VAASL 2024 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome to the VAASL 2024 Fall Conference App!
Telling Our Story through an incredible program of sessions and events.

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8:00am EST

Comics and Manga in the Classroom - Beginner Session

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST

Piedmont A

For years, comic books and graphic novels were dismissed as mere recreational reading, often relegated to a less serious status. However, emerging research reveals their true value: they engage struggling readers, enhance skills for accomplished ones, and effectively teach all subjects, not just English. Join us to explore their crucial role in education and discuss integrating them into curricula.

Speakers

Emily Cissell

Librarian, Thornburg Middle School

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST
Piedmont A

Collection Development Instruction Literature Programming

AASL Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate, Explore, Engage
Audience All Levels

8:00am EST

WONKA: Movie Magic Library Lessons

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST

Piedmont C

Book-based blockbusters have to potential of engaging students as they learn about fictional characters navigating their world, making decisions, and solving problems. Featuring Willy Wonka, (as well as other Roald Dahl books that have been made into movies), this interactive session includes library-ready lessons, an annotated bibliography and door prizes.

Speakers

Lynne Stover

Teacher Consultant, JMU Center for Economic Education

Lynne Farrell Stover is currently a Teacher Consultant at the James Madison University Center for Economic Education. Prior to this, she spent thirty-three years in public education where she enjoyed various teaching assignments including classroom teacher, gifted education specialist... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST
Piedmont C

Instruction Literature

AASL Inquire, Explore
Audience Elementary School - Intermediate, Middle School

8:00am EST

Meet the Authors - Secondary

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST

Tidewater CD

Five Virginia and DC Authors who write for Middle School and High School Readers will present information about their Author Visits and answer questions. One participant will win a free virtual author visit from one of the presenting authors.

Speakers

Erin Teagan

author

Erin Teagan is the author of the Luciana series, American Girl’s 2018 Girl of the Year, The Friendship Experiment (HMH), and Survivor Girl (Clarion, 2019). She has a background in science and worked in drug research for more than ten years. She uses many of her experiences from... Read More →

Terry Jennings

Author

I am a Cuban American author of children's books. I am the author of The Little House of Hope, a book about an immigrant family who shares their home with other immigrants to give them a leg up in their new country. The Definitely Dominguita series is a chapter book series about a... Read More →

Edie Hemingway

Author

I am co-author of two Civil War novels, both licensed by Scholastic Book Fairs and optioned for films. My middle grade novel, Road to Tater Hill (Delacorte Press), won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award and was listed on Bank Street College’s Best Books List and several state lists... Read More →

Jen Furlong

Author, MPC Publishing

Author of award-winning YA series The Unimaginables: Hidden City, Tattooed Angel, Magick Squared. Meredith’s World Series (middle-grade humorous adventures) Meredith at The Met, Meredith for Congress. Children’s picture book: Mrs. Cheesely Loves Cheese. Co-Author of Antagonists... Read More →

Heather Murphy Capps

Author, SCBWI Mid-Atlantic

I’m an award-winning author of upper middle-grade books. I write historical fiction and use magical realism—topics I love to talk about, especially with young readers and educators.

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST
Tidewater CD

Literature Programming

AASL Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Explore, Engage
Audience Middle School, High School

11:00am EST

Does Diversity Matter? (Hint: Yes!)

Friday November 8, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST

Tidewater CD

Who gets to write what, and why? One author's point of view about creating books for young people - the roadblocks, readers' responses, and why this is so important for all voices to be heard.

Speakers

Lisa Yee

Author - Keynote

Lisa Yee’s groundbreaking Millicent Min, Girl Genius, featuring one of the first Asian American protagonists in contemporary literature, debuted in 2003. Her most recent novel, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, has garnered numerous awards including a Newbery Honor, National Book Award... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Tidewater CD

Collection Development Literature Programming

AASL Include, Collaborate, Curate, Engage
Audience All Levels

12:00pm EST

Helping Your School Be Equipped with Book Selections and Science of Reading

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST

Allegheny AB

As new book and reading requirements unfold, we’ll first share how you can instantaneously get Book Resumes to increase confidence in your collections and purchases. Second, we’ll review share how to use TeachingBooks to identify popular picture books by phonetical classifications to reinforce literacy instruction.

