Empowering Change: Literacy as a Catalyst in Cocoa-Producing Communities of Ivory Coast

Tamara Jacod, Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie | Canada

Creating a Reading Comprehension Teacher Training Module with and for Stakeholders in East Africa

Alexandra Gottardo and Eileen Wood, Wilfrid Laurier University | Canada

Bridging Literacies and Livelihoods: Empowering Older Youth in Burundi through Foundational Literary

Thato Letsomo, STREET CHILD UK | Botswana

Connecting Books to Communities - innovative ways to share the power of books and reading

Samantha Sokoya Book Aid International United Kingdom

BREAK

PLENARY SESSION

Once Upon a Time in Tennessee: Building a World of Readers One Book at a Time.
(Governor's Early Literacy Foundation James Pond | President)

Panel Discussion
Reducing Early Literacy Failure by half in English schools: Learning From the Fischer Family Foundation Apex Project’
Eliza Hilton, FFT Education
Mike Fischer, Fischer Family Trust
Kathy Rastle, Professor Royal Holloway, University of London
Louise Parkinson, Educator FFT APEX Project Manager


Panel Discussion Two
How Neuroscience can advance Literacy Education (Brainscience, MIT, Oxford University, Stanford University, University of Connecticut)

BREAK

Beyond Modest Gains: A Call to Unlock Transformational Learning

Caitlin Baron
CEO
The Luminos Fund
United States

Wheels of Change: Mobile Learning Labs Advancing Adult Literacy in Philadelphia

Faiza Manzoor
Beyond Literacy
| USA

IGNITE

TBD

Using Project-based Learning to Improve Literacy Outcomes: A Case Study From Andhra Pradesh, India

Ann Jose
School Transformation Lead
Mantra4Change
India

'Iqrali: A behavioural intervention in Jordan on shared book reading in the early years'

Ruba Samain
Deputy Director of Research and Programs
Queen Rania Foundation
Jordan

LUNCH

Education Above All

Panel Discussion

Promoting Literacy in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

1MillionTeachers Panel Discussion

Meeting Adult Learners Where They Are – Beyond Traditional Delivery Systems

Mark Vineis
Chief Executive Officer
ProLiteracy Worldwide (USA)

Priyanka Sharma
Director
World Education

Adult literacy services have tremendous potential to transform lives and unlock the power of lifelong learning, yet they currently reach only a fraction of those who could benefit. This session celebrates innovative approaches that are breaking down traditional barriers—such as lack of awareness, transportation challenges, work schedules, and limited program capacity—to create more equitable access to education at every stage of life. Together, we will explore how expanding distance learning can connect learners virtually, how partnerships with libraries can extend outreach to diverse communities, and how engaging employers can support frontline worker education through courses in foundational literacy, high school equivalency, and digital skills. We'll also highlight creative solutions to address tel Discussionhe evolving volunteer landscape, such as mobilizing college students, AmeriCorps members, and learning circles to enhance impact. Join this inspiring panel of adult literacy and education leaders as they share practical strategies to unleash the transformative power of lifelong learning, meeting learners where they are and empowering them to thrive on their own terms.

BREAK

Ripple Effect: Bridging Literacy Outcomes with Smartphones

Ambreen Ahmad
Metro Toronto Movement for Literacy
Canada

Literacy for Life Foundation - Our mob up front: Achieving Adult Literacy Policy Change in Australia through First Nations Success

Professor Jack Beetson
Literacy for Life Foundation |
Brooke Boney
Australia

Opening doors: Empowering Yao women through literacy in their own language

The Yao literacy program for women in Malawi.

Effects of literacy on the comprehension of complex syntactic structures: reading experience matters

Federal University of Santa Catarina Brazil

Basic Urdu and Math Literacy- Literacy Advancement Program for Reaching 26.2 million Out of School Children & 38% illiterates in Pakistan.

BRIC Pakistan

Supporting literacy for people with physical and speech impairments

Queen's University,
Canada and Indian Institute of Technology.

