In this double session, attendees will be given the materials and instructions on how to create the Folded Amish Star Ornament. This versatile project can be used in the classroom to teach measuring, ironing, and both creation of either a sewing or non-sewing textile arts project. Mrs. Williams has taught students as young as 9 and as old as 90 how to assemble these beautiful projects in both classroom and fundraiser workshop sessions. Materials, lesson plans, and fundraiser information will be provided.
Teacher and FCCLA Advisor for Thomas Hunter Middle School and Mathews High School, Mathews County Public Schools
Michelle Williams teaches FACS Exploratory 1,2 & 3 for grades 7 and 8 as well as Nutrition and Wellness and Independent Living Skills in Mathews County Public Schools, Mathews, VA. She serves on the VATFACS Board of Directors as Communications Coordinator and on the Hospitality Committee... Read More →
Ready to enter your PBL era? This session delivers ready-to-use project overviews designed specifically for high school ECE — think Pizza Box Theorists, Shoebox Preschool, student-created songs, and more. Walk away with a toolkit of creative, standards-connected projects that keep students engaged and actually excited to learn.
What if your students became the true drivers of their learning by confidently mastering content and teaching others along the way?
In this session, I will share how to transform your classroom into a student-centered environment where learners take ownership and grow into leaders. Through the use of simple, effective strategies like skill drills, “Ask Three Before Me,” and authentic community-building practices, students learn to rely on themselves, support one another, and stay meaningfully connected to their teacher.
These approaches are easy to implement but powerful in impact effectively creating a classroom where it feels like there’s more than one of you in the room. You’ll walk away with practical tools that foster independence, increase engagement, and build a genuine sense of connection without anything feeling forced.
Join me to discover how these three simple shifts can bring more joy to your teaching, help your students feel purposeful in their learning, and empower them to confidently teach and support one another.
Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Manassas Park Middle School
I am a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Manassas Park Middle School, where I have been teaching since 2011. I work with sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students, helping them build practical life skills while fostering creativity, confidence, and a love for learning. I ear... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT Cape Charles A
