Keynotes

Dr. Keith Lenz brings more than 40 years of research and classroom experience to every keynote. His presentations are practical, research-based, and built to energize teachers and leaders with ideas they can use the next day. Each keynote can be tailored to your audience, from teachers and instructional coaches to school and district leaders, and can be paired with a follow-up workshop for deeper implementation.

Coherence by Design: Teaching in SMARTER360 Cycles of Instruction

Students learn best when instruction connects, from the big ideas of the course to the goals of each unit and the focus of each lesson. This keynote introduces SMARTER360 Cycles of Instruction, a framework that guides teachers through seven steps (Shape, Map, Analyze, Reach, Teach, Evaluate, and Revisit) to plan and teach in connected cycles that serve every learner.

Participants will leave with:

• A clear picture of how course, unit, and lesson planning fit together
• The seven SMARTER steps and how they guide everyday planning
• Ideas for reducing planning overload by focusing on what matters most

Making Content Stick: The Power of Content Enhancement Routines

Many students struggle not because content is too hard, but because they cannot see how the pieces fit together. Drawing on decades of research, this keynote shows how Content Enhancement Routines such as the Course Organizer, Unit Organizer, and Lesson Organizer make content organized, understandable, and memorable for the whole class.

Participants will leave with:

• How visual organizers and teaching routines make thinking visible
• Why explicit structure helps all students, not only those who struggle
• Practical first steps for using the routines in any content area

Teaching Students How to Learn

Students who know how to learn become confident, independent learners. This keynote explores how teachers can explicitly teach learning strategies for reading, listening, note taking, studying, and expressing knowledge, so students can take charge of their own learning across subjects.

Participants will leave with:

• An understanding of what makes a learning strategy effective
• How to teach a strategy so students actually use it
• Ways to build strategic learning into existing lessons

Structure Is Not an Accommodation: Rethinking Inclusive Instruction

In inclusive middle and secondary classrooms, teachers are asked to reach a wider range of learners than ever. This keynote makes the case that clear, explicit structure is an essential condition for learning, not an extra support for a few, and shows how well-designed instruction can serve students with learning disabilities alongside their peers.

Participants will leave with:

• A practical way to think about access to rigorous content
• Planning moves that support diverse learners without watering down content
• Ideas for collaboration between general and special educators

Time to Teach: Getting Back Lost Instructional Time

Low-level disruptions quietly drain hours of learning every week. As a Time to Teach trainer, Dr. Lenz shares proactive, research-based classroom management strategies that help teachers stay calm, build relationships, and keep students focused on learning.

Participants will leave with:

• Strategies for preventing problems before they start
• Calm, respectful ways to respond when challenges arise
• Ideas for building strong teacher-student relationships

Teaching Smarter in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence is changing how teachers plan and how students learn. This keynote offers a grounded look at how AI and open educational resources can support thoughtful instructional design, while keeping sound teaching principles and the teacher’s professional judgment at the center.

Participants will leave with:

• A realistic view of what AI can and cannot do for teaching
• Examples of AI-supported planning grounded in research-based practice
• Guiding questions for using AI tools responsibly in schools

Bring Dr. Lenz to Your School or Event

Keynotes typically run 45 to 90 minutes and can be delivered on-site or online. To check availability or discuss a topic tailored to your goals, please request a quote or call (501) 358-8715.