For Learners & Families
News and Resources
Announcing the Blanche Podhajski Institute for Learner Success
The Stern Center for Language and Learning (Stern Center) is establishing the Blanche Podhajski Institute for Learner Success, honoring the organization’s founder and President Emerita.
My Stern Center Story: Sean Plasse
Imagine you’re eight years old in a classroom of fourteen other kids, given an audiobook of Charlotte’s Web on CD and told there will be a final exam. You put your headphones on, and your copy is the one someone scratched with steel wool — mercilessly. How long could you sit with that, listening to nothing but noise, before the panic sets in?
Film Screening of Vermont Documentary Gone Guys
Join the Stern Center and Generator for a free screening of the Vermont documentary film Gone Guys, followed by light refreshments and a group discussion lead by youth and community educators Shaun Stephens, Stern Center Speech Language Pathologist, and Mason Merriam, Generator Director of Facilities & Operations.
Eric Ford Joins Stern Center as Director of Strategic Communications
[Williston, Vermont, February 10, 2026] This is a new role on the leadership team of the Vermont-based nonprofit Stern Center. As Director, Eric will focus on fostering awareness of the organization’s mission to help learners and empower teachers; inspiring donor support to ensure access to life-changing learning; and building connections that strengthen communities.
What social learning should my child who struggles making friends, learn at home, and how do I teach them?
Making friends can be challenging for children who struggle with social understanding, but these skills can be taught. Start by creating opportunities that feel safe and predictable. One-on-one playdates or small group activities are often easier than large, unstructured settings. Choosing peers with similar interests can also increase success. Before social interactions, practice skills such […]
Which Programs Actually Work for Dyslexia—Orton-Gillingham, … What’s Best?
Parents often ask, “Which reading program is best for my child with dyslexia?” The truth is, there isn’t a single program that works for every child. What really matters is that the instruction is structured, systematic, and evidence-based. That’s why so many families turn to the Stern Center for Language and Learning. The Stern Center’s […]
How Long Before I Should See Improvement in My Child’s Reading or Writing?
“How long will it take before my child starts getting better at reading or writing?” It’s a really common question, and the answer depends on a few things: where your child is starting, how often they practice, and the type of instruction they get. At the Stern Center for Language and Learning, experts know that […]
What Credentials or Training Should a Reading or Learning Specialist Have?
When parents search for a tutor or specialist, they want someone who truly understands how kids learn. At the Stern Center for Language and Learning, instructors aren’t just passionate—they are highly trained in evidence-based methods for reading, writing, and learning challenges. A qualified specialist should have training in structured literacy approaches, knowledge of dyslexia, and […]
Is Online Tutoring Effective for Kids with Dyslexia?
Many parents wonder if online tutoring can really help children with dyslexia or attention challenges. The answer is a clear yes—especially when the program is run by experts who know how to make virtual learning engaging and effective. That’s exactly what the Stern Center for Language and Learning offers. Stern Center instructors are trained in […]
How Can I Tell If a Reading Tutor Is Using Evidence-Based, Science-of-Reading Instruction?
Choosing a tutor for a child who struggles with reading can feel overwhelming. Parents want to be sure the instruction is based on research, not just opinion or guesswork. That’s where the Stern Center for Language and Learning stands out. Their tutors are trained in science-of-reading methods, which means every lesson focuses on the skills […]
Simple ways to help your child start and enjoy conversations with peers
Helping your child bounce back when communication goes wrong Many children who are neurodiverse struggle to connect with peers, which can leave them feeling isolated or misunderstood. Parents often notice their child wants to make friends but seem unsure how to begin or continue a conversation. This can lead to missed opportunities, frustration, and losses […]
Helping Students with Executive Functioning: From Overwhelmed to Organized
Helping Teens Manage Planning and Organizing Many middle and high school students struggle with executive functioning—the mental skills that help with planning, organization, and self-regulation. When these skills aren’t fully developed, everyday school tasks can feel overwhelming. Teens may forget assignments, lose track of deadlines, or procrastinate until the last minute, leaving both students and […]
Teacher Coaching Sessions: Support for Teachers, Success for Students
By Leigh Buettler, M.S.Ed. Teaching is complex, demanding work, and having a strong network of support makes all the difference. As the start of September stirs up anticipation of new beginnings, fresh energy, and the joy of new school supplies that carried me through 15 years of teaching, I remember the years that stand out […]
Reflecting on a Year of Growth: Key Insights & PD Resources
By Leigh Buettler, M.S.Ed. Now that the school year has wrapped up, it feels like the perfect time to look back at some of the topics we’ve covered in our professional development newsletter. This year, we dug into how to sharpen literacy instruction using clear mastery criteria so students can build strong, automatic reading skills […]
Affordable, Flexible Coaching and Professional Development for Teachers & Teams
By Leigh Buettler, M.S.Ed. There’s a lot going on in the world right now, especially in the world of education. As summer grows near, with the school year close behind it, thinking about upcoming professional development options can be stressful or overwhelming. The Stern Center is here to help you take the stress out of […]
Stern Center Awarded Literacy Improvement Contract by Vermont Agency of Education
Williston, VT – The Stern Center for Language and Learning is pleased to announce that following a national RFP process, the Vermont Agency of Education has selected the Stern Center as a contractor for literacy improvement efforts, working with schools and communities through the Read Vermont initiative.
