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Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Dyslexia is a Superpower, Not a Disability

 I was casually (and I must admit mindlessly) scrolling through my Instagram feed when I came across a post from Made by Dyslexia. As an educator and technology specialist who works so closely with so many dyslexic students this video really hit home. We have an important responsibility to guide students with "dis"abilities to shift the stigmas and mindsets that surround their classifications and allow them to see the gifts that their "dis"abilities provide for them. Take a moment to watch this video, which showcases the positive impact adults have on helping students shift how they view themselves and their abilities.  

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Webinar Wednesday: Empowering Learners with Dyslexia to Acquire and Utilize Their Digital Voice


 Empowering Learners with Dyslexia to Acquire and Utilize Their Digital Voices

Thursday, October 8, 2020 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT

Empowering Learners with Dyslexia to Acquire and Utilize Their Digital Voices

Presented by Nanci K. Shepardson, M.S.Ed., Ed.S. W.D.P., Senior Educational Technologist, Wilson Language Training
Hosted by Terrie Noland, C.A.L.P., Vice President, Educator Initiatives, Learning Ally

Sponsored by Learning Ally

Attendance for the live presentation is limited to 1,000.

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The recording will be posted on this page after the live session. 
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Students with dyslexia often find their voice drowned out by their peers. Using technology to give them a voice is empowering and can lead to greater confidence!

To effectively facilitate student voices on a digital platform, you need an understanding of what digital literacy is and how it can be leveraged to enable positive outcomes for all students, particularly those with dyslexia. Sifting through all of the available online learning tools can quickly become an overwhelming task; this edWebinar will narrow the field, first by viewing them through the important lens of online privacy, equity, and access, and finally by sorting them by the following categories: physical tools, back channeling, web-based add-ons, general apps, assessment tools, video and audio tools, digital storytelling, presentation tools, organization tools, and blogging.

PreK-12 teachers and school and district leaders will find this interactive session informative and leave with clear takeaways that can be implemented in an in-person, distance or hybrid learning environment. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.

 

Nanci ShepardsonAbout the Presenter

Nanci Shepardson is a reading and educational specialist. She graduated from Wheelock College in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in preschool/kindergarten curriculum and infant/ toddler development. In 2010, she graduated from Simmons University with an M.S.Ed. in language and literacy and an Ed.S. in assistive technology.

Nanci is a seasoned teacher, a credentialed K-12 reading specialist, and an International Dyslexia Association and Wilson Reading System Dyslexia Practitioner (WRS Level 1 Certified). Nanci has taught kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade, and was a reading and educational specialist for grades seven through postgraduate and has tutored all ages. She consults for the International Dyslexia Association, she is an advocate for students with disabilities and their families and is also a professional speaker on dyslexia, language-based disabilities, and assistive technology throughout the country. Prior to joining Wilson Language Training, she was the head of Learning Resources at The Chapin School in Manhattan.

As the senior educational technologist at Wilson Language Training, Nanci works in the Program Development Department. In her role, she works with the Wilson Reading System (WRS) team and the technology team to create traditional and digital tools that will augment the current WRS curriculum and materials. She stays abreast of the current technological trends and serves as a resource for parents, teachers, and schools on assistive technology. Nanci is also a parent of a grown child with dyslexia.

 

Terrie NolandAbout the Host

Terrie Noland serves as Vice President of Educator Initiatives at Learning Ally, where she works to develop engagement programs, shares knowledge through strategic relationships, and promotes communities for educators. She has more than 25 years of experience as both a motivational leader and developer of content for educators and administrators. She has had the opportunity to lead and facilitate groups numbering in the thousands, inspiring them around a transformational change in their approach to struggling readers. Terrie is certified as an Academic Language Practitioner and is currently working towards a Ph.D. in literacy, with an emphasis in educational leadership from St. John’s University. She is also a certified John Maxwell speaker and facilitator.

 

To participate in the live edWebinar, log in with current version of Google Chrome or install the meeting app prior to the edWebinar on your computer, your Apple device, or Android device.  If you have a firewall in your location, you can participate on your mobile device using your cellular data (not your local network).

The edWebinar recording will be posted to this page the day after the presentation.

Join the Empowering Struggling Readers community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.


Learning AllyLearning Ally is a leading education solutions organization committed to transforming the lives of struggling learners. The Learning Ally Audiobook Solution is a proven reading accommodation comprised of human-read audiobooks, student centric features and a suite of teacher resources. Used in more than 17,000 schools, this solution successfully helps students with reading deficits become engaged learners and reach their academic potential.

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Dyslexia FAQs

Imagine what it would be like to look at a page of text and see distorted letters swirling before your eyes. Try to picture not being able to discriminate between the letters b d p q. This is the case for many dyslexic people. Dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language. Broadening your understanding dyslexia can help you to begin understanding the difficulties of living with it.


