September 26, 2020 – Coffee Chat #1 – Structured Literacy

“Knowledge has a beginning with no end.” -Geeta Iyengar Register to join our Coffee Chat on Structured Literacy! with Special Guests Susan L. Hall, EdD and Becky Rapier  Saturday, September 26th 10:00-11:00 Via Zoom Develop essential knowledge and skill in the core components of Structured Literacy by joining Susan Hall and Becky Rapier as they dive into a 20 minute chat about Structured Literacy instruction. Get your questions answered during the Q & A session. Save your spot for this exciting Coffee Chat! Register today! Register Here

AZ IDA Host:

Misty Castillo, MA Elementary Education, Reading Specialist Endorsed is a Title I English Language Arts Program Specialist in her 21st year of education. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University and then pursued a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Endorsement Certification. Misty has a passion for assisting all children in becoming lifelong readers. This passion led her on a quest of becoming a certified Wilson Dyslexia Therapist and Wilson Credentialed Trainer.

Misty works closely with Reading Specialists and teachers in Gilbert Public Schools providing professional learning on the science of reading as well as certifying teachers as Wilson Dyslexia Practitioners. Misty believes knowledge is the key to closing the reading gap. Therefore, she devotedly shares the gift of knowledge with educators, parents, and community. She continues to educate herself and be involved in the cutting edge of research so that she may continue to spread the importance of best first instruction in English Language Arts. Misty is extremely proud to be a Board Member of the Arizona Branch of the International Dyslexia Association.

Special Guests:

Susan L. Hall, EdD. is founder and CEO of an educational company called 95 Percent Group Inc. The company’s mission is to help teachers and administrators identify and address the needs of struggling readers. 95 Percent Group provides professional development, diagnostic assessments, and instructional materials so teachers have the knowledge base and tools to improve outcomes for struggling readers. Dr. Hall is especially known for her expertise on the use of literacy assessment data to inform differentiated instruction delivered in small groups to address specific skill deficits. For over ten years Susan served as a national LETRS trainer and she is an Acadience Mentor Trainer. Dr. Hall is author or coauthor of 8 books about reading development, including I’ve DIBEL’d, Now What?, Jumpstart RTI, and her most recent book, 10 Success Factors for Literacy Interventions.

Becky Rapier is a teacher with decades of teaching, coaching and administrative experience. She has worked with several Arizona school districts to improve reading and writing instruction, and at the Arizona Department of Education writing, revising and teaching teachers about English Language Arts Standards. She supported the Arizona Move on When Reading (MOWR) initiative by providing intensive literacy professional development to teachers. Recently, she joined 95 Percent Group, Inc. to continue working with teachers, schools and districts on improving student literacy skills.