TEACHER TRAINING –
*Due to COVID-19, Hillside's 2020 teacher trainings have been cancelled*
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 2005.2020 Summer Courses
The Magic of Visual Mathematics
Target Audience: 3-8 GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND MATH INTERVENTIONISTS
For some students, understanding how to use numbers in creative ways seems to be part of their DNA, while others struggle with the simplest of tasks such as counting and combining two quantities. This two-day workshop will focus on the difficulties so many students with learning differences face when it comes to understanding numbers and the too-often abstract nature of math. Through hands-on activities and discussions, we will explore how to develop a deeper understanding of number and computation concepts for upper elementary and middle school students who still haven’t mastered the core of math learning.
Topics will include:
- Current neuroscience findings about how math is processed in the brain and the best way to capitalize on these discoveries in our teaching
- Using visual and kinesthetic strategies, activities, and games to develop an understanding of numbers and computational algorithms
- Using technology to support instruction and engage struggling math students
- Reconsidering the questions we ask students in math to encourage more flexible thinking and problem-solving
Lunch Provided
Dates: July 14-15, 2020
Times: 8:30-4:00
Cost: $300*
* One graduate credit available for an additional fee ($55) through Adam’s State University
O.G. Skills Brush Up: Moving from Oh No! To Oh Go!
Target Audience: Classroom teachers and tutors K-5
You have done the 40 hours of training, and you have your card deck. What next? This one-day course will provide practical tips for implementing the Orton Gillingham approach in classrooms as well as 1:1. The focus will be on multi-sensory decoding and spelling activities, as well as how to incorporate reading comprehension into your lessons. Participants will leave with activities and games that they can immediately implement in their classrooms or tutoring.
Lunch Provided
Dates: July 23, 2020
Times: 8:30-4:00
Cost: $150*
*.5 graduate credit available for an additional fee ($55) through Adam’s State University
Writing with Dyslexia: Moving Beyond the Sentence to Meaningful Composition
Target Audience: 3-8 GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND LITERACY INTERVENTIONISTS
It is proven that providing an explicit and structured approach to reading instruction is critical for students with dyslexia, yet we often neglect to do the same with our writing curriculum. This two-day course will provide a framework and activities to supplement existing writing curriculums. Participants will learn how to help students understand the various structures of written language and create meaningful pieces of writing.
Topics will include:
- Understanding the foundations of language learning and the implications for students with dyslexia
- Reviewing universal structures of oral storytelling, narratives, poetry and content area text structures in order to create classroom-ready multi-sensory and multi-modality activities and lessons for instruction of various writing genres
- Understand accommodations, strategies and tools to help writers create meaningful content
Lunch Provided
Dates: July 29-30, 2020
Times: 8:30-4:00
Cost: $300*
* One graduate credit available for an additional fee ($55) through Adam’s State University
Understanding Dyslexia in the Classroom:
Hillside School Professional Development for Educators
This fifteen-hour, two-day course is designed to help educators gain a greater understanding of dyslexia and how it impacts students in the classroom, specifically in the areas of reading and written language. Course content will address the following three areas:
- What is dyslexia? This module will highlight common indicators of dyslexia at various age-groups, how dyslexia can contribute to student dysregulation, and best practices for teaching dyslexic learners.
- What makes an effective reading intervention program? In this module, participants will learn strategies to improve phonological awareness, decoding, spelling, and reading fluency in classroom instruction, and identify when more intensive intervention is necessary.
- Why is writing so difficult for the dyslexic student? Educators will increase their understanding of the neurological demands of writing and learn techniques and strategies to support struggling writers.
Upon completion of this course, educators will be able to describe the challenges that a dyslexic learner faces in the classroom, understand how a dyslexic student learns best, and implement instructional strategies in reading and writing that will help their students experience greater success.
Lunch Provided
Dates: May 28-29, 2020
Times: 8:30-4:00
Cost: $300*
This course qualifies for 15 hours in standards III and IV towards the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners professional development requirements.
* One graduate credit available for an additional fee ($55) through Adam’s State University
