Turning the Tide in Reading Instruction 2026

Absorb the energy as we learn from national reading experts, explore curated exhibits, and connect with colleagues! A breakfast buffet, lunch, snacks, and a host of door prizes are included.

In-Person Attendance: We would love to welcome you for the full in-person experience! You have easy access from I-94 and free surface parking. If you plan to stay overnight on November 4th or 5th, online reservations for reduced rate rooms are available through October 12th at the attached Hilton Garden Inn for your convenience.

Live Stream Attendance: With this popular option, we welcome folks from across Wisconsin, the country, and even beyond our borders! Our live stream makes it convenient for you to join us virtually. Use the live chat to connect with other virtual attendees and submit your questions for the presenters. You might even win one of the door prizes reserved for live streamers!

Thanks to our lives stream vendor, Exciting Events, for their non-profit discount.

Recording Access: Both in-person and live stream registrants receive permanent access to the event recording.

SPEAKERS

Sharon Vaughn guides our attention to engaging adolescent readers for success by looking at the research-based instructional practices within the intervention program Promoting Access to Comprehension (PACT). Dr. Vaughn is the Manuel J. Justiz Endowed Chair in Education and executive director of The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at The University of Texas at Austin. She chaired the panel for the IES Practice Guide on Providing Reading Interventions for Students in Grades 4–9, and is the author of more than 40 books and 400 research articles and has provided technical assistance in literacy to more than 10 countries and 30 State Departments of Education.

Jasmine Rogers explains the sophisticated, rule-governed linguistic system of Black Language, inviting educators to examine their ideas about language and reframe their approach to structured literacy through an asset-based lens. Participants will learn key sound and grammar patterns used in Black Language and see how these patterns show consistent logic in students’ speech and spelling. You will acquire ideas on how to honor students’ home language while giving them clear, explicit tools to support reading and writing. Coming to us from Washington D.C., Dr. Rogers is a Manager and Coach with the In Schools program at the DCPS Reading Clinic. She is also an Early Literacy Intervention Scholar and teaches a reading foundations course for masters students at American University.

Stephanie Stollar focuses on preventing reading failure in the early grades through implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). She explores the essentials of early screening and appropriate intervention while emphasizing the critical role of classroom reading instruction as the key contributor to the power of prevention. Dr. Stollar is the co-author of MTSS for Reading Improvement, Promoting Effective MTSS Implementation, and Reading Assessment Done Right. as well as creator of Reading Science Academy and co-creator of MTSS Collective,

Devin Kearns challenges some common practices in offering suggestions on how to effectively help students to read multi-syllabic words. Dr. Kearns is Goodnight Distinguished Professor in Early Literacy at North Carolina State University at Raleigh and research scientist for the Haskins Global Literacy Hub affiliated with Yale University and the University of Connecticut.

Many thanks to our presenting sponsors: Savvas Learning Company for Sharon Vaughn, Ventris Learning for Jasmine Rogers, WI Reads for Stephanie Stollar, and Curriculum Associates for Devin Kearns.

From left: Sharon Vaughn, Jasmine Rogers, Stephanie Stollar, Devin Kearns                                                                 

REGISTRATION DEADLINES: Register for in-person attendance by October 21st at noon and for live stream attendance by November 4th at noon.

COMPLETE CONFERENCE INFORMATION AND SCHEDULE: Check our 2026 conference brochure for current conference information along with later updates on speaker handouts, exhibitors, door prizes, and more.

ORDERS FOR MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS: You may register up to 20 people in one order. Please note that we will need a name and email for each live stream registrant, as well as names, emails, lunch menu choices, dietary restrictions, and seating preferences for in-person attendees. If you do not have all the needed information at the time of registration, please return to update the form or email conference@wi.thereadingleague org with this additional information before the registration deadline..

IMPORTANT PAYMENT NOTES: We strongly encourage you to pay via credit card when registering. If absolutely necessary, school districts or organizations placing multiple orders may choose the purchase order/invoicing option on checkout. If paying by purchase order, your invoice will come from Humanitix and includes information on payment via check or ACH transfer. All  invoiced payments go to Wisconsin Reading Coalition, and you can access WRC's form W-9 here. Payments must be received by the appropriate registration deadline. Please contact us if you require different arrangements or need further information or paperwork. Late payments are subject to a 10% processing fee unless prior payment arrangements have been made via conference@wi.thereadingleague.org.