Mastering the Craft: A Guide to Contributing to the Literacy Voices Journal with Dr. Rachael Waller & Dr. Kari Dahle-Huff, MSU-Billings

Join the editors for an engaging and informative one-hour session dedicated to equipping you with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration needed to contribute to the Literacy Voices Journal. This session is designed for both seasoned writers and newcomers who are passionate about literacy and eager to share their insights from practice and/or research with a broader audience. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the submission process, including the journal's formatting requirements, the peer-review process, and the criteria for selecting articles. Discover the essential components of a well-crafted article, from selecting a relevant and impactful topic to structuring your article effectively and employing persuasive writing techniques. Participants will leave equipped with the confidence and knowledge to contribute valuable articles to the Literacy Voices journal, ready to embark on their writing journey. 

Bringing the outdoors inside: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks educator resources with Chrissy Web

Montana is renowned for its incredible fish, wildlife and natural resources. Our local students should be learning about the state’s natural treasures. With high transportation costs and challenging field trip logistics, how can you bring more of Montana’s outdoors inside the classroom? Chrissy Webb, communication & education manager with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will provide educators with some of the agency’s resources to help bring the outdoors inside. 

Keynote with Ellin Keene

A Fresh Look at Student Engagement in a Post Pandemic World

Children are struggling emotionally and socially; perhaps that is an understatement. We can speculate about how the need became this acute. Certainly, there have always been children in pain in our schools, but this is different. This is far more intense for far more kids. We are not therapists; we are not trained to deal with complex social and emotional problems. But you know what we are qualified to do? Teach well. We have spent our careers understanding and adapting instruction to engage children. In a post pandemic world, let’s take another look at engaging children in deep and meaningful literacy work because we know that academically and emotionally engaged children are far less prone to emotional distress. In the keynote, we’ll discuss the most tried and true tactics to engage children, no matter their age or present performance level and explore the role of classroom teachers, instructional facilitators, and principals to promote deep engagement for every child.

Understanding and Supporting Students with Trauma: Key Insights and Strategies  with Dr. Robin Heigis & Chad Jackson, MSU-Billings

In this presentation, we will explore the significant long-term effects of trauma on children's health and development, drawing insights from recent CDC research and the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Attendees will gain an understanding of how trauma alters brain structures responsible for emotional regulation and decision-making and how this relates to the fight or flight response, which can lead to behavioral challenges in the classroom. We will discuss the different types of stress—acute, episodic, and chronic—and their unique impacts on brain functioning, particularly in memory, learning, and emotional control.

Additionally, we will examine the impact of technology on the brain, focusing on how excessive screen time and digital interactions can influence children's attention spans, emotional well-being, and social skills. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for educators and counselors as they navigate the challenges faced by today's youth.

Early Literacy Targeted Interventions with Jackie Ronning, Office of Public Instruction

Comprehension Strategies as Learning Strategies Across the Curriculum with Ellin Keene

Participants will discuss the key differences between comprehending in narrative and informational text. Through our own reading, we will explore ways in which all readers can become more independent, flexible, and strategic in using comprehension strategies to tackle complex informational texts and concepts. We’ll explore a process called Engaged Reading and Writing in which students read and write informational text in a way that is meaningful to them.