Friday, May 15, 2026
-
Instrucción estructurada de la LECTOESCRITURA en español
Sponsored by Werling Nexus (Diamond) Sponsored SessionsAlejandra Benitez Lead
May 15, 9:40am – 10:50am70 minMesquite (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
Descubre cómo enseñar la lectoescritura en español de forma explícita, sistemática y efectiva. A través de una secuencia progresiva de habilidades —conciencia fonológica, fonética, fluidez, vocabulario, comprensión y escritura— aprenderás a apoyar a los estudiantes desde las etapas iniciales de alfabetización hasta estudiantes mayores con retos en lectoescritura. Los participantes aprenderán a usar evaluaciones y datos para guiar la instrucción y brindar intervenciones efectivas en aulas bilingües. Saldrás con herramientas prácticas que impulsarán la biliteracidad, la confianza académica y un ambiente inclusivo y motivador para todos tus estudiantes. -
The Power of Words: Unlocking Academic Language for Student Success
Featured SessionsDr. ET Lead
May 15, 9:40am – 10:50am70 minOak (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
Explore simple, effective strategies to build academic language through structured talk, modeling, and student discourse. Walk away with ready-to-use tools to boost student voice, confidence, and success—perfect for strengthening TELPAS reading and writing. -
NG
Advancing Claim-Evidence-Reasoning in Middle School: Bilingual Scaffolds and Structured Collaboration
Instructional Practices in Secondary DLBE ClassroomsNelia Gamez Lead
May 15, 9:45am – 10:40am55 minFiesta (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 30)Show details
This session models how middle school bilingual students use collaborative scaffolds to build Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) responses through structured discussion, reading, and reflection. Participants will learn how group work, academic talk, and guided supports lead students from co-constructed responses and presentations to independent short answers and full essays. The session provides practical strategies that strengthen both language development and critical thinking while promoting equitable participation. -
CM
Igniting Possibilities for Dyslexia Support in Dual-Language Programs
EBs with Diverse NeedsCeleste Martinez Lead with Karla Mariana Escobar
May 15, 9:45am – 10:40am55 minMaple (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
This presentation draws on the emerging research into multilingual and multimodal means of representation (Cioè‐Peña, 2022; CAST, 2024) for students with dyslexia in Dual Language and Bilingual Education programs (DLBE). Participants will identify specific strategies to implement in their classrooms by engaging with an interactive, composite case study. This composite case study highlights current practices to enable access to the curriculum. Participants will leave with resources on actionable strategies to implement in the classroom. -
Building Bridges Between Contemporary Music and Spanish Literature
Instructional Practices in Secondary DLBE ClassroomsEllen Flores Chavira Lead
May 15, 10:55am – 11:50am55 minFiesta (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 30)Show details
This presentation models how contemporary Spanish-language music can be used to build meaningful bridges to literary analysis in bilingual classrooms. Through classroom-tested pairings from AP Spanish Literature, participants will explore strategies that connect students’ lived linguistic and cultural experiences to canonical texts while strengthening biliteracy and critical thinking. The session is interactive and provides ready-to-use comparison prompts that position students as active interpreters, cultural experts, and advocates for their voices and identities. -
CP
Empowering Multilingual Learners with Disabilities Through Universal Design
EBs with Diverse NeedsCarlos Perez Lead
May 15, 10:55am – 11:50am55 minMaple (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
Language becomes a tool of empowerment when all students can access rigorous academic content through multiple pathways. This innovative session demonstrates how Universal Design for Learning serves as a powerful framework to integrate evidence-based strategies that unlock academic language for multilingual learners, including English learners with disabilities. Participants will explore the synergy between UDL's three principles and structured instructional approaches: the 7 Steps to Language-Rich Classrooms, QSSSR (Question, Signal/Cue, Sentence Stem, Share, Assess), and Preview-View-Review strategies. Through hands-on practice with a dual language 8th grade US History lesson, educators will experience how sentence stems scaffold academic discourse, how multiple modalities support comprehension for students with reading differences, and how choice in expression honors both linguistic diversity and learning differences. Attendees will leave with a replicable lesson template that transforms any content area into a linguistically and cognitively accessible learning experience. When we design instruction that honors every student's linguistic assets while providing structured and explicit instructional support for academic language development and reading differences, we truly make language a source of power for all learners. -
The Transformative Power of Bilingual and Higher Education
Featured SessionsDr. Jose Luis Zelaya Lead
May 15, 10:55am – 12:05pm70 minMesquite (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