October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. The focus for this next month will be to shine a spotlight on the varying dyslexic needs, struggles, and signs and raise awareness about the struggles associated with dyslexia. Often times families of individuals diagnosed with Dyslexia are left with many questions concerning the effects and the resources available for improvement. By recognizing the significant educational implications of this learning difference, there is more opportunity to ensure early diagnosis and intervention for dyslexics. The University of Michigan has created a list of frequently asked questions to help provide information and insight. As we know, the earlier the diagnoses and interventions, the more opportunities to reduce the educational implications this learning difference can have.

Monday, October 5, 2020

Motivational Monday






Thursday, October 1, 2020

Dyslexia Awareness Month Resources

Dyslexia Awareness Month is aimed at encouraging appropriate screening, assessment and intervention for those living with dyslexia. Additionally, it provides a platform to provide education on and debunk the myths about dyslexia. Take a look back at some of the incredible resources previously posted about dyslexia on Where It's AT to help kick off this week. Be sure to stay tuned here for more valuable resources to come! 

    Visit some links and previous Where It'AT blog posts...


Monday, September 21, 2020

Motivational Monday: World Gratitude Day

 


In honor of World Gratitude Day, comment below what you are most grateful for! 

Monday, July 27, 2020

Motivational Monday

Friday, May 15, 2020

Friday "Appy" Hour: App Wheel for Learners with Complex Additional Support Needs

The amazing folks at Call Scotland have recently released the latest poster in their popular 'App Wheel' series in response regular queries about useful iPad apps for complex learning difficulties.  The 'Wheel of Apps' is not comprehensive, but attempts to identify relevant, useful apps and to categorize them into the areas where an iPad can be a useful tool for learning and teaching. It is important to note that some apps address a range of difficulties. The wheel features a mix of apps, some of which will be useful for using with Primary aged learners, some with Secondary aged learners and some with both.


Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Webinar Wednesday: Supporting Exceptional Students Through Student-Centered Learning Strategies

I had the privilege to participate alongside Sharon Plante in this webinar hosted by Future Ready where we discussed ways we work with teachers and students across curriculum areas and classrooms to prioritize the learning needs of students with disabilities. From coaching, mentoring, and co-teaching to using adaptive technology hardware and software, educators can personalize learning for their students. Also, joining us was Ace Parsi, a spokesperson for the National Center for Learning Disabilities, sharing how advocacy and research can improve outcomes for people with learning and attention issues and other disabilities. Mr. Parsi lent his perspective on about how to shape local and national policy to reduce barriers and ensure opportunity and access for all students.

Monday, May 11, 2020

Friday, March 20, 2020

International Day of Happiness


Monday, February 3, 2020

Motivational Monday


Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Engaging Students in Reading Instruction through Educational Technology

Engaging Students in Reading Instruction through Educational Technology 
Presenter: Sharon Plante, Chief Technology Integrator and Faculty Member of The Southport School
Date: Wednesday, January 22
Time: 4:00-4:20 PM
Cost: Free - Click here to register.
Description:
The utilization of technology (Interactive screens, iPads, apps, and websites) can make reading instruction (decoding/encoding, fluency, and comprehension) a multi-sensory process that is engaging and explicit while maintaining the individualization and diagnostic-prescriptive aspects of the lesson.  It can support the organizational challenges for necessary lesson materials that can occur when working with multiple students at once, while also allowing for ease of differentiation within a small group format. Additionally, educational technology can provide ways for the teacher to collect work samples and data from multiple students simultaneously and allow for individualized feedback. The session will focus on the use of various tools that can support differentiated and individualized engagement during small group multi-sensory reading instruction.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Webinar Wednesday: Dysgraphia: 5 Minute Screening for Writing Accommodations

What does writing look like for students with dysgraphia? How can educators and parents help to better support students with writing difficulties? There are many things to consider when helping our struggling writers to improve outcomes and build confidence. Students who struggle with writing may have poor fine motor skills, messy or slow handwriting, lack of attention to tasks, poor spelling, and difficulty getting ideas down on paper. Is it Dysgraphia? View this on-demand webinar from Don Johnston to learn how to use accessible technology to better support students with IEPs who have Dysgraphia or other writing challenges. Broaden your understanding of dysgraphia, learn how Co:Writer Word Prediction, Translation, and Speech-to-Text remove barriers to writing and sign up for the webinar to request an easy, 5-minute Writing Accommodation Screening Tool.

Source: Dysgraphia 5 Minute Screening for Writing Accommodations from DonJohnstonInc

Monday, January 6, 2020

Motivational Monday


Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Welcome 2020