SoMLA 2022 Virtual Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome to the 2022 State of Maryland Literacy Association Conference. This is Maryland’s 50th annual conference! The three day event is packed with exciting opportunities for professional development, networking, and examining exemplary materials for classroom use. This conference is intended for a wide-range of audiences including classroom teachers, reading specialists, special educators, curriculum specialists, administrators, and other educators. There is a variety of high caliber speakers, researchers, practitioners, publishers, and authors that are presenting throughout the conference, as well as the pre-conference "Session Saturday" presentations. You may apply for CPD credit through MDSE by filling out this form. To qualify, you must have attended 15 hours total. This includes time you spent engaged in "Session Saturday" presentations. Please fill out all of the information. Incomplete requests will not be filled. Requests will be cross referenced with attendance from "Session Saturday" presentations and on the weekend of March 31-April 2nd 2022. If you participated for the required hours, you will receive a credit. Please be patient, you will receive your form.

If you have not yet registered, do so today by going to Eventbright.

For general questions, contact the Conference Coordinator, Gayle Glick at ggayle56@aol.com.

9:00am EST

Language as a Tool for Empowerment and Equity

This presentation will explore contemporary research on classroom language and dialect policy, student reflections, and instructional practices that empower students to value their linguistic heritage and lived experiences

Speakers

Chelsea Taylor, Aimee Piedmonte Silvoy

Chelsea Taylor has been a literacy coach at James M. Bennett High school for the past three years. Before this position, she had taught as a 10th grade English teacher for five years. Chelsea is currently in her fourth year of the Ed. D program at Salisbury University and is getting... Read More →

Saturday January 8, 2022 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

Company Gr 5-8, 8-12 middle/Secondary)

10:00am EST

Get to a Well-Managed Literacy Classroom While Avoiding “Management”

Say goodbye to behavior charts and rewards and consequences. Instead, establish routines and build relationships so you avoid “management” and create a culture where everyone has a voice and thrives.

Speakers

Berit Gordon

Consultant and Author, Keynote Speaker

Berit Gordon is an author of books for teachers, as well as a coach and supporter to schools across the country. Before consulting, Berit taught in NYC public schools and in the Dominican Republic. She is a graduate and former instructor at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her... Read More →

Saturday January 8, 2022 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

11:00am EST

Teaching Content Area Vocabulary to Young Children

A hands-on method for planning and implementing content area vocabulary instruction with young children in preschool or kindergarten. This method can be used with any content area.

Speakers

Tara Johnston

Doctoral Candidate, University of Maryland/Classroom Teacher, Reading Specialist, College Professor, Special Educator, Session Saturday Presenter

Tara Burke Johnston is a doctoral candidate in literacy education at the University of Maryland with teaching experience in early childhood, elementary, middle school, and college classrooms. She is a certified reading specialist and has experience with literacy coaching, reading... Read More →

Saturday January 8, 2022 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

11:00am EST

“It depends where I am in my life, whether I love reading or not’: Challenges and Opportunities for Fostering the Personal Reading Lives of Teachers.”

This presentation examines the personal reading lives of teachers (and other literacy professionals). Specifically, why do personal reading lives matter and how to foster healthy reading lives for ourselves and others.

Speakers

Matthew Sroka

Clinical Assistant Professor of Literacy, Mercer University

Matthew Sroka is a clinical assistant professor of literacy eduction at Mercer's Tift College of Education. He is also an associate editor of the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy.

Saturday January 8, 2022 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

9:00am EST

Theory into Pedagogy: Enabling Equity in Online Literacy Education

This session will draw direct connections between literacy theories aligned with equity and equitable instructional design practices and considerations that teachers can employ within online educational spaces.

Speakers

Haley Cristea

University System of Maryland, Salisbury University/Instructional Designer, Classroom Teacher, College Professor, Session Saturday Presenter

For over five years, Haley Cristea has been assisting faculty at Salisbury University with their pedagogy and design strategies for online and hybrid courses. Haley is currently working towards her doctorate in Literacy Studies at Salisbury University with an interest in the multimodal... Read More →

Honor McElroy

Salisbury University, School of Seidel/Instructional Designer, Classroom Teacher, College Professor, Session Saturday Presenter

Honor McElroy’s educational career began as a high school teacher in Western Northern Carolina. She then worked at international schools in the Caribbean and the Middle East. Currently, she is a doctoral student and graduate research assistant in Literacy Studies at Salisbury University... Read More →

Saturday January 22, 2022 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

Audience Grade 8-Post-Secondary

10:00am EST

Democracy and Social Justice: Using Argument in the Secondary Classroom

Today's students are often faced with a number of social challenges that are part of their worlds, including racism, substance abuse, identity questioning, death, poverty, and violence. In this session, presenters will explore the potential for integrating quality young adult literature that connects the construction of argumentative writing.

Speakers

Rebecca G. Harper

Augusta University/Associate Professor of Language and Literacy, Augusta University

Session Saturday PresenterTitle: Democracy and Social Justice: Using Argument in the Secondary ClassroomSession Description: Today's students are often faced with a number of social challenges that are part of their worlds, including racism, substance abuse, identity questioning... Read More →

Saturday January 22, 2022 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

Audience Grade 6-12 (Secondary)

11:00am EST

Literacy and Content Learning with the Justice League

Let the Justice League save the day for struggling unmotivated readers in content classrooms with comic book context texts. Leave with lessons you can use tomorrow and ideas for designing your own graphic text-based lessons.

