Demystifying Dyslexia Series

This comprehensive three-part professional development series equips educators with the neuroscientific insights and practical tools necessary to support students with dyslexia and specific learning disabilities (SLD) in reading. 

• Understand the “why” behind reading struggles to better implement the “how.”
• Learn to interpret neuropsychological reports and navigate IEPs with confidence.
• Engage in specific modules dedicated to multilingual learners and co-occurring conditions, such as ADHD.
• Create actionable plans based on real-world student profiles.

Part 1: Educators will dive into the neuroscience of reading to understand dyslexia and SLD in reading, guided by frameworks such as the IDA and the California Dyslexia Guidelines. Participants will research age-specific characteristics and uncover the intricacies of dyslexia diagnosis through IEPs and neuropsychological reports. The course will highlight essential accommodations and modifications, while also focusing on the unique challenges faced by multilingual learners.

 Part 2: Building on previous knowledge, educators will apply targeted strategies to boost student performance based on individual cognitive profiles. By selecting a student who shows potential but is not progressing, participants will explore cognitive processes—including verbal comprehension and working memory—and learn how to support strengths and address challenges through effective strategies and accommodations.

 Part 3: Dyslexia doesn’t exist in isolation. In the final module, participants will delve deeper into dyslexia phenotypes, the connection between physical and language development, and dyslexia and ADHD. Participants will explore the auditory-visual-kinesthetic learning approach in greater detail to address strengths and stretches, as well as miscue analysis. This session will include time for reflection and discussion to enhance understanding and effectiveness in supporting struggling readers. By the end of this series, educators will be equipped to interpret neuropsychological reports, navigate IEPs, analyze assessments, and meet the needs of diverse learners.

Audience: Elementary school teachers in general education or special education, literacy coaches, or administrators
Length: 3-day workshop
Prerequisites: Introduction to Structured Literacy
Presenter/s: Molly Bricker & Billy Swift
Dates: July 21 to July 23, 2026
Time: 8:30 am-3:30 pm
Cost: $675

Outcomes

• Understand the reading brain and what dyslexia is and is not. Understand the complexities and nuances of dyslexia.
• Learn about neuropsychological assessments and how dyslexia is diagnosed.
• Explore how dyslexia feels for the reader and take a closer look at characteristics by age group. Explore dyslexia phenotypes and the auditory-visual-kinesthetic connection as a means of addressing strengths and stretches across a variety of students.
• Practice having conversations around student support for students with dyslexia. Practice exercises that support retained primitive reflexes as a means to support learning.
• Analyze student data to determine an instructional focus that would be most beneficial to their growth.

Reflect on your practice and new understandings to be even more responsive to your students’ needs.

Presenter Billy Swift

Billy has been a part of the Chartwell School community since 2013, bringing nearly two decades of expertise in special education to his role as Director of Student Support. He oversees and supports a range of student services, including related services, SEAD curriculum, PBIS, MTSS, and restorative practices. Throughout his career, Billy has served as an advocate for education and a reading interventionist, specializing in Orton-Gillingham-based approaches, such as Wilson, PAF, and Lindamood-Bell. He has presented for the International Dyslexia Association, AIM Youth Mental Health, and EdRev on a range of topics. Billy holds a Master of Science in Education from Simmons College and an MFA from Lesley University.

Presenter Molly Bricker

Molly Bricker is a former classroom teacher and decodable book author who now trains teachers in structured literacy through the Chartwell Teaching Institute. Molly is an associate with the Association of Educational Therapists and the Orton-Gillingham Academy. She is working to become an Orton-Gillingham Fellow. Additionally, Molly runs her own educational therapy practice in Los Angeles. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, reading, and playing pickleball.