Sarah Calvin, OCT, Producer of Bilingual Educational Content with the LD@school team “Explicit instruction is a group of research-supported instructional behaviors used to design and deliver instruction that provides needed supports for successful learning through clarity of language and purpose, and reduction of cognitive load. It promotes active student engagement by requiring frequent and varied [...]
Understanding Learning Disabilities: How Processing Affects Mathematics Learning, developed by the York Region District School Board, is a Companion Resource to the Understanding Learning Disabilities Waterfall Chart. Referred to as the “math waterfall chart”, this comprehensive resource is designed for educators to support students with learning disabilities in the area of mathematics, from kindergarten to [...]
The decision tree below is a tool offering educators (grades 1 through 12) a roadmap to identifying issues and solutions when a student demonstrates difficulty learning. It is based on a series of five questions that educators can ask themselves in order to identify the difficulty observed in the student. Depending on the answer to [...]
In this podcast, Kelli Cote shares her story about navigating the educational system, both as a parent of a child with LDs and as an educator who has worked with many families of students with LDs. She explains the importance of cultivating empathy and caring in educators who work with students with LDs so that they approach parent-teacher relationships with care and sensitivity.
“Inclusive education is based on the principles of acceptance and inclusion of all students. Students see themselves reflected in their curriculum, their physical surroundings, and the broader environment, in which diversity is honoured and all individuals are respected.” (Realizing the Promise of Diversity: Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy, 2009, p. 4.)
Click here to access the transcript of this webinar. Presenters: Jenessa Dworet Special Education Assistant Curriculum Leader at York Mills Collegiate Institute, Toronto District School Board Chris Sands Special Education Assistant Curriculum Leader at Sir John A. MacDonald Collegiate Institute, Toronto District School Board Exams and standardized tests can be stressful for students and staff [...]
In 2017, LDAO launched a website for parents: LD@home (www.LDatHome.ca)! LD@home is a free resource for parents of students with learning disabilities (LDs) from kindergarten to grade 8. Its goal is to help bridge the gap between school and home. Click here to visit the LD@home website.
Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively, developed by the National Centre for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance at the Institute of Educational Sciences, is a practical guide for educators working with students between grades 6 and 12. The guide was compiled by an expert panel, with the goal of offering educators specific, evidence-based recommendations to [...]
Do you have your own classroom website, or do educators in your school have their own websites? When these websites are designed, is there thought being applied to those students who may have accessibility challenges? Students with learning disabilities (LDs) are not the only students who may have difficulty accessing online content, so it is good practice to design with accessibility in mind. The LD@school team has put together some background information on why designing accessible classroom websites is important, as well as some simple steps educators can take to ensure they are designing websites that can be easily navigated by everyone.
Educators and parents generally agree that positive, supportive and open relationships between home and school, parent and teacher are desirable. Additionally, research has shown that parent engagement and successful parent-teacher partnerships result in improved educational outcomes for students (Ministry of Education, 2010), and this is especially important for students with learning disabilities (LDs). So what can educators and administrators do to help facilitate a positive partnership?