Speakers

Jason Allen

Session Saturday Presenter/Assistant Professor

Jason Allen is an Assistant Professor of Education at Shepherd University. He current serves as the Coordinator of Social Studies Education within the University’s School of Education. Before this, he taught social studies, sixth to twelfth grade for over 15 years. He holds a BA... Read More →

LeAnn A. Johnson

Shepherd University/Associate Professor, Session Saturday Presenter

Dr. LeAnn Johnson worked as a special education teacher in New York before moving to Maryland where she completed a MS in Reading Instruction and a Ph.D. in Learning Disabilities. While there, she took a year off to teach an Elementary ELL class in Poland the year after the Berlin... Read More →

Saturday January 22, 2022 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

Audience 5-12, (Middle-Secondary), (

9:00am EST

Windows and Mirrors: Building a Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Classroom Library

In this session, learn how to examine texts and evaluate them using a multicultural lens. Uncover gaps and identify areas where you can improve representation and diversity in your classroom library

Speakers

Dawn Little

Concurrent Speaker, Session Saturday Presenter

Dawn Little has two decades of educational experience, particularly in literacy. Currently, a Staff Development Teacher in Montgomery County, Dawn focuses on helping teachers create classrooms that exude a love for literacy. Dawn regularly presents workshops at the local, state, and... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

Audience K-5 Elementary Session

10:00am EST

Benefits of Multiple Genres in Shared Book Reading

Can we stop reading failure? A literature review shows the use of multiple genres during shared book reading has potential. The how and why of reading informational books.

Speakers

Charles Grattan Baldwin

Associate Professor, Associate Professor, UMES

Charles Grattan Baldwin is an experienced teacher and has worked for more than 20 years as an educator, teaching preschool to college and nearly every grade in between. Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Literacy at University of Maryland Eastern Shore where he works with... Read More →

Gurupriya Ramanathan

Salisbury University/Assistant Professor, Session Saturday Presenter

Gurupriya Ramanathan is an Assistant Professor of Early Childhood Education at Salisbury University, where she teaches courses on integrated early childhood curriculum, and teaching science in early childhood. Dr. Ramanathan’s previous teaching experiences include teaching across... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

Audience Birth-Pre-K, Early Childhood

10:00am EST

Traditional and Virtual Literature Rich Environment: Libraries, Read Alouds, Word Walls and Learning Centers, Oh My!

This session explores ways to enhance viral and traditional classrooms with books, writing material, prominently displayed lists, charts, labels, signs, word walls, and student and adult writing.

Speakers

Senetria Blocker

Leadership Mentor Teacher, Session Saturday Presenter

Senetria Blocker is a National Board-Certified Teacher certifying in Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/Early and Middle Childhood initially in 2011 and renewing in 2020. Ms. Blocker has over 30 years of experience working primarily in elementary schools as a classroom teacher and reading... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

Audience K-6 Elementary Session

11:00am EST

Following the Science of Reading: One District’s Journey Towards Equity

Howard County Public Schools is committed to ensuring equity for all students. As such educators are implementing research-based practices to assure students acquire foundational skills that ensure comprehension of text.

Speakers

Stephanie Milligan

Coordinator, Elementary Language Arts, Session Saturday Presenter

Stephanie Milligan is Coordinator the Elementary Language Arts in Howard County Public Schools, MD. She has been an educator for 25 years. During this time she has been a classroom teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach, and resource teacher. Stephanie has presented at SoMIRAC... Read More →

Exhibitors

Elizabeth English. Shannon Fuller, Mandy Ubele

Concurrent Session, Collaborative Classroom

Collaborative Classroom is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping students grow as readers, writers, and thinkers. For 42 years, Collaborative Classroom has demonstrated how research-based literacy approaches and a commitment to work in tandem with teachers have dramatically... Read More →

Saturday February 26, 2022 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

Audience (

9:00am EST

Community-Engaged Literacy Project

The Community-Engaged Literacy Project will inform the literacy community of built tutor training modules that prepare volunteer tutors to make an impact on elementary aged students in each tutoring session.

Speakers

Kelly Ricardi

Anne Arundel County Public Schools/Classroom Teacher, Graduate Assistant for Literacy Dept. at Loyola University, Session Saturday Presenter

Kelly Ricardi is a fourth-grade teacher for Anne Arundel County Schools pursuing her M.Ed. in the literacy Reading Specialist certification program at Loyola University Maryland. Kelly has helped to build the Community Engaged Literacy Project, where she aided in developing and piloting... Read More →

Saturday March 5, 2022 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

10:00am EST

Building Confidence and A Love of Reading from the Inside (K-8)

Join Author Katrina Denise as she shares tips on writing children’s books along with ways her picture books and coloring book can be used to facilitate lessons related to theme, character and social emotional learning. Participants will walk away armed with a list of diverse books and strategies that can be implemented to build character and expose students to stories that are both windows and mirrors

Speakers

Katrina Kearney-Hill

Howard County Public School System/Author/Educator/Speaker, Featured Speaker

Katrina Denise is a native of Maryland, educator, speaker and Amazon best-selling author. Her expertise as an educator for over twenty years has helped her to connect with parents and meet the needs of students by highlighting quality literature. Katrina’s books, The Message in... Read More →

Saturday March 5, 2022 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

11:00am EST

Strategies to Integrate Reading and Writing into the Content Areas

In this session participants will review what reading strategies to use with adolescent readers to set them up to successfully navigate text. Emphasis will be placed on using specific strategies before, during and after reading. Specific instructional activities and strategies will be shared and modeled on HOW to get students to utilize these strategies after teacher modeling and practice.

