Keynote

This presentation will go over why vocabulary instruction is vital to literacy growth, why traditional approaches to vocabulary instruction don't work, and what teachers can do to teach words effectively.

In From Frustration to Fluency: How Dyslexia Shaped My Literacy Journey, Joy Buckner shares her experiences as a dyslexic learner, offering an in-depth look at navigating literacy challenges in a world designed for fluent readers.

Through her journey, Joy reveals the unique ways dyslexia shapes a student’s connection to language, self-confidence, and academic success. The talk will explore the history and evolving understanding of dyslexia, highlighting its distinct impact on literacy and learning.

Educators will gain insight into the often invisible challenges dyslexic students face, alongside practical strategies for fostering an inclusive classroom environment. Most importantly, this session encourages teachers to recognize and appreciate the unique strengths that neurodivergent learners bring to literacy, from creative problem-solving to fresh perspectives on language and comprehension. Through Joy’s story, educators will discover how empowering these strengths can transform frustration into fluency and open new pathways to success.