2026 AAEA Summer Conference

How can we anchor our teaching in innovation to ensure every adolescent learner succeeds? This session introduces the Arkansas Adolescent Literacy Intervention, an approach rooted in the internationally recognized Strategic Instruction Model (SIM). Operating on the foundational principle that all students can achieve when provided with research-validated tools, SIM offers a powerful framework for transformative teaching and learning.
Participants will explore an overview of innovative strategies and routines designed to boost student engagement, academic growth, and overall success. We will focus on two core components:
*Content Enhancement Routines: Discover teacher-focused tools designed for planning and leading learning for a diverse group of students, ensuring content is clear, accessible, and memorable.
*Learning Strategies: Explore student-focused strategies that teach students how to learn, equipping them with essential skills for acquiring, storing, and expressing knowledge independently.

Additionally, we will introduce Xtreme Reading, a spiral curriculum designed to help close reading gaps, and discuss its correlation to the Science of Reading.

You will leave this session able to identify specific teaching routines and strategies to enhance literacy and academic success for students in grades 4-12.

Join us to discover how Arkansas’s own SIM powerhouse, the Mashburn Center for Learning at the University of Central Arkansas, supports educators in implementing these evidence-based practices to meet the needs of all learners. Partner with us to explore how to equip your students with the strategic tools they need to thrive and leave with a comprehensive overview of routines and strategies you could learn to implement in your classroom.