Dr. Margie Gillis will discuss “Understanding Dyslexia/Reading Disabilities: Using Data-driven Instruction to Make Progress,” about the process of getting the best support for every child who needs it. She also will answer questions.
In this presentation, co-sponsored by Darien Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) and Darien Library, Gillis will discuss identification and instruction, advocacy and empowerment during her presentation from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28.
Photo from Darien Library website
Reading
— an announcement from Darien Library
Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)/Dyslexia affects 80 percent of those diagnosed with learning disabilities. The Connecticut Department of Education has approved universal screening reading assessments to be used by schools to identify students with below grade-level reading skills.
That data, as well as criterion reference testing, can provide school teams with valuable information that is useful for creating instructional approaches that address students’ unique learning needs.
Topics will include:
• Identification and what Connecticut law says about dyslexia/reading disabilities
• What is a universal screening reading assessment?
• What is criterion reference testing?
• Understand the differences between Scientifically-Based Reading Research and Whole Language approaches
• Relationship between processing time and fluency
• Comprehension and reading-to-learn skills
• Progress monitoring tools
About the Presenter
Margie B. Gillis, Ed.D is a nationally recognized literacy expert and a certified academic language therapist who has been teaching children of all ages to read for over 40 years.
She received her Doctorate of Education from the University of Louisville in special education. In 2009, Margie founded Literacy How, Inc. Dr. Gillis has worked at the policy level through the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) and was instrumental in Connecticut’s adoption of a universal screening test for K-3 student.
She is the co-founder and former president of Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, the former president of the CT Branch of the International Dyslexia Society, a board member of the Dyslexia Society of CT, New Alliance Foundation, and The Alliance for Accreditation and Certification of Dyslexia Specialists, and an executive board member of the Academic Language Therapist Association.