Building Wings

@buildingwings.bsky.social

187 Followers 132 Following

Specially designed instructional resources for teachers, SLPs and OTs to help ALL learners soar in literacy learning and current events knowledge in PreK-12+ and adult learning centers. https://www.buildingwings.com/ https://linktr.ee/BuildingWingsCo

A webinar announcement titled "Building a Literacy-Rich Classroom: Where Every Student Can Succeed" by Building Wings Webinars, scheduled for August 5, 2026, at 2 PM CST. The design features a blue background with yellow accents. A speaker, "Jenn Stukes, MS.Ed.," is pictured in a circular frame, smiling with glasses.

Building Wings webinar announcement titled "Teaching Reading & Writing in Special Education: 10 Conditions That Drive Success" on July 29, 2026, at 2 PM CST. Images of two women, Marci Butler and Nicole Nichols, are shown. Hosted by Building Wings, Implementation Specialists.

A young student sits at a desk, looking frustrated while reading. The text on the image reads, "If learners can decode, why aren’t they understanding? Uncover where instruction may be falling short." It introduces the "Science of Reading Quiz" and highlights areas like decoding, language, and comprehension.

Alt text: Promotional image for "Build Vocabulary with News Currents™" featuring worksheets titled "Word Jumble," "Word Search," and "Vocabulary Quiz" against a blue and yellow background. The tagline reads, "Real News. Real Words. Real Impact."

"Webinar announcement titled 'Finding a Voice and Using It: Integrating AAC and Comprehensive Literacy Instruction' on a teal and yellow background. Date and time: April 28, 2026, at 12 PM CST. Includes headshots of two speakers in circular frames: one in a teal top and the other against a brick backdrop. Speakers: Beth Waite-Lafever, CCC-SLP, and Maureen Donnelly, M.Ed."

An infographic by "Building Wings" compares literacy instruction time. "General Education Students" receive an average of 2.5 hours daily, while "Students with Disabilities" often get less than 30 minutes. Two horizontal bars illustrate the time difference, with a "VS" in the center. An excerpt notes the source as a presentation on improving literacy access.

A graphic with the text "Who is prioritized and under which spotlight?" on the left. On the right, three simplified human figures are shown; the middle one is highlighted by a spotlight. The design is set against a blue background.

Open book on a table with a blurred background. Overlaid text reads: "Literacy allows people with disabilities to have more control over their interdependence." -Dr. Karen Erickson.

A turquoise and yellow promotional image for "News Currents by Building Wings" featuring three framed articles. One shows a group of children reading with a title about "Read Across America Day." Another displays a tiger with the title "Indian Tiger Population Doubles." The third depicts vintage baseball cards, titled "Rare Baseball Card Could Sell for $7 Million." The words "NEW" and "Articles" are highlighted.

Speaker Karla Rachfal stands smiling in a red top against a blue backdrop. The event, titled "Empowering All Learners Through Comprehensive Literacy," is part of the Michigan CEC's 86th Annual Conference. It offers 1 NASW Social Work Credit and takes place on February 27, 2026, at 2:15 PM in Emerald A, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A sheet of practice writing paper with blue dotted lines and red baselines, displaying the handwritten sentence "We both match each other." A yellow pencil with a pink eraser lies diagonally on the right side of the paper on a wooden surface.

A quote on a blue background reads: "It is not our job to make students do anything. It is our job to make them want to." by Dr. Karen Erickson. The phrase "make them want to" is in a cursive style.

A design featuring "News Currents" articles by Building Wings. It showcases three article topics: the Winter Olympics alongside images of athletes, twin gorillas with a photo of the animals, and a plan to end animal testing with images of a white rat and a monkey. The layout includes a computer screen and tablet mockups against a teal and yellow background.

Graphic announcing "On Our Way to ATIA '26!" with a flight path from Volo, IL to Orlando, FL. Two inset photos: a tall building and two smiling people. Text mentions Building Wings' booth 906 and event dates, January 29-31.

A webinar promotional image features a smiling woman with light hair in a circular frame. The text reads "Building Wings Webinars" with the topic "Admin Walk-Throughs: How to Make Them Meaningful, Research-Aligned, and Actionable." The speaker is identified as Sarah Starr, M.Ed.

A child and an adult are sitting on a carpeted floor. The child, in a black and white shirt, is holding a tablet, while the adult, in a striped sweater, shows a printed page with images and text. They appear to be engaged in an educational activity, possibly reading or solving a task together.A child and an adult are sitting on a carpeted floor. The child, in a black and white shirt, is holding a tablet, while the adult, in a striped sweater, shows a printed page with images and text. They appear to be engaged in an educational activity, possibly reading or solving a task together.

Alt text: ATiA 2026 promotional graphic for a session titled "From Impossible to Possible: Making Literacy a Reality for Every Learner," scheduled for Thursday, January 29, at 1 PM EST in Grand Ballroom 1/2. Features headshots of two speakers: Maureen Donnelly, M. Ed., and Trisha Johnson, both associated with Building Wings.

Alt text: A promotional graphic for News Currents by Building Wings, featuring a computer and two tablets displaying different articles. The computer shows "The Future of the Affordable Care Act" with a politician and a hospital scene. One tablet shows an article titled "Celebrating George Washington Carver" with a black-and-white photo of Carver. The other tablet displays "Scientists Help Return an 'Extinct' Antelope to the Sahara" with an image of two scimitar-horned oryx. The background includes text: "NEW" and "Article Topics: The Future of the Affordable Care Act, George Washington Carver, Repopulating the Sahara."

