SMALL GROUP SESSIONS

Below is a chart with the titles of the small group sessions and their presenters. For more information about each session, look at the detailed list below the chart.The sessions are listed in the same order. For a printable version (pdf) of these sessions or for information about keynote and featured speakers, click on one of the links at the top or bottom of the page. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to download a PDF.

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS: Friday, February 6th

10:15 - 11:15	11:30 - 12:30
Amy Benjamin, National Consultant and Author But I'm Not a Reading Teacher MS, Secondary Room: Three Sisters	Shauna Altman, Pendleton SD How to Use Power-point to Teach Tough Reading Skills Primary, Elementary, MS Room: Halsey
CANCELLED Ray Brown, Eastern Oregon University Through the Eyes of a Child Upper Elementary, MS, Secondary Room: Sellwood	Susan Fletcher, Children's and YA Author What Happens Next MS, HS Room: Three Sisters
Paula Filler, Full Bloom Strategic    Learning Extreme Survival for Adolescent Readers: Nonfiction Comprehension Strategies Elementary, MS, Secondary, Title I Room: Weidler	Debra A. Franciosi, Project CRISS It's Not Just Strategies: Creating Self-directed Learners Upper Elementary, MS, Secondary Room: Ross Island
Linda Gambrell, IRA Past President Teaching Retelling All Levels Room: Mt. St. Helens	Corlee Frederick and Mary Graff, Rainer SD If You Give a Student a Love of Books Primary, Elementary, Secondary Room: Mt. Hood
Teresa Goetter, Salem-Keizer SD Reader's Workshop in a K-2 Bilingual and/or ESOL Classroom Primary, Title I Room: Broadway	Ginny Hicks, Medford SD Mountain Star and Room to Read Primary and Elementary Room: Broadway
Linda Greenstein, Bethel SD Books A Plenty, Books Galore Elementary and MS Room: Ross Island	Carol Lauritzen, Eastern Oregon University Word Sorting: Why and How Primary, Elementary, Middle School, Title I Room: Mt. Bachelor
Michelle Harris and Lea Molczan, Beaverton SD Using Picture Books to Teach Content at Middle Schools Middle School Room: Morrison	Marie LeJeune and Tracy Smiles, Western Oregon University Multi-genre Writing Invitations for Today's Classroom Elementary, Middle School, Secondary Room: Weidler
Diantha Mollahan, Greater Albany SD Songbooks: Fluency Through Rhyme, Repetition and Rhythm Early Childhood, Primary, Elementary Room: Alaska	Lauren Lunsford, Belmont University Increasing Motivation to Read and Engagement for all Readers Primary, Elementary, MS, Secondary Room: Morrison
Katie Wood Ray, National Consultant and Author On the Importance of Making Books in Primary Writing Workshops Primary Room: Idaho	Maryann Manning, IRA Board of Directors Reflecting on Your Reading Block All Levels Room: Idaho
Julie Rossi and Rea Snyder, Southern Oregon ESD Moving English Language Learners Up the Literacy Ladder All Levels Room: Oregon	Ann Matschiner, Pacific University of Oregon Vision and Reading: What Teachers Need to Know All Levels Room: Hawthorne
Christopher Scadden, Cwerks Interactive Theatre Putting on a Classroom Production Elementary Room: Mt. Bachelor	Dr. Jill Schwimmer, Northwest Christian College Reading Assessment: An Integrative Approach Elementary, MS, Secondary, Title I Room: Sellwood for more info: www.score4reading.com
Jill Schwimmer, Northwest Christian College An Intervention to Create Wonderful Readers - 3rd Grade and Beyond Elementary, MS, Secondary, Title I Room: Hawthorne for more info: www.score4reading.com	Kelly Stuart, Developmental Studies Center Who's Doing the Thinking and Talking in Your Classroom? Elementary and Middle School Room: Oregon
Jim Worthington, Kelly Paris, Doreen Blackburn, Beth LaForce, George Fox University Richard Allington: Methodological Agnostic and Champion of Investing in Good Teaching Elementary, Title I, ESL, Room: Halsey	Shane Templeton, University of Nevada Generative Vocabulary Instruction, Grades 3-12: Morphology, Cognates, and Classical Roots All Levels Room: Mt. St. Helens
Robert Young, Children's and YA Author Writing for Real Elementary and MS Room: Mt. Hood www.realwriting.us	Allison Williams, Zaner-Bloser Educational Publishers The ABCDs of Literacy: Achievement is Built Through Character Development Elementary Room: Alaska

