Session A
Room 705 Session A: “Reading and Study Skills for High School Students: Learning How to Learn” with Sarah Luedtke and Julie
Hepker
Intended Audience: Teachers of freshman students, administrators, team-teachers.
Presentation Overview: Students’ success in high school and college depends on their ability to study and learn effectively and efficiently.
Specific study skills need to be learned and practiced in order for students to use them daily and apply them in each of their classes. Learning
how they learn best is essential to their understanding of how to tackle issues such as multiple tests in the same day, studying for final exams,
breaking down projects into manageable parts, taking notes, and reinforcing vocabulary.
Presenter Bio: Sarah Luedtke is a reading teacher and 504 case manager at Geneva High School, and Julie Hepker is an English I, English I
Honors, and English II teacher. Both teach the Freshman Seminar class.
Room 706 Session A: “Using Food as a Theme in a Rhetoric Class” with Richard Sasso
Intended audience: Anyone teaching semester or full year writing courses
Presentation Overview: This presentation will illustrate how the author transformed a standard college preparatory expository writing class
into themed-course exploring the world of food, using documentary films, the popular and academic press, as well real food, creating a course
that captures student interest and prepares them for writing at college.
Presenter Bio: Richard Sasso is an ESL and English teacher at Hinsdale South High School in Darien, Illinois. He has taught in a wide variety
of situations, ranging from workplace ESL to family literacy to junior college to college rhetoric classes. His interest is bringing real-world topics
and experiences to his classroom.
Contact Info: Richard Sasso, rsasso@hinsdale86.org
Room 707 Session A: “Exploring the World with Current Young Adult Literature” with Ruth Gheysen and Deborah Will
Intended audience: 6-12
Presentation Overview: Would you like to see your students’ eyes light up when they talk about what they’re reading? Are you looking for
new ways to introduce the world of reading to your students? Join us to get new titles to introduce, new mediums to try, and new ideas for your
classroom so that all of our students are reading (and loving) great books!
Contact Info: ruthiegh@live.com (Ruth)/ willd@zbths.org (Deb)
Room 801 Session A: “Organizing Digital Content in SMART Notebook, SMART Ideas, or Inspiration” with Matt Granger
Intended audience: All grades, All Subjects, All Ability Levels
Presentation Overview: Learn how to use the SMART Notebook attachments tab, SMART Ideas software, or Inspiration to plan and organize
digital content. This makes planning and presenting units much more seamless. All your digital resources will be only a click away!
Presenter Bio: Matt, a SMART Exemplary Educator, has been using SMART products since 2006. He created the SMART Board Revolution
Google+ community for SMART support and learning and hosts the monthly SMART Board Revolution Global User Group Webinar.
Contact Info: Matt Granger, mgranger@d45.org
Room 803 Session A: “Contemporary Poetry for the Less-Than-Poetic” with Matthew Browning
Intended audience: Grades 9-12, poetry
Presentation Overview: Contemporary poetry often feels like a cryptic language that teachers are asking their students to decode. Matthew
Browning provides simple progressions for students to help them analyze not only the “meaning” of a poem, but also how the poetic devices
work to create an overall experience. This approach balances the “reader response” and “author intent” approaches to reading poetry.
Presenter Bio: Matthew Browning teaches English and Creative Writing at Wheaton Academy. He has an MFA in poetry from Western
Michigan University and is the author of On Earth a chapbook of poetry from Finishing Line Press.
Contact Info: Matthew Browning, mbrowning@wheatonacademy.org, 319-530-6198
Room 805 Session A: “Pictures Are Worth 1000 Words (of Student Response): A Quick and Dirty Guide to Building Visual Literacy in
Artwork, Photography, and Film” with Chris Aquino
Intended audience: Teachers of grades 9–12 of all abilities in any classes where artwork or movies are interpreted or analyzed for themes or
ideas (English, Social Studies, World Languages, Film studies, Humanities, etc.).
Presentation Overview: Learn to engage students in the discussion of still images and film in a way that meets Common Core targets for
interpreting visual media. Content includes building a visual vocabulary, showing how images and films are arranged to communicate ideas,
and basic templates to use in class.
Presenter Bio: Chris Aquino has been teaching Sr. AP English, Film and Literature, and Sophomore English at Wheaton Warrenville South HS
for 22 years. He also teaches photography classes at The Morton Arboretum and presents to local camera clubs. His photography and
articles have been published nationally in magazines, calendars, and by NPOs.
Contact Info: Email: christopher.aquino@cusd200.org Phone: 630.784.7200 x8606
Session A Continued
Room 807 Session A: “More Feedback, Less Grading: Providing Students with More Effective Feedback about Their Writing” with
Matt Grigas, Adam Page, Jessica Thomas
Intended audience: All grades, all abilities, all subjects.
