Dyslexia Virtual Conference 2023 - Core skills and creativity: Engaging dyslexic learners with literacy

Pie Corbett - Leader of Talk for Writing

Talk for Writing - a multi-sensory approach to developing composition

This session will provide an outline and practical suggestions for teaching children who find writing a challenge. I will draw on the work of Talk for Writing and demonstrate how we develop composition orally, through using text maps and actions to learn texts, adapt them and create new versions. This means that when children come to record their texts, they already know what they are going to say which releases cognitive space and motivates, making writing easier.

The session will have practical ideas and draw on work from our training centres in the UK as well as our partners in Australia who work with children who have special educational needs, especially language.

Target Audience: Teachers, Heads and consultants - Early Years and Primary focus plus early ks3.

Pie Corbett writes poetry, stories and materials for teachers. He leads ‘Talk for Writing’ which takes him around the world, working with schools to improve literacy. He has been a Head Teacher, run PGCE and B.Ed courses, as well as being an Inspector; holding Honorary Doctorates from Winchester and the Open University for services to poetry, storytelling, creativity and social justice. He has advised and worked with the Department of Education, the BBC and the National Literacy Strategy.

He has been a columnist for the Times Educational Supplement as well as writing and editing over 250 books as well as a clutch of CD Roms and award winning teaching materials. His poetry collection ‘Evidence of Dragons’ is a classroom staple as well as anthologies for Macmillan Children’s Books. Over forty years, he has been running poetry and story workshops as well as performing at the Edinburgh and Cheltenham Festivals. He developed and worked on the National Gallery programme ‘Out of Art into Storytelling’ as well as many other creative projects and endeavours.

Julia Carroll - Professor of Education

How can morphology be used to improve literacy in struggling readers?

Research has established that morphological awareness, or understanding the meaning structure of words, can be useful in supporting learners with dyslexia to learn to read and spell. However, morphological awareness is a broad term and covers a range of different skills. Some of these skills might be important early in development, while others will be important for more advanced learners.

We will explore these different skills and consider what the research evidence indicates about what types of morphological awareness training are useful at what ages.

Target Audience: Teachers and education professionals - both primary and secondary

Julia is a professor in the Institute of Global Education at Coventry University. Julia has always been interested in language development and language difficulties, both in spoken and written language. Much of her research focuses on difficulties in spoken and written language.

Julia has published over 30 journal articles on dyslexia, literacy and language. She has also co-authored a book, Developing Language and Literacy. In 2018 Julia won the BDA lifetime achievement award for services to dyslexia.

Rossie Stone - Director / Creator

Visual Learning with Dekko Comics

Meet Rossie Stone, the creator and director of Dekko Comics. Educational comics that turn school curriculum content into engaging comic strips, smashing motivational barriers to reading and learning.

The comics are colourful, funny and especially helpful to visual learners and those living with dyslexia, ADHD and autism. Big blocks of text can be overwhelming and visually stressful - particularly for neuro-diverse learners. This prevents the reader’s ability to understand and absorb the material. By reducing complex ideas into simple relatable narratives, studies have shown that retention rates in learners using comics are higher.

The Dekko technique shows how we can take any complex information and translate it into straightforward, fun and entertaining comic stories. Within those comic stories the important points are highlighted using simple techniques of colour-coding, footnotes, and dyslexia friendly font.

Come and learn how the Dekko Technique is providing an alternative way to teach and learn.

Target Audience: Suitable for learners of all ages

Rossie is dyslexic and spent most of his school years being at the bottom of his classes and being seen as “stupid” by his peers.

He has since become the creator and founder of Dekko Comics Ltd, a company that turns schoolwork and information into entertaining comic stories. This work is based on a technique he came up with towards the end of his school career, which in turn gave him his first grade A in an academic exam!

Rossie has won awards such as Young Edge and the SME Business Awards and been nominated for several more such as the National Diversity Award and Dyslexia Awareness Award. He has been featured on BBC News, STV and has done three TEDX Talks.

All of which illuminate his dream to make education accessible and fun for all and lose the stigma that often surrounds those with neurodiversity.

Kelli Sandman-Hurley, Co-founder Dyslexia Training Institute

Dyslexia and Spelling: Making Sense of it All

English Spelling is so often pushed aside and declared unruly or crazy. But with the correct information about how English is structured we can make sense of spelling and with that sense we can not only improve spelling, but also reading.

This presentation will explain the reasons that English seems to be so difficult to learn, especially for those with dyslexia. Participants will learn how the morphophonemic structure of English can be understood and analysed in order to make sense of it all. Practical activities that can be used immediately will be presented.

