-on tips." --Kathleen 

"For a lady from North Carolina, which is a compliment, what you said does apply to teaching inner-city students such as mine. Thank you"

--Teacher, Chicago Public Schools 



**Keynote topics can be extended into half- or full-day workshops.