This session provides an interactive and engaging learning experience focused on the transformative power of bilingualism in the lives of newcomer and emergent bilingual students. Participants will explore how bilingualism strengthens cognitive development, academic success, perseverance, and long-term aspirations, while also serving as a foundation for belonging and empowerment in schools. Together, we will examine common challenges educators face when supporting bilingual learners, including limited instructional time, pressures to accelerate English acquisition, and systems that unintentionally devalue students’ home language. Using a strengths-based and research-informed approach, participants will reflect on how to shift classroom practices toward affirming language, culture, and student voice. Educators will leave with practical strategies and tools that can be implemented strategically, including methods to increase academic discourse, elevate multilingual engagement, and create safe learning environments where students’ native language and cultural assets are embraced as essential resources. This session will inspire participants to reimagine English language acquisition as a powerful pathway to leadership, opportunity, and generational success. -
MT
Beyond the Code: Building Language and Vocabulary Through Decodable Readers
Sponsored by Werling Nexus (Diamond) Sponsored SessionsMandy Turner Lead
May 15, 10:55am – 12:05pm70 minOak (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
Decodable readers are essential for building accurate word reading—but decoding alone is not enough. Beyond the Code: Building Language and Vocabulary Through Decodable Readers explores how educators can use decodable texts to intentionally strengthen vocabulary, oral language, and comprehension, especially for upper-elementary striving readers, students with dyslexia, and emergent bilingual learners. Participants will learn how to evaluate decodables for language richness, design instruction that supports both receptive and expressive language, and leverage culturally relevant texts to build meaning, engagement, and background knowledge while maintaining phonics integrity. -
Where Language and Disability Meet: What Districts Must Do Differently
Featured SessionsLizdelia Piñón Lead
May 15, 10:55am – 12:05pm70 minPine (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 40)Show details
Where Language and Disability Meet explores how schools can better serve multilingual students with disabilities by rethinking systems that often separate language development from special education. This session challenges deficit-based approaches and highlights how they contribute to misidentification, limited access, and inequitable outcomes for emergent bilingual learners.
Participants will examine how policy, instruction, and collaboration can work together to create more inclusive, asset-based environments that honor students’ linguistic and cultural strengths. The presentation offers practical strategies for equitable identification, bilingual and culturally sustaining instruction, stronger collaboration between multilingual and special education teams, and authentic family partnership.
Grounded in research and real-world district examples, this session empowers educators, leaders, and advocates to move beyond compliance and toward transformative practices. Attendees will leave with concrete tools and a renewed vision for creating classrooms and systems where multilingual students with disabilities are fully included, supported, and positioned to thrive. -
MC
“¡Juguemos! Let’s Play! Estrategias de vocabulario que incorporan el puente.”
Instructional Practices in Secondary DLBE ClassroomsMichelle Camacho Lead with Michelle Morales
May 15, 1:35pm – 2:45pm70 minFiesta (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 30)Show details
This interactive session will go over the what & why of traditional bridging, and showcase a variety of vocabulary strategies that can be used in any content area. -
Beyond Google Translate: Using AI to Support Biliteracy Development
Sponsored by TABE (Partner) Sponsored SessionsKarina Chapa Lead
May 15, 1:35pm – 2:45pm70 minOak (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
This session explores how artificial intelligence tools can move educators beyond basic translation to intentionally support biliteracy development. Participants will learn practical strategies for using AI to enhance reading, writing, and language transfer across English and Spanish, while maintaining linguistic integrity and academic rigor. The session emphasizes ethical use, culturally responsive practices, and classroom-ready applications that strengthen students’ bilingual identities and outcomes. -
Still We Rise: Creating Pathways for Bilingual Students in GT
EBs with Diverse NeedsDr. Apolonio Trejo Lead
May 15, 1:45pm – 2:40pm55 minMaple (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
This session explores the underrepresentation of bilingual students in Gifted and Talented (GT) programs and provides practical strategies for equitable identification, culturally responsive assessment, and inclusive instruction in bilingual, dual language, and ESL classrooms. Drawing on current research (Medina, 2025; Trejo, 2021), it highlights systemic barriers and emphasizes the value of students’ home languages, bilingualism, and translanguaging as assets for learning. Participants will leave with actionable tools to create pathways that honor bilingual learners as campeones de lenguaje, la cultura, y la comunidad. -
EBs, Former EBs, and Non-EBs: Developing Language in Diverse Classrooms
EBs with Diverse NeedsStephen Fleenor Lead
May 15, 2:55pm – 3:50pm55 minMaple (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
The modern general-education classroom is highly heterogeneous, with emergent bilingual (EB) students at different levels of English language proficiency, students with unique socioemotional needs, and students with diverse background knowledge about academic content.