Speakers

Shelby Bently

Anne Arundel Community College/Associate Professor, Session Saturday Presenter

Dr. Bentley has over 30 years of experience in education working as a 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach, curriculum director, business owner, and assistant professor of education. She is currently an Associate Professor of Education at Anne Arundel... Read More →

Saturday March 5, 2022 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

11:00am EST

The Power of the Pre: Using the Pre-Conference Process to Grow Literacy Teachers

This session will explore the power of holding and using the observation pre-conference as a one-on-one opportunity for growing literacy teachers. Both teachers and administrators will learn how to best use this opportunity to get the most out of literacy lessons and how it can impact instruction when the observation is over.

Speakers

R. Lynn Birus

Anne Arundel County Public Schools/Principal-Crofton Elementary School, Session Saturday Presenter

Lynn Birus has been an educator for over 40 years. She has been a special education teacher, a general education teacher and a Reading/Literacy Teacher in Anne Arundel County. She has been a Literacy Educational Consultant for Rigby and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, traveling all over... Read More →

Saturday March 5, 2022 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Session Saturday Presentation

Session Saturday Presentation

5:30pm EDT

Welcome and Orientation

During the opening session the conference chair will provide warm welcoming remarks. Dr. Michael Martirano, Superintendent of Howard County Public School System, will be introduced and deliver a message to participants. Following that there will be an orientation informing participants of conference logistics. This includes an overview of sessions, navigating the site, creating a personal schedule, and obtaining conference support if needed. Conference Support will also be provided from 6:00-6:30.

Speakers

Kelly Davis

SoMLA Chair, SoMLA

Kelly Davis is a “teacher without borders”. In her fortieth year in education. She has experience as a general education and special education teacher, in addition to serving as a Department of Special Education Resource in the Howard County Public School System. Kelly currently... Read More →

Thursday March 31, 2022 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Conference Chair

Conference Committee Session

6:00pm EDT

Conference Support

Visit this session to receive live conference support.
We are happy to answer questions you have about the conference.

Speakers

Kelly Davis

SoMLA Chair

My name is Kelly Davis. I am your 2022-2224 State of Maryland Literacy Association (SoMLA) Chair and C0-Chair of SoMLA’s 51st annual conference to be held March 30-April 1, 2023. I am in my 40st year in education, with experience as a general education and special education teacher... Read More →

Thursday March 31, 2022 6:00pm - 6:30pm EDT
Conference Committee Member

Conference Committee Session

6:00pm EDT

Meet the Exhibitors

During this session participants will be informed about conference exhibitors, their products, speaker sessions, and have an opportunity to visit their virtual spaces. A moderator will share a slides presentation to introduce each exhibitor and share links to access their virtual space. Each exhibitor will inform participants the times they will have live presentations and be available to chat.

Thursday March 31, 2022 6:00pm - 6:30pm EDT
Conference Committee Member

Conference Committee Session

6:30pm EDT

Made For Learning: How the Conditions of Learning Guide Teaching Decisions

A teacher’s language and actions shape the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual spaces that support student learning, influenced by metaphors that underpin his or her belief system. This session will update and extend research and thinking about the Conditions of Learning, explore metaphors that influence decision-making, and illustrate teacher decisions that nourish a discourse of meaning-making.

Speakers

Debra Crouch

Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc., Featured Speaker

Debra Crouch works nationally as an independent literacy consultant, collaborating with districts and schools in designing professional learning opportunities to empower teachers, principals, and coaches as they envision instruction over time, across texts, and among practices. She... Read More →

Brian Cambourne

Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc., Featured Speaker

Brian Cambourne is presently a Principal Fellow at the University of Wollongong, Australia. He began teaching in 1956 at the age of 19 and spent nine years teaching in a mix of one-room schools and primary classrooms K-6 for the New South Wales Department of Education. In his tenth... Read More →

Thursday March 31, 2022 6:30pm - 7:55pm EDT
Keynote

Keynote

Audience All Levels

8:00pm EDT

Engaging Hearts and Minds Through Purposeful Talk

Engagement is foundational to all learning. It’s a wondrous blend of curiosity, attention, optimism, and a compelling need to understand, to do, to create, to become. We all delight in those moments when students are fully engaged – but what makes this possible, and how do we offer students opportunity to fully wade into the potential? Explore the depth of engaged learning that becomes possible when we rethink the role of time, space and compelling ideas in classrooms where learning floats a sea of talk.

