Ditch Guided Reading: Skills-Based Small Groups That Work!

In this session, Jessica will show you how to say goodbye to grouping students by reading levels and remove outdated guided reading strategies. She will demonstrate how to build your small groups based on Ehri's Phases of Reading while focusing on specific skills your students need to make reading gains. Discover how to assess effectively, plan targeted lessons for every reading phase, and implement hands-on activities that engage learners. Plus, Jessica will answer the big question: "What are my other students doing while I am meeting with small groups?" Let's make small group instruction planful, purposeful, and impactful! 

ABOUT JESSICA:

With a bachelor's degree from Florida International University, Jessica also holds a reading endorsement in the state of Florida. Her journey into the science of reading began in 2020, spurred by the onset of the pandemic. In response, she took to TikTok to create informative content, aimed at assisting parents in supporting their children's learning at home. Since then, Jessica has maintained a consistent presence on social media, offering valuable resources and insights for both parents and educators. 

Dedicated to advancing the field of reading instruction, Jessica has expanded her knowledge through specialized training. In 2021 and 2022, she successfully completed LETRS for Early Childhood and Comprehensive IMSE Orton-Gillingham. Her unwavering passion lies in making reading instruction accessible and effective for every learner. With a commitment to reaching and empowering all readers, Jessica continues to be a trusted source of guidance and support in the science of reading community. Jessica is currently the lead professional trainer for Rainbow Phonics and a facilitator for LETRS EC.

Sound Walls in K-5 Literacy 

ABOUT JAKE:

Jake is an Ohio native who began his teaching career in Milwaukee, WI in 2015. Having specialized in literacy instruction, Jake built a following on social media for his engaging and rhythmic phonics lessons and evidence-based structured literacy lessons, even landing him on The Kelly Clarkson Show in January 2024.

Throughout his career, Jake has taught PreK, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades and has recently stepped into the role of Foundational Literacy Director for a choice school in Milwaukee, WI. In his role, Jake supports a team of elementary teachers in their implementation of the science of reading. In addition, Jake co-teaches an online Science of Reading Course for Elevate Your Classroom. In his spare time, Jake presents nationally for conferences such as Elevate Your Classroom, Unlocking SOR, IL ASCD, and Plain Talk. He is thrilled to be joining the SoR MiniCon this year!

Pass the Mic: Classroom Conversations to Boost Oral Language and Comprehension! 

Session Description: Turn up the volume and turn on your teacher voice! We'll be tapping into the upper strands of Scarborough's Reading Rope to enrich classroom conversations and enhance listening skills. We'll dive into creative questioning techniques and dynamic discussions that make structured literacy lively and engaging! Turn up the dial on a variety of texts and and let your students' voices shine through! You will walk away with practical strategies that spotlight every student and create a vibrant, interactive learning environment. Let's set the stage for an unforgettable literacy journey!

ABOUT YVETTE:

Through the years, Yvette has collaborated with hundreds of teachers, administrators, and school district leaders across the state of Georgia through direct coaching, professional development sessions, and training resources. Yvette received House Resolution 821 in honor of her impact on the community in the Westside of Atlanta and has also been featured in multiple media outlets for her ingenuity in education and literature. Her career path has progressed from elementary educator to curriculum developer, and now she runs her own educational publishing company. She creates high-interest children’s literature through her company, including her educative series “Phonics Read-Alouds.”

Yvette’s desire to enlighten children motivates her learning materials, which are in over 56,000 classrooms, libraries, and museums in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Senegal. “We have the responsibility to reach back and uplift our youth in ways that will improve their potential outcomes and possibilities for success,” she believes.

Morphology in Motion: Practical and Playful Strategies to Bring Word Study to Life 

Morphology doesn’t have to be dry or daunting—it can be fun, interactive, and deeply impactful, even for our youngest learners! In this session, we’ll see morphology in motion, with a focus on practical strategies to make word study come alive.

You’ll learn essential morphological terms and concepts, but more importantly, discover playful, multi-sensory routines and activities that engage students in understanding how words work. From creative ways to introduce morphemes to hands-on practices that incorporate movement, color, and curiosity, this session is packed with ideas you can immediately implement in your classroom. Whether you’re looking to enhance your phonics instruction with some morphology work or take your advanced word study block to the next level, this session will leave you inspired and ready to infuse joy into teaching morphology!

ABOUT MICHELLE

Michelle Sullivan is the founder of The Colorful Classroom and host of the Literacy in Color podcast. With a mission to empower elementary teachers, Michelle shares Science of Reading-aligned tips, tools, and strategies to help educators deliver strong, evidence-based literacy instruction. She encourages teachers to bring color to their teaching—through intentional multisensory practices—and to show up as bold, vibrant advocates for their students, cultivating a love for learning and literacy. After all, the goal is to Captivate Our Learners On Reading Fluently & Understanding Language (yes, it spells COLORFUL—because who doesn’t love a good acronym?).