Bio:

Wesley Wood is the Assistant Director for the Office of Accessibility Services at the Georgetown University Law Center. Wood guides students with disabilities through the accommodation process and supports university faculty in helping to create more accessible and inclusive learning environments. Prior to starting his role at Georgetown, Wood was an award-winning middle school language teacher (GWATFL Teacher of the Year) in Latin and French. Wood holds an M.A. in Classics from the University of Colorado Boulder, an M.A.T. in Foreign Language Education from Miami University (Ohio), and a B.A. in Classics from the University of Notre Dame.

Presentation Title:

Beyond the Page: Multisensory Approaches to Reading in the Language Classroom

Session 3, 1:50-2:50 (Meeting Room 1)

Presentation Abstract:

Reading in a second language should be more than a silent encounter between a student and a page. Yet many learners struggle not because they lack motivation but rather because figuring out how sounds, words, and sentences work in a new language places heavy demands on students' attention and mental energy. This session explores how multisensory instruction makes reading more visible, tangible, and accessible for all learners, while providing particularly powerful support for neurodivergent students. Through interactive demonstrations, participants will experience practical strategies that transform abstract reading rules into meaningful kinesthetic and auditory experiences. Together, we will examine how dedicating instructional time to the nuts and bolts of reading, such as matching sounds to letters and physically mapping out word patterns, can strengthen comprehension, reduce cognitive load, and create entry points into authentic texts. Participants will leave with concrete techniques for supporting language learners while maintaining high expectations for reading proficiency.

Seminar Title:

The Tactile Reading Lab: Building Your Kinesthetic Toolkit

Session 2, 10:50-11:50 (Room 127)

Seminar Abstract:

Move from theory to implementation in this hands-on design lab. Participants are encouraged to bring a target-language reading passage they plan to teach and will work through a structured process for identifying common reading roadblocks and designing multisensory supports to address them. By using classroom-ready manipulatives and guided, live coaching, attendees will create kinesthetic activities that help students sound out tricky words, build vocabulary, and visually map out complex sentences. Along the way, participants will experience these strategies from the learner’s perspective and collaborate with colleagues to refine their designs. Participants will leave with a customized set of reading supports, a toolkit of adaptable, physical activities, and a ready-to-use plan for making your next reading lesson more accessible, engaging, and effective.