Presentation Overview: Educational researcher John Hattie found “feedback was among the most powerful influences on achievement.” But
as teachers of writing, how do we give students meaningful feedback while balancing the grading workload? This presentation provides
strategies teachers can implement tomorrow to give students helpful feedback while maintaining a realistic workload.
Presenter Bios:Matt, Adam, and Jessica all joined the Metea Valley English Department when the school opened in 2009. Matt leads the
English 2 team, Adam oversees the building’s professional learning communities, and Jessica is a writing ambassador, providing other
departments with strategies to incorporate writing across the disciplines.
Contact Info: matt_grigas@ipsd.org, adam_page@ipsd.org, jessica_thomas@ipsd.org
Room 809 Session A: “Jahar’s World”: Teaching Questioning and Literacy Skills Using Informational Text with Tracey Flint and Matt
Parrilli
Intended audience: 9-12 Grade, All ability levels, English/Language Arts, Literacy, Social Science
Presentation Overview: The CCSS’s call for teachers to include more informational text in their curriculums has some ELA teachers
spinning...but what do our students think? This presentation provides a framework for modeling question strategies and reading feature
journalism centered around the controversial August 2013 Rolling Stone cover/story on the Boston Marathon bomber.
Presenter Bio: Tracey Flint teaches English and Reading/Literacy at Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Illinois. Matt Parrilli teaches
English and is the English Department Chair at Maine South High School in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Contact Info: Tracey Flint | tflint@maine207.org | Matt Parrilli | mparrilli@maine207.org |
Room 811 Session A: “Beyond the Book: Understanding Discrimination Through Literature” with JoAnn Galluzzi and Cynthia
Karabush
Intended audience: Middle school/High school
Presentation Overview: Gold stars. Hershey bars. We’ll do anything to get them to read! Explore how CHOICE enlivened our unit on
discrimination, sparking student engagement in the reading process as well as inspiring students to reflect, to write and to research this vital
issue affecting our national and international communities. This unit uses eight common core strategies.
Presenter Bios: Cynthia Karabush has been teaching for eight years after a career in the business world. As a Library Media Specialist, she
collaborates to promote critical reading skills, strong research skills and 21st Century learning. She advocates for effective technology
integration in the classroom and for student choice in reading. JoAnn Galluzzi is a veteran English teacher. Her recent NCA submission
entitled “Training Teachers: The Effect of Teacher Immediacy on Student Achievement” and her district presentation “Motivating Students for
Success” reflect her desire to increase both student engagement and student achievement.
Contact Info: JoAnn Galluzzi, jgalluzzi@d127.org; Cynthia Karabush, ckarabush@d127.org
Room 900 Session A: “Introduction to Turnitin.com: Plagiarism Prevention & Grading in the Digital Age” with Patti Delacruz, Gina
Guzdziol, Rachelle Terada
Intended audience: All grade levels, Multidisciplinary
Presentation Overview: Turnitin.com is an online grading and writing revision tool. It enables teachers to provide digital feedback on writing, to
check for plagiarism of students’ products, and to challenge students to track their writing. This presentation will introduce primary aspects of
this tool and allow teachers to try online grading.
Presenter Bios: Patti and Gina are English teacher at Wheaton North High School. Patti currently teaches sophomore English and AP
Language & Composition. Gina teaches advanced freshmen English and integrated junior English. Rachelle teaches Chemistry and Forensic
Science. They are interested in integrating innovative technology in their classrooms for their digital age students.
Contact Info: Patricia.Delacruz@cusd200.org; Gina.Guzdziol@cusd200.org; Rachelle.Terada@cusd200.org
Room 901 Session A: “World Literature: Passport to the People of the World” with Marti Seaton, Dorothy Mikuska
Intended audience: Secondary English teachers
Presentation Overview: Stories can transport students into the experiences and imaginations of people around the world. We will share an
evolving World Literature curriculum composed of original voices from diverse cultures. Students analyze and integrate a variety of literary and
informational, print and non-print texts. This curriculum extended into Glenbard’s staff development program, Reading Around the World.
Presenter Bios: Marti Seaton: Glenbard South High School English teacher and Instructional Coach Dorothy Mikuska: retired English teacher
from Glenbard South; with Marti Seaton developed and taught the World Literature curriculum. Both lead Glenbard’s staff development course,
Reading Around the World.
Contact Info: marti_seaton@glenbard.org
Session A Continued
Room 902 Session A: “The Reader, the Text, and the Mandala: Analyzing Text through Symbol, Color and Shape” with Steve and
Beth Wiersum
Intended audience: This would work with all ages, 9 to 90...give or take a few years.
Presentation Overview: Love art, drawing, or coloring? See how the mandala can unlock powerful insight and help students find their “voice.”
Synthesis is one of the highest levels of thinking, according to Bloom’s taxonomy. We will show you how coloring a mandala can open your
mind! No drawing talent necessary.
Presenter Bios: Steve and Beth teach English at Glenbard West High School. Steve’s love of the arts drew him to music and the theater.
