Help when learning is hard
As much as we try to prepare students for the concept of studying, it becomes real once Year 11 hits - in NSW schools this is the first of the two year Higher School Certificate. I am working with some students now and am reminded of that steep learning curve again. There are two issues… Continue reading 5 Tips To Study in Year 11
Recent announcements to the implications of this years NAPLAN test for students planning to sit their HSC in three years have suddenly increased the pressure being felt by families already worried about their child's future. Setting a minimum standard of Band 8 for this year's NAPLAN test may be a goal set too far ahead… Continue reading Top Tips for Year 9 NAPLAN Students in 2017
NAPLAN results have found their way into school bags across the country in Australia leaving parents wondering "What comes next?" The NAPLAN results can help inform whether your child needs additional assistance, further extension and engagement or some relaxation techniques. Most importantly the NAPLAN results shouldn't be a surprise. If they are, it is very likely they are… Continue reading What Comes Next? Steps after NAPLAN
A tip I find very useful in both my own teaching and when recommending strategies for parents to encourage students with ADHD to write more (and write more cohesively) is what I refer to as "margin planning". In the olden days when students wrote with a pen or pencil on a piece of lined paper… Continue reading Margin Planning – a writing tip!
Many children and adolescents with learning difficulties have been receiving multiple supports at school, at home and in medical, health or education organisations for a really long time. I am certainly one of the elements of this wheel of support. Whilst it is absolutely critical for children and adolescents to receive the help they need,… Continue reading When to pause
I am presenting a practical hands-on session at a convention in a few weeks about maths strategies (www.learningdifferenceconvention.com) and have a restricted time limit (one hour) – how on earth will I condense this topic? Well, I begin by not condensing anything – my first draft of anything is always incredibly long, but the initial… Continue reading Why Is Maths So Hard?
We are all aware of the impact of bright screens on sleep patterns - essentially, it's bad! Looking at bright screens on computers, tablets, phones and even televisions before going to bed at night is known to delay sleep and disrupt the sleep we're getting. As much as I would love to say this is… Continue reading Reducing restless nights for teenagers
BYOD - Bring Your Own Device - is becoming a popular (or necessary) aspect of many high schools across NSW. I have been speaking to many of my families about making choices for the devices going into next year. However, equally important have been the discussions I have been having with the students themselves to… Continue reading Involving Students in Technology Choices
This week I found a wonderful website to describe how a learning difficulty "feels" in the words of children experiencing these issues. It was such a powerful site. Click here to be taken to Understand.org - an American website dedicated to supporting learners and their families with learning difficulties. This link will take you to… Continue reading Experiencing Learning Difficulties
This week I was discussing ongoing support provisions required in school for one of my students who then described experiences in class, with the stand-out phrase, "Oh dear God, it's double-sided!" This statement was in reference to materials being provided within the classroom on a regular basis during learning activities. In drilling this down further,… Continue reading “Oh Dear God It’s Double-Sided!”