Breaking the Mold with Engaging, Interactive Professional Development
Building a Virtual Community: Connecting and Collaborating Online I’ve attended virtual professional development that is like listening to an episode of a podcast: I’m anonymous and unseen, the conversation is one-sided, and the presentation is more generic than it is specific to my role and my needs. I bet this has happened to you, too. […]
We Don’t Do “Irrelevant” Professional Development: Why the Stern Center Has a 95% Teacher Satisfaction Rating
48% of teachers report that their PD is irrelevant to their daily instruction. We recognize the value of funding, time, and the need for relevant, engaging professional learning. That’s why our professional development sessions result in a 95% teacher satisfaction rating.
The Science Behind Dyslexia: NPR Highlights Breakthroughs in Understanding and Treatment
National Public Radio delves into the most common learning disability, dyslexia, with insights from Gabrielle Emanuel of the NPR Ed team. While recorded in 2016, the information is still relevant today.
Terms and Conditions for Professional Learning Webinars
Learn more about our terms and conditions for webinars, including policies concerning payments, graduate credits, attendance, and withdrawals.
Terms and Conditions for Professional Learning Courses & Workshops
Learn more about our terms and conditions for courses and workshops, including policies concerning payments, graduate credits, attendance, and withdrawals.
Abby Roy, NCSP, C.A.G.S., Highlights Dyslexia Awareness and Literacy Bill Impact on Vermont Public
Abby Roy, NCSP, C.A.G.S., Highlights Dyslexia Awareness and Literacy Bill Impact on Vermont Public
Unlocking the Impact of Collaborative Learning Communities in Education
Whether through Professional Learning Communities, Communities of Practice, or Learning Collectives, working in a group is a powerful way to enhance learning. When we work and learn together, our collaboration pushes us beyond the limits of independent learning and results in dynamic, rewarding learning.
Why is Assessment Important?
Assessment expert Dr. Melissa Farrall explains how assessment helps us understand why children do what they do, and maps out how we can better meet their unique needs.
M&T Bank and Stern Center Launch Equity and Access Initiative
A generous grant from M&T Bank ensures more students will receive vital education services and support.
Learning How to Read is Harder Than You Think
Reading is a complex skill we learn through explicit instruction and deliberate practice. Here are four ways to support reading success!
Reaching More Learners, Teachers, and School Leaders
Thanks to the generous support of visionary donors, we’re welcoming learners and their families, teachers and school leaders to a new Stern Center website.
The Reading Crisis and What We Can Do to Fix It
Effective literacy instruction in schools is our most powerful tool to advance equity of educational outcomes. Together, we can ensure that every child can read, write, learn, and thrive.
Types of Testing for Learning Disabilities
Testing helps us understand how a child learns best, giving us a full profile of their strengths and needs.
What is Dylsexia?
Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects language, reading, and writing. Learn more about what dyslexia is and how to help people with it.
How to Choose Books for Beginning Readers
Strategies from reading experts about choosing books for early reading include reviewing challenging words on a page, focusing on accuracy, and making it fun!
What is the Science of Reading?
The science of reading draws on decades of research in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, education, and linguistics that seeks to understand how children learn to read.
Learning Disabilities Awareness Month & Dyslexia Awareness Month
As some of you may know, every October people around the world celebrate two very important causes: Learning Disabilities Awareness Month and Dyslexia Awareness Month.
Write On! Three Ways to Teach Your Preschooler That What They Say Can be Written Down
Early literacy games to play at home that focus on building awareness about speech to print: how what we say can be written down.
Sharing Stories, Building Brains
Besides being a great way to connect with your child, reading and talking about books are keys to helping your child develop language, build comprehension and learn more about print.
Five Games to Help Young Children Learn to Read
Activities to help with early reading that are fun and not overwhelming, and leave children asking for more.
