Isabel L. Beck, Ph.D.
Comprehending Texts: What it means and how we can support students to do it

11:00am	MORNING SESSIONS
	AM1. Enhancing Students’ Vocabulary Repertoires with Robust Vocabulary Instruction Speaker: Isabel L. Beck, Ph.D.; Professor of Education, School of Education; Senior Scientist, Learning and Research Development Center, University of Pittsburg Robust Vocabulary Instruction, a perspective for thinking about students’ learning words and how that learning can be supported and maintained, will be presented. Issues such as which words, or what kind of words, are important to teach; providing “student friendly” explanations of word meaning; and creating a rich verbal environment will be considered. Chair: B. Jean Ferketish, Ph.D., Secretary of the Board of Trustees and Assistant Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh Audience: All   AM2. Avoiding Conflict, Promoting Partnership, and Improving Outcomes for Children Speaker: Emerson Dickman, Esq., Attorney, Maywood, N.J., President, The International Dyslexia Association Overcoming barriers to effective collaboration between parents and professionals by developing strategies to clarify expectations, roles, and responsibilities, as well as to earn trust, reduce conflict and improve student outcomes. Consensus is the foundation upon which mutual commitment to a child’s success depends. Chair: Franca Palumbo, Esq., The Law Offices of David Thalheimer and Associates, Philadelphia; PBIDA Board Audience: All AM3. Language-Based Learning Problems in Children and Adolescents Speaker: Leslie Rescorla, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Director, Bryn Mawr Child Study Institute, Bryn Mawr College This presentation will first summarize outcome studies of preschoolers with specific language impairment (SLI) and late-talking toddlers. Next, the phonological, lexical/semantic, grammatical, and pragmatic deficits associated with language-based learning problems will be described, with an emphasis on how these deficits affect school performance and behavioral-emotional functioning. Finally, the workshop will conclude with implications for intervention. Chair: Arthur L. Strawbridge, M.A., Head of School, The Crossroads School, Paoli, PA Audience: All AM4. The Power of Visual Imagery Speaker: Karen P. Kelly, Ph.D., Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology, Private Practice, Wayne, PA Reading comprehension is a difficult skill for many students, but is particularly difficult for children with language, attention, memory, or reading difficulties. Although understanding is the ultimate goal of reading, there are not many programs that actually teach the skills of understanding printed material. Use of a visual technique that focuses on using efficient parts of the brain will be discussed. This program has also been shown to be effective with traditional learners in large groups, small groups, or individually. Chair: Thomas D. Kent, Jr., Latin and Greek Teacher, The Episcopal Academy, Lower Merion, PA Audience: Educators, Tutors, Psychologists, Speech/Language Pathologists, Reading Specialists AM5. Great Leaps: A Close Look at Fluency Development Speaker: Kenneth U. Campbell, Position Author and Developer, Great Leaps for Reading and Math, Gainesville, FL Great Leaps Reading has been utilized successfully for over ten years in a wide variety of remedial settings. The developer of Great Leaps will go into detail about how the program was designed to quickly and efficiently remediate most reading difficulties. There will be time allocated for questions and answers. Hands-on activities will be provided. The program is in the midst of being upgraded; the anticipated changes will be outlined including how they will impact student performance. Product Presentation. Chair: Martha Benoff, Ph.D., Psychologist, Private Practice, Philadelphia Audience: All AM6. Genetics of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Survival of the Fittest? Speaker: Maximilian Muencke, M.D., Chief, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder during childhood. Frequently, ADHD is associated with other comorbid disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and alcohol and nicotine dependence. We are now beginning to understand how environmental and genetic factors contribute to ADHD. Eventually, this knowledge will help to design specific therapies for individuals with ADHD. Chair: Jeffrey A. Naser, M.D., Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Wayne, PA Audience: All
1:45pm	AFTERNOON SESSIONS
