• EUP Literacy Alliance- Literacy Summit 2019

    October 04, 2019

  • Keynote: Opening Minds - Using Language to Change Lives
  • Presenter Description Date Time Location
    Peter Johnston Apprenticing students into literacy is easier if we recognize the significance of student engagement and what that requires, treat literacy and learning as social practices, and take seriously the fact that the teacher is not the only source of learning in the classroom. This talk shows what is possible when children learn how to think together as a community and how to capitalize on rather than fight some of children's natural tendencies. 10/4/2019 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM LSSU, Cisler Center, Superior Room

  • Session A 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM (Select only one break out session during this time block)
  • Title Presenter Description Date Time Location
    Choice Words Peter Johnston Consider joining Peter Johnston on his explanation on how language impacts student agency.

    Whenever I consider the concept of student agency I am always drawn back to “Choice words : how our language affects children’s learning” by Peter H. Johnston, 2004. In particular, chapter 4 “Agency and becoming strategic”, in a very concise & practical way clarifies what student agency is, what it looks like and how we can have a powerful impact on learning.“Children should leave school with a sense that if they act, and act strategically, they can accomplish their goals. I call this feeling a sense of agency.”“The spark of agency is simply the perception that the environment is responsive to our actions, and many researchers argue that agency is a fundamental human desire.”    		 10/4/2019 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM LSSU, Cisler Center, Superior Room
    Promoting Language Development in our Classrooms PK-4 Chad Waldren Developing language for literacy success across the years is so critical. This session will look at ways our classrooms can invite language-rich conversations and experiences for all children. The session will begin by setting the stage with Michigan’s Literacy Essentials across prekindergarten to fourth grade- including the importance of letters, sounds, and vocabulary in our work. This will ground us in what’s best for children in language and literacy development. We will then explore effective instructional opportunities (in individual, small, and whole groups) to expand language (letters, sounds, and words) with children. 10/4/2019 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM LSSU
    Interactive Writing K-3 Meghan Block This session will focus on effective practices to implement and strengthen interactive writing instruction to support students' writing performance. Through the use of sample lessons, videos, and artifacts, this session will outline tips for successfully implementing effective interactive writing instruction in the elementary classroom. 10/4/2019 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM LSSU
    Reading Like a Writer, Writing Like a Reader Kathryn Roberts Reading and writing are interconnected processes, and understanding of one supports understanding of the other. Too often, we ask students to write texts that look drastically different than the texts they love to read and vice versa, severing that connection. In this session, participants will learn about the reading-writing connection and how to leverage each to support the other in content-area learning.

    3-8 ELA and Content Area Teachers    		 10/4/2019 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM LSSU
    Word Work- Moving beyond rote memorization to meaningful application Wendy Miller Research has shown that teaching phonics systematically and explicitly allows children to effectively navigate and apply codes with their corresponding sounds. In this session, participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of our complex code and learn effective strategies when working with codes & their corresponding sounds. Finally, detailed word work scripts will be handed out and participants will be able to watch videos of highly effective word work lessons along with time to think about how they could be incorporated into their literacy block. 10/4/2019 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM LSSU, Cisler Center, Anchor Room

  • Session B 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM (Select only one break out session during this time block)
  • Title Presenter Description Date Time Location
    Promoting Language with our Families PK-4 Chad Waldren Have you ever found it difficult to talk with families language? This session will unpack the language possibilities available for families to support at home and in their community. This session will briefly overview what we know from research in working with families around language and literacy. Opportunities will be presented for engaging families, anticipating challenges, and how to connect to best practices in family literacy and language use. 10/4/2019 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM LSSU
    Interactive Writing PK Meghan Block Writing in the pre-kindergarten classroom is critical. This session will focus on effective practices to implement and strengthen interactive writing instruction in the pre-kindergarten classroom. Through the use of videos and artifacts, this session will outline tips for successfully implementing effective interactive writing instruction in the pre-kindergarten classroom. 10/4/2019 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM LSSU
    Literacy Alliance Focus Forum 1 Donna Fieblekorn Contribute to the continued improvement of literacy programs and practices that are essential for all EUP students! This interactive session will engage Literacy Summit participants in generating a vision and framework for the EUP Literacy Alliance, the recently formed group of concerned community members that organized and convened today’s event. All are welcome to join the conversation. 10/4/2019 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM LSSU, Lake Erie Room
    Captioning History Kathryn Roberts Captioned images are among the most frequently used graphical devices in informational trade and text books, and yet often overlooked or misunderstood by students who are unaware of how they can be used to support or further understanding. In this session, we will first briefly look at the role that text features play in content-area reading, in general, and then engage in activities around both comprehending and creating captions in ways that support content-area learning.

    Grades 3-8 ELA and Content Area Teachers.    		 10/4/2019 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM LSSU
    Small Group & Individual Instruction- Utilizing a framework to plan effectively and efficiently Wendy Miller Small group instruction is a crucial component found within a comprehensive literacy block. Many educators find planning for small groups tedious and time consuming. In this session, participants will learn about a framework that will allow them to plan for their small groups both effectively and efficiently. Participants will also learn specific strategies to utilize before, during and after reading. 10/4/2019 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM LSSU, Cisler Center, Anchor Room

  • Session C 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (Select only one break out session during this time block)
  • Title Presenter Description Date Time Location
    Language Connections in PK-4 Chad Waldren Chad Waldren Breakout Session 3 10/4/2019 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM LSSU
    Interactive Writing 4-8 Meghan Block Though typically used as an instructional activating in the early grades, interactive writing can be beneficial to writers in older grades. In this session, we will explore important components of interactive writing lessons for older students and will explore how teachers can use interactive writing to further support their students’ writing. 10/4/2019 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM LSSU
    Literacy Alliance Focus Forum 2 Repeat Session Donna Fieblekorn Contribute to the continued improvement of literacy programs and practices that are essential for all EUP students! This interactive session will engage Literacy Summit participants in generating a vision and framework for the EUP Literacy Alliance, the recently formed group of concerned community members that organized and convened today’s event. All are welcome to join the conversation. 10/4/2019 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM LSSU, Lake Erie Room
    Getting Serious about Graphic Novels Kathryn Roberts Graphic novels are frequently praised for their ability to draw in and engage young readers, and just as frequently discounted as less sophisticated or less intellectually challenging reading. While graphic novels do tend to engage young readers, they can also be a powerful vehicle for everything from teaching multi-modal comprehension, to supporting cognitive flexibility and content learning. In this session, participants will engage as learners, exploring the unique text features and communicative modes of graphic novels, and then learn several instructional strategies for teaching with and about graphic novels.

    Grade 3-8 ELA and Content Area Teachers    		 10/4/2019 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM< LSSU
    Phonological vs. Phonemic Awareness Wendy Miller Would you ever build a house that has no foundation? No? Then why are we teaching children how to read without a solid phonemic awareness foundation? Our English Language is both beautiful and complicated all at the same time. The complication arises from the inconsistencies found within our codes and sounds. In order to navigate this challenge children must be able to manipulate sounds, which is at the core of decoding and encoding. In this session, participants will understand the difference between phonological awareness and phonemic awareness and the importance of getting down to the individual phonemes. Finally, participants will walk away with hands on phonemic awareness activities in order to build and strengthen the reading foundation for all students. 10/4/2019 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM LSSU, Cisler Center, Anchor Room