MOmentum: Full Schedule

10:00am CDT

Holding Space and Knowing What to Say: Responding to the Questions of Immigrant Students

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CDT

A bilingual therapist and a content teacher working with immigrant newcomer students share the most pressing questions from students and families, and how educators can respond with care and confidence.Topics include data privacy concerns, school safety policies, and talking with young children about fear and uncertainty.

Speakers

Angelica Mitchell

EL Educator, Ritenour

I've worked with multilingual students for the entirety of my teaching career. Now in my 27th year of teaching, I continue to grow a passion for working and supporting our Newcomer students and families. It is my honor and delight to work with my amazing team at the Ritenour Julie... Read More →

Marcela Tobar

Ritenour

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:00am - 10:25am CDT
RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Leadership and School Culture Elevate

ELevate Elementary and Secondary

10:40am CDT

WIDA ELD Standards Framework Implementation

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:40am - 12:00pm CDT

RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Explore ways to implement the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework, 2020 Edition in practical ways. Learn the importance and purpose of mentor text to make language visible to students. Engage in exploration of materials and additional resources to support classroom implementation.

Speakers

Lori Hanna

Professional Learning Specialist, WIDA

Lori Hanna has over 20 years of experience in the field of education in both the private and public school systems in Missouri. Teaching in the elementary classroom setting and then as an English language development specialist in grades K-12 has given Lori an understanding of the... Read More →

WIDA ELD Standards Framework Implentation 6.3.26 Packet pdf

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:40am - 12:00pm CDT
RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Instructional Practices for English Learners ELevate

ELevate Elementary and Secondary

1:10pm CDT

Connection First: Elevating ML Learning

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm CDT

RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Discover practical, research-aligned strategies that elevate ML voice through purposeful connection. Explore strategies in three categories including Partner Talk, Synthesis Tasks and Reflective Pauses. Review a planning template to adapt these tools for your grade level or content area.

Speakers

Anne Paonessa

ConnectED Classrooms

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm CDT
RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Instructional Practices for English Learners ELevate

ELevate Elementary and Secondary

2:10pm CDT

Clip to Concept: A Visual Strategy for Teaching Main Idea to MLs

Wednesday June 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT

RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Explore a classroom-ready strategy that leverages short video clips as “visual texts” to help MLs access and identify the main idea, lowering language barriers while building critical thinking skills. Experience the strategy as students would: viewing a clip, capturing observations and collaborating in small groups to find common patterns that point to the central meaning. Gain a replicable routine that uses visual supports and structured peer interaction to move MLs from noticing details to determining what matters most.

Speakers

Jeanne Allgeyer

Wednesday June 3, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm CDT
RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Instructional Practices for English Learners ELevate

3:10pm CDT

Cut, Paste, Breathe: Junk Journaling for Educators of MLs

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT

RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Educators of multilingual learners are navigating a great deal right now, and creative practices can offer a meaningful reset. Junk journaling—transforming scraps, clippings, and found materials into something beautiful—requires no experience and embraces imperfection. A bilingual therapist and newcomer teacher will share how this joyful practice fosters rest and renewal, and how it can be incorporated into your classroom. All experience levels are welcome. Some materials will be provided; feel free to bring your own.

Speakers

Angelica Mitchell

EL Educator, Ritenour

Marcela Tobar

Ritenour

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm CDT
RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Leadership and School Culture

ELevate Elementary and Secondary

9:15am CDT

Small Group Reading Tips to Bring Words to Life

Thursday June 4, 2026 9:15am - 10:35am CDT

RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Small group reading time with MLs can fly by without an intentional plan in place. Discover tips for maximizing your time, attacking texts and keeping students engaged. With a focus on the mindful mix of oral communication woven into phonics, morphology and reading comprehension, explore how to bring words to life.

Speakers

Rhonda Hittenberger Ortiz

Instructional Coach, Missouri State University

Thursday June 4, 2026 9:15am - 10:35am CDT
RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Instructional Practices for English Learners ELevate

ELevate Elementary

10:45am CDT

Lead with Purpose: Construct Inclusive Newcomer PD

Thursday June 4, 2026 10:45am - 11:35am CDT

RM 231 - Harmon Hall

This newcomer education collaborative session will explore shifting demographics, experience a refugee journey simulation and gain hands‑on, asset‑based strategies, including math, to build inclusive school communities. Gain impactful lesson plans with next day application.

Speakers

Christina Mendoza

Lead El Specialist, Lindbergh School District

Jillian Baldwin Kim

Lindbergh School District

Thursday June 4, 2026 10:45am - 11:35am CDT
RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Leadership and School Culture ELevate

ELevate Elementary and Secondary

1:05pm CDT

Removing Barriers, Not Expectations: Grading with ELs in Mind

Thursday June 4, 2026 1:05pm - 1:55pm CDT

RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Explore practical, equitable grading approaches that support MLs across all grade levels and content areas. Explore the purpose behind grading, the role of student resilience, the M.A.P. strategy, effective accommodations and the power of meaningful feedback. Educators and administrators will gain tools to help every learner show what they truly know.

Speakers

Cammy Goucher

ELD Director, Missouri DESE

As the DESE English Language Development and World Languages Director, I organize and conduct high-quality professional development and aid districts in developing and implementing effective ELD programs. I utilize my 20+ years of experience as a former ELD instructor/coordinator... Read More →

Thursday June 4, 2026 1:05pm - 1:55pm CDT
RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Summative and Formative Assessment ELevate

ELevate Elementary and Secondary

2:05pm CDT

Empowered Voices: Boosting English Literacy Through Student Immigration Stories

Thursday June 4, 2026 2:05pm - 2:55pm CDT

RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Explore an engaging, culturally affirming curriculum that helps MLs develop their English literacy skills by writing their own immigration stories. Examine instructional strategies that honor students’ lived experiences while building academic vocabulary, narrative structure and language proficiency. Discover practical lesson sequences, scaffolds for diverse proficiency levels and examples of student-centered activities that encourage expressive, meaningful writing. Gain ready-to-use tools, prompts and frameworks to create a safe and supportive environment where students can share their journeys, strengthen their writing skills and see their identities reflected in the classroom.

Speakers

Daisy Skelly, EdD

ELD Specialist, Parkway School District

Empowered Voices Boosting English Literacy Through Student Immigration Stories” pdf

scholastic immigrant stories printer friendly pdf

Thursday June 4, 2026 2:05pm - 2:55pm CDT
RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Instructional Practices for English Learners ELevate

ELevate Elementary and Secondary

3:05pm CDT

Connection in Action: ML Service Projects

Thursday June 4, 2026 3:05pm - 3:55pm CDT

RM 231 - Harmon Hall

Explore how service-learning extends and elevates ML learning beyond the classroom through authentic tasks that build language and confidence. Explore examples such as mini projects, community partnerships and virtual exchanges. Attendees leave with a project planning template.

Speakers