Courses for Second Level
The courses offered are as follows from August 2024
1. Zoom webinar for parents on how they can support the student with dyslexia at second level
2. Dyslexia for Mainstream Teachers
3. Planning and Resources for the SEN class
4. The Study Skills that support the Student with Dyslexia
5. Dyslexia and Self-esteem
1. How parents can support the student with dyslexia at second level
Parents of students with dyslexia may struggle to know how to support the student at second level as the challenges are different from those experienced at primary. This zoom webinar aims to give practical help and advice.
Topics to be included are: How dyslexia affects the student at second level; key educational choices; tips to support the student with organisation, note-taking, memory and learning, reading, writing, and vocabulary.
The reaction from parents has been very positive. Comments included:
'A fantastic session, super information',
'Thank you for a wonderful, detailed and well-explained presentation',
'A huge thank you as all that information and advice will definitely help my son'.
The last webinar was held on Monday 21st October 2024. No further webinars are planned.
2. Dyslexia for Mainstream Teachers
The key emphasis in this presentation is on dyslexia friendly practical school and classroom strategies as well as useful resources.
It is offered as a whole school in-service either in person or by zoom. It is also offered through the Education Centres. Please use the contact form on this website for further details.
Although it deals specifically with dyslexia, many of the strategies and resources will also help when working with students with dyspraxia and ASD.
Topics to be covered include:
- Dyslexia and how it affects the student at second level.
- Screening and identification.
- Dyslexia friendly whole school and classroom strategies. Strategies for reading, writing, comprehension, memory and learning, organisation and spelling are included.
- Resources including subject specific resources. Many of these are downloadable.
What teachers have said about our courses in the past.
'An engaging and comprehensive course, one of the most relevant I have ever done'
'A very interesting day that will change my approach in the classroom from Monday'
'Practical approach, student focussed at all times, no filler'.
3. Planning and resources for the SEN class
This presentation is for teachers who have been allocated some SEN classes and have not received formal training on SEN teaching.
Topics to be covered include strategies, class planning and resources for the SEN class and study skills for the student with dyslexia.
This presentation is offered as a whole school inservice or by zoom through local Education Centres. Please use the contact form on this website for further details.
4. The Study Skills which support the Student with Dyslexia
Students with dyslexia may experience difficulties with organisation, reading, memory and learning note-taking, writing and spelling. This course is for teachers and concentrates on practical study skills and strategies that will help the student achieve.
Topics to be covered include organisation, goalsetting, note-taking, memory and learning strategies, reading, comprehension, understanding questions, writing, spelling and vocabulary.
The presentation is offered as a whole school inservice or by zoom through local Education Centres. Please use the contact form on this website to request details.
5. Dyslexia and Self-esteem
Students with dyslexia may experience low self-esteem, feelings of anxiety and/or a lack of motivation. They may feel they have failed to keep up with their peers from a very early age in achieving key skills. Teachers may not have understood their difficulties. Identification of dyslexia may have been delayed for some reason. By the time they are in secondary school, such feelings may be deep-rooted having developed over several years.
This presentation aims to:
1. Look at the complex difficulties that low self-esteem poses for some students with dyslexia.
2. Examine the contribution the Neurodiversityand the Dyslexia Friendly School can make.
3. Suggest possible strategies that might help students cope and increase self-esteem.
Presenter Wyn McCormack
Wyn is a former Guidance Counsellor and Special Educational Needs teacher. Her three sons have dyslexia.
She has presented courses for parents, students and teachers on dyslexia at second level for over 25 years. Since 2015 her main emphasis has been on courses for teachers and she has presented courses in over 140 secondary schools.
She has also given zoom webinars on dyslexia through many of the Teacher Education Centres.
She has written extensively on the topic including Lost for Words, a Practical Guide to Dyslexia at Second Level, (third edition 2006), and Dyslexia, An Irish Perspective (second edition 2011) as well as being the co-author of the Factsheets on Dyslexia at Second Level in 2013 (updated annually).