Keynote Speakers
Dr. Jan Richardson, Consultant and Professional Book Author
Thursday Keynote: 5:30–7:00pm
“Building Comprehension: Small Group Instruction that does the job!”
Dr. Jan Richardson has been a classroom teacher, reading specialist, Reading Recovery teacher leader and staff developer. Widely acknowledged as a leading expert in small group reading instruction, she’s the author of the best-selling collection that includes The Next Step Forward in Guided Reading and the RISE intervention program published by Scholastic. She also collaborated with Dr. Michele Dufresne to write The Next Forward in Word Study and the Literacy Footprints Classroom Collection published by Pioneer Valley Books.
Using the Gradual Release of Responsibility model, learn comprehension strategies for teaching K-2 students in small groups. Master practical routines and scaZolding tools, and learn how to select books that support deep thinking and help your students construct meaning from text.
Dr. C.C. Bates
Friday Keynote: 8:45–10:00am
“Being Intentional in Our Teaching and Professional Lives”
Dr. Bates is the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies and a Professor of Literacy Education in the Department of Education and Human Development. Her research agenda focuses on the use of digital tools to enhance and deliver professional development for reading interventionists and K-2 classroom teachers, which stems from her ongoing inquiry into the teaching of children who are having difficulty learning to read and write. Since 2009, Dr. Bates has served as the Director of the Clemson University Early Literacy Center.
In today's educational and professional environments, being intentional is crucial for achieving meaningful outcomes for students. This session will examine what it means to act with purpose in our teaching and work.
Concurrent Session Speakers
Dr. Jaime Dawson
Jaime Dawson is the Director of Teacher Quality, Literacy, and Social Studies for Spartanburg District 2. She is a former classroom teacher, interventionist, instructional coach, and district literacy specialist. She has a passion for working with teachers and leaders to support instruction in service of lifelong learning.
Dr. Katie Hilden
Katie Hilden is a Professor of Literacy at Radford University. Her research interests include reading comprehension and cycles of professional learning. She regularly partners with school divisions to engage teachers and reading specialists in cycles of professional learning in K-8 schools.
Dr. Katie Kelly
Katie Kelly is an author, consultant, and Professor of Education at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. As a former teacher and literacy coach, Katie’s teaching and research interests include engaging children in meaningful literacy experiences and practices to foster critically curious and compassionate lifelong readers and writers.
Maryann McBride
Maryann is the Teacher Leader in Residence at the Early Literacy Center for South Carolina. She has worked in intervention services for young readers for more than 30 years. She frequently presents on teaching the children having the hardest time with foundational skills needed for early reading and writing.
Jeffery Williams
Jeff is the Teacher Leader in Residence at St. Mary’s University, California. He is the author of more than 120 children’s books in English and in Spanish with Hameray’s Fables and the Real-World Series. He writes paired books which include traditional tales/fables with related non-fiction books. Jeff has co-authored a book from NCTE and has written articles in numerous professional journals.