Relationship Manifestations in Writing Pedagogy

Louisiana State University Shreveport Department of Education United States

Enhancing Literacy through Phonetics: Integrating Accentedness, Intelligibility, Comprehensibility, and Intercultural Communicative Competence in Intercultural Classrooms

The Garzón School Uruguay

"All the world’s a stage." Is the social media landscape we are unavoidably immersed in making actors of us all?

Scots College, Wellington New Zealand

BREAK

PLENARY SESSION

Once Upon a Time in Tennessee: Building a World of Readers One Book at a Time.
(Governor's Early Literacy Foundation James Pond | President)

Panel Discussion
Reducing Early Literacy Failure by half in English schools: Learning From the Fischer Family Foundation Apex Project’
Eliza Hilton, FFT Education
Mike Fischer, Fischer Family Trust
Kathy Rastle, Professor Royal Holloway, University of London
Louise Parkinson, Educator FFT APEX Project Manager


Panel Discussion Two
How Neuroscience can advance Literacy Education (Brainscience, MIT, Oxford University, Stanford University, University of Connecticut)

BREAK

The Illustrated Memoir Project: Increasing Intellectual Self-Trust and Bridging Global Divides Through Immigrant and Refugee Youth Stories

Maketank Inc. United States

Empowering Minds Through Infrastructure: The Ruth Sembrano Foundation's Approach to Literacy and Education

The Ruth Sembrano Foundation United States

Teaching Technical/ Informational Text in Technical High Schools

Calm and Mindful LLC United States

Teaching Reading Across the Curriculum to Black and Brown Students in the United States

Imani Productions, LLC United States

Foundational Skills: Accelerating Learning for All

DEVI Sansthan India

Overcoming the differences of modern and traditional understanding of literacy through educational projects of Wikipedia - the example of Serbia

Wikmedia Serbia Serbia

LUNCH

School Libraries - Exploring Efforts Towards Scale and Sustainability

Room To Read & Queen Rania Foundation

The neglected power of parents in child’s literacy journey in SSA

mc2h Foundation Panel Discussion
Tara Wondraczek

Prof. Kwame Ayeampong
Open University

Margaret Ebubedike
The Open University

Jane Doka
The Open University

Alison Naftalin
Lively Minds

Wedad Sayibu
School for Life

World Book Day

Cassie Chadderton - CEO World Book Day
Alison David - Consumer Insight Director, Farshore and HarperCollins Children’s Books
Chris Lloyd – What on Earth Publishing

BREAK

From Classical Knowledge to Collective Intelligence: Transforming Greek Education for the AI Era

In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, we must bridge the gap between classical education and artificial intelligence while preserving Greece's rich cultural heritage. Our presentation explores how collective intelligence can revolutionize Greek education through innovative teacher training programs and hybrid curricula. Attendees will discover practical strategies for integrating AI-enhanced learning while maintaining traditional values. This transformation isn't just about technology—it's about creating a new educational paradigm where human creativity and machine capabilities work in harmony to prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow

Maria Phillipi
Doukas Schools
PhD Candidate, Ionian University of Greece
Greece

Andriana Maria Korasidi
Postdoctoral Researcher (NKUA)
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA)
Greece

ESOL Professors’ AI-assisted Authentic Communicative Styles and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) in Asynchronous Courses

Chih-Hsin Hsu, Arkansas Tech University | United States

Connecting Communities through Comic Literacy

Dani Hedlund
Brink Literacy Project
United States

Transformative AI Literacy for Adults with Learning Differences

Geetha Shantha Ram, Dyslexia Association of Singapore, English Language and Literacy | Singapore

Intergenerational LiterAIcy: A Proposal to Retrain the Informational Skills of Young and Old People by Exploring Large Language Models

Roger Cuartielles Saura,
Aleix Martí-Danés,
Pompeu Fabra University Spain

Interrogating the Implicit Bias of AI: Teaching Educators to Use Critical Literacy to Complicate and Contextualize the Myths of Columbus

Katharine Covino-Poutasse, Fitchburg State | USA

AI Literacy: A Framework to Understand, Evaluate, and Use Emerging Technology

Pati Ruiz, Digital Promise | USA

Old-School Preparation for an AI future: Progress Toward Reading Maturity

Matt Thomas, University of Central Missouri | USA

Sun Books Project

SUNBOOKS UGANDA

BREAK

PLENARY SESSION

Once Upon a Time in Tennessee: Building a World of Readers One Book at a Time.
(Governor's Early Literacy Foundation James Pond | President)

