6:00pm-9:00pm

Registration Open

 Time

Title/Description

7:00am-6:00pm

Registration Open

Using your PALS Data to Form Intervention Groups

Cathy Collier

Too often we give tests and don't do anything with the information. If we are going to take the time to give the test, let's use the data to understand our student's needs. THEN, we can give them what they need.

Hacking the Brain’s Social-Emotional “Superhighways” to Fast-Track Phonics for Reading AND Writing!
Katie Garner

Teach SMARTER, not harder! Discover how to target daily reading and writing (phonics) instruction to the brain’s social-emotional “superhighways” for accelerated learning! In this session, you will learn how to help students forge meaningful connections to abstract phonics skills by engaging the affective, feeling-based centers in the brain. Fast-track reading and writing with this brain-based bundle of “backdoor” teaching tools and change the game of literacy learning in your classroom, school or district!

Worksheet Avengers
Jean Feldman

If we want children to ENJOY learning, then we have to provide engaging activities that will capture their interest and challenge them. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to replace worksheets with games, books, and activities that will meet the needs of a wide range of learners using multiple pathways to the brain.

Assessment is not a proper noun owned by the testing companies: Using Data To Create Powerfully Literate Experiences for All Children Cornelius Minor

Assessment and data are essential components of our shared work. Recently, the terms assessment and “data” have “data” have been used in ways that leave us with an unclear view of who children are, and how to best plan for them. In this session, we will examine what it means to work toward understanding children as fully as possible so that we can craft powerful literacy experiences work for the communities of children that we serve.

9:00am-7:00pm

Exhibit Hall Open

10:00am-11:00am

First Time Attendee Reception

Instructional Coaching for Collective Teacher Efficacy
Lauren Catherwood

Instructional Coaching supports the number one thing research tells us leads to better outcomes for students: collective teacher efficacy. When built correctly, a strong coaching program can have tremendous impact on students and teachers, but it is easy to get wrong. This session will cover the foundational skills and values necessary for Instructional Coaching, the missteps that derail our efforts and ways to avoid them.

Research to Practice
Wendy Phillips

Participants will be informed of the latest research in reading and be provided with suggestions for turning research into practice. This session will highlight the Simple View of Reading and the four-part processing model. The focus will be on the importance of structured literacy and phonemic awareness as components of a comprehensive literacy approach to impact struggling readers such as those with dyslexia.

Awakening Our Dormant Writers
Lynne Dorfman

How can you help students find engaging topics to write about when they are stuck? Join Lynne Dorfman to discover creative idea-generating strategies, including heart maps, memory chains, hand and neighborhood maps, author’s notes, and list making. In addition, explore ways to find out who your writers are at the beginning of the year and to discover a student’s writing identity during independent writing time. Lynne shares SEL practices to help build a community of writers and ready-to-launch practices that can help all students become successful and confident writers. Leave with tips and step-by-step procedures for introducing Lynne's strategies in your own classroom.

Motivating Students to Read through Culturally Relevant Literature
Virginia Massaro

Are your instructional texts culturally relevant? This session will discuss the differences between multicultural and culturally relevant literature and highlight a rubric to help teachers distinguish between the two.

Best Bets for the Classroom 2020
Joan Kindig

Teachers who love to share great children’s books with their children but don’t have the time to read widely, Best Bets does the reading work for you. Books are selected based on reviews , blog mentions, awards, and personal reading. Books from Pre-K through YA will be presented and a handout provided.

11:30am-12:30pm

Keynote Presentation: “What tomorrow looks like: Reflection, Remixing & The Way Forward”
Cornelius Minor
We came to this work because we want a better future. We struggle through the hard parts because there is a vision of a less-hard tomorrow. These outcomes are not guaranteed, however. We know that, as a profession, brighter horizons necessitate purposeful work. When we consider all that we want for children and communities, this work must be done with respect to our unique and shared histories, identities, and social realities. ...and we are just the people artful enough to do it.

