The annual Comprehensive Literacy and Reading Recovery Conference took place at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile Hotel on January 19-21, 2022. The three-day event was established to provide professional development and networking opportunities for K-8 classroom teachers, reading recovery intervention, special education, ELS teachers, instructional coaches, program specialists, and administrators. At this year’s in-person conference, over 500 people attended across 20 states to listen to different panels that emphasized literacy learning integration and policies that affect school systems.
There were 37 breakout sessions during the duration of the conference and attendees were welcomed each day by NCE Dean Rob Muller and Katalin Pluymert, Director, Advanced Professional Programs, and Tracee Farmer, from NLU’s Reading Recovery Center. The keynotes this year were Cris Tovani, Mary Fried, Deb Rich, Jamie Lipp, Lisa Patrick, Jeff Williams, and Ruth Quiroa (of NLU). Speakers ranged from a variety of professions covering comprehensive literacy, reading recovery, and leadership standards. Two other keynote speakers included Rachael Gabriel and Gery Brooks. When there is a lot of talk about the science of reading, Dr. Gabriel presented a timely keynote presentation that focused on Teaching with Integrity in the Science of Reading Era while Gerry Brooks’ keynote, entitled Personal Climate and Culture – The Choice is Yours, emphasized how each of us can make a positive impact in our schools.
“It was evident that reconnecting with colleagues and having the opportunity to learn together was needed after the last two years,” reflected Tracee Farmer. “There was a continual excited buzz as friends joined together to expand their practice and share their thinking.”
Likewise, Inmaculada Ibanez De Yrigoyen, who attended the conference, had this to say about the experience: “Reconnecting with people face to face has been magical. I am a teacher by vocation and I consider contact with human beings to be a crucial pillar in the learning and teaching process. The colleagues I have met during these days are professionals who listen, promote conversation and are open to professional growth through analysis and reflection.”
For more on this year's conference and future events, please visit and follow the Reading Recovery Facebook and Twitter pages. Mark your calendar now for next year's conference on January 18-20, 2023.
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