Nora Chahbazi
Nora Chahbazi is the founder of EBLI: Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction, a comprehensive system of evidence-aligned teacher training and student lessons for reading, spelling, and writing instruction in whole-class and remediation settings. Formerly a Neonatal ICU nurse, Nora shifted her life’s work to creating and refining EBLI, training teachers, teaching learners of all ages and ability levels, and advocating for high-level literacy for all after teaching her own daughter to read in 1997. She is a volunteer literacy consultant for DNA Films and the team creating and producing The Truth About Reading documentary.
Concurrent Session Description
How a Dyslexic Man Learned to Read after Decades of Struggle
Nora Chahbazi and David Chalk
(Special Ed, Dyslexia, Other Learning Challenges, Social-Emotional Learning, Spelling, Components of Literacy Instruction, General Science of Reading)
David Chalk suffered from dyslexia and limited literacy his whole life. Though he was successful in many areas, the emotional trauma, anxiety, and limited life choices resulting from his literacy difficulties impacted him daily. In May 2021 he learned to read and spell; the entirety of his instruction was captured on film. Some of this footage will be used in The Truth About Reading literacy documentary, currently under production. In this session, you will hear David’s riveting story and learn specifics about the evidence-aligned instructional practices that he was taught, that he wishes he’d been taught in the classroom as a child, and that turned his life around.
Target Audience(s): Early Childhood (Birth – 4 years), Elementary, Middle/Jr. High, High School
Education Track(s): New to the Science of Reading, Advanced Science of Reading, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership