Dyslexia Friendly Classroom Summit
Dates and Times
Tuesday, June 27–Friday, June 30, 2023
8:00 AM–5:00 PM
The class size is limited to 25, so don’t delay!
Event Details
This 30-hour training summit is intended for classroom teachers who desire to gain a better understanding of dyslexia related school struggles and learn how to accommodate the learning differences associated with dyslexia. The course includes lecture/discussion with an expert in education, re-working of existing lesson plans, plus hands-on creation of materials to support the altered lesson plans. Completion of the course will count toward two Iowa Teaching License renewal credits or 30 contact hours of continuing education for AACS or ACSI certification.
Check out last year’s summit recap here.
Instructor
Cindy Hall A/OGA
Cindy Hall, the founding director of the Dyslexia Center at Lindsay Lane Christian Academy, has 17 years of teaching experience with elementary students and another 16 years focused on teaching specifically dyslexic learners. She is a graduate of Faith Baptist Bible College with post graduate work in special education at Iowa State University, as well as many training hours in the Orton-Gillingham approach for dyslexic learners. After spending a decade developing a dyslexia friendly school and seeing the positive impact that environment had on the entire school, it is her passion to help teachers understand how best to foster success in the dyslexic students sitting in their classrooms through sharing characteristics and best practices: which are good for all learners, but vital for those with dyslexia. For more information about Cindy, visit her website.
Training Overview
- 8:00–9:15 a.m. │Cindy Hall—Instruction on dyslexia friendly principles
- 9:30–11:30 a.m. │Lecture from guest expert
- 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. │Lunch
- 12:30–1:30 p.m. │Cindy Hall—Instruction on teacher-created materials to supplement existing curriculum
- 1:30–5:00 p.m. │Teacher-created materials workshop
Cost
- Training and materials, On-Campus Apartment housing (shared room)—$735
- Training and materials only—$635
A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due with registration. Balance is due May 31, 2023. All payments are made to FBBC. The $735 cost is inclusive of training, materials, and housing Monday night through Thursday night. The $735 does not include any meals for the conference. For those staying off campus, the $635 cost includes training and materials.
Course Goals and Objectives
Each teacher will
- learn the strengths and weaknesses generally characteristic of the individual with dyslexia.
- learn how minor alterations in teaching style, classroom management, school culture and accommodations can shift his/her classroom toward being dyslexia (really all student) friendly without compromising excellence. Teachers will learn how to base these amendments on solid principles of great teaching, not whimsy nor favoritism.
- be exposed to lectures from top thought leaders in the areas of creating dyslexia friendly school culture, Orton-Gillingham principles, speech articulation, and math instruction.
- use his/her own teacher’s manuals, student texts and test banks to create supplemental materials intended to recast his/her fall 2023 classroom as dyslexia friendly. Afternoons will be spent in guided workshops to take humble supplies and innovate them into game-changing lesson elements teachers can take home and use on day one of the 2023–2024 school year.
- receive materials and learn how to give a screening designed to guide in advising parents of students whose work struggles line up with characteristics of dyslexia.
Topics Covered
- Characteristics of the dyslexic individual
- Vital dyslexia friendly classroom adaptations with teaching principles that are good for all learners
- Dyslexia friendly classroom procedures and organization
- Ideas for manipulatives to assist in understanding of math concepts
- Speech and articulation tips which can help students’ phonemic awareness accuracy
- Adapting your lesson plans (bring your teacher’s manuals and test banks!)
- Teacher-created materials to bridge gaps
- Accommodations that take the teacher a few minutes but change the world for a dyslexic child
- What to do when you suspect one of your students is dyslexic
- Screening tools that a classroom teacher can give and interpret
- Conferencing and teaming with parents
Dress
Participants are expected to dress in business-casual attire. Men—slacks and collared shirts. Ladies—knee length skirts or dresses or slacks (no jeans please).
Housing
For those who registered for housing, guest housing will be provided in the On-Campus Apartments. Rooms will be shared and will be assigned by FBBC staff. The fee does not include any meals for the conference. All bedding and towels are provided, and the kitchen has a full size refrigerator, apartment size stove/oven, microwave, toaster, coffee maker (with some coffee provided), and dishware. There are a limited number of rooms available.
Health Guidelines
We ask that you evaluate your own health before coming to campus. In order to attend the summit, please ensure the following:
- You do not have any Covid-related symptoms (cough, headache, new loss of taste/smell).
- You do not have a fever in excess of 100.4-degrees.
- You have not been diagnosed with or been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Covid in the previous 14 days.
