2023 ReadingPals Conference & Celebration

Reading Pals Conference

Thursday, June 15, 2023

For the second consecutive year, we held our statewide virtual ReadingPals Conference & Celebration!  We heard from experts in early literacy, mentoring, and social-emotional development. We discussed concepts, skills, and insights that can be applied as volunteers, parents/caregivers, teachers, and supporters.

Our topics included grade-level reading efforts in Florida, developing emotional intelligence as students and mentors, and how to use the Science of Reading to improve early literacy skills.

ReadingPals is a statewide early literacy initiative that provides volunteer mentors for students from pre-k to 3rd grade who may need extra help across 14 Florida regions. Over the last 11 years, more than 27,000 students have received a ReadingPals mentor and a share of 490,000 donated books.

Become a ReadingPals Volunteer

2023 Video Archive

Q&A: Understanding the Science of Reading

Dr. Stollar

Dr. Stephanie Stollar

Creator, Reading Science Academy

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Liz Woody-Remington

Chief Academic Officer/Co-Founder, The Learning Alliance

Emotionally Intelligent Mentors: The Shift Towards Prioritizing Mental Health in Mentorship

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Crystal Morris, MS, ACC

Lead Culture and Climate Architect, One Caring Adult

Presentation on Emotionally Intelligent Mentors

Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign: Updates and Opportunities

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Kristi Biffar

Special Projects Consultant, Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign

Presentation on Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign

ReadingPals: Reach, Impact, and Growth in 2022-2023

John Knight

John Knight

ReadingPals Statewide Director

ReadingPals Spotlight: Polk County

ReadingPals Spotlight: Lee County

See our conference archive

Two boys reading book with adult

2025 ReadingPals Conference & Celebration

Please join us for our statewide virtual conference & celebration as we conclude our 13th year of ReadingPals!

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Smiling girl in focus

2024 ReadingPals Conference & Celebration

For the third consecutive year, we held our statewide virtual conference and celebration in conclusion of our 12th year of ReadingPals!

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Reading Pals Hero (Updated)

Celebrating 10 Years of ReadingPals

A keynote presentation on getting all children ready for kindergarten, plus perspectives from a Florida father, early childhood educators, legislators, and more.

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