CRLP Teacher Leader Invitational

Greetings Teacher Leaders,

It’s that time of year again! We’re excited to announce the 2025 Fall Teacher Leadership Invitational at UC Berkeley, a gathering designed especially for Bay Area Teacher Leaders who are passionate about literacy. This year’s theme, Recapturing the Joy of Literacy, highlights our collective commitment to fostering classrooms where both students and educators can thrive. We aim to create a vibrant space for sharing strategies, exchanging best practices, and re-energizing the work of teaching literacy.

Over the course of the Invitational, we’ll dig into a range of topics designed to spark curiosity and practical application in your classrooms. Together, we’ll explore the art of Recentering the Read Aloud in PK–12 classrooms, rediscover the power of poetry, and uncover strategies for inspiring student curiosity through verse and story. You’ll gain access to resources that elevate read-alouds across content areas, techniques for guiding students in writing poetry, and approaches to culturally responsive literacy practices that affirm every student’s voice. And yes—there will be high-quality book resources, free swag, and plenty of inspiration to take back to your school sites.

Our Three-Session Learning Series will include the following topics:

Recentering the Read Aloud in PK-12 Classrooms
Rediscovering Poetry
Inspiring Student Curiosity in Poetry
Strategies for Improving Student Engagement with Read Alouds
Resources for Content-Area Read Alouds
Strategies for Guiding Students in Writing Poetry
Culturally-Responsive Literacy Practices
Resources for Finding High-Quality Read Alouds
Networking with Passionate Literacy Educators from across the Bay Area
(Oh, and most importantly) Receiving free books and swag!

Our format remains the same hybrid model that many of you loved last year. We will meet on three Thursday evenings—October 16 (4:30-7:00), October 30 (4:00-6:30), and November 13 (4:00-6:30). The first session will be held in person at the UC Berkeley School of Education, complete with dinner, treats, and prizes. The following two sessions will be hosted virtually, giving you flexibility while still allowing for deep learning and collaboration. Those who attend all three sessions and complete an Action Research project will also be eligible for a small stipend in recognition of their leadership and learning. Register using the RSVP feature below; the last day to RSVP is Friday, October 3!

Finally, we’re delighted to continue a tradition born from your feedback last year—the optional Happy Hour/Action Research Showcase. On Friday, December 5, you’ll have the opportunity to share the ways you’ve implemented Invitational strategies in your classrooms, celebrate your students’ successes, and connect with fellow Teacher Leaders in a relaxed and collegial setting. It’s always a highlight of the series and a wonderful way to close out the fall.

We can’t wait to see you this October and November as we embark on this year’s journey to recapture the joy of literacy—together. As always, please forward this flyer to any potential Teacher Leaders you may know. We're making a concerted effort to reach out to more stellar teachers of color and LGBTQ+ educators to join our already diverse and amazing group of Teacher Leaders.

Cheers,

George & Kara