The Transformative Reading Teacher Group

08/29/2026

We are activating genius at Big sky!!

Today we dive into Grand Round 3 where we will continue our learning about how language is everything and extend this dialogue from oral language to written language. We'll end the day with broadening our lens on genius activation.

We cannot wait to learn with Danielle 'Nell' Thompson, Charles Hulme, Doug Petersen, Amy Elleman, Hugh Catts, Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ann Kaiser, Brett Tingley, Dawny Hill, Julie Washington, Robin Zikmund, and Dwight Ho-Sang.

We also have the drawing for Sue Tirrell's ceramic artwork at 5:45-ish (end of day). See the image for the directions.

08/25/2026

Sometimes, climbing the real summits remind us we can do hard things!

Cheers to our mentor Terrie Alexander Noland on her first Montana Summit before the Big Sky Literacy Summit!

We are getting ready to lift the lid on literacy transformation for the Big Sky community!!

08/20/2026

When it comes to The Big Sky Literacy Summit, details matter. From the homemade cookies to the intentional planning of every grand round, we curate for impact.

We are loving the details of one of our Transformation Day Mentors who will Activate Genius in magical ways!

Thank you Sue Tirrell for your dedication to adding value to education.

08/19/2026

The mountain top Big Sky Literacy Summit experience start next week! The program is live and we hope you start dreaming of how you will activate genius in your life, your classroom, with your teams, at your schools, in your districts, states, and around the world. We can do amazing things because we have infinite potential to create a benevolent future that is yet unknown for all children. It's time to activate genius!

Summit program link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/146087/themes/2164525161/downloads/4fafc57-dbf0-81e7-adef-3806cb4cae67_Big_Sky_Summit_Program_2026_V.6.pdf

07/24/2026

Our leaders, Danielle Thompson and Terrie Alexander Noland are heading to the inaugural Global MTSS Conference alongside many of our colleagues including Language Dynamics Group 's Doug Petersen, Charles Hulme, Elsa Cardenas-Hagan, and Young-Suk Grace Kim.

Here we come San Francisco!! Thank you for elevating the dialogue around MTSS!

06/12/2026

For the first time in history, leadership, language and literacy are coming together to shape a new future in literacy outcomes and it's happening because of new legislation, the CLSD grant, and a massive team effort.

In this history making project we are joining together to implement evidenced for effect oral language screening tools and curriculums along side SOR aligned curricular tools and, we are measuring the impact. Yes, that means we are adding to the research base of the Science of Reading!

Wow, huh?

It’s all because of our colleague and fearless leader, Claudia Ladd and her team (shout out to Denise Fertig and both their families respectively).

Because of them, the CLSD grant exists. Because of them, 44 schools get to change the future of the Science of Reading data base and because of them, the L3 Embracing Leadership, Language and Literacy Conference happened this week, not just for grant schools but for all who wanted to lift their leadership, language and literacy lids!

Hats off to the amazing and intentional teacher leaders, superintendents, assistant superintendents, curriculum and instruction directors, principals, MTSS directors, Special Services directors, paraprofessionals, research teams, parents, library directors, and all who showed up to change the future.

We appreciate you and are honored to support this work with our esteemed colleagues and partners from AIM Institute for Learning & Research and CORE as well as our research partners from Language Dynamics Group OxEd and Assessment, Just Right Reader and Word Flight.

06/06/2026

From Loving and Leading Large in Literacy to Language Is Everything and now Activating Genius, Big Sky has always been about cultivating ideas that transform people, classrooms, schools, and communities.

We believe powerful ideas deserve cultivation through immersion, conversation, and quiet time in community.

They also deserve a community willing to carry them forward and share them with the world. This could be you!

At Big Sky 2026, we'll explore how genius is activated on many levels:
- Language Activates Genius
- Systems Activate Genius
- Leadership Activates Genius
- Implementation Activates Genius
- You Activate the Genius in You
- Failure Activates Genius

Because the future doesn't change when we learn something new. The future changes when we think differently, act differently, and create differently together.

Will you be in the room?

Big Sky Literacy Summit 2026

06/03/2026

There is something about standing beneath a Montana sky. The horizon stretches farther than the eye can see, reminding us that possibility often begins where certainty ends.

Big Sky Literacy Summit was built around that idea. Not simply to provide answers, but to create the conditions for discovery. Big sky is a place where we ask what is possible for our students, our schools, our communities, and ourselves.

We gather people who refuse to believe we've reached the limit of what can be achieved.

06/03/2026

There is something about standing beneath a Montana sky. The horizon stretches farther than the eye can see, reminding us that possibility often begins where certainty ends.

Big Sky Literacy Summit was built around that idea. Not simply to provide answers, but to create the conditions for discovery. Big sky is a place where we ask what is possible for our students, our schools, our communities, and ourselves.

We gather people who refuse to believe we've reached the limit of what can be achieved.

Are you joining us this year? We already cannot wait to welcome you home.
https://youtu.be/JFr8un-C9SI

The Summit is not built to be like something you know, it's built t...

05/28/2026

Have you been wanting to rise and do something new? This is it!
This may be for YOU! YOU! YOU!

We are truly grateful for the AVED Foundation and its mission to empower women to move forward through learning, leadership and literacy. Take a moment to see if you are the woman this scholarship is for.