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  • Cultivating Lifelong Literacy: Understanding the challenges, changes, and opportunities to prepare literacy learners for tomorrow

    One Day Pre-conference
    13 February 2025
    9am – 4pm

As technology continues to shape our world, the definition of literacy is expanding. This session explores the evolution of literacy emphasizing the critical role of educators, librarians, and school leaders in fostering lifelong literacy. Participants will delve into research-based strategies, innovative practices, and collaborative approaches to address the challenges and opportunities presented by literacy today.

This interactive session will examine the complex interplay between traditional and digital literacy practices across the educational continuum.

Target Audience:

This session is designed for early years through secondary educators, librarians, and school leaders.

Workshop Agenda

  • Build Foundational Literacy Skills

    Develop effective strategies for teaching reading, writing, and communication in the early grades, emphasizing the importance of building background knowledge and vocabulary as the cornerstone of literacy development.

  • Prioritize Comprehension, Language, and Communication

    Highlight the importance of deep understanding of texts, precise language use, and effective communication skills across all content areas.

  • Educate for Curiosity and Creativity

    Cultivate varied interests and cross-disciplinary thinking in today’s new cognitive ecologies. Foster play, innovation, and problem-solving through project-based learning, inquiry-based instruction, and interaction with diverse texts and media.

  • Leverage AI-supported Teaching

    Update instruction to harness the power of supercomputers in relevant tasks. Support widespread AI literacy for students and educators. 

  • Foster Deep and Complex Thinkers

    Empower students to learn how to learn, unlearn, and relearn to adapt to, and eventually adopt, evolving learning conditions. 

  • Collaborate for Student Success

    Foster partnerships between educators, librarians, and school leaders as we explore this ever-changing literacy landscape together.

Learning Outcomes

Attendees of the preconference session will learn how to:

  • Design effective instructional strategies to build foundational literacy skills, including background knowledge and vocabulary for diverse learning needs.
  • Implement practices to prioritize comprehension, language, and communication across the curriculum, fostering critical thinking and effective expression
  • Develop innovative learning experiences that cultivate curiosity, creativity, and cross-disciplinary thinking through project-based and inquiry-based learning.
  • Leverage technology, including AI, to personalize instruction and support student learning, while also developing AI literacy.
  • Foster deep and complex thinking skills in students, empowering them to become independent and lifelong learners.
  • Build collaborative partnerships to address the evolving literacy landscape and support student success across the educational continuum.

Key Details

Date and Time
Thursday, 13 February 2025
9am – 4pm

Price
$375 – One Person
$350 – Three or more per people

Note: Minimum numbers must be reached before this event is 100% confirmed. The go or no-go is November 22, 2024. Please register well before this date to ensure we can launch this with success. If you register and pay in the unlikely situation the event is not confirmed you will be fully refunded any registration fees.

REGISTER

Note: You do not need to register for the main 21CLHK Conference to attend this one-day workshop.

Kristin Ziemke

Learning Innovation Specialist, Big Shoulders Fund

Kristin Ziemke is a teacher, staff developer, and co-author of Read the World: Rethinking Literacy for Empathy and Action, Amplify: Digital Teaching and Learning in the K-6 Classroom, and Connecting Comprehension and Technology. Recognized as an international expert in literacy, inquiry, and technology, Kristin works with schools and organizations around the world to develop learning experiences that are student-centered, personalized, and authentic. Currently serving as a resident teacher and innovation specialist for the Big Shoulders Fund, Kristin is an Apple Distinguished Educator, National Board Certified Teacher, and Chicago Council on Global Affairs Emerging Leader. Her work has been featured by Apple, EdWeek, Mindshift, and Scholastic.

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