July 18-19, 2024

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

What To Expect

Discover the latest research, resources, and best practices in literacy instruction from researchers, educators, and leaders in the field.

Host

The summit will be hosted by the Iowa Reading Research Center.

Registration

Registration is open until May 29! Register here.

Cost

Early-Bird Registration Cost: $300

Registration Cost After March 29: $350

LOCATION

The summit will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Attendees

This summit is for you if...


  • You are a PK-12 teacher, instructional coach, or educational professional involved in the delivery of evidence-based instruction in public or private educational settings.


  • You have been trained, or are currently being trained, to deliver a program that you know is aligned with the science of reading.


  • Your school is making the shift to evidence-based instruction from balanced literacy, and you are at least partially responsible for decisions and purchases.


  • You are an administrator who is trying to positively impact literacy rates in your district.


  • You are an educator looking for deeper knowledge about the science of reading.
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Check out our Summit Pitch Worksheet to make the case to attend the summit!

Keynotes

Kareem Weaver

Kareem Weaver is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of FULCRUM, which partners with stakeholders to improve reading results for students. He is the Oakland NAACP's 2nd Vice President and Chair of its Education Committee; his advocacy is featured in the upcoming film The Right to Read. Mr. Weaver previously served as New Leaders’ Executive Director of the Western Region and was an award-winning teacher and administrator. He has undergraduate degrees from Morehouse College and a master’s in clinical-community psychology from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Weaver believes in the potential of all students, the brotherhood of man, and the importance of service above self. His educational heroine, for literacy instruction, is the late Marva Collins.

Dr. Steve Dykstra

As a psychologist in the Milwaukee area, Dykstra has over 30 years of experience serving children with complex mental health challenges and their families. He has a PhD in clinical psychology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Dykstra is particularly interested in the roles that school and reading difficulties play in the lives of his clients. He is a founding member of the Wisconsin Reading Coalition, Vice President of the Coalition for Reading Excellence, and part of the advisory group for the International Foundation for Effective Reading Instruction (IFERI).

Presenters

Shawn Datchuk, Ph.D.

“Level Up Your Writing Assessments: How to Score Student Writing for Different Levels of Language”

Grades: PK-3, 4-6, 7-12

Workshop Description: Having students compose a short narrative or summary may sound simple, but underneath the surface are different levels of written language working in coordination.

Lisa Klein, M.Ed.

“The Writing Rope”

Grades: 4-6, 7-12

Workshop Description: This workshop presents an overview of The Writing Rope model for writing instruction (Sedita, 2019) that represents multiple components of writing instruction as strands in a rope. An explanation with references to research findings will be provided for the five strands.

Teresa Franks, CALT

“The Mighty Morpheme: A Key to Unlocking Vocabulary Expansion”


Grades: PK-3, 4-6, 7-12

Workshop Description: In this session, we will learn about morphemes, the smallest unit of meaning in words. Participants will learn what morphemes are, how they function, the 25 most common morphemes, and a fun, flexible routine for teaching them to students.


Jo Ellen Latham, Ed.D.

“Building Content Knowledge and Vocabulary to Strengthen Literacy in Elementary Social Studies and Science”



Grades: PK-3, 4-6

Workshop Description: During this session, you will discover the power of committing to science and social studies instruction at the elementary level, and how this can strengthen literacy. We'll explore research-backed strategies for building content knowledge and vocabulary.

Cassie

McComb-Steenhagen

“Structured Literacy in the Preschool Setting”

Grades: PK-3

Workshop Description: Wonder what structured literacy looks like in the preschool setting? In this session, we will share how we have used our understanding of how the brain learns to read to inform our instruction in the early childhood setting.

Daryl Michel, Ph.D.

“Making Invisible Thinking Visible Through Oral and/or Written Expression”

Grades: PK-3, 4-6, 7-12

Workshop Description: Students struggle reading complex text for a variety of reasons. Explore evidence-based routines and activities that you can implement in any subject area to help students make their invisible thoughts visible.

Rhonda Nelson, M.S.

“Mastering Words: Practical Word Study and Vocabulary Strategies”

Grades: 4-6

Workshop Description: This session will introduce advanced strategies for word study and vocabulary, emphasizing multisyllabic word knowledge and vocabulary acquisition. The approach is grounded in current literacy research, providing attendees with actionable methods for immediate classroom application.

Jenna Schieffer, MSE, Ed.S.

“Explicit, Systematic, Specially-Designed Writing Instruction”



Grades: 4-6

Workshop Description: The Writing Revolution (TWR) is a cumulative and systematic sequence for written expression skills. It can be helpful to understand written expression skill next-step needs for sequential materials, even if using a different sequential curriculum.

Kimberly Stockton, Ed.D

“The Shifting Landscape of Literacy: Beginning the Journey to the Science of Reading”

Grades: PK-3, 4-6

Workshop Description: An insightful exploration examining the theoretical models that serve as the foundation for understanding the intricate process of learning to read. An in-depth analysis of the underpinnings of the science will highlight the crucial elements required for effective literacy development.

Janelle Sulhoff, M.Ed.

“Improving Literacy Instruction: The Science of Implementation”

Grades: PK-3, 4-6

Workshop Description: In this presentation, we will dive into the essential components of successful instructional improvement; setting clear instructional goals, designing effective professional development, and implementing impactful instructional coaching with the use of fidelity checks and data.

Lisa Williams, MSE

“Structured Literacy in the Preschool Setting”

Grades: PK-3

Workshop Description: Wonder what structured literacy looks like in the preschool setting? In this session, we will share how we have used our understanding of how the brain learns to read to inform our instruction in the early childhood setting.

More presenters will be announced soon!

Licensure Renewal Credit

Attendees of the summit may register for Iowa Licensure Renewal Credit:

Credit will be awarded for completing all of the following:

    • Attending the 2024 Iowa Science of Reading Summit
    • Enrolling in the licensure renewal course associated with the summit
    • Completing the two eLearning modules specified in the course’s requirements

How to enroll:

  1. Find the course on the catalog webpage and click on the ENROLL button.
  2. You will receive an email to complete your registration and create a password to log in to the online course platform. Make sure to complete this step!
  3. Use your log in information to access the site.
  4. Make sure to complete all requirements listed on that site to generate your certificate of completion by 10 PM (CST) of the course end date.


There is a $50 fee for those seeking the credit.

    • University of Iowa alumni receive a 10% discount on all professional development events through the Baker Teacher Leader Center. Use the code ALUMNI at check out.

Contact Us

For Questions or Comments:

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irrc@uiowa.edu

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319-384-2268

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