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS: Friday, February 6th — 10:15 - 11:15

Title: "But I'm Not a Reading Teacher"
Presenter: Amy Benjamin, National Consultant and Author
Audience: Middle School, Secondary
Room: Three Sisters
As students move up the grade levels, we expect them to read more and more informational text.  However, many teachers find that students lack the skills to read informational text with full comprehension.  Amy will explain why some students have difficulty transitioning from narrative to informational text. Teachers will learn about strategies that will help students make sense out of textbooks, historical documents, reference tables, word problems, and other academic genres.

CANCELLED
Title: "Through the Eyes of a Child"
Presenter: Ray Brown, Eastern Oregon University
Audience: Upper Elementary, MS, Secondary
Room: Sellwood
Since most students are introduced to the Holocaust through the work Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, this presentation will focus on using other types of literature, including diaries and picture books, to teach about the sensitive subject of the Holocaust.

Title:  "Extreme Survival for Adolescent Readers: Nonfiction Comprehension Strategies"
Presenter: Paula Filler, Full Bloom Strategic Learning
Audience: Elementary, MS, Secondary, Title I
Room: Weidler
Research-based strategic instruction promotes meaningful, engaging connections. This lively, inner-conversation helps students make sense of what they read. Participants will actively apply newly learned techniques to diverse nonfiction.

Title: "Teaching Retelling"
Presenter: Linda Gambrell, Clemson University and Past President of IRA
Audience: All Levels
Room: St. Helens
What can we do to help our students become better at retelling? This session will focus on how to engage students in activities that help them build memory for text and improve their ability to retell both narrative and informational text.

Title: "Reader's Workshop in a K-2 Bilingual and/or ESOL Classroom"
Presenter: Teresa Goetter, Salem-Keizer School District
Audience: Primary, Title I
Room: Broadway
We will explore how Readers’ Workshop can be implemented in a K-2 Bilingual, dual language or ESOL classroom. We will discuss Read Aloud with Accountable Talk, Pair Share, Interactive Writing, structuring independent reading time, Word Work connected to literacy, and the importance of using authentic texts that are culturally relevant. The presentation will be in English and Spanish.

Title: "Books A Plenty, Books Galore"
Presenter: Linda Greenstein, Bethel School District
Audience: Elementary, MS
Room: Ross Island
In this hands on session, come prepared to learn new approaches in language arts and get great ideas for book making with your students. Lots of writing activities and student made books that support a wide range of curriculum objectives will be shared. Participants will make a variety of books, ready to be used in your classroom the next day.

Title: "Using Picture Books to Teach Content at Middle Schools"
Presenter: Michelle Harris and Lea Molczan, Beaverton School District
Audience:  Middle School
Room: Morrison
Use the beautiful language and illustrations of picture books to help integrate all forms of literacy into your 6-8 content area classroom! Make reading aloud a learning opportunity. Experience lessons and discover books to help teach your content in fun, integrative ways. Take strategies back to start using immediately!

Title: "Songbooks: Fluency Through Rhyme, Repetition and Rhythm"
Presenter: Diantha Mollahan, Greater Albany School District
Audience: Early Childhood, Primary, Elementary
Room: Alaska
Help your readers gain fluency skills with lyrical pages and beautiful illustrations in songbooks. Students hear phrasing and patterns of speech during Read Aloud. They practice familiar lines as they sing and read during independent practice. You’ll rediscover songs and poems you learned as a child, and your most reluctant students will thank you!

Title: "On the Importance of Making Books in Primary Writing Workshops"
Presenter: Katie Wood Ray, National Consultant and Author
Audience: Primary
Room: Idaho
Using many examples of very young children’s writing, Katie will demonstrate how children’s book making helps them understand the all important connection between reading and writing.

Title: "Moving English Language Learners Up the Literacy Ladder"
Presenter: Julie Rossi and Rea Snyder, Southern Oregon ESD
Audience:  All Levels
Room: Oregon
Moving English Language Learners up the Literacy Ladder: Simple research-based strategies to help your ELL across all steps of the language acquisition process. This workshop will look at the stages of language acquisition, and provide specific strategies for setting objectives, providing feedback and developing vocabulary for students who need to learn the content of a subject as well as the language of the subject. 

