In this session, participants will explore movement-based strategies for teaching grammar focuses to help students internalize key concepts. We'll also dive into fun, practical techniques for coaching students to apply their grammar skills when editing their own writing — leaving you with a playbook of ready-to-use ideas for your classroom.
Motivating our young writers to take creative "whisks" can be tricky at the elementary level. In this practical, you-can-do-it session, you will learn strategies for young writers to add some flavor to their writing. Through demonstrations, video clips, and oodles of ideas, you’ll be excited to go back to the classroom and try some of these writing recipes with just the right dash of fun.
Shannon Anderson has taught for 26 years, from first grade through college level. She also served as the gifted coordinator for her school district and on the board of directors for the Indiana State Literacy Association. A highlight of her teaching career was being named one of the... Read More →
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm CDT Rm. 1314 - Northwest High SchoolNorthwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247
Come to learn more about using Patterns of Wonder in your classroom. Are you looking for simple ways to integrate it daily? Are you looking for alternate books to use? This session will explore not only the basics of Patterns of Wonder, but also some tips and tricks to make it an easy resource to use in your classroom.
Every great sports broadcast starts with preparation — and so does a great read aloud. In this hands-on session, teachers will learn how to transform read aloud into an interactive, high-leverage instructional tool. Explore how to plan strategic stopping points, craft think alouds aligned to the TEKS, and design turn-and-talk opportunities that spark meaningful student discourse. You'll get prep time and leave with a read aloud game plan ready to run from day one.
Every great athlete knows that two-a-days build the strength, endurance, and mental toughness it takes to compete at the highest level. The same is true for our readers. In this power-packed session, educators will lace up and dive into the world of paired texts — a dynamic instructional approach that challenges students to think harder, read deeper, and push beyond the surface of a single text. Just as two-a-day practices sharpen an athlete's skills from multiple angles, paired texts train the brain to analyze, synthesize, and draw connections across two carefully selected passages. Participants will explore strategies for intentional text pairing, scaffolding complex thinking, and coaching students through evidence-based discussion and writing. Leave this session with a training plan full of practical tools and classroom-ready resources that will condition your students to become stronger, more confident readers — one rep at a time.
Teachers know that students learn best when group sizes are smaller! With class sizes increasing, small groups are a wonderful way to structure your classes and see increased engagement and comprehension! Come to this session to learn: How to form your small groups How to create a routine for small groups Structuring small group mini-lessons How to engage students NOT in a small group
Participants will explore practical strategies to differentiate instruction for gifted learners and reflect on how to apply these strategies in their own classrooms.
Great readers, like great athletes, know what to watch for — and the Fiction Signposts from the Notice and Note series by Kylene Beers and Bob Probst give students exactly that edge when tackling literary texts. In this session, we'll break down each signpost and explore ready-to-use strategies for coaching students to read with intention and analyze an author's purpose like a pro.
Participants will explore practical strategies to differentiate instruction for gifted learners and reflect on how to apply these strategies in their own classrooms.
I am a 23 year experienced teacher having taught grades K-5. I have been, both, departmentalized (ELA/SS) and self-contained, and have served as a Dyslexia Specialist. I am currently a Gifted and Talented Specialist at Hughes Elementary.
Caitlin Andrews is a GT Specialist in Northwest ISD with over 14 years of experience in providing gifted services in both self-contained and pull-out classrooms. She is advocate for twice-exceptional students, a passion that has only grown since her own son was identified as dyslexic... Read More →
Lindsey Hart is a GT Specialist in Northwest ISD with over 16 years of experience in providing gifted services in both classroom and pull-out settings. She advocates tirelessly for twice-exceptional students, and works closely with teachers and other specialists to develop curriculum... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am CDT Rm. 803 - Northwest High SchoolNorthwest High School, 2301 Texan Drive, Justin, TX 76247
Join in for a power-packed debrief of The Unstoppable Writing Teacher, where we break down the high-impact strategies that turn every student into a writer worth watching. We'll swap winning plays, sharpen our coaching moves, and leave with a refined playbook built for our learners. Your scoreboard is waiting! Let's put some points on it.
In this follow-up book study session, educators will come together to do what the best coaching staffs do after every game — review the footage, break down the key moments, and talk about what it all means going forward. Participants will dig into the big ideas and most critical takeaways from To Read Stuff You Have to Know Stuff, unpacking what the research really says about background knowledge and its powerful connection to reading comprehension. But this session goes beyond the book. Teachers will engage in rich collaborative conversation about what these findings mean for their daily instruction — how they select texts, build knowledge sequences, and create classroom environments where every student has the content knowledge they need to read deeply and think critically. This is not a recap — this is a game plan. Walk away with a renewed sense of purpose, practical instructional implications, and a clear vision for what it looks like to put knowledge-building at the center of your reading instruction. The film does not lie — and neither does the research.
Back by popular demand! Teachers will experience some of the top young adult and middle grade authors and titles in contemporary literature. By reading and experiencing these stories, teachers will be able to reach a variety of student interests and walk away with strategies for curriculum and instructional implementation. If you participated in previous years, you will have the opportunity to select titles from a brand new list of titles!
