Presenter: Val Piccini Description: Text structure is the gateway to comprehension. In this immersive workshop, participants will learn evidence-aligned practices that emphasize and integrate a systematic and structured way to effectively teach text structures as a means of accessing and producing text. Participants will explore the energy of text structure at work through interactive writing experiences. Both teacher and student examples will be examined to support the transference of new learning into practice. So, grab any topic, your notebook, and a pencil and get ready to learn how to guide your students into deeper understanding of the content they are learning through the exploration of structure.

Join host Tamika Reece from ReadWorks for an engaging and illuminating panel discussion as we dive into the heart of these pressing questions. We are thrilled to welcome three distinguished experts in the field—Dr. Julie Van Dyke, Nancy Chapel Eberhardt, and Dr. Margie Gillis—who will discuss how and why syntax must be a foundational element in literacy instruction.
🔗This session bridges the gap between research and the classroom. Our experts will explore what the Science of Language reveals about how the brain processes syntax during reading, the critical role of sentence structure in building meaning, and why a responsive, language-focused approach is essential for all students.
Beyond the theory, this panel is designed for impact. Our panelists will share practical, classroom-ready strategies to help you teach syntax explicitly, providing your students with the essential tools they need to unlock the meaning of texts.