Earlier this month, the Storyshares team packed up our books and headed to The Reading League Conference — one of the biggest national gatherings for educators, researchers, and literacy leaders who are passionate about evidence-based reading instruction.
This was our first year attending as a sponsor, and we were thrilled to share a table with our partners at HILL for Literacy to showcase LIFT, our collaborative, wraparound literacy intervention program designed specifically for older striving readers. Over three days, we met so many incredible educators, reading interventionists, and school leaders who are working tirelessly to make reading success possible for every student.
One thing really stood out: Storyshares was the only booth focused solely on adolescent literacy. In a sea of high-quality resources centered on early literacy (which we love and support!), it was exciting to represent the older readers who are so often overlooked. The conversations we had made it clear that teachers are eager for more tools, texts, and support for students who are still developing foundational reading skills beyond the elementary years.
When we weren’t at the booth, we spent time in sessions diving into topics like structured literacy for multilingual learners, MTSS and adolescent literacy, and the science of writing. We came away inspired by how much the field continues to evolve — and more committed than ever to creating content that bridges research and classroom practice.
We left the conference energized, grateful, and full of ideas. Most of all, we were reminded why we do this work: to make sure that every reader — no matter their age or starting point — has access to books that build skills and spark a lifelong love of reading.
Ready to transform literacy for older striving at your school? Reach out to us at info@storyshares.org!