Embracing Literacy 2025 Events: Full Schedule

We’re excited you’ll be joining us for these upcoming professional learning opportunities! June 9th sessions are available exclusively to registered participants of the Language and Literacy Symposium. From June 10th –12th, all registrants of the Embracing Literacy: Soaring with Language and Literacy Conference are welcome to attend a wide range of engaging sessions designed to elevate language and literacy practices across our communities.

We look forward to learning and growing together!

Add sessions to your personal schedule to register your attendance (Check-In).

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10:00am MDT

Optimizing Your ELA Reading Block to Master Critical K-5 Foundational Skills

Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MDT

Salon 5

Soaring with Language and Literacy Conference

As a K-5 educator, you know how critical the daily reading block is for developing strong readers. It must be intentionally structured to give students time to meaningfully practice and apply foundational literacy skills. How well does your current ELA instruction meet your student's foundational skill needs? Are you noticing skill gaps in your data that need to be urgently addressed? During this session, we will provide non-negotiable criteria to look for when evaluating ELA instruction for teaching foundational skills.

Objectives:
• Identifying features every literacy educator needs to look for in a strong K-5 foundational skills program of instruction
• Considering program evaluation tools to understand how they are used to guide the review process
• Defining evidence-aligned vs. evidence-based resources - what’s the difference and why are both important?
• Streamlining your ELA resources and discussing why “de-implementation” is necessary
• Learning why assessment and instruction alignment across tiers is a game-changer within a cohesive MTSS framework

Attendees will leave this session with actionable guidance on reducing and closing foundational skill gaps by optimizing daily reading instruction to create confident readers at every grade level.

Credit Reflection Questions: Applying Learning to Practice

What new insights did you gain from the presentation, and how did they connect to your existing knowledge or experience?
In what ways did the presentation deepen or enhance your understanding of the topic?
How do you plan to apply what you learned in your work? Who will benefit from it, and what changes or improvements do you expect to see?

Speakers

Laura Stewart

Chief Academic Officer, 95 Percent Group

I am an educator and organizational leader. I have proudly served as a classroom teacher, building and district administrator, adjunct professor, and director of numerous professional development initiatives around the country. Before joining 95% Group, I was the Chief Innovation... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am MDT
Salon 5

10:45am MDT

Turning Data into Action: Post-Screening Decision Making in Early Literacy

Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

Salon 5

Participants will delve into the critical process of utilizing universal screening data to enhance literacy outcomes within a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. This session will guide educators through practical data analysis and collaborative strategies. Key components will include understanding universal screening data, making data-driven decisions, leading effective data meetings, continuous progress monitoring, and instructional adjustments. By the end of this session, participants will be equipped with practical strategies to transform screening data into actionable steps, leading to improved literacy instruction and student outcomes.

Credit Reflection Questions:

What new insights did you gain from the presentation, and how did they connect to your existing knowledge or experience?
In what ways did the presentation deepen or enhance your understanding of the topic?
How do you plan to apply what you learned in your work? Who will benefit from it, and what changes or improvements do you expect to see?

Speakers

Dr. Erin Pzinski

PZ Literacy, LLC

A Wyoming native, Dr. Erin Pzinski is the K-12 Literacy Facilitator for Weston County School District #1 in Newcastle, a National LETRS Facilitator, and a graduate of the Reading Science Doctoral program at Mount St. Joseph University. Early in her career, Erin participated in LETRS... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Salon 5

1:15pm MDT

30,000 ft. Overview of Dyslexia

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm MDT

Salon 5

The purpose of this presentation is to provide attendees with an understanding (or better understanding) of the definition of dyslexia, common characteristics broken down by age groups, be able to identify common myths and misconceptions and discuss with peers best instructional practices surrounding dyslexia. Attendees will be provided a work packet to actively engage in the presentation to help solidify their understanding of the aforementioned topics.

Objectives:
By actively participating in engaging activities, participants will gain a better understanding of dyslexia by learning characteristics of dyslexia, identifying common myths and misconceptions and best practices surrounding dyslexia instruction.

Credit Reflection Questions: Applying Learning to Practice

What new insights did you gain from the presentation, and how did they connect to your existing knowledge or experience?
In what ways did the presentation deepen or enhance your understanding of the topic?
How do you plan to apply what you learned in your work? Who will benefit from it, and what changes or improvements do you expect to see?

Speakers

Amy Gulley IDA CDS; CALT; M.Ed Literacy and Curriculum

CEO/Dyslexia Specialist, A2 Literacy Consulting and Tutoring LLC

I am the owner of A2 Literacy Consulting and Tutoring. I love to talk about anything literacy and dyslexia!Tutoring: We offer specialized one-on-one tutoring services to address the diverse needs of those we tutor. Our customized approach ensures effective and enjoyable learning experiences... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm MDT
Salon 5

2:30pm MDT

Accelerating Progress with a Speech to Print Intervention

Wednesday June 11, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT

Salon 5

Introduction:
In this session, we will explore the rationale of a speech to print (S2P) approach to teaching reading while noting some important differences to many phonics programs. We will examine the S2P advantage and provide practical examples of instructional strategies that will accelerate student progress in closing reading gaps.

Objectives:
Explain and apply several speech to print instructional strategies to accelerate progress in the small group intervention setting.

Credit Reflection Questions: Applying Learning to Practice

What new insights did you gain from the presentation, and how did they connect to your existing knowledge or experience?
In what ways did the presentation deepen or enhance your understanding of the topic?
How do you plan to apply what you learned in your work? Who will benefit from it, and what changes or improvements do you expect to see?

Speakers

Crystal Lenhart

Literacy Consultant, LenPo Learning

Wednesday June 11, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT
Salon 5

2:30pm MDT

Turning Data into Action: Post-Screening Decision Making in Early Literacy

Wednesday June 11, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT

Salon 5

What new insights did you gain from the presentation, and how did they connect to your existing knowledge or experience?
In what ways did the presentation deepen or enhance your understanding of the topic?
How do you plan to apply what you learned in your work? Who will benefit from it, and what changes or improvements do you expect to see?

Speakers

Dr. Erin Pzinski

PZ Literacy, LLC

Wednesday June 11, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm MDT
Salon 5