12:30pm-1:30pm

Lunch/Exhibit Viewing

Reading and Writing Graphic Novels in the Classroom
Tom Angleberger

Graphic Novels can launch new readers AND writers! After discussing GNs, learn how to give kids the tools to make their own.

Creating Tall-Tales
Bil Lepp

In this session we will explore the methods of using gradual exaggeration to lull listeners into believing the wildly untrue, as well as language tricks, joke creation and the educational uses of tall tales.

Impacting Tomorrow K-5
Jill Nogueras

Using the 2017 English Standards of Learning in Today’s Classroom- Participants will receive an overview of the changes to the 2017 English Standards of Learning and explore how to integrate strands in order to provide a comprehensive literacy program for all students. We will review best practices and look at ways to dive deep into the standards and align instruction to match the rigor and relevance necessary for a successful English/Reading academic program.

Teaching Empathy Through Children’s Books
Joan Kindig

It is a long-held belief that books help readers develop their sense of empathy. Books and stories take readers out of their own life situations and let them vicariously live in the worlds that other children inhabit. Think immigration, loss and grieving, absent parents, etc. If children walk in other peoples’ shoes, the likelihood of the developing empathy is strong.

Abracadabra! Making Tricky Irregular High-Frequency Words Sticky with Heart Word Magic
Joan Macenat Charles

What does it take for a word to get anchored in our sight word memory? Why is it difficult for some students to recognize words instantly? How many sight words should we teach? This session will answer these questions and more as participants learn the missing piece that can make tricky irregular high-frequency words “sticky.”

Classroom Libraries as Mirrors and Windows: Building a Better World by Providing Students with Books that Reflect the Diversity of Our Students
Elizabeth English

Literature serves as a mirror when readers see themselves reflected back. It serves as a window when it offers unique perspectives, stirs the imagination, challenges thinking, and opens the heart.

Working Together: Developing and Sustaining Family Engagement
Deborah Fewster, Lisa Aker, Emily Altizer

When families are engaged students become better readers. We will look at ways you can engage families that will make a proven impact on students.

Administrator’s Session: Fluency is the Bridge, Comprehension is the Destination

Laura Stewart, Sponsored by Zaner-Bloser

Fluency is often considered the “bridge” which allows beginning readers to shift cognitive energy from decoding to comprehension. How does this happen? What role do foundational skills play in laying the groundwork for fluency? What are the best ways to develop fluency? How important is instruction in comprehension strategies? What about text? Join us as we address these and other questions in this informative session for literacy leaders.

"Too Many Letter Sounds…Too Many Phonics Rules…Too Many Sight Words…” Using Brain Science as a Roadmap to Fast-Track Phonics for Reading!
Katie Garner

Did you know that the brain has a backdoor for accelerated learning that is easily hacked into? Using brain science as a road map, discover how to target instruction to “backdoor” social-emotional learning systems that transform hard phonics skills into child’s play! Take advantage of learning loopholes rooted in brain plasticity, and take away brain-changing knowledge and “backdoor” teaching tools that will leave you armed and ready for Monday morning!

Radford Reading: Preservice Teachers Impacting 1st Grade Reading Achievement
Don Langrehr, Kelly Wheeler

This session explores the eighteen year-long Book Buddies partnership between Radford University and the Radford City schools that delivers a highly successful tutoring program to striving first grade readers.

A systems-based view of reading disabilities and children who struggle to read
Pamela Sulivan, Ottilie Austin

This workshop will examine reading disabilities via Bronfenbrenner's systems theory and participants will use the framework to work through provided case studies of struggling readers.

What’s New? Virginia Readers’ Choice Primary and Elementary Book Talks (2020/2021 book lists)
Tamara Teaff, Jane Field

Brief book talks for each of the titles chosen for the 2020/2021 list, accompanied by lesson ideas to promote the books.

