Community Education Series
Hill Learning Center’s Community Education Series (CES) is a free, public program designed to engage and educate the community about topics related to learning and attention challenges. The series aims to increase awareness and understanding of learning differences and provide families and educators with practical resources and information grounded in research. CES is core to Hill’s commitment to Furthering Access to its programs in support of the 1 in 5 students with learning and attention challenges.
Ideal for parents and professionals, the Community Education Series is open to anyone and is always free.
Upcoming Events
Bridging the Gap Between High School and College for Students with Learning Differences
In this session, Ashley Cooper, Transition Specialist of the ECU STEPP Program, will help families and students break down terminology related to the transition to college, discuss the differences between high school and college, and emphasize the importance of on-campus resources. For students with learning differences and attention challenges, planning for college can feel like a daunting task, and this session aims to break down the process to support the transition to college.
Date and Details
- October 30
- 6:30-8:00pm
- In-Person at the Emily K Center
Audience: Families of 9th-12th Grade Students
Free Registration (Link opens in a new tab)How to Improve Executive Function Skills without the Frustration
Executive function skills are brain-based skills such as task initiation, sustained attention, working memory, planning, organization, and goal-directed persistence that are absolutely critical to school success. Some students seem to acquire them naturally, but many students struggle with them. Dr. Peg Dawson, co-author of the books Smart but Scattered and Smart but Scattered Teens, will describe how these skills develop throughout childhood and suggest strategies parents can use to help children acquire the critical skills they need to be successful students.
Date and Details
- November 13
- 6:30-8:00pm
- In-Person at Hill Learning Center
Audience: Families of Pre-K – 8th
Free Registration (Link opens in a new tab)Empowered Adulting: Tools and Techniques for Executive Functioning
In this presentation Kate Behrenshausen of Sage EF Coaching will provide an overview of executive function and its importance in daily adult life. With an empathetic approach, the presentation will explore various reasons why adults struggle with EF. Kate will offer tools and techniques (including learning styles-informed strategies) to improve common EF challenges like metacognition, planning, prioritizing, and time management. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of adult EF challenges and a set of empowering tools and solutions.
Date and Details
- January 14
- 6:30-8:00pm
- Zoom
Audience: Adults
Free Registration (Link opens in a new tab)Addressing the Social Emotional Challenges of Learning and Attention Issues
This talk will describe learned helplessness, connect it to children with learning challenges, introduce the notion of a growth mindset, and offer strategies to encourage a growth mindset and discourage the development of learned helplessness.
Date and Details
- March 4
- 6:30-8:00pm
- Zoom
Audience: Families of Pre-K – 8th grade students
Free Registration (Link opens in a new tab)ADHD in Adolescent Girls: What It Looks Like and How To Support Them
This talk will discuss what ADHD looks like in girls; the unique risks for girls when ADHD goes unrecognized and untreated; research on ADHD in the brain; and the connection between ADHD symptoms and executive functioning. Tips to support executive function skills in girls with ADHD will also be discussed.
Date and Details
- March 19
- 6:30-8:00pm
- Zoom
Audience: Families of 6-12th grade teen girls
Free Registration (Link opens in a new tab)Sponsorship Spotlight
The Forest at Duke
We appreciate the The Forest at Duke, a vibrant not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in Durham, NC, for sponsoring our 2023-24 Community Education Series.
Did you know?
Each year over 2,000 people register for our free, public Community Education Series. We are proud to partner with experts in the field, including our own, to bring this series to you!
Video Archives
Watch Past Events on Youtube
Take a look back at the presenters we’ve been privileged to feature in our series on our YouTube channel! There you’ll find top-notch presentations by experts such as: Marilyn Zecher, Debbie Reber, Dr. Patricia Quinn, Duke ADHD Clinic, Nancy Hennessy, Sarah Carver Williams, Dr. Andrew Kahn, Dr. Anita Archer, Dr. Lucy Hart Paulson, and more!
Testimonials
This presentation was fantastic – I learned so much. Presenter was very knowledgeable and conveyed information in an accessible way. Appreciated the ways time she took to answer individual questions.
Thank you for offering this free film and the panel discussion. My friend teaches elementary EC and I teach middle school AIG and we both came away being inspired with new perspectives to take into our classrooms!
The presentation was one of the best webinars I have ever experienced. I loved how interactive it was and that she modeled how to teach reading and solving of word problems.