What if students could graph how a character’s motivations change over time, track the shifting balance of power during a historical event, or map a species’ response to environmental factors? In this 1.5 hour workshop, teachers will explore how Behavior Over Time Graphs (BOTGs) bring ELA, science, and social studies content to life through visual analysis. Discover engaging, classroom-ready strategies that help students chart patterns, relationships, cause-and-effect, and turning points while deepening comprehension and discussion. Participants will learn how BOTGs can support systems thinking across disciplines—from character development and ecosystems to historical movements, economics, and societal change. Perfect for elementary and secondary teachers looking to make abstract thinking more engaging, analytical, and student-centered.
Upon successful completion of this class, participants will receive 1.5 hours of recertification credit.
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Time: 4:15 p.m. - 5:45 P.M.
Location: Virtual through the Pima County School Superintendent's Office
Cost: $25
Facilitators:
Christine In-Albon: Christine is an educator, gifted education specialist, and
environmental scientist with more than 30 years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, and educational leadership. Most recently, she served as Coordinator of Gifted and Advanced Learners for the Vail School District, supporting gifted programming, professional learning, and student identification across the district’s schools. Throughout her career, she has taught middle school science, gifted language arts and social studies, and innovative high school honors courses including Desert Ecology, AP Seminar, and integrated environmental science programs. Before entering K–12 leadership, she co-founded and directed the Coastal Conservation Foundation, an international nonprofit dedicated to environmental education and marine conservation in Arizona and Mexico. Her work reached thousands of students and supported significant conservation efforts.
She holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona and earned her teaching certification and gifted endorsement through Prescott College. Her work has been recognized through numerous state and national awards for excellence in education and innovation.
Mary Garcia: Mary is the former Gifted and Advanced Learning Curriculum
Coordinator for the Vail Unified School District, where she led the development and implementation of gifted and advanced learning programming for students across the district. With more than 30 years of educational experience spanning elementary to post-secondary education, she has taught and designed programming in areas ranging from robotics and STEM enrichment to Advanced and Honors English, gifted education, and literacy instruction.
Mary’s educational experiences in both Syria and the United States shaped her belief in the power of perspective, connection, and community. She is passionate about creating learning experiences that extend beyond the four walls of the classroom and inspire students to engage deeply with the world around them. She is an active member of the Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented and the National Association for Gifted Children.