Using Graphic Novels to Develop Social-Emotional Skills
Lisa Cipolletti, Laurie Duncan

Graphic novels appeal to a diverse audience and increase engagement. Join us as we explore the use of graphic novels to develop social-emotional skills.

Looking under the Hood: Examining What Drives the PALS Instructional Oral Reading Level
Michele Burke, Lisa Tyree

PALS is, by design, a broad-stroke measure. Do not let one number block your view of the bigger picture. Multiple tasks work together to create the Instructional Oral Reading Level. Discover how to target what matters most.

New Directions in Books For Young Readers
David Adler

The world of children's books keeps changing. It's often a challenge for librarians and teachers to keep up. It's surely difficult for writers. David will talk about what he sees happening. He will take you from his first book "A Little At A Time" through the first chapter book revolution, the changing approach to biographies and math books for young readers to the increasing demand for books for first readers. His talk will be spiced with many odd publishing stories.

“Just as New Jersey has Bruce Springsteen, West Virginia has…Bil Lepp.” – Goldenseal Magazine
Bil Lepp

Bil Lepp is an American storyteller and a five-time winner of the West Virginia State Liars' Contest. He performs at storytelling festivals around the nation and is a regular performer at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He takes something that is totally insignificant and pushes it into reality. Come and experience a performance like non-other! Prepare to be entertained by the hilarious and talented Bil Lepp!  

Impacting Tomorrow 6-12
Jill Nogueras

Using the 2017 English Standards of Learning in Today’s Classroom- Participants will receive an overview of the changes to the 2017 English Standards of Learning and explore how to integrate strands in order to provide a comprehensive literacy program for all students. We will review best practices and look at ways to dive deep into the standards and align instruction to match the rigor and relevance necessary for a successful English/Reading academic program.

Breaking Down Vocabulary Roadblocks
Cathy Collier

Vocabulary is one area that is dividing our students unnecessarily. One of the key indicators of students' success in school, on standardized tests, and indeed, in life, is their vocabulary. This session will have practical ideas and authentic examples of vocabulary lessons for the primary classroom. Participants will be able to take ideas back to school and implement them quickly.

Building Student Engagement through Voice, Choice, and Cause:
Empowering Listeners, Speakers, Readers, Writers, and Thinkers as Change-Makers
John Slagle

This interactive hands-on session will immerse teachers and literacy leaders in powerful multi-modal interactions designed to build student engagement and strengthen the comprehensive literacy skills of every learner.

3:45pm-4:15pm

Afternoon Break

4:15pm-5:30pm

Keynote Presentation: Social Justice and the Instructional Level: A Model of Inconsistency
Timothy Shanahan
Sponsored by McGraw Hill
Social justice demands equity in education. Nevertheless, most teachers teach reading with books far below grade level. This approach has long been taken because of the presumed learning benefits that it holds for these children. However, research challenges this idea. This presentation will explore the research on teaching children with challenging text and will provide a practical demonstration of how this can be accomplished successfully in the classroom.

5:30pm-7:00pm

Welcome Reception

7:00am-5:00pm

Registration Hours

7:15am-8:45am

Breakfast with Eric Litwin
*additional cost to attend

7:30am-4:30pm

Exhibit Hall Open

8:00am-9:00am

Breakfast with Exhibitors

Student Ambassador Session: Successfully Entering the Profession of Teaching

Valerie Robnolt, Katie Hilden, Tammy Milby

Student ambassadors will participate in a discussion of relevant educational issues for pre-service teachers including the job application and interview process. Ambassadors will learn tips from experienced educators on navigating the literacy demands of the profession of teaching.

Book Access is a Game Changer for All Readers

Colby Sharp

Books matter. Books impact student achievement. Books make life better. Colby will highlight researched strategies how to build successful school and classroom libraries. He will show the power of book ownership, the importance of cultural and social access to books, and meaningful family-community reading engagement. Colby and his staff at Parma Elementary are on a mission: increase book access for all of their students.

