Ticketing Information

Schedule

Subject to change, click on the file to see the whole thing

Speakers

Session Descriptions

Session 1- 9:40-10:30

Experience Dyslexia, Part 1: A Simulation with Jill Hodge

Experience firsthand what it’s like to be dyslexic, have ADHD, or to have dysgraphia. Six different simulations are facilitated by a Literacy Specialist to help parents, educators, administrators, psychologists, grandparents, and other family members feel many of the frustrations that children with learning differences experience in the classroom every minute of every day. 

Before the Rope with Emily Lehman

Successful reading development begins long before a child is introduced to letters and books. This session explores the foundational neurological systems that support literacy acquisition, providing participants with a deeper understanding of the developmental skills that precede formal reading instruction. Attendees will examine the role of primitive reflex integration, sensory system development and processing, visual skills, and other foundational neurological functions that contribute to a child's readiness for learning.  Using the framework of the neurological pyramid, participants will gain insight into how early brain and body development influences attention, self-regulation, motor coordination, visual processing, and ultimately reading and academic performance. The session will also highlight common indicators of developmental gaps that may interfere with literacy acquisition and discuss how recognizing these underlying factors can inform more effective instructional practices and interventions.

Designed for educators, therapists, interventionists, and other professionals who support developing readers, this session provides a practical, research-informed perspective on the relationship between neurological development and literacy. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of how foundational developmental skills impact learning and strategies for identifying students who may benefit from additional support.

Unlocking Words: How Morphology Helps Students Read, Spell, and Understand More with Sarah Houser

This session explores morphology as a core component of Structured Literacy Instruction. Participants will examine free and bound morphemes, the distinction between word definition and deeper word meaning, and why that difference matters for students with dyslexia who interpret language literally. We'll investigate how morphological awareness connects to decoding, spelling, vocabulary, and reading comprehension — and why the spelling of morphemes stays stable even as pronunciation shifts depending on context. We'll touch on word origins, cultural contributions to English, and research showing that roughly 60% of words in school texts can be unlocked through morpheme analysis. The session closes with a replicable, multi-sensory morphology lesson and a curated list of resources and extension activities you can use immediately in your classroom. 

Dysgraphia 101: The 3 Things Every Teacher and Parent Needs to Know to Support Handwriting Struggles with Kelli Fetter (virtual presenter)

Does your student or child avoid writing, complain that their hand hurts, or produce work that doesn't match their verbal abilities? You're not imagining it, and you're not alone. In this 50-minute session, Certified Handwriting Specialist Kelli Fetter, MS, OTR/L, breaks down the hidden "iceberg" of skills behind handwriting, separates handwriting myths from research-backed facts, and explains the real difference between general handwriting struggles and dysgraphia. You'll walk away understanding why "try harder" and more worksheets don't work, and what actually builds legibility, fluency, and endurance instead. Whether you're guiding a classroom or supporting your own child at home, you'll leave with practical tips on what to do and what not to do to begin building confidence and real writing skills. 

The Difference Between Balanced Literacy and Structured Literacy and Why It Matters with Linda Farrell

Understanding the difference between "Balanced Literacy" and "Structured Literacy" is valuable knowledge for teachers and administrators.  After attending this session, participants will confidently know the attributes of the most effective approaches to early reading instruction.  They also will be able to evaluate whether the methods being used in their schools and classrooms qualify as most effective, based on current research.  —  Balanced Literacy is the stated methodology of many early reading instructional programs and of almost all early reading courses taught in colleges of education.  Proponents of Balanced Literacy state that the Balanced Literacy instructional approach is difficult to define, but that it is research-based.  The National Reading Panel's meta-analysis and many other research studies conclude that explicit, systematic phonics instruction (Structured Literacy) yields the strongest results, especially for low SES students and students with learning disabilities.  This session describes the differences between Balanced Literacy and Structured Literacy with examples from reading programs using each method. 

Session 2- 10:40-11:30

Experience Dyslexia, Part 2: A Simulation with Jill Hodge

Continuation from Session 1.

Big Words. Bigger Understanding. Using Morphology to Unlock Academic Vocabulary Across the Content Areas with Jenn Wright

When students encounter words like photosynthesis or interdependence, context clues aren’t enough. Morphology—the study of meaningful word parts—helps them break words apart and understand them.  This interactive session, grounded in Structured Literacy and Scarborough’s Reading Rope, highlights the difference between syllables and morphemes and why it matters.  You’ll gain practical strategies, including a four-step decoding routine and the POSSUM framework, to help students master academic vocabulary and improve comprehension across subjects.

"Why?" Isn't a Scary Word - Questioning to Success with Rachel Libick

Most struggling learners have been conditioned to associate questions from the teacher with failure. "Why?" can land like a paralytic, rendering a student silent because they think they've done something wrong. But properly applied questions allow students to harness their own natural curiosity to analyze their answers and develop a framework for critical thinking. This session lays out the Socratic method as it applies to interventions of all sorts, explores the power of positive reinforcement, and lays out a scaffolded system for teaching students to self-monitor and self-correct.  

Using Early Literacy Data to Drive Structured Literacy Success with David Hurford

Strong reading outcomes begin with early identification and effective instruction. In this session, school leaders will learn how the Center for READing supports schools through the free Brief Assessment of Reading for Kindergarten (BARK-2), including assessment materials, training, data analysis, and individualized reports that identify students' reading strengths, areas of need, and risk status. Participants will also explore the principles of Structured Literacy and see how they can be implemented across grade levels. Through a demonstration of the Secret Codes curriculum, attendees will discover how a Structured Literacy approach can serve as a high-quality core reading program in kindergarten while also providing effective Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention for older struggling readers. This session offers practical strategies for using assessment data to inform instruction and strengthen literacy outcomes schoolwide. 

