Introducing the first-ever annual Redwood TALKS!

Our first virtual conference is happening on April 24th! Enjoy up to 12 pre-recorded sessions by professionals from a variety of educational backgrounds. This conference will be helpful for parents and educators alike.

Enjoy up to 12 pre-recorded sessions by selecting the bundle of your choice and hearing from professionals from various educational backgrounds. Redwood TALKS will cover topics such as myths about dyslexia, writing an IEP, what students are legally entitled to, and so much more. All presentations will be available for one week only starting on April 24th.

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100% of proceeds go to Redwood Passages: RW’s new social justice initiative to create culturally relevant and controlled texts that reflect our students and communities and experiences more accurately.

Teacher Bundle

Kait Feriante: What is Dyslexia and What It Is Not

Marjorie A. Getz, PhD: IEPs: The Room Where It Happens

Lauren Brown: Strategies for Effective Structured Literacy Intervention for Early Elementary Students

Grace Detloff: How to Teach Structured Literacy Intervention via Zoom

Becky Sinclair: Holistic Workflow & Wellness as an Educator

Kelsey Dadey: Introduction to The Writing Revolution®    (There is no official partnership between Redwood Literacy and The Writing Revolution® by Judith C. Hochman and Natalie Wexler.)

Katie Chhu: How to Read My Child’s Neuropsych Evaluation

Shira Raviv Schwartz: Best Practices in Educational Advocacy for Students with Dyslexia

Parent Bundle

Kait Feriante: What is Dyslexia and What It Is Not

Marjorie A. Getz, PhD: IEPs: The Room Where It Happens

Shira Raviv Schwartz: Best Practices in Educational Advocacy for Students with Dyslexia

Shelley Kolasa: My Child Has Dyslexia, Now What

Dr. Lauren McClenney-Rosenstein: Relationship Building with Families of Dyslexic Students

Dr. Shawn A. Robinson: From Failure to Freedom, The Power of Learning to Read

Jacqueline Ross: Using Special Education Law to Get What Your Child Needs

Katie Chhu: How to Read My Child’s Neuropsych Evaluation

Full Bundle

Kait Feriante: What is Dyslexia and What It Is Not

Marjorie A. Getz, PhD: IEPs: The Room Where It Happens

Lauren Brown: Strategies for Effective Structured Literacy Intervention for Early Elementary Students

Grace Detloff: How to Teach Structured Literacy Intervention via Zoom

Becky Sinclair: Holistic Workflow & Wellness as an Educator

Kelsey Dadey: Introduction to The Writing Revolution®     (There is no official partnership between Redwood Literacy and The Writing Revolution® by Judith C. Hochman and Natalie Wexler.)

Katie Chhu: How to Read My Child’s Neuropsych Evaluation

Shira Raviv Schwartz: Best Practices in Educational Advocacy for Students with Dyslexia

Shelley Kolasa: My Child Has Dyslexia, Now What

Dr. Lauren McClenney-Rosenstein: Relationship Building with Families of Dyslexic Students

Dr. Shawn A. Robinson: From Failure to Freedom, The Power of Learning to Read

Jacqueline Ross: Using Special Education Law to Get What Your Child Needs

Kait Feriante is a certified Learning Behavior Specialist and Dyslexia Practitioner who is passionate about seeing ALL students, regardless of age, geographical location or socio-economic background learn how to read and write, equipping them to reach and show off their full potential. She believes that literacy empowers people to become fully alive. She has worked in a variety of public, charter, and private school settings for over a decade and has supported diverse learners ages 5-55 in their literacy and self-advocacy journeys. Kait founded Redwood Literacy with the intention of a 50/50 model, using 50% of our services to fund the opportunity for 50% of Redwood’s students impacted by Redwood to receive services for free. To do this, she has fostered partnerships with organizations and schools all over Chicago to provide structured literacy intervention to students who otherwise wouldn’t have access. As of January 2021, Redwood is serving 290 students, with 160 of them having access to our services for free. Kait also consults with start-up organizations and educational institutions to advise on incorporating groundbreaking structured literacy intervention into classrooms and presenting on Redwood’s 1:5 curriculum that teaches students, parents, and teachers to navigate the unique journey of dyslexia learning.

Dr. Lauren McClenney-Rosenstein’s passion for educating, advocating, and bringing awareness to dyslexia at the domestic and international levels began in the elementary classrooms of private schools serving students with language-based learning disabilities. She has been a certified Special Educator for a decade, and she earned her Doctor of Education in Teaching, Learning, Leadership, & Curriculum in 2019 from Northeastern University and holds a dual masters in Special Education and Elementary Education from Syracuse University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Syracuse University. Her dedication to providing the gold standard of instruction to individuals with dyslexia led her to obtain her endorsement at the Associate level through The Orton-Gillingham Academy in 2014. Eventually, she expanded her skill set in the public schools as a 7th and 8th grade math and English Language Arts (ELA) co-teacher before taking a position with a non-profit organization that advocates for inclusion in public schools for students with disabilities.