Target Audience: Suitable for learners of all ages

Kelli Sandman-Hurley, Ed.D. is the co-founder of the Dyslexia Training Institute. She co-created and produced Dyslexia for a Day: A Simulation of Dyslexia, and she is a frequent speaker at conferences.

She is the author of the well-received books, Dyslexia Advocate! How to Advocate for a Child with Dyslexia within the Public Education System and Dyslexia and Spelling, and The Adult Side of Dyslexia. Dr. Kelli has a doctorate in Education, a Masters in Linguistics and is TESOL certified.

Anna Sutton - British Dyslexia Association Level 5 Professional Tutor

Drama as a Learning Approach for Learners with Dyslexia

Drama is an active teaching and learning medium and provides an opportunity to engage with the tangible world of the story. It is a powerful means of communication and accesses a range of learning skills whilst developing literacy. Dramatic experiences provide an oral and physical experience of language thus making it a memorable and lived experience.

Anna will share her experience as a drama teacher and explain how specific techniques can be used to stimulate learning, develop skills and engage learners with dyslexia. She will be joined by creative education practitioner, Stuart Bawler, Director of Hummadruz Theatre Company, Wales, who will demonstrate and share creative and drama-based ideas for teaching literacy skills in the classroom, with small groups and the individual.

Target Audience: Primary and Secondary Learners

Anna is a Professional Tutor on the Level 5 course with the British Dyslexia Association. Her career spans over 20 years with experience in both primary and secondary mainstream education as a class teacher, Head of Drama, Specialist Teacher and Assessor and SENCO.

Anna has a BA (Hons) degree in Drama and English, and an MA degree in Education with a special interest in creative learning and drama education. She has led many creative projects in primary education and conducted research into how drama can stimulate learners with dyslexia to access literacy and comprehension.

As a specialist teacher and assessor, Anna conducts private work and shares her expertise on the MA SEN course at the University of South Wales and the Institute of Education, UCL. She is passionate about dyslexia friendly teaching and investigating how best to support and empower learners to achieve their full potential.

Stuart is the Artistic Director of Hummadruz, the Black-Light Theatre of Wales, which is a company specialising in creating ultraviolet, multi-sensory, psychedelic shows for theatres, festivals, raves and a workshop programme for special schools and community groups. He is qualified to Level 4 in Makaton which is now integrated into Hummadruz shows, regardless of the types of audience. He is a firm believer in the use of story to understand oursleves and other people and also is a strong believer in making it up as you go along, a.k.a. organic and chaotic creativity.

In his 30 years of working in Theatre, he has managed 2 theatres, was a theatre technician and workshop leader for 20 years, designed and stage managed for India Dance Wales amongst others, created a number of successful youth theatre groups and is a Creative Agent for the Arts Council of Wales.

Although he looks constantly grumpy, he is in fact a very silly, child-like buffoon.

He lives in Abergavenny.

Anna and Stuart will be joined by our ambassador Lloyd Everitt as a guest speaker!

Lynn Lovell - British Dyslexia Association Head of Professional Practice

Vocabulary across the curriculum

This talk will discuss the importance of learning subject vocabulary for students of all ages. It will outline the links between vocabulary knowledge and the development of literacy skills and will show how this can increase access to the curriculum. This will be set in the context of the challenges faced by dyslexic learners and will give strategies for how to teach vocabulary in an accessible way.

Target Audience: For those working in the primary and secondary age ranges

Lynn Lovell is Head of Professional Practice at the British Dyslexia Association. She is passionate about all areas of assessment and support for individuals who face barriers to learning. She has completed an MA in Specific Learning Difficulties with a focus on developing self-esteem for those with dyslexia. Lynn has previously been employed as a specialist teacher in secondary and FE/HE settings and as an Acting SENCo.

Anna Devin and The Music Committee (Kristl Kirk & Nick Sermon)

Music and dyslexia

Ambassador Anna Devin will share her journey to becoming a professional musician with dyslexia. Relevant strategies and approaches for working with dyslexic students will be discussed along with a brief talk on the fascinating work of the BDA music committee.

Target Audience: Primary, Secondary, Support

Kristl is a pianist, piano teacher and PhD researcher who has been a member of the BDA music committee since 2020. The aim of her research is to produce resources for students with dyslexia, their parents and teachers in order to improve their music learning experiences.

Nick has worked in Music Education for the last 22 years and is currently the music lead for a Multi Academy Trust in Kent. He will be sharing his own experiences as a Dyslexic learner and how music teaching in Primary is so important for supporting all subjects and the child’s development.