Helping Kids Connect Speech to Print
People are motivated to read and write because we know that print contains a message. We also know that anything we say can be put into print.
Reading with Your Child
Besides being a great way to connect with your child, reading and talking about books are keys to helping your children develop language, build comprehension, and learn more about print.
How to Help Struggling Learners
When children and teens struggle in school, families often don’t know what to do or where to turn. Michelle Szabo, the Stern Center’s Director of Instruction, offers some advice to help students who are falling behind.
Dr. Laurie Quinn Speaks with Ric Cengeri, Host of Vermont Viewpoint, on WDEV Radio
On May 11, Ric Cengeri, host of WDEV’s Vermont Viewpoint, interviewed Dr. Laurie Quinn, President of the Stern Center for Language and Learning. In this conversation, Laurie and Ric discuss the variety of services the Stern Center offers that positively impact students and educators.
What if the Way We Greet Each Other Says Something About How Much We Care?
At different times in all our lives we wonder, “How did I wind up here?” Life sometimes takes us into directions we might not have imagined for ourselves. Considering this question in relationship to my job —teaching people who have autism spectrum disorders—my emphatic answer is, “I’m here of my own choosing!”
You Can Do Anything: Book Inspires Kids with Dyslexia
Confidence is earned, not learned.
When a child lacks confidence, academic and social-emotional skills suffer. Lacking confidence, a child drifts through school like a sailboat on a calm day—bobbing on the surface, needing wind.
Terms & Conditions for the MindPlay Comprehensive Reading Course
Learn more about our terms and conditions for the MindPlay Comprehensive Reading Course, including policies concerning payments, graduate credits, and withdrawals.
Beware of False Negatives in Social Learning and Speech Therapy
It’s human nature: we want our children to grow and learn in healthy ways and at healthy rates. If a child isn’t growing, we worry. If a child doesn’t appear to be learning at expected rates, we worry even more.
Congratulations! Your child is Discharged from SLP Services. Now What?
For many parents of young children with language or speech articulation problems, the day your child meets their goals and is discharged from services is cause for celebration.
Parent’s Guide to Tests and Assessments for Children Who Might Have a Learning Disability
When you have questions about assessment, finding the answers should be easy. “All About Tests & Assessments,” co-authored by the Stern Center’s Director of Evaluations, Melissa Farrall, is a comprehensive guide for parents, teachers, and therapists looking to understand how to use tests and assessments to identify students’ challenges and to guide them developing a customized learning plan.
Your Child’s Reading Level is Only the Beginning
A 2012 study, Double Jeopardy: How Third Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation, by the Annie E. Casey Foundation makes explicit that high school graduation rates are dramatically impacted by reading level at the end of third grade, an effect compounded by poverty. That study and dozens since then prompt parents to […]
Dyslexia, Music, and Multisensory Learning
Chloe was referred to the Stern Center for a comprehensive evaluation in response to concerns regarding math and spelling. While she has had no difficulty with math concepts or reasoning and is good at spatial thinking and 3-D challenges, her math facts are not yet automatic.
Tips to Keep Kids Learning this Summer!
In the Unites States, summer break is an important time for children to rejuvenate, to just be kids, and to spend time with family. However, summer also has the potential for widening the achievement gap and, as much as we don’t like to acknowledge it, the “summer slide” is very real. Luckily, there are ways during the summer to engage and invigorate our children’s growing minds that don’t involve sitting in a classroom, filling out worksheets, or writing essays.
Parenting Tips: Preparing your Child with Autism for July 4th
Holidays are a time to come together with friends and family, celebrate, and relax. However, for some families, attending gatherings can be stressful and require extensive preplanning regardless of how exciting it is to spend time with loved ones.
Get Your Library Card Now!
A 2016 study reveals that book readers live longer than non-book readers (Bavishi, Slade, Levy; PubMed.gov of the US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health)! “After adjusting for relevant covariates including age, sex, race, education, comorbidities, self-rated health, wealth, marital status, and depression,” the study found that “book reading contributed to a survival advantage that was significantly greater than that observed for reading newspapers or magazines.”
Better Hearing & Speech in Times of Strife
If you didn’t already know, May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. Speech and language pathologists who work with children and adults to improve their capacity for communication highlight the importance of human communication during this month. Our ability to communicate impacts well-being and happiness – in other words, our quality of life, and one of the most important aspects of this communication is discourse.
