Upcoming Conferences & Webinars
Upcoming public events will be posted here. Check back often or sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss an opportunity!
March 13 & 14, 2025
2025 IRC Conference
Illinois Reading Council | Springfield, IL
Join IRC at the 56th Annual IRC Conference at the Bank of Springfield Center, President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, and the Wyndham Hotel in Springfield, Illinois. IRC will be excited to learn from featured speakers who will help teachers, specialists, and administrators from every grade-level and content area.
Dr. Katie McKnight will present on the topics:
From Reading to Understanding: Transformative Techniques for Content Comprehension
Every Language is a Pathway to Knowledge: Supporting Multilingual Learners in the Content Classroom
Enhancing Literacy and Learning: The Role of Learning Centers for Students in Grades 4-12
October 24, 2025
Secondary Reading League Conference
Tinley Park Convention Center | Tinley Park, IL
Presenter: Dr. Katie McKnight
The Secondary Reading League is a statewide council of the Illinois Reading Council. SRL’s purpose is to provide opportunities for the formal and informal exchange of ideas related to literacy issues and lifelong learning, with an emphasis on reading and the concerns of secondary educators.
Presentation details and registration link will be available soon.
2024-2025 Partner Schools
Every school year, Dr. Katie McKnight leads a few school-wide and district-wide initiatives. By building yearlong relationships with educators, Katie, Jen, and the Engaging Learners team are able to help schools, districts, organizations and communities meet larger literacy goals. Partners for 2024-2025 include:
Big Hollow Middle School in Ingleside, IL
Bishop DuBourg High School in St. Louis, MO
DeKalb Community Unit School District in DeKalb, IL
Wabash Valley Education Center in West Lafayette, IN
Warren County Public Schools in Front Royal, VA
Past Events
Dr. McKnight works with teachers all over the world, combining virtual PD with in-person coaching and live presentations. What’s Katie been up to? Just look!
CONFERENCES:
October 2, 2021 | 3rd National IATEFL Slovenia Conference
Presentation with Richard M. Cash, Ed.D.
topic: Merging Literacy and Self-Regulation to Increase Achievement
October 21, 2021 | Northwest District-LCMS in Seaside, OR
Presentations on the following topics:
Movement & Active Learning for Today’s Classroom,
To Grade or Not to Grade: Skills and Standards-Based Assessment,
Reading Strategies to Support Struggling Readers in All Content Areas,
Growth Mindset in a Collaborative Learning Model
November 12, 2021 | NAGC 2021 in Denver, CO
National Association of Gifted Children
Presentation with Richard M. Cash, Ed.D.
topic: Using Creative Dramatics to Increase Self-Awareness, Confidence and Social Engagement
January 28, 2022 | International Conference on Education 2022
Riphah International University and Higher Education Commission, Pakistan
topic: Do What Matters Most for Educators
June 23-25, 2022 | Schools to Watch National Conference in Washington D.C.
Hosted by The National Forum To Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform
topic: Teens Love to Argue: Guiding Students in Evidence-Based Writing
topic: Take the Ambiguity Out of Writing to Build Strong Thinkers
August 2, 2022 | Learner FIRST Back to School Summit in Appleton, WI
topic: Making Grade Level Text Accessible (Grades 6-12)
topic: Centers, Stations, and Rotations: How do I make it work? (Grades 4-12)
August 15-18, 2022
| Engaging Literacy for the Big Kids Conference
Hosted by FIRST Educational Resources Literacy & Coaching Center
Presentations on the following topics:
Teaching Evidence Based Writing in the Disciplines
Help! My Students Don't Understand What They're Reading!
Hands-On Grammar and Vocabulary Instruction,
Literacy & Learning Centers™
November 19, 2022 | NAGC 2022 in Indianapolis, IN
National Association of Gifted Children
Presentations on the following topics:
Dealing with the Unpredictable: Using Improv with Twice-Exceptional & Gifted ELL Students
Teens Love to Argue: Guiding Gifted Students in Evidence-based Writing
March 9-10, 2023 | Illinois Reading Council Conference in Springfield, IL
Presentations on the following topics:
Literacy & Learning Centers™: The Intersection of Content Knowledge and Literacy Skills
Teens Love To Argue: Let’s Develop Their Ability to Do So!
