Loading…
Type: Instruction clear filter
arrow_back View All Dates
Wednesday, July 15
 

10:20am CDT

Unlocking Syntax
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
Explore why syntax is a powerful but often overlooked key to comprehension and writing success. This session will highlight how teaching sentence-level skills in the elementary grades supports both reading and writing development. Participants will walk away with practical, ready-to-use strategies that can be integrated into existing curriculum materials to strengthen students’ sentence construction and literacy proficiency.
Speakers
avatar for Shauna Cotte

Shauna Cotte

Keys to Literacy
Shauna serves as Vice President and Senior Director of Professional Development at Keys to Literacy and is an integral member of the senior management team. With over 20 years of experience, Shauna has dedicated her career to advancing literacy achievement for all students. Her journey began as a classroom teacher and literacy interventionist, where she developed... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am CDT
TBA

11:40am CDT

Grow Your Readers: 3rd-Grade Promotion and Engaging Families for Success
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
This session will support district leaders and educators in strengthening family engagement to successfully implement 3rd-Grade Promotion. Participants will explore effective practices, hear from a district demonstrating strong implementation, and reflect on Year 1 wins and challenges. The session will also focus on planning for Beginning-of-Year (BOY) rollout. Key topics include building trust with families and sharing literacy data effectively—such as communicating screener results, supporting Individual Reading Plans (IRPs), and using family-facing resources. Participants will leave with practical strategies and tools to support strong family partnerships and successful 3rd grade promotion outcomes.
Speakers
avatar for Amy Counts

Amy Counts

Director of Curriculum Projects, Arkansas Division of Elementary & Secondary Education
Since 2003, I have worked in K-12 education in Massachusetts, Texas, Maryland, and Arkansas. During that time, I have worked in both rural and urban school districts, teaching students in fifth to twelfth grade. In 2019, I joined the Arkansas Division of Elementary & Secondary Education... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
TBA

11:40am CDT

The Essentials of Adolescent Literacy: Reading and Writing Instruction in Grades 5-12
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
The science of reading is not just for younger learners­—all adolescents in grades five to twelve, especially those who struggle with foundational skills, benefit from explicit literacy instruction. Drawing on current research, the first part of this session provides an overview to help secondary educators understand the unique aspects of adolescent literacy. Topics include the three levels of instruction (content literacy, disciplinary literacy, and intervention for basic skills), ways to integrate literacy into all subjects, the importance of connecting reading and writing, and the reasons some adolescents struggle with literacy. The second part of the session offers practical instructional suggestions for key components of literacy: vocabulary, comprehension, text structure, writing, discussion, advanced word study, and fluency.

This session is designed for classroom teachers, intervention specialists, and administrators who want to learn effective strategies for helping students in grades five to twelve strengthen their reading and writing skills.
Speakers
avatar for Shauna Cotte

Shauna Cotte

Keys to Literacy
Shauna serves as Vice President and Senior Director of Professional Development at Keys to Literacy and is an integral member of the senior management team. With over 20 years of experience, Shauna has dedicated her career to advancing literacy achievement for all students. Her journey began as a classroom teacher and literacy interventionist, where she developed... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm CDT
TBA

1:00pm CDT

The Writing Revolution: Explicit Writing Instruction in Service of Learning
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
A Writing Revolution is underway in Arkansas! DESE is continuing its partnership with The Writing Revolution (TWR) for a fifth year, offering Advancing Thinking Through Writing I to K–12 educators across all content areas. This session introduces the Hochman Method—a research-based approach to strengthening student writing through content-rich instruction. Participants will explore practical strategies to elevate writing in any classroom and learn how districts can access this free, year-long professional learning opportunity.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Chalonec

Alex Chalonec

A former teacher, Alexandria is currently Co-Director of Academics at The Writing Revolution. In collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Education, Alexandria led an initiative working with educators to embed the Hochman Method into the state’s ELA curriculum for grades 3... Read More →
avatar for Kiersten Peltier

Kiersten Peltier

Senior Manager of Revolutionary Projects, The Writing Revolution
Kiersten Peltier, Senior Manager of Revolutionary Projects at The Writing Revolution, delivers courses and supports educators in implementing the Hochman Method into their curriculum. Specifically, she manages revolutionary projects, designed to support teachers in revolutionizing... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
TBA

2:20pm CDT

New ATLAS Writing Rubric
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT
Join us for an engaging educational summit introducing the new ATLAS Assessment Writing Rubric—a shared framework designed to bring clarity, consistency, and rigor to student writing. Together, we’ll explore how the rubric can strengthens instruction, support meaningful feedback, and elevates expectations across classrooms.
Speakers
avatar for Andress Scott

Andress Scott

RISE State Specialist, DESE
avatar for Kelly Stone

Kelly Stone

RISE Specialist, Arkansas Department of Education
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:20pm - 3:20pm CDT
TBA

3:40pm CDT

We’ve Trained Our Teachers—Now What? Making The Writing Revolution Stick
Wednesday July 15, 2026 3:40pm - 4:40pm CDT
Training is just the beginning. This session focuses on how schools and districts can get the most out of Writing Revolution training through intentional implementation. Participants will explore how to embed TWR strategies within HQIM, leverage AI-supported tools in the TWR digital library, and use the administrator dashboard to monitor progress and support teachers. The session also features insights from schools sharing real implementation experiences, lessons learned, and strategies for scaling writing instruction campus-wide.
Speakers
avatar for Alex Chalonec

Alex Chalonec

A former teacher, Alexandria is currently Co-Director of Academics at The Writing Revolution. In collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Education, Alexandria led an initiative working with educators to embed the Hochman Method into the state’s ELA curriculum for grades 3... Read More →
avatar for Kiersten Peltier

Kiersten Peltier

Senior Manager of Revolutionary Projects, The Writing Revolution
Kiersten Peltier, Senior Manager of Revolutionary Projects at The Writing Revolution, delivers courses and supports educators in implementing the Hochman Method into their curriculum. Specifically, she manages revolutionary projects, designed to support teachers in revolutionizing... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 3:40pm - 4:40pm CDT
TBA
 
Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link

Filter sessions
Apply filters to sessions.
Filtered by Date -