Panel Discussion
Reducing Early Literacy Failure by half in English schools: Learning From the Fischer Family Foundation Apex Project’
Eliza Hilton, FFT Education
Mike Fischer, Fischer Family Trust
Kathy Rastle, Professor Royal Holloway, University of London
Louise Parkinson, Educator FFT APEX Project Manager


Panel Discussion Two
How Neuroscience can advance Literacy Education (Brainscience, MIT, Oxford University, Stanford University, University of Connecticut)

BREAK

Training Teachers in the Science of Reading: One Micro-credential at a Time

Lori Severino
Donna Hejtmanek
Credentials Unlimited
United States

Solar Energy; An Innovative Technological Tool to solve Literacy and other Educational Challenges

Sunbooks Nigeria

ALTA Online: Learn to read and spell - anywhere, anytime, Caribbean style.

Paula Lucie-Smith
Tejumade Hendrickson
Adult Literacy Tutors Association (ALTA)
Trinidad and Tobago

New ways to help youths and adults develop confident, functional literacy, through a combination of neuroscience and technology.

All Aboard Learning Ltd
United Kingdom

Podcasting for Professional Development: Edutaining Educators

“Edutainment” is not just for children. Podcasts offer a unique blend of entertainment and learning for adults. As hosts of the wildly popular podcast, The Literacy View, we take up-to-date research and bring it to life in a fun and friendly format for educators and parents.

Bridging Literacies in Africa: The Transformative Power of Technology and the Africa e-Library Project

Snapplify Foundation South Africa

LUNCH

Closing the Book Gap: How the Global Book Alliance Brings Together Partners to Strenghten the Book Supply Chain

Global Book Alliance IREX
Megan Schleicher GBA/USAID
Sergio Ramirez-Mena GBA/IREX/ACR-GCD
Laura Conrad -USAID
Sakil Malik - GBA/GCFIL

Building a Reading Community

Oanh Crouch, Director of Education at Globeducate
Dr Helen Hendry, Senior Lecturer & co-director of the Centre for Literacy and Social Justice at The Open University
Katie Bareham, CEO Doorstep Library
Portia Dery, Doctoral Researcher The Open University
Alison King, School Librarian, Kings Monkton School, Cardiff

It Begins at Home: Co-Creating Equitable Solutions to Enhance Literacy and Socio-Emotional Learning in Sub-Saharan Africa

Cliodhna Ryna
UBONGO

Anoushka Ghosh
Busara

Anett Ngongi

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Dyslexia Speaks - Voices from the Caribbean

Shawntelle Morgan, i-Teach Transformative Knowledge Solutions Ltd. | Barbados

Neuroscience of Dyslexia research review: Implications for Teaching and Intervention

Alexandra Lee, Learn Platform by Instructure | United States

From Student to Advocate: Empowering Dyslexic Individuals to Share Their Voice

Angela Dantonio Barton Dyslexia Tutor Unites States

Classroom Behavior and the Dyslexic Brain

Tamara Cella, Georgian Court University | United States

Social Justice and Equity Through Literacy: What School Leaders Must Know About Early Literacy Development and Structured Literacy Implementation.

Achieving equity in literacy instruction is a global challenge. In this session, two former principals share their journey of fostering inclusive school environments through evidence-based structured literacy programs. Attendees will gain practical insights into implementing early literacy programs that empower all students to become proficient readers—highlighting literacy as an essential tool for promoting social justice and equity. Co-presented by Siobhan Dennis and Lena Kim, Wilson Language Training, United States

Does My Curriculum Align to the Science of Reading?

