Embracing Literacy 2025 Events

Introduction:
Research in adolescent literacy clearly shows that understanding word meaning increases content knowledge and comprehension. In this session, we will introduce research-based instructional practices that teachers can use to select content-rich and critical words for focused instruction. Next, we will explore with teachers how to use teacher assessment and student self-assessment to inform instructional practices in vocabulary, including assessments at the beginning of instruction to gauge where students are, during instruction to understand how students are progressing in knowledge development, and after instruction to determine next steps for the future. Finally, and most importantly, we will provide engaging and meaningful vocabulary instructional tools for use across disciplines that are designed to develop sophisticated and flexible knowledge of key words. The format of the session will be interactive, applied, and engaging. Participants will be given resources that can easily be adapted to their own classroom settings.

Objectives:
1. Identify content-rich and critical words for focused instruction
2. Assess students’ knowledge of word meanings throughout the instructional process
3. Provide engaging and meaningful opportunities for students to learn word meanings.  

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?

What do phonemic awareness and letter knowledge have in common? They both contribute to the development of the alphabetic principle. Children's reading development depends on their understanding of this important principle – the idea that letters and letter patterns represent the sounds of spoken language. This fundamental knowledge and integration of phonemes and graphemes prepares children for reading and spelling. Utilizing key findings from research, educators will build on this understanding and leave with practical tools aligned to structured literacy principles to embed multisensory instruction of letter names, shapes, and sounds into their daily instruction. 

Objectives:
•   Define the alphabetic principle
•   Discuss considerations for integrating phonemic awareness and letter/sound instruction early on to promote reading •   Discuss the importance of letter name accuracy and automaticity
•   Identify iconic and non-iconic letters
•   Discuss the benefits of teaching letter formation using a continuous stroke and how explicit instruction helps                 children anchor letter names into memory 

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?

Introduction:
Family engagement plays a vital role in student success, particularly in literacy. This workshop equips educators and district administrators with the tools and plans to host their own Family Literacy Night. Using free resources from the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE), participants will explore strategies to engage families, demonstrate structured literacy practices, and create interactive, hands-on activities. The session provides practical ideas and take-home resources to help families understand and support their child's literacy development at home. 

Objectives:
Gain actionable ideas for hosting their own Family Literacy Night, fostering meanginful school-to-home literacy connections

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?

Introduction:

What does it take to truly strengthen reading outcomes? It starts with coherence. Using the reading rope as a guiding framework, this session explores how educators can unify foundational skills and knowledge-building instruction to create a comprehensive and equitable literacy approach. Participants will examine how each strand contributes to skilled reading, and how to intentionally weave them together in planning, instruction, and intervention. Grounded in research and designed for immediate application, this session offers tools and strategies to support every learner and strengthen systemwide literacy outcomes.


Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the components of the reading rope and how each strand contributes to proficient reading development.
2. Analyze the importance of coherence between foundational skills and knowledge-building instruction for equity and impact.
3. Apply practical strategies and tools to integrate and strengthen instructional practices across the strands of reading development.

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?