2024 Unlocking The Power of Literacy (K-5): Full Schedule

8:30am CDT

Morning Keynote: Unlocking the Power of Literacy

Tuesday July 16, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am CDT

Susan Lambert is the Chief Academic Officer, Elementary Humanities at Amplify and the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast. She has worked in all areas of education, from elementary teacher to district administrator, both nationally and internationally. Susan holds advanced degrees in curriculum and educational policy and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in reading science. She regularly consults with districts across the country, both large and small, as they transition to research-based instructional approaches.

Speakers

Susan Lambert

Tuesday July 16, 2024 8:30am - 9:30am CDT
Engage Rooms

Keynote

9:45am CDT

Teaching Reading Fluency: The Critical but Often Neglected Reading Competency

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT

Innovate A

Fluency in reading has been found to be a critical element of any successful reading program (National Reading Panel). Despite its importance, many students fail to achieve sufficiently in this area, and many teachers do not feel completely competent in their knowledge and teaching of this reading component. In this presentation, Dr. Tim Rasinski will provide theoretical and research background and definition of fluency. He will share approaches to assessing and monitoring progress in this key aspect of reading. Finally, he will share effective and engaging strategies for teaching this all-important reading component that will move students toward better comprehension and greater proficiency in reading.

Speakers

Timothy Rasinski

Timothy Rasinski is a professor of literacy education at Kent State University and director of its award-winning reading clinic. He is the author of the best-selling books on reading fluency: The Fluent Reader and The Megabook of Fluency. His research on reading has been cited by... Read More →

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT
Innovate A

Fluency

9:45am CDT

Driving Effective Foundational Reading Instruction Into the Classroom Tomorrow

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT

Inspire B

Participants will begin with instruction on the slide and its importance in the reading classroom. Initial consonants can be practiced with vowels. Learn the three most vital reasons for using the initial bigram v endings in word families. Once placed, teachers often lose valuable instruction time during corrective feedback. This session will explain how to quickly identify mistakes and make corrections while being discrete and maintaining dignity among students using kinesthetic cues. Participants will also identify and learn how to teach five phonetic skills and two decoding skills for reading multisyllabic words.

Speakers

Paul Black

Reading Horizons

Paul Black, Ed.S., NCSP, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Utah, holds advanced degrees in Human Exceptionality and School Psychology from Idaho State University, and recently began his doctoral studies at Loyola University Chicago, where he is focusing on the... Read More →

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT
Inspire B

Foundational Reading Instruction

9:45am CDT

RBIS- Research Based Instructional Strategies in Reading Language Arts

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT

Inspire A

TEA Presentation (Join us for an enlightening session focused on incorporating research-based instructional strategies into your reading and language arts curriculum. This workshop is tailored for educators seeking to deepen their understanding of evidence-based approaches to teaching literacy skills effectively.)

Speakers

BeTina Edwards

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT
Inspire A

RBIS

9:45am CDT

From Talk to Text: Elevating Oral Language Development in the K-5 Classroom

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT

Innovate C

With the recent spotlight on word reading instruction, it would be easy to overlook the equally vital component of language comprehension. In this session we’ll dive into the pivotal role that oral language plays in positioning students for success with reading comprehension. Then, we’ll explore 5 practical and brain-friendly strategies that you can implement immediately in your K-5 classroom to enhance students' oral language skills. Walk away with renewed confidence in your ability to nurture language development to support reading comprehension every day of the year.

Speakers

Kari Yates

Kari Yates has over 35 years of experience in education, including classroom teacher, special education teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, elementary principal, curriculum and staff development specialist, author, speaker, and consultant. Kari Yates is the author of the Heinemann... Read More →

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT
Innovate C

Reading Comprehension, Oral Language

9:45am CDT

Low Prep, No Prep Reading & Writing Routines for Emerging Bilingual Students

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT

Innovate B

Conference participants will learn to use consistent instructional routines for speaking, listening, reading, and writing using "low prep, no prep" strategies to use "in the moment of teaching" to discuss, describe, and debate a variety of text types.

Speakers

Donna Rother

HMH

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT
Innovate B

Reading Comprehension

9:45am CDT

Sparking Curiosity: Engaging Elementary Students in the Art of Inference

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT

Collaborate A

This session will provide teachers with creative strategies for introducing the concept of inference to students. Drawing inspiration from the pioneering work of Tanny McGregor, we will explore innovative approaches to help students transition from concrete to abstract thinking. Join us as we work to transform the way we teach inference!

Speakers

Leigh Anne Frazier

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT
Collaborate A

Reading Comprehension

9:45am CDT

Building Writers Through Sentence Level Work (Grades 3-5)

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT

Collaborate B

In this workshop, participants will explore the essential elements contributing to crafting powerful and impactful sentences. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of sentence-level work's role in building strong writers.

