Oral Language in the Early Years – What works?

Understanding the Assessment Process As awareness of Specific Learning Disorders grows, more and more students are being referred for psycho-educational investigation of the nature of their academic learning difficulties. This workshop aims to provide teachers, allied professionals and parents with an overview of the assessment and diagnostic processes used by psychologists to identify whether a student has a Specific Learning Disorder and determine the intervention that is most likely to benefit them, based on their individual profile of learning strengths and weaknesses. The first session will review Specific Learning Disorders and the three academic skill areas - reading, written expression and mathematics - that may be impaired, with a focus on the characteristics of the disorders. The second session will focus on the way results and conclusions may be reported, and the implications of differing learning profiles for remediation and classroom instruction. **This webinar will be recorded and available for two weeks after the event** Date: Monday 20th & Monday 27th May 2024 Time: 6:30 pm - 8: 30 pm AEST (Melbourne Time) Cost: LDA Member: $50 LDA Student Member - $40 Non-Member - $70 About Peta Collins Peta is an educational and developmental psychologist. She is an experienced presenter and trainer in the areas of both written expression and reading development. Peta has been closely involved in the development of DSF's workshops in both Talk for Writing and Talk for Reading, both of which are exceptionally effective programs. Peta also delivers professional learning in a range of other topics and programs, including as a LETRS facilitator, and regularly works with schools and individual teachers to support the implementation of high-quality literacy instruction. Peta has a teaching qualification and uses a range of evidence-based programs in individual and small-group tuition with students of all ages who are experiencing literacy learning difficulties. As a senior psychologist at DSF, Peta supervises clinical staff, and regularly consults with families and teachers about learning difficulties and disorders.

By definition, neurodivergent learners learn differently. However, by the end of primary school, it's a sadfact that many learners with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs) have learned how they fail, not how theylearn. Research shows that teaching metacognition, or learning and regulating how we learn, is effectivefor all learners, and this is especially so for learners with SpLD. In this course, we will consider: what metacognition means in practice consider areas of metacognition that are impacted by SpLDs consider ways to intentionally support metacognition and self-regulation Participants will come away with some resources, ideas and strategies to empower learners with better understanding and independence in negotiating their own learning. **This webinar will be recorded and available for two weeks after the event** Date: Tuesday 4th June 2024 Time: 7:30 pm - 9: 00 pm AEST (Melbourne Time) Cost: LDA Member: $40 LDA Student Member - $30 Non-Member - $60 About Louise Selby Louise Selby works freelance as a dyslexia specialist teacher, assessor, trainer, consultant and author.She has experience as an advisory teacher in Hertfordshire Local Authority (UK), primary school teacher,SENCO (special educational needs coordinator) and teacher of learners with English as an AdditionalLanguage.Louise’s first book, Morph Mastery, a Morphological Intervention for Reading and Spelling, was publishedby Speechmark (Routledge) in 2021, and her next two books for the same publisher are called All AboutDyslexia (primary and secondary) are due for publication in 2024.Louise's tagline is enabling, equipping, empowering. She is passionate about working with educators,schools and parents to enable the best outcomes for children with specific learning difficulties.Website: www.louiseselbydyslexia.comEmail: louise@louiseselbydyslexia.comFacebook: facebook.com/LouiseSelbyDyslexiaTwitter/X: @louiseselby21LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/louise-selby-dyslexia/

Working memory is often an area of weakness in neurodivergent children. Educators often know what this means, but seek practical ideas and strategies for how to support children with reduced working memory. This is a practical workshop in which you will explore working memory difficulties and how to support them, both in the classroom and in tutoring/intervention sessions. We will explore what working memory is, what happens when it is compromised and how to identify working memory difficulties. You'll be taken through a checklist for evaluating your practice. You will also be offered some practical strategies to use in class situations and intervention sessions. Participants will come away with some quick wins, ideas to try and principles for your teaching which should be transformational for your students. **This webinar will be recorded and available for one month after the event** Date: Wednesday 19th June 2024 We will notify you of the new date in the next few days. Time: 7:30 pm - 9: 00 pm AEST (Melbourne Time) Cost: LDA Member: $40 LDA Student Member - $30 Non-Member - $60 About Louise Selby Louise Selby works freelance as a dyslexia specialist teacher, assessor, trainer, consultant and author. She has experience as an advisory teacher in Hertfordshire Local Authority (UK), a primary school teacher, SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) and a teacher of learners with English as an Additional Language. Louise's first book, Morph Mastery, a Morphological Intervention for Reading and Spelling, was published by Speedmark (Routledge) in 2021, and her next two books for the same publisher are called All About Dyslexia (primary and secondary) are due for publication in 2024. Louise's tagline is enabling, equipping, empowering. She is passionate about working with educators, schools and parents to enable the best outcomes for children with specific learning difficulties. Website: www.louiseselbydyslexia.com