Speakers

Maria Nichols

Author, Consultant, Featured Speaker

Maria’s work as an educational leader includes 33 years with the San Diego Unified School District, where she served as a Demonstration Teacher, Literacy Coach, and eventually as the Director of School Innovation. Her passion for transformational approaches to teaching and learning... Read More →

Thursday March 31, 2022 8:00pm - 8:50pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

8:00pm EDT

Story Matters: We are Story

Story Matters We are story. Story is how we make sense of our past, navigate the present, and imagine the future. Lester will explore the power of story in our classrooms to open heads and hearts.

Speakers

Lester Laminack

Author/Consultant, Lester Laminack

Lester Laminack, Professor Emeritus, Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina is now a full-time writer and consultant working with schools throughout the United States and abroad. He is the author of over 25 books for teachers and children. His academic publications... Read More →

Thursday March 31, 2022 8:00pm - 8:55pm EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

9:00pm EDT

Story Matters: Closing the Day with a Story

Thank you Scholastic for being the sponsor of this special exhibitor session!

How long has it been since someone read to you; someone who really loves language and delights in the magic of children’s books. Well, then come on in, settle yourself and listen. Lester will bring this busy day to a close with a story.
We are story. Story is how we make sense of our past, navigate the present, and imagine the future. Story has the power to humanize others and help us see our similarity as we learn to celebrate our difference. Lester will explore the power of story in our classrooms.

Speakers

Lester Laminack

Author/Consultant, Lester Laminack

Thursday March 31, 2022 9:00pm - 9:15pm EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

5:00pm EDT

Welcome and Orientation

During the opening session the conference chair will provide welcoming remarks. Natalie Stevenson will deliver a message to participants about the theme of the evening, honoring Judi Hunter. Following will be an orientation informing participants of conference logistics. This includes an over of sessions, navigating the site, creating a personal schedule, and obtaining conference support if needed.

Conference support will be offered from 5:30-6:00 in another Zoom Room

NOTE: If participants were present for the conference opening on March 31 they have other options:

visit the exhibitors
attend an Exhibitor Session featuring Pam Allyn.

Speakers

Kelly Davis

SoMLA Chair, SoMLA

Friday April 1, 2022 5:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
Conference Chair

Conference Committee Session

5:30pm EDT

Conference Support

Visit this session to receive live conference support.
We are happy to answer questions you have about the conference.

Speakers

Kelly Davis

SoMLA Chair

Friday April 1, 2022 5:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Conference Committee Member

Conference Committee Session

5:30pm EDT

Student Wellbeing and the Power of Literacy: Profound Connections that Matter and Inspire

Thank you Scholastic for being the sponsor of this special exhibitor session!

In today's world, reading, writing, and stories matter more than ever, and, more than ever, we are urgently seeking ways to create spaces for wellbeing in every one of our students. As humans we long to connect, to be connected, and to experience the power of love and joy. Reading and writing are the tools we can show our students also matter more than ever. At a distance or together, we use reading and writing to communicate, express ideas, and shape new thinking as we read, as we write. Renowned author Pam Allyn will share a powerful framework and roadmap for integrating best practices in student wellbeing and literacy skill building: resilience building, empathy building, and courageous thinking. We can help every student learn to tackle tough texts, read and discuss texts and ideas with others, and use the power of writing to convey ideas and write across many genres. In these ways, we will increase achievement and create a sense of hope and delight in every student. Pam will share practical strategies for classroom and schools to apply literacy principles and skills to the human work our students do in making friends, becoming more confident in class, and being bold and fearless as readers and writers, and learners.

Speakers

Pam Allyn

Author / Literacy Expert

Pam Allyn is the founder and CEO of Dewey, a pioneering learning platform built to fuel the wellbeing of families and their caregivers at the powerful intersections of home, work and learning.She is a leading literacy expert, author, activist and advocate for children, and a moti... Read More →

Friday April 1, 2022 5:30pm - 6:20pm EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

6:00pm EDT

Tribute to Judi Hunter

Spend 30 minutes as we remember, reflect ,and rejoice in the many ways Judi Hunter used her skills and knowledge to promote literacy achievement of Black children. Judi’s primary mission was to inform teachers, students, parents, and caregivers of books that showcase diverse children as the main character. As Judi was known to say, ALL CHILDREN NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES AND SEE OTHERS IN THEIR BOOKS (Mirrors and Windows). You will have the opportunity to participate and listen to literacy colleague share their connection with Judi and her commitment to her vision for improving reading performance of African American boys.

Speakers

Fran Clay

Consultant, Featured Speaker

Sandy Keaton

SoMLA Conference Chair, SoMLA

this is a sample practice

Friday April 1, 2022 6:00pm - 6:25pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

6:30pm EDT

Building Knowledge, Honoring All Readers

Thank you Curriculum Associates for being the sponsor of this special exhibitor session!

