RSAC 2024

Knowing vocabulary words is imperative to reading comprehension as a student will only comprehend to their level of vocabulary knowledge, especially for English Language Learners. However, the knowledge of what vocabulary words mean is only part of the process. Learning about parts of words (prefix, suffix, and root words), and how they come together to make up the English language can help readers understand words while reading. Attend this session to learn more about evidence based vocabulary strategies that will help all learners, including multilingual/English learners contextualize, rather than memorize vocabulary. Strategies will cover Pre-Kindergarten through High School.

What do you do when student(s) are not responding to an intervention? This session will provide evidence-based strategies to improve intervention outcomes for these students. You will learn how to systematically make changes to an intervention’s strength, dosage, alignment and generalizability to improve learning outcomes. Join us to learn more and take helpful new ideas and tools back to your classroom to strengthen intervention for all your students!

This session equips educators with an understanding of how to address diverse reading challenges from Dyslexia to Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Through the Simple View of Reading (Gough & Tunmer, 1986) framework, participants learn data analysis techniques and evidence-based interventions for word recognition, language comprehension, and reading comprehension difficulties. These strategies cultivate an inclusive culture of literacy success, aligning seamlessly with the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan to raise the literacy achievement of all students.

Discover the transformative power of Object-Based Learning (OBL) in the modern classroom with our presentation on "Engaging Minds: Active Teaching through Object-Based Learning." This innovative educational approach leverages physical objects to stimulate student engagement, enhance critical thinking, and deepen understanding across various subjects.
Join us as we explore how OBL can bring abstract concepts to life by integrating tangible artifacts into lesson plans. Participants will gain insight into the diverse benefits of OBL, including improved retention, heightened curiosity, and the development of observational and inferential skills.
Our interactive presentation, inspired by the Smithsonian’s Teacher Innovator Institute, will showcase practical examples from different educational settings, demonstrating how everyday objects, historical artifacts, and art pieces can serve as powerful educational tools. Attendees will learn how to curate and incorporate objects into their own teaching practices, creating immersive and interactive learning experiences.
Additionally, we will discuss the logistical aspects of implementing OBL, such as sourcing objects, managing classroom dynamics, and aligning with curriculum standards. By the end of the session, educators will be equipped with actionable strategies to foster a more engaging and participatory classroom environment through the use of object-based learning.
Prepare to be inspired by this dynamic approach that not only captivates students but also enriches their educational journey, turning passive learning into an active exploration of the world around them.

In this engaging session, we will build basic knowledge of The Illinois Social Emotional Learning Standards. After delving into the standards, we will explore our go-to picture books, both old and brand new, that we can leverage to teach and lean into SEL topics and standards.