In traditional school settings, some skills and identities that our children bring to the classroom are supported and cultivated while others are often discouraged. In this workshop, we will explore ways educators can welcome, celebrate, and cultivate all the skills and knowledge our children bring to the classroom while also learning how we can leverage these to support students’ growth as readers of print text. By the end of the workshop, we hope you will have a full toolbox of ideas you will use to build a rich, diverse, supportive, and excited community of readers in your classroom in the coming school year. Facilitator: Evelyn Pollins, University of Illinois at Chicago