Likewise, Beth studied flute for 10 years. The power of the arts has given them new insight into blending the written word with visual images.
Contact Info: Steve and Beth Wiersum, Glenbard West High School
Room 903 Session A: “A Rationale for Teaching Michael Frayn’s Spies at the Secondary Level” with Beth McFarland-Wilson
Intended audience: The intended audience is the secondary classroom, grades 9-12 regular and honors/AP English classes.
Presentation Overview: I will provide a rationale for teaching a contemporary British novel, Spies, by Michael Frayn from a systemic
perspective and demonstrate the novel’s academic value. I will show how Spies may be scaled to meet CCSs in 9-12 English classes through
collaborative activities, research assignments, writing exercises, and essay prompts.
Contact Info: Beth McFarland-Wilson, M.S. Ed., M.A., Ph.D, kathryn.mcfarlandwils@wheaton.edu
Room 904 Session A: “A Classroom in Motion: How to get your students up, learning, and engaged” with Corin Slabaugh
Intended audience: High School English
Presentation Overview: Movement in the classroom doesn’t always have to mean chaos. Learn how to reach your kinesthetic learners
through incorporating movement in the classroom. We will work through various methods to incorporate this valuable type of learning into your
daily lessons. Examples and handouts will be provided.
Presenter Bio: Corin works at Zion-Benton Township High School teaching 9th and 11th grade English. She enjoys making new curriculum with
her team and thinking of creative ways to teach students. This year, she started an Anime Club at her school. Corin enjoys watching movies
with her husband in her spare time.
Contact Info: slabaugc@zbths.org
Room 905 Session A: “Career Readiness for the High School Student” with Stephanie Donovan
Intended audience: Pre-college (grades 10-12), Writing, Speech
Presentation Overview: What many believe is a simple obligation of adult life, finding a job, actually requires practice, skill, and knowledge.
Writing a resume is an exercise in rhetoric: targeting the content toward the intended audience and career field. Learn strategies to help your
students with the basics of resume writing, cover letter composition, and interviewing along with resources to help you introduce these
concepts at the high school level.
Presenter Bio: A former falcon, Stephanie Donovan taught English and Communication Studies at Wheaton North High School for nine years.
Currently, she is an Independent Career Specialist, helping students and alumni to create effective resumes and cover letters as well as
providing them with resources to aid in career development.
Contact Info: sdonovan08@gmail.com
Room 907 Session A: “Taking Control of Your Own Professional Development” with Jordan Catapano
Intended audience: All grade levels and subjects
Presentation Overview: In a world with more and more communication opportunities and learning resources available than ever before,
teachers now do not have to wait for their districts to assign professional development to become a better teacher. Learn how to maximize your
own personally designed professional development on your terms.
Presenter Bio: English teacher at Conant High School, National Board Certified, IATE District Leader, and contributor to online teaching
resource websites including ACTWritingtips.com and TeachHUB.com.
Contact Info: Email = jcatapano@d211.org
Room 909 Session A: “Uke can change the world!” with Dan McQuaid, Thomas Parry and Friends
Intended audience: Whatever the opposite of uptight is. Those type of people.
Presentation Overview: Dan and Thomas will demonstrate the fine art of creating inappropriate songs about great pieces of literature.
Presenter Bio: Dan McQuaid and Thomas Parry teach English at Wheaton North after having somehow been overlooked by talent scouts
worldwide.
Contact Info: Daniel.Mcquaid@cusd200.org
Session A Continued
Room 910 Session A: “Comics, Commentary and Community: Ways to Build Competency and Confidence in the Creative Writing
Classroom” with Ashley Xenophon Alcorn
Intended Audience: High School/Honors, English
Presentation Overview: Creative writing is successful when students link materials together, use 21st century technology, and get outside the
classroom for supplemental learning. I will discuss using comics to teach play-writing, current authors as inspirational models, and outings that
illuminate the products of writing. Together, these build better writers and confident citizens.
Presenter Bio: Ashley Alcorn teaches Creative Writing and American Literature at Benet Academy where her curricula focuses on visual
literacy and 21st century skill-building. She attended Benet, then graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in English and Art
History. She then went to Harvard, receiving a masters in Arts Education.
Contact Info: Ashley X. Alcorn, aalcorn@benet.org
Room 911 Session A: “Using Film to Teach International Appreciation” with Walter Metz
Intended Audience: High school: interdisciplinary humanities (English, history, international studies, government and political science,
communication, film and video, etc.)
Presentation Overview: In this presentation, I will model how to use films in current release as a way of engaging students in the study of
international differences. I will present a case study of the Best Picture Oscar-winner, Argo (Ben Affleck, 2012), read both via its film references
(Star Wars) and also that which it ignores, Iranian cinema, one of the most artistically productive international cinemas of the past 25 years.
Participants will learn how to use film to productively frame the study of a culture different from that of the United States.