June 22-24, 2023 | National Schools To Watch Conference in Washington, DC
Presentations on the following topics:
Good Questions, Good Reading
Do This (Not That) to Raise Adolescent Reading Comprehension
July 18-19, 2023 | California League of Educators 2023 Summer Institute in Indian Wells, CA
Presentations on the following topics:
The Science of Reading: What it IS and what it ISN'T (Keynote)
Do This, Not That to Improve Student Reading Comprehension, Grades 5-12
Centers, Stations and Rotations for Grades 4-12
Taking the Ambiguity Out of the Teaching of Writing: Short Writes, Big Gains
July 24, 2023 | ThinkCERCA Leadership Institute in Chicago, IL
topic: Closing the Implementation Gap
August 2, 2023 | Bard Core Curriculum: Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in Chicago, IL
topic: Yes, And: Developing Social-Emotional Learning with Academic Skills
October 26, 2023 | Florida ELA Supervisors Meeting: CLAS in Orlando, FL
topic:
The Science of Reading: What it IS and What it ISN’T
November 2, 2023 | Multilingual Learner Annual Fall Conference in West Lafayette, IN
Hosted by Wabash Valley Education Center
Presentations on the following topics:
Yes, AND: Developing Language and Literacy Skills with Strength-Based ELL Instruction
Building the Instructional Scaffold toward Grade-Level Reading and Beyond
Literacy & Learning Centers
November 3-4, 2023 | AMLE50 Fall Conference (Association for Middle Level Education) in National Harbor, MD
Hosted by Educational Resource Company:
topic: Short, Short, BIG!: Bring the Science and Research of Evidence-Based Writing to the Classroom
January 19-21, 2024 | Florida Literacy Association Annual Conference in Orlando, FL
topic: The Science of Reading is Nothing Without the Science of Writing
February 8-10, 2024 | Wisconsin State Reading Association Conference in Milwaukee, WI
topic: Evidence-based Writing IS Critical Thinking (Grades 6-12)
February 22-24, 2024 | Palmetto State Literacy Association Annual Conference in Hilton Head Island, SC
topic: What Does the Science of Reading Mean for Content Area Teachers (Grades 4-12)
March 14 - 15, 2024 | Illinois Reading Council Annual Conference in Springfield, IL
Presenting on the following topics:
Good Questions + Good Reading = Awesome Thinking (Grades 4-12)
The Science of Reading is Nothing Without the Science of Writing (Grades 4-12)
What Does the Science of Reading Mean for Content Area Teachers (Grades 4-12)
October 22, 2024 | FIRST Educational Resources Conference in Naperville, IL
Co-presenting with Dr. Jenny French on the topic:
The Science of Reading for Gr 4-12: Unlocking Literacy for Adolescent Learners
October 29, 2024 | Show-Me Curriculum Administrators Association Fall Conference in Osage Beach, MO
topic: The Science of Reading
WEBINARS:
September 30, 2021 |
Saddleback Educational Publishing Webinar Series
Presentation with Richard M. Cash, Ed.D.
topic: Encouraging Critical and Creative Thinking Through Reading, Writing, and Speaking
January 6, 2022 | Saddleback Educational Publishing Webinar Series
Presentation with Richard M. Cash, Ed.D.
topic: Teens Love to Argue: Teaching Evidence-Based Writing in the Disciplines/Content Areas (Grades 5–12)
February 24, 2022 | Saddleback Educational Publishing Webinar Series
Presentation with Richard M. Cash, Ed.D.
topic: Critical Thinking as a Foundation to Literacy Development
May 12, 2022 |
Saddleback Educational Publishing Webinar Series
Presentation with Richard M. Cash, Ed.D.
topic: Making Grade-Level Text Accessible, Grades 4-12
July 28, 2022 |
Saddleback Educational Publishing Webinar Series
Presentation with Richard M. Cash, Ed.D.
topic: Setting Up Your Classroom for Productive Learning
April 14, 2023 | ThinkCERCA Boardroom to Classroom Webinar Series
Presentation with Eileen Murphy
topic: Science of Reading in Grades 6-12
Science of Reading in Middle and Secondary Schools: District-level Strategies (Part 1 of 2)
See recording here.
April 20, 2023 | Educational Resource Company and Short, Short, BIG!
