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. We will explore how to:

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.

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