Event Schedule

Are you ready for an empowering and informative session designed especially for families?   We will explore what the Science of Reading really means and how the brain learns to read. More importantly, you’ll walk away with simple, practical ways to support your child’s reading journey at home. Whether your child is just beginning to read or facing challenges like dyslexia, this session is about partnering together to help every child become a confident, successful reader.

Room 1

You know your child best—but navigating the world of IEPs, 504s, and school meetings can leave even the most confident parent second-guessing themselves. In this session, we’ll walk through the tools and knowledge you need to advocate effectively and unapologetically. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of your rights under the Iowa Procedural Safeguards, tips for speaking up (even when it’s hard), and strategies for building a strong team around your child. Whether you’re just starting out or deep in the process, this session will help you feel equipped, empowered, and ready to take action.

Room 2

Have you ever wondered what a school day is like for a child with dyslexia? This simulation will put you in the shoes of a dyslexic student and show you just how hard they are working! This simulation is described as eye-opening by parents as well as educators. It will change the way you think about dyslexia and give you a much deeper understanding for the children and adults who are affected by it every single day. 

Room 3

Is your child getting stuck on bigger words—or breezing past them without truly understanding what they’ve read? If so, join me in this interactive session where we will explore the P.O.S.S.U.M. framework—an easy-to-use, research-based strategy developed by neuroscientist Dr. Maryanne Wolf that helps children become stronger, more confident readers. 

Through P.O.S.S.U.M., children learn to break down unfamiliar words, build vocabulary, and read with better fluency and comprehension. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of each step, a helpful cheat sheet, and a printable graphic organizer you can use at home to support your child’s reading journey.

Room 4

Elementary students in Iowa are expected to gradually learn both print and cursive handwriting. This session unpacks evidence-based tips to help students learn handwriting at home and in the classroom.

Room 5

We’ve heard that play is learning, but how does play help prepare a child for learning to read and write? In this breakout session, we’ll familiarize ourselves with preliteracy skills, identify how child-led play can prepare brains and bodies for learning, and put some playful parenting into action to help build the rest!

Room 6

Dyslexia is the most common learning disability. It does not mean seeing backwards. It is hereditary and runs in families! Life is moving at a break neck pace and teachers have more responsibilities than ever before. Learning the basics of Dyslexia can change the trajectory for struggling readers. Together we will discover signs and symptoms of dyslexia, identify facts about dyslexia and debunk common lingering myths. We will visit the Iowa Department Of Education’s Dyslexia Guidance and build our confidence in saying dyslexia.

Room 7

To equip parents with practical strategies for helping children learn and master alphabet letter sounds. Understanding the relationship between letters and their corresponding sounds is essential for proficient reading and writing. In linguistics, the smallest units of sound that distinguish meaning in a language are called phonemes (sounds). Letter-sound correspondence refers to the predictable relationship between letters (graphemes) and the sounds they represent (phonemes). English has 26 letters (graphemes) but about 44 sounds (phonemes). Multisensory interactive session utilizing mirrors, feeling for vibrations and auditory input. 

Room 1

To equip parents with effective techniques for helping their children decode words and improve reading fluency. Decoding is the process of translating written symbols into spoken language by using phonics, sight word recognition, and context clues. Its role in reading is essential, as it enables readers to accurately and fluently decode words, leading to improved reading comprehension and overall literacy skills. This session will provide strategies for sight word recognition and decoding unfamiliar words while providing best practices for supporting children’s decoding development at home.

Room 2

Have you ever wondered what a school day is like for a child with dyslexia? This simulation will put you in the shoes of a dyslexic student and show you just how hard they are working! This simulation is described as eye-opening by parents as well as educators. It will change the way you think about dyslexia and give you a much deeper understanding for the children and adults who are affected by it every single day.

Room 3

Discover how to make the most of your library visits! This fun and practical session will explore how to turn every trip to the library into a springboard for raising lifelong learners through hands-on materials, engaging routines, and meaningful experiences that go far beyond the checkout desk.

Room 4

“Your student is meeting benchmark.” What does this mean? Have you ever felt confused about what is being shared from school about your child’s reading? This session describes common reading assessment terms and answers commonly asked questions about reading data.

Room 5

This session will address the role mind and body preparation plays in maximizing learning potential. Participants will experience and discuss how the powerful tools of rhythm, relationship, and movement can be used to assess and mitigate the impact of stress and trauma in the lives of children in the classroom and to help them with self-regulation, making it possible for them to be successful learners. Participants will be given hands-on opportunities to experience various rhythm and movement activities that can be used to facilitate the creation of safe and positive group and individual learning environments where strengths are celebrated and weaknesses are shored up. Links to research in neuroplasticity, reflex integration, and the effects of trauma and ACES on the body and the brain will be discussed.

Room 6

As students grow older, their literacy challenges often shift. Many can decode but still struggle with reading comprehension, written expression, and executive functioning demands. In this session, parents will learn how to recognize and support these often hidden difficulties. We’ll explore how working memory, processing speed, and organization affect reading and writing — especially for students with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning differences. You’ll leave with specific strategies to help your child plan assignments, break down writing tasks, strengthen comprehension, and become more independent in their learning.

Room 7

To provide parents with practical strategies and activities for developing reading fluency in their children, enhancing their confidence and enjoyment of reading. Fluency is known as the ability to read smoothly, accurately, and with expression