Presenter Bio: Walter Metz is Chair of, and a Full Professor in, the Department of Cinema and Photography at Southern Illinois University. He
holds a Ph.D. in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin (1996), an M.A. in Communication Studies from the University of
Iowa (1991), and two bachelor's degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1989), one in Humanities and the other in Materials
Science and Engineering. He is the author of 50 refereed journal articles and book chapters on film, literature, feminism, the Holocaust, and
science studies. He is the author of three books: Engaging Film Criticism: Film History and Contemporary American Cinema (Peter Lang,
2004), Bewitched (Wayne State University Press, 2007), and Gilligan's Island (Wayne State University Press, 2012). His new book about Pixar
Animation Studios, Dr. Seuss, and The Simpsons, is under contract with Wayne State University Press.
Room 912: Session A: “Creating a Conversation: Connecting Current Events and World Literature” with Brette Book
Intended Audience: Grades 9-12/English Language Arts
Presentation Overview: This presentation models how students can make connections between their lives, the world, and literature. Through
a weekly project that lasts throughout the semester, students participate in a collaborative discussion lead by a classmate. Using Bloom’s
Taxonomy and non-fiction text, it is Danielson and Common Core friendly!
Presenter Bio: Brette Book is an English teacher at Ridgewood High School in Norridge. She earned her MA in English Education from
University of Illinois at Chicago. At Ridgewood, she serves on the Reading and Literacy Committee and Union Executive Board. She is also a
Northwest Suburban District Co-Leader for the IATE.
Contact Info: bbook@ridgenet.org
Session B
Room 705 Session B: “Reading and Study Skills for High School Students: Learning How to Learn” with Sarah Luedtke and Julie
Hepker
Please see Session A description.
Room 706 Session B: “Using Food as a Theme in a Rhetoric Class” with Richard Sasso
Please see Session A description.
Room 707 Session B: “Exploring the World with Current Young Adult Literature” with Ruth Gheysen and Deborah Will
Please see Session A description.
Room 801 Session B: “Organizing Digital Content in SMART Notebook, SMART Ideas, or Inspiration” with Matt Granger
Please see Session A description.
Room 803 Session B: “Contemporary Poetry for the Less-Than-Poetic” with Matthew Browning
Please see Session A description.
Room 805 Session B: “Pictures Are Worth 1000 Words (of Student Response): A Quick and Dirty Guide to Building Visual Literacy in
Artwork, Photography, and Film” with Chris Aquino
Please see Session A description.
Room 807 Session B: “More Feedback, Less Grading: Providing Students with More Effective Feedback about Their Writing” with
Matt Grigas, Adam Page, Jessica Thomas
Please see Session A description.
Room 809 Session B: “Jahar’s World”: Teaching Questioning and Literacy Skills Using Informational Text with Tracey Flint and Matt
Parrilli
Please see Session A description.
Room 811 Session B: “Beyond the Book: Understanding Discrimination Through Literature” with JoAnn Galluzzi and Cynthia
Karabush
Please see Session A description.
Room 900 Session B: “Introduction to Turnitin.com: Plagiarism Prevention & Grading in the Digital Age” with Patti Delacruz, Gina
Guzdziol, Rachelle Terada
Please see Session A description.
Room 901 Session B: “World Literature: Passport to the People of the World” with Marti Seaton, Dorothy Mikuska
Please see Session A description.
Room 902 Session B: “The Reader, the Text, and the Mandala: Analyzing Text through Symbol, Color and Shape” with Steve and
Beth Wiersum
Please see Session A description.
Room 903 Session B: “A Rationale for Teaching Michael Frayn’s Spies at the Secondary Level” with Beth McFarland-Wilson
Please see Session A description.
Room 904 Session B: “A Classroom in Motion: How to get your students up, learning, and engaged” with Corin Slabaugh
Please see Session A description.
Session B continued
Room 905 Session B: “Career Readiness for the High School Student” with Stephanie Donovan
Please see Session A description.
Room 907 Session B: “Taking Control of Your Own Professional Development” with Jordan Catapano
Please see Session A description.
Room 909 Session B: “Uke can change the world!” with Dan McQuaid, Thomas Parry and Friends
Please see Session A description.
Room 910 Session B: “Comics, Commentary and Community: Ways to Build Competency and Confidence in the Creative Writing
Classroom” with Ashley Xenophon Alcorn
Please see Session A description.
Room 911 Session B: “Using Film to Teach International Appreciation” with Walter Metz
Please see Session A description.
Room 912 Session B: “Creating a Conversation: Connecting Current Events and World Literature” with Brette Book
Please see Session A description.
Session C
Room 705 Session C: “Writing for Social Change at North Central College: Public Action Projects for Students” with Jennifer
Jackson
Intended audience: 11-12th grade writing and literature teachers
Presentation Overview: How can we help students grasp that their writing projects can do meaningful work in their communities and beyond?
