NM PED 2026 Literacy and Humanities Summer Conference

New Mexico’s MLSS framework makes one truth unavoidable: if Layer 1 instruction is weak, every other layer becomes remediation instead of opportunity. In a post–Yazzie/Martinez landscape, the state has affirmed that students are entitled to culturally and linguistically responsive, grade-level instruction. Layer 1 is where that promise lives or fails. In this session, you will focus on two critical design decisions: intentional text selection and grade-appropriate assignments that preserve cognitive demand.

You will examine how to select texts that reflect New Mexico communities, land, and languages while aligning to NMPED standards and supporting multilingual learners. You will also analyze common Layer 1 pitfalls, such as over-scaffolded texts and low-level tasks that unintentionally track students. Using New Mexico-centered examples, including land-based literature and borderlands narratives, you will practice redesigning assignments to increase cognitive demand while maintaining accessibility. This session positions Layer 1 as enrichment-first design, helping you raise both the floor and the ceiling in your classroom. You will leave with planning protocols, assignment redesign templates, and New Mexico-aligned examples ready for immediate implementation.