With Josh Clark, Board Chair of the International Dyslexia Association
December 7, 2023
6:00-7:00pm PST
Many believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can make a major impact on education and tackle some of the biggest challenges students and teachers face today. AI has already begun shaping daily life, but how will it impact students who learn and digest classroom concepts differently and outside of traditional teaching methods and tools? Join us as Josh Clark explores how educators can leverage AI and immerse students into more effective learning processes. He will also explore the concerns and fears of introducing this new form of technology into the classroom.
Josh Clark is Board Chair of the International Dyslexia Association and an Expert Contributor to the global nonprofit Made by Dyslexia and Microsoft Education. He is also currently Head of Landmark School (Prides Crossing, MA), a day and residential school for students in grades 2–12 with dyslexia or other language-based learning differences (LBLD). Josh has brought the conversation of supporting the learning needs of students with language-based learning differences to learning communities across the globe and continues to use his platform to advocate for students and families in learning spaces across the country.
With Dr. Devorah Heitner, Author
January 18, 2024
12:00-1:00pm PST
Kids are growing up in a hyper-connected world. From Roblox to Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Discord, technology has become a staple in their daily lives. Drawing on her extensive work with parents and schools as well as hundreds of interviews with children, adolescents, parents, educators, clinicians, and scholars, Heitner offers strategies for mentoring young people in an always-connected world. With relatable stories and research-backed advice, Growing Up in Public empowers caregivers and educators to cut through the overwhelm to connect with their kids, recognize how to support them, and help them figure out who they are when everyone is watching.
Dr. Devorah Heitner is the author of Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN Opinion. She has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern. She is delighted to be raising her own teenager, and she lives with her family in Chicagoland. You can follow her on Substack and on Instagram @devorahheitnerphd.
With Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC/SLP
February 8, 2024
6:00-7:00pm PST
Executive function skills refer to the mental skills we use to pay attention, to organize and plan, to start tasks and stay focused on them, to manage emotions and be flexible, and to keep track of what we are doing. Young children rely on these skills to follow a sequence of instructions while older children need these skills to “break a task down” into a sequence of steps as the demands for independent learning increase. Executive function skills impact students at home, in school and in social situations. Join us to learn more about executive function skills and practical strategies to support students.
Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC/SLP has over 25 years of experience in diagnostic evaluations and treatment of executive dysfunction. Ms. Ward holds a faculty appointment at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. She is an internationally recognized expert on executive function and presents seminars and workshops on the programs and strategies she has developed with her Co-Director Kristen Jacobsen. Their 360 Thinking Executive Function Program received the Innovative Promising Practices Award from the National Organization CHADD. She has presented to and consulted with over 1,600 public and private schools in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
With Dr. Sonja Bradford, CCC-SLP
March 28, 2024
6:00-7:00pm PST
We continue to develop our understanding of support for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences by dismantling the learning barriers they face in the classroom. However, unrecognized language disorders, especially developmental language disorders (DLD), are a barrier that significantly hinders successful learning experiences. Students may be mislabeled behaviorally with terminology such as “disengaged, socially inappropriate, or shy” when, in fact, they may be struggling to manage the language demands of their environment. This presentation will explore the nature of developmental language disorders and their impact on academic and social success. It will also provide resources for speech-language pathologists, teachers, and families to better support these learners.
Sonja Bradford is the Director of Speech and Language Services at Hamlin Robinson School. As an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist, she has led education and training to address speech, language, and communication disorders HRS for over ten years. Her team focuses on maximizing every student’s potential to comprehend information and effectively express themselves to prepare for each stage of their academic journey. In addition to her work at HRS, Sonja has maintained a successful private practice supporting students in the Seattle metro area for over 20 years. She is an author, speaker, mentor, and community leader. As vice Chair of the WA State Board of Hearing and Speech, Sonja works with Washington state and national leaders in speech, language, and hearing to ensure that every student in the state has access to communication, diagnosis, and treatment, and helps train the next generation of speech-language pathologists through mentoring partnerships.