How can we practically meet the language needs of all students in a diverse classroom? This session shows educators practical ways to meet students where they are at, give them a voice, and help to grow their language, self-confidence, and academic performance. Additionally, this session models how to achieve success for all students by making the development of academic language the primary objective of every lesson and challenging all students to engage with thinking and language at the highest levels of Blooms’ taxonomy. In this session, participants will:
• Engage as students in language-rich simulations
• Discuss with peers how second-language acquisition (SLA) strategies and diverse support can help all students realize their potential
• Learn how to give students a voice through open-ended, culturally responsive activities -
Cultivating Bilingual Teacher Leaders in Community
Administrator/ AdvocacyDr. Karina Villa Lead with Dr. Lorena Claeys, Mpa, Ms. Christina King, M.a., Mrs. Renee Tondre-garza, M.a., Lpc Dr. Claudia Garcia-treviño, M.a. Sr. Alejandra Treviño, Fma, M.ed
May 15, 2:55pm – 4:05pm70 minMesquite (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
This session invites participants to rise together as champions of language, culture, and community by exploring the Culturally Efficacious Signature Teacher Residency (CESTR) pathway developed through the Academy for Teacher Excellence Research Center at UT San Antonio. Participants will learn how the pathway creates accessible routes for paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, and community members to become bilingual certified educators through residency-based clinical experiences, mentorship, and culturally sustaining pedagogies.
Presenters will share practical resources and tools that support aspiring bilingual teachers, including TExES preparation strategies, career transition guidance, and mentorship supports that strengthen educator readiness and confidence. The session will also highlight how Grow-Your-Own partnerships between universities, schools, and communities fortify bilingual teacher pipelines while affirming the linguistic and cultural assets emergent bilingual students bring to the classroom.
Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for designing culturally sustaining teacher pathways that empower educators to champion language, culture, and community in their schools. -
The Language of Discovery: Empowering Emergent Bilingual Scientists through Phenomenon
Sponsored by Summit K-12 (Diamond) Sponsored SessionsJessica Torres Lead with Jesse Garcia
May 15, 2:55pm – 4:05pm70 minOak (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
By anchoring instruction in phenomena, 3-Dimensional science empowers Emergent Bilinguals to prioritize sensemaking over memorization, ensuring English proficiency is never a barrier to high-level discovery. This interactive session demonstrates how the 3-Dimensional model’s emphasis on scientific discourse and collaborative practices naturally aligns with the linguistic needs of all learners. Participants will learn to leverage the new Texas Science ELPS Proficiency Level Descriptors (PLDs) to scaffold rigorous inquiry through translanguaging and academic discourse strategies. Leave equipped to foster a classroom culture where students use their diverse communication assets to argue, model, and think like scientists. -
TB
Accelerate Learning with Footsteps2Brilliance & Foster Calm Learning with Friendzy!
Sponsored by Teaching Counts! (Silver) Sponsored SessionsTerri Balderrama Booker Lead
May 15, 2:55pm – 4:05pm70 minPine (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 40)Show details
Discover how to accelerate literacy and support emotional wellness for Emergent Bilingual students through engaging, research-based strategies and resources. This session combines innovative bilingual language and literacy tools with practical approaches to help students thrive academically and socially. Learn how to bridge school and home learning with culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate English and Spanish resources that promote Kindergarten readiness and 3rd grade reading proficiency. Explore how the brain responds to stress and how language and culture influence behavior, while gaining strategies from the Regulate–Respond–Relate framework to create calm, focused classrooms. Walk away with ready-to-use bilingual tools—including visual supports, sentence stems, and routines—that empower students, strengthen connections, and eliminate learning gaps. Attendees will receive access to free resources, including a trial opportunity and materials to immediately implement in their classrooms