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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9:30am MDT

Designing Integrated Lessons to Transform Secondary Literacy Interventions

Thursday June 12, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am MDT

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If you have ever worked with middle or high school students with unfinished learning in reading, then you’ve likely struggled to identify evidence-based, age-appropriate, high-quality lessons or materials. This interactive session will introduce and model the key elements every secondary literacy intervention should incorporate into daily lessons and unit plans, as well as provide a step by step guide for how to create these lesson components. During the session, learners will participate in the hands-on creation of a weekly lesson plan for a literacy intervention class, and use resources to develop daily materials for students. Participants will leave with a process for developing their own curriculum moving forward, access to free resources, and the beginning of a unit to use with students that will accelerate their reading growth!

Objectives:
1. Review the key components of an evidence-based literacy intervention model for secondary students
2. Learn the steps and processes for creating an integrated literacy intervention unit
3. Develop and create literacy intervention lesson plans rooted in the Science of Reading
4. Locate resources and develop “high-schoolized” materials to use with students.

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

Faith Howard

High School Literacy Specialist, SCSD#1

I am a 6-12 Literacy Specialist for Sublette County School District #1 in Pinedale, Wyoming. I have created a Literacy Lab class that is a tier 2 & 3 intervention to shore up gaps for struggling adolescent readers in foundational reading skills. Using the Science of Reading and a... Read More →

Thursday June 12, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am MDT
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10:45am MDT

Building Capacity for Early Literacy Leadership

Thursday June 12, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

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Introduction:
When it comes to early literacy, we focus a lot of our time, energy, and resources on professional learning and coaching teachers, and our teachers deserve it! However, we don't always consider the professional growth needs of our school leaders, who are key players in student literacy learning. In this session, participants will learn the key instructional leadership practices necessary for district leaders, principals/assistant principals, and coaches to effectively support teachers in delivering research-based early literacy instruction driven by high-quality instructional materials. Participants will hear video testimonials from school leaders who have participated in targeted early literacy leadership training, gain helpful tools & resources for literacy leadership (including free professional learning modules focused on the science of reading), and reflect on their literacy leadership practices. The session will be presented by SchoolKit, a national professional learning partner organization that has worked with 10+ states and over 80 districts to help them increase the quality of literacy instruction.

Objectives:
Understand and reflect on specific instructional leadership moves that leaders can make to strengthen early literacy 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

Ethan Mitnick

President and Founder, SchoolKit

Ethan is the President and founder of SchoolKit. He leads the 40-member SchoolKit team and provides strategic leadership and guidance for several of SchoolKit’s state and district partnerships. Ethan constantly works to ensure the close connection between SchoolKit's services and... Read More →

Thursday June 12, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
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