Creating a thriving culture of literacy requires an integrated support system of students, teachers, administrators, families, and community members. This session speakers demonstrate the importance of working collaboratively to build and sustain a culture that extends beyond the school setting.

During this timely—not to mention critical—conversation, renowned literacy researchers discuss what we mean when we talk about evidence-based instruction. The event features a keynote from P. David Pearson, who will also facilitate an interactive Q&A with Nell K. Duke, recipient of the 2018 William S. Gray Citation of Merit, Sonia Cabell, and Gwendolyn McMillon.

As literacy educators, we have powerful tools to transform our classrooms into anti-racist spaces. Each day, we have the privilege and opportunity to change minds and affect hearts through the stories we tell, and to hold space for all voices, specially those who have been too often unheard. But stories aren't always enough. Together, we'll unpack the ways in which we can bring the power of literacy for collective liberation to our teaching practices.

Based on over a decade of research aimed at understanding the complexities of teaching and learning literacy in urban ontexts, this session seeks to raise awareness of the effects of educational injustices in the lives of urban youth, primarily youth of color, in order to interrupt cycles of miseducation. As a passionate educator, Kirkland challenges literacy educators to disrupt cycles of inequity to empower youth to transform their own communities, lives, and educational destinies.

Children with meaningful access to books achieve at higher levels and experience greater engagement with reading. In this session, the Book Whisperer herself, Donalyn Miller, will explore the current research on book access in schools, libraries, and homes; discuss intellectual and cultural access concerns including diversity and leveling; and share resources and strategies for developing and sustaining high-quality classroom library collections that support students' reading lives.

This session presents a practical, coherent approach to the art and science of cultivating student motivation from the inside out. Specifically, we will examine the five key beliefs of student motivation both within the literacy classroom and beyond. Participants will leave with an understanding of how to use the five key beliefs to work smarter in analyzing and acting on various student motivation obstacles that educators face today.