Join IDA-GA for a 2-night outreach event at Courage Schools in Sandy Springs, GA.
REGISTER (free): https://IDAoutreachOct172023.eventbrite.com

Night 1 – Focus on Structured Literacy (Effective Intervention) with Janet Street and Dr. Mary McPherson

IDA-GA Board Member Janet Street, M.Ed., Fellow/OGA will recap the highlights of GaDOE Dyslexia Videos 1 & 2* 

Attendees will then watch the GaDOE Dyslexia Video 4: Structured Literacy & Dyslexia (20:56). This video introduces the structured literacy approach as it relates to students with dyslexia, including features of explicit, systematic, and cumulative instruction, explanation of how these features can be applied within the delivery of effective reading instruction, content elements such as decoding, spelling, writing, and comprehension, and the features of instruction specific for students with dyslexia are delineated.

Following the viewing, Janet Street and Dr. Mary McPherson will answer attendee questions. 

*GaDOE Videos to Watch PRIOR to the October 17 In-Person Event:

*Video 1: What is Dyslexia? (11:03) – Overview of definitions of dyslexia, characteristics (early childhood – upper elementary), dispelling dyslexia-related myths, and a peek inside the reading brain.

*Video 2: Dyslexia & Reading Development(10:20) – Relationship between reading development and dyslexia, specifically How do individuals learn to read? What is the relationship between instruction and students’ reading outcomes? And why do some students experience persistent difficulty in learning to read?

Q&A with IDA-GA Board Members 

Janet Street, M. Ed., has worked with dyslexic learners at The Schenck School for 23 years. She has held many positions, including Lead Teacher, Director of Student Services, and Director of Outplacement.  She is now the Director of Teacher Training at ReadSource, the outreach arm of Schenck. As a Fellow with the Orton Gillingham Academy, she has taught hundreds of parents, tutors, and teachers how to use the Orton-Gillingham approach to help students learn to read and spell. She is the proud daughter, sister, and mother of talented and successful family members with dyslexia.

Dr. Mary McPherson, Ph.D., earned her Bachelor of Art degree in History from Oglethorpe University, Master of Science degree in Instructional Technology and Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Policy Studies at Georgia State University. She started her career in DeKalb County Public Schools teaching high school and transitioned to St. Martin’s Episcopal School where she served as both a classroom educator and administrator for twenty one years: first as Director of Academic Technology and most recently as Elementary School Principal. In her eleven years as principal, she helped to identify and support students with language-based learning differences and was an integral part of developing a program at St. Martin’s that specifically supports students diagnosed with a reading impairment. She continued to see additional needs within the independent school community to serve students who have strengths in visual/spatial understanding who also need support with language development. This led her to found Courage Schools where she serves as Head of School.

Register also for Night 2 – Tues, Oct 24, 6:30-8:00 – Focus on the Laws and State Initiatives with Guest Tina Engberg: https://ga.dyslexiaida.org/event/outreach-10-24-2023/

To watch the recordings of the deep dives “Unraveling Dyslexia: A Closer Look at the GaDOE Dyslexia Video Series,” visit https://ga.dyslexiaida.org/2022-unraveling-dyslexia/
Dr. Kristin Sayeski and Dr. Jennifer Lindstrom co-presented in these live webinars October 2022-January 2023.