Workshops are research-based and interactive, with opportunities to try out new skills and receive on-the-spot coaching. Participants take away concrete strategies to use right away, and a personalized plan to apply their learning over time.
As of 2018, professional development, consulting, and coaching is offered directly through Dr. Filippini.
More information www.alexisfilippini.com
Topics include inclusion, universal design for learning, positive behavior supports,
literacy, introduction to learning differences, and more.
Looking for print and pdf resources? Click here.
As of 2018, professional development, consulting, and coaching is offered directly through Dr. Filippini.
More information www.alexisfilippini.com
Topics include inclusion, universal design for learning, positive behavior supports,
literacy, introduction to learning differences, and more.
Looking for print and pdf resources? Click here.
Upcoming Events
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Support for Families Information & Resource Conference 2019
Everyday Literacy: Reading and writing at home with less stress and more joy Alexis Filippini, PhD, Executive Director, Building on the Best Support your child's reading and writing development with less stress and more joy! Explore easy, fun ways to bring literacy into the family's everyday routines. This imaginative, interactive workshop is focused on beginning readers of any age. Families with special needs and non-English speaking families are especially welcome, though all families will discover new ideas. Saturday, April 13th 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM John O'Connell High School 2355 Folsom St. San Francisco, CA 94110 |
Registration opens March 20th, 2019
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What do people say?Read a commentary on a Building on the Best presentation at EdRev: Swimming in Words, by Jim Cartwright of the San Francisco Scottish Rite Center.
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stay in touch
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We're busy developing new projects this year, but we do have a few workshops scheduled. Stay in touch and find out more through the Building on the Best newsletter.
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past events
EVERYDAY LITERACY: Discover imaginative ways to bring reading and writing into your family's routine at an interactive parent-child play & learn group.
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
Mondays beginning January 22, 2018 in San Francisco
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
Mondays beginning January 22, 2018 in San Francisco
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How to Facilitate Effective, Efficient, and Energizing Meetings
Fridays September 23, October 21, and November 4, 2016 More information and registration here. In partnership with the Bay Area Coaching Network |
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If you are an administrator responsible for regular faculty meetings, a coach/trainer/professor who delivers professional development to groups, or a lead teacher running professional learning communities (PLCs) this workshop is for you. Dr. Filippini will demonstrate and unpack strategies to make meetings feel engaging, informative, and efficient - and how you can do the same at your site with your constraints. The workshop includes time to design your own meeting that will leave faculty feeling informed and energized, so bring your notes and “to-do”s for an upcoming meeting. We will also explore how to plan an arc of in-house professional development across the span of the school year. More...
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Promoting Literacy for Students with Learning and Attention Differences: A strength-based approach to motivated and meaningful reading
In partnership with Parents Education Network Ann Martin Center (Emeryville) February 4, 2016 5:30 pm |
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Using a strengths-based perspective, Dr. Filippini will explore creative approaches to fostering a love of reading, including storytelling, audiobooks, neighborhood walks, sleepover book clubs, and more. Comprehension conversations and other strategies to help your child understand what they read will be addressed. Together, audience and presenter will identify specific examples that work for your family, so you will leave with a rich, personalized home literacy menu.
Participants will practice some of the strategies, so families are asked to bring a book to discuss (one that you are reading/have read yourself, not necessarily a children’s book).
Intended for parents of students grades K-5.
Visit the Ann Martin center for details and registration. Please share the flier widely.
Dyslexia Basics: In Light of AB 1369
In partnership with Cawley Carr, M.S., CCC-SLP (president, Northern CA Branch International Dyslexia Association)
Piedmont Unified School District Special Education Department
January 19, 2015
Participants will practice some of the strategies, so families are asked to bring a book to discuss (one that you are reading/have read yourself, not necessarily a children’s book).
Intended for parents of students grades K-5.
Visit the Ann Martin center for details and registration. Please share the flier widely.
Dyslexia Basics: In Light of AB 1369
In partnership with Cawley Carr, M.S., CCC-SLP (president, Northern CA Branch International Dyslexia Association)
Piedmont Unified School District Special Education Department
January 19, 2015
Family Literacy Series
Manzanita Community School, Oakland
Fall, 2015
Two-part series for families of Manzanita Community School plus faculty workshop. Bilingual Spanish/English.
Stressless Summer Reading: Joyful and Productive Literacy at Home
Parents Education Network Silicon Valley
May 14, 2015, 9-11 am
Summer offers wonderful opportunities for developing home literacy practices that are both joyful and productive. Using a strengths-based perspective, Dr. Filippini will explore creative approaches to fostering a love of reading, including storytelling, audiobooks, neighborhood walks, “tween” businesses, sleepover book clubs, and more...
>> More information and registration here.
Manzanita Community School, Oakland
Fall, 2015
Two-part series for families of Manzanita Community School plus faculty workshop. Bilingual Spanish/English.
