Posted on

2019 Literacy, Language and Learning Conference – Registrations Now Open!

The biennial Literacy, Language and Learning Conference is set to take place from the 4-6th of April, 2019.

The conference provides a unique opportunity for educators and practitioners to hear about current research and evidence-based approaches to teaching and intervention in the field of language and literacy acquisition. DSF, with the support of AUSPELD, has put together an incredible line-up of keynote speakers who will share their expert knowledge in the areas of reading acquisition, oral and written language development, numeracy skills, effective learning strategies and behaviour management.

The Conference will also provide delegates with a choice of more than 60 breakout sessions over three-days. The variety of topics covered by session speakers will ensure that this is an incredibly valuable and informative event for teachers, educational psychologists, speech pathologists and other allied professionals.

Visit the conference website to register today!

A ‘Call for Papers’ is currently open to people who are interested in speaking at the Conference. Expressions of Interest from potential session speakers will be accepted until the 14th of September and full abstracts will need to be submitted by the 28th of October. Please download the Call for Papers flyer for further information about applying to become a session speaker at the 2019 Literacy, Language and Learning Conference.

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

 

Posted on

International Expert in ICT and Inclusion Carol Allen to visit Australia in August 2018

All students struggling with literacy should be supported appropriately with both evidence-based intervention as well as effective accommodations. Accommodations ensure that students have access to the curriculum and can participate in the classroom. Carol Allen has exceptional knowledge in the area of ICT and its effective use to support students experiencing literacy difficulties. She will be sharing this knowledge in a series of interactive and valuable workshops across Australia in August.

Please contact your state SPELD for more information via the website links provided below.

PERTH

Workshop for Parents – Tuesday August 7. For more information, go to https://dsf.net.au/Professional-Learning/carol-allen-parent-workshop/

Workshop for Teachers – Wednesday August 8. For more information, go to https://dsf.net.au/Professional-Learning/carol-allen-full-day-teacher-workshop/

BRISBANE

Workshop for Teachers – Friday August 10. For more information, go to https://www.speld.org.au/view-event/creative-literacy-to-support-inclusion-for-those-136

SYDNEY

Workshop for Teachers – Monday August 13. For more information, go to https://speldnsw.org.au/news/creative-literacy-teacher-workshop-with-carol-allen/

MELBOURNE

Workshop for Parents – Wednesday August 15. For more information, go to https://speld.secure.force.com/apex/EventDetails?Id=a170I00000XicMlQAJ

Workshop for Teachers – Thursday August 16. For more information, go to https://speld.secure.force.com/apex/EventDetails?Id=a170I00000XiccKQAR

ADELAIDE

Workshop for Teachers – Saturday August 18. For more information, go to http://www.speld-sa.org.au/workshops/term-3-2018.html

Download a PDF flyer

Posted on

Language, Literacy & Learning Conference – registrations now open!

Registrations for the inaugural Language, Literacy & Learning Conference are now open!

Literacy, Language and Learning Conference logo
Registrations now open!

The Language, Literacy and Learning Conference will provide a wealth of information on the factors influencing the successful acquisition of skills in both language and literacy. This event has been made possible through the collaboration of AUSPELD, DSF Literacy Services and the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).

Date: 30th March – 1st April 2017
Time: 8.45am – 4.00pm
Location: Perth Conference & Exhibition Centre
Website: literacylanguageconf.com

Please visit the conference website to find out more or to register to attend. Discounted registration fees are available to those who register early. In addition, all members of state SPELD organisations and IDA are entitled to an additional discount.

 

Register today!

Posted on

Neil Mackay – International Presenter to Provide Great Opportunity for Teachers and Parents

AUSPELD will be proud to welcome Neil Mackay to Australia for a series of entertaining and educational workshops in 2012.

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. There will be workshops for teachers in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth as well as parent workshops in some cities (TBA).

2012 Australian Tour Dates and Locations

WHEN

Brisbane – May 28th and 29th (visit www.speld.org.au for further details)

Sydney – June 1st and 2nd (visit www.speldnsw.org.au for further details)

Melbourne – June 6th and 7th (visit www.speldvic.org.au for further details)

Adelaide – June 9th (see http://www.speld-sa.org.au/images/workshops/neil%20mackay%20seminar.pdf)

Perth – June 12th and 13th (visit www.dsf.net.au for further details or register on-line today!)

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 develope their practice. He has written a number of books including the extremly popular Removing Dyslexia as a Barrier to Achievement and Taking the Hell out of Homework. Both books are available though AUSPELD, click here for info.

Click here for more info on Neil Mackay’s australian tour…

 

Posted on

Successful Dyslexics in the News

Jessica Watson recently became the youngest person to sail non-stop and unassisted around the world. She completed her voyage three days before her 17th birthday. Jessica’s mother has discussed the difficulties Jessica experienced as a result of her dyslexia and the motivation it gave her to take the risk of circumnavigating the globe solo.
Jessica was diagnosed with dyslexia early in her schooling. She struggled to learn the alphabet and found reading very difficult. At age 11, her mother Julie read Jessica Lionheart, which detailed Jesse Martin’s solo world voyage at the age of 18. Julie Watson said her daughter had not let herself be held back by her dyslexia, but that she does need to be careful not to confuse numbers when conveying the coordinates of her location. Jessica has not been limited by her learning difficulties and her mother believes her courageousness is related to having to overcome her weaknesses in reading and spelling.








Dr. Carol W. Greider is a scientist at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA. She was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine along with her colleagues Elizabeth Blackburn and Jack Szostak for their discovery that telomeres are protected from progressive shortening by the enzyme telomerase. This finding is important to our understanding of how chromosomes are affected by diseases including cancer.
As a child, Dr. Greider thought she was stupid because she couldn’t spell and had a lot of trouble at school. She learned to compensate by utilising her strong memorisation skills. She enjoyed biology and thinking in a scientific way. Dr. Greider attributes her success to finding a way to channel her problem-solving skills into scientific investigation.




Orlando Bloom is an English actor famous for his roles in Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean. He spoke about his experience of having Dyslexia at the Adam Katz Memorial Lecture in New York on June 2nd, 2010. Orlando recalled his early childhood as being full of anger at times, as he experienced great difficulty coping with schoolwork, despite having an underlying feeling that he was smart. He acknowledges his passion for performance and the creative arts as helping him “get through”.
Orlando’s dyslexia was identified when he was young and he states that the support he received from his family was critically important to the success he has had. Acting allowed him to put his mind to work in a different way to that which was required at school. Orlando noted that having dyslexia can seem like a big obstacle, but that it takes challenges for us “to learn, grow, be better”.




References
A conversation with Carol W. Greider on winning a Nobel prize in Science, Claudia Dreifus, The New York Times, 12-10-2009.
Challenged and gifted: A lesson on Dyslexia from Orlando Bloom, Harold Koplewicz, Need to Know on PBS, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/voices/challenged-and-gifted-a-lesson-on-dyslexia-from-an-erstwhile-elf/1359/ (Accessed 29-06-10).
Jessica Watson, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Watson, accessed 05-07-2010.
Solo sailor Jessica Watson battles dyslexia, Kathleen Donaghey, The Sunday Mail (Qld), 31-01-2010