Selected Presentations

“Creative Drama Strategies That Improve Reading Comprehension and Bring Literature  to Life,” California Association of Teachers of English, Anaheim, CA. Feb. 2006.

“Teaching Multicultural Literature in the Middle Grades,” California Association of  Teachers of English, Anaheim, CA.  Feb. 2006.

“Building Bridges through Multicultural Stories,” Northwest Regional  Conference of NCTE, Portland, OR. Mar. 2006. (Keynote)

“Asian American Authors: Building Bridges between Cultures,” Northwest  Regional Conference of NCTE, Portland, OR. Mar. 2006. (Workshop)

“Weaving Reading, Writing, and Visual Literacy Together,” National Conference of  Expeditionary Learning Schools, Oakland, CA. Mar. 2006.

“Integrating Writing into Compelling Topics,” National Conference of Expeditionary  Learning Schools, Oakland, CA.  Mar. 2006.

“Helping Students Prepare for the SAT and ACT Writing Tests,” National Catholic  Education Association, Atlanta, GA. Apr. 2006.

“Overview of Recommendations for 2011 Writing Assessment of National Assessment  of Educational Progress,” International Reading Association, Chicago, IL. May 2006.

“Teaching Multicultural Literature: Reading Strategies That Teach Social Justice and  Inspire Lifelong Learning,” International Reading Association, Chicago, IL. May 2006.

"Satire: Helping Students Discover the Satiric Voice," Advanced Placement National  Conference, Orlando, FL. Aug. 2006.

"What Teachers Need to Know about National and State Writing  Assessments," Conference for Lead Literacy Teachers, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago,  IL. Aug. 2006. (Keynote)

"Helping Students Improve Their Writing and Thinking in All Content Areas,"   Hamilton/Victor School Districts Professional Instructional Conference, Hamilton, MT.  Aug. 2006. (Keynote)

"Improving Student Writing in Grades 3–5," Hamilton/Victor School Districts  Professional Instructional Conference, Hamilton, MT. Aug. 2006. (Workshop)

"Improving Student Writing in Grades 6–12," Hamilton/Victor School Districts  Professional Instructional Conference, Hamilton, MT. Aug. 2006. (Workshop)

"Understanding State and NAEP Writing Assessments," Chicago Public Schools,  Chicago, IL. Sept. 2006.

"Enriching Students' Lives with Multicultural Literature," Arizona English  Teachers Association, Phoenix, AZ.  Oct. 2006. (Keynote)

"Inspiring Our Students through Multicultural Literature," Florida Council of  Teachers of English. Oct. 2006. (Keynote)

"The Role of Texts in Differentiated Teaching and Learning," Center for the  Advancement of Reading, Los Angeles, CA.  Oct. 2006. (Keynote)

"Teaching Multicultural Literature through Reading and Writing Workshops,"  National Middle Schools Association, Nashville, TN.  Nov. 2006.

"Using Memoirs to Teach Stories of Courage and Hope," NCTE, Nashville, TN. Nov.  2006.

"What English Language Arts Leaders Should Know about the Writing Tests of SAT,  ACT, and NAEP," Conference on English Leadership, Nashville, TN.  Nov. 2006.

"Helping Students Explore Their Voices in Writing," California Association of  Teachers of English, Fresno, CA.  Feb. 2007.

"Helping Students Become Better Writers and Better Prepared to Succeed on the SAT  and ACT Writing Tests," National Catholic Education Association, Baltimore, MD.  Apr. 2007.

"Teaching Our Students Fluency and Grammar through Sentence Combining,"  National Catholic Education Association, Baltimore, MD.  Apr. 2007.

"Engaging Students with Multicultural Literature through Creative Drama and  Reading/Writing Workshops,"  International Reading Association, Toronto, Canada.  May  2007.

"Writing Invitations in All Content Areas," Mesa Writing Project, Mesa, AZ.  June 2007. (Workshop)

"Writing Our Stories," Mesa Writing Project, Mesa, AZ.  June 2007. (Workshop)

"Inspriring Great Writing," NCTE, New York City, Nov. 2007.

"Helping Teens Discover A Sense of 'Place' and 'Self' Through Young Adult Literature," NCTE, New York City, Nov. 2007.

"Creating Competent, confident, Creative Writers," NCTE, San Antonio, TX, Nov. 2008.