Live Events: Keynotes, Talks, Seminars, and Workshops

Children of the Code events are multidisciplinary, multimedia, learning journeys into ‘what is at stake’ and ‘what is involved’ in learning to read. Our events are thought provoking tours through the insights of over one hundred and fifty field leading scientists, scholars, educators, government leaders, children, and parents.

Note: Remember to click on any word on this page to experience the next evolutionary step in technology supported reading.

“This was truly an awakening for me! I will never look at the reading process in the same way.”  – Julie Colley Lowery, Education Specialist, Alabama State Department of Education, Special Education Services

“I am a 30-year teacher and I felt like for once what was being said to me made absolute sense.”  – K. HusVall, Cheektawaga, New York

We don’t sell products (we do offer some free ones) or advocate for a political or ideological agenda – we don’t play the blame game either. The decades long persistence of reading improficiency is not the fault of parents or teachers!  Our events proceed from the premise that independent of all the arguments about how to teach reading, the better educators and parents understand the challenges involved in learning to read, the better they can help children learn through those challenges. 

“The Code and the Challenge of Learning to Read It” is a powerful professional learning experience. It communicates multiple messages that challenge the diverse personal and professional interests of educators on a variety of engaging levels.” – Elizabeth D. Holmes, Director, Center for Quality Teaching and Learning, Columbus State University

“Insightful and informative. This is not a quick fix or remedy for reading problems, but a thorough scientific explanation of the entire reading process from leading experts in a variety of fields. Attending this event will provide a deeper understanding of why children struggle with reading and what needs to be done to address this crisis in our schools.” – Karen Kemp, Seminar Organizer for Council of New York Special Education Administrators, Director of Special Programs, Cohoes City Schools

COTC events weave Children of the Code video sequences and multimedia content into exciting and perspective-shifting learning experiences that re-orient how our audiences think about ‘the code’ and the ‘challenges in involved in learning to read it’.

“Wow! Eureka! Now I get it. I wish I had heard this 25 years ago.” – M. Plail, Sutton Elementary Even Start, Houston, TX

What is reading? How does learning to read affect our intelligence, emotional development, and the overall health of our learning? How does learning to read as children shape how we grow into adults?

“Extremely thought provoking! I really never thought about reading in the way I now am.” – G. Willis, Gerald Adams Elementary School, Key West, Fl

What is the relationship between the alphabet, spelling, spoken language, reading, and writing? Why is it so confusing? How is it confusing? How does the brain work out this confusion and what happens when it can’t do it fast enough?

“Wow, that’s interesting. I think that’s a lovely description of it (the challenge of learning to read). I’m impressed with the cast that you’ve assembled; it’s certainly a very impressive group.” – Dr. Tim Shanahan, Chair National Early Literacy Panel, President (2006), International Reading Association

What is the difference between dyslexia and reading improficiency? What is the difference between inherited weaknesses and growing up in environments that insufficiently exercise the neuro-developmental prerequisites of reading? How does learning to read affect self-esteem and how does self-esteem affect learning to read? How do the feelings evoked by learning to read difficulties exacerbate learning to read difficulties?

“Like most scholars, until awakened by the “Children of the Code” project, I took reading as much for granted as eating and drinking. Very few of us have paid sufficient attention to the specific emotions triggered in children as they begin to read. “Children of the Code” merits the serious attention of anyone interested in emotional health of children or the future of America.” – Dr. Donald L. Nathanson, M.D. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Jefferson Medical College, Author: ‘Shame and Pride’ and ‘Knowing and Feeling’

The central purpose of the Children of the Code Project is to help educators, parents, and all who care about children, develop a deeper first-person understanding of ‘what is at stake’ and ‘what is involved’ in learning to read.

We offer keynote addresses, presentations, talks, seminars, and workshops. We customize and orchestrate each event to maximize relevance, connection, insight, and impact. Because we are a non profit project our events are comparatively inexpensive – in many cases, only a fraction of the cost of engaging just one of our interviewees.

“It’s a wonderful thing that you’re doing. I appreciate the scope of what you’re doing. It’s called information improvement which is the prime issue in knowledge advancement. How do you put things together in ways that are easily understandable and communicable to other people. You’re talking about a big thing. People see pieces of it and you’re putting together a whole lot of things that no individual one of us has a grasp on.” Todd Risley, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Alaska, Co Author – “Meaningful Differences”

About the presenter:

David Boulton is the Director of the Children of the Code project and the producer and interviewer of the Children of the Code Documentary series. He appeared in the “The New Science of Learning” PBS documentary (watch a clip) and his work has been featured in numerous books and articles. His own articles on learning have been published internationally. Read an Interview with David Boulton

“For the past thirty-three years I have been a teacher and educator of all levels of schooling, colleges and universities and I was extremely impressed by David’s insights into the learning process.” – Roy Lundin, Ph.D, Director Queensland University of Technology, Australia

“Your presentation for our Schools of the Future Design Team was stunning! Your work is the key to revolutionizing schools of the future. I cannot remember when I have had such a great learning experience.” – Margaret Gayle, Author of Educational Renaissance

Thank you for your interest in attending a Children of the Code event

We offer keynote addresses, presentations, talks, seminars, and workshops. If you are interested in attending a Children of the Code event please take a moment and let us know more about yourself and your location so we can let you know about events in your area. THE CHILDREN OF THE CODE PROJECT PROMISES THAT WE WILL NEVER SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH ANYONE ELSE.

Thank you for your interest in arranging or helping to arrange a Children of the Code event.

We offer keynote addresses, presentations, talks, seminars, and workshops. From small group workshops to keynotes for thousands, we customize and orchestrate each event to maximize relevance, connection, insight, and impact.