The Power of Joyful Reading in The Classroom
Eric Litwin

Get ready to sing, dance, and fall in love with shared reading. Learn how joy and engagement help our students love books, enjoy reading, and build a strong reading foundation. Eric’s presentation is fun and practical. He demonstrates simple participation techniques such as music, movement, call and response, and repetition. And, he explains how to put them to work in your classroom. With his guitar and dynamic singing voice, Eric will have everyone singing, dancing and grooving.

The Delicacy of Dreams: The Power of Imagination
Nikki Grimes

As a child, the character Gabriella was discouraged from daydreaming, especially in the classroom. But was she doing something wrong? That's one of the questions asked in Words With Wings, a novel about daydreaming. In this session, Grimes explores the power of daydreams, and the ways flights of fancy, when harnessed, can enhance the reading and writing experience.

Ending Book Deserts: Book Access for All
Molly Ness

What is a book desert and what does the research around book access reveal? As 32 million children lack access to books in their homes, schools, and communities, this session aims to address book access as an issue of social justice and equity. As we understand the impact of book deserts, we also explore the innovative approaches to getting books into the hands of students. Whether you teach in a book desert or a book flood, this session will inspire you to advocate for book access.

Exploring the Ever-Evolving World of the Reading Specialist -- Literacy Coach
Jennifer Jones Powell

The title of Reading Specialist once referred to a role that centered on readers who struggle. In some settings today, Reading Specialists not only focus on readers, but also on teachers in the role of Literacy Coach. Come explore tools and techniques for navigating the role of Literacy Coach in your school.

You Gotta Read Bobcats Read! How One Elementary School’s Intentional Decision Making Impacted Classroom Instruction
Alisha Demchak, Dr. Elizabeth Korab

Forging a building wide reading culture takes purposeful decision making both at the administrative and classroom level. Hear how one principal's literacy decisions inspired the instruction happening within the classroom.

Why is Organization Important in Argumentative Writing?
Dana McCaleb

Whether in history, science, or literature classes, students often have to choose a claim or position, take notes, organize their reasons, and persuasively write about them. For argumentative papers, they need to present and document evidence derived from their research. In this session, participants will be introduced to the Proficiency in Theme Writing: Persuasive and Argumentative Writing Strategy developed by the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. With this strategy, students use a graphic organizer, the “TOWER Diagram,” to plan, organize, and write an argumentative theme. Additionally, students learn how to make notecards, create reference lists, use in-text citations, and use sophisticated transitions. Once students learn how to use the TOWER Diagram, it will enable them to write argumentative themes at a new level of complexity typically required for high school and college courses.

Developing a VSRA Presentation into an Article Submission for Reading in Virginia
Allison Ward Parsons

In this session, learn about the process of developing a conference presentation into an article suitable for submission to VSRA’s peer-reviewed journal, Reading in Virginia.

Close Reading with Notice and Notes
Michelle Pancorvo

This workshop will assist teachers in supporting their students with Close Reading of text. Notice & Note is a Close Reading strategy, developed by Dr. Kylene Beers and Dr. Robert Propst. They have identified signposts that occur in all fiction and nonfiction texts. Teachers will explore what these signposts are and the anchor questions that go with each signpost to help students read literary texts with deeper understanding. When students are motivated and engaged in text this will cultivate that love of reading, which will empower students with knowledge and grant them successful careers and life-long learning. Teachers will also be given a book, provided in the workshop, to prove that these signposts occur and how they can use this strategy in their classroom(s) immediately.

"Too Many Letter Sounds…Too Many Phonics Rules…Too Many Sight Words…” Using Brain Science as a Roadmap to Fast-Track Phonics for Reading!
Katie Garner

Did you know that the brain has a backdoor for accelerated learning that is easily hacked into? Using brain science as a road map, discover how to target instruction to “backdoor” social-emotional learning systems that transform hard phonics skills into child’s play! Take advantage of learning loopholes rooted in brain plasticity, and take away brain-changing knowledge and “backdoor” teaching tools that will leave you armed and ready for Monday morning!

