1. Educating America’s Immigrant Children
ELL Literacy Virtual Conference
Explore the challenges faced by the flood of Spanish-speaking
students into Pre-K through Grade 6 classrooms across the U.S.
Discover best ways to increase literacy achievement for young
learners and support the dreams of a better education.
REGISTER NOW
Day 1 - Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014
11-2:30 Eastern / 8 - 11:30 Pacific
Day 2 - Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014
11-1:45 Eastern / 8 - 10:45 Pacific
mheonline.com/dream
Join our 2-day virtual conference and learn about:
• Funding sources for recent immigrants
• Best practices in oral language development
• Research-based strategies and instructional practices for struggling
English Language Learners (ELLs) at all grade levels
• Strategies and procedures designed and employed to supplement,
enhance, and support your core (Tier 1) literacy curriculum
• Top intervention solutions for culturally and linguistically diverse learners
Find out about new ways to help close the learning gap while empowering
teachers and students with a comprehensive, research-proven language
and Spanish-reading solution, ELL Literacy for Pre-K through 6.
Almitra L. Berry Ed.D., nationally recognized
speaker, author, and consultant on culturally and
linguistically diverse learners at-risk. Her research
focuses on academic achievement in majority-
minority, high-poverty, large, urban school
districts.
Jana Echevarría is Professor Emerita at California
State University, Long Beach where she was
selected as Outstanding Professor. She has taught
in elementary, middle, and high school in general
education, special education, ESL, and bilingual
programs.
Vickie Owens Ed.D is an adjunct professor in the
College of Education at the University of South
Florida and the Gordon Ford College of Business
at Western Kentucky University. Her experiences
as teacher, supervisor, team leader, technology
coordinator, district administrator, and national
consultant have uniquely prepared her for
disseminating information while providing sound
leadership in educational decision making.
Marisa Russo, M.Ed., is a nationally recognized
speaker and a multilingual curriculum specialist,
specializing in reading intervention and
differentiating reading instruction for English
Language Learners. Marisa has taught in Los
Angeles, Mexico, Asia and Europe, trained
educators, and supervised reading/language arts
implementations throughout the U.S.
ELLLiteracyExperts
IN14M03309
Top ELL Literacy educators will share their strategies
and insight concerning issues and solutions.
mheonline.com/dream

2. October 28, 2014
October 29, 2014
IN14M03309
Register for individual sessions at mheonline.com/dream
Day 1 (alltimesintheEasterntimezone)
11:00 am - 12:30 pm | Session I
Dr. Jana Echevarría
Helping English Learners Meet High Academic Standards
The CCSS and other state standards offer opportunities for English learners to make significant academic progress,
but they need to have appropriate instructional support. In this session, we will discuss some common issues in the
education of English learners and ways teachers can facilitate academic success for this large and growing population
of students.
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm | Break
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm | Session II
Dr. Almitra Berry
Language Development v. Academic Achievement: Avoiding the Over-Representation
of Newcomers Linguistically Diverse Learners in Special Education
The over-representation of minority children in special education is a well-documented fact. Policies and procedures
may help ensure due process; however, appropriate instructional practices in Tier I using sound methodologies and
explicit curriculum as well as a Response to Intervention model in general education Tiers II III, can actually eliminate
referrals. Many newcomers and linguistically diverse children are coming to U.S. schools with a language background
other than Standard English, and a language gap that interferes with benchmark progress in reading acquisition (Hart
Risley, 1995). These students need intensive, explicit, systematic instruction using specialized techniques to support
academic achievement and help them become college and career ready.
Day 2 (alltimesintheEasterntimezone)
11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Session III
Marisa Russo
Help Ensure Reading Success for ELLs
What strengths and challenges do English language learners bring to the classroom? In this session, national bilingual
curriculum specialist Marisa Russo examines the teaching strategies that best support the literacy development of
students who are learning English as a second language. You will learn how to build on students’ first language and
background experiences, and how to create a classroom environment that promotes meaningful literacy learning.
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm | Break
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm | Session IV
Dr. Vickie Owens
Districts Gear Up to Address Influx of Immigrant Students
Explore the challenges faced by the flood of Spanish-speaking students into Pre-K - Grade 6 classrooms across the U.S.
Discover the best ways to increase literacy achievement for young learners and support the dreams of a better education.