
Raising Readers
February 15 @ 8:00 am - 3:30 pm

Together, We Can Shape a Generation of Lifelong Readers!
Mark your calendar for an empowering and enriching event focused on building strong partnerships between parents, educators, and literacy advocates. Raising Readers is designed to inspire, connect, and provide practical tools to support the literacy journey of young learners.
What to Expect:
- Keynote Speaker: Steve Dykstra
Join us as Steve Dykstra, a nationally recognized expert in literacy and child development, shares his insights on creating meaningful change in how we support young readers. Steve’s expertise and passion will leave you inspired and equipped with strategies to make a real difference. - Interactive Workshops: Participate in hands-on sessions tailored to address challenges and opportunities in literacy development.
- Networking Opportunities: Build meaningful connections with like-minded parents, educators, and professionals.
- Practical Resources: Walk away with actionable tools and techniques you can implement immediately to support literacy success.
Who Should Attend?
This event is perfect for parents, educators, librarians, caregivers, and anyone passionate about supporting children’s literacy development.
Whether you’re a seasoned educator looking for fresh ideas or a parent seeking to make reading a daily habit, this event will provide inspiration and tools to help children thrive.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a movement that transforms the way we nurture readers.
Late Registration now open!
Jump to:
Keynote Information
Schedule
Speaker Bio’s
CEU & Certificate Information
Registration
Location
Parent Track
Educator Track
Keynote:
Dr. Steve Dykstra – The Developmental Needs of Children: What Matters Most and Where Reading Fits in the Equation
While reading is important there is a lot that matters as much or more. Understanding how the big pieces fit together and why they matter so much requires us to understand brains and what it means to “grow up” and become adults in the 21st century. Development isn’t just about growth charts and milestones. It’s about a lot more and understanding how it can go wrong makes us better at helping it go right.
Schedule:
Please see the Parent and Educator Tracks for breakout session times and descriptions.
Speakers:
Dr. Steve Dykstra is a psychologist from Milwaukee Wisconsin. Soon to be retired from over 30 years of public service, he has developed a powerful interest in reading and literacy because of the powerful effect it has on the developmental outcomes of children. While he has never taught children to read beyond the things nearly all parents do, he has advocated for dozens of children, served on several state panels and commissions, consulted to multiple states and organizations, spoken at numerous conferences, and moderated expert panels on a variety of reading topics. Besides his expertise on the social and emotional consequences of reading difficulty he is well regarded for his ability to explain complex, incomplete, and sometimes conflicting science, often by generating metaphors for which he is known. He currently serves on the boards of two Wisconsin literacy groups in which he helped found. He loves to travel and is an avid photographer. Ask him to share his photos and you might be there a while.
Dr. Tammi Martin‘s teaching career started in 1993 within the Grove City Area School District. She served as an emotional support teacher, Guidance Counselor, Assistant Principal & Principal at the George Junior Republic School. Following 17 years of service at the George Junior Republic School, Dr. Martin transitioned to Hillview Elementary School and serves as the Elementary Principal. In addition, she is an Adjunct Professor at Grove City College in the Department of Education. The collaborative work between the college and the elementary school has been an amazing growth opportunity for the pre-service teachers and the elementary school community.
Lauren Lutz, M.Ed. earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from Penn State University and her Masters in Reading from Slippery Rock University. She is currently an educational consultant with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) in western PA where she supports the Literacy, Inclusive Practices and Math initiatives.
Prior to becoming a consultant, Lauren spent 20 years as a classroom teacher. She is passionate about helping students and teachers and connecting research to practice in the classroom.
Kelly Neff brings over two decades of experience as an educator in the Butler Area School District. A graduate of Grove City College (B.S. in Elementary Education, 2000) Kelly furthered her expertise by earning a master’s degree in Teaching and Curriculum from The Pennsylvania State University (2005). Kelly’s passion for literacy education deepened when she faced challenges helping one of her children learn to read. This experience inspired her to advocate for evidence-based practices that benefit all students.
Currently serving as BASD’s Instructional Coach for Literacy, Kelly now leverages her experience to support and mentor fellow educators in enhancing their literacy instruction practices. She is also working toward certification as a Dyslexia Practitioner. At the Raising Readers Conference, Kelly will present on Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS), sharing actionable ways for teachers and parents to collaborate in fostering effective reading skills. Kelly is a resident of Wexford where she lives with her husband and three children.