Title: "Putting on a Classroom Production"
Presenter: Christopher Scadden, Cwerks Interactive Theatre
Audience:  Elementary
Room: Mt. Bachelor
Studies say: theatre helps students improve in many subject areas! There are numerous types of productions that can be simple, fun and do-able for teachers and students. We’ll answer the question of “why” and then explore production possibilities with curriculum tie-ins. Come prepared to be active.

Title: "An Intervention to Create Wonderful Readers - 3rd Grade and Beyond"
Presenters: Jill Schwimmer, Northwest Christian College
Audience:  Elementary, Middle School, Secondary, Title I
Room: Hawthorne
This presentation speaks to the notion of actually eliminating a reading problem. It will focus on why (theory), what (methodology), and how (practical application) to intervene and turn children into “wonderful readers” through a constructivist approach. It might even be fun!

Title: "Richard Allington: Methodological Agnostic and Champion of Investing in Good Teaching"
Presenter: Jim Worthington, Kelly Paris, Doreen Blackburn, Beth LaForce, George Fox University
Audience: Elementary, Title I
Room: Halsey
Richard Allington has described himself as a “Methodological Agnostic.” He believes that “investing in good teaching—whether through making sound hiring decisions or planning effective professional development—is the most “research-based” strategy available. This presentation describes a faculty development project in a small Oregon school district using Allington’s six common features of effective teaching.

Title: "Writing for Real"
Presenters: Robert Young, Author
Audience:  Elementary, Middle School
Room: Mt. Hood
Nonfiction writing is the real thing! It is essential to the success of students on state assessments and, more importantly, in life. This hands-on session will focus on the wonderful world of nonfiction and will include strategies and easy-to-use activities that motivate students of all abilities and help connect them to the real world.

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS: Friday, February 6th — 11:30 - 12:30

Title: "How to Use Power-point to Teach Tough Reading Skills"
Presenter: Shauna Altman, Pendleton School District
Audience: Primary, Elementary, Middle School,
Room: Halsey
Learn how to provide engaging, full color presentations for your reading class. Download free educational slideshows. Reading skills covered include: Onomatopoeia, homophones and homographs, drawing conclusions, and author’s purpose. Don’t worry if you are computer “illiterate.” There will also be time allowed for exciting power-point ideas and for questions and answers.

Title: "What Happens Next"
Presenter: Susan Fletcher, Author of The Dragon Chronicles series, Shadow Spinner, Alphabet of Dreams, and more.
Audience: Middle School, Secondary
Room: Three Sisters
In this session teachers learn the method that Susan uses to figure out what happens next when writing a story: how to develop the story’s plot.

Title: "It's Not Just Strategies: Creating Self-directed Learners"
Presenter: Debra Franciosi, Project CRISS
Audience: Upper Elementary, Middle School, Secondary
Room: Ross Island
In this interactive session, discover how research-based strategy and metacognitive instruction and planning can help students become actively engaged, self-directed learners. Originally designed for high school classrooms, this model applies to middle school and upper elementary students as well.

Title: "If You Give a Student a Love of Books"
Presenter: Corlee Frederick and Mary Graff, Rainer School District
Audience: Primary, Elementary, Secondary
Room: Mt. Hood
Inspired by the release of If You Give a Cat a Cupcake we ignited an enthusiasm for learning and writing circle stories. Come join us and learn about the process we went through to involve our elementary school students, staff and high school Writing 121 students in a rewarding literacy event.

Title: "Mountain Star and Room to Read"
Presenter: Ginny Hicks, Medford School District
Audience: Primary and Elementary
Room: Broadway
In this session you will learn about Room to Read and its many wonderful programs to enhance literacy in some of the poorest nations and you will enjoy a story about two special people who visited children in these schools.

Title: "Word Sorting: Why and How"
Presenter: Carol Lauritzen, Eastern Oregon University
Audience: Primary, Elementary, Middle School, Title I
Room: Mt. Bachelor
Students love it and it's good for them! Learn the rationale and research that support word sorts. Leave with an abundance of resources and techniques for doing word sorts with your students.

Title: "Multi-genre Writing Invitations for Today's Classroom"
Presenter: Marie LeJeune and Tracy Smiles, Western Oregon University
Audience: Elementary, Middle School, Secondary
Room: Weidler
This presentation features authentic, purposeful strategies for engaging elementary, middle school and high school students in multi-genre writing experiences. Session includes ideas for using literature and everyday texts as inspiration for student writing. Response strategies will be modeled and student examples shared.

