Hillside School Professional Development Training for Educators

Hillside School is a Boulder-based half-day program than enables students with dyslexia and other learning differences become capable and confident learners. Learn from our experienced faculty as we share best practices, research, and cutting-edge strategies that have been making life-changing impacts on students since 2005.

2022 Summer Courses

Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Hillside has decided not to offer our traditional professional development courses in the summer of 2022. We highly value workshop-style, hands-on classes for educators to collaborate and grow together. This type of learning is best done in person, but with the uncertainties of our ability to gather in larger groups and the small classrooms available on our campus, we felt the need to make this difficult decision. HOWEVER, our wonderful instructors are still available for trainings in outside settings! If you are interested in having us come conduct a training at your school, please contact Rachel at rachel@hillsidelearning.org

Training opportunities include:

• Understanding Dyslexia in the Classroom: Our most popular and highly acclaimed training for teachers, aimed at helping classroom teachers from preschool to highschool understand how to support dyslexic learners in their classrooms. (This training can be tailored to your setting to focus on learners in specific age groups.)
• OG Skills Brush-Up: For schools where teachers have been trained in Orton Gillingham methodologies but just need some additional training to further develop these skills and understanding.
• Supporting Dyslexic Students in Writing: Writing is such a difficult skill for dyslexic students! Learn strategies and techniques for understanding and supporting writing strategies.
• Developing Number Sense and Foundational Math Skills for Older Students: What do you do with those students in upper elementary and middle school who continue to struggle with understanding the mechanics of numbers? This training is aimed at helping teachers learn practical tools for supporting and developing mathematical understanding and skills.

Quotes from Participants:

"I am writing to thank you for the phenomenal PD you gave to all of us with your Dyslexia in the Classroom workshop. I have been to many, many PDs. I don't think I have ever been in a setting where all of the presenters were as knowledgeable and skilled as you were. Your expertise, as well as your deep love for the learner in all children flowed through all of your teaching. You were so incredibly, warm, welcoming, as well as being so very humble. Thank you, again, for offering this workshop and for giving me a chance to see the affirming and amazing work you do on the behalf of children. You are all an inspiration."

"This was a fabulous class for all teachers to take - should be offered more often for more teachers to take advantage of it."

"This was an awesome class - one of the best I have taken in quite some time! I was very impressed with the knowledge that both Rachel and Jill brought each week. I will definitely search out more of their classes in the future. Each week I learned something new that I can implement myself and/or share with colleagues."

"Each of the strategies used to teach students with Dyslexia/learning disabilities are useful and valuable. Resources could be used immediately. Activities demonstrated the thought processes that students with Dyslexia must go through when given writing assignments."

"Once again, I am reminded that Dyslexia has no boundaries. It affects people from ALL walks of life in extremely complex ways. This class has certainly made me more aware of what my students may be experiencing and how I can respond with purposeful accommodations."