Kari Kurto, The Reading League | United States

Leading system-wide literacy improvement through data-informed action research

Dr Selena Fisk Pty Ltd Australia

Social Justice and Equity Through Literacy: What School Leaders Must Know About Early Literacy Development and Structured Literacy Implementation

Lena Kim Wilson Language Training United States

Sustaining Dialogue in the Science of Reading Era

University of North Carolina United States

BREAK

PLENARY SESSION

Once Upon a Time in Tennessee: Building a World of Readers One Book at a Time.
(Governor's Early Literacy Foundation James Pond | President)

Panel Discussion
Reducing Early Literacy Failure by half in English schools: Learning From the Fischer Family Foundation Apex Project’
Eliza Hilton, FFT Education
Mike Fischer, Fischer Family Trust
Kathy Rastle, Professor Royal Holloway, University of London
Louise Parkinson, Educator FFT APEX Project Manager


Panel Discussion Two
How Neuroscience can advance Literacy Education (Brainscience, MIT, Oxford University, Stanford University, University of Connecticut)

BREAK

Bridging the Boys' Literacy Gap

Tanya Grambower
Literacy for Boys
Australia

What works! Proven Literacy success in a rural Ugandan primary school

Victoria Beach
RedEarth Village Schools
Uganda

Teaching Reading Across the Curriculum to Black and Brown Students in the United States

Renee Coastes-Smith, Imani Productions, LLC | United States

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation: Operating in the Most Linguistically Diverse Country in the World, Language, Culture and Literacy Open Doors

Ben Bowen, Indigenous Literacy Foundation | Australia

Social Justice and Equity Through Literacy: What School Leaders Must Know About Early Literacy Development and Structured Literacy Implementation

Lena Kim, Wilson Language Training | United States

Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing Through Literacy - The Story Project Secondary Programme

Sarah Eggleton, The Story Project | United Kingdom

LUNCH

Global Collaboration & Sustainable Development Notable and Emerging Global Projects and Resources

Panel Discussion

Proven, Low-Cost Reading interventions for students and families during summer and out-of-school time

Kids Read Now- a summer-focused K-5 US-based nonprofit program that sends nine self-selected books, to-keep, mailed once a week, to high-poverty students. Coupled with extensive parental engagement using texts, apps, and email to build content knowledge.
The program has served over 3 million children in 32 US states, including state-wide programs. Multiple independent studies suggest the program can eliminate the summer reading slide and boost reading scores by 2-4 months, comparable to summer schools, at just 3% of the cost.
Kids Read Now received the prestigious Innovative Program award from the Library of Congress in 2022.
Co-founder and board member Barbara Mays Lurie, MS ed. Taught music and reading to gifted and high-needs elementary students for 30 years in private and public school settings. She co-founded Kids Read Now in 2012.
Caterpillar Captions: The international (USA/UK) campaign featuring celebrity endorsers to encourage families to “turn on the subtitles” (which is free and almost universally available) whenever watching movies, shows, and video games to improve reading skills, vocabulary and comprehension. We will discuss results proven in over 40 studies and multiple countries and how the message “Switch On, Read On” with growing supporters on social media and will soon be on your lips as well!
This project also looks to improve subtitles to expand their utility and effectiveness. We will discuss initiatives where broadcasters and producers default captions/subtitles to being ON, rather than opted on. Discussion on ways and how this helps struggling readers, ESL families, be they kids, adults and multi-language learners.
Despite being globally available for decades, few educators realize its’ potential. Plus, the company is working to establish standards (Caterpillar Captions) for accuracy and readability, which improves the effectiveness of subtitles.
US Board President Leib Lurie, MBA, will lead the panel. He has 40 years of experience managing technology and social enterprise firms, twice taking firms public. He co-founded Kids Read Now in 2012 and advises a philanthropic foundation dedicated to reading, literacy, and family engagement.
BookR Kids: An AI-backed reading program that serves hundreds of thousands of K-8 children in multiple countries and languages with sophisticated, engaging, and exciting digital content, delivered for less than a dollar a month per child.
Focused on helping children develop better language and literacy skills through immersive and engaging reading experiences. BOOKR Kids was created to make learning both enjoyable and effective for young learners, fostering native and second language acquisition through interactive animated content, gamified features, and captivating storytelling.
Unlike most digital book platforms, BOOKR Kids provides unlimited access to a carefully curated library of over 1,500 titles. There are no restrictions on the number of books or active copies that children or schools can access, ensuring every learner can explore stories that spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and foster a lifelong love of reading.
CEO and co-founder Dorka Horvath, Ph.D., is the driving force behind BOOKR Kids. With a deep passion for education and innovation, she has devoted her career to creating tools that bridge the gap between traditional learning and digital technology. Under her leadership, BOOKR Kids has grown into a global platform that empowers educators, parents, and students alike.
In addition to her work in publishing and education, Dr. Horvath is a vocal advocate for women’s entrepreneurship. She actively supports initiatives that encourage young girls and women to take initiative, embrace leadership roles, and create meaningful change in their communities. Her dedication to fostering equality and opportunity resonates in her professional and personal life.
Dr. Horvath earned her Ph.D. from Corvinus University of Budapest (CUB), where she conducted research on how technology influences reading habits and learning outcomes. Her academic insights continue to shape the innovative approach of BOOKR Kids today. The Panel goal: Our shared goal is to look at low-cost programs, particularly during out-of-school time, that inspire a lifelong love for reading, believing it’s key to shaping a brighter future.
Who should attend: Pre-K through grade five educators and those focused on out-of-school time initiatives that support not just the student but the entire family with engagement tools and processes to improve literacy outcomes.
Take-away: Attendees will get
1) Free access to Comprehension building activities written for 600 different titles; available in 106 languages from Kids Read Now.
2) A Family education kit to help build the use of sub-titles.
3) Full function Family user access to the BOOKR Class IOS/Droid and PC platform.

