Teach Effectively!

The The Central Ohio Branch of the International Dyslexia Association will hold a conference 16 October 2009 under the theme, “Imagine, Every Child Reading,” according to Mary Damer, a member of the organization’s board. She told me about some of the highlights of the conference:

Keynote Speaker in the Morning is Louisa Moats “Science, Language, and Imagination in Teaching Students at Risk for Reading Failure”

The unique properties of English; the inability of many readers to intuit language structure; and the insufficiencies of many instructional programs and practices, all point to the critical role of informed, skilled, flexible teachers who base their instruction on content knowledge and reliable scientific research .

In the afternoon there are two 3-hour workshops and a number of one- hour sessions.

The two longer workshops are:

1. Linda Carnine and Susie Hanner are presenting on “Combining Effective Assessment and Effective Instruction: Making RTI Really Work”

Description: Information on what we’ve learned from Reading First about effective reading instruction; importance of effective assessment, including early screening to identify students needing more; variables we can manipulate, especially effective curricula. Discussion will cover an overview of Reading Mastery and Corrective Reading and how these programs have been used in an all-school application.

2. Elaine McEwan Adkins is presenting a workshop for administrators on “Does Your School Have What It Takes to Teach Them All to Read?”

Description: Teaching them all to read is a complex undertaking requiring the skilful management of time, data, instructional programs, and human resources at levels usually not present in the average school. This session examines twelve indicators of a pervasive and persuasive reading culture-what it takes to teach them all to read.informed, skilled, flexible teachers who base their instruction on content knowledge and reliable scientific research.

One-hour sessions include Jeannie Wanzek on “Differentiating Instruction in a 3-Tier Model for Elementary School,” Bill Heward on “Seven Faulty Notions About Teaching Children to Read,” Louisa Moats on “The Magic of Spelling and a number of other sessions on topics ranging from legal issues, to Wilson and O-G, to assessment and coaching reading.

Learn more about the conference by visiting the Web page about it.