2026 ELS Teachers Conference

A. The Importance of Family Devotions, Brad Gurgel

All Grade Levels

A 2021 WELS Family Ministry Task Force identified a key hindrance to family devotional life: a growing trend of parents wanting to fully “outsource” the spiritual training of their children to churches, schools, or other programs and groups.   Churches and schools sometimes can further exacerbate this mindset by attempting to offer more and more Bible-based programs, activities, and youth groups— inadvertently usurping the vital role of spiritual leaders and role models for the family that God calls parents to be.  Yet God’s word clearly points to parents sharing and living out the Word of God with their children as a key and critical component to raising children who know their Savior, Jesus, and who see Him as a foundational part of their lives.   Available research backs up these truths of God’s Word: Unless the biblical truths taught in church and school are reinforced at home in the words, actions, and priorities of the parents, children will learn to not see them as fully real, important, relevant, or true.  Reversing the trend of “spiritual outsourcing” and refocusing efforts on supporting parents in seizing their role as the primary spiritual leaders of their children is vital in effectively raising children in God’s Word.  We must recognize that children will be most strongly impacted by their parents’ faithfulness and prioritizing of God’s word in the home.  Therefore, a role of growing importance for Lutheran pastors and teachers must be the fostering of spiritual families.   This presentation will focus on some ways for how Lutheran pastors and teachers can empower parents as spiritual family leaders.   We will discuss ideas for helping parents recognize the vital and urgent role God has given them, understand the powerful blessings of being a family engaged in the Word of God together, overcome common roadblocks to family devotional life, and find the resources they need to be in God’s Word with their families.

B. Dealing with Difficult Students, Kristy Wegner

All Grade Levels

Don’t pull your hair out or blow a fuse because of THOSE students! They aren’t trying to ruin your day or infect your classroom but they ARE trying to tell you something. This session will give insights as to what the behaviors of your most challenging students are trying to tell you and how you can support them so that they (and you) can feel and be successful.

C. Using Music and Art to Enhance Your Classroom, Jake Beilke

All Grade Levels

A. The Importance of Literacy in the Primary Classroom, Dr. Carrie Pfeiffer

Lower Elementary Teachers

B. “A Good Man Speaking Well”: Why True Rhetoric is Indispensable, Katie
Skogen

Upper Level Teachers

Inflammatory rhetoric.” “Empty rhetoric.” “Rhetorical sleight of hand.” Such derogatory descriptions of rhetoric are as old as the art itself. But what is rhetoric? Can rhetoric be good? Indeed many have said so. It has been called “noble,” “soul-leading,” and “the most humanizing of the arts.” Is it possible that beautiful rhetoric in service of the truth is exactly what Christians need, and need to teach, in these times? This presentation will argue that it is while giving a robust definition of the skills and goals of rhetoric, showing how teaching rhetoric is possible (even for the inexperienced), and offering practical ways to
implement this ancient art in the Lutheran classroom.

A. Teaching Multi-Level Students, Dr. Ben Springer

All Grade Levels

Find out how to bring together students at various levels with interdisciplinary assignments that allow students to utilize their talents to synthesize information and produce projects.

B. Teaching Reading Using the Classics, Alexander Ring

Upper Level Teachers

Explore innovative ways to bring together modern students with classical literature to support literacy skills.

C. Supporting Students with Disabilities and Deficiencies, Dr. Carrie
Pfeiffer

All Grade Levels

What is the best way to help students with learning disabilities or deficiencies? Join us for this session to find out strategies to use in your classroom to reach all students.

Breakout Session #4

A. Teaching History with Picture Books, Dr. Andrea Freimuth

Elementary and Middle Grade Teachers

Are you looking for a way to save time in the classroom by bringing together reading and social studies? This session will look at how to effectively bring picture books into your classroom history program while avoiding the pitfalls.

B. The Importance of Literacy in the Upper Grades Classroom, Dr. Carrie
Pfeiffer

Upper Level Teachers

C. Serving in Saul’s Court: Applying Grace in Every Interaction, Dr. Ben Springer

All Grade Levels

David served a king that tried repeatedly to murder him. We may not face literal spears today, but as called servants we often find ourselves under attack – from parents, from students, and from stakeholders in our congregations and communities. How do we serve in Saul’s court today in a way that honors our vocations, respects the people we are called to serve, and exercises proper stewardship of our own time and talents?