Instruction

Joan Reimer is a retired educator and former education officer at the Ontario Ministry of Education. With experience from K–12 classrooms to teacher education, most of her career was spent in Ontario, but she also taught in Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and Malawi, Africa.

How can we harness the power of reading in our classrooms to inspire students to write and share meaningful stories from their own lives? Join Kourtney Hake and Paige Timmerman in this insightful webinar, where they will explore the essential role mentor texts play in shaping and motivating student writers.

This session explores the Big 5 components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Educators will gain practical, evidence-based strategies, examine how neuroscience informs instruction, and learn how to apply these practices within a response to intervention (RTI) framework to support all learners.

James Simons is an educator, writer, and coach passionate about meaningful learning and leadership. He partners with schools to support instructional growth, curriculum design, and educator development. His work appears in Inside Higher Ed and Edutopia.

Maureen Chapman is a lifelong educator with over 15 years of experience in the field. As a curriculum director, she managed professional development, curriculum, resources, student data, coaching, new teacher induction, accountability, and career education initiatives.

Catlin Goodrow is an intervention teacher and instructional coach at the Spokane International Academy in Spokane, Washington.

Mary K. Gove, PhD, is professor emeritus at Cleveland State University and specializes in promoting a balanced approach to literacy education. Dr. Gove formerly taught grades K–6 and worked in an urban district as a full-time professional developer.

Jen Cullerton Johnson is an award-winning children’s author, educator, and environmental advocate. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she’s worked with incarcerated youth and urban classrooms; taught abroad in Japan, Ecuador, and Argentina; and led nature-writing workshops in outdoor settings.

Kristen Hawley Turner is a professor and chair of education at the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies at Drew University, New Jersey. Her research focuses on the intersection between technology and literacy.

Despite our best efforts, progress remains elusive with traditional remediation. It's time to rethink the approach. This webinar explores acceleration—a proactive, strengths-based model that empowers all students to achieve at or above grade level. This isn't just about closing gaps; it's about building a future where every student thrives.