Etymology and Why We Should Care
“Autism” has its root in the Greek word “autos,” which means “self.” It describes conditions in which a person is removed from social interaction. “De minimis” is a Latin expression meaning “about minimal things.” It describes the lowest applicable standards applied in legal distinctions. Put those together and you have the foundation for a unanimous recent Supreme Court ruling regarding a student with autism.
“All Things in Moderation” – Children & Screen Time
We all know the phrase “all things in moderation” well and practice it in a variety of areas of our lives. When it comes to parenting, moderation is more often the rule than the exception. However, applying moderation is sometimes harder than it seems when you don’t know quite as much as you’d like about what you are attempting to monitor.
Fun Ways to Help Your Child Become a Strong Reader: Part 2
Without question, one of the best ways to help your child develop early literacy skills is by reading with/to them and by giving them access to reading materials around the house, in the car, and in public spaces. But did you know that there are other activities, besides explicitly reading to them, that can help them become strong readers? Let’s explore some together!
Inspired by Reading & Candy Eating!
Here it is a couple days before Halloween and your children still haven’t figured out how they want to dress up. They’ve gone through the usual characters but nothing is “cool” enough, or their friend is already dressing up as that character and – Gasp! – It is a total fashion no-no to dress as the same thing “Duh, Mom!”
Helpful Tips to Take on the “I Don’t Wannas”
Last week, we talked about the struggle some parents face when deciding whether to start their child’s school year off with an instructor/tutor or not. Stern Center Program Manager of Instruction Michelle Szabo gave some tips on how to make this decision a little easier.
Realistic? Optimistic?: Choosing the Right –mistic Before it Becomes a Mist –ake
Summer is almost over and sun-filled family activities such as barbecuing, camping, swimming, and biking are coming to an end. Now it is time for both parent and child to switch gears and start preparing for the school year. This also means parents need to start making some decisions on how best to help their children start the school year off right.
Signs Your Child is Struggling to Read
If your child has trouble reading, it can impact a lot more than schoolwork. It can also affect their self-esteem and social life, which is why we encourage parents to ask questions as soon as they sense their child may be struggling. We hope you will find the following signs helpful in beginning the conversation with your child’s caregiver, teacher, or pediatrician as well as seeking additional assistance when necessary.
Math can be a Foreign Language: Dr. Long Translates
Imagine this: You’re in a foreign country and you walk around listening to the locals talk to one another in their native tongue. They all act like it’s easy and like they actually enjoy it! You just stand there….dumbfounded….. overwhelmed…. and lost. Then they try to talk to you! They want you to engage with this language too? Oh no, not going to happen. You get that “deer in the headlights” look, you start to sweat, and you feel so embarrassed and uncomfortable because you can’t understand what you’re hearing.
How to Help Your Teenager Get Organized in 5 Easy Steps
High school can be an intricate maze of assignments, responsibilities, and deadlines and navigating it can often be very challenging. We all know the feeling of having a “to do” list a mile long and not even knowing where to begin. Learning how to tackle one’s schedule in an organized and efficient way can seem daunting, but if equipped with strategies one can successfully conquer the calendar chaos.
Best Ways to Get Organized for the New School Year
It’s already back-to-school time again and with that comes all the preparation and excitement for the new school year. Decisions around the house will once again revolve around choosing between schoolwork versus video games, getting homework done amidst a fully scheduled calendar and deciding whether to prepare lunches the night before or in the morning
Growing a Reader
There is so much information that comes at you as a parent as to why reading with your child is so important. Reading aloud increases vocabulary, it improves listening skills and imagination, and it sets your child on the road to greater success at school. All of this pressure to read to your child can be very overwhelming.
Just Let Me Try It
I am so fortunate to have a profession I love. As a speech-language pathologist (SLP), I provide services in areas not often heard of before. Most people furrow their brow as I list my skills and interests—speech, language, swallowing/feeding disorders, post-stroke treatment, cognitive-communication skills, social-emotional skills, autism, voice disorders, fluency disorders—and the list goes on.
Babble to Books: Reading with Your Very Young Child
The value of reading to infants and toddlers has been well documented by recent research studies. Reading aloud with young children, talking about the pictures on a page or even paraphrasing words expands children’s imaginations and encourages language development. Reading aloud allows infants and young children to hear the sounds of our language combined in words and sentences.
Create a Reading Habit
Bedtime stories are a long-standing family tradition in my family. Growing up I was read to every night before bed, a chapter here, a story there, and now do the same for my two boys who are three and five. Each night after brushing their teeth, my boys pick a couple of books off the bookshelf and the three of us hunker down in one of the big beanbag chairs we have sitting on the floor.