10:00am-10:30am

Morning Break

10:30am-11:30am

Keynote Presentation: Making a Case for Reading Joy
Donalyn Miller
Adults who continue to read long after formal schooling ends read because they find some intellectual or personal enjoyment. Unfortunately, too many young readers endure reading experiences at school that disconnect them from reading enjoyment or actively discourage it. Donalyn Miller, award-winning Texas teacher and author, describes the conditions, rituals, and instructional opportunities that engage young people with reading and set them on the path to reading joy for a lifetime.

11:30am-12:30pm

VCRE Meeting

11:30am-12:30pm

Lunch/Exhibit Viewing

A More Interactive Classroom - Getting Them Involved!
Susan Hoch, Jessica Kidd

Are you wanting to get your students more involved in their learning? The answer can be found in a more interactive classroom through reading, writing, research & content. Integration through thematic units is the key to a fun, interactive & engaging classroom that encourages your students to want to know more.

The Unassuming Picture Book
Nicole Sheffield, Marieke Jones

How many of you have walked past a picture book and ignored it because you teach middle schoolers? Picture books are not just for elementary classrooms. In this session, learn how to reinforce your content while infusing a variety of engaging literacy strategies. Picture books provide information, experiences, points-of-view, and are relatable to a variety of learning styles and levels of students.

Growing a Culture of Literacy through Cross Cultural Collaboration
Tracy Hough, Lisa Brown

Come hear how a small international school in Central Asia is implementing literacy ideas from Lead with Literacy by Mandy Ellis. This small school, with a mix of students and teachers from several countries, is working hard to create a culture of literacy. Through face to face PD and Skype calls with a former reading specialist, elementary teachers enjoy discussing their own personal reading lives and then learning a variety of ways to promote literacy with their students.

Letter Lessons and First Words: Low Drama Phonics for Sensible Teachers
Heidi Anne Mesmer

Refresh your phonics practices at this session with new research, strategies, and techniques including: word prompting, sounding out a word, using inductive tension, book walks, and letter cycles.

G. Neri and the Time Traveling Dinosaur Detectives of Antarctica!
Greg Neri

How far would you go for a good story? Author G. Neri went all the way to Antarctica and turned his experience into a series of STEM-related adventure comics for urban youth, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. In the first one, he teams up with a team of paleontologists to capture the search for the first dinosaurs and lost forests of Antarctica. Subsequent episodes will cover the bizarre alien world underneath the ice shelf, the southern-most active volcano in the world, the great explorer huts and the drive to the South Pole, how to catch cosmic rays and prep for a landing on the moon Europa, and the mysterious mummified seals of the polar desert, the Dry Valleys.

The Power of Poetry: Turning On Reluctant Readers

Nikki Grimes

April may be National Poetry Month, but poetry can play a valuable role in the curriculum year-round. In this presentation, Grimes explores the impact of her own poetry, as well as the work of some of the leading children's poets writing today. In addition, she shares anecdotes from teachers who use poetry in their classrooms to great affect, proving just how powerful poetry can be as a tool for literacy. Handouts for this session include a writing prompt.

Creative Thinking and Engineering Design: Integrating STEM and English in the elementary classroom
Taylor Snow, Anne Peterson

Participants will explore the connection between engineering design, science, mathematics and literacy through engaging in a design challenge. This hands-on session will provide engaging teaching strategies that can be implemented to support discipline standards and cross-curricular instruction.

Access for all Students through Universal Design for Learning

Chuck Blevins

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a research-based set of principles to guide the design of learning environments that are accessible and effective for all. Now endorsed by federal policy and that of many states and districts, UDL informs work in educational research and design, professional learning, workforce development, and publishing. This session will explore how the UDL framework guides the design of instructional goals, assessments, methods, and materials that can be customized and adjusted to meet individual student needs.