Speakers

Nikki Hagood

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT
Collaborate B

Writing

9:45am CDT

Unlock the Power of Writing with Curipod: Your Ultimate Guide to Writing Excellence

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT

Innovate D

Are you looking for an innovative way to enhance your students' writing? Join me to learn how to use Curipod.com to transform writing instruction in your classroom! The platform's AI feedback capabilities provide personalized writing guidance and support to each student, allowing them to build essential writing skills. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to engage your students and take their writing to the next level!

Speakers

Brent Mischnick

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 9:45am - 10:35am CDT
Innovate D

Writing, Technology

10:50am CDT

Teaching Reading Fluency: The Critical but Often Neglected Reading Competency

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT

Innovate A

Speakers

Timothy Rasinski

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT
Innovate A

Fluency

10:50am CDT

Decodable Texts: Key Tools for Reading Success

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT

Inspire B

Learn about the critical role of decodable text in teaching early reading skills based on the principles of the Science of Reading, why decodable text is essential for beginning readers, and gain practical strategies for effectively incorporating it into their reading instruction.

Speakers

Jessica Bravo Malagon

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT
Inspire B

Foundational Reading Instruction, Decodable Text

10:50am CDT

Erasing the Misery of Reading and Spelling Multi-Syllabic Words

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT

Innovate D

The “lose the rules” approach eliminates stress by teaching students how to use functional strategies and manipulatives to break words into syllables to effectively read and spell big words with ease and accuracy. We will review phonics basics and 6 syllable patterns and learn how to look at words without fear! Our technique is explicit, systematic, and multi-sensory.

Speakers

Shari Zimmer

Really Great Reading

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT
Innovate D

Foundational Reading Instruction

10:50am CDT

Phonemic Awareness: Foundational Skills for Future Reading Success

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT

Inspire A

Phonemic awareness is an essential component of learning to read because it helps students recognize the relationship between written letters and the sounds they represent. In this session we will explore the continuum of phonemic awareness skills and learn how to explicitly teach these skills to students.

Speakers

Tanya Kellerman

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT
Inspire A

Foundational Reading Instruction, Phonological Awareness

10:50am CDT

Unlocking the Potential of Sound Walls for Early Literacy

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT

Collaborate A

Join me in unlocking the potential of sound walls as tools to support reading and spelling development. You will leave with an understanding of what they are, how to set them up, and how to use them.

Speakers

Paola Pineda

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT
Collaborate A

Foundational Reading Instruction

10:50am CDT

From Research to Practice: Empowering Students to Master Encoding and Decoding in Upper Elementary

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT

Collaborate B

In this professional development session, educators will understand the research findings on encoding and decoding skills in literacy education and learn practical strategies to empower students to master these crucial abilities. Participants will view practical classroom strategies and instructional techniques from a practicing teacher’s classroom used to support students in becoming confident and proficient readers and writers.

Speakers

Nikki Hagood

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT
Collaborate B

Reading and Writing

10:50am CDT

From Talk to Text: Elevating Oral Language Development in the K-5 Classroom

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT

Innovate C

Speakers

Kari Yates

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT
Innovate C

Reading Comprehension, Oral Language Development

10:50am CDT

Cultivating a Garden of Original Thought: Nurturing Ideas to Grow Authentic Writing

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT

Innovate B

Explore authentic writing amidst AI's rise. Participants engage in collaborative discussions, revise AI-generated pieces, and analyze multifaceted feedback. Like nurturing a garden, this session equips educators to foster originality and critical thinking, preparing students for the digital age while maintaining academic integrity.

Speakers

Donna Rother

HMH

Tuesday July 16, 2024 10:50am - 11:40am CDT
Innovate B

Writing

12:00pm CDT

Lunch Keynote: Let's Get Back to the Art (and Science) of Teaching Reading

Tuesday July 16, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT

Engage Rooms

With the publication of the report of the National Reading Panel as well as the Common Core Standards, reading instruction has been viewed as a science. (i.e. SoR) Scientific inquiry has identified phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension as key critical reading competencies for students to master. While not denying the need for scientifically validated approaches to teaching reading, it is important to note that teaching reading is also an art – great teachers are both artists and scientists. Yet, the emphasis on the science of teaching reading has diminished artful approaches to reading instruction. In his presentation, Dr. Rasinski will make the case that effective teaching reading is both an art and science, and he will explore ways that reading can be taught both artfully and based on science.

Speakers

Timothy Rasinski

Tuesday July 16, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm CDT
Engage Rooms

Keynote

1:15pm CDT

Reading Starts with Your Ears

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT

Innovate D

One of the major skills underlying the successful decoding of printed words is a purely auditory and oral skill. It may not be 'reading with your ears' in the literal sense, but the sounds we hear in words are what allow us to ultimately pull the print off the page with our eyes when we decode. The session will review the importance of phonological and phonemic awareness as young children are preparing to and beginning to read words. The presenter will then connect research to practice, providing participants with a multitude of fun and developmentally appropriate games and activities that can be used to build students' phonological and phonemic awareness throughout the school day.

