Introduction
Our three Literacy Talks podcast hosts had the privilege of attending the Plain Talk Conference, one of the premier events for literacy educators and advocates. The conference provided them with invaluable insights from experts in the field, highlighting emerging trends, best practices, and research-backed strategies to improve literacy instruction.
For those who couldn’t attend, they’re excited to share key takeaways from the sessions they attended, covering topics such as comprehension, writing instruction, teacher development, and the evolving role of technology in literacy education.
Note: Details about all of the speakers mentioned below can be found on the Plain Talk website.
Keynote Highlights: Insights from Leading Literacy Experts
The conference featured several powerhouse speakers in literacy education. One of the most memorable keynotes came from Dr. Maryanne Wolf, who delivered an impassioned talk about the importance of books and reading in a digital age. “We should be united in our love of books,” Wolf declared, emphasizing the shared mission of educators in fostering a love for reading. She also discussed the critical role of deep reading, urging educators to help students develop the skills necessary for comprehension and engagement in an increasingly fast-paced, digital world.
Another impactful keynote was delivered by Jake Daggett, who captivated the audience with his high-energy presentation on student engagement. His session was filled with practical techniques to increase participation and excitement in the classroom, leaving many attendees inspired.
A Growing Conference with a Strong Focus on Teachers
One of the standout themes of the conference was its growing popularity and strong focus on teachers. Having attended this event multiple times, our podcast hosts have seen firsthand how it continues to expand and attract more educators each year.
“If you’re wanting to go next year, you need to register early,” they noted, underscoring the event’s rising demand.
Another defining feature of the conference was the sense of community it fostered. They had the opportunity to connect with fellow educators, exchange ideas, and discuss the challenges and successes they face in the classroom.
“At lunchtime, you’re sitting with people that you’ve never met before, and always you have something in common,” they reflected.
The conference also reinforced their shared mission—to support student success. Seeing students participate in keynotes and performances was a powerful reminder of why this work is so important.
The Power of Writing and Grammar Instruction
Writing and grammar instruction were major focuses at the conference. Lyn Stone, a well-known advocate for structured literacy, delivered an engaging session on the importance of explicit grammar instruction.
What grows naturally as far as grammar is concerned is just a small part of what adults need to function properly in the modern world.
Her session reinforced the importance of structured writing instruction, providing practical techniques for integrating grammar into daily literacy lessons.
Similarly, Dr. Lorraine Hammond led a session on teaching sentence-level writing and vocabulary explicitly and efficiently, equipping attendees with actionable strategies to enhance writing instruction.
Transforming Comprehension Instruction
Comprehension was another focal point, with Kay Wijekumar presenting her innovative approach to teaching comprehension through text structures. Her method prioritizes helping students determine the main idea first and then using that as a foundation for summarization and inference.
“If you get the main idea correct, then you can use it to get all the other strategies,” Wijekumar explained.
This structured approach to comprehension instruction provides educators with a clear, research-backed method for improving students’ reading skills.
The Emotional and Social Impact of Reading Difficulties
One of the most compelling sessions came from Dr. Tim Odegard, who presented research on the emotional and social consequences of reading struggles. His longitudinal study revealed the far-reaching effects of illiteracy.
“Not being able to read exacerbates or causes anxiety, depression, and other social-emotional issues,” he reported.
His research reinforced the urgency of high-quality literacy instruction and early intervention, particularly for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges.
“It’s equivalent to child neglect,” Odegard boldly stated, emphasizing the moral imperative to provide effective literacy instruction.
The Role of Handwriting in Literacy Development
Handwriting received renewed attention this year, with multiple sessions dedicated to its role in literacy instruction. Jane Ashby and Shawn Datchuk both highlighted the connection between letter formation and reading fluency, emphasizing that writing by hand supports cognitive processes involved in reading.
“Letter formation strengthens the ability to recall letter names and sounds,” Ashby explained, reinforcing the importance of explicit handwriting instruction.
Attendees also discovered Literacy Lifter, a free resource designed to support handwriting instruction in alignment with phonics programs.
EdTech and the Science of Literacy: A Critical Examination
The role of technology in literacy education was another important topic. A session on EdTech and literacy development revealed mixed findings, with some programs showing negligible or even negative effects on student learning.
“Some programs in this meta-analysis were actually less effective than if students didn’t use them at all,” presenters reported, raising concerns about the efficacy of certain educational technologies.
Similarly, Dr. Elfrieda “Freddy” Hiebert discussed the challenges of generating high-quality decodable texts using AI, underscoring the limitations of current technology in meeting the specific needs of literacy education.
Practical Takeaways and Implementation Challenges
As the conference concluded, our podcast hosts reflected on how to implement what they had learned. One of the biggest challenges is distilling the wealth of information into practical, applicable strategies for educators. One key focus area is refining students’ conversational skills.
“We need to work more on helping students be better speakers and listeners in turn-and-talk activities,” they noted.
They also recognized the importance of maintaining high levels of student engagement, inspired by Dr. Lorraine Hammond and Dr. Jan Hasbrouck’s session on reading fluency.
“The engagement was high—72 responses by students within so many minutes of teaching. We need to bring more of that into our instruction.”
Conclusion: A Conference Worth Attending
The Plain Talk Conference once again proved to be an invaluable resource, offering actionable insights, research-backed strategies, and a strong sense of community. With its commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction, the conference continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of reading education.
For those considering attending next year, our podcast hosts have one piece of advice:
Register early!
Experience More Plain Talk!
The Ultimate Plain Talk Recap: Our Must-Share Insights from the Conference
