DFNZ - Newsletter

In this issue:

Highlights:

	Book Now and save 25% - 4D Edge Workshops in May/June for Parents \| Teachers \| Principals \| Specialists \| Employers & Employees \| Preschool – Full details at www.4d.org.nz/workshops
	4D now extended to help the Early Childhood Education sector – full details below.
	Education Gazette feature 8 Feb 2010 Driving the National Curriculum through inclusion – ‘Get it right for dyslexia – get it right for all’ For this and other recent media articles click here.
	4D Virtual Classroom web-space now live. Hear what students have to say about their classroom experiences and learn how best to help them. Check out www.4d.org.nz/virtual

4D School Quick Links:

Registered 4D Schools now number 440! Click here for a full listing

Click here to learn more and sign up

4D Guide Version 2 – considerably expanded with everything you need to know. Download a copy now, and check out the other free resources!

We are proud to announce this exciting new workshop series for educators, employers & employees, and parents.

In June 2009, Mr Mackay touched down in New Zealand to run a sold-out nationwide series of 4D workshops for New Zealand educators, introducing his advanced insights into dyslexia and how to improve the learning environment for Kiwi schoolchildren. Feedback from the 1300 participants of these thought-provoking workshops was overwhelmingly positive, with significant demand for his return.

Strong interest from employer, parent, and pre-school groups has led to a considerably expanded format.

Earlybird discount of 25% apply to many workshops, but only until February 28 – so book now and secure your place.

Discover more about Neil Mackay and what we call the 4D Edge by visiting www.4d.org.nz/edge

In recognition of their contribution to dyslexia in NZ these workshops have been sponsored by the Ministry of Education through their Quality Teachers Partnership Fund.

Help us spread the word!

A workshop information and registration form is available for you to circulate or place on your notice board. Please help us to spread the word. Click here to download form.

Disability, difficulty, difference or learning preference – there are many views of what dyslexia is. But while others may struggle with making a transition from regarding it as, at worst, a disability to, at best, a learning difference, Neil MacKay has made the quantum leap to characterising it as a learning preference.

This breakthrough has major implications for how we can better teach dyslexic students in the classroom. Yet, it is also incredibly simple – if dyslexic students think differently we need to teach to that…… visit: www.4d.org.nz/edge

4D Virtual Classroom now live

Thanks to generous funding from the JR McKenzie Trust, we are excited to bring you an innovative web space that gives ‘the students voice’ a unique place to be heard.

The 4D Virtual Classroom web-space is now live. Hear what students have to say about their classroom experiences and learn how best to help them.

Our web resources simply wouldn’t be complete without this – the best way to help dyslexic kids in the classroom is to take the time to listen and then challenge yourself to find ways to accommodate and support. EMPATHY followed by simple adjustments makes such a huge difference to life at school for these students.

Check it out at www.4d.org.nz/virtual

4D Program expanded to Early Childhood

As awareness around dyslexia increases, we have been receiving questions from Pre-school teachers along the lines of:

“Is there any benefit in us knowing about dyslexia?”

“How do we know if our program is helping or hindering our dyslexic children?”

“I know enough to know that we are missing some opportunities, where do I learn more about working with very young dyslexic children?

From parents we continuously hear that if they had known their child was dyslexic earlier that they would have made slightly different decisions.

It’s this feedback that prompted us to expand our successful 4D programme to pre-schools and to support this we invited Neil Mackay to create a half day workshop to address these burning questions among others.

Workshop Reminder

June 3: 4D | Pre-school – the ABC of early identification

A half day workshop for pre school specialists to identify behaviours that “set alarm bells ringing” without attempting to label or categorise. Dyslexia awareness will be linked with the achievement of typical milestones to support participants to develop their “dyslexia radar” and to develop and implement simple and effective support strategies that will better prepare both child and parent for the transition to primary school years. Sharing good practice and expertise will be a key element of this course.

For more details and to book – go to www.4d.org.nz/workshops

25 January - “Meeting Individual needs”

Two Christchurch schools develop teaching practices that support children with signs of Dyslexia.

Some children in Christchurch are coming home from school feeling happier and less frustrated than they used to be and their parents have noticed…… read more.

8 February - ‘Driving the National Curriculum through inclusion – ‘Get it right for dyslexia – get it right for all’

Three irrepressible forces are heading for a potentially productive collision in New Zealand education. They are:

The National Curriculum - a force for empowerment
The National Standards - a force for accountability
Recognition of Dyslexia - a force for releasing the potential of up to 20% of students.

The impact in terms of whole school achievement and attainment could be huge, especially for schools which have the insight and confidence to base their approaches for all students on the principles of dyslexia aware best practice.

It has been argued that the most effective and efficient way for individual schools to derive maximum impact from the implementation of the National Curriculum and National Standards is through the Inclusion strand, with a particular focus on meeting the needs of students with dyslexic type learning needs and preferences.

For the full article written by Neil Mackay click here.

Neil MacKay Workshops Reminder

The 2010 workshop series has been designed to accommodate all levels of knowledge and engagement with dyslexia. The weeks format also allows you to progress your confidence step by step, day by day:

Monday 31 May	4D \| Dyslexia aware best practice - the new teaching paradigm
Tuesday 1 June	4D \| Advanced - achieving the 4D Edge
Wednesday 2 June	4D \| Interventions - beyond great teaching, un-sticking the 4%
Thursday 3 June	4D \| Leaders - creating change through vision and empowerment

Save 25% - 4D School Earlybird Offer

Staff or those working with students from a registered 4D school will enjoy a 25% discount for registering before February 28 and paying by March 26. Also, book now and your 4D school will receive a free hour of 4D consultation to help create school policy & strategy.

For more details and to book – go to www.4d.org.nz/workshops

4D Home - creating parent partnerships

Parents deserve to be informed as soon as you suspect a student has dyslexic-like tendencies. This is the most effective way to build trust and respect, and to create effective parent partnerships which support the child in the home and so optimise the good work you do in the classroom. An acid test of a school that is working is parental confidence. Parental confidence comes as a consequence of school action and quality communication. In short, a high trust environment simply doesn't just happen – the school must be proactive……. Read more

Be proactive today - tell your parents about this Parent & Child Workshop

May 30: 4D Parent & Child Workshop – creating the connection
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.

For more details and to book – go to www.4d.org.nz/workshops

4D Home web space

DFNZ launched in Dec 2009 the new 4D Home web space which provides advice and practical tips for parents with children who don’t seem to be making the same progress as other children at school. Visit www.4d.org.nz/home

Next Magazine – A LIFE MISREAD

As a child, Sian Jaquet was branded stupid, and she soon came to believe it herself. It would be years before her dyslexia was recognized and her potential fulfilled….. read the full article here.

Sian Jaquet is also featured on our Inspiring New Zealanders page that is dedicated to inspiring New Zealanders who have turned difference into success – click here