The term science of reading (SOR) is often invoked in discussions regarding literacy research, policy, and practice. But what exactly does SOR encompass—and why is it so difficult to define?

In this event, we’ll take an expansive look at SOR and attempt to demystify the controversy surrounding it. Speakers representing a wide swath of perspectives will draw on classic and emerging research to address key topics at the heart of this debate.

The fast-paced format includes short keynotes from P. David Pearson and Nicole Patton Terry, a fireside chat between Timothy Shanahan and Timothy Rasinski, and and presentations by Kymyona Burk, Gina Cervetti, and Jimmy Kim.

Join us as we examine research on reading instruction and discuss effective, evidence-based practices to improve student outcomes. If you’re interested in the applications (and implications) of the science of reading instruction, this event is one you won’t want to miss.

Registration: US$79.00 members/US$99.00 nonmembers

ILA Digital Events fees are nonrefundable.

This presentation was recorded on January 13, 2022.

Early identification and intervention in the classroom are essential to overcoming obstacles that require aggressive remediation. This ILA Intensive, hosted by Barbara R. Foorman, focuses on how to spot and support readers who struggle, as well as how to prevent most reading problems.

Presenters will share effective, evidence-based strategies for instruction, demonstrate how to differentiate based on the specific needs of each learner, and deliver highly practical resources school-based literacy educators should have in their toolbox.

Keynote speakers for the live event include Donna M. Scanlon and Julie A. Washington; a third keynote from Sharon Vaughn will be available exclusively on demand.

The Intensive also features Stephanie Al Otaiba, Steve Amendum, Laura Ascenzi-Moreno, Young-Suk Kim, and Kathleen Rastle.

How do I teach a reader to decode a word? Should I be teaching “mouth moves” for letter sounds? Why isn’t my phonics instruction “sticking?” Join Heidi Anne Mesmer for research-based answers to these and other key questions, as well as practical techniques and routines you can take into the classroom the very next day.

Who should register: classroom teachers, literacy/instructional coaches, reading/literacy specialists, literacy supervisors/coordinators, and instructional leads

Your registration gives you access to both the live event and the on-demand recording, which will be available to you through March 21, 2023.

Thank You to Our Event Sponsors

ILA Digital Events fees are nonrefundable. ILA reserves the right to make presenter substitutions if necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

The views expressed in presentations made at ILA Intensives or other ILA events are those of the speaker and not necessarily of ILA. Likewise, sponsorship of ILA Intensives or other ILA events does not express or imply ILA approval or endorsement of the sponsor’s products, services, and/or views.

Although culturally responsive instruction is by nature student centered, the work of creating an inclusive school environment that respects and reflects all learners begins with teachers themselves.

At this ILA Intensive, we’ll look at how literacy educators can examine their own identities, as well as the effects their own backgrounds and implicit biases have on teaching and learning. Presenters will address how to question oppressive systems and policies that impact learner outcomes—and proactive steps literacy and school leaders can take to dismantle them.

This three-hour event features a keynote by Gloria Ladson-Billings, whose groundbreaking work on culturally relevant pedagogy forms the foundation of instruction that both acknowledges the nuances of intersectionality and sets students from all cultural backgrounds up for greater success.

Registration: US$79.00 member/US$99.00 nonmember

ILA Digital Events fees are nonrefundable. ILA reserves the right to make presenter substitutions if necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

Word study is a developmental approach to teaching word patterns, one that integrates phonics, spelling, and vocabulary instruction. In this ILA Intensive, hosted by Donald R. Bear, presenters will share and model word study activities across stages, hands-on ideas for student-centered learning, and instructional routines that yield results.

The program includes a keynote from Elfrieda H. Hiebert and features Kevin Flanigan, Tisha Hayes, Lori Helman, and Hiawatha Smith.

Speakers will address

• The what, how, and why of word study
• Vocabulary instruction that promotes student understanding of word structures
• Engaging and effective sorting activities that support phonics instruction
• Assessments to identify students’ stages of word knowledge development and their specific instructional needs
• Word study implementation in culturally and linguistically diverse settings

Who should register: Classroom teachers, reading specialists, and literacy coaches, individually or (ideally) as full teams. Preservice educators, principals, and university faculty may also benefit from the program.

Your registration gives you access to both the live event and the on-demand recording, which will be available to you through April 20, 2023.

Thank You to Our Event Sponsor

ILA Digital Events fees are nonrefundable. ILA reserves the right to make presenter substitutions if necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

The views expressed in presentations made at ILA Intensives or other ILA events are those of the speaker and not necessarily of ILA. Likewise, sponsorship of ILA Intensives or other ILA events does not express or imply ILA approval or endorsement of the sponsor’s products, services, and/or views.

Reading fluency is a critical competency for learners of all ages, yet narrow interpretations of the science of reading instruction don’t always allow for the artful and authentic strategies we know to be most effective for teaching this foundational skill. In this webinar, ILA 2020 William S. Gray Citation of Merit recipient Timothy Rasinski shares five targeted, evidence-based activities that complement and can be integrated into any instructional framework—and with better results.

