The world of Special Education is filled with challenges and distractions, especially for a person new to the field. The OPI Special Education Nuts n Bolts training provides attendees with a basic understanding of and best practice suggestions for Special Education providers. The intended audience of case-managers, SPED teachers, Related Service Providers, and LEA Administration will gain a better understanding of procedures and practices.

Hosted by OPI Staff members Kristie Sears, Desiree Johnson and John Gorton topics will cover but not limited to:

·   Building households in Infinite Campus

·   SPED Referrals, Evaluations, IEP and Transition IEP development

·       Graduation, Transfer and Prior Written Notice Documentation

Three 2 hour virtual sessions from 4-6:00 on September 4, 11 and 25. OPI CEU’s will be available upon conclusion.

There will be a reminder email the day before and the day of the event that will contain handouts, the ZOOM link, and any information needed for the event. A follow-up email will come the next day containing the recording, if applicable, and other relative information.

These sessions are live and it is requested you leave your camera on and actively participate. Please sign in to the Chat Box with your first and last name and your job title.

Introduction to Dyslexia

This interactive two-part training with Side-by-Side consultant and dyslexia specialist Tanya Peshovich introduces educators to dyslexia, its impact on learning, and the instructional approaches that ensure reading success for all students, including those most at risk. Participants will learn how dyslexia is defined, explore its common characteristics, and understand how

phonological processing difficulties affect reading and writing development. A structured literacy approach will be clearly

defined, with examples of explicit, systematic, evidence-based practices that support students with dyslexia while

strengthening Tier 1 instruction for all learners. The training will also review the Montana Dyslexia Law and its implications for schools and educators. 

There will be a reminder email the day before and the day of the event that will contain handouts, the ZOOM link, and any information needed for the event. A follow-up email will come the next day containing the recording, if applicable, and other relative information.

These sessions are live and it is requested you leave your camera on and actively participate. Please sign in to the Chat Box with your first and last name and your job title.

Teaching Essential Reading Foundations at Any Age This training explores key concepts related to how the brain learns to read and how to build strong readers through explicit, systematic instruction in foundational reading skills — at any age. Core reading frameworks such as Scarborough’s Rope, the Simple View of Reading, the Four-Part Processing System, and Ehri’s Phases of Reading Development will be examined. The training emphasizes evidence-based literacy practices aligned with the IES Practice Guides, covering both content and instructional strategies for teaching phonemic awareness, beginning and advanced phonics, multisyllabic word reading, morphology, spelling, fluency, and the use of literacy assessments to diagnose student needs for intervention. This is essential knowledge not only for classroom teachers, but also for special educators and interventionists, equipping all educators with the tools to provide high-quality Tier 1 instruction while also addressing the needs of students who require additional supports.