Check-in & Welcome
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8:45-9:00 am CST
*Doors open at 8:30 am.
Author Chats
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9:00-9:30 am CST
Join award-winning author, Hayley Rocco, as she chats about her picture book, All the Books.
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9:30-10:00 am CST
Join award-winning author, Josh Funk as he chats about his picture book, Attack of the Scones.
Mini Learning Session
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10:00-10:30 am CST
Join Dr. Laura Hancock as she presents a session on Slow Writing: Why Less is More.
What to expect in this session:
Guests will review the power of oracy in enhancing writing fluency, explore explicit instruction on the art of constructing sentences, and discover practical daily writing, revision, and editing techniques that can be applied to tomorrow’s classrooms.
Author Chats
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10:30-11:00 am CST
*Joining us from Germany!
Join award-winning author, Jule Wellerdiek, as she chats about her latest picture book, Worm's Lost & Found.
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11:00-11:30 am CST
Join award-winning author, Olando Mendiola, as he chats about his latest picture book, The Last Tamale.
Cooking Session & Book Bites
*guests can join our cooking session or have lunch on their own.
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11:30 am-12:30 pm CST
*Selected recipes will be sent to guests one week before the event to prepare.
Join G.G.'s Book Club for our LIVE Cooking Session where we will cook up some of Eva Longoria's recipes from her latest cookbook.
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12:30-1:00 pm CST
Enjoy lunch and join our favorite librarian, Dr. Priscilla Delgado Hermiller for her session, Book Stacking ¡Olé!
What to expect in this session:
Guests will enjoy some bookish bites about the latest books to add to their TBR book stacks!
Breakout Sessions
*guests will get to pick and choose a session
1:00-1:3o pm CST
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Join Jennifer Kerr as she presents a session on Let's Taco 'Bout Vocabulary!
What to expect in this breakout session:
Let's Taco 'Bout ways to expand your students' vocabulary acquisition. We will spice things up using short films, paint chips, and morphology knowledge to create word seekers and builders of knowledge.
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Join Linda Denness-Arvizu as she presents a session on Culturally Relevant Texts in the Age of the Science of Reading.
What to expect in Linda's session:
In the age of the Science of Reading, teachers must not overlook the importance of using culturally relevant literature. Research shows these books help some students see their lives reflected in books while offering a window into other cultures for others. In this session, guests will focus on how culturally relevant texts can be a springboard for authentic class discussions and reader response activities.
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Join Irma Sanchez as she presents a session on United We Read, Unidos Leemos!
What to expect in this breakout session:
In this session, guests will discover how to build a school-wide culture of reading through a shared monthly read-aloud—an opportunity for students and teachers to come together, get creative, and have fun with a great book!
PD with Dr. G.G.
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1:30-2:30 pm CST
Join Dr. G.G. for a 1-hour mini-PD session, Picture Books in Action: Sparking Curiosity, Imagination & Your Curriculum!
What to expect in this session:
Don't miss this interactive session with Dr. G.G.! Experience firsthand how to leverage featured picture books to enhance literacy instruction. Leave with ready-to-use teaching guides aligned to state standards, engaging "lit-burst" activities, and practical literacy tips you can apply in your classroom (or home) the very next day.
Closing Author Chat
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2:30-3:00 pm CST
*Joining us from Australia!
Join award-winning author, Melissa Cristina Márquez, as she chats about her latest picture book, Mother of Sharks.
Finale and Farewells
3:00-3:15ish pm CST
Finale, Giveaways, & BINGO!