A graduate of Kent State University, Dr. Richard Sabousky taught in public schools, before moving into higher education at Clarion University. His tenure at Clarion lasted 28 years, the final 12 of which he was the chair of the Department of Special Education and Disability Policy Studies. He now continues to share his expertise as a Professor of Education at Grove City College. Rick is past President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children, current Vice-president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the International Dyslexia Association and serves on the Board of Directors for the Venango Training and Development Center. Dr. Sabousky has also been involved at the state level with multiple work groups developing the most recent Special Education Guidelines as well as the new Literacy Guidelines.
Dr. Natalie Heisey
Dr. Linda Culbertson
Dr. Constance Nichols
CEU’s and Certificates
Earn ACT 48, ALTA, CERI, IMSLEC, and Wilson CEU’s. We are also partnering with Ohio to provide educator credits! To qualify for educator credits, please register for the conference in advance. (See Registration Information)
ACT 48 credits are sponsored by PennWest.
Please ensure all form submissions are completed by February 27 11:59pm to receive certificates.
Certificates of completion will be emailed to you between March 5 – 14.
Registration Information
Advance Registration (Before February 12, 2025, at 12:00 PM):
- $30 per person
- Includes an optional boxed lunch
- Eligible for ACT 48 credits (PA educators), Ohio Educator Credits and CEU certificates
On-Site Registration (Available at the door on February 15, 8:00 – 8:40 AM):
- $30 per person (payment accepted via Zelle, PayPal, or check only)
- No lunch provided
- Not eligible for ACT 48 credits or CEU certificates
Register now for On-Site payment
Registration Terms:
Registrations cannot be transferred.
Registrant understands their purchase is for an in-person conference with no virtual or recorded component.
Registrations after February 12, 12:00 PM are not eligible for ACT 48 credits or CEU certificates.
Cancellations prior to February 1 will result in a $15 processing fee.
Cancellations after February 1 will forfeit any reimbursement.
Location
The Staley Hall of Arts and Letters at Grove City College – building 10 on this map and parking lot 4 will be the closest to the event.
Parent Track and Schedule:
11:00am – 12:00pm | Linda Culbertson The Joy of Reading Aloud… |
Kelly Neff Enhancing Reading Skills… |
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1:15 – 2:15pm | Kelly Neff Enhancing Reading Skills… |
Steve Dykstra Dyslexia and its Entourage |
Tammi Martin Where do we begin?… |
2:30 – 3:30pm | Tammi Martin Where do we begin?… |
Connie Nichols Raising Readers… |
Dr. Steve Dykstra – Dyslexia and its Entourage
Most kids with dyslexia have other stuff going on as well, like ADHD, anxiety, executive function issues, and a variety of strengths and weaknesses. There are reasons why we see these patterns, some of which bring us back to brains and how they work, while are based in how dyslexia shapes the experiences of the children who live with it. Dr. Dykstra will do his best to explain it so we can understand and think about it more effectively. Not everything that comes with dyslexia is dyslexia. We’ll do our best to sort truth from myth, explain how diagnostic conventions play a part, and acknowledge there is a lot we don’t know. We’ll discuss how we got here, how we are still influenced by certain myths, and incase you’re interested, answer the question of how and where dyslexia is in the DSM 5, right down to the page number(s) and how it has evolved from past editions of the DSM.
Linda Culbertson – The Joy of Reading Aloud: The Importance of Parents in Literacy Learning
This session emphasizes the importance of reading stories to children, from infancy and beyond. Participants will not only hear about literacy development, but they will also be actively sharing and applying skills taught throughout the session.
Dr. Tammi Martin –Where do we begin?: A Comprehensive Overview for Parents on MTSS and the Special Education Process
The Special Education process begins with the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), which aims to provide early intervention for students who may be struggling. In MTSS, educators assess students’ needs through data collection and monitoring, allowing for targeted interventions. If a student does not respond adequately to these interventions, the process moves toward a more formal evaluation. This evaluation includes a comprehensive assessment of the student’s academic performance, social skills, and any other relevant areas. Once the evaluation is completed, the team determines whether the student qualifies for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). If eligible, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed, outlining specific goals and services tailored to the student’s unique needs. Continuous progress monitoring ensures that the interventions remain effective and adjusts as necessary to support the student’s growth.
