Name: Beyond the Basics: Navigating Disciplinary Literacy in the ELA Classroom
Start: 2026-07-15T13:30:00-0600
End: 2026-07-15T14:30:00-0600

Welcome to URSA 2026 at Southern Utah University! All sessions will be in buildings on the upper campus (east end). Here’s the Campus Map (PDF) if needed.

Beyond the Basics: Navigating Disciplinary Literacy in the ELA Classroom

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT

ED 203 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 203

For secondary English Language Arts (ELA) educators, "literacy" often becomes a catch-all term that can obscure the specialized nature of ELA. This session utilizes the official USBE guidance document, Clarifying Foundational, Content Area, and Disciplinary Literacies in ELA, to provide a clear framework for professional role clarity.We will explore how foundational skills and content-area strategies serve as universal "building blocks" applicable across all subjects. By contrast, we will deep-dive into the specialized disciplinary literacy that ELA experts provide: the unique theories, methodologies, and analytical tasks inherent to the discipline.This session moves this USBE resource from a static document to an active tool for school-wide alignment. Attendees will learn how to use this framework to lead productive, professional conversations with colleagues and administrators to ensure literacy is a shared, school-wide responsibility. By defining these distinctions, ELA teachers can better focus on high-quality, discipline-specific instruction that optimizes academic outcomes and elevates expectations for all students. Ultimately, this framework empowers educators to move beyond generic strategies and provide the rigorous instruction necessary for students to navigate complex information and succeed in real-world contexts.

Participants MUST HAVE one of the following platforms/devices in order to participate in this session: None

Participants MAY FIND IT USEFUL to have one or more of the following platforms/devices during this session: Any of these

Speakers

Naomi Watkins

Secondary ELA Specialist, USBE - Utah State Board of Education

Dr. Naomi Watkins is the Secondary English Language Arts Specialist for the Utah State Board of Education, where she provides strategic oversight for ELA instruction, standards, and adolescent literacy. With over 20 years of experience in education and a Ph.D. specializing in adolescent... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm MDT
ED 203 - Emma Eccles Jones Education Building, Room 203 351 W. University Blvd., Cedar City, UT 84720

Utah Core Curriculum, Beginner - limited to no experience; no prerequisite skills required.

Session Format 1 hour traditional lecture/audience participation
Grade Level Middle School / Jr. High - grades 6 - 8, High School - grades 9 - 12
Audience Teachers, Curriculum Specialists
Subject Area Language Arts, Instructional Coaching

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2026 Utah Rural Schools Conference

Naomi Watkins

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2026 Utah Rural Schools Conference

Naomi Watkins

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