Improving Outcomes for Struggling Students

DATES:
Friday, 1st June, 2012
Saturday, 2nd June 2012

TIMES:
8.45am to 3.30pm (Both Workshops)

LOCATION:
Refectory
The Holme Building, Science Road, University of Sydney NSW 2006

COST:
$190 per day SPELD NSW Members
$220 per day non member
**Early Bird Special for SPELD Members - $345 for both days (Full Payment by 7th May 2012)

An Australian tour by internationally renowned educator and author, Neil Mackay*.
These full-day workshops have been designed specifically for teachers and focus on building practical, effective skills that can be adopted with ease.

Workshop 1 - Inclusive Education: Improving academic outcomes for all students with learning difficulties

Current estimates suggest that between 20% and 25% of Australian students experience learning difficulties and learning disabilities, affecting their potential to achieve academically. Students within this group include those with attentional disorders, such as ADHD, those with pervasive developmental disorders, such as Asperger’s Syndrome, and those with academic skill disorders, such as dyslexia and dysgraphia.

This workshop focuses on the knowledge and strategies required by mainstream teachers to ensure that students with learning difficulties are able to participate fully in classroom activities and successfully navigate the curriculum. The emphasis will be on providing teachers with a range of practical strategies that have been successfully implemented in multiple settings and across a range of age-groups. Initially designed to meet the needs of students with dyslexia, these strategies have been found to assist all students struggling with learning difficulties and learning disabilities.

Workshop 2 – Intensive Support for Students with Dyslexia

This workshop is designed for teachers who provide ongoing support to students with learning disabilities. Most of these students require small group or one-on-one remediation as well as a range of accommodations in the classroom.

The focus will be on the strategies required to assist struggling students as they attempt to develop competencies in reading and writing. There will be an emphasis on dyslexic learners who appear to be ‘stuck’ and the skills that can be taught to improve reading, spelling and information processing. These will include the use of metacognition, learning preference and assistive technology.

CLICK HERE to download the PDF Flier and Registration Form

CLICK HERE to register online

or call the Office to book on (02) 9739 6277

Neil will also run two hour workshops for parents on Sunday 3rd June, 2012.

Parking Information PDF

Accommodation near the University PDF

Public Transport Information

* NEIL MACKAY is an educational consultant and trainer who created the concept of Dyslexia Friendly Schools in the UK. He is an experienced teacher who has taught for 26 years, working with children of all ages with a wide range of needs and abilities.

Neil is known for his ability to bring the classroom into his training and for providing lively, entertaining and thought provoking opportunities for teachers and allied professionals to reflect on and develop their practice. He has written a number of books including the extremely popular Removing Dyslexia as a Barrier to Achievement and Taking the Hell out of Homework. Both books can be purchased through the AUSPELD website –www.auspeld.org.au