I will describe my “Writing for Social Change” seminar, which incorporates social media and readings intended to spark social consciousness
and commitments.
Presenter Bio: I teach composition and contemporary fiction at North Central College, (B.A. and M.A. from Miami University and a Ph.D. from
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Rhetoric and Cultural Studies). In my manuscript Deliberative Bodies: Political Fiction in Posthuman Times
I examine novels that confront uncivil discourse in the midst of a collapsing American Dream.
Contact Info: jajackson@noctrl.edu
Room 706 Session C: “Food” with Bill Daley
Intended audience: Middle school/high school
Presentation Overview: Food is hot, whether it’s a do-it-yourself review on Yelp!, a profile of a local famer in the weekly community
newspaper or a full-length magazine story in the New York Times. Food lends itself to a variety of approaches, from hard news analysis of
government policy to fun cultural riffs on hot dogs or sushi. And writers/broadcasters/artists are exploring food through all media. Teachers can
use food, too, to help students reach their language arts goals. This sesson will offer ideas for engaging students on various levels. A tweet
about a slice of cafeteria pizza can teach focus – distilling a thought into the fewest words for maximum clarity. Tending a school vegetable
garden can offer lessons in botany. An essay about a significant family dinner can unleash memories and thoughts that can bring the writer in
touch with readers. A review of the local sandwich shop can hone critical skills. And then there’s video, vine, Instagram and Pinterest – nonverbal ways to tell the food story. We explore the options.
Presenter Bio: Bill Daley is a Chicago Tribune food and features writer. He covers chefs and food personalities, cooking techniques and
trends. He answers food and drink queries from readers in a weekly online column called “The Daley Question.” He is active in social media,
notably Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. A graduate of Manhattanville College, Daley also holds a master’s degree from Columbia
University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York City.
Contact Info: Bill Daley, wdaley@tribune.com
Room 707 Session C: “The Successful Self-Selection Novel Unit: How Does That Work?” with Jennifer Hudson
Intended audience: All levels. This information can be applied to most of the humanities subjects. My unit is developed for an English
classroom, but it could be easily adapted to a variety of subjects.
Presentation Overview: How do we take self-selection beyond book reports and AR tests? We incorporate it into classroom activities in a
meaningful way. In this interactive session, learn strategies to successfully integrate a self-selection unit into your existing curriculum and how
such a unit meets Common Core Standards.
Presenter Bio: Jennifer Hudson currently teaches Reading and Composition at Lake Land College. She has experience teaching at
community college, university, alternative, and public high school levels. In addition to teaching, Jennifer is the Promotions Editor for the online
literary magazine The Prompt.
Contact Info: jhudson66276@lakeland.cc.il.us or jahudson73@gmail.com
Room 801 Session C: “Empowering Writers and Readers in a Digital World” with Kristin Schultz and Anne Singleton
Intended audience: 9-12, all levels
Presentation Overview: A literacy coach and a writing teacher will share ways they utilize technology to connect students to the school
community and each other. Attend this session to learn how to easily inject video and blogging into your traditional writing assignments
(research and reader response) to transform them into multi-genre experiences.
Presenter Bios: Kristin Schultz teaches Literacy 1 and serves as a literacy coach at Libertyville High School. Anne Singleton teaches College
Prep Writing, co-teaches World Literature, and serves as a literacy/technology coach at Libertyville High School.
Contact Info: Anne Singleton, Libertyville High School, anne.singleton@d128.org
Room 803 Session C: “Metallica & Dickinson: Mixing Contemporary and Traditional Poetry” with Jody Weatherington and Michele
Hettinger
Intended Audience: We use this unit with Sophomore Honors (SoHo), but since teachers have the freedom to pick the poetry, it could work
with any age group.
Presentation Overview: Traditional poetry is daunting for teenagers, so we mix it up by showing how those universal themes – from ancient to
present times – haven’t changed all that much. In this unit, we study poetry and let students choose contemporary music that compares. The
culminating project is an audio “mix” of both.
Presenter Bios: Jody and Michele are veteran English teachers at Niles West High School who like to keep it fresh while adhering to Common
Core State Standards. Our poetry unit stemmed from a need to become hipper and learn contemporary songs. We think we’re rocking it pretty
hard for two 40+s.
Contact Info: Jody Weatherington, jodwea@d219.org; Michele Hettinger, michet@d219.org
Session C Continued
Room 805 Session C: “Socratic Seminar: Learning Through Questioning” with Stephanie Fike
Intended audience: High school students
Presentation overview: We briefly discuss Socrates' theories about learning, work on formulating the types of questions that work well in
Socratic seminar and then conduct an actual Socratic seminar in which students will question each other, listen, discuss and learn from each
other. Topics of discussion will be philosophical in nature.
Presenter Bio: Currently, I teach AP English Literature and Composition, Honors World Literature, and Modern Literature. I have been
teaching at Wauconda High School for eleven years. Prior to teaching, I was an editor and writer for various trade publications. I use the
Socratic seminar method in AP Literature and Honors World Literature quite often.