Spotlight on Effective Literacy Programs

Facilitator:
Dr. Tammy Milby

Panelists:
Kristen Schmidt, G.W. Carver Principal
G.W. Carver Staff

What are some characteristics of effective school literacy programs? Come to this panel session to hear more about G.W. Carver in Salem City. G.W. Carver is the winner of the VSRA Exemplary Reading Program award for 2018-2019. Come find out how this innovative school is implementing efforts to improve achievement and enhance literacy learning. Walk away with some new ideas for your own program!

1:45pm-3:00pm

Keynote Presentation:
The Glass Castle: Demon Hunting and Other Life Lessons
Jeannette Walls
Drawing from her compelling memoir, The Glass Castle, which has been adapted into a major motion picture, Jeannette Walls shares anecdotes from her childhood and from throughout her life, demonstrating that we all have more in common than we think and that our flaws can be our greatest assets. With a powerful message of confronting your past and facing your fears that resonates with audiences everywhere, her story of triumph makes audiences walk away with a positive attitude toward the "demons" in their lives.

3:00pm-3:30pm

Afternoon Break

Read Like a Detective: Building High-Impact Comprehension Strategies for K - 2 Students
Stacey Leitzel

Standards reflect a belief that real learning comes from engagement with challenging text accompanied by appropriate teacher scaffolding. Teachers in the primary grades typically introduce their students to complex nonfiction and fiction literature through read-aloud experiences and focus much of their energies on building the foundational skills (decoding and word recognition) of reading. While this is still valid, it is important that educators begin to examine more closely how they can build a strong foundation in comprehension WHILE building instructional strategies that allow us to teach even our youngest readers to read words and make meaning simultaneously. “There is substantial evidence that children become much better comprehenders if they are taught to use the active comprehension processes that skilled readers use. As is true for phonemic awareness and word recognition skills, students do not seem to discover sophisticated comprehension strategies through immersion in reading alone” (Pressley, 2006, p. 433). “Each student’s personal toolbox of strategies is filled over the course of many years of instruction beginning in the primary grades. Selection of engaging texts and intentional discussion of strategies for deep processing of those texts is a key for the kind of deep reading of complex text called for within states’ adopted standards” (Barclay & Stewart, 2015, p. 32).

Fun Phonics: Tips and Tricks to Make Word Study the Center of Your Balanced Literacy Block
Elsie Lund

Don’t look away because we said the “P” word! The purpose of this session is to take a deep dive into the FUN world of phonics instruction. Teachers will learn how to plan out their word study blocks. This session shows examples of: phonemic awareness activities, phonics focuses, direct, guided, and independent instruction in order for teachers to learn the magic components in making a successful word study lesson.

The Writing Process in the STEM Lab: Increasing Student Literacy Through Inquiry
Taylor Snow, Anne Peterson

Participants will learn how literacy and the writing process support inquiry learning in the STEM classroom and how the scientific and engineering processes can support writing and research skills in the humanities.

"Have Courage and Be Kind": How Critical Literacy Can Encourage Empathy
Mary Tackett, Donna Fogelsong

Being critical can be kind! How a Critical Literacy lens can encourage students to develop empathy as they challenge, analyze, and examine perspectives in response to children's literature.

Writing Their Way Into History!
Leslie La Croix, Michelle Canavan, Andreia Searcy

See how third-graders and graduate students use double-entry journals to discuss Virginia Readers’ Choice text The Boo-Boos that Changed the World (Wittenstein, 2018). Participants will discover unique strategies for integrating Virginia English and History SOLs.

Exploring the Expanding Role of the Reading Specialist
Katie Hilden, Jennifer Jones Powell

Come participate in a panel discussion with Reading Specialists, Literacy Coaches and university professors. We will discuss pathways to becoming a literacy leader and explore the many, diverse roles of Reading Specialists.

