Upcoming Events

Previous HillTopics

Improving Executive Function Skills

 

In this one-hour session, Brandon Slade from Untapped Learning will cover:

 
  • What executive function is;
  • How to develop executive function skills;
  • How to “do school”;
  • And how parents can support their students.
 
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Dyslexia Diagnosis – What’s Next

Has someone in your family recently been diagnosed with dyslexia or showing signs that they could be dyslexic? Join
us for this casual round table as Kathy Sherman shares valuable
insights and tips on supporting a dyslexic student at home and at
school. Come with your list of questions as you’ll have the opportunity to ask them directly during the discussion.

Don’t miss out on this chance to learn, share, and connect with others.

Presenter: Kathy Sherman, Hillside School

SLIDE DECK HERE

Dyslexia from A to Z

Kathy Sherman, Co-Founder of Hillside School, will discuss dyslexia, the Science of Reading, and how to support your student.

  • What is the Science of Reading?
  • The Nuts and Bolts of Dyslexia
  • The Impact Dyslexia Has on Learning and Emotions
  • How Reading, Writing, and Math are Affected
  • Ways to Support at Home
  • How to Support at School

Presenter: Kathy Sherman, MA, Hillside School

Kathy’s lifelong passion for working with children who learn differently has led her to study and integrate the principles of neuroscience into her and the school’s work as a way to better understand all aspects of a child’s learning dynamic and well-being.

 

Watch Presentation Here

 

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Advocating for Special Ed Students with Jessica Diamond

 

Jessica Diamond, Owner of Advocating for Solutions, LLC, covers the important topic about special education advocacy. In this 75-minute
session, Jessica will cover the difference between 504 and IEP plans
and will walk you through the essentials for a successful advocacy plan
for your student. This session is jam-packed with useful info – you won’t want to miss it!

 

About Jessica:

Jessica developed a passion for Special Education
Advocacy after navigating the process for her own children. Seeing
firsthand the struggles families face and the tools/resources that can
help bring successful outcomes, she began working with other families.
Jessica has a varied background in the business world from non-profit
start-ups to marketing/sales in the healthcare industry. Her strong
analytical skills to collect and interpret data combined with strong
negotiation and communication skills has led to many successful outcomes for students and families. Jessica believes in continuous training to better support families. She has attended training from Peter Wright (Special Education Attorney Thought Leader) with WrightsLaw on Special Education Law & Advocacy and is a member of COPAA (Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates).

 

Watch Presentation Here

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The Dyslexic Learner: What dyslexia is and how it impacts learning
Join Kathy Sherman as she breaks down common questions about the dyslexic learner:
 
  * Plain talk about dyslexia
  * What dyslexia can impact beyond reading
  * The difference between I can’t and I won’t
  * Q&A
 
Presenter: Kathy Sherman, MA, Hillside School
Kathy’s lifelong passion for working with children who learn differently has led her to study and integrate the principles of neuroscience into her and the school’s work as a way to better understand all aspects of a child’s learning dynamic and well-being.
 
 
 
Resources:

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Successful Learning During the Pandemic

Is your student struggling with digital learning during this unusual school year? Has your student been provided with assistive technology tools but no one has shown them how to use them? Join Debbie Campbell as she reviews how to use features in Google Docs, Read Write for Google (beyond text-to-speech), Grammarly, Capti Voice, and more. Debbie will also share ideas for how parents can address issues around students who visit websites or use apps during learning time, distracting them from their work.
 
Presenter: Debbie Campbell
Debbie has worked in elementary classrooms and as an adjunct professor at both Denver University’s Teacher Education Program and University of Northern Colorado’s Center for Urban Teacher Education. She now owns and operates Effective Technology for Learning, LLC and serves as a technology consultant and trainer.
 

Successful Learning Zoom Recording

Hill Topic Assistive Technology Resources

Ten Tips on How to Help Your Dyslexic Learner

Hear from Kathy Sherman, learning specialist and Co-Founder of Hillside School. Once behind in school, students experience that academic “bar” continually moving beyond their reach.
 
We know it can be stressful to think about where your child falls in comparison to other kids their age, but let’s change the focus to how you can best support your child without the stress.
 
Learn 10 tips that will guide you and your child to reading success.
 
Presenter: Kathy Sherman, MA, Hillside School
Kathy’s lifelong passion for working with children who learn differently has led her to study and integrate the principles of neuroscience into her and the school’s work as a way to better understand all aspects of a child’s learning dynamic and well-being.
 
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Executive Function: Plain talk about what EF is and practical strategies for parents
 
Executive Function skills are the foundation for school success. For some children, these skills need to be explicitly taught. Brandon Slade discovered this need as a student himself and has gone on to develop a program that teaches students ‘how to do school’ by developing skills with organization, time management, planning, and self-advocacy. Brandon will share many of these key strategies he has found to help students become both independent and successful in school.
 
Presenter: Brandon Slade Untapped Learning
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Developing Your Child’s IEP or 504: Eligibility and Beyond
 
Come learn about the 504 and IEP eligibility processes. Julie will highlight the differences of each plan, discuss tips for developing strong documents, collaborating with school staff, and structuring successful outcomes for your student. There will be time for Q&A. Great for families interested in initiating the 504 or IEP process, or for those who would like to strengthen a plan already in place!
 
Presenter: Julie Hagy-Hancock, M.S., is a Special Education Consultant/Child Advocate. Julie has spent the last 15 years specializing in advocacy, consulting, behavior intervention and eligibility for students with special needs.
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Stressed and Anxious: How to help our kids
 
Stress and anxiety are skyrocketing among children and families. We are living in stressful times and children can feel it around them and for many, within themselves. Feelings of overwhelm, grief, fear and uncertainty have contributed to troubling changes in children’s emotional well- being, especially when it comes to anxiety.
 
Join Mia Bertram as she helps you understand what stress is, how it affects your mood, your body, your perceptions, parenting and daily living. Mia will teach you ways to become mindful and connected to yourself so that you can manage your own feelings and help your child weather the stormy seas that stress can bring on. Mia will be teaching about the nervous system, regulation and dysregulation and offer activities, practices and coping skills that you can implement yourself and teach to your family to help manage feelings and strengthen resiliency. You will walk away feeling informed and empowered on ways to help recognize dysregulation/stress in yourself and your child and implement strategies to help manage these big and sometimes overwhelming emotion states.
 
 
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Transitions to Middle & High School
 
Nervous about all the changes that middle/high school will bring– multiple teachers, lockers, harder work, being organized, new friends, peer pressure, more independence, risks, and opportunities?
 
Join the club! Students and parents can both have worries as they face the transition into middle school, into high school and after high school. And if you have a child with special needs, the worry is greater for everyone. Anna will discuss ways to prepare ourselves and our children for a successful and balanced transition.
 
Presenter: Anna Stewart, BVSD Parent, School, Community Liaison