Becky Sinclair is an educator with 15 years of service in the Chicago Public School system, having taught in diverse classrooms from Roseland to Rogers Park.  Becky came to  Chicago as a graduate of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI where she obtained her Bachelors in Elementary and Special Education.  She also holds a  Masters in School Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University.  Throughout her career, Becky has concentrated on Special Education in various settings. She is passionate about engaging diverse learners in individualized environments, developing social-emotional competencies, and fostering a love of life-long learning.  Always an advocate for her students and community, she has  raised over $27k in Donor’s Choose donations, and was recognized for her  work as a 2015 Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction.

Jacqueline (“Jackie”) Ross co-teaches the Education Law Practicum and supervises the Stand Up for Each Other Chicago (SUFEO Chicago) project of the Civitas ChildLaw Clinic.  In this role, she provides direct representation to parents and students in school discipline, special education, and bullying cases.  She also provides supervision and training to law students who provide legal information and advocacy on education law matters. Jackie previously served as a staff attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow at Equip for Equality.  Her Equal Justice Works Fellowship project improved outcomes for low-income children of color with disabilities through representation of parents in school meetings, hearings, and ancillary court proceedings. Before law school, she taught at a state-approved, therapeutic day school for students with disabilities across all subjects and provided intensive science-based interventions to struggling readers.

Shawn Anthony Robinson, PhD, is a FT Reading Faculty Member at Madison College, a Senior Research Associate in the Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an Adjunct professor at American University in the School of Education, and serves on the Board of Directors with the International Dyslexia Association. Robinson graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) with a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Services, a Master’s in Education from DePaul University, and a PhD in Language and Literacy from Cardinal Stritch University. Robinson has over 40 publications and has received several distinguished honors throughout his early career such as: the 2017 Alumni Achievement Award/New Trier High School Alumni Hall of Honor; the 2016 Outstanding Young Alumni Award from UWO; and the All-State Insurance’s 2005 Educator of the Year Chicago, ILL. Dr. Robinson is the author, along with Dr. Inshirah V. Robinson, of the Dr. Dyslexia Dude book series. He is a sought-after speaker, both nationally and the state level, for various organizations and school districts.

Katie Chhu works exclusively with students with language-based learning disabilities at Landmark School. She has taught study skills classes and one-on-one remedial language arts tutorials. As the Director of Landmark Outreach’s Online Program, she developed, taught, and coordinated dyslexia studies online courses for professional development.  She recently transitioned into a new role as an admission counselor for Landmark School evaluating diagnostic testing to assess students' learning profiles and academic needs.    

Shira Raviv Schwartz is an educational advocate who partners with families and district teams building strong intuitive advocacy solutions for a myriad of student school problems. As a 25-year veteren classroom teacher and SLANT certified reading specialist, Shira has a keen understanding of support needed for students struggling with dyslexia, autism, intellectual disability, executive functioning, anxiety, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delay, emotional and behavioral challenges. Shira, who holds an M.Ed in instruction and supervision, is a Highland Park mother of 3 children, all of whom have had special education learning plans (IEP or 504). Shira also serves on the board of Everyone Reading Illinois (formerly the Illinois Dyslexia Association) and is active in working on legislation in the areas of special education, dyslexia and diversity/inclusion at the state level.

Shelley Kolasa is a Certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner as well as an English teacher. During her 12 years as a classroom teacher, she worked with both middle and high school students. The majority of her experience was spent helping newly arrived immigrant students learn English and navigate the American school system. It was there that her passion for making literacy accessible to students of all reading abilities began. Her education path recently led her to obtain her certification in the Wilson Reading System in order to help her son with dyslexia. L Path Literacy was inspired by him. In order to help him overcome his unique reading challenges, she has learned to take individual abilities into account as she creates paths toward literacy for a wide variety of students.

Kelsey Coca is the lead writing instructor at Redwood Day in Rogers Park, Chicago. A strong believer in scaffolded writing instruction, Kelsey has been supporting students with learning differences at Redwood for the past two years. She has contributed to Redwood’s writing curriculum and student materials, with the intention of helping all writers find their voice.

Grace Detloff is a Wilson Certified Dyslexia Practitioner and is the Director of Redwood GROW at Redwood Literacy. She teaches students ranging from 7-19 years old and enjoys getting to see the puzzle pieces of literacy come together in her students minds.

Lauren Brown is a Wilson Certified Dyslexia Practitioner and  lead literacy specialist at Redwood Day in Rogers Park, Chicago. Helping students unlock the gift of reading and find confidence in themselves brings great joy to Lauren as she was a struggling reader as a child.  Lauren has a degree in Early Childhood Education and is working on her Masters in Dyslexia Therapy.