Kelly Neff – Enhancing Reading Skills: Partner Reading and Paragraph Shrinking Strategies
Join us to explore the Partner Reading and Paragraph Shrinking protocol, a proven strategy for improving reading comprehension and fluency in students. Based on the PAL strategies developed by Fuchs and Fuchs, and highlighted in the IES Guide for Reading Interventions (Grades 4-9) by Dr. Matt Burns, this method is easy to implement and effective for students in Grades 2 and up. Learn how schools like the Butler Area School District are successfully applying these routines, including a parent engagement component, to boost student outcomes. Perfect for educators looking to integrate practical, research-based interventions into their classrooms.
Connie Nichols – Raising Readers: Finding Joy in Reading and Writing Through Routines and Small Steps with Big Impacts in the Home
In this session, parents will learn how to create a home environment that fosters a love of reading and writing for children with dyslexia. When reading feels like work at school, it’s easy for children to lose the joy of literacy. This presentation offers simple, playful strategies to embed reading and writing into daily routines—turning everyday moments into opportunities for growth and enjoyment. From using closed captioning on TV to turning storytelling into a family tradition, these ideas will help parents nurture a culture of literacy in a relaxed and fun way, building their child’s confidence and love for reading.
Educator Track and Schedule:
11:00am – 12:00pm | Linda Delvaux Mastering Phonemic Awareness… |
Connie Nichols Unlocking Possibilities… |
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1:15 – 2:15pm | Linda Delvaux Mastering Phonemic Awareness… |
Lauren Lutz Effective Core Instruction for Small Groups |
Natalie Heisey Words! Linking Sound-symbol… |
2:30 – 3:30pm | Lauren Lutz Unlocking Words: Morphology Awareness |
Richard Sabousky Visual Interventions and Treatments |
Linda Delvaux – Mastering Phonemic Awareness: Using Sound Boxes and Manipulatives for Reading and Spelling Success
Discover how to use sound boxes (Elkonin Boxes) and manipulatives to build phonemic awareness, strengthen phonics skills, and improve spelling in this engaging and practical session. This hands-on, evidence-based strategy helps students isolate and manipulate sounds in words, fostering critical connections between sounds and letters. Walk away with actionable techniques to support learners at home or in the classroom.
Natalie Heisey – Words! Linking Sound-symbol Relationships to Reading and Spelling
Using basic principles of multisensory and structured literacy approaches, this session will focus on supporting students with dyslexia in reading and writing words. The presenter will demonstrate ways to connect oral and written language with a consideration on phonology, sound-symbol relationships, and syllables in meaningful and engaging ways. Participants will leave with practical resources and ideas to implement at home or in the classroom.
Connie Nichols – Unlocking Possibilities: Disciplinary Literacy as a Key for opening the doors to future learning for adolescent learners
Adolescence is a critical time for developing the skills and habits of mind necessary for academic success and future career exploration. For students with dyslexia, disciplinary literacy offers a unique pathway to thrive by leveraging subject-specific reading, writing, and thinking practices. This session will explore how teaching disciplinary literacy not only supports students’ academic growth but also helps them connect classroom learning to real-world applications. This session explores research regarding the benefits of focusing on disciplinary literacy strategies with dyslexic students.
Lauren Lutz – Unlocking Words: Morphology Awareness in the Upper Elementary Classroom (Grades 3 – 6)
In this interactive session, educators will explore the foundational concepts of morphology and its critical role in literacy instruction. Participants will define key morphological terms and briefly examine the historical influences that have shaped the English language. The session will focus primarily on practical strategies for applying morphological awareness in the classroom, equipping educators with tools to help students decode, understand, and retain complex vocabulary. By the end of the session, teachers will be prepared to use structured literacy techniques to foster students’ morphological understanding and enhance their overall language skills.
Lauren Lutz – Effective Core Instruction for Small Groups: Enhancing Literacy (Grades K-3)
This session is designed for educators seeking practical strategies for implementing data-driven small group instruction in K-3 literacy classrooms. Participants will explore how to effectively provide small group instruction in key areas such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, language comprehension, and written expression. This session will provide actionable tools to ensure targeted, engaging, and impactful support for all students in small group settings. This is geared to teachers in grades K – 3.
Richard Sabousky – Visual Interventions and Treatments: Fact, Fiction or Something in Between
There are a variety of notions and myths around the idea of visual treatments for individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities, or Dyslexia. Participants will explore these and identify the notions with empirically-based data behind them versus those with intuitive appeal.