Morning Session: Understanding Dyslexia & Structured Literacy 

The morning begins with a deep dive into the "why" and "how" of Structured Literacy. Educators will move beyond theory to experience the cognitive load of a struggling reader through an immersive simulation, followed by an examination of the International Dyslexia Association’s new definition of dyslexia and how it pertains to the classroom.

• Understanding the Dyslexic Brain: A look at the neurobiological origins of dyslexia and common red flags across grade levels.
• The Dyslexia Simulation: A powerful, hands-on experience designed to build empathy by mimicking the processing challenges, frustration, and anxiety students face in the classroom.
• Structured Literacy Essentials: An introduction to the Science of Reading and the key pillars of Structured Literacy: explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction.
• Classroom Application: Strategies for creating a dyslexia-friendly environment and implementing universal screenings

Afternoon Session: The Mechanics of Language – Phonology, Orthography, & Morphology

The afternoon shifts from "why" to the "what." Through this interactive workshop, participants will explore three structural pillars of the English language that are essential for decoding and encoding success. Included will be an emphasis on integrating an understanding of English throughout a comprehensive literacy program across all tiers of instruction.

• Phonology (The Sound System): Mastering phonemic awareness. We will practice identifying, segmenting, and manipulating the 44 phonemes of English to ensure students can "hear" the words before they read them.
• Orthography (The Writing System): Moving from sounds to symbols. This segment covers spelling patterns, syllable types, and the "rules" that govern how we represent speech in print. Educators will learn how to help students unlock complex multisyllabic words and expand their vocabulary through understanding historical connections among words.
• Morphology (The Meaning System): Exploring the smallest units of meaning—prefixes, suffixes, and bases. Educators will learn how to help students unlock complex multi-morphemic words and expand their vocabulary through understanding morphemes.
• Bridging the Gap: Practical activities to integrate these three elements into daily Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruction.