Teachers as Noninvasive Neurosurgeons: Addressing the Neuroscience of the Reading Brain
Location
Session 2: Room 105
Start Date
24-2-2023 11:00 AM
End Date
24-2-2023 11:50 AM
First Presenter's Brief Biography
Zachery Ward, Ed.S. is an award-winning educator that is on fire for improving student learning through teaching the teacher. He has a heart for instructional technology, children's literacy development, and positive behavior supports. He currently serves as a Lecturer of Education within the College of Education at Georgia Southwestern State University. He also has accomplished teaching experience as a third-grade teacher, special education co-teacher, RTI/MTSS Coordinator, and has held many school-level leadership roles. Zachery's educational practices are rooted in love, and he believes that educators must address the heart before the brain. He values building relationships with his students and uses their interests and needs when making decisions. Zachery Ward is a three-time alumnus of Georgia Southwestern State University, having earned a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, a master's degree in Elementary Education, and a specialist degree in Elementary Education. He also earned his Tier-1 Educational Leadership certification from the University of West Georgia. Zachery’s ongoing research interests include the neuroscience of the reading and learning brain, effective use of instructional technology, the pedagogical development of teacher candidates, and school equity, diversity, and inclusion. Zachery has led professional development on reading strategies and cultural competencies for practicing educators in Georgia. Zachery has worked alongside the Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Lexia Learning, and many school systems in Georgia to present on topics that include, RTI and MTSS Supports, Supporting LGBTQ+ Students, and Innovation Through Reading Instruction. In 2016, Zachery was named a National Student Teaching Fellow by the Network of National Teachers of the Year. In 2017, he was awarded Distinguished Chapter Officer by Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society for education. Most recently, Zachery was awarded the 2021 Commitment to Innovation Award given by The Georgia Department of Education and Georgia Public Broadcasting. Zachery is a South Georgia native and has one son named, Cannon. Zachery defines himself as a life-long learner and unconventionalist who seeks opportunities to serve and lead in the educational community.
Presentation Type
Concurrent Session
Abstract
Grab your scrubs and sponges! Teachers must act as noninvasive neurosurgeons to teach students to read. As students all have different minds, teachers must teach explicitly and systematically to reach all learners. Join me in exploring reading strategies that will help open your students’ minds.
Conference Strands
Content Area Reading
Description
Teachers know that it takes a great amount of work to lay the foundation for early reading development. There are numerous skills that students must master before they are able to become effective word readers and skillful comprehenders. Teachers must meet students where they are on their reading journey. The Science of Reading alongside innovative reading strategies will help students become better readers. Participants in this session will explore hands-on learning opportunities, the non-so-natural progression of reading, and methods to teach struggling or relucent readers. All participants will leave with a full toolbox of reading interventions and teaching strategies that will help early readers become more successful. Some of the strategies include phoneme and grapheme segmentation games, whole-body vocabulary acquisition through movement, and fluency and comprehension through role-playing. Meaningful texts that connect to students’ community and cultural assets will be used and participants will leave with a plethora of ideas to use in their classrooms.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Teachers as Noninvasive Neurosurgeons: Addressing the Neuroscience of the Reading Brain
Session 2: Room 105
Grab your scrubs and sponges! Teachers must act as noninvasive neurosurgeons to teach students to read. As students all have different minds, teachers must teach explicitly and systematically to reach all learners. Join me in exploring reading strategies that will help open your students’ minds.