Contact Info: Stephanie Fike, sfike@d118.org
Room 807 Session C: “Reading and Writing Non-Fiction in the English Classroom: Opening Doors to Civic Engagement and the
Common Core” with Dr. Claire C. Lamonica
Intended audience: 7-12 English/Language Arts
Presentation Overview: Active participation in a democracy requires the ability to read critically and write persuasively. Come experience
classroom activities that not only address the Common Core, but also open the doors to a lifetime of engaged citizenship.
Presenter Bio: Dr. Lamonica is a former high school, community college, and university-level English instructor who now serves as the
Director of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology at Illinois State University.
Contact Info: cclamon@ilstu.edu
Room 809 Session C: “From Vocab to Reading and Writing” with Rebecca McKinney and Kristina Fitzgerald
Intended audience: 9-12 all content areas
Presentation Overview: This seminar will provide models for building from the implicit and explicit use of academic vocabulary to making
inferences and drawing text-based conclusions. Fitzgerald and McKinney will demonstrate a variety of cross content applicable strategies for
reading and writing instruction.
Presenter Bio: Kristina Fiztgerald has taught English and Reading at York Community High School for 4 years. Prior to that she taught middle
school reading. Rebecca McKinney has taught English at York High School for 10 years and prior to that taught at Mather High School. Both
are avid readers in their leisure time.
Room 811 Session C: “Using Authenticity to Motivate Students to Think Rhetorically and to Celebrate Their Nonfiction Writing” with
Angelique Burrell, Heather Fehrman, Jared Friebel
Intended audience: Grades 9-12 English teachers
Presentation Overview: Creative nonfiction is the primary focus of the anthology Hinsdale Central’s English Department has published the
past four years. We will discuss how the publication, modeled after The Best American Essays, inspires students to write meaningful essays
and how authenticity can be incorporated in standard literature and writing courses.
Presenter Bio: Angelique, Heather, and Jared are English teachers at Hinsdale Central High School. Collectively, they have 52 years of
teaching experience—within a range of courses, from struggling freshmen through honors- and AP-level seniors. They have presented
previously at NCTE and IATE.
Contact Info: aburrell@hinsdale86.org; hfehrman@hinsdale86.org; jfriebel@hinsdale86.org
Room 900 Session C: “Expanding Feedback Through Video” with Sam Worden
Intended audience: High School, English, Social Studies, or any class that involves written work
Presentation Overview: This presentation will focus on using screen recording software (namely QuickTime Pro), YouTube, and Google Drive
to enhance teacher feedback to student writing. We’ll discuss the benefits of this new approach to feedback, and teachers will learn how to
create and upload their own video feedback. A laptop with QuickTime Pro or other equivalent screen recording software, as well as a
connection to the Internet will be necessary.
Presenter Bio: Sam Worden has been teaching English for four years. Originally from Maine, he taught at Hampden Academy for two years
before moving to the Antioch area. Sam teaches English I and English IV at Antioch Community High School, where he also runs the school
website.
Contact Info: samuel.worden@chsd117.org
Session C Continued
Room 901 Session C: “Survivor Literature – Service Based Learning in an English Classroom” with Shane Gillespie
Intended audience: High School
Presentation Overview: This presentation will provide attendees with a brief description of “Survivor Literature” as a course as well as its
curriculum. The presentation will then delve deeper into the service based learning projects the course has completed over the past six years
which include the raising of over $40,000, bringing several nationally recognized authors (Gerda Weissmann Klein, Fancis Bok, Michael
Hingson) to the high school and taking a trip of over 40 individuals to New Orleans to participate in Katrina rebuilding.
Presenter Bio: Shane Gillespie has been an English Teacher at East Aurora High School for the past nine years. He has been nominated as
Kane County Educator of the Year and has been twice named the Educator of the Year at East Aurora High School. Shane created the
course, “Survivor Literature” six years ago.
Contact Info: Shane Gillespie: sgillespie@d131.org
Room 902 Session C: “Are you getting Close? Closing in on reading comprehension” with Angelica Kalat, Ed.D and Stephanie Moore
Intended audience: 9 – 12 grade, all ability levels, reading instruction - all content areas
Presentation Overview: Presentation will identify ways that classroom teachers can improve literacy instruction. Find out how you can help
your students “close” the reading comprehension gap through active and engaging lessons that build knowledge by reading a wide variety of
content rich nonfiction text. Learn how to incorporate effective close reading strategies.
Presenter Bios: Angelica Kalat, Ed.D is a Reading Specialist at Naperville North High School working with struggling readers in the Freshmen
Literacy Initiative (FLI) Program and the Sophomore and Junior Seminar Program. In addition, she is a Peer Tutoring supervising teacher in
the Literacy Center. Angelica enjoys curriculum development and reading research. Stephanie Moore is a Reading Specialist at Naperville
North High School where she teaches reading in the Freshmen Literacy Initiative (FLI) Program as well as in the Literacy Center as a Peer
Tutoring supervising teacher. Stephanie has a great passion for motivating and engaging her students through creative and effective reading
instruction.
