Make plans to join us for the 2025 Fall Schools Conference being held on Friday, October 17 at the Viterbo University – La Crosse!

Vocabulary: The Key to Understanding

The WSHA Schools 2025 conference will focus on evidence-based vocabulary and assessment and intervention. Vocabulary breadth and depth are a well-established predictors of school outcomes such as reading comprehension. Monolingual and multilingual students with language disorders or complex communication needs may have difficulty learning, retaining, and using vocabulary.  They may learn words more slowly, know fewer words, lack rich representations of known words, and have more difficulty determining word meanings from context than their peers. More explicit instruction, exposure, and opportunity for practice may be warranted to ensure access to and engagement in the general education curriculum.

Agenda:
7:30-8:00 am........... Exhibitor Set up

8:00-8:30 am........... Registration and Breakfast

8:30-8:45 am........... Welcome and Exhibitor Showcase

8:45-10:15 am......... Session I: Full STEAM Ahead - Early Childhood Activities and Books for Building Descriptive Vocabulary

10:15-10:30 am....... Break with Exhibitors

10:30-12:00 pm....... Session II:  Assessing and Teaching Vocabulary to Elementary and Middle School Students who use AAC

12:00-12:15 pm....... Break with Exhibitors

12:15-1:00 pm......... Lunch and Session III: Integrating Children's Literature, Music, and Drama to Teach Vocabulary

1:00-2:30 pm........... Session III: Words That Work - Evidence-Based Vocabulary Assessment and Intervention for Elementary and Adolescent Students

2:30-2:45 pm........... Break with Exhibitors

2:45-3:15 pm........... Advocacy Presentation

3:15-3:30 pm........... Q&A and Resource Sharing

3:30 pm................... Adjourn / Optional Tour of Viterbo University Communication Disorders Department 

Register by September 1 and receive $25 off!

Registration rates include conference materials, breakfast, lunch, and breaks as listed on the conference schedule.

Special discounts are available for WSHA members who bring 2 or more colleagues. Email WSHA@badgerbay.co for the discount code.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be received by September 15, 2025. A $50 administrative fee will be deducted from your refund. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after September 15, 2025. Refunds will NOT be given for no-shows.

More Information & Questions

For full details regarding convention presentations please visit the conference website at www.wisha.org. For questions, please contact the WSHA office at 920-560-5642.

Disclosures

Disclosure statements are available here.

Attire

Business casual attire is acceptable for all conference events.

Exhibitors and Sponsors

Interested in joining us as an Exhibitor or Sponsor?  More information is available here: WSHA 2025 Fall Schools Conference - Exhibitor & Sponsor Registration

Other

Participants will need to complete the online learning assessment and evaluation at the end of the course to obtain CEUs.  Upon submission, participants will receive a certificate of completion.