Solve the Mysteries of Spelling by Understanding the History of Our Language with Michael Hunter & Linda Farrell

This session provides some answers to the question “Why is it spelled that way?”  Participants learn that there is logic to our spelling system by understanding the four major layers of the English language: AngloSaxon, Norman French, Latin, and Greek.  There is a reason why so many of our most frequently used words (was, of, from, who) have wacky spellings.  There’s also a logical reason why in some words 'ch 'spells /ch/ (chin, chapter, chest), in other words it spells /sh/ (chef, parachute, chauffeur), and yet in other words it spells /k/ (chorus, character, Christ).  Teachers will also understand how a word’s language of origin influences its meaning.  Both spelling and vocabulary instruction will be enhanced with the information learned in this workshop.  —  This session may sound dry, but Linda makes it entertaining and fun 

Session 3- 12:30-1:20

Advocacy in Action: Moving Beyond Phonics to Support Every Struggling Reader with Alana McWilliams

Learn how to become an effective literacy advocate by building partnerships across your community, including schools, libraries, school boards, and policymakers. This session will equip you with practical communication strategies to foster productive relationships with educators and decision-makers while promoting collaboration rather than conflict. 

BUILDING Early Reading Intervention in ONE DAY!

If you are a K-First grade teacher, don't miss this opportunity to learn about early intervention.   When you identify young students with characteristics of Dyslexia through screeners, what do you do?  BUILD: A K-1 Early Reading Intervention is a comprehensive 100-lesson reading program that explicitly addresses all five reading pillars.    Watchful waiting is not an appropriate response!  Start the fix in 2026!   

Tightening the Rope: Practical Syntax Routines for Every Grade with Jacinda Griffin

Within Scarborough’s Rope, syntax strengthens the Language Comprehension strands that support skilled reading. This session explores practical, explicit syntax routines that help students understand increasingly complex sentences and texts. Participants will learn how to integrate syntax instruction into daily lessons across grade levels, from simple sentence expansion to analysis of complex academic language. Through modeling and classroom-ready examples, attendees will leave with effective routines that improve comprehension, support written expression, and help students strengthen a critical strand of the rope that contributes to proficient reading.   

Leading The Shift in Literacy with Carrie Chambers

As district and school leaders, our most critical role in the shift to structured literacy is providing the strategic vision and active support our teachers need to succeed. Join us for an honest look at our district’s transition away from traditional balanced models and toward a systematic, explicit approach. We’ll share the moments that sparked our transformation, how we equipped and empowered our staff, and the leadership strategies that helped our educators confidently embrace a new, science-backed way of teaching. 

The Long Road to Reading: Why Structured Literacy Can't Stop at Third Grade with Amy Thompson

Session 4- 1:30-2:20

Supporting College Students with Dyslexia: A Parent and Caregiver Guide to Success with Andrea Reaka with Andrea Reaka

The transition from high school to college can be both exciting and overwhelming for students with dyslexia and the families who support them. This session is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the significant differences between high school and college accommodations, navigate disability services, and learn how to support their students while fostering independence and self-advocacy. Participants will gain practical knowledge about accommodations, assistive technology, FERPA and parent access to student information, executive functioning challenges, and common barriers faced by college students with dyslexia. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies, helpful resources, and a collection of tools and handouts to support their student throughout the transition to college and beyond. Whether your student is preparing to start college or is already enrolled, this session will provide guidance, reassurance, and a roadmap for success. 

Focused Oral Reading Practice: A New Approach to Fluency Instruction with Michael Hunter

Fluency programs are often considered the “solution” for struggling readers. This interactive session examines underlying skills necessary for fluent reading along with three critical parts of fluency: accuracy, rate, and prosody. It provides a simple research-based framework for determining which students need fluency, developing instruction to meet individual needs, and assessing growth. The new method includes focusing on accuracy before turning to rate.  It also is effective at getting students to read with appropriate accuracy and rate the first time they attempt a passage.  Participants receive tracking charts based on the three-part framework for fluency instruction.

Clinical and School-Based Evaluations of Word Recognition Difficulties with Alex Fender & Rinu John

Understand the differences and similarities between clinical and school-based evaluations of dyslexia. This presentation will cover the components required in a comprehensive evaluation of reading disabilities, including those involving word recognition difficulties. Relevant eligibility indicators and evaluation procedures will be reviewed.  

Literacy Across the Curriculum: Building Reading and Writing Skills in Every Subject  with Emily Henley

Literacy is the foundation for success in every classroom—not just English language arts. This session explores practical, evidence-based strategies for integrating literacy instruction into mathematics, science, social studies, and other content areas without sacrificing instructional time. Participants will learn how to explicitly teach the vocabulary, language structures, reading comprehension, and writing skills unique to each discipline while supporting students with diverse learning needs. 

Weaving the Reading Rope: Practical Ways to Strengthen Reading Comprehension  with Sandy Hall, CALT

Scarborough's Reading Rope provides a helpful framework for understanding the many skills that contribute to successful reading. In this session, participants will explore how language comprehension and word recognition work together to support reading development. Through classroom examples, personal stories, and practical instructional ideas, we'll discuss ways to identify areas of student need and connect assessment to meaningful instruction. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the Reading Rope and practical strategies they can use to support developing readers.