While a skills-centered curriculum is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to learning to read, helping students build knowledge is also a critical piece of that puzzle. A renewed focus on knowledge and culturally responsive pedagogy is urging us to honor what we know about reading comprehension: the more you know, the more you learn. The best classroom “condition” for equity that we can create is one where happy, independent readers find joy and themselves in both the wonder and the work of reading for discovery and knowledge development. Join us as we discuss the research behind building knowledge and its impact on reading success, as well as protocols and resources that validate and affirm the students we serve.
Participants will receive samples of our newest culturally responsive Reading comprehension program, Magnetic Reading, as well as a Grub Hub gift certificate for dinner on us after the session when you bring a reading leader colleague!

Exhibitor Session: Featured Sp...

Elizabeth Bassford

Curriculum Associates; Vice President, Content & Implementation, Exhibitor Session: featured Speaker

Elizabeth Bassford is the Vice President, Content & Implementation for Curriculum Associates.

Friday April 1, 2022 6:30pm - 7:20pm EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

6:30pm EDT

Between and Beyond the Lines: Our Lives as Readers and Writers

Author couple Chris Barton (Whoosh!) and Jennifer Ziegler (Worser) share what they've learned as writers of books for young readers, as lifelong readers themselves, and as members of many literary communities.

Speakers

Chris Barton

Author, Featured Speaker

Chris Barton (www.chrisbarton.info) is the author of picture books including bestseller Shark vs. Train, Fire Truck vs. Dragon, Sibert Honor-winning The Day-Glo Brothers, and Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions, which has been included on 21 state reading lists. His new books in 2021 and 2022... Read More →

Jennifer Ziegler

Featured Speaker/Author, Featured Speaker

Jennifer Ziegler (www.jennifer ziegler.com) is the author of several novels for young and young-at-heart readers, including Worser, Revenge of the Flower Girls, and How Not to Be Popular. She also serves as faculty co-chair of Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. A native Texan... Read More →

Friday April 1, 2022 6:30pm - 7:20pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

7:30pm EDT

Literacy and Social and Emotional Learning: A Natural Fit

Literacy and social and emotional learning (SEL) are a natural fit, so why not address SEL school wide within your already dedicated literacy space? The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) supports the integration of SEL into the content areas, as it provides a ripe opportunity for teaching and practicing SEL. In this session we will explore ways to:

Identify SEL programming currently in place but hidden in plain sight as a reading curriculum at your school
Minimize demands for more prep by including SEL in your current ELA block
Amplify gains in the literacy classroom throughout the whole school
Connect literacy-based approaches to student self-regulation and behavior
Get all stakeholders—even those with full plates—on board

Speakers

Dr. Richard Hasenyager

Taylor Book Group, Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Dr. Richard Hasenyager is the Vice President of Curriculum Solutions for the Rosen Publishing Group. Prior to this, he served as the Director of Library Services for the New York City Department of Education, the largest school district in the United States serving 1.1 million students... Read More →

Friday April 1, 2022 7:30pm - 8:20pm EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

7:30pm EDT

Ready, Set, Read: Get students excited about ebooks & audiobooks

Ready, Set, Read: Get students excited about ebooks & audiobooks
With so many different ways for students to entertain themselves, how can you get them interested in reading? Join OverDrive Account Manager Victoria Teresko to learn tips and tricks for engaging students with ebooks and audiobooks. Discover how the Sora student reading app can spark students' interest in reading, with unique-to-digital features like personalized reading settings, easy-access curated collections, gamification and stats tracking, in-app public library access and more!

Speakers

Victoria Teresko

Account Manager; Sora, by OverDrive, Exhibitor Session: featured Speaker

Victoria Teresko is the Account Manager for schools in District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and New Jersey. Her focus is to actively engage students in learning, promote student independence, and highlight community talent. Victoria wants to... Read More →

Friday April 1, 2022 7:30pm - 8:20pm EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

7:30pm EDT

Empowering Kids and Conversations Through Podcasts

Matthew Winner joins us from A Kids Company About (akidsco.com) where, in his role as Head of Audio, he leads the company in creating a podcast network dedicated to helping kids and their grownups have honest conversations around challenging, empowering, and important topics. Today, Matthew shares with us how podcasts can be a safe place to explore difficult topics and a place where all children can find themselves and their interests. Too often these topics are not discussed in the classroom or in depth, but rather relegated to the guidance counselor or the home because teachers (and grownups) don't feel equipped with the right tools to begin these conversations. But kids are ready and kids are listening. There's no better time to start than now.

Speakers

Matthew Winner

Head of Audio, Featured Speaker

Matthew Winner is the Head of Podcasts at A Kids Book About where he leads the company in creating a podcast network dedicated to helping kids and their grownups have honest conversations by making podcasts about challenging, empowering, and important topics hosted by individuals... Read More →

Friday April 1, 2022 7:30pm - 8:20pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

8:30pm EDT

Play Brain Yoga! created by Jason Reynolds

Join emcee Matthew Winner this evening by playing a game of Brain Yoga, created by Jason Reynolds. What a fun way to end Friday night at the conference! Prizes will be given for each round played. (books by Jason Reynolds!)

Speakers

Matthew Winner

Head of Audio, Featured Speaker

Friday April 1, 2022 8:30pm - 9:00pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

7:30am EDT

Welcome and Orientation

During the opening session SoMLA Chair and the 2022 Conference Chair will provide warm welcoming remarks. Karalee Turner-Little, Deputy Superintendent of Howard County Public School Ststem, will deliver a welcoming message to participants and welcome State Legislators. Participants who need additional conference support will receive a link to a conference support. Zoom room open from 8:00am-8:50am.