Presentation with Alan Sitomer
topic: The ABCs of Evidence-Based Writing: Teaching Students to Use Evidence Effectively
May 24, 2023 | ThinkCERCA Boardroom to Classroom Webinar Series
Presentation with Eileen Murphy
topic: Science of Reading in Grades 6-12
Do This, Not That: School-level Strategies (Part 2 of 2)
See recording here.
September 12, 2023 | Educational Resource Company and Short, Short, BIG! Author Webinar Series
Presentation with Alan Sitomer
topic: Texas STAAR Redesign - Constructed Response Readiness
See recording here.
November & December 2023 | ThinkCERCA 2-Part Webinar Series
Presentation with Dr. Jenny French
topic: The 6th-12 Grade Reading Mind: Unlocking Grade-Level Success
What does the brain look like as it’s learning to read?
See recording here.
January 25, 2024 | ThinkCERCA Webinar Series
Presentation with Dr. Jenny French
topic: Key Ingredients for Building a Successful Reading Intervention Program
See recording here.
Download handouts here.
April 2, 2024 | Branching Minds
Hosted by Larissa Napolitan, host of the Schoolin’ Around Podcast
topic: Reading SOS: What About Secondary Students Who Can't Read?
Listen to the recording here.
Visit the “Freebies” page for additional recordings!
PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS:
August 2021 | The Pennington School Summer Institute for Educators, NJ | topic: Descriptive Feedback
September 2021 | Terrell County High School, GA | topic: Literacy & Learning Centers™
October 2021 | Northern Maine Educational Collaborative, ME | topic: Developing Literacy in the Disciplines
October 2021 | Region 10 Education Service Center, TX | topic: Literacy & Learning Centers™
June 2022 | Region 14 Education Service Center, TX | topic: Literacy & Learning Centers™
June 2022 | Region 14 Education Service Center, TX | topic: Fundamental Skills for Evidence-Based Writing
July 2022 | Nebraska Educational Service Unit, NE | topic: Advanced Reading Comprehension in all Content Areas
August 2022 | Maryville Joint Unified School District, CA | topic: Engaging Literacy for the Big Kids
August 2022 | Greencastle Community School Corporation, IN | topic: Short, Short, BIG! Evidence-Based Writing
October 2022 | Bering Strait School District, AK | topic: Literacy & Learning Centers™
March 2023 | Yucca Valley High School, CA | topic: Using Assessment to Drive Instruction
May 2023 | Union Local School District, OH | topic: Literacy & Learning Centers™
May 2023 | Momence Junior High School, IL | topic: Short, Short, BIG! Evidence-Based Writing
August 2023 | Eagle Pass ISD, TX | topic: Short, Short, BIG! Evidence-Based Writing
August 2023 | Trinity Catholic School, Diocese of Columbus, OH | Advancing Literacy Skills for All Students
September 2023 | Princeton Day School, NJ | Research-Based Instructional Practice to Support All Learners
PARTNER SCHOOLS:
2021-2022 | Omaha Public Schools in Omaha, NE | focus: Literacy & Learning Centers™
2021-2022 | Lake Mills School District in Lake Mills, WI | focus: Disciplinary Literacy
2021-2022 | Memorial Middle School in Eatontown, NJ | focus: Literacy & Learning Centers™
2021-2022 | Leyden Area Special Education Cooperative in Franklin Park, IL | focus: Differentiated Instruction
2021-2022 | Archdiocese of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA | focus: Literacy & Learning Centers™
2022-2023 | Logan County Schools in Logan, WV | focus: Literacy & Learning Centers™
2022-2023 | Trotwood-Madison City Schools in Trotwood, OH | focus: Reading, Writing, and Literacy Instruction
2022-2023 | Lake Geneva Middle School in Lake Geneva, WI | focus: Literacy & Learning Centers™
2023-2024 | DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 in DeKalb, IL | focus: Literacy & Learning Centers™
2023-2024 | Marysville Joint Unified School District in Marysville, CA | focus: Literacy for the Big Kids
2023-2024 | Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette, IL | focus: ELA Curriculum Development
2023-2024 | Big Hollow School District in Ingleside, IL | focus: Literacy & Learning Centers™
2023-2024 | Wabash Valley Education Center in West Lafayette, IN | focus: Literacy and Science of Reading