Stressless Summer Reading: Joyful and Productive Literacy at Home
Parents Education Network Silicon Valley
May 14, 2015, 9-11 am
Summer offers wonderful opportunities for developing home literacy practices that are both joyful and productive. Using a strengths-based perspective, Dr. Filippini will explore creative approaches to fostering a love of reading, including storytelling, audiobooks, neighborhood walks, “tween” businesses, sleepover book clubs, and more...
>> More information and registration here.
Swimming in Words: Enriching the learning environment with language and literacy
EdRev (Education Revolution, Parents Education Network) - Free for students/teachers/parents
April 25, 2015, ATT Park, San Francisco
From waking to sleeping, humans encounter language every day: in speech, writing, gesture, song, and even thought. Through becoming more “word conscious” parents, teachers, and students can “swim” more confidently in this sea of language that surrounds us. This thoughtful attention to language is critical for students with language-based learning differences, and it also engages the whole class (and the teacher!). Participants will develop creative strategies to enrich the learning environment with language and literacy. Along the way, you will become more aware of the language that surrounds you and your students. Bring your questions and ideas to this interactive workshop!
EdRev (Education Revolution) is a unique day of information, resources, celebration and community for students who learn differently and the families and professionals who support them. Free for teachers/students/parents
Keynote: "Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom speaks openly and inspiringly about his experiences with dyslexia." More...
Do You Want Your Kids to Love Reading?
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities Resource Fair - Free event
March 21, 2015, John O'Connell High School, San Francisco
Many families know how important it is to read with children. But why? And how? This workshop will show the importance of talking about books and present strategies to make the most of shared reading in an enjoyable way. Participants will practice using these strategies, so families are asked to bring one of their child’s favorite books.
>> Register here.
Fostering a Love of Reading in and Out of the Classroom
Saturday, February 1, 2014 through Parents Education Network
This workshop will explore storytelling, audiobooks, neighborhood exploring, and other fun ways that teachers can foster a love of reading while developing reading skills. Together, we will practice conversations and strategies teachers can use in the classroom and share with families to support learning at home.
Register here. Flier: 1314PreschoolTeachers
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
Summer Home Literacy Menu: Building Literacy at Home
In this workshop we will create a summer home literacy menu by looking at children's literacy from a strengths-based perspective. We start by generating a list of skills and knowledge that diverse children, including those with disabilities, use for reading and writing. Then we will explore that ways that your family already does literacy activities in your everyday activities. Then, we'll match up your children's strengths with your family literacy strengths so you will leave with a personal menu of fun, easy, everyday literacy activities. We will also explore how to share this information with education professionals.
Saturday, June 1, 2013 4Cs Child Care Coordinating Council
Flier: Inclusion
Saturday, April 13, 2013: EdRev/Education Revolution
2. Enriching the Learning Environments with Language and Literacy
As humans, spoken language is our primary mode of communication and we encounter language throughout the day, not just during English/Language Arts. In this workshop, participants will develop techniques for enriching the learning environment with language and literacy during the many “teachable moments” that occur outside of dedicated literacy instruction.
Thursday, April 4, 2013: Council for Exceptional Children
Michael Gerber, Beverly Johns, and Alexis Filippini
Reconciling Inclusion and Tiered Instruction PanelSpecial education is meant to fit the needs of students. Broad policies that favor inclusion as well as multitiered intervention strategies can be in conflict with that principle and with each other. In this session, a distinguished panel will discuss the problem and provide potential solutions.Topic Areas: Accessing the General Education Curriculum that is Aligned with State Standards and Collaboration and Inclusive Practices
Friday, February 2, 2001: Bridging the Bay Regional Conference
Building on the Best: More Sanity and Less Chaos in AfterSchool
In this workshop, participants will learn strategies to prevent, not just respond to, challenging behavior. Using examples from your programs, we will identify student strengths and skills, and look for the meaning underlying their behavior. Using that information, we will create a proactive plan that builds on the student’s strengths. This may include engineering the environment, adopting more developmentally appropriate practices, teaching alternative behaviors to replace the challenging behavior, and more. You will leave with new perspective and tools for addressing challenging behavior.
Enriching the Learning Environment with Language and Literacy for Diverse Learners with Alexis Filippini, Ph.D.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
9:30 – 1 p.m. (Registration 9-9:30)
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) acknowledge the importance of language and its relationship to critical thinking not only in English/Language arts, but also in content area subjects. But how can teachers incorporate this focus effectively, especially in classrooms with a wide range of student strengths and needs? In this workshop, teachers will develop a plan for a learning environment that is constantly enriched by language and literacy to meet the demands of the CCSS for all learners, including those with IEPs and English Language Learners. Download the flier.
As humans, language is our primary mode of communication and we encounter it throughout the day. But many “teachable moments” go unseen and untaught. We will examine how the teacher can use teacher talk, student talk, and assistive technology to enrich the learning environment with language and literacy.
