4D | Dyslexia Aware Best Practice - the new teaching paradigm Tauranga - Tuesday 8 June, 2010 Time: 8.30am - 3pm [lunch break 12.30 -1:30pm, morning tea & lunch included]

Workshop description:

An extended re-run of the acclaimed sell out workshop that took place during June 2009 – click here for feedback from participants.

This interactive training event takes as its theme “no student left behind” and leads participants to develop effective and practical strategies supporting them to “notice and adjust” in response to dyslexic type learning difficulties.

This workshop places Dyslexia Aware provision firmly within the context of the New Zealand Curriculum and the strategies and activities being cross-referenced with the 5 Key Competencies and the new National Standards in Literacy. Participants will engage in a range of practical “things to do tomorrow,” including a “less is more” marking approach and techniques to support students with weak basic skills to interact with the curriculum at ability appropriate levels. They will also be supported to identify student strengths  and define progress through a variety of strategies appropriate for the National Literacy Standards, including Assessment for Learning, personalising learning, differentiation  and securing alternative evidence of achievement.

Those that should attend:

Primary and Secondary Principals, Teachers, Resource Teachers Learning and Behaviour, Resource Teachers Literacy, SENCOs, Learning Development Officers, Learning Support Teachers etc. seeking essential, foundation knowledge about dyslexia and how best to support students with dyslexic type learning needs.

Registrations: Click Here
Enquiries to:
Ruth Fletcher: ruthf@tauranga-int.school.nz or
Hilary Zapata: hilaryz@tauranga-int.school.nz

4D | Parent - creating the connection

Tauranga - Tuesday 8 June, 2010

Time: 7pm - 8.30pm

Cost: Gold coin donation

Workshop description:
Staying connected to your child and their learning can be difficult when the challenges of dyslexia or other differences arise - especially when it comes to homework and learning for tests. Ensuring that your child knows that you understand and are willing to support them is critical for their self esteem and future opportunities as is actually knowing how and what to do.

Focusing on aspects of reading for meaning, spelling tricky words and organising ideas on paper, this unique workshop teaches parents some of the “tricks of the trade” as well as essential basic information about dyslexia and learning differences. This workshop is very interactive and also very relaxed – you might even have fun!

Those that should attend:
Parents of children that show signs of dyslexia or other learning difference

Registrations: Click Here
Enquiries to:
Ruth Fletcher: ruthf@tauranga-int.school.nz or
Hilary Zapata: hilaryz@tauranga-int.school.nz

4D | Leaders - creating change through vision and empowerment Tauranga - Wednesday 9 June, 2010 Time: 9am - 12pm

Workshop description:

The focus of this powerful workshop will be on how to use the principles of Dyslexia Aware best practice as a simple cost-effective vehicle for school-wide improvement in order to inform and enhance teaching and learning for all students. Topics to be covered include monitoring and tracking, differentiation and seeking alternative evidence of achievement within the context of the Vision and Key Competencies of the New Zealand Curriculum. Strategies to recognise and build on current best practice will be presented alongside auditing techniques, both in the form of proformas that will be made available for use back in school.

Those that should attend:

Primary and Secondary Principals, Senior Teachers, Resource Teachers Learning and Behaviour, Resource Teachers Literacy, SENCOs, Learning Development Officers, Learning Support Teachers etc.

Those participating in this workshop will be in positions of leadership and influence. Those from primary and secondary schools will, following this workshop, be well placed to lead their schools along the 4D Quality Mark pathway towards a school culture that truly understands and celebrates difference and diversity.

Registrations: Click Here
Enquiries to:
Ruth Fletcher: ruthf@tauranga-int.school.nz or
Hilary Zapata: hilaryz@tauranga-int.school.nz

4D | Interventions - beyond great teaching, un-sticking the 4% Tauranga - Wednesday 9 June, 2010 Time: 1pm - 4pm

Workshop description:

This course is intended to extend the knowledge and skills of participants who already have a background in meeting the needs of dyslexic learners and focuses on the needs of the 4% of dyslexic students with significant issues for learning. The interactive and practical course will lead participants through some of the latest research and apply current thinking to develop effective interventions for students who have failed to respond to “notice and adjust” strategies in the classroom.  This workshop is particularly pertinent in terms of the new National Literacy Standards, especially with regard to keeping learners at the centre of decision making and building individualised and personalised responses to dyslexic type learning needs.  Strategies to deliver the “clear and consistent expectation for student achievement” which is enshrined in the National Literacy Standards will be discussed and developed in terms of creating opportunities for “small steps for success” and recognising these within the wider picture of attainment and achievement.

A range of phonic approaches will be discussed including the use of “sound buttons” to support the initial teaching of word building and blending, together with strategies to move from the synthetic to the analytic and on to whole word and “context based” approaches. Some IT solutions will be modeled together with opportunities to use some assessment tools. Kinaesthetic approaches to teaching reading and spelling will be addressed, as will ways to support dyslexic learners to “show what they know” via alternative evidence of achievement. Managing the learning and behaviour of small groups will also be discussed, particularly from the perspective of supporting colleagues and parents in an advisory capacity.

Those that should attend:

Primary and Secondary Principals, Resource Teachers Learning and Behaviour, Resource Teachers Literacy, SENCOs, Learning Development Officers, Learning Support Teachers and Teacher Aides. Also, individuals supporting dyslexic adults & children that work from outside of the school environment.

Participants would benefit by having attended the 4D | Dyslexia Aware Best Practice workshop.

Registrations: Click Here
Enquiries to:

Ruth Fletcher: ruthf@tauranga-int.school.nz or
Hilary Zapata: hilaryz@tauranga-int.school.nz