Contact Info: Angelica Kalat, Ed.D, akalat@naperville203.org; Stephanie Moore, skmoore@naperville203.org
Room 903 Session C: “Romeo and Juliet - This could save your life!” with Jean Ordoñez
Intended audience: High School teachers, or any teacher who teaches Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”
Presentation Overview: Trying to freshen up a 400 year-old play? This session will introduce one teacher’s approach to teaching “Romeo and
Juliet” which might resuscitate some life into your instruction. We will review vocabulary, themes, and final projects which involve students’
exploration of their surrounding world - including suicide prevention. This could save your life!
Presenter Bio: Jean has taught at Niles North in Skokie (District 219) for 23 years. During that time, she has taught English to Freshmen,
Juniors, and Seniors, has served as newspaper advisor, and also service club sponsor. She is currently on committees that promote
professional development and racial equity.
Contact Info: jeaord@d219.org
Room 904 Session C: “Striving for a connected classroom” with Mike Sullivan
Intended audience: While these lessons were used in high school classes, they could certainly be adapted for a middle school audience.
Presentation Overview: Sticking to the conference theme of Bringing in the Outside World to Our Classrooms, this presentation will focus on
how to cultivate student interaction with experts outside the classroom, use of guest speakers, tapping into community connections, a way to
focus on current events, and other creative activities. Many sample lesson plans will be provided. In the spirit of the day, our host Ron Piro will
be asked to share his TOP TEN tips for using film in the language arts classroom.
Presenter Bio: This is Mike Sullivan’s twenty-second year teaching at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park. He is a return presenter at the
Wheaton North conference. He would like to thank the Wheaton North English department for putting on such a wonderful conference for so
many years.
Contact info: msullivan@dupage88.net
Room 905 Session C: Problem-Solving Approaches to Teaching Writing: Bridging from High School to University as “Citizen Writing
Researchers” with Joyce Walker, PhD., Director of the ISU Writing Program; Emily Johnston, PhD student and ISU Writing Program
Community Outreach Coordinator; Sarah Hercula, PhD student and ISU Writing Program instructor; Deb Riggert-Kieffer, PhD student
and ISU Writing Program instructor.
Intended Audience: High school teachers of any subject, especially English.
Presentation Overview: This panel presents activities that high school and university teachers can use to help students “bridge” their
knowledge as they move into new writing settings as both students and citizens. These activities take a problem-solving approach to writing,
asking writers to articulate their existing knowledge and apply it flexibly in new settings.
Presenter Bios: Presenters' titles, listed above.
Contact Info: Please send all correspondence to Emily Johnston, ISU Writing Program Community Outreach Coordinator (erjohns@ilstu.edu
or 309-831-7062) AND Dr. Joyce Walker, ISU Writing Program Director (jwalke2@ilstu.edu)
Session C Continued
Room 907 Session C: “The 8 Keys of Excellence: Fun, practical and useful life skills to teach your students without losing time to
teach your required curriculum” with Roberta James
Intended audience: Middle school-High School, any level, any subject
Presentation Overview: With the increase of cyber bullying, plagiarism/cheating, and many other negative behaviors in our schools, how do
we set up a safe, creative, yet academically challenging environment in our classroom without strict rules and regulations? How do we teach
our required units and help our students practice basic life skills with limited class time? Teaching your students the 8 Keys of Excellence can
be the “key” to unlock their potential.
Presenter Bio: Ms. James teaches at Wheaton Warrenville South High School and teaches Theatre and Speech
Contact Info: Roberta James, Roberta.James@cusd200.org
Room 909 Session C: “The Write Place” with Kim Kotty and Georgia Schulte
Intended audience: High school/English + Writing
Presentation Overview: This presentation will share best practices for utilizing student-led writing centers to undergird the work of the class
room teacher. The writing center empowers students to take control over their own writing, to value their own ideas and to discover the
possibilities of writing.
Presenter Bio: Kim Kotty and Georgia Schulte are English teachers at Fenwick High School. Both have conducted research on effective
practices in student-led writing centers at DePaul University and Northwestern University respectively. They continue this work as supervisors
in Fenwick’s writing center, The Write Place.
Contact Info: Kim Kotty- kkotty@fenwickfriars.com; Georgia Schulte- gschulte@fenwickfriars.com
Room 910 Session C: “Mentor Text Lessons for the Middle School Writer” with Julie Saros
Intended audience: Middle School
Presentation Overview: Using mentor text such as picture books, chapter books, nonfiction, poetry, songs, youtube, photography and many
websites, students learn to practice idea development, word choice,sentence fluency, voice and organization in writing workshops. Interactive
centers will allow participants to try these lessons out first hand!
