Don't just close the book when the story ends! Transform your read-alouds into dynamic springboards for foundational literacy. This session moves beyond passive listening, demonstrating how to pair high-quality picture books with playful extensions targeting phonological awareness, oral language, and early writing. We'll explore a curated list of titles and the specific movement, sensory, and dramatic play invitations that bring their themes to life. Participants will leave with a practical framework for turning any story into a multi-sensory learning adventure that keeps the joy of discovery at the heart of the classroom.
Early Childhood Librarian, Kooken Education Center | Arlington ISD
Mary Eldredge is a passionate, magical mix of joyful librarian, early-childhood educator, & clever creator — all rolled into one glitter-glue-splattered champion of children. After years of teaching, she followed her heart and became a librarian. Now, her days are filled with reading... Read More →
Monday July 20, 2026 12:45pm - 2:00pm PDT Create B
Building awareness and knowledge of the attributes of shapes are strong predictors of future mathematical achievement. Engaging with 2 dimensional shapes also provides building blocks for initial alphabet recognition focusing on line and shape of letters. This session will feature music, recognizing shapes in the environment, and integration of alphabet recognition.
Literacy Consultant, CELEBRATE Successful Early Learning
Dianne Patterson is a national literacy consultant. Her classroom experience spans early childhood special needs, Prekindergarten, primary grades, and adult education. Dianne shares interactive presentations focusing on intentional teaching and literacy acquisition. She authored science... Read More →
Monday July 20, 2026 12:45pm - 2:00pm PDT Connect A
Don't just close the book when the story ends! Transform your read-alouds into dynamic springboards for foundational literacy. This session moves beyond passive listening, demonstrating how to pair high-quality picture books with playful extensions targeting phonological awareness, oral language, and early writing. We'll explore a curated list of titles and the specific movement, sensory, and dramatic play invitations that bring their themes to life. Participants will leave with a practical framework for turning any story into a multi-sensory learning adventure that keeps the joy of discovery at the heart of the classroom.
Early Childhood Librarian, Kooken Education Center | Arlington ISD
Mary Eldredge is a passionate, magical mix of joyful librarian, early-childhood educator, & clever creator — all rolled into one glitter-glue-splattered champion of children. After years of teaching, she followed her heart and became a librarian. Now, her days are filled with reading... Read More →
In this interactive session, early childhood educators will explore how to use What Can You Do with a Paleta? / ¿Qué Puedes Hacer con una Paleta? to build crosslinguistic connections and strengthen language and vocabulary. Participants will learn to leverage English and Spanish during read-alouds and play, highlighting cognates and meaning across languages. The session models how to teach vocabulary in context using key words, phrases, and sentences from the text. Through hands-on activities and centers, educators will plan opportunities for students to use language authentically, supporting oral language development, comprehension, and language transfer across both languages.
Monday July 20, 2026 2:15pm - 3:30pm PDT Connect B