Speakers

Kelly Davis

SoMLA Chair, SoMLA

Michelle Shreeves

SoMLA Chair

Saturday April 2, 2022 7:30am - 8:00am EDT
SoMLA Executive Board Members

Conference Committee Session

8:00am EDT

Conference Support

Visit this session to receive live conference support.
We are happy to answer questions you have about the conference.

Speakers

Kelly Davis

SoMLA Chair

Saturday April 2, 2022 8:00am - 8:50am EDT
Conference Committee Member

Conference Committee Session

8:00am EDT

Literacy and Equity for All

Thank you Heinemann Publishing for being the sponsor of this special exhibitor session!

Students deserve to have access to a literate life and most children need expert teaching to have access to this literate life. Learn how Fountas and Pinnell Classroom™, Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI), and Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) empowers teachers with highly effective instructional procedures and the latest in literacy thinking to elevate their expertise and help build a community of informed educators while providing the necessary tools to meet each child where they are and move them forward.

Speakers

Michele Lynch

National Content Specialist, Heinemann

Before joining Heinemann, Michele taught elementary school for 11 years in New Orleans in a variety of elementary school settings: low income public, high performing charter, and all girls independent school. She left the classroom in 2012 to found Bricolage Academy, an open enrollment... Read More →

Saturday April 2, 2022 8:00am - 8:50am EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

8:00am EDT

Beyond the Mask: An Exploration of Identity in Schools and Our World

In this session, participants will explore how to use literature as a tool for the cultivation of a democratic society. Together, we will explore the way identity acts as a lens for reading and living. Participants will leave with a clear process for examining how our personal identity shapes the ways we engage students and their families.

Speakers

Chad Everett

Featured Speaker

Chad was born in Memphis, Tennessee, moved to Mississippi at age five, and has lived in The Magnolia State ever since. He likes to spend as much time as possible on a lake with a fishing pole in his hand or speeding around a golf course. He is a nonfiction fan and true crime junkie.He... Read More →

Saturday April 2, 2022 8:00am - 8:50am EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

8:00am EDT

Marie Kondo Your Classroom Library

For the past decade, much attention has been given to the acquistion of relevant and culturally responsive classroom library materials. These materials can't shine, however, if they are buried under outdated covers and torn magazines. Kristin, a former school librarian who has purged dozens of classroom libraries, will walk you through her methods for deciding what to keep, what to store, what to donate, and what to TRASH!

Session slides
Guide
Hard to Discard Jamboard

Speakers

Kristin Patrick

Blended Learning Coach, Noblesville Schools

I build outcomes-based, culturally-responsive, beautiful interactive training modules that inspire and teach learners.

Saturday April 2, 2022 8:00am - 8:50am EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

Area Lit

9:00am EDT

Beginning with Us: Leveraging Identity Work as a Pathway to Meaning Making

Drawing from Sara's books, Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension and Upstanders: How to Engage Middle School Hearts and Minds with Inquiry (co-authored with Harvey "Smokey" Daniels), participants will learn to center identity, and leverage the social skills and habits necessary to examine real issues by participating in relevant reading, listening and writing provocations. We will spend time unpacking social comprehension principles: exploring personal identities, listening actively, being candid, becoming better informed, finding humanity in ourselves and others, and facing crises together.
Together, we will focus specifically on our social identities and those of the young people we gather with each day.

Speakers

Sara Ahmed

Heinemann, Catherine Cook School, Keynote and Featured Speaker

Sara K. Ahmed currently serves as the Director of Curriculum Integration and 5th-grade advisor at Catherine Cook School in Chicago. She has taught and coached in city, suburban, public, independent, and international schools, where her classrooms were designed to help students consider... Read More →

Saturday April 2, 2022 9:00am - 9:50am EDT
Keynote

Keynote

10:00am EDT

Poetry is Everyone!

Thank you HMH for being the sponsor of this special exhibitor session!

Glenis Redmond reads from her newest book: Listening Skin, Glenis Redmond, a former counselor believes poetry is for everybody. She believes it has the capacity to soothe, engage and educate. Glenis takes audiences on a journey to understand the complex socio-emotional territories. In her work, Redmond unearths her personal, familial and societal struggles through lore and little known African American history. Whether in a literal cotton field or in fieldwork as a teaching artist in the classroom, Glenis is working––planting poems in hopes to provide a healing harvest–– sustenance and strength––not only for herself, but food for the next generation to thrive. She speaks so others are inspired to tell their own stories

Exhibitor Session: Featured Sp...

Glenis Redmond

Poet/Teaching Artist, Exhibitor Session: featured Speaker

Glenis Redmond travels nationally and internationally reading and teaching and performing poetry. She is a Kennedy Center Teaching Artist and has had two poet-in- Resident posts at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts in Greenville, SC and the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ... Read More →

Saturday April 2, 2022 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

10:00am EDT

Leveraging literacy to help students explore their social and emotional selves

Today, every student needs social and emotional support to comprehend the world around them. As educators, we can help students build social emotional competencies and identify their role as citizens of that world through core literacy skills including speaking, listening, collaboration and comprehension. Building upon strategies shared in the keynote, you’ll learn to leverage simple tools that can be used in class and virtually to amplify the human experience. This jam-packed session will send you off with ready-to-implement lessons and show you how to build a community rooted in compassion and care for the hearts and minds of all learners.

