CCLAsummit2025

This session will delve into how artificial intelligence (AI) can accelerate literacy development across all content areas. Participants will discover how AI can be used to support learning acceleration by focusing on building knowledge bridges—helping students connect prior knowledge with new concepts—rather than merely filling gaps. Educators will explore AI tools that enhance productivity and instructional design, enabling more effective planning and delivery. Additionally, the session will highlight strategies for engaging students in meaningful and responsible AI use, empowering them to develop stronger literacy skills in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

In this dynamic 90-minute session, secondary teachers and administrators will explore targeted strategies to accelerate literacy and content knowledge for multilingual learners. As literacy demands intensify across subjects in middle and high school, it is critical that educators equip multilingual learners with the tools they need to thrive in content-rich classrooms. Participants will delve into research-based approaches for using small group instruction to boost reading comprehension, academic vocabulary, and language acquisition across all content areas.

Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, we will highlight how to design small group lessons that integrate literacy instruction with subject-specific learning. You will leave with practical strategies for building language proficiency while simultaneously helping students master complex texts in subjects like science, social studies, and literature. This session will equip educators with tools to support multilingual learners in navigating the linguistic and academic demands of secondary education, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed and excel.

Collaborative conversations are an essential strategy in K-12 instruction, significantly enhancing student engagement and comprehension across all content areas. By facilitating meaningful discussions, students are encouraged to actively think, articulate, and refine their ideas, which fosters deeper critical thinking and collaborative learning. Conversations enable students to explore diverse viewpoints, question assumptions, and clarify misunderstandings, leading to a more thorough understanding of the subject matter. In content areas like math, science, history, and literature, discussions help students connect abstract concepts to real-world situations, enhancing retention and application of knowledge. These interactions also promote language development, social skills, and emotional intelligence, creating an inclusive and dynamic learning environment. By making learning more interactive, and providing effective scaffolds & structures, classroom conversations play a critical role in accelerating both academic achievement and social-emotional growth, making them an indispensable part of effective instruction.

In this interactive 90-minute session, we will explore practical strategies for boosting literacy achievement among multilingual learners through small group instruction. Tailored for elementary teachers and administrators, this session focuses on how to effectively differentiate literacy instruction in diverse classrooms while accelerating language development. Participants will gain insights into creating heterogeneous groups that foster collaboration and language acquisition, while addressing key literacy skills such as phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Through case studies, hands-on activities, and real classroom examples, you will learn how to design small group lessons that simultaneously build content knowledge and language proficiency. We will also discuss how to leverage multilingual learners’ home languages and cultures as assets in literacy development. By the end of the session, educators will walk away with ready-to-use strategies, formative assessments, and tools to adapt lessons to meet the varied needs of their multilingual learners—empowering all students to achieve literacy success.

This session will explore key strategies for building foundational language and literacy skills in transitional kindergarten classrooms. Participants will gain practical tools for fostering phonological awareness, letter recognition, and print knowledge through play-based learning and interactive read-alouds. We’ll also discuss how to create a language-rich, print-filled environment that supports multilingual learners and ensures every student is set up for future academic success. Join us for an engaging discussion aimed at empowering educators to shape young minds for a bright future.