Keynote

Be REAL: Educate from the Heart

This invigorating message interweaves Tara's overcoming experiences as a student labeled "at-risk" who, by teacher influence, became a thriving educator.

Through stories, humor, science, and practical application, Tara empowers educators to establish a learning setting where all learners feel valued and appreciated. You will leave this session feeling inspired and equipped with practical strategies to create a culture of REAL belonging within any curriculum at any grade level.

Be REAL: Lead from the Heart

This invigorating message interweaves Tara's overcoming experiences as a student labeled "at-risk" who, by teacher influence, became a thriving educator leader.

Through stories, humor, science, and practical application, Tara empowers educational leaders to establish a culture and climate where all staff and learners feel valued, appreciated and enough. You will leave this session feeling inspired and equipped with practical strategies to create a culture of REAL belonging within your system.

Cannonball-In

Based on Tara's picture book, Cannonball-In is a message of hope, exposing vulnerability and ultimately fulfilling life's purpose. This message encourages others to get off the sidelines and choose to go "all in" on new ideas, goals, ambitions, and dreams. 

You will leave this session motivated and equipped with REAL skills our learners need for professions that currently exist and those that have yet to be discovered. So prepare to feel challenged to act now and help your learners make their splash!

Workshops

These topics can be individualized or combined in any format to fit the following:

Breakout Session/1 Day Workshop/2 Day Workshop

Cannonball Into REAL Engagement

Would you like to peek into the minds of all the learners you serve...at the same time?!

Participants will explore a variety of opportunities to respond to any content area, at any grade level, both with and without technology. 

You will leave equipped to integrate social-emotional learning opportunities seamlessly within any curriculum while teaching the high-stakes content standards. In addition, the practical activities shared in this session will help build relationships with learners and foster a culture of belonging by amplifying student voice within the learning environment. 

Get Hooked On REAL Engagement

Tara Martin is an enthusiastic educator, national speaker, and author who thrives on change and refuses to settle for the status quo. She has been a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and district administrator.

During this follow-up session to the high-energy, inspirational Teach Like a PIRATE keynote by Dave Burgess, Tara offers hands-on and tech-related activities to hook students into REAL engagement!

Now that students are immersed in the content, let's create a culture of learners who value the individuality of their peers, as well. We build REAL momentum around the content when learners feel comfortable expressing enthusiasm and adding input within their learning environment.

During this session, the participants will discover how to adapt the student engagement hooks taught by Dave to build relationships and foster a culture of REAL belonging among your learners. It's a WIN-WIN!

All Things Snaps: Using Picture Apps for Anchoring Content Knowledge

During this interactive workshop, participants will actively explore the science, creation, and impact of #BookSnaps and ANY content area snaps! This fascinating strategy engages both hemispheres of the brain and increases learning retention. 

Join this workshop session to explore how students AND staff create digital reflections to make their thinking visible. Since August 2016, school districts and students worldwide (seventeen different countries) have been creating #BookSnaps (and #MathSnaps, #ScienceSnaps, #ExitSnaps, etc.) and sharing their love of learning in many different picture apps--Snapchat, Google Slides, Canva, Adobe, SeeSaw, and the list goes on! 

This strategy is relevant, engaging, and learning disguised as FUN. You don't want to miss this session!

#BookSnaps – Using Picture Apps for Annotation & Digital Visualization

During this interactive workshop, participants will actively explore the science, creation, and impact of #BookSnaps. This fascinating strategy engages both hemispheres of the brain and increases learning retention. 

Join this workshop session to explore how students AND staff create BookSnap reflections to make their thinking visible. Since August 2016, school districts and students worldwide (seventeen different countries) have been creating #BookSnaps and sharing their love of learning in many different picture apps--Snapchat, Google Slides, Canva, Adobe, SeeSaw, and the list goes on!

#BookSnaps are relevant, engaging, and learning disguised as FUN. You don't want to miss this session!

Cannonball Into Storytelling

Storytelling is an art, and we have the tool to help you create a masterpiece!

During this session, Tara will guide you through, step-by-step, how to intentionally plan a well-crafted story. She shares her knowledge of discovering the parallels between writing a picture book and crafting an engaging story for a public speech. Participants will walk away with renewed confidence as an engaging storytellers in any setting and a wealth of practical storytelling strategies to teach your students, too.

REAL + Innovators' Compass

Relationship building is at the heart of what we do as educators. Let's make it meaningful.

Join this interactive session to discover how REAL + The Innovators' Compass will help learners (students and/or colleagues) gain insight about each other that once took weeks of face-to-face meetings to achieve. This tool is excellent for amplifying the voice (and heart) of the students and/or staff you serve.

Leadership Workshop

Be REAL: Leading a Culture Where Every Learner Belongs

Half-Day, Full-Day Workshop or Extended 2-Day Leadership Institute

Practical strategies leaders can use to help educators build voice-driven, high-engagement classrooms.

What if stronger academic outcomes didn’t require more time—just more intentional culture design? In this interactive workshop, leaders explore how belonging, voice, and authentic relationships fuel engagement and deepen learning. Participants will discover practical ways to help educators cultivate classrooms where learners feel seen, heard, and valued—while still meeting rigorous academic standards.

Participants will:

• Explore how belonging directly impacts engagement and academic achievement

• Learn practical protocols that elevate student voice and meaningful discussion

• Discover strategies that integrate culture-building into everyday instruction

• Leave with tools to help educators create classrooms where every learner feels they belong

Student Assembly

Cannonball-In - Student Assembly

Inspired by Tara's picture book, Cannonball In is beautifully designed to encourage students to get off the sidelines and choose to go "all in" on dreams, ambitions, goals, etc. Cannonball In is designed to motivate participants to discover the skills and strategies needed to make the JUMP and survive swimming in the deep end of life!

You don't want to miss your opportunity to make a splash during this inspirational session!

Family Event

The 3 P's: Parenting in a Digital Age

Screens, gaming, and social media are part of kids’ everyday lives, but navigating them as a parent can feel overwhelming.

Join Tara Martin—parent, former educator, and speaker—for an engaging session designed to help families navigate today’s digital world. Parents will gain practical strategies for setting healthy digital boundaries, understanding the platforms kids use, and helping children build responsible online habits.

Elementary families will walk away with simple tools they can begin using right away.