TBD

Panel Discussion

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The Power Of Peer-To-Peer Learning In Literacy: A Young Advocate's Perspective

Book Buddies By Ashezi Initiativ Nigeria

Bridging a Literacy Scope and Sequence from Elementary Education through Special Education in a Dual Certification Program

Rhode Island College United States

Measuring Literacy Goals by the Numbers and by the Heart

SIL Int United States

Powerful Thinking - Engaging Readers, Building Knowledge, and Nudging Learning in Elementary Classrooms

Reading Power Gear, ltd. Canada

How To Turn VOCAB ACQUISITION into STUDENT EMPOWERMENT

Importance of actively teaching vocabulary to students during their adolescent years to support their language growth and academic achievements.

Learning in the Digital Age: Empowering Children with Comprehensive Skills

DSL Encantoland Argentina

Curricular Transformations in Out-of-School Settings: Responding to the "Right to Read"

Start2Finish Canada

The Story Project: Integrating Stories into the Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education Curriculum.

The Story Project United Kingdom

Enhancing Literacy for conflict affected Children and youth - Experiences from War Child's "Can't Wait to Learn" (CWTL) Digital Learning Programme.

War Child Alliance Uganda

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PLENARY SESSION

Once Upon a Time in Tennessee: Building a World of Readers One Book at a Time.
(Governor's Early Literacy Foundation James Pond | President)

Panel Discussion
Reducing Early Literacy Failure by half in English schools: Learning From the Fischer Family Foundation Apex Project’
Eliza Hilton, FFT Education
Mike Fischer, Fischer Family Trust
Kathy Rastle, Professor Royal Holloway, University of London
Louise Parkinson, Educator FFT APEX Project Manager


Panel Discussion Two
How Neuroscience can advance Literacy Education (Brainscience, MIT, Oxford University, Stanford University, University of Connecticut)

A Framework for Adolescent Reading

Douglas Fisher, San Diego State University | United States

Implementation and Monitoring of the Finnish National Literacy Strategy 3020 in the National Literacy Program

Lotta-Sofia La Rosa, Finnish National Agency for Education | Finland

Nurturing a Habit of Reading Through a Comprehensive Literacy Portfolio

Literacy skills and the habit of reading are mutually reinforcing in the development of readers. Drawing from experience across a global portfolio of 24 countries, this presentation will describe a holistic approach to literacy development which includes nurturing children’s love of reading. We will also share results from applying Room to Read’s habit of reading measurement tool.

Connecting with Cultures Through the Wonder of Words: Successful Vocabulary Strategies for English Learners

Saint Mary's College of California

Writing Literacies and Artificial Intelligence Among Secondary Students: A Mixed Methods Study

University of Florida, College of Education United States

Fostering Data & AI Literacy

THE DATA LODGE United States

LUNCH

Exploring a Hybrid Delivery Model in Adult Literacy Education: Insights from a Pilot Programme in Ireland within Tertiary Education

Eleanor Neff
Lecturers in the Literacy Development Centre
SETU, Ireland

Improving Access to Literacy Education in School Deserts

Kris Nystrom
Executive Director
Reading the World, Inc.

