Conference Schedule

Friday, October 4th

Registration opens at 4:00 p.m.

4:00-6:00 PM

Mix & Mingle Reception- Explore the exhibit hall, meet exhibitors, round table speakers, presenters, and IDA-FL board members

Round Table Speakers (see presenters and topics below)

Christy Brockhausen- Bridging the Gap: Leveraging Decodable Texts and Oral Language to Enhance Reading Comprehension
Chad Houvouras- AD/HD and Executive Functioning: Strategies for Success
Gabriela Mancini- Building Connections: Exploring Brain Functions in Dyslexia
Heather Webb- The Power of Picture Books
Jamie Zimmelman- The Language of Math: Elevating Understanding Through Literacy
Christine Teahan- Every Teacher Can Be a Writing Teacher

6:00-7:00 PM

Dinner

7:00-8:00 PM

Special Guest Speaker: Gil Gershoni, “Turning Limitations into Opportunities”

A BIG thank you to The Bridge at The Christ School for

sponsoring our dinner and special guest speaker!

Saturday, October 5th

7:15-8:00 AM

Check in at the IDA-FL table

Explore the exhibit hall
Sign up for silent auction items

8:00-8:20 AM

Welcome: Dr. E. Judith Cohen, IDA-FL President

8:20-8:45 AM

Keynote Session: Adrianna Swearingen, “Shine Bright for Florida Students”

8:45-9:50 AM

Keynote Session: Valentina Contesse, Ph.D., “Developing Foundational Reading Skills”

10:00-11:15 AM

Break-Out Sessions (Choose One)

Professional Pathway: Nancy Coffman, CALT, QI, “Taking Spelling to the Next Level”
Parent Pathway: Sunshine Moss, Ph.D., “Dyslexia Policy: What Parents and Educators Need to Know”

11:30-12:30 PM

Lunch Break- Enjoy the taco/salad buffet and explore the exhibit hall

12:30-1:30 PM

Break-Out Sessions (Choose One)

Professional Pathway: Christine Teahan, M.A. and April Laing, M.S., “The Writing Revolution: Explicit Writing Instruction in Service of Learning”
Parent Pathway: Jesse Steif, Ed.S., NCSP, “Evaluations”

1:40-2:40 PM

Break-Out Sessions (Choose One)

Professional Pathway: Jennie Farrant, M.Ed., “Harness the Power of Games”
Parent Pathway: Lida Grillo, M.Ed., “Building Positive Parent-School Partnerships to Improve Outcomes for Students with Dyslexia”

2:45-4:30 PM

Facilitated Sessions (Choose One)

Interactive Session, “The Challenges of Dyslexia: How Does it Feel?”, Facilitated by Milaura Spelman, M.S., CCC-SLP
Exclusive Screening of the movie Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars, Facilitated by Dr. E. Judith Cohen

Hopeville’s Director, Harvey Hubbell V, sure didn’t surf his way through school. Growing up with dyslexia, Harvey faced numerous challenges. The worst? Learning how to read! And he’s nowhere near alone. America’s reading levels have steadily been on the decline. However, there’s a solution! Implementing evidence-based reading instruction across this country is the answer. We’ve talked to scientists, educators and parents and we have evidence to show, when using the right teaching methods, we can drastically change the course of literacy in America. We can’t ignore this issue. We must win the Reading Wars and change reading instruction for generations to come.