Speakers

Kirk Ziemke

Big Shoulders Foundation, Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

Kristin Ziemke

International Expert in Literacy, Inquiry and Technology, Ziemke Consulting, LLC

Saturday April 2, 2022 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

10:00am EDT

Thank You for Your Concern: Handling Materials Challenges

This session is about what to do when a student's family member questions the presence of an item in your classroom or school library collection. The big goal is for you to leave feeling more confident having these hard conversations. We will focus on specific action steps.

Session slides
Guide
Wakelet

Speakers

Kristin Patrick

Blended Learning Coach, Noblesville Schools

I build outcomes-based, culturally-responsive, beautiful interactive training modules that inspire and teach learners.

Saturday April 2, 2022 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

11:00am EDT

Organizational Learning: Exploring the intersection of Literacy and Social and Emotional Learning

Thank you Collaborative Classroom for being the sponsor of this special exhibitor session!

This presentation examines the intersection of "Literacy and Social and Emotional Learning". Peter Brunn will share ways to ensure students have the supports they need to grow as readers, writers, and thinkers.

Speakers

Peter Brunn

Vice President, Organizational Learning, Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Peter Brunn is Vice President, Organizational Learning at The Center for the Collaborative Classroom where he leads the ongoing learning and impact work for the organization. An experienced staff developer, coach, teacher, curriculum developer and writer, he often shares his learning... Read More →

Saturday April 2, 2022 11:00am - 11:50am EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

11:00am EDT

Every Kid a Writer: Strategies That Get Everyone Writing

In this session, based on Kelly’s latest book, we’ll explore simple and streamlined strategies that can be used to get everyone in the classroom writing with energy and enthusiasm. You’ll learn practical tips and teaching moves to help students find their voice, establish a clear purpose for writing, read with the eyes of a writer and harness the power of the pen!

Speakers

Kelly Boswell

Author/Educational Consulant/Instructor, MSU

Kelly Boswell has many years of experience as a classroom teacher, staff developer, literacy coach, and district literacy specialist. She is the author of Every Kid a Writer (Heinemann, 2020), Write This Way From the Start (Maupin House, 2018) and Write This Way (Maupin House, 2016... Read More →

Saturday April 2, 2022 11:00am - 11:50am EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

11:00am EDT

When the World Hands you a Curriculum

How do we teach students to comprehend the news, while holding what they know about their own identities and their classmates in mind? In what ways does the news affect us? In this session, we will engage in conversations about what to do when current events affect our classroom and co-create an understanding of how to be proactive with norms for discussions that can arise at any time. We will discuss how being candid with students about our own biases and multiple identities will help them to consider the ways their own experiences and biases affect our social comprehension of people, texts and the world. And together, we will practice listening with love.
Come prepared to engage in a thoughtful examination of identity and what’s in your news (a phrase coined by one of Sara’s former students) through writing, reading, and discussion.

Speakers

Sara Ahmed

Heinemann, Catherine Cook School, Keynote and Featured Speaker

Saturday April 2, 2022 11:00am - 11:50am EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

12:00pm EDT

Meet the Session Saturday Presenters!

Join us to meet and celebrate the "Session Saturday" presenters!
Between January 8, 2022 and March 5, 2022 SoMLA hosted 15 Pre-Conference sessions. Each session was recorded and available to conference registrants until August 1, 2022.
A brief summary for each presentation (like en elevator speech) will be shared for you to learn about the content for each session. Some of the presenters will be joining us for this session!

Speakers

Kelly Davis

SoMLA Chair

Saturday April 2, 2022 12:00pm - 12:50pm EDT
SoMLA Executive Board Members

Conference Committee Session

12:00pm EDT

A More Inclusive Classroom: diverse voices visible and valued on your bookshelves

As educators and as citizens of the world, we are called to challenge systemic inequities and structures upholding racist practices. Join veteran teacher Matthew C. Winner in an exploration of how to make diverse voices visible and valued on your bookshelves, your instructional practices, and within your school culture through anti-bias anti-racist practices. No experience or prior knowledge needed. Just a willingness to acknowledge what you don't know, what you need to unlearn, and that you're ready to take the first step (and the one after that).

Speakers

Matthew Winner

Head of Audio, Featured Speaker

Saturday April 2, 2022 12:00pm - 12:50pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

12:00pm EDT

Q and A With Kristin Ziemke, Chad Everett, and Sara Ahmed

Join Kristin, Sara and Chad in conversation as they discuss their latest thoughts on literacy as the confluence of civics, social justice, agency and empowerment. Panelists will share their take on contemporary issues in education and will answer questions from attendees.

