Roughly 1 in 5 children in the United States are neurodivergent with learning differences such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. Despite the prevalence of these diverse learners in schools, educators often say they need more knowledge, resources, and support to ensure strong academic and social-emotional outcomes for these students. Join us during National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month for insights that will help teachers, administrators, and staff better understand this population of students, get up to speed on the latest research, and challenge fixed mindsets about how students develop and learn.
Attendees will gain:
- Best practices for talking to students with learning differences about why they may struggle to learn certain skills—and how to support them
- Data on the rising prevalence of neurodivergence across student demographic groups and who is over/under identified and diagnosed
- Expert insights on the strengths-based view of learning differences and the ongoing debate about whether that puts supports and services for students at risk
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Agenda
2:00pm ET
Welcome & Introduction
We’ll highlight key insights from recent reporting on learning differences.
Lesli Maxwell is managing editor of Education Week.
2:10pm ET
Interactive Session: How Prevalent Are Learning Differences?
See the latest national data on the prevalence of dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and other learning differences. We will poll the audience on the most common learning differences they see among students in their schools and classrooms and how that’s changed over time.
Lesli Maxwell is managing editor of Education Week.
2:20pm ET
Industry Perspective: See Every Student: The Power of Personalized Teaching
Sponsor content provided by Renaissance
For decades, schools have invested in technology to personalize student learning. Yet this approach has clearly left some students behind. Why is this?
Find out why personalized learning is only half of the equation—and how educators can leverage the right data, tools, and strategies to deliver the personalized teaching that students need for success. You’ll also discover how recent advances in technology—including AI—empower educators at all levels to better identify and address student needs in the moment, so they can truly see every student in a classroom, school, or district.
For decades, schools have invested in technology to personalize student learning. Yet this approach has clearly left some students behind. Why is this?
Find out why personalized learning is only half of the equation—and how educators can leverage the right data, tools, and strategies to deliver the personalized teaching that students need for success. You’ll also discover how recent advances in technology—including AI—empower educators at all levels to better identify and address student needs in the moment, so they can truly see every student in a classroom, school, or district.
Storey Sitwala
Senior Director of Product Management,
Renaissance
Storey Sitwala is Senior Director of Product Management at Renaissance. Throughout her career, she has focused on the challenge of how to scale insight-driven best practices for educators. She has spearheaded and developed innovative solutions across education nonprofits, school systems, and within the education technology sector, leveraging her expertise in information science, data visualization, psychology, and user experience design.
2:30pm ET
Panel Discussion: Explaining Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Other Learning Differences to Students
Hear from experts on how educators—especially teachers and principals—can better support students in their learning journeys. We’ll explore: the importance of understanding and explaining to students why they struggle to learn when their peers don't; creating a stigma-free classroom environment; and fostering students' ability to advocate for themselves and their unique needs in the classroom and beyond.
Arianna Prothero covers technology, student well-being, and the intersection of the two for Education Week.
3:15pm ET
Expert Q&A: What Is a Strengths-Based View of Learning Differences and Does It Help Students?
Learn how the way people talk and think about neurodiversity, such as ADHD, has evolved, and what it means to take a strengths-based view of students who have learning differences. We’ll unpack the debate about whether the push to frame neurodiversity as a so-called “superpower” can put students at risk of not receiving necessary supports and interventions at school.
3:45pm ET
Interactive Session: How Can Schools Do a Better Job of Identifying and Supporting Students with Learning Differences?
We will discuss key research findings on the under/over identification of students with learning differences. Audience members are encouraged to share their experiences, best practices, and questions about how to ensure that students are evaluated and identified accurately.
3:55pm ET
Closing Thoughts
Hear the big takeaways from this forum.
Lesli Maxwell is managing editor of Education Week.
