About the Course
Before we call it dyslexia, we need to ask whether the brain was ever trained for the thinking reading requires. Too often, instruction assumes attention, pattern recognition, sound–symbol organization, and the ability to hold meaning—without ever intentionally building them. When reading collapses under those demands, labels follow. This training challenges educators to pause before diagnosis and take responsibility for developing the cognitive foundations that make reading possible.
Participants will leave able to:
• Distinguish true dyslexia from reading failure rooted in undeveloped cognition
• Identify where instruction assumes thinking instead of building it
• Understand how mediation trains the brain before labeling begins
• Protect students from premature diagnosis by strengthening instruction first
Prerequisites
No prerequisites required.
Learning Materials
Not applicable
Certification
Certificate of Completion: Before You Call it Dyslexia
Course Trainer
Gwen Lavert
Gwendolyn Battle Lavert, PhD, is an international literacy specialist. She has served as principal of Frances Slocum Elementary in Marion, Indiana, and as a leadership and literacy expert in the Middle East, where she led curricular improvement and professional development initiatives. Dr. Lavert has been an educator since 1974 and has experience as a teacher, district literacy specialist, and district administrator in a variety of school settings. She has been an assistant professor at the College of Education at Indiana Wesleyan University. Dr. Lavert received a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in literacy from Texas A&M University. Her doctorate in education leadership is from Indiana State University. She is a noted children's author and professional development author.