Presenter Bio: Julie is a language arts teacher at Lincoln Junior High School in NCUSD #203 in Naperville. She has shared her passion for
reading and writing for over 30 years with students. She has masters degrees in Literacy and Administration.
Contact Info: jsaros@naperville203.org
Room 911 Session C: "English Everywhere: Encouraging Students to Use ELA as a Lens to View their Worlds" with Mark Sujak
Intended audience: All high school English, range of abilities but a little technology knowledge would help.
Presentation Overview: Successful English practices do not stop at the classroom door; they guide our students in their everyday lives. This
hands-on session explores ways students can edit the world around them through social media, challenge notions of public space with poetry,
and blog through their lives in someone else's shoes.
Presenter Bio: Mark Sujak is an English teacher at Morton East High School in Cicero, Illinois. In addition to teaching, he runs the school's
student leadership team and sponsors the Senior cabinet.
Contact Info: msujak@jsmorton.org
Room 912 Session C: “Keeping Kids Current” with Rebecca Kinnee and Christopher Thomas
Intended Audience: Grades 6-12, all ability levels, any course that has a world literature component
Presentation overview: Teachers discuss tying current events into World Literature, focusing on summer reading, news articles, and blogging.
They will share their service learning project in which students read a non-fiction novel about a refugee soccer team, raise money to support
the team, and use technology to stay connected with them.
Presenter Bios: Rebecca has been teaching for 8 years. She has her BA in English from Illinois Wesleyan and her MS in Special Education
from Walden. Christopher has been teaching English, Speech, and Theatre for 10 years. He holds degrees from Augustana and Roosevelt.
They teach at Libertyville High School.
Session D
Room 705 Session D: “Writing for Social Change at North Central College: Public Action Projects for Students” with Jennifer
Jackson
Please see Session C description.
Room 706 Session D: “Food” with Bill Daley
Please see Session C description and note the presentation has been moved from Room 707 to Room 706 for Session C.
Room 707 Session D: “The Successful Self-Selection Novel Unit: How Does That Work?” with Jennifer Hudson
Please see Session C description.
Room 801 Session D: “Empowering Writers and Readers in a Digital World” with Kristin Schultz and Anne Singleton
Please see Session C description.
Room 803 Session D: “Metallica & Dickinson: Mixing Contemporary and Traditional Poetry” with Jody Weatherington and Michele
Hettinger
Please see Session C description.
Room 805 Session D: “Socratic Seminar: Learning Through Questioning” with Stephanie Fike
Please see Session C description.
Room 807 Session D: “Reading and Writing Non-Fiction in the English Classroom: Opening Doors to Civic Engagement and the
Common Core” with Dr. Claire C. Lamonica
Please see Session C description.
Room 809 Session D: “From Vocab to Reading and Writing” with Rebecca McKinney and Kristina Fitzgerald
Please see Session C description.
Room 811 Session D: “Using Authenticity to Motivate Students to Think Rhetorically and to Celebrate Their Nonfiction Writing” with
Angelique Burrell, Heather Fehrman, Jared Friebel
Please see Session C description.
Room 900 Session D: “Expanding Feedback Through Video” with Sam Worden
Please see Session C description.
Room 901 Session D: “Survivor Literature – Service Based Learning in an English Classroom” with Shane Gillespie
Please see Session C description.
Room 902 Session D: “Are you getting Close? Closing in on reading comprehension” with Angelica Kalat, Ed.D and Stephanie Moore
Please see Session C description.
Room 903 Session D: “Romeo and Juliet - This could save your life!” with Jean Ordoñez
Please see Session C description.
Room 904 Session D: “Striving for a connected classroom” with Mike Sullivan
Please see Session C description.
Session D continued
Room 905 Session D: Problem-Solving Approaches to Teaching Writing: Bridging from High School to University as “Citizen Writing
Researchers” with Joyce Walker, PhD., Director of the ISU Writing Program; Emily Johnston, PhD student and ISU Writing Program
Community Outreach Coordinator; Sarah Hercula, PhD student and ISU Writing Program instructor; Deb Riggert-Kieffer, PhD student
and ISU Writing Program instructor.
Please see Session C description.
Room 907 Session D: “The 8 Keys of Excellence: Fun, practical and useful life skills to teach your students without losing time to
teach your required curriculum” with Roberta James
Please see Session C description.
Room 909 Session D: “The Write Place” with Kim Kotty and Georgia Schulte
Please see Session C description.
Room 910 Session D: “Mentor Text Lessons for the Middle School Writer” with Julie Saros
Please see Session C description.
Room 911 Session D: "English Everywhere: Encouraging Students to Use ELA as a Lens to View their Worlds" with Mark Sujak
Please see Session C description.
Room 912 Session D: “Keeping Kids Current” with Rebecca Kinnee and Christopher Thomas
Please see Session C description.