MORNING SESSIONS A-H

B. Fluency for Comprehension: The Role of Phonemic Awareness, Orthography, Rapid Naming and Rhythm Speaker: Pamela E. Hook, Ph.D.
The focus of this session will be on the role of phonological awareness, orthographic processing and rapid serial naming in the acquisition of automatic word recognition skills and the role of syntactic chunking in fluency development. The importance of these processes throughout the stages of reading development will be examined. Formal and informal assessment measures will be described as well as specific strategies for remediation. Patterns of strengths and weaknesses within individual students and the relative effects on reading ability will be highlighted.
Chair: Charles Lange, Director of Special Services, Council Rock School District

C. Advocacy: Knowing the Child is More Important than Knowing the Law
Speaker: G. Emerson Dickman, Esq.
The legal right to an appropriate education is a false promise if you don't know what constitutes the appropriate education to which you have a right. It is like having the right to vote without knowing the candidates or their political positions. Whether a teacher or parent, knowing the child is the key to successful advocacy and intervention.
Chair: Dr. Wallace H. Wallace, Ph.D., Chairperson, Achievement House, Bryn Mawr

D. Becoming A Strategic Reader: Linking Assessment to Comprehension Instruction
Speaker: Eileen Marzola, Ed.D.
Techniques for detecting students' weaknesses in reading comprehension plus the most effective research-validated strategies designed to improve literal and inferential comprehension will be presented during this hands-on session.
Chair: Meredith Denovan, Language Arts Coordinator, Upper Dublin School District

E. Evidence-Based Reading Instruction for the Older Learner: What Does the Research Say?
Speaker: John Kruidenier, Ed.D.
A group of experts, sponsored by the National Institute for Literacy and the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy, recently completed a review of adolescent and adult reading instruction research. Participants in this session will review the results from this research and discuss practical, evidence-based approaches to teaching reading to older learners.
Chair: Mabeebah Ali, PBIDA member, adult with dyslexia

F. Orton-Gillingham: Philosophy and Practices
Speaker: Candace R. Bedrock, MA, LDT-C
This presentation will discuss the principles that undergird multisensory teaching. Participants will be led through a basic lesson plan which will enable them to see the basic principles at work.
Chair: Kay Lewis, Director of Curriculum, Woodbridge School District, Greenwood, DE

G. Structuring the Writing Process for Students with Learning Disabilities
Speaker: Timothy Lackaye, Ed. D
This presentation examines strategies used in a structured writing process approach to teaching writing, and additions to the writing process. Case studies are presented.
Chair: Melissa L. Vosburgh, Former Head of St. Peter's School, Private Tutor, Strafford

H. Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities
Speaker: James L. Thomas, Ph.D.
An overview of non-verbal learning disabilities will be presented, and will be contrasted to what we ordinarily think of as learning disabilities. The underlying hypothesized neuroanatomy will be presented, along with the typical profile in terms of neuropsychological test results.
Chair: Mary Lazar, Psy.D., Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Private Practice, Bala Cynwyd.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS I-P

J. Fluency for Comprehension: The Role of Phonemic Awareness, Orthography, Rapid Naming, and Rhythm
Speaker: Pamela E. Hook, Ph.D.
The focus of this session will be on the role of phonological awareness, orthographic processing and rapid serial naming in the acquisition of automatic word recognition skills and the role of syntactic chunking in fluency development. The importance of these processes throughout the stages of reading development will be examined. Formal and informal assessment measures will be described as well as specific strategies for remediation. Patterns of strengths and weaknesses within individual students and the relative effects on reading ability will be highlighted.
Chair: Nancy L. Ehrlich, M.Ed., Director, Centre Square Academy, Blue Bell, PA

K. Urban Kindergarten Reading Project
Speaker: Michael Bend, Ph.D.
This workshop will describe a highly effective reading project undertaken over the last 5 years at a nearby urban kindergarten center serving a predominantly African American population, many of whom qualify for free and reduced lunch. At the end of the year, average reading scores are at the first grade level. The presentation will consist of a brief overview of the students' recent test results, followed by a description of the instructional strategies and materials used.
Chair: Winnie Carlsson, M.Ed., Kindergarten Teacher, Chestnut Hill Academy

L. Memory and School Success
Speaker: Claire Wurtzel, M.S. Ed.
This session will provide an understanding of the memory demands that academic learning make on students of all ages. Suggested methods and strategies will be presented to help improve memory as well as ways to circumvent memory weaknesses across all age levels and content areas. Interactive, hands-on activities will highlight aspects of memory and prompt ideas about participants' memory profiles. How these learning profiles can help in lesson planning to support all learners will be emphasized.
Chair: Marjorie del Bello, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services and Special Education, Garnet Valley School District

M. Wilson Literacy Solutions: Prevention-Intervention-Intensive-Specialized Instruction
Speaker: Barbara A. Wilson, M.Ed.
This session relates the Wilson Reading System to research findings and describes effective delivery models for students who struggle with reading. Participants will gain skills to help bring reading research into practice. Wilson Foundations for grades K-3 is now available for prevention in the general education classroom. This will be discussed as well as intervention programs utilizing on-line education, and intensive programs with Wilson certified teachers.
Chair: Barbara Finkel, Special Education Teacher and Liaison, School District of Philadelphia

N. Algebra: A Hands On Approach
Speaker: Harley A. Tomey, III , M.Ed.
This presentation will provide an understanding of the skills and problems the individual with dyslexia brings to mathematics as well as demonstrate teaching strategies moving from the concrete to the abstract. Topics to be covered include: an understanding of procedural and conceptual knowledge in mathematics, the concepts behind the four basic operations, operations involving positive and negative numbers, and solving/simplifying algebraic equations.
Chair: Ginny Renzi-Blair, M.Ed., Math and Learning Specialist, Private Practice, Radnor

O. The Role of Anxiety in the Lives of Children and Adolescents with Developmental-Neurobehavioral Disorders
Speaker: Anthony L. Rostain, M.D.
This presentation will review current research on the comorbidity of anxiety and developmental-neurobehavioral disorders; will discuss ways to identify, diagnose and treat anxiety; and will suggest strategies for reducing the prevalence and severity of anxiety disorders in at-risk individuals.
Chair: Lisa Goldstein, M.D., Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Private Practice, Rosemont

P. Using Children's Literature to Develop Language Skills
Speaker: Roberta Stacey, M. Ed.
Countless students who are otherwise bright, get tripped up by seemingly minor linguistics "rocks in the road" that cause them to stumble; for example, hearing "Harvard seals," when the teacher actually said, "harbor seals." This presentation is intended to spotlight these crucial, but less attention-getting linguistics trip-ups, while also providing strategies for remediation. In addition, strategies are suggested for helping middle-school students share what they know about literature in a coherent manner. Organizational templates and a literature list for middle schoolers will be provided.
Chair: Adele Gerber, M.A., CCC/SLP, Professor Emeritus, Temple University