How do we ensure every student has what they need to grow into a skilled reader, writer, and thinker?
Led by McGraw Hill authors and literacy experts, this four-part webinar series explores the research behind effective K–5 literacy instruction. Whether you join one session or all four, you'll walk away with a deeper, research-grounded understanding of who your students are and what they need to thrive in the ELA classroom and beyond.
Every Child in Every Page: Culturally Diverse Texts in Literacy InstructionWednesday, October 14, 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET
Dr. Michelle H. Martin.
In this session, Dr. Michelle H. Martin explores why culturally diverse texts are not simply a matter of inclusion; they are central to how children learn to read and grow as readers. Drawing on contemporary texts and her extensive scholarship in children's literature, she explores the impact of diverse, representative texts on reading identity, engagement, and comprehension.
Dr. Michelle H. Martin is the Beverly Cleary Endowed Professor for Children and Youth Services in the Information School at the University of Washington and co-founder of Read-a-Rama, a non-profit that uses children's books as the springboard for year-round and summer literacy programming.
Before the Page: Oral Language Development and What It Means for LiteracyThursday, November 12, 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET
Dr. Jana EchevarriaJoin us as Dr. Jana Echevarria unpacks the research on oral language development, making the case that structured opportunities for students to speak about real content with real vocabulary accelerates literacy growth in ways that silent, isolated skill practice simply can't replicate. You will gain practical, research-based strategies for strengthening students’ oral language proficiency in your classroom.
Dr. Jana Echevarria is professor emerita at California State University, Long Beach and a co-creator of the SIOP Model. Her research focuses on effective instruction for multilingual learners. A California Reading Hall of Fame inductee and Fulbright specialist, she has presented her work at institutions around the world and served as an expert on English learners for the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.
Beyond the Surface: Language Comprehension and What It Takes to Support Multilingual LearnersThursday, January 28, 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET
Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-MartinezIn this session, Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez examines the research on language comprehension and multilingual learner development, challenging educators to rethink what they're measuring when they assess understanding. She explores how knowledge and language grow together, what bilingual language development genuinely looks like across time, and how we can build realistic, research-grounded expectations for our most complex learners.
Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez is an associate professor and associate dean of graduate education at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, where her research focuses on language and reading comprehension outcomes for multilingual and linguistically diverse learners. A National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow and NAEP Standing Committee on Reading member, she is a leading voice in multilingual learner literacy.
Dr. Olga GrimaltIn this closing session, Dr. Olga Grimalt brings the series full circle by exploring holistic biliteracy through the lens of two distinct learners: the multilingual learner acquiring English as a new language, and the English-fluent speaker developing Spanish language skills. Drawing on decades of classroom experience and program leadership, she paints a vivid picture of what a genuinely responsive dual language classroom looks and sounds like in practice.
Dr. Olga Grimalt is the founder and CEO of the Multilingual Learning Network and a founding member of the Association of Two-Way & Dual Language Education (ATDLE). Her career spans bilingual teaching, university faculty, and district leadership in some of California's largest school systems.