FINDING THE ROOTS: The stories behind the stories
Joseph Bruhac

A presentation focusing on how some of my books came to be and the importance of finding the deepest roots of such stories. I’ll talk about the importance of listening and patience in traditional cultures and how that has affected my process. I’ll also touch on how—for any writer— it is vitally important to listen to, learn from, and acknowledge those closest to the history and traditions that truly are the heart of a story.

The Thinking/Writing Connection: Uncovering Cognitive Processes to Elevate Writing Instruction

Rachelle Kuehl

Several cognitive processes must work together for a writer to create meaningful text. By unpacking the Cognitive Process Theory, this session will equip participants to deliver more impactful writing instruction.

Supporting the development of academic language in all classrooms for EL's
Carmen Kurek, Jessica Costa

This session will discuss building academic language and its importance for supporting English Learners in all classrooms. During this session, participants will also build understanding of English Learner proficiency levels and what they can do with the language. Participants will learn strategies for building academic language within the English classroom as well as identifying and supporting the academic language demands embedded within grade-level Standards of Learning.

6:00pm-8:30pm

Annual Banquet: Windows, Mirrors and an Extra Adjective
Grace Lin
*additional cost to attend
When we talk about diverse books, we often talk about "windows and mirrors." But what does that mean? And why is it important? In this extended presentation of Grace's TEDx talk, Grace shares childhood anecdotes and her path to publication, including how she learned to embrace the “multicultural” adjective.

7:30am-9:00am

Membership and State of VSRA Breakfast
Lester Laminack
*additional cost to attend

Boosting Writing Motivation for Struggling Learners Through Authentic Writing and Self-Regulating Practices
Mei Shen, Marta Albert

Prior research documenting the relationship between writing motivation and writing achievement is reviewed, followed by demonstration of how to boost students’ writing motivation through authentic writing activities and learning of self-regulation skills.

Putting Books to Work
Grace Lin

We often hear that "diverse" books just don't circulate, that kids don't gravitate towards them. If we take this as true, how do we change that? Grace shows ways you can encourage kids to pick up a book that might not be an obvious mirror and open the door for reading diversely. Using her experiences as a child, a mother and an author as examples, Grace talks and discusses ways that we can use books as tools to integrate diversity into our kids' lives.

Writers ARE Readers: Use Reading Structures and Strategies to Nurture More Powerful Writers
Lester Laminack

To be a good writer you must first be able to read deeply and understand author’s intent. In this workshop, Lester Laminack will show you that the key to successful writing is harnessing the power of close reading. You will learn how your students can transfer what they know about reading structures and strategies into practices that will hone their writing skills and help them become more focused writers.

Executive Skills and Reading Comprehension: Building Better Comprehenders
Kelly Cartwright

Many times, our students seem to have all of the necessary skills they need to be good readers (things like phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension strategies, to name a few), but somehow they still struggle with putting all of these things together in order to comprehend texts. In this session, we will dig a bit deeper than the familiar skills listed above to explore essential thinking skills, called executive skills, that form the foundation for successful reading comprehension. The session will provide insights and take-home strategies for helping students achieve a more meaning-focused approach to print.

Teachers as Readers: Starting and Maintaining a Thriving Teachers’ Book Club
Marcie Atkins

A Teachers as Readers book club can get teachers excited about new diverse reads. Find out how a teachers’ book club can trickle down to diverse book clubs for students.

Supporting vs. Challenging Teachers: Finding the Balance in Coaching
Jennifer Hathaway

Come learn about ways to differentiate the support you offer to teachers. Responsive approaches to coaching will be shared as well as tips for deciding when it is helpful to take a more directive role as a coach.

Virginia Readers' Choice: Middle and High School Selections for 2020-2021
Valerie Robnolt, Vicki Mayfield, Jeannie Pfautz

The presenters of this session are members of the Virginia Readers’ Choice committee and will share the titles on the Middle and High School lists for 2020-21.

