The 2011 Building Your Literacy Toolkit conference was held on June 30th and July 1st 2011 at St. John's University-Oakdale campus to respond to teachers’ requests for strategies to address the literacy needs of young learners, pre-k through the intermediate grades. Since many factors influence how to successfully construct a strong early literacy foundation, the components and complexities of early literacy require a multitude of instructional strategies to strengthen students’ skills acquisition. The conference combined research, practice and skills development with demonstrations of concrete evidence-based methods and resources for practitioners to add to their Literacy Toolkit.

Below are the presentations and materials used in the workshops.

1. Adrienne Dowden, President, ASD Educational Consulting Group, LLC
• Differentiating Instruction: Managing the Classroom Environment for Effective Instruction
2. Marilyn Gilbert - Educational Consultant
• Developing Student Literacy through Logic Activities:
• Part I
• Part II
• Part III
3. Dr. Laura Justice, Professor, Ohio State University
• Informational Read Alouds
• Scaffolding with Storybooks
4. Dr. Judi Dodson, Literacy Consultant
• The Talking Classroom
5. Dr. Janet Fischel, Professor; Vice Chair for Education; and Director, Development and Behavioral Pediatrics
• Dialogic Reading: Principles and Practice
6. Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld, Professor, Molloy College
• Strategies for Diverse English Language Learners
• Introduction
• Leveled Questions and "Superplay" to Engage English Language Learners
• Asking the Right Questions
7. Dr. Sharon Walpole, Professor, University of Delaware and Dr. Michael McKenna, Professor, University of Virginia
• Emergent Literacy
• Differentiated Coaching
8. Dr. Dana Friedman, President, The Early Years Institute
• The Outdoor Classroom: Benefits and Strategies for Connecting Children and Nature
• Keeping Media in Mind