Finding the Right Book: Motivating Readers with Dyslexia and Struggling Readers
PresentationEdmen Leong | Moderator: Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte
Festival Pass| Festival Talk Pass
What makes some struggling readers fall in love with reading despite their challenges? Drawing on research with adolescents who have reading difficulties, this session explores four key factors—Access, Routine, Resilience, and Social Influence—and offers practical strategies to help educators and parents nurture motivation, confidence, and lifelong enjoyment in reading.
readinginclusivity
Edmen Leong (Singapore)
Dr Edmen Leong has been with the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) since 2010 and currently serves as Director of Specialised Educational Services (SES). He oversees a range of programmes, ensuring their quality, innovation, and meaningful impact on learners. His PhD research examined how readers with dyslexia can be motivated to read despite their challenges, inspiring his continued involvement in teaching to stay connected with students and educators. A former foster parent, Edmen’s experiences have deepened his belief in inclusive education and the vital partnership between home and school to empower every child to learn, grow, and thrive confidently.
Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte
Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte is Principal at SJI International Preschool. She holds a PhD in Early Childhood Education and is passionate about the development of children, especially those in their early years. Having been in the field of Early Childhood Education for more than 30 years, Geraldine held multi-portfolios from classroom teaching to faculty appointments to overseeing the professional development of almost 3,000 Early Childhood educators including pioneering an award-winning child study centre for more than a decade. As a seasoned speaker she has presented papers in conferences and workshops both locally and internationally. Geraldine has deep theoretical and practical knowledge on Early Childhood Care and Education and has been called upon to support national and global initiatives, including being appointed an ECDA Fellow for sectoral leadership in Singapore. Geraldine also sits on local charity board committees which include the Singapore Book Council and Every Child Matters. She is the board deputy chairperson for UNESCO’s Category 2 Centre’s governing committee at the Institute of Early Childhood Development (IECD) in Seychelles.
Programme dates and times are subject to change.