Unlimited Potential
When a child is born the world is full of possibilities. When a child is diagnosed with autism, for some families, the world closes in. However, Tracey Bowen of Arlington, VT, a self-described “autism mom,” and author Stephen Shore have a different perspective.
Book Magic
The “not learning to read thing” kind of creeps up on you slowly. For my son and me, it was like this:
We loved to read together. Well, actually, I read to him, and he loved his books.
Our shelves were overflowing with books. “Will you read to me?” I would ask him. “No, I like it when you read to me,” he would answer. “That’s ok,” I would think. Then I would tell him, “I’ll read to you. I like to read to you and soon you will be in Kindergarten and you will be reading on your own.”
Knowledge is Power- Evaluations at the Stern Center
Doubt creeps in at an early age… perhaps it starts in kindergarten, when some children are able to read with ease while for others it feels like running in sand. Maybe it is in second grade, when a child can spell a word one day, but that word is a stranger the next.
Preparing Your Child for an Evaluation
You have made the decision to have your child evaluated. Maybe your child has a learning style difference, which includes being a gifted learner; maybe a learning disability is suspected; perhaps your child has attention difficulties; concerns around adaptive behavioral problems, including autism, may be the issue, or maybe your child is struggling with a neurological handicapping condition.
Cool Literacy and Learning Links
Do we all have “attention deficits”? Or is there something else going on? Let’s try this little experiment, conceived by Simons and Chabris for their classic study on sustained inattentional blindness (1999).
Dyslexia: Failure is Not an Option
I wish I would have known what was going on when my eldest daughter, Madeline, started learning to read. She hated it. She loved all of her other subjects but reading was painful. She used to hide under the table to avoid it. The most frustrating thing about this was that the school kept telling me that Madeline was fine.
Interesting Literacy and Learning Links
Ted Talk: Nancy Kanwisher: A Neural Portrait of the Human Mind. Brain imaging pioneer Nancy Kanwisher, who uses fMRI scans to see activity in brain regions (often her own), shares what she and her colleagues have learned: The brain is made up of both highly specialized components and general-purpose “machinery.” Another surprise: There’s so much left to learn
Interesting Literacy and Learning Links Round-Up
Brain Teaser:
This one has caused a lot of debate! What do you think?
Take a new test aimed at the world’s English Language Learners. Wondering how your English skills stack up? Try the sample questions at the end of the article on testing ELL students and see how you would fare. Do you agree or disagree with the answers?
Why Focus on the First Years?
Forty to fifty percent of Vermont’s children are not ready for kindergarten. Why are so many of our kids unprepared for school? Science points to the earliest years. Modern research tells us that the most critical time for a child’s development is the first five years.
10 Great Books to Read Aloud with Young Children
Our Building Blocks coordinator, Brenda Buzzell, has compiled a list of books that are not only fun to read with young children, but also helpful in promoting the three focus areas of the Building Blocks program: Shared Book Reading, Phonological Awareness and the Speech-to-Print connection.
Five Smart Strategies to Help Your Child Stay Organized at School
It’s already back-to-school time again and with that comes all the preparation and excitement for the new year. Decisions around the house will once again revolve around choosing between schoolwork versus video games, getting homework done amidst a fully scheduled calendar and deciding whether to prepare lunches the night before or in the morning.
10 Reasons to Keep Reading Aloud to Your Toddlers Even When They Prefer to Climb on Your Head
Do you get frustrated while reading aloud with your toddler? You pick out the perfect book. You get your child all comfortable on your lap. After one, maybe two, pages your little one tries to eat the book, hops off your lap and starts playing with a different toy, starts climbing all over you and in general seems completely uninterested in the story you are reading?
A Little Help From My Friends
When your child is diagnosed with a learning disability it can be very overwhelming. Concern about school, worry about how your child is fitting in with others and questions about the future arise.
A Chapter Here, A Comic Strip There
Bedtime stories are a long-standing family tradition in my family. Growing up I was read to every night before bed, a chapter here, a story there, and now do the same for my two boys who are two-and-a-half and nine months old.
How Many Ounces Are Left?
The early years of childhood are a wonderful time to help your children develop vocabulary skills that will greatly benefit their later reading comprehension skills.
iPhones, iPads, iTunes, iPods………….. I STUDY?
Distractions have crept their way into our lifestyles for better or for worse. And as great as they are in connecting us with the world at large they can present challenges when it comes to study habits for our teen population.
What Should You Do if Your Child is Having Trouble in School?
Depending on family dynamics, you might become aware of any academic difficulties your child is experiencing over family dinner, while driving to soccer practice or in those quiet conversations just before bed.
