The 2026 Language First conference will be in-person at the Crowne Plaza Knoxville Downtown in Knoxville, TN on April 14-16, 2026. It will be from 11:30 am - 4:00 pm on Tuesday, April 14, and 8:00 am - 4:30 pm on Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16.
See the full schedule and session descriptions here.
ADVERTISEMENT & SPONSORSHIP
Want to exhibit in-person or advertise your business in our conference booklet? Or perhaps you’d like to support us by becoming a conference sponsor? Find out more here.
GROUP DISCOUNTS
Does your school have a group of professionals who would like to attend the conference together? Take a look at our group discounts. Email info@language1st.org for more information.
GETTING THERE
We recommend flying into McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS).
SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
Tuesday, April 14
8-11:30 | Registration check-in and vendor set-up
11:30-12:30 | Leah Geer, American Sign Language Articulation Test (ASL-AT) training
1-4 pm | Kimberly Wolbers, Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction (SIWI) training
Wednesday, April 15
8:15-9:15 | Leala Holcomb, Applying Evidence-Based Instructional Strategies to ASL/English Literacy Instruction
9:30-10:30 | Bobbie Jo Kite & Christi Batamula, The FLP Tool: Strategies for Multilingual Language Use in Families with D/HH Children
11-12 | Cara Barnett, Examining Signed Language Challenges of Early and Late Exposed ASL Signing Deaf Children
12-2 | Lunch
2-3 | Leah Geer & Razi Zarchy, Breaking Barriers and Building Skills: Family ASL Classes on Campus
3:15-4:15 | Deb Cates & Stacey Morgan, Deaf Language Coach: A Novel Intervention for Supporting ASL Acquisition
4:15-4:30 | Closing, giveaways
Thursday, April 16
8:15-9:15 | Cecily Whitworth & Caitlin Stueve, Best Practice Anywhere: Remote Coaching for Deaf/HH Families
9:30-10:30 | Kandice Hunt & Steve Farmer, Felt-Safety: The Foundation for Language Development
11-12 | Janaee Cobbs, Navigating Intersectionality: Bilingual Education for Deaf Students in Diverse Classrooms
12-2 | Lunch
2-3 | Elizabeth Martinez, Deaf Adults Learning ASL Later in Life: Implications for Early Language Foundations
3:15-4:15 | Judi Ann Pate & John McMahon, Signacy Before Literacy: Building Bilingual Foundations
4:15-4:30 | Closing, giveaways
This is a digital purchase only; no physical ticket is provided. A form will populate for you to complete your registration and then your purchase will be added to your cart in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Please email info@language1st.org with any questions.
The 2026 Language First conference will be in-person at the Crowne Plaza Knoxville Downtown in Knoxville, TN on April 14-16, 2026. It will be from 11:30 am - 4:00 pm on Tuesday, April 14, and 8:00 am - 4:30 pm on Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16.
See the full schedule and session descriptions here.
ADVERTISEMENT & SPONSORSHIP
Want to exhibit in-person or advertise your business in our conference booklet? Or perhaps you’d like to support us by becoming a conference sponsor? Find out more here.
GROUP DISCOUNTS
Does your school have a group of professionals who would like to attend the conference together? Take a look at our group discounts. Email info@language1st.org for more information.
GETTING THERE
We recommend flying into McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS).
SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
Tuesday, April 14
8-11:30 | Registration check-in and vendor set-up
11:30-12:30 | Leah Geer, American Sign Language Articulation Test (ASL-AT) training
1-4 pm | Kimberly Wolbers, Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction (SIWI) training
Wednesday, April 15
8:15-9:15 | Leala Holcomb, Applying Evidence-Based Instructional Strategies to ASL/English Literacy Instruction
9:30-10:30 | Bobbie Jo Kite & Christi Batamula, The FLP Tool: Strategies for Multilingual Language Use in Families with D/HH Children
11-12 | Cara Barnett, Examining Signed Language Challenges of Early and Late Exposed ASL Signing Deaf Children
12-2 | Lunch
2-3 | Leah Geer & Razi Zarchy, Breaking Barriers and Building Skills: Family ASL Classes on Campus
3:15-4:15 | Deb Cates & Stacey Morgan, Deaf Language Coach: A Novel Intervention for Supporting ASL Acquisition
4:15-4:30 | Closing, giveaways
Thursday, April 16
8:15-9:15 | Cecily Whitworth & Caitlin Stueve, Best Practice Anywhere: Remote Coaching for Deaf/HH Families
9:30-10:30 | Kandice Hunt & Steve Farmer, Felt-Safety: The Foundation for Language Development
11-12 | Janaee Cobbs, Navigating Intersectionality: Bilingual Education for Deaf Students in Diverse Classrooms
12-2 | Lunch
2-3 | Elizabeth Martinez, Deaf Adults Learning ASL Later in Life: Implications for Early Language Foundations
3:15-4:15 | Judi Ann Pate & John McMahon, Signacy Before Literacy: Building Bilingual Foundations
4:15-4:30 | Closing, giveaways
This is a digital purchase only; no physical ticket is provided. A form will populate for you to complete your registration and then your purchase will be added to your cart in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Please email info@language1st.org with any questions.