	PM1. Kurzweil 3000: A Reading, Writing, and Study Skills Solution Speaker: Cindy Falcone, M.Ed., Assistant Head of School, The Hill Top Preparatory School, Rosemont, PA This general overview will demonstrate the basic functionality of the Kurzweil 3000 software as it pertains to reading, writing and study skills. Attendees will gain a sense of how this software can assist students in becoming independent learners both in and out of the classroom. Product Presentation. Chair: David E. Baugh, M.Ed., Principal, School District of Philadelphia Audience: Educators, Tutors, Parents, Reading Specialists PM2. ADHD, Executive Functioning, and Learning Disabilities Speaker: Peter Wiley, Psy.D., The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia This presentation will explain the role ADHD and poor executive functioning play in children’s learning problems (e.g., reading comprehension, writing). Specific intervention strategies will be presented. Chair: Edward M. Moss, Ph.D., Co-Principal Investigator, Pediatric MRI Study of Normal Brain Development, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Private Practice, Bryn Mawr, PA Audience: All PM3. Advocacy and Successful IEP’s that Address Dyslexia Speaker: Marie Lewis, R.N., M.A., Neuro-Developmental Disability Case Manager, Educational and Behavioral Consultant, Wayne, PA The speaker will address types of advocacy and when to use them. She will review the kinds of baseline documentation needed from reading specialist and tutors to develop an IEP, set measurable goals, design specific instruction, and collect ongoing data to monitor progress. Chair: Kathy Craven, Head of School, The Pilot School, Wilmington, DE Audience: Educators, Tutors, Parents, Reading Specialists, Social Workers PM4. Making Math Accessible: A Multisensory Approach to Teaching Math to the Child with LD Speaker: Carrie Coleman Strasburger, M.A., Math Coordinator, The Bridge Academy, Lawrenceville, N.J. Using the levels of learning as described in the research of Mahesh Sharma, we have shaped our curriculum to include emphasis on the language of math, automaticity of basic facts, and introduction of all concepts using efficient manipulatives. We have worked with our language arts teachers to incorporate the work of Mary Beth Curtis for vocabulary instruction, and have incorporated Orton-Gillingham strategies for automaticity of basic facts. Actual lessons and activities will be presented which the audience can use with their students. Chair: Robert Gaskins, Ph.D., Head of School, Benchmark School, Media, PA Audience: Educators, Tutors, Parents PM5. Multisensory Strategies for Comprehension in the Content Area Speaker: Jenny Foight-Cressman, Ph.D., Director of Teaching and Learning, K-12, Centennial School District, Warminster, PA Reading Apprenticeship is one dynamic approach to address the comprehension needs of readers who are struggling at the secondary level. The teacher, as the expert reader and thinker, apprentices his or her students by fostering the strategies and tools necessary to unlock content area texts. Students, in turn, become active agents in mastering reading comprehension, as well as accessing challenging content area material in the science and social studies classroom and the world beyond school. Chair: Kathleen Carlsen, M.Ed., CALT, QI, Director, 32° Masonic Learning Center, Philadelphia Audience: All PM6. Building Comprehension with Interactive Thinksheets Speaker: Timothy P. Madigan, Ph.D. Head of School, Stratford Friends School, Havertown, PA Thinksheets were developed as part of a three year, $1.5 million, federally funded research project (Writing Intensive Reading Comprehension) that investigated the efficacy of using writing to enhance reading comprehension of fourth and fifth grade students in low performing urban schools. This session will include a brief outline of the study design, the theoretical underpinnings and findings, as well as the implementation of the Thinksheets. Chair: Barton D. Reese, Director, Layton Preparatory School, New Castle, DE Audience: All PM7. A Simulation: Put Yourself in the Shoes of a Person with Dyslexia Speakers: The Pittsburgh Regional Group of PBIDA Board of Directors: Maria Paluselli, M.S.Ed., Chair; Director, 32º Masonic Learning Center, Pittsburgh, Christine Seppi, M.A., Vice-Chair; Advanced Tutor, 32º Masonic Learning Center, Kimberlee Gierach, Corresponding Secretary; Director of Admissions, Total Learning Centers, Wexford, PA, Diane Hartman, Treasurer; Outreach Director, Total Learning Centers, and Carol Utay, Ed.D., Executive Director, Total Learning Centers. The Pennsylvania Branch of the International Dyslexia Association Board of Directors: Marianne Glanzman, M.D., Developmental Pediatrician, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Sara Rivers, M.Ed., Director, Stratford Friends School Teacher Training Center, Havertown, PA, Carol Wolf, Director of Admissions, The Center School, Abington, PA Through a series of six stations participants will experience the challenges and frustrations a person with a language-based learning disability encounters daily. This hands-on workshop is designed to improve understanding and encourage use of effective teaching techniques. This session will last two hours. Chair: Mary Lazar, Psy.D., Director, Neuropsychological Assessment Center, Widener University, Chester, PA Audience: All

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Recipient of the Janet L. Hoopes Award for 2007
To Be Announced

APA: The Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Widener University maintains responsibility for the program. Four (4) CE credits will be awarded to psychologists who attend the conference. Five (5) CE Credits will be awarded only to those who attend the Simulation (PM-7). $25 processing fee payable with registration.

Accommodations

The Desmond Great Valley Hotel (www.desmondgv.com) is ten minutes from Delaware Valley Friends School. A limited number of rooms have been held at a discounted rate for PBIDA conference attendees and exhibitors. Call the Desmond at (800) 575-1776; request the Dyslexia Conference rates. Offer expires 9/14/07.