Who should register: Classroom teachers, literacy/instructional coaches, reading/literacy specialists, literacy supervisors/coordinators, and instructional leads

Your registration gives you access to the on-demand recording, which will be available to you through July 25, 2023.

ILA Digital Events fees are nonrefundable. ILA reserves the right to make presenter substitutions if necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

The views expressed in presentations made at ILA Intensives or other ILA events are those of the speaker and not necessarily of ILA. Likewise, sponsorship of ILA Intensives or other ILA events does not express or imply ILA approval or endorsement of the sponsor’s products, services, and/or views.

Rob Tierney and P. David Pearson explore the validity of claims offered by scholars and policy advocates who align themselves with the “Science of Reading.” Specifically, they review key claims that have appeared in both scholarly and popular accounts of the “Science of Reading”—analyzing the evidence, reasoning, assumptions, and consequences associated with those claims.

Who should register: Classroom teachers, literacy/instructional coaches, reading/literacy specialists, literacy supervisors/coordinators, higher education faculty, principals and administrators, instructional leaders, legislators, school board members, parents, and the media

Your registration gives you access to both the live event and the on-demand recording, which will be available to you through November 25, 2023.

ILA Digital Events fees are nonrefundable. ILA reserves the right to make presenter substitutions if necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

The views expressed in presentations made at ILA Intensives or other ILA events are those of the speaker and not necessarily of ILA. Likewise, sponsorship of ILA Intensives or other ILA events does not express or imply ILA approval or endorsement of the sponsor’s products, services, and/or views.

In 2020, amid the global pandemic, the International Literacy Association (ILA) suspended production of the popular reader-selected Choices book lists. Three years later, the Children’s Book Council (CBC), our longtime Choices cosponsor, gave the project new life—and a new name.

In this webinar, meet some popular authors featured on the CBC’s inaugural Favorites Lists, as well as hear from CBC Executive Director Carl Lennertz on this fresh take on the classic (and beloved) resource. As an added bonus, the winners of the 2023 ILA Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards will be revealed by project chair Sonja Ezell.

Get ready—your to-be-read pile is about to get a whole lot taller!

Registration is required to attend the live event and watch the recording. Please note that the live event will be accessible only to the first 300 attendees who join when the webinar starts.

Thank You to Our Event Supporters

ILA Digital Events fees are nonrefundable. ILA reserves the right to make presenter substitutions if necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

The views expressed in presentations made at ILA Intensives or other ILA events are those of the speaker and not necessarily of ILA. Likewise, sponsorship of ILA Intensives or other ILA events does not express or imply ILA approval or endorsement of the sponsor’s products, services, and/or views.

ILA’s Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards shine a spotlight on emerging authors who display unusual promise with their first or second publication. At this webinar, emceed by book awards chair Sonja Ezell, age-level subcommittee leads Miriam Martinez, Margaret Osgood Opatz, and Thu Anh Nguyen will sit down with some of this year’s winners for a robust discussion about their books’ contemporary relevance and universal themes, the importance of authentic and engaging texts, and the power that high-quality, diverse children’s literature holds to open our minds to the past, present, and future.

Your free registration includes access to prerecorded book talks and additional resources for putting books to work in your classroom.

Registration is required to attend the live event and watch the recording. Please note that the live event will be accessible only to the first 300 attendees who join when the webinar starts.

Thank You to Our Event Supporters

ILA Digital Events fees are nonrefundable. ILA reserves the right to make presenter substitutions if necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

The views expressed in presentations made at ILA Intensives or other ILA events are those of the speaker and not necessarily of ILA. Likewise, sponsorship of ILA Intensives or other ILA events does not express or imply ILA approval or endorsement of the sponsor’s products, services, and/or views.

Incorporating daily spelling practice within phonics lessons enhances students’ understanding of the intricate relationships between sounds and letters—which enriches their phonemic awareness, decoding abilities, vocabulary, writing skills, and overall language proficiency. In this session, Wiley Blevins will lead attendees through multiple ways to add and differentiate spelling during their phonics lessons, including dictation, word building, word sorts, and writing about decodable texts. Participants will learn strategies to help build a comprehensive approach to literacy and language development that will promote deeper understanding and engagement in their classroom.

Who should register: classroom teachers, literacy/instructional coaches, reading/literacy specialists, literacy supervisors/coordinators, instructional leads, teacher educators, and principals

FREE for Everyone

Your registration gives you access to both the live event and the on-demand recording.

Sponsored in part by

ILA Digital Events fees are nonrefundable. ILA reserves the right to make presenter substitutions if necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

The views expressed in presentations made at ILA Intensives or other ILA events are those of the speaker and not necessarily of ILA. Likewise, sponsorship of ILA Intensives or other ILA events does not express or imply ILA approval or endorsement of the sponsor’s products, services, and/or views.