HELPING CHILDREN LEARN TO READ
by Marilyn Jager Adams, Ph.D.

11:00am	MORNING SESSIONS A-H
	A. Journey Toward Literacy: Four Important Balances Speaker: Suzanne H. Carreker, ALTA Chair: Karol Canfield, Pupil Services Director, Great Valley School District For eight years, a not-for-profit teacher-training institute has offered a variety of courses which promote a balanced approach to literacy instruction. This session will review the course offerings and some of the strategies offered in the courses. B. Helping Your Struggling Student with School Work At Home Speaker: C. Wilson Anderson, Jr., MAT Chair: George B. Vosburgh, Headmaster, The Crossroads School Homework is a common problem in many households. Twenty-eight tried and true, common sense strategies will be demonstrated and discussed. Suggestions will be made about holding the school, the student and the parent accountable. Parents, teachers and interested persons, grades 3-12. C. Implementing Orton-Gillingham Based Instruction in Mainstream Classes Speaker: Phyllis Bertin, M.S. Chair: Ronald G. Barnes, M.Ed., Hearing Therapist, School District of Philadelphia A discussion of how Orton-Gillingham based instruction has been successfully integrated into mainstream classes in the White Plains Public Schools using the Preventing Academic Failure program. Specific techniques and materials will be presented. D. Strategies for School Success: The A.D.H.D. P.L.U.S. Program Speaker: Candice A. Gillis, M.A. Chair: Jeffrey A. Naser, M.D., Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, University of Pennsylvania and Penn Council for Relationships This factual, functional and fun presentation features best practices for dealing with A.D.H.D. in the schools. A practical and proven program developed by teachers for teachers. E. Beyond Decoding: Strategies for Developing Fluency in Reading Speaker: Rebecca H. Felton, Ph.D. Chair:Tracy Layer, M.Ed., Elementary Instructional Coordinator, Girard College Elementary School The relationship of cognitive deficits to fluency, research on fluency training and instructional strategies will be presented. F. Wilson Reading System: Teaching Students Reading and Spelling Basics Speaker: Barbara A. Wilson Chair: Diane Tallman, B.S.Ed., M.Eq., Support Intervention Teacher, Tredyffin/Easttown School District This workshop will describe a very structured, multisensory language program that has proven successful with students with dyslexia. The presentation will introduce and demonstrate some of the key strategies to teach reading and spelling to students who have been unsuccessful with traditional methods of teaching. G. Multisensory Teacher Training Center at Stratford Friends School Presenters: Sandra Howze, Elsie Pacilio and Sara Rivers Chair: Kitty Ann Lugar, Ed.D., Director of Pupil Services & Special Education, Radnor Township School District What is multisensory learning? What is the rationale for teaching with hands-on activities? What is discovery learning? What is a Multisensory Teacher Training Center? What is an Academic Language Therapist? We will answer these questions and give an overview of the workshops and accredited education courses available through the Stratford Friends School Multisensory Teacher Training Center. H .Training Tutors for Adult Basic Education Instruction Speaker: Rose Brandt, M.Ed., Executive Director, Mayor's Commission on Literacy in Philadelphia Chair: JoAnn Weinberger, Executive Director, Center for Literacy This session will cover theory and content of training to prepare volunteers to work with adults with limited literacy skills. Specific teaching approaches will be explained; different types of tutor training will be outlined including training to tutor basic literacy, higher level literacy, preparation for the GED, English as a second language, and collaborative learning. I. Late-talking Toddlers: Language and Reading Outcomes to Age 13 Speaker: Leslie Rescorla, Ph.D. Chair: Katherine Gordon-Clark, Ph.D., Psychologist, Child Study Institute This presentation will address classification issues regarding early language delay; the language and reading outcomes to age 13 of a sample of late-talking toddlers; an overview of these findings relative to those from other longitudinal studies of language-impaired preschoolers; and a summary of prediction of reading outcomes from the preschool and early school years.
12:30 to 2:00pm	Lunch, Presentation of Hoopes Award, and Exhibits
2:00pm	AFTERNOON SESSIONS I-P
	J. Helping Children Learn to Read Speaker: Marilyn Jager Adams, Ph.D. Chair: Carol Kaminski, M.A., CCC/SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist, School District of Philadelphia Dr. Adams will continue her discussion about current research on early literacy development. K. From Learning Disabilities to Earning Abilities Speaker: Dale S. Brown, B.A. Chair: Janet L. Hoopes, Ph.D., Psychologist The speaker will address how adult dyslexics can seek a job that matches their strengths; and what accommodations on the job the adult dyslexic can request. This session will also address why people with learning disabilities make good workers. L. Teaching the Subject Matter to Students Who Struggle with Reading, Written Expression and Spelling Speaker: C. Wilson Anderson, Jr., MAT Chair: Dr. Joyce Videlock, PA Certified School Psychologist, PA Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist This practical, individualized workshop helps teachers modify textbooks, materials, and curriculum presentations without watering down curriculum content. Teachers will gain skills to meet the needs of ALL students, especially the hard to reach and teach, and the 'fall through the cracks children'. All skills will be demonstrated. Teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, school administrators, psychologists and interested persons, grades 3-12. M. Nonverbal Learning Disabilites: Academic and Social Remedial Intervention Speaker: Jean M. Foss, M.Ed., F/AOGPE Chair: Jane Newhall, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Certified School Psychologist, Child Study Institute The presenter will describe the NLD Syndrome. She will discuss principles for effecting improvements in such areas as reading comprehension, organizational skills, interpersonal and social communication. N. Tutors Unlock the Written Word: The Use of Trained Volunteers in Delivering an Orton-based Curriculum Moderator: Ruth Baxter, B.A. Panelists: Arlene Sulek, Lavern Tabb and Jean Miller Chair: Ellen Convey, IHM, Principal, Gesu School This panel discussion will focus on training volunteer tutors in the Reading ASSIST Institute curriculum and placing them in school's and community centers to work with students who struggle with reading. Panelists will share their experiences in the training program. O. Wilson Reading System: Teaching Students Reading and Spelling Basics Speaker: Barbara A. Wilson Chair: Mary Ellen Cummings, M.Ed., Instructional Support Director, Wilmington Montessori School This workshop will describe a very structured, multisensory language program that has proven successful with students with dyslexia. The presentation will introduce and demonstrate some of the key strategies to teach reading and spelling to students who have been unsuccessful with traditional methods of teaching. P. Dealing With Dyslexia Before School Begins: Identifying and Helping Preschoolers At Risk for Reading Disabilities Speaker: Hollis S. Scarborough, Ph.D. Chair: Sandra M. Griffin, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent, Lower Merion School District Two main questions will be addressed: What risk indicators should parents, preschool teachers, pediatricians, and others look for during the preschool years? How can the early language and literacy development of children at risk be fostered prior to and during kindergarten?

back to top

Marilyn Jager Adams, Ph.D., Research Associate, Harvard University Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA

This award was initiated by the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Branch of the International Dyslexia Association in 1993 and is presented to an individual in the Greater Philadelphia area who has made a significant contribution to the education of people with learning differences. Past recipients of this award are: