SIM News

Register today for the 2026 Fall SIM Virtual Update Conference and join colleagues from across the SIM community for a month of new learning, collaboration, and live engagement.

We’re excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 Fall SIM Virtual Update Conference, taking place throughout October 2026. This year’s event will be different from our previous virtual conferences, featuring all-new content and live online sessions with presenters on several evenings throughout the month, providing more opportunities to learn, connect, and engage with the SIM community.

While you're planning for the conference, please remember to submit your SIM Awards nominations by September 1 and answer this survey to help us shape this year’s Kaleidoscope Session. We want to hear from you! What topics, strategies, or activities would you like to learn more about? Your input will help make this interactive session valuable and relevant for everyone.

We look forward to learning with you this October!

Recent Publications by KU CRL Staff and SIM Network Members:

• Myers, Suzanne & Washburn, Jocelyn.(2026). Enhancing Writing Quality in Secondary Classrooms: A Study of the Writing with Purpose Routine. Kansas English. 107. 45-57. 10.62704/3n93ba10.
• Myers, S., Washburn, J., Rowland, A. (2026) A scalable approach to literacy coaching. The Learning Professional: Learning Forward Journal (June 2026). https://learningforward.org/journal/coaching-for-all/a-scalable-approach-to-literacy-coaching-online-exclusive/
• Goldman, Samantha & Smith, Sean & Peyton, Vicki & Carreon, Adam & Rowland, Amber & Mosher Ph.D., Maggie. (2026). Evaluating the Use of ChatGPT in Preservice Special Education Courses for Creating Instructional Handouts on Disabilities. Learning Disability Quarterly. 10.1177/07319487261450954. 
• Boyle, Joseph & Watson, Latesha & Jackson, Hannah & Waterfield, Danielle & McClain, Suzanne & Frith, Danielle & Cook, Bryan. (2026). Twenty Years of Educational Technology in Secondary Special Education Classrooms: A Systematic Review. Journal of Special Education Technology. 10.1177/01626434261467673. 
• Martínez-Álvarez, Patricia & Sullivan, A. & Thorius, K. & Lindo, Endia. (2026). Advancing Rightful Education: Theoretical and Methodological Diversity for Intersectional Inclusive Practice. Exceptional Children. 92. 10.1177/00144029261453614. 
• Gelbar, Nicholas & Charles, Shea & Madaus, Joseph & Lyman, Dukes & Faggella-Luby, Michael & Collins, Camryn. (2026). Learning under lockdown: A global synthesis of postsecondary disability research in the COVID‐19 era (2020–2024). Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs. 26. 10.1111/1471-3802.70114. . Journal of Special Education Technology. 10.1177/01626434261467673. 

More Resources and Media Picks:

• Do you or your teachers need ideas on how to help get your professional learning funded? Visit: https://sim.ku.edu/funding-ideas

• Learn more about our virtual courses at: https://sim.ku.edu/sim-events

• Are you planning ahead for a 2026-27 Reading Intervention? Let us know how we can support you with Xtreme Reading. - Together we can help students thrive!

• Check out all of the Featured News from our Parent Organization, KU Life Span Institute. There is some great research happening to improve lives!

   

SIM in the Field

• Dr. Renee Calhoon and Mallorey Jones presented at the 2026 Arkansas Association of Special Education Administrators Conference in June! Their session on “GPS for Teaching and Learning” focused on how the Strategic Instruction Model and co‑teaching combine to support effective planning and elevate learning for all students.

   

• CRL researchers Suzy Myers, Bonnie Palasak, and Jocelyn Washburn were at the 2026 ISTE+ASCD Conference in Orlando in July connecting, learning, and sharing with educators from across the country.

Reminders and Support: 

• Are you doing PD over the summer? Don't forget to report your PD Work - we don't care if it isn't recent!
• If you have any fun summer pics that include SIM, we'd love to have them! Tag us in your posts or send your pics to simpd@ku.edu

Events for SIM Professional Developers and Specialists:

• 2026 Fall SIM Virtual Update Conference - October 2026

FREE SIM Resources:

• SLANT (2nd Edition) Manual 

• Teaching Content to All Manual 

• Professional Learning Micro-credentials for teachers

• SIM CROSSWALKS

• 2025 SIM One-Page Flyer

• Handout with quick links to SIM resources (crosswalks and websites)

SIM Courses for Educators:

Course First! - Learn 4 SIM Content Enhancement Routines with this new online class designed to strategically integrate CERs across an entire course to support the full learning journey.

Supporting Adolescent Literacy for Successful School Change - A Six-Part Course Designed to Support School Teams in Implementing a Systematic Approach to Adolescent Literacy to Dramatically Impact Teacher and Student Performance

SIM Online Classes for Educators:

• Content Enhancement Routines:
  • Concept Comparison Routine
  • Concept Mastery Routine
  • Cross-Curricular Argumentation Routine
  • Framing Routine
  • Unit Organizer Routine
• Learning Strategies
  • Fundamentals of Paraphrasing and Summarizing Strategy
  • The Inference Strategy
  • The Paragraph Writing Strategy
  • Possible Selves Strategy (1st or 2nd edition)
  • Sentence Writing Strategies (Fundamentals and Proficiency)
  • Understanding Academic Language
  • NEW Apr 2026 - Word Mapping Strategy