Title: "Increasing Motivation to Read and Engagement for all Readers"
Presenter: Lauren Lunsford, Belmont University
Audience: Primary, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary
Room: Morrison
The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of research-based strategies to increase student motivation and engagement. This presentation will consist of the direct presentation of materials, hands on time with materials, group discussion and collaboration, and a question and answer session.

Title: "Reflecting on Your Reading Block"
Presenter: Maryann Manning, Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, adjunct professor at Chugoku College in Okayama, Japan, and a member of the IRA Board of Directors.
Audience: All Levels
Room: Idaho
Think about the balance of the three I’s (Intentional Instruction, Interaction and Independence) in your reading block. A plan will be presented that helps you organize your precious time.

Title:  "Vision and Reading: What Teachers Need to Know"
Presenter: Ann Matschiner, Pacific University of Oregon
Audience: All Levels
Room: Hawthorne
This presentation will include data collected from a questionnaire regarding what teachers know and need to know about vision and reading. The questionnaire will be discussed with regards to the correct answers and how this information affects teaching reading, working with parents, and eye-care specialists. 

Title: "Reading Assessment: An Integrative Approach"
Presenter: Jill Schwimmer, Northwest Christian College
Audience: Elementary, Middle School, Secondary, Title I
Room: Sellwood
We will focus on how to access reading using an integrative approach. This is a fresh and productive look at a particular style of “running record” that includes accuracy, fluency, and comprehension while encouraging reading at a natural pace. You’ll even have a chance to practice.

Title: "Who's Doing the Thinking and Talking in Your Classroom?"
Presenter: Kelly Stuart, Developmental Studies Center
Audience: Primary, Elementary
Room: Oregon
This session addresses the challenges of teaching reading comprehension and building a caring community. The presenter will discuss lessons that incorporate fiction and expository texts to promote students’ ability to comprehend text while exposing them to the joys of reading. Through video, teacher anecdotes and other examples of students’ thinking in the classroom, participants will explore the importance of talk, responsibility, and the value of cooperative structures. The presenter will discuss a scope and sequence for comprehension strategies instruction and a framework for creating a community in the classroom.

Title: "Generative Vocabulary Instruction, Grades 3-12: Morphology, Cognates, and Classical Roots"
Presenter: Shane Templeton, Foundation Professor of Literacy Studies at University of Nevada, Reno.
Audience: Elementary, Middle School, Secondary, Title I
Room: St. Helens
Generative vocabulary instruction teaches students about 1) the structure of words and how word parts combine—prefixes, suffixes, Greek/Latin roots, and the cognates that English shares with many other languages; and 2) how this knowledge can support students’ learning of both core academic vocabulary and specialized content-area academic vocabulary.

Title: "The ABCDs of Literacy: Achievement is Built Through Character Development"
Presenter: Allison Williams, Zaner-Bloser Educational Publishers
Audience: Elementary
Room: Alaska
Research shows that eighth grade achievement is better determined by third grade students’ social emotional development, rather than their achievement. Learn how to create successful readers and make your classroom a productive, respectful, learning environment by combining literacy instruction that is centered on multicultural literature with character development.