520 3rd Street, Suite 109, Oakland, CA
Cost: $100 ($75 before Nov. 5)
Scholarships available.
EdRev (Education Revolution, Parents Education Network) - Free for students/teachers/parents
April 25, 2015, ATT Park, San Francisco
From waking to sleeping, humans encounter language every day: in speech, writing, gesture, song, and even thought. Through becoming more “word conscious” parents, teachers, and students can “swim” more confidently in this sea of language that surrounds us. This thoughtful attention to language is critical for students with language-based learning differences, and it also engages the whole class (and the teacher!). Participants will develop creative strategies to enrich the learning environment with language and literacy. Along the way, you will become more aware of the language that surrounds you and your students. Bring your questions and ideas to this interactive workshop!
EdRev (Education Revolution) is a unique day of information, resources, celebration and community for students who learn differently and the families and professionals who support them. Free for teachers/students/parents
Keynote: "Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom speaks openly and inspiringly about his experiences with dyslexia." More...
Do You Want Your Kids to Love Reading?
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities Resource Fair - Free event
March 21, 2015, John O'Connell High School, San Francisco
Many families know how important it is to read with children. But why? And how? This workshop will show the importance of talking about books and present strategies to make the most of shared reading in an enjoyable way. Participants will practice using these strategies, so families are asked to bring one of their child’s favorite books.
>> Register here.
Fostering a Love of Reading in and Out of the Classroom
Saturday, February 1, 2014 through Parents Education Network
This workshop will explore storytelling, audiobooks, neighborhood exploring, and other fun ways that teachers can foster a love of reading while developing reading skills. Together, we will practice conversations and strategies teachers can use in the classroom and share with families to support learning at home.
Register here. Flier: 1314PreschoolTeachers
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
Summer Home Literacy Menu: Building Literacy at Home
In this workshop we will create a summer home literacy menu by looking at children's literacy from a strengths-based perspective. We start by generating a list of skills and knowledge that diverse children, including those with disabilities, use for reading and writing. Then we will explore that ways that your family already does literacy activities in your everyday activities. Then, we'll match up your children's strengths with your family literacy strengths so you will leave with a personal menu of fun, easy, everyday literacy activities. We will also explore how to share this information with education professionals.
Saturday, June 1, 2013 4Cs Child Care Coordinating Council
Flier: Inclusion
Saturday, April 13, 2013: EdRev/Education Revolution
- Reaching the Reluctant Learner: Using Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Supports to Increase Engagement
2. Enriching the Learning Environments with Language and Literacy
As humans, spoken language is our primary mode of communication and we encounter language throughout the day, not just during English/Language Arts. In this workshop, participants will develop techniques for enriching the learning environment with language and literacy during the many “teachable moments” that occur outside of dedicated literacy instruction.
Thursday, April 4, 2013: Council for Exceptional Children
Michael Gerber, Beverly Johns, and Alexis Filippini
Reconciling Inclusion and Tiered Instruction PanelSpecial education is meant to fit the needs of students. Broad policies that favor inclusion as well as multitiered intervention strategies can be in conflict with that principle and with each other. In this session, a distinguished panel will discuss the problem and provide potential solutions.Topic Areas: Accessing the General Education Curriculum that is Aligned with State Standards and Collaboration and Inclusive Practices
Friday, February 2, 2001: Bridging the Bay Regional Conference
Building on the Best: More Sanity and Less Chaos in AfterSchool
In this workshop, participants will learn strategies to prevent, not just respond to, challenging behavior. Using examples from your programs, we will identify student strengths and skills, and look for the meaning underlying their behavior. Using that information, we will create a proactive plan that builds on the student’s strengths. This may include engineering the environment, adopting more developmentally appropriate practices, teaching alternative behaviors to replace the challenging behavior, and more. You will leave with new perspective and tools for addressing challenging behavior.
Enriching the Learning Environment with Language and Literacy for Diverse Learners with Alexis Filippini, Ph.D.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
9:30 – 1 p.m. (Registration 9-9:30)
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) acknowledge the importance of language and its relationship to critical thinking not only in English/Language arts, but also in content area subjects. But how can teachers incorporate this focus effectively, especially in classrooms with a wide range of student strengths and needs? In this workshop, teachers will develop a plan for a learning environment that is constantly enriched by language and literacy to meet the demands of the CCSS for all learners, including those with IEPs and English Language Learners. Download the flier.
As humans, language is our primary mode of communication and we encounter it throughout the day. But many “teachable moments” go unseen and untaught. We will examine how the teacher can use teacher talk, student talk, and assistive technology to enrich the learning environment with language and literacy.
520 3rd Street, Suite 109, Oakland, CA
Cost: $100 ($75 before Nov. 5)
Scholarships available.
