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 presentation will inspire educators by demonstrating the joy and curiosity that mathematizing children's books can bring to math instruction. Participants will learn how to integrate literature into math lessons, creating meaningful connections between mathematical concepts and students' real-world experiences. Educators will leave equipped with practical strategies to foster understanding, motivate students, and make math accessible—especially for those from diverse backgrounds—by using literature to enhance both language and mathematical literacy. This approach helps children engage with math in ways that resonate with their lives, making learning more inclusive and effective.

This session will be in Spanish!

Preparing for the CAASPP ELA Performance Task can not be something that happens three times a year or only in the third quarter. Students need to learn the skills and have access to planning tools to be able to write independently before March. Participants will learn how to incorporate a multi-paragraph written response for weekly texts read in class. They will gain an understanding of how creating the writing task before students begin reading, will focus the reading instruction and strengthen both student reading and writing. Participants will leave with tools to be able to develop their own writing tasks that can be aligned among grade levels with consistent organizational tools and vocabulary. Come hear how one grade level increased their student's writing practice and in return saw huge gains on their CAASPP ELA scores.

How do we prepare our most vulnerable elementary students to read? How do we begin? This session is urgent and timely. Now, more than ever, we must double-down on instructional evidence-based practices that are proven to accelerate student learning in reading; it is about equity of instruction. In this session, administrators and teachers will learn how to use MTSS to build instructional capacity to improve reading outcomes through the Science of Reading. Now is the time to innovate, develop a plan, and commit to preventing reading failure and creating a better future for our students.

This session aims to inspire, educate, and equip educators with strategies that not only enhance language and literacy skills but also empower students to take ownership of their learning. By focusing on student agency, participants will discover how to create a classroom environment where students actively engage, make choices, and connect their learning to their interests and experiences. The objective is to explore creative, student-centered strategies that build language and literacy skills. In addition, learn how to foster student agency by offering choice, voice, and meaningful engagement in learning activities. Lastly, develop an action plan to implement these strategies, tailored to the needs of diverse learners.

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.

This session equips educators and administrators with research-based strategies to develop students' phonological awareness skills, a foundational component of reading success. Grounded in the Science of Reading, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the critical role phonological awareness plays in literacy development and how it serves as the cornerstone for reading proficiency. The presentation will bridge the gap between theory and application, offering insights into effective, developmentally appropriate practices that foster early literacy growth in young learners.

Through an exploration of phonemic awareness—a key subset of phonological awareness—attendees will delve into its components, such as sound blending, segmenting, and manipulation. The session will highlight evidence-based practices and practical classroom strategies designed to target these essential skills. Additionally, participants will gain perspectives on implementing these strategies effectively at the classroom level while considering the broader vision and support needed from an administrative standpoint.

Student data will be used to show the positive impact of a systematic approach to literacy instruction and intervention.  We will share our Fruitvale journey and how we developed and continue to refine a multitiered literacy support system.  Participants will hear about how we designed and implemented our system based on a multitiered approach that they can implement in their classroom, school or district.  

My experience improving students' oral reading fluency through Reader's Theater, informed by the work of Dr. Chase Young and Timothy Rasinski, has yielded remarkable results.  I implemented it three years ago, easily integrating it into daily instruction without a significant time commitment, and students showed impressive growth within months. I am eager to share this easy, effective and fun strategy with fellow educators seeking to enhance their students' reading abilities.

Any subject you teach can provide the perfect context for practicing communication skills. Embed literacy instruction - reading, writing, speaking/listening, and vocabulary - in authentic and engaging ways. In this active session you will practice simple, use now strategies and routines that will improve students' oral and written abilities--without them even knowing it!

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.