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS: Saturday, February 7th

10:15 - 11:15	11:30 - 12:30
Lauren Armour, Curriculum Associates Using Formative Assessment Data to Differentiate Instruction Elementary, MS, Secondary Room: Sellwood	Aly Becker-Nowicki, AutoSkill RTI: Straight Answers All Levels Room: Mt. Hood
Allen Evans, Eastern Oregon University Reaching New Heights with Notable Global Books Primary, Elementary, MS, Secondary Room: Ross Island	Brad Buhrow, Featured Speaker and Co-author of Ladybugs, Tornadoes and Swirling Galaxies: English Language Learners Discover Their World Through Inquiry Inclination Matters All Levels Room: Idaho
Shari Furtwangler, Springfield SD Intentional Literature: Meeting the Standards with Teacher-Choice Literature: Too Often Curriculum is Mistaken for Standards All Levels Room: Alaska	Susan M. Ebbers, UC Berkeley Graduate Student The Word-Savvy Student Upper Elementary, MS, Secondary Room: Morrison
Ellen Green, Reynolds SD Through Their Eyes: Using Photography to Write and Read Elementary and Middle School Room: Adams	Nellie Edge, Nellie Edge Seminars and Resources, Inc. www.nellieedge.com Discover the Magic of Signing Songs: Enhance All Children's Language, Literacy, Confidence, and Joy! Early Childhood, Primary Room: Alaska
Linda Holliman, Bookworks Consulting, Inc. Literacy Centers: Accountability Primary, Elementary Room: Mt. Bachelor	Michael Hoeye, Featured Author Creativity Q&A All Levels Room: Oregon
E. Catherine Kim, Pacific University of Oregon Textual Enhancement in Reading Instruction: A Way to Accommodate English Language Learners' Language Needs in Reading Comprehension Elementary, MS, Secondary Room: Three Sisters	Linda Holliman, Bookworks Consulting, Inc. Literacy Centers: Management and Organization Primary, Elementary Room: Mt. Bachelor
Stephan B. Kucer, Washington State University-Vancouver Do Reading Speed and Accuracy Really Lead to Better Comprehension? Another Look at Miscues and DIBELS Elementary Room: Jefferson	Chryse Hutchins, Featured Speaker and Co-author of 7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It! Connecting Reading and Writing Under the Umbrella of Comprehension Instruction All Levels Room: St. Helens
Cornelia Paraskevas, Western Oregon University Teaching Grammar through Reading: Close Study of Mentor Texts Elementary, MS, Secondary, Title I Room: Hawthorne	Mindy Legard Larson, Linfield College, Donna Kalmbach Phillips, Pacific University of Oregon, Robert Nava, George Fox University, Tracy Smiles, Western Oregon University, and Amy Lutz, George Fox University Literacy Teacher Education at a Crossroad: Promoting Critical Thinking and Authentic Instruction in an NCLB Environment. Teacher Educators and All Levels Room: Three Sisters
Laura Robb, Author, Literacy Coach, and Teacher Trainer Your Independent Reading Program: The Key to Developing Skilled Readers All Levels Room: Idaho	Lea Mathieu, Ione SD #2 Teaching the Bible as Literature! Secondary Room: Sellwood
Susan Ruckdeschel, University of Phoenix Peer Coaching for Student Writers Elementary, MS, Secondary, Title I Room: Mt. Hood	Donna Shrier, Portland StateUniversity Walk-in Wednesday, Summer Library Early Childhood, Primary, Elementary, MS, Title I Room: Hawthorne
Jill Ann Slansky Ethical Dilemmas in Middle/High School Literature Middle School, Secondary Room: Morrison	Rosemary Siring, Barbara Adams, Charlotte Gant, Anita Phillips, Stacy Shaw, Eastern Oregon University - Gresham The Story in Me: Life and Literature All Levels Room: Ross Island
Karren Timmermans, Pacific University of Oregon Writers' Café Using Children's Literature to Develop Children's Writing Primary, Elementary Room: Washington	Marlene Susnik, Greater Albany SD Teaching Literature Circles Using the Basal Reading Program in the Intermediate Grades Grades 3-5 Room: Adams
Deborah White, Dallas SD Now What? Using Assessment to Plan Instruction Primary, Elementary, Title I Room: Oregon	Kristen Taylor, Teresa Goetter, and Elizabeth Schaefer, Salem-Keizer Schools Metacognition: The Bridge That Brings Reader's-Writer's Workshop Together Primary, Elementary Room: Jefferson
Susan Zimmerman, Internationally-known Speaker and Co-author of Mosaic of Thought and 7 Keys to Comprehension Mosaic of Thought: What is Essential in Teaching Comprehension All Levels Room: St. Helens	Laini Taylor, Author Kids & the "Kidlitosphere" Primary, Elementary, MS, Secondary Room: Washington

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS: Saturday, February 7th — 10:15 - 11:15

Title: "Using Formative Assessment Data to Differentiate Instruction"
Presenter: Lauren Armour, Curriculum Associates
Audience: Elementary, Middle School, Secondary
Room: Sellwood
This session will explore the differences between diagnostic, formative, summative, and benchmark assessments. We will focus on diagnostic and formative assessments and their uses in instructional programs, particularly Response to Intervention and Differentiated Instruction. The group will examine some assessment data for interpretation.

Title: "Reaching New Heights with Notable Global Books"
Presenters: Allen Evans, Eastern Oregon University
Audience: Primary, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary
Room: Ross Island
Presentation of selected children’s and young adult books from the 2008 Notable Books for a Global Society list. NGBS selections represent a variety of genres at all age levels, each with a global/multicultural theme.