A young child points to a large screen displaying colorful text about favorite foods, with the assistance of an adult. Another person seated nearby observes. Bright sunflowers decorate the corner of the board, and classroom storage units are labeled with items like "Head Phones" and "Scissors." A tablet with a keyboard grid is visible on the desk.

A blue background features white and yellow text that reads "Building Wings LITERACY Instruction Resource Center." On the left, a pattern of circular dots forms a large arrow shape pointing to the text.

Image promoting articles by News Currents, featuring a large straw goat in Sweden, an indigenous man playing a mobile game in a desert landscape, and a beaver sitting on the ground. Article topics include the Gävle Goat, language preservation, and beavers' ecological benefits. The design includes vibrant blue and yellow colors with "NEW" in a circular icon.

Quote on a blue gradient background. Text reads: "Being disabled should not mean being disqualified from having access to every aspect of life." The quote is attributed to Emma Thompson.

Class schedule on a whiteboard with colorful "Schedule" header. Two columns list Time, Class, and Wednesday timings. Classes include Morning Check-In, ELA, Math, Life Skills, Elective, Lunch, Afternoon Check-In, and PE. Times range from 7:45 AM to 2:50 PM, with minor variations on Wednesdays.

Webinar announcement for "From One Teacher to Another: Practical Strategies with Readtopia and AAC" by Building Wings. Scheduled for December 9, 2025, at 12 PM CST. The speaker is Kelly Fonner, M.S. Includes a photo of the speaker.

A teal-and-yellow “News Currents by Building Wings” weekly articles graphic. A large yellow “NEW” badge sits on the left. Three device screens show featured stories: on a desktop monitor, a photo of disability activist Alice Wong; on a tilted tablet, images referencing the Grand Egyptian Museum; and on another tablet, a close-up of a falcon for a “Nestflix” livestream story. Bottom text reads: “Article Topics: The Life of Alice Wong • Grand Egyptian Museum • Nestflix.”

A young woman with long blonde hair sits at a small table, engaging with two people. She wears a "Special Olympics" shirt and smiles warmly. In front of her are tablets and documents. Behind her, a projector screen displays images and text, indicating topics like "Readtopia with Miss Dom" and "Learning Letters with Mr. Tom." The setting appears to be a classroom or educational space.

An infographic titled "Does 'Comprehensive Literacy for All' align with the Science of Reading?" shows two columns. The left column lists aspects emphasized by the Science of Reading (SOR): "Diverse, Daily Instruction," "Explicit & Systematic Phonics," "Phonemic Awareness," "Language Learning," "Vocabulary Development," "Equity and Inclusion," and "Writing." The middle column with checkboxes indicates alignment. The right column explains how Comprehensive Literacy for All (CLFA) expands on each aspect, including emergent learners, phonics, sound identification, interactive read-alouds, vocabulary development, assistive technology integration, and options for alternative pencils. A colorful design with a silhouette of a child reading under a tree is at the bottom.

A cheerful robot with gold gear-like glasses dances joyfully against a vibrant blue starry background. The words "Friday feeling" appear in bold yellow letters at the bottom left.

A woman with curly hair in a strawberry-patterned sweater is sitting at a desk, actively pointing at a tablet device with a blue protective case. Her expression is engaged and animated. She holds up a printed page in her other hand, and some educational materials are visible on the desk.

A teacher wearing a "Readtopian" T-shirt stands in front of a screen displaying "Diana Trujillo: A Space Scientist" with space-themed graphics. A student in a blue hoodie sits in front, viewing a tablet.

A gradient blue background features a quote in white and black text: "The least dangerous assumption about human beings is to assume that they are capable of emergent literacy and communication, regardless of the severity or complexity of their disabilities." Attributed to Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver.

A blue-themed promotional image for a Building Wings webinar. It features a computer screen displaying details about a webinar titled "Unlocking Literacy with Readtopia" by Brandi Wentland, scheduled for November 7, 2025, at 12 PM CST. The left side has a circular photo of a smiling woman, and the right displays a tablet with a colorful flowchart. The word "NEW" is highlighted in a yellow circle at the top.

A cartoon robot character stands confidently in a classroom. The robot has a shiny purple body, a coil spring on its head, and large gear-shaped eyeglasses. It raises one finger and has a friendly smile. Behind the robot are a chalkboard, desks, a stack of books, and an apple, creating a school setting.

A digital flyer for "News Currents by Building Wings" featuring three articles. The main image shows coins on a computer screen with the headline "The Great Canadian Treasure Hunt Begins." A smaller image on the left depicts a cityscape titled "Climate change experts gather in Brazil for COP30." On the right, a leaping whale is shown under the headline "Australia's Humpback Whale Population is on the Rise." The background is turquoise and yellow, with the word "NEW" in a yellow circle.

Promotional graphic for Comprehensive Literacy for All: The Official Book Study. The image shows the book cover, “Comprehensive Literacy for All: Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities to Read and Write” by Dr. Karen Erickson and Dr. David Koppenhaver, along with supporting materials titled “Guided Notes Journal” and “Facilitator Guide for Educators.” The text reads: “Comprehensive Literacy for All — The Official Book Study. Brought to you by Dr. Karen Erickson, Dr. David Koppenhaver, and Building Wings.” The design features a colorful, accessible layout in purple, green, and orange tones.