AGENDA
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Registration
7:00 am - 4:15 pm
Welcome & Awards
Merit Chapter Awards
James D. Mullins Leadership Award
International Projects Scholarship
8:00 am - 8:20 am
General Session: Reading Engagement: A Rich Site for the Improvement of Literacy and Wellbeing
Gay Ivey
8:20 am - 9:20 am
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Exhibit Hall Open
9:20 am - 9:50 am
Break
9:50 am - 10:50 am
From PALS to VALLSS: What Now? (K-3)
Christine Scarpinato
Vocabulary Matters: A Dozen Dynamic Ideas for Providing Students with Vocabulary Products (K-5)
Cathy Collier
Supporting Flexible and Strategic Word Work (K-6)
Lisa Aker
Supporting Struggling Older Readers (4-HS)
Beth Estill
Finding Story in Virginia’s "Hidden History" & "Unsung Heroes" (and helping students LOVE research!) (MS/HS)
L.M. Elliott
Decodables
Amy Wolford
Building the Foundation: Understanding and Strengthening Phonological and Phonemic Awareness
Keegan Wilson
400 Breakout Series
Break
10:50 am - 11:10 am
11:10 am - 12:10 pm
Multilingual Learners and Science-Based Reading Instruction (K-6)
Stephanie Tatel
I Scored Average...I Can Still Have Skill Gaps in My Phonemic Awareness (Pre-K-6)
Jared Tschohl
Beyond the Book: Innovative Literacy in Middle and High Schools (MS/HS)
Sarah Putnam & Kathryn Blessing
A Pathway to Knowledge
Gina Kutcha
“Liter-AT” Using Technology to Support Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities
Dana McCaleb & Matthew Newton
Older Students Still Learning to Read Words: Insights from Research and a Call for Thoughtfulness Moving Forward (4-HS)
Gay Ivey
500 Breakout Series
12:10 pm - 1:40 pm
Lunch (on your own)
12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Student Ambassadors & VCLE
How the Science of Learning Should Undergird a Science of Reading Classroom (K-HS)
Kristin Conradi Smith & Gail Lovette
Engaging Families in Literacy (K-3)
Kayleigh Critzer
Improving Comprehension with ANY Text (Even if you have to use a basal!) (K-6)
Savannah Campbell
Empowering Students through Multicultural Literature that Celebrates Diversity
Valerie Robnolt
Boosting Reading Fluency: Proven Strategies to Help Struggling Middle School Readers Thrive (MS)
Danielle Kreassig
Virginia Readers’ Choice
Kim Aker, Laurie Gingrich, Valerie Robnolt, Charles Richards, Katie Hilden & Teresa Johnson
Systematic Phonics Instruction is Key to Helping All Students Get on the Road to Reading
Cat Rutledge
600 Breakout Series
1:40 pm - 2:40 pm
2:40 pm - 3:00 pm
Break
General Session
Matt Tavares
Awards
Technology & Literacy Grant
Young Writer's Grant
3:00 pm - 4:15 pm