Title: "Intentional Literature: Meeting the Standards with Teacher-ChoiceLiterature: Too Often Curriculum is Mistaken for Standards"
Presenter: Shari Furtwangler, Springfield School District
Audience: All Levels
Room: Alaska
What many educators (and central office folks who insist on "fidelity") don't realize is that curriculum in Oregon is dictated by the Oregon State Standards, not by the district purchased curriculum. This session will focus on how to teach the Standards while still using authentic literature. Learn how to be intentional about selections and how to use them to teach critical strategies.

Title: "Through Their Eyes: Using Photography to Write and Read"
Presenter: Ellen Green, Reynolds School District
Audience: Elementary, Middle School
Room: Adams
Do you have struggling writers? Do you wish they would be more motivated to write multiple paragraph essays? This session will address how to motivate reluctant writers through the use of pictures and photography to tell/write stories. Give your students a new perspective.

Title: "Literacy Centers: Accountability"
Presenter: Linda Holliman, Bookworks Consulting, Inc.
Audience: Primary, Elementary
Room: Mt. Bachelor
Linda Holliman, author of the Complete Guide to Classroom Centers, will show you how to create accountability that is easy for the classroom teacher and fun for children. You and your students will have choices in how children Record and Respond at centers. We will also look at the first place you need to start shopping for center materials…you may be very surprised.

Title: "Textual Enhancement in Reading Instruction: A Way to Accommodate English Language Learners' Language Needs in Reading Comprehension"
Presenter: E. Catherine Kim, Pacific University of Oregon
Audience: Elementary, Middle School, Secondary
Room: Three Sisters
This presentation aims to show how a grammatical element can be visually enhanced to attract English-language learners’ attention to form with minimal interruption to meaning comprehension while engaged in reading. Research results on the effects of textual enhancement will be reviewed, followed by the demonstration of how this method can be incorporated in actual reading instruction for English-language learners.

Title: "Do Reading Speed and Accuracy Really Lead to Better Comprehension?"
Presenter: Stephen B. Kucer, Washington State University - Vancouver
Audience: Elementary
Room: Jefferson
Currently, reading speed and accuracy are thought to be a prerequisite to comprehension. The use of Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) as an assessment has become common practice in many schools throughout the country. However, little research actually exists that has examined the relationship among speed, accuracy, and what is actually comprehended. This presentation examines the reading behaviors—speed, accuracy, and nature of miscues—of 36 fourth grade proficient readers and how these behaviors impact comprehension.

Title: "Teaching Grammar through Reading: Close Study of Mentor Texts"
Presenters: Cornelia Paraskevas, Western Oregon University
Audience: Elementary, Middle School, Secondary, Title I
Room: Hawthorne
The objective of the presentation will be to give participants an overview of the ways to look at grammar instruction as a resource using authentic texts as examples. Then participants will be given sample texts for ‘close study’ of features, thus connecting grammar to the construction of texts. Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to determine the main features that characterize each genre based on the sample texts presented.

Title: "Your Independent Reading Program: The Key to Developing Skilled Readers"
Presenter: Laura Robb, Author, Literacy Coach, and Teacher Trainer
Audience: All Levels
Room: Idaho
In this session, Laura will review the compelling research that supports independent practice reading in and outside of school. Using student work and self-evaluations of independent reading, participants will see how discussing book logs, presenting book talks, and book contracts can motivate students to develop, enjoy, and share their personal reading lives with classmates.

Title: "Peer Coaching for Student Writers"
Presenter: Susan Ruckdeschel, University of Phoenix
Audience: Elementary, Middle School, Secondary, Title I
Room: Mt Hood
Participants will learn about the peer coaching process for student writers, its underlying research (why/how it works) and the roles students take on in implementation. Participants will understand and reflect upon the various methods for implementation as they work within their classroom setting: whole class, groups or buddy peer coaching. Through modeling and practice, participants will understand how to execute peer coaching successfully in their classrooms.

Title: "Ethical Dilemmas in Middle/High School Literature"
Presenter: Jill Ann Slansky
Audience: Middle School, Secondary
Room: Morrison
Relevant, engaging questions lead students to dynamic discussions, improved motivation and critical thinking. This PRACTICAL, interactive workshop will model ways to engage students in rich discussions based on Essential Questions and cooperative learning techniques, thus resulting in notable improvements in motivation and comprehension.

