

VIRTUAL | June 23-24, 2026
Light the fire for
Better Writing
Back by popular demand, Ignite to Write has already inspired educators from across the U.S. and around the world. In 2026, you can join the movement from anywhere with our two-day virtual conference—bringing 40+ breakout sessions, practical strategies, and fresh ideas right to your screen.
Flexible, convenient, and affordable, this one-of-a-kind professional development will spark creativity, sharpen student writing, and ignite success in every classroom.

What You Get
A Rejuvenating Mix of Focused & Fun Professional Development

Option to learn from the comfort of your own home—or register the whole staff and host Ignite to Write at your school
Ability to engage with presenters and other attendees with the interactive live chat
Energetic presentations and special surprises designed to rekindle your passion for teaching writing
Opportunity to get recharged and rejuvenated after a long school year
A special 15% discount when you buy books and resources from TheLiteracyStore.com
40+ relevant session topics to choose from, all on teaching writing skills and practices
High-energy, engaging presentations that will keep your attention
Handouts and note-taking resources to support implementation
Downloadable completion certificates for every session
Lifetime access to a “Secret Site” packed with digital resources from every session


Session Topics
Learn powerful strategies for teaching writing during Ignite to Write!
Meet writer needs
Plan powerful units
Deliver writing lessons
Conquer state assessments
Embrace EdTech
Stay tuned for session topics!

Who Should Attend?
Ignite to Write is for everyone who teaches writing!
Literacy Coaches & Coordinators
High-Ability Teachers
Principals & Assistant Principals
K-12 Curriculum Directors

Meet Your Guides
Keynote Speaker + Session Presenter
As president and lead consultant for Smekens Education, Kristina is constantly developing new strategies to help teachers meet the demands of today’s College and Career-Ready Standards. She shares those strategies with teachers across the United States and beyond through on-site professional development, seminars, and an always-growing pool of print, digital, and video resources.
Session Presenters
Courtney Gordon
Didi Harris
Shona Lansdell
Kristi McCullough
Rachel Remenschneider
Holly Sluyter

Conference Schedule
All times listed are Eastern Time
DAY ONE
June 23
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
KEYNOTE
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Session 1
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch break
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Session 2
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Session 3
3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Session 4
DAY TWO
June 24
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Session 5
10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Session 6
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Session 7
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch break
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Session 8
2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Closing

Registration

June 23-24, 2026
$409/person
Register by April 15 to receive a free Ignite to Write Conference T-Shirt!
Download the group registration form.

Benefits of
Attending Virtually
Accessible
With no travel required, you can attend Ignite to Write from anywhere that has a good internet connection.
Flexible
Whether you attend the live conference or watch the recordings afterward, you can revisit every session for two full years.
Affordable
Attending virtually means no need to pay extra for travel, lodging, or other expenses.


Get Schoolwide Access
Host the Ignite to Write Virtual Conference at your school —and SAVE BIG!
Empower your whole team with two days of practical, high-impact professional learning designed to elevate your school’s writing instruction. By purchasing access to the Ignite to Write virtual conference for your entire staff, school leaders can unlock a wealth of professional development—without ever leaving campus.
Here’s why this is the best option for participating virtually:
Largest discount available
Schools and districts that purchase access for entire staffs benefit from the biggest discount. This is an affordable way to invest in every educator while maximizing your professional development budget.
Collaborative learning environment
Bringing everyone together fosters a shared learning experience. Teachers can immediately discuss strategies, share ideas, and build collective enthusiasm to apply new insights in their classrooms.
Convenient on-site participation
Instead of traveling to an off-site location, teachers can participate in the conference from their own school or district. Set up in classrooms, a conference room, or a common area to engage your team in two full days of virtual sessions—saving time and eliminating travel expenses.
Schoolwide impact
When every educator hears the same message and learns the same strategies, it amplifies the effect on student outcomes. Together, the whole staff will be better equipped to implement effective writing instruction across all grade levels.
Customizable and flexible schedule
Choose which sessions to attend based on your school’s specific needs. Recordings will be available for any sessions missed, giving teachers the chance to revisit and learn at their own pace.
Fun professional development
School leaders can make Ignite to Write extra special by incorporating fun elements like prizes, catered meals, or snacks.
Consider planning themed activities, giving away classroom supplies, or hosting friendly competitions to keep the energy high and the learning enjoyable. A little creativity can elevate an already engaging event into fun professional development for teachers!
Invest in your entire team, save with our largest discount, and make professional development more impactful—and fun—by bringing the virtual Ignite to Write conference experience to your school.

Frequently Asked Questions
What's included with my registration?
Beyond two days of fun, high-energy sessions, Ignite to Write attendees will also receive:
- Two years of access to the recordings of EVERY session
- Full-color session handouts for note-taking
- Completion certificates for every session that’s viewed in its entirety
- Lifetime access to the Ignite to Write “Secret Site”
Can I earn Continuing Education Credit?
With prior approval from the attendee’s school district, participants may receive professional development credit for participating in Ignite to Write. After the conference concludes, attendees will be awarded a Certificate of Participation which can be used to verify attendance.
Visit our Continuing Education Credit page for more information about how this workshop fulfills your state’s unique continuing education requirements.
Can I earn Graduate-Level Units?
For an additional fee of $62 per credit/unit, Ignite to Write attendees are eligible to pursue 1-4 graduate-level university semester credit units from the University of the Pacific, Center for Professional Development and Continuing Education. Please check with your district to determine course acceptability.
Do you offer a group discount?
Yes! For groups of 10 or more, take 10% off the current registration fee.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellations may occur any time prior to June 26 and a full refund, minus up to 5% transaction fees, will be paid.
Substitutions may occur at any time. If you need to cancel your registration, please submit your request to workshops@smekenseducation.com.
Prefer to participate in person?
Attend Ignite to Write in Indianapolis or Chicagoland Area!