Speakers

Shari Zimmer

Really Great Reading

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT
Innovate D

Foundational Reading Instruction, Phonological Awareness

1:15pm CDT

The Importance of Oral Language and Literacy Development

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT

Inspire B

Early literacy is crucial for children's reading and writing skills and can be greatly supported by developing strong oral language skills. This involves expanding vocabulary, mastering sentence structure, and using expressive language. By focusing on oral language development in young children through activities like conversations, storytelling, and discussions, educators and caregivers can establish a strong foundation for future literacy success. Encouraging active listening and expressive language practice further enhances oral language skills, helps children communicate effectively, and prepares them for the literacy challenges they will encounter, ultimately paving the way for them to become proficient readers and writers.

Speakers

Rachel Hart

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT
Inspire B

Foundational Reading Instruction, Oral Language

1:15pm CDT

Sparking Curiosity: Engaging Elementary Students in the Art of Inference

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT

Innovate B

Speakers

Leigh Anne Frazier

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT
Innovate B

Reading Comprehension, Inferring

1:15pm CDT

Maximizing Learning Through Small Group Instruction: Establishing Effective Routines & Procedures

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT

Innovate C

Small group instruction offers a personalized approach to learning, allowing teachers to address individual needs and foster deeper connections with students. However, the success of small group instruction hinges on the establishment of clear routines and procedures that create a conducive learning environment. Through collaborative discussions, hands-on activities, and real-world examples, attendees will leave equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to implement small-group instruction successfully in their classrooms. Whether you're a seasoned educator looking to refine your practice or a novice teacher eager to explore new instructional methods, this session will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies for maximizing student learning through small-group instruction.

Speakers

BeTina Edwards

ESC Region 11

Dr. Elisabeth Ivy

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT
Innovate C

Routines and Procedures

1:15pm CDT

Authentic Writing Grades 2-12

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT

Collaborate B

This session will explore the possibilities of using authentic writing tasks in the classroom to build better writers. We will analyze the connections to the TEKS and a variety of strategies that teachers can use to implement authentic writing effectively. By incorporating authentic writing opportunities, teachers can help students develop essential communication skills they will need throughout their lives.

Speakers

Nikki Hagood

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT
Collaborate B

Writing

1:15pm CDT

Connecting Through Stories: Authentic Read Alouds

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT

Inspire A

Explore "Dialogic Reading," a simple and engaging strategy that empowers students as storytellers in an interactive journey through literature. Learn about this research-backed strategy that fosters literacy and language skills, transforming students from passive listeners to active participants in storytelling. Engage in a lively, hands-on experience, amplifying the joy and impact of read-alouds.

Speakers

Esmeralda Orozco

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT
Inspire A

Writing

1:15pm CDT

Unleashing the Power of Authentic Student Writing: Harnessing Multiple Benefits for Instructional Excellence in the K-2 Classroom

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT

Collaborate A

Discover how authentic writing experiences empower students, enhance their language skills, deepen comprehension, and foster critical thinking. Learn practical strategies to effectively incorporate student writing across various content areas and grade levels, aligning with evidence-based practices in the science of teaching reading. Leave inspired and equipped with innovative ideas to unlock the full potential of your students' writing, creating a vibrant learning environment that cultivates lifelong readers and writers.

Speakers

Dr. Dawn Hogan-Lopez

ESC Region 11

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT
Collaborate A

Writing

1:15pm CDT

Unlocking the Power of Writing Using Reading Response Skills

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT

Innovate A

The reading act is an event involving a particular individual and a particular text, happening at a particular time, under particular circumstances. (Louise Rosenblatt, 1985) Readers can respond to a text in various ways, such as orally, through drawings, or in writing. In this session, we will discuss several methods of reader response, including the use of graphic organizers, journaling, annotations, and text evidence. We will focus on the writing aspect of reader response. Students can engage in reader response before, during, or after reading a text, whether it's read aloud, during small group instruction, or independently. If students have the opportunity to respond to text in each of the ways mentioned, they will become better thinkers as they relate to the texts they read. This will help them become better writers when they are completing SCR's and ECR's.

Speakers

Dr. Pearl Garden

Elementary ELAR Consultant, ESC Region 10

Pearl Garden Ed.D is an Elementary ELAR Consultant at Region 10 Education Service Center working with Kinder - 2nd grade teachers across the region. Her 25 years of service includes elementary classroom instruction, teacher education, and Adjunct Professorships at Paul Quinn College... Read More →

Early Grade Reader Response HyperDoc pdf

Copy of Early Grade Reader Response Notes Page pdf

Accountable Talk Framework (2) pdf

Tuesday July 16, 2024 1:15pm - 2:05pm CDT
Innovate A

Writing, Reader Response

2:20pm CDT

Afternoon Keynote: Shifting the Balance: Bringing the Science of Reading into the Balanced Literacy Classroom

Tuesday July 16, 2024 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT

Engage Rooms

Based on Kari’s groundbreaking book, co-authored with Jan Burkins, this keynote tells the story of their journey into the body of reading research often referred to as the science of reading, acknowledging that rethinking our practices is not only academic and practical work but it is definitely emotional work as well.

Speakers

Kari Yates

Tuesday July 16, 2024 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT
Engage Rooms

Keynote