Title: "Writers' Café Using Children's Literature to Develop Children's Writing"
Presenter: Karren Timmermans, Pacific University of Oregon
Audience: Primary, Elementary
Room: Washington
The participants will participate in a Writers’ Café, a setting in which writers share ideas and stories to develop their own writing skills. As part of the Writers’ Café session, participants will connect children’s literature to the Oregon Department of Education’s Official Scoring Guide for Writing and share ideas on how to emphasize each trait through a single children’s book.

Title: "Now What? Using Assessment to Plan Instruction"
Presenter: Deborah White, Dallas School District
Audience: Primary, Elementary, Title I
Room: Oregon
Those running records and informal reading inventories are a treasure trove to help you plan your instruction. You just need to know how to read the clues. Come see how you can use the information to improve the reading achievement of your students and track interventions for RTI.

Title: "Mosaic of Thought: What is Essential in Teaching Comprehension"
Presenter: Susan Zimmerman, Internationally-known Speaker and Co-author of Mosaic of Thought and 7 Keys to Comprehension
Audience: All Levels
Room: St. Helens
How do you create a climate of inquiry in your classroom?  How do you push your students’ thinking deeper?  How can you strengthen the reading/writing connection in your classroom?  This interactive session begins with a look at the critical elements of a reader’s workshop.  Participants will actively explore the comprehension strategies, thing-alouds, quick writes, double entry journals and coding texts.  Participants will leave with practical ideas to take back to the classroom, and a deeper appreciation of the need to create a climate of inquiry in the classroom.

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS: Saturday, February 7th — 11:30-12:30

Title: "RTI: Straight Answers"
Presenter: Aly Becker-Nowicki, AutoSkill
Audience: All Levels
Room: Mt. Hood
Dr. John McCook is a national authority and leader in RTI, Response to Intervention. Having authored several books and videos helping schools understand and embrace this process. You will hear straight answers McCook gives to the vital questions asked RTI. If your school is somewhere in the RTI Process, and it likely is, this presentation is a MUST.

Title: "Inclination Matters"
Presenter: Brad Buhrow, Featured Speaker and Co-author of Ladybugs, Tornadoes and Swirling Galaxies: English Language Learners Discover Their World Through Inquiry
Audience: All Levels
Room: Idaho
Kids are naturally curious and in school we want our students to know that their thinking and learning matter. We encourage students to explore topics that interest them and bring their world into the classroom. We want them to wonder and be excited to learn! This presentation will illustrate how through reading their world students fill the room with talk, then write their words and read their words. From personal experiences and content study children launch into inquiries of their choosing. These experiences support students' development of dispositions for readers and writers and artists.

Title: "The Word-Savvy Student (Grades 4-12)"
Presenters: Susan M. Ebbers, UC Berkeley Graduate Student
Audience: Upper Elementary, Middle School, Secondary
Room: Morrison
A Word-savvy students are word curious, word conscious, and aware of word relationships, including relationships across roots and affixes (morphemes). Participants will practice strategies for inferring meaning via morphemes and context clues. This engaging session is filled with word play and etymological explorations, and includes resources from children’s literature.

Title: "Discover the Magic of Signing Songs: Enhance All Children's Language, Literacy, Confidence, and Joy!"
Presenter: Nellie Edge, Nellie Edge Seminars and Resources, Inc. www.nellieedge.com
Audience: Early Childhood, Primary
Room: Alaska
Signing songs helps build an active, joyful community of learners. It keeps students engaged and focused while building enthusiasm and motivation for learning. Add American Sign Language (ASL) to your ABC/Phonics and spelling program. Use ASL for class management. Learn to sign The Pledge of Allegiance, You Are My Sunshine, What a Wonderful World, and others!  Connect oral language to print. Plan now for memorable parent performances and year-end celebrations of language. Comprehensive handout and free Internet resources will support your continued learning.

Title: "Creativity Q&A"
Presenter: Michael Hoeye, Award-winning Author of the Hermux Tantamoq Mysteries and Luncheon Author (www.hermux.com)
Audience: All Levels
Room: Oregon
Michael Hoeye will draw on 40+ years work in the borderlands of art and commerce to answer your questions about creative process; the business and careers of creativity; fostering creativity in yourself and the kids you work with; writing, books, and publishing; and new possibilities for creative work in the twenty-first century.

