---
title: "Celebrating Biliteracy: Realizing a Better Future for Our Spanish Speakers"
description: "Register to watch the on-demand sessions from our free virtual symposium, Celebrating Biliteracy: Realizing a Better Future for Our Spanish Speakers."
image: https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/BiliteracySymposium_Organic_FB_Twitter_Post.jpg
---

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Amplify

###### Virtual SYMPOSIUM 2022: NOW ON DEMAND!

# Celebrating Biliteracy: Realizing a Better Future for Our Spanish Speakers

# —

Recorded on Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (EDT)

 Watch the sessions

![mCLASS\_K-5All\_ASCD\_LPBanner](https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/mCLASS_K-5All_ASCD_LPBanner.png)

## Watch the on-demand recordings for **Celebrating Biliteracy: Realizing a Better Future for Our Spanish Speakers**, recorded on May 19, 2022.

## —

Discover evidence-based ways to honor the unique skills, strengths, and needs your English language learners bring to the classroom, as well as how to accelerate their literacy skills with Science of Reading-aligned strategies.

While this interactive event has a special focus on Spanish speakers, our largest and fastest-growing population of English language learners, the sessions are designed for you to walk away with Science of Reading-aligned strategies for supporting ***all*** of your English language learners.

## Featured speakers:

## —

![Kajal Patel Below Headshot](https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/Blog/Kajal%20Patel%20Below%20Headshot.png)

#### Kajal Patel Below

VP, Spanish Solutions, Amplify

##### Keynote speaker

![BiliteracySymposium\_FBAdAsset 510](https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/BiliteracySymposium_FBAdAsset%20510.png)

#### Dr. Pedro Noguera

Dean, USC Rossier School of Education

![](https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/LilianDuran.png)

#### Dr. Lillian Durán

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Education, University of Oregon

![](https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/ElsaCardenas.png)

#### Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan

President, Valley Speech Language and Learning Center

![Ashely Sanabria Adams \_ Headshot-modified](https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/Ashely%20Sanabria%20Adams%20_%20Headshot-modified.png)

#### Dr. Ashley Sanabria

Assistant Professor, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Department, San Diego State University

![Sandra Mercuri\_Headshot-modified](https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/Sandra%20Mercuri_Headshot-modified.png)

#### Dr. Sandra Mercuri

Assistant Professor, Bilingual Education and Biliteracy, The University of Texas

![Vivian Pratts\_Headshot-modified](https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/Vivian%20Pratts_Headshot-modified.png)

#### Vivian Pratts

Bilingual Educational Consultant at VP Dual Language/Biliteracy/ESL Consulting

![](https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/DesireePalais.png)

#### Dr. Desirée Pallais-Downing

Assistant Professor, Bilingual/Bicultural Program, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The University of Texas at Austin

![](https://go.info.amplify.com/hubfs/Doris%20Baker_Headshot-modified.png)

#### Dr. Doris Baker

Associate Professor, Department of Special Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The University of Texas at Austin

## Session topics and speakers:

| Time (EDT) | Session | Speaker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **11:00–11:10** | **Welcome & Introduction** | **Kajal Patel Below** VP, Spanish Solutions, Amplify |
| **11:10–11:55** | **Keynote: The Equity Imperative: Creating the Schools We Need Now** | **Dr. Pedro Noguera** Dean, USC Rossier School of Education |
| **12:00–12:50** | **The Power of Dual Language Assessment** | **Dr. Lillian Durán** Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Education, University of Oregon |
| **1:00–1:50** | **Strengths-Based Scaffolds to Empower Spanish Speakers** | **Dr. Desirée Pallais-Downing** Assistant Professor, Bilingual/Bicultural Program, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The University of Texas at Austin |
| **1:00–1:50** | **Biliteracy: Considerations for Children with Developmental Language Disorder** | **Dr. Ashley Sanabria** Assistant Professor, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Department, San Diego State University |
| **2:00–2:50** | **Educator Panel with District Leaders** | **Esther M. Bellah, M.Ed.** Bilingual/SLAR Coordinator Teacher & Learning Development Garland Independent School District, TX **Kim Newton** Senior Director K–12, Curriculum & Instruction, Professional Development Modesto Schools, CA **Tammy Jones** Literacy Coach Modesto Schools, CA **Yara Abad** Coach/Specialist Teton County School District, WY |
| **3:00–3:50** | **Oral Language Development for Multilingual Learners** | **Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan** President, Valley Speech Language and Learning Center |
| **4:00–4:45** | **Biliteracy for Emergent Bilinguals: The What and the How** | **Dr. Sandra Mercuri** Assistant Professor, Bilingual Education and Biliteracy, The University of Texas **Vivian Pratts** Bilingual Educational Consultant at VP Dual Language/Biliteracy/ESL Consulting |
| **4:00–4:45** | **Making Sense of the World Through Rich Vocabulary Instruction: The When, Why, and How to Teach Vocabulary in Bilingual Settings** | **Dr. Doris Baker** Associate Professor, Department of Special Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The University of Texas at Austin |
| **4:45–5:00** | **Wrap Up** | **Kajal Patel Below** VP, Spanish Solutions, Amplify |

 Watch now

## Celebrate biliteracy with us at our free virtual symposium!

You'll receive a link to watch the on-demand sessions.

Watch the on-demand recordings!

 Watch now

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