Navigating Linguistic Challenges: Insights from Bilingual Teachers on Reading Comprehension of Scientific Texts

Ivy Haoyin Hsieh
National Taipei University of Education/National Dong Hwa University
Taiwan

BREAK

AMANI Reads: A Pilot Program for Culturally-centred and Community-based Mentorship and Reading Intervention

Natalie King-Shaw, Harvard Medical School Division of Medical Sciences | United States

"It Takes a Village": The Role of Home and Community Literacy Practices in Reading Amongst Caribbean Primary School Learners

Shawna-Kaye Tucker, University of Toronto | Canada

Community Literacy Change with Free Storybooks: The Impact of Dolly's Parton's Imagination Library in the U.S. & U.K.

Chad Waldron, Central Michigan University | United States

Bridging the Literacy Gap with Libraries and Communities

Marion Waldman, Beth Bevars Teach My Kid To Read | United States

TBD

Beyond Books: Creating Libraries and Promoting a Culture of Literacy in Under-Resourced South African Schools

James Bloom Libraries for Literacy South Africa

Learning and teaching in early years go beyond the school walls

Clinica de Psicopedagogia Brazil

Bridging the Literacy Research-to-Practice Gap in Developing Countries: The Echo Model Solution

Pamela Matamoros
Eduktiva
Honduras

Post Covid: Innovations Born Out of Necessity for International Youth Literacy Outreach

Christopher Page Page by Page United States

BREAK

PLENARY SESSION

Once Upon a Time in Tennessee: Building a World of Readers One Book at a Time.
(Governor's Early Literacy Foundation James Pond | President)

Panel Discussion
Reducing Early Literacy Failure by half in English schools: Learning From the Fischer Family Foundation Apex Project’
Eliza Hilton, FFT Education
Mike Fischer, Fischer Family Trust
Kathy Rastle, Professor Royal Holloway, University of London
Louise Parkinson, Educator FFT APEX Project Manager


Panel Discussion Two
How Neuroscience can advance Literacy Education (Brainscience, MIT, Oxford University, Stanford University, University of Connecticut)

BREAK

Post Pandemic Teaching: Literacy Coaching with the Early Literacy Learning Model and the Impact on Preschool Teachers and Students

Vickie Johnston
Florida Gulf Coast University
United States

Students at the heart: A post-pandemic approach to reading instruction

Lane Clarke
University of New England
United States

Literacy Through Looking: A Replicable School and Museum Partnership Model

Jessica Sack
Yale University Art Gallery
Lisa Ryan
United States

Young Children, Picture Books, and Race: A Systematic Literature Review

Allie Bruce
Boston University, Wheelock College of Education
United States

Using Mentor Texts to Make Students' Writing Come Alive

Olivia Modesto
Patricia Rodriguez
Erika Hernandez
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
United States

Exploring community outreach under Unnat Bhartat Abhiyaan :From Sustainable literacy to lifelong learning in India

Rajesh Kumar
University of Delhi
India

LUNCH

TBD

Panel Discussion

TBD

Panel Discussion

TBD

Panel Discussion

BREAK

The Importance of Mother Tongue on Foundational Literacy Development and Social Emotional Learning

Judy Paredes
NABU
United States

Teaching Bidialectal Students: Challenges and Solutions to Literacy

Yvonne Pratt-Johnson
Bonnie Johnson
St. John's University
United States

Bangkok Priorities for Action on First Language-based Multilingual Education and United Nations Efforts to Improve Literacy in Minoritized Languages

Kirk Person
SIL Global
Thailand

Write a Book to Change the World

Gavin Mccormack
Upschool.co
Australia

Dual Language Programs Enhance Native Language and Culture - Preparing Students for Success in a Global Society

Myrna Rosado Rasmussen, Ed.D
CEO National Multilingual Services
United States

Martha E. Garza, Ed.D
Region One ESC
United States