Speakers

Nick Glass

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST
Allegheny AB

Collection Development Instruction Literature Professional Growth Programming

AASL Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate
Audience All Levels

12:00pm EST

Meet Them Where They Are: Using Instagram in the Library

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST

Piedmont B

How do you promote your library when everyone is glued to their phones? Meet them where they live by utilizing Instagram. This session is perfect for those who have no time, those who have tons of time, those who are just starting out, and those who have reached influencer status.

Speakers

Erinn Harris

Librarian, Woodson High School

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST
Piedmont B

Collection Development Instruction Literature Professional Growth Programming Technology

AASL Include, Curate, Explore, Engage
Audience All Levels

12:00pm EST

Finding Story in VA's Hidden History (and Helping Students Love Research)

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST

Piedmont C

A cataclysmic Depression-era drought that devastated Virginia farms. Steely horsewomen. Penny auctions. Rainmakers. The Bonus Army. Author L. M. Elliott - winner of the Scott O’Dell Award (2024) and VLA’s Cardinal Cup (2023) - shares stunning, forgotten history from her O’Dell-winning BEA AND THE NEW DEAL HORSE and its research treasure hunt.

Speakers

Laura Elliott

YA/MG historical fiction author, self

L. M. Elliott was a Washington, D.C. magazine journalist for 20 years before becoming a New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen historical and biographical fictions. Her YA/MG novels have won the Scott O'Dell, VLA Cardinal Cup, and Grateful American Book Prize for historical... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST
Piedmont C

Instruction Literature

AASL Inquire, Explore, Engage
Audience Elementary School - Intermediate, Middle School

12:00pm EST

Reading as a Revolutionary Act

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST

Tidewater CD

Join author Samira Ahmed for a candid discussion about the ongoing attacks on the freedom to read, the role of libraries as lighthouses of our democracy and why art is revolutionary. She will share personal stories of being "cancelled" and banned including work she's doing with Authors Against Book Bans and invites you to share your experiences as well.

Speakers

Samira Ahmed

Author - Keynote

Samira Ahmed is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of numerous works for young people including Love Hate & Other Filters, Internment, Hollow Fires, This Book Won’t Burn, the Amira & Hamza duology and Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit. She was born in Bombay, India and grew... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST
Tidewater CD

Literature Professional Growth

AASL Inquire, Explore, Engage
Audience All Levels

1:00pm EST

Comics and Manga in the Classroom - Advanced Session

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Piedmont A

Join us for a collaborative session to analyze comics as historical artifacts, explore their history, and create lesson plans using comics and manga for all subjects. This working session will involve brainstorming ideas and reviewing my planning process for teaching with comics. Bring your device and get ready to collaborate!

Speakers

Emily Cissell

Librarian, Thornburg Middle School

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Piedmont A

Collection Development Instruction Literature Programming

AASL Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate, Explore, Engage
Audience All Levels

1:00pm EST

VRC High School Titles for 2024-2025

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Tidewater CD

Come learn about the new VRC high school titles for this year as well as how to join the committee, and nominate titles. Come with some of your favorite reads of the year to share with others!

Speakers

Elyse DeQuoy

School Librarian, James Wood High School

Megan Watson

English Teacher, LCPS

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Tidewater CD

Collection Development Literature

AASL Curate
Audience High School

1:00pm EST

Building an Engaging Unit: Exploring the Primary Virginia Readers' Choice Book List

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Allegheny C

Discover how to develop engaging lessons around the primary 2024/2025 Virginia Readers’ Choice book list. This session will provide practical strategies, creative ideas, and collaborative approaches to enhance student learning and foster a love for reading. Perfect for building a comprehensive and exciting unit around 10 different books!

Speakers

Emily Underwood

School Librarian, Henrico County Public Schools

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Allegheny C

Instruction Literature

AASL Curate, Explore, Engage
Audience Elementary School - Primary