Speakers

Kristin Ziemke

International Expert in Literacy, Inquiry and Technology, Ziemke Consulting, LLC

Sara Ahmed

Heinemann, Catherine Cook School, Keynote and Featured Speaker

Chad Everett

Featured Speaker

Saturday April 2, 2022 12:00pm - 12:50pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

1:00pm EDT

Literacy and Justice for All

How do we teach students to care about the world? We give them the words, the stories, the mentors, and the opportunity to become active members of the global community. Together, we adjust our instruction and teach students to become critical thinkers and communicators across mediums. We use literacy as a catalyst for compassion and engage students as advocates for change. We empower young people as content creators and fuel their sense of agency with audience and action. Join in as we march to the heartbeat of change, literacy for all learners.

Speakers

Kristin Ziemke

International Expert in Literacy, Inquiry and Technology, Ziemke Consulting, LLC

Saturday April 2, 2022 1:00pm - 1:50pm EDT
Keynote

Keynote

2:00pm EDT

Feedback that Moves Writers Forward

Thank you Benchmark Education Publishing for being the sponsor of this special exhibitor session!

Just the right kind of feedback can nurture perseverance, engagement, and ownership, thus creating passionate, invested, skilled writers.
In this interactive session, participants will learn simple and effective feedback techniques to inspire students to reach new heights as writers. Change our feedback and change the writer.

Speakers

Patty McGee

Author, Benchmark Education

Patty McGee is an author-educator-consultant whose passion and vision is to create learning environments where teachers and students discover their true potential and power. Patty’s favorite moments are when groups of educators are working with students collaboratively in the classroom... Read More →

Saturday April 2, 2022 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

2:00pm EDT

Maintain a Healthy Perspective on Conventions

Correct use of conventions is important to a piece of writing, but conventions are not the only component that’s needed to create quality writing. In this session we’ll explore how to strike a healthy balance between teaching conventions and overemphasizing conventions.

Speakers

Kelly Boswell

Author/Educational Consulant/Instructor, MSU

Saturday April 2, 2022 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

2:00pm EDT

To Know and Be Known: Examining Representation and Pushing Beyond “Diverse” Booklists

It is in the transaction (Rosenblatt, 1986) between the reader and the text that a text’s diversity is realized. In this workshop, participants will learn how to step beyond thinking of texts in the binary of diverse or non-diverse to instead critically examine texts we place in our schools. Participants will leave equipped to begin or continue the journey of ensuring all students’ lives are authentically represented on our shelves and in our curriculum.

Speakers

Chad Everett

Featured Speaker

Saturday April 2, 2022 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

3:00pm EDT

Engage Students with Authentic Literature

Thank you Booksource for being the sponsor of this special exhibitor session!
We’ll discuss the use of authentic literature to enhance instruction with high interest trade books emphasizing the accomplishments of women. Our discussion will include a book talk with select books across grade bands that will elevate your students' interest in learning!

Speakers

Diane Garavaglia, PhD

Sales Consultant, Booksource

Please call Diane directly or use the ID to enter my 'Zoom Room' 756 285 4344. Then 7E2zZpContacts:Diane Garavaglia, PhD 301.538.9846 successmatters.educ@gmail.comMitch Mitchell 202.258.1768 shelrandllc@gmail.comBooksource is... Read More →

Saturday April 2, 2022 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

Exhibitor Session: Featured Speaker

3:00pm EDT

Building a Culture of Talk

A culture of talk creates space where students’ own curiosity and questions lead their meaning making process. As they push and pull with ideas, thoughtful teaching and facilitation of talk honors student’s intellect, capacity for meaning making, and supports the development of literate habits of mind. This session explores the nature of purposeful talk, and processes for teaching into reading, thinking, and talking that transform communities and the unique learners within!

Speakers

Maria Nichols

Author, Consultant, Featured Speaker

Saturday April 2, 2022 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

3:00pm EDT

Mentors and Modeling

Research has consistently found that teachers who engage in writing experiences themselves can connect more authentically with students during the writing process. There is immense power in giving students a peek into the mind and processes of another writer. In this session, you’ll learn how to choose mentor texts (both published and authored by students) and how to harness the power of teacher demonstration and modeling.

Speakers

Kelly Boswell

Author/Educational Consulant/Instructor, MSU

Saturday April 2, 2022 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Featured Speaker

Featured Speaker

4:00pm EDT

Reading Comprehension and the Science of Reading

Pearson will provide his reading of the complete scientific research on reading comprehension development, pedagogy, and assessment, emphasizing the enduring findings and principles that can guide teachers in promoting reading for understanding at all levels, from pre-school through secondary school.

In the Q&A, Professor Pearson will respond to as many questions and comments as time permits.

Speakers

P David Pearson

Emeritus Professor, Keynote Speaker

P. David Pearson has served President of the National Reading Conference (NRC), Director of the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement, and on the boards of directors for the International Reading Association, NRC, and Association of American Colleges of Teacher Education... Read More →

Saturday April 2, 2022 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Keynote

Keynote

5:00pm EDT

Raise Your Glass!

Raise your glass! Join us to celebrate SoMLA's 50th conference and all of the wonderful presenters!

Speakers

Kelly Davis

SoMLA Chair

Saturday April 2, 2022 5:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
SoMLA Executive Board Members

Conference Committee Session