REGISTRATION

SISD Instructional Services has reserved space at the Millet Learning Center to host a watch party for the Dyslexia Summit. This event will happen on Friday, January 31, 2025. Please arrive to the Millet Learning Center between 8:00am-8:15am and the event will end at 3:45pm. There will be a 30 minute break for lunch, so plan accordingly.

Please read below as the MiMTSS TA Center has provided details for the day.

Join us for an insightful summit focused on dyslexia, featuring expert speakers. This event will delve into critical aspects of dyslexia, providing educators, administrators, and interventionists with the knowledge and tools necessary for effective emotional and academic support.

Note: This event is restricted to Michigan educators only.

Featured sessions and speakers:

'Building a New Brain City: Connecting Neuroscience & Educational Practices for Students with Reading Difficulties'

Carolyn Strom, PhD., Clinical Assistant Professor, NYU Steinhardt

What do findings from neuroscience about the “reading brain” mean for teaching students to read and spell? How can research on the “dyslexic brain” be used to enhance literacy instruction for our most vulnerable students? These questions will be at the heart of this session, which will focus both on the neurological processes involved in learning to read and spell and on their practical implications. This talk will explain scientific findings through a story called Brain City, which describes how we construct a reading circuit and build new neural pathways between three different 'neighborhoods' in the brain. Practical examples and classroom videos will be shared that highlight how to support students who have reading difficulties and/or who have been diagnosed with dyslexia. As we gain a more detailed understanding of the reading brain, we will connect these scientific principles to classroom practices and to everyday 'kitchen table' routines that can enhance word learning for all students.

Participants will:

Leave with actionable frameworks and strategies to apply in their work with early readers, families, and educators.

Have a deeper understanding of the 'reading brain' and implications for students with dyslexia.

“Addressing the Chicken and the Egg: Understanding the Integration of Academics and Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health to Support Students with Dyslexia”

Melissa Nantais Ph.D., BCBA, Advanced Tiers Coordinator, MiMTSS TA Center

Do we need to tackle the age-old question: which came first, the chicken or the egg - academic or social, emotional, behavioral needs? Or, can we effectively address both for students with dyslexia? During this session, we will emphasize integrating academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth within a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. Together, we'll explore actionable strategies to support every learner and foster lasting success!

Participants will:

Describe the integration of academics and social-emotional behavioral health (SEBH) within an MTSS framework and its relation to supporting students with the characteristics of dyslexia.

Recognize concrete prevention and intervention strategies that can support the creation of safe, predictable, and engaging environments in classrooms and intervention setting.

Develop an individualized action plan to support translating learning into practice

“Supporting Elementary Students with Dyslexia: Effective Instructional Practices within a Multi-tiered System of Supports”

Carolyn Turner M.Ed, Literacy Lead, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

This session is designed to equip educators with evidence-based strategies for supporting elementary students with dyslexia within a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework. Participants will explore the essential components of high-quality, differentiated instruction, focusing on core literacy practices that align with reading science. Attendees will gain practical tools for implementing instructional practices that foster reading development while promoting equitable access to literacy instruction for all learners.

Participants will:

Analyze data to align instruction to support students with dyslexia within MTSS.

Identify structured literacy approaches in core instruction.

“Exploring the Intersectionality of Race and Dyslexia”

Resha Conroy MPA, MS, CCC-SLP, Founder and Executive Director, Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children

Dyslexia, the most prevalent learning disability, affects individuals across all racial and socio-economic backgrounds. However, it remains invisible within Black and historically underserved communities, often leading to dire consequences when left undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. This session is dedicated to unraveling the complex dynamics of implicit bias in the identification of language-based reading disorders, specifically dyslexia, among Black students. By acknowledging and addressing implicit bias in the identification of dyslexia, we can ensure that students receive the support they need to thrive academically and personally.

Participants will:

Identify the role of intersectionality in the diagnosis and treatment of dyslexia among Black children.

Explain how race, systemic bias, and educational inequities contribute to the under diagnosis or misdiagnosis of dyslexia in Black children.