Title: "Literacy Centers: Management and Organization"
Presenter: Linda Holliman, Bookworks Consulting, Inc.
Audience: Primary, Elementary
Room: Mt. Bachelor
Linda Holliman, author of The Complete Guide to Classroom Centers, will show you how to manage and organize your centers, children, stuff and space so that centers will be successful for you and your children. It takes a lot of thought and planning to ensure centers are purposeful, meaningful and fun for the entire year. Quick tips for long-term results will be shared.

Title: "Connecting Reading and Writing Under the Umbrella of Comprehension Instruction"
Presenter: Chryse Hutchins, Featured Speaker and Co-Author of 7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It!
Audience: All Levels
Room: St. Helens
If a reader is to successfully spot an inference, learning how to write in a way to make the reader think is paramount. When exploring how to tackle expository text, writing to inform others reinforces the reader's ability to identify what's important to remember. Chryse will share ways to enhance your students' success in drawing inferences and determining importance by examining the writing side of these two cognitive strategies.

Title: "Literacy Teacher Education at a Crossroad: Promoting Critical Thinking and Authentic Instruction in an NCLB Environment"
Presenters: Mindy Legard Larson, Linfield College, Donna Kalmbach Phillips, Pacific University of Oregon, Robert Nava, George Fox University, Tracy Smiles, Western Oregon University, and Amy Lutz, George Fox University
Audience: Teacher Educators and All Levels of Teachers
Room: Three Sisters
Classrooms today are impacted by NCLB’s environment of scripted curriculums and high-stakes testing. This panel presentation will offer time for literacy teacher educators to share ways in which they are promoting critical thinking and authentic instruction in their courses. Join us to dialogue and network for change.

Title: "Teaching the Bible as Literature"
Presenter: Lea Mathieu, Ione School District #2
Audience: Secondary
Room: Sellwood
The Bible is a rich source for much of Western literature, art and political thought, yet it is rarely taught in public schools. This session introduces the many genres in the Bible such as myth, commandment, poetry, proverb, history, prophecy, parable and exposition all of which are open to discussion and examples.

Title: "Walk-in Wednesday, Summer Library"
Presenters: Donna Shrier, Portland State University
Audience: Early Childhood, Primary, Elementary, Middle School, Title I
Room: Hawthorne
Are you wondering how to encourage summer reading? Would you like to provide your students access to books in the summer when school is not in session? In this session, you will learn about how you can open up your school library a few hours a week and encourage summer reading through book check out, book clubs and activities. In addition, we will explore some take home reading opportunities to encourage summer reading.

Title: "The Story in Me: Life and Literature"
Presenter: Rosemary Siring, Barbara Adams, Charlotte Gant, Anita Phillips, and Stacy Shaw, Eastern Oregon University - Gresham
Audience: All Levels
Room: Ross Island
Students and their professor from EOU (Gresham) share diverse experiences in their lives and the value that literature contributed in their experiences. Students also present unique ways to share the literature that can be used in any classroom. No more traditional book reports! Extensive handouts and books lists are provided.

Title: "Teaching Literature Circles Using the Basal Reading Program in the Intermediate Grades"
Presenter: Marlene Susnik, Greater Albany School District
Audience: Grades 3-5
Room: Adams
This presentation will focus on using the Basal Reading Program to teach Literature Circles in the intermediate grades. Participants will see examples of student work and leave with handouts that can be used immediately in the classroom.

Title: "Metacognition: The Bridge That Brings Reader's-Writer's Workshop Together"
Presenter: Kristen Taylor, Teresa Goetter, and Elizabeth Schaefer, Salem-Keizer Schools
Audience: Primary, Elementary
Room: Jefferson
Based upon professionals Caulkins, Fletcher, Zimmerman and Harvey, participants will learn how to use one picture book daily to tie Reader's and Writer's Workshop lessons together. They will receive booklists for 10 bilingual genre units focusing on metacognitive strategies. Participants will learn to host author's celebrations and publish student work.

Title: "Kids & the Kidlitosphere"
Presenter: Laini Taylor, Author
Audience: Primary, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary
Room: Washington
Lani Taylor will discuss the opportunities young readers have for connecting online with authors and other book lovers. Via blogging, kids and teens can become an integral part of the same communities as their favorite writers, and become connected to reading in an exciting new way.

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