Bridges Literacy Conference

This workshop provides educators with information, ideas, and practical suggestions for understanding and educating students who are Multilingual Learners. It will emphasize cultivating collaborative relationships between teachers, students, and families through inclusive cultural practices. It utilizes a hands-on interactive experience that provides educators with diverse tools in language and literacy to engage, inspire, and educate students by sharing their culture and language while developing an inclusive and dynamic environment for student success.

Each year, parents ask why their student is still classified as an English Learner, and many increasingly demand larger numbers of English Learner reclassification. This puts pressure on administrators to find innovative ways to support their teachers. Meanwhile, educators continue to experiment with the latest ELD strategies to re-engage LTEL students. In this session, we will examine our current practices related to ELPAC preparation and engage in an open discussion about why efforts to reclassify more students have not been as successful as hoped. Attendees will leave with practical, ready-to-use digital tools and resources that, when implemented, can positively impact reclassification outcomes.

This highly interactive session explores how to use colorful and fun artwork as disguised literacy prompts for project-based learning experiences that inspire! Participants engage in creative writing games that when “played” in the classroom, build academic and personal confidence in multilingual learners at ALL LEVELS. Attendees leave with strategies to address “Lockdown Learning Loss” and accelerate students’ development of vital skills while increasing literacy, English language development, and elevating self-expression and self-esteem in the process.

Research shows that the major factor in determining a student’s success in and out of the classroom is their social-emotional skills. This workshop demystifies S.E.L. by engaging participants in magical, meaningful, and disguised S.E.L. & literacy activities they can easily transfer to their work with students, particularly during this critical time of “Learning Recovery.” The instructional strategies shared are designed for students to think critically, act empathically, and communicate ideas and feelings confidently while combating “Lockdown Learning Loss.”

Discover the power of wordless picture books in fostering literacy and language development in students. This interactive workshop will guide educators through innovative strategies to engage learners using visual storytelling, enhancing their comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills. Additionally, explore how wordless picture books promote equity for culturally and linguistically diverse students.

Participants will be inspired as they explore the benefits and unique features of wordless picture books and learn how visual narratives can enhance literacy and language skills across diverse student populations. Additionally, they will be inspired to promote equitable teaching practices by gaining an understanding of how wordless picture books provide inclusive learning experiences for culturally and linguistically diverse students and how to create a culturally responsive classroom environment that values and incorporates students' diverse experiences. Finally, participants will leave with strategies to use wordless picture books as a bridge to support English language learners and students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Led by experienced educators and literacy specialists, this workshop offers a dynamic and collaborative environment to explore the potential of wordless picture books. By the end of the session, participants will have a wealth of strategies and resources to create an engaging and language-rich learning experience for their students.

Participants will receive a comprehensive toolkit of resources, including recommended wordless picture books, lesson plan templates, and activity guides to support their continued use of visual storytelling in literacy instruction.