Dyslexia Training To Be Offered
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Regional Coordinator for Region II of the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD), Aileen Couch recently announced that Regions I and II of the CSPD will be sponsoring a two-part virtual training entitled "Dyslexia" on January 22 and 29, 2021. The workshop will feature Dr. Matthew K. Burns, a Professor of Special Education at the University of Missouri and Director of the Center for Collaborative Solutions for Kids, Practice, and Policy. This is a free training for parents, general and special educators, paraprofessionals, agency personnel, and others who work with students or children.
Dr. Burns is a prolific researcher who has published multiple articles, books, and chapters about dyslexia and other learning disabilities. He has worked with schools in almost every state to better meet the needs of students with severe reading problems. In addition, Dr. Burns was a practicing school psychologist and special education administrator before becoming an academic. He previously served on the faculty of the University of Minnesota for ten years and Central Michigan University for five years. In the area of School Psychology, he received the 2020 Senior Scientist Award from Division 16 of the American Psychological Association.
Considered one of the leading researchers regarding the use of assessment data to determine individual or small-group interventions, Dr. Burns has worked extensively with response to intervention programs, academic interventions, identifying learning disabilities, and facilitating problem-solving teams.
In the upcoming CSPD virtual training, Dr. Burns will discuss signs that may indicate future reading problems, screening for dyslexia, methods of preventing reading problems, and interventions for students with reading challenges connected to dyslexia.
Session I will run from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. on Friday, January 22. During that time, Burns will define dyslexia and the processes used to screen for it. The first session will also discuss the Montana Dyslexia Screening and Intervention Act (MDSIA) and how it compares to current research in reading and assessment. Finally, the session will assess the pros and cons of potential screeners and will demonstrate a process for using class wide intervention as the most effective screening tool.
On January 29 for Session II, Burns will address various intervention steps that parents and educators alike can take when they detect reading concerns. The second session will also extend Session I by discussing how the MDSIA compares to current research in reading and instruction. The session will examine how to determine the specific needs of each student and how to use that data to implement best practices within a multi-tiered system of support. Dr. Burns will suggest specific research-based interventions for several types of reading difficulties and strategies for applying and intensifying those interventions.
Registration for this workshop, which is sponsored by CSPD in partnership with Havre Public Schools, is now open. Those interested in participating should go online to http://www.blueponyk12.com where they will click on the CSPD icon and then on the hyperlink that reads: "Register Here For Upcoming CSPD Training Events!" On this site, individuals will also find a flyer outlining the workshop's schedule and its details. Unless the workshop fills, registrations will be taken through January 20.
Questions about this training can be directed to Couch, who can be reached by phone (406-395-8550, ext. 6714) or by email (cspd@blueponyk12.com). As a professional courtesy, Couch asks that anyone needing to cancel a registration to please contact her office.
Region II CSPD coordinates personnel development to meet the diverse needs of all children and youth in the counties of Cascade, Teton, Pondera, Toole, Glacier, Liberty, Hill, Blaine, and Chouteau. Although preference will be given to people living in these areas, participation by individuals from outside of Region II is also welcome.
For any educators who may be collecting units to renew their teaching certificates, six Office of Public Instruction (OPI) Renewal Units are available for this training.