Simply Stations K-5: What Does the Rest of the Class do While I'm working With Small Group
Debbie Diller

Do you dream of having the rest of your class working successfully while you meet with a small group? Debbie Diller, author of multiple books on literacy work stations, has been studying this topic for almost 25 years and knows how to deal with the reality you face on a daily basis! Join Debbie as she shares her wisdom and time-tested tips to help you effectively (and efficiently) manage meaningful work for your class during small-group time. This full-day session will introduce you to literacy stations that provide engaging, authentic partner practice that focuses on what kids can do. You’ll leave this session with many practical ideas, including how to set up stations, introduce them, manage them, and add interesting content to keep stations long-lasting. We’ll focus on having students use academic vocabulary as they practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing at a variety of literacy stations.

Captivating Biographies for Young Readers
Lena Beason

In this workshop, you will learn the tremendous benefits of teaching biographies to young learners. Using two popular collections written just for kids along with thought provoking picture books, we will discuss how these stories promote character development while supporting a multitude of objectives. By reading true tales of adventure, your students will identify with situations of main characters and realize that ordinary people can change the world!

10:15am-10:45am

Morning Break

Refugee: Building a Better World Through Critical Novel Discussions
Rachelle Kuehl

Critical discussions of a novel illuminating refugee families’ experiences can foster needed compassion and understanding. This session describes a critical approach to sharing Alan Gratz’s Refugee with middle-grade students.

E-books and Emerging Literacy: Digital World - Human Touch
Carla Bell

Using data from dissertation research and experiences with young children, the presenter offers guidelines /strategies that adults can use to jointly engage with e-books and enhance a child’s developing literacy skills.

Seven Habits of a Highly Effective Literacy Teacher
Angelica Blanchette, Mary Tackett, Tammy Parlier

Through a collaborative and constructive process, participants will engage in round table conversations and panel discussions to reimagine Covey’s (2015) Seven Habits of Highly Effective People from a literacy perspective.

Building Empathy and Understanding of English Learners (for Students who Seldom Encounter Them) through Sharing Children's Literature

Jeradi Cohen, Isaac Willis Larison

Building knowledge and empathy of cultures and communities outside of one’s own may be limited for some educators. But, children’s literature continues to provide venues to augmenting understanding of diversity.

Puppet Pals, FlipGrid, and Technology! Oh, My!
Lisa Earp, Leslie Murrill, Alison Clifton

Following the Yellow Brick Road, we’ll meet technology tools; Puppet Pals, FlipGrid, and Creative Commons; and explore using them to create and share books. Bring your own device!

The Art of Comprehension: Using Art as a Scaffold to Teach Inferring
Laurel Roeder

Participants will learn how to use mood structures and elements of art to teach students how to make inferences. Participants will use Access Lenses to guide students to deeper understanding.

Fueling Independent Reading Through Student Goal Setting
Beth Sanderson, Amy Juengst

A resource-rich session about the power of student-set reading SMART goals. Participants will receive goal setting forms, tips for conferring, and ideas for monitoring reading growth across the year.

Virginia is for History Lovers
Steven Smith

Steven K. Smith, author of The Virginia Mysteries, will share how his popular middle grade series uses history in fiction to inspire reading and complement classroom social studies learning.

Bridging Perspectives and Expanding Horizons with Diverse Children’s Literature
Katie Kelly

Diverse children’s literature can expand the reader’s view of themselves and the world around them. Books serve as bridges connecting the reader’s previous assumptions with new perspectives and understanding. As a bridge, the book allows the reader to look back to their point of origin and reflect on their identity, biases, and their place within a larger pluralistic society. It also allows readers to cross to the other side expanding their perspectives and gaining new insight. In doing so, the reader opens their minds and hearts and becomes inspired to make the world a better place.