At Hoffman Empowerment Seminars, we offer hands-on, research-informed training that helps educators recognize and respond to the needs of struggling readers.
Our workshops are built for real classrooms – not theory. Whether you’re just starting your structured literacy journey or supporting a district-wide implementation, we’ll meet you where you are.
From short simulations to multi-day intensives, every training is designed to leave educators feeling more confident, more equipped, and more empowered to make a difference.
Workshop 1: A Walk In Their Shoes: A Dyslexia Simulation & Introduction to Structured Literacy
Length: 2.5 hours.
This powerful session helps educators build empathy and understanding for students with dyslexia. We begin with a clear, accessible introduction to what dyslexia is – and what it isn’t – along with an overview of the Simple View of Reading to lay the groundwork.
Then, through a series of immersive, hands-on activities, teachers experience the frustration, fatigue, and confusion that struggling readers face every day. The session ends with a reflective group discussion that leaves educators thinking differently about how they teach – and why instructional methods matter.
Perfect for:
- Superintendent’s Conference Day
- PD days
- New teacher orientation
- K-12 school-wide awareness
Workshop 2: 3-Day Seminar: Understanding Dyslexia & the Foundations of Reading.
Length: 3 full days (flexible delivery model available)
This signature training is where transformation begins. Over three powerful days, educators develop a deep understanding of dyslexia, how skilled reading develops, and what to do when it doesn’t. The experience combines emotional insight, research-based instruction, and practical tools teachers can use right away.
- Day 1 focuses on empathy – educators explore the lived experiences of individuals with dyslexia and confront common myths that can cloud understanding and decision-making in schools. Through discussion, reflection, and hands-on simulations, participants gain insight into the emotional and cognitive toll of reading difficulties – along with the social-emotional impact dyslexia can have on a student’s confidence, identity, and school experience.
- Day 2 builds awareness – participants explore reading disorders that impact students, learn to recognize signs and symptoms of dyslexia, discuss the history of reading instruction, examine how Orton-Gillingham was developed, and review ways to identify phonological weaknesses that often underlie reading struggles.
- Day 3 is all about application – educators explore the essential components of effective reading and spelling instruction, starting with a clear understanding of phonemic and phonological awareness. We dig into decoding, fluency, and structured spelling routines, including Simultaneous Oral Spelling (SOS), a multisensory strategy that strengthens sound-symbol connections and working memory. The afternoon focuses on handwriting—an often overlooked but critical element of structured literacy—and includes real examples of student work that bring these practices to life in the classroom.
Participants leave with:
- A clear understanding of dyslexia and reading development
- The ability to recognize signs of reading difficulty
- Historical context for why some reading methods fail
- Tools to being making structured literacy a reality in their classrooms
Perfect for:
- General education teachers
- Special education teams
- Reading interventionists and literacy leaders
- BOCES-wide initiatives
Next-Level Dyslexia instruction: Advanced Lesson Planning for Whole and Small Groups
Length: 1 day.
This advanced workshop is designed for educators who have completed the three-day Understanding Dyslexia seminar and are ready to take the next step. The session focuses on applying structured literacy in real classrooms – both whole-group and small-group – through intentional lesson design and high-impact routines.
Participants will learn how to plan effective, differentiated instruction using decodable texts, explicit routines, and targeted strategies that support all learners. With an emphasis on practical tools, this workshop includes ready-to-use lesson templates and planning frameworks teachers can implement immediately.
Perfect for:
- Educators who have completed the 3-day seminar
- General and special education teachers
- Literacy specialists and interventionists
- Schools ready to deepen structured literacy implementation