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Friday, January 29, 2021

2021 AT Retreat Unconference


Join tonight 1/29/21 at 6:30pm EST for a brand new virtual unconference event!

No presentations - just conversations.

Participant led discussions related to inclusion, Assistive Technology and Universal Design for Learning. All voices are welcome.

Come join the fun - reserve your free space using the registration link below. All sessions will be conducted via Zoom and each conversation room will utilize captions to promote accessibility. Connect, learn, laugh and maybe even win some awesome prizes from Scanning Pens, Present Pal, Don Johnston, Lesson Pix, CoughDrop and more....

Follow the event on Twitter using the hashtag #2021ATRetreat






Monday, January 18, 2021

Motivational Monday


 

Monday, January 11, 2021

Motivational Monday


 

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Webinar Wednesday: Leveling the Playing Field: Support for Struggling Readers in a Blended Learning Environment

Leveling the Playing Field: Support for Struggling Readers in a Blended Learning Environment

Monday, January 11, 2021 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST

Leveling the Playing Field: Support for Struggling Readers in a Blended Learning Environment

Presented by Kathleen Colburn, Senior Product Manager, Read&Write; and Diana Petschauer, Managing Director and AT Consultant, Assistive Technology for Education

Sponsored by Texthelp

REGISTER HERE

GET THE RECORDING

The recording will be posted on this page after the live session. Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation.

To say that things have been in flux over this past year is an understatement. The everyday learning environment has taken on a whole new meaning as you and your students have pivoted from in-person, to remote, to hybrid learning (and have sometimes bridged these gaps multiple times). Many students lost almost a full semester of learning; some lost more. And while no child has gone unaffected by these educational gaps, those who were struggling prior to school closures have been hit the hardest, further widening already-existing literacy achievement gaps. It’s now urgent that we move forward from these learning losses, and ensure that every child, especially those who struggle most, has the most essential building block for their literacy journey—a strong foundation for reading.

Join Diana Petschauer, Managing Director and AT Consultant, Assistive Technology for Education, and Texthelp’s Kathleen Colburn, Senior Product Manager, as they explore strategies and tools to empower struggling readers in a blended learning environment. During this edWebinar you will:

  • Uncover best practices to motivate students to engage with reading in any environment, promoting confidence and a positive growth mindset
  • Explore multiple free technologies that can help to close reading achievement gaps and work alongside students’ everyday Learning Management Systems and devices
  • Take a deeper dive into Read&Write, a literacy support toolbar that can help struggling readers create and engage with content across all grade levels, subjects and interfaces (web, Google Docs, exams, and more!). Plus Read&Write is completely free for teachers.

This edWebinar will be of interest to kindergarten through middle school teachers and school and district leaders. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.

 

Kathleen ColburnAbout the Presenters

Kathleen Colburn is a senior product manager at Texthelp, an industry leader in literacy and STEM software. In her six years with the company, she has served in roles ranging from supporting teacher and student end users, to her current position working directly with the software development team to shape the product roadmap. Outside of her role at Texthelp, Kathleen is a Google Certified Trainer, earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Tufts University, and has taught and tutored students in high school math and college entrance exam preparation.

 

Diana Petschauer, M.Ed., ATP is a RESNA certified Assistive Technology Professional and Managing Director of AT for Education, ATforED.com. She manages her team of expert consultants who provide evaluations, consult and training to students and adults as well as professional development for professionals and families. Prior to ATforED, Diana was the AT specialist at UNH, supporting students transitioning to higher education with AT and accommodations. She started her career in public school special education. Diana presents often on AT and literacy intervention to provide multi-sensory support for dyslexia or LD.

Monday, January 4, 2021

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.

REGISTER HERE

You can sign up below to receive an email with the recording link.

GET THE RECORDING

The recording will be posted on this page after the live session. 
Get a CE Certificate for this edWebinar Learn more

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.