Hillside School Professional Development Training for Educators
Hillside School is a Boulder-based half-day program that enables students with dyslexia and other learning differences to 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.
Marilyn Zecher’s Multisensory Math Training, Level 1
Dates: June 16 -20, 2025
Times: 8:00–4:00
Marilyn Zecher developed her renowned Multisensory Math methodology based on the Orton-Gillingham philosophy and methodology of teaching and evidence-based strategies recommended by the What Works Clearinghouse, the NCTM, and evidence from neuroscience.
This approach is especially effective with students who learn differently, inclusion classes, and ESL learners. The approach is effective for initial instruction, intervention, inclusion classes as well as remedial work at all levels. It is compatible with and can be used to support most curricula and programs.
Topics will include:
- Applying this methodology in guiding students from foundation skills and numeracy to place value, operations, fractions, and decimals.
- Using manipulatives effectively to reinforce concepts, aid memory, and enhance performance for all students.
- Using strategies for helping students learn and retrieve math facts as well as structured procedures for computational accuracy.
- Understanding neuroscience findings about how math is processed in the brain, which cognitive processes impact math, and the best way to capitalize on these discoveries in our teaching.
Course Instructor: Rachel Paradis, MSEd, ET/P
Course Dates: June 16–20, 8:00 – 4:00
Course Location: TBD, Boulder, CO
Rachel Paradis has been training with Marilyn for the past four years and is currently working towards her Instructor of Teaching certification in this methodology. She has been teaching students with a variety of learning needs for over twenty years, primarily at the middle and high school level, and is a licensed special education teacher and a licensed educational therapist at the professional level.
Quotes from Previous 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."