Contemporary Issues: Helping Students with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and other Disorders on the Spectrum
(2021-22)
This self-paced, online Moodle course is intended for those who are interested in learning how to identify and help students who struggle with language learning in school contexts. In particular, the focus is on how to reframe traditional approaches to instruction in favor of multi-sensory and other student-centered approaches. Major course objectives are to help class participants become more confident with identifying symptoms of various disorders and identifying instructional approaches that honor the individual learner.
Course description:
This 8 week, two-credit offering is based on the premise that children of all ages and across grade levels can learn, but that they do so differently. We know that for some students, learning to read and write will be one of the most challenging school tasks they will ever undertake. Accordingly, practitioners must be knowledgeable about (1) the spectrum of oral and written language disabilities and (2) how a teacher can be an academic coach-guide who helps all students experience success. We will study what experts in the field have to say about learning disorders and consider how teachers can rethink their current practices, identifying ways to differentiate learning to maximize individual student success.
This course is the equivalent to 30 classroom hours (30 OPI renewal units), which is the equivalent of 2 university credits. This is a self-paced course, but do not expect to complete it in one sitting! Course participants must be comfortable working independently and be self-motivated to complete all work within the flexible time frame.
Registration fee: $250
Credit: 30 OPI Renewal Units or 2 Semester Credits (semester credit is offered through the University of Montana and is an additional fee of $155. The course instructor will provide a separate registration form). The total cost savings is 41% by going through WMPLC to get university continuing education credits.
THE COURSE PROCESS:
* Complete this form.
* Within a few days, you will receive an invoice via email.
* Pay the invoice/registration fee (online or by check) in order to begin.
* You will receive a username and password and steps to access the Moodle course.
* The instructor will send an introductory email and you may begin the class.
* If you are taking the course for OPI renewal units, WMPLC will send you OPI renewal units upon completion of the semester.
* If you are taking the course for University credits, the semester credit registration form will be shared with you when your registration is received. You will then need to send the completed semester credit form and payment to your instructor by the end of the semester for which you are enrolled. The instructor will collect the UM credit paperwork and payments from all participants and send them together to the University of Montana by December 30, 2021 (fall term), May 15, 2022 (spring term), or August 31, 2022 (summer term). The participant’s paperwork will be submitted to UM for the term in which they finish the coursework.
Obtaining copies of the books: Check your school /district or local library. Amazon and other online booksellers often have used copies available. The instructor is available to assist with locating copies, if needed.
Event Number: 22551000
EDU 455/EDU 555
Instructors: Daisy Carlsmith/Ann Ellsworth
Target audience:
This course is intended for those who are interested in learning how to identify and help students who struggle with language learning in school contexts. In particular, the focus is on how to reframe traditional approaches to instruction in favor of multi-sensory and other student-centered approaches. Major course objectives are to help class participants become more confident with identifying symptoms of various disorders and identifying instructional approaches that honor the individual learner.
Learning outcomes:
Upon completion of the course:
(1) Students will have researched a dyslexic individual and composed a tribute poem to that individual.
(2) Students will have identified symptoms of dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other disorders on the spectrum.
(3) Students will have identified learning mechanisms that engage struggling learners and encourage their responsiveness to (language) instruction.
(4) Students will have read a book of their choice that deals with learning disorders and analyzed the author’s claims.
(5) Students will have explained why highly structured, multisensory approaches to language fundamentals are more effective than traditional (paper-pencil) approaches.
(6) Students will have evaluated websites, programs, and approaches for struggling and/or dyslexic learners.
(7) Students will have reflected on how classroom procedures for instruction and assessment can be modified to differentiate for the individual learner.
About the course facilitator:
Ann Ellsworth has taught in elementary and secondary schools in Wisconsin and Montana, and has led reading and writing professional development workshops across Montana and the Midwest. She is the 2019 National Council of Teachers of English's (NCTE) "Grammar Teacher of the Year." The Association of Teachers of English Grammar (ATEG) is an arm of NCTE. She was awarded the 2016 Montana Reading Teacher of the Year, and was a finalist for two national teaching awards. Presently she works with teacher candidates at Montana State University-Bozeman She has served as editor of the MONTANA STATE READING JOURNAL and is working with a publisher on a book on how to improve student writing.
Register at: https://forms.gle/bNmENLqAr8q9uE768
(2021-22)
This self-paced, online Moodle course is intended for those who are interested in learning how to identify and help students who struggle with language learning in school contexts. In particular, the focus is on how to reframe traditional approaches to instruction in favor of multi-sensory and other student-centered approaches. Major course objectives are to help class participants become more confident with identifying symptoms of various disorders and identifying instructional approaches that honor the individual learner.
Course description:
This 8 week, two-credit offering is based on the premise that children of all ages and across grade levels can learn, but that they do so differently. We know that for some students, learning to read and write will be one of the most challenging school tasks they will ever undertake. Accordingly, practitioners must be knowledgeable about (1) the spectrum of oral and written language disabilities and (2) how a teacher can be an academic coach-guide who helps all students experience success. We will study what experts in the field have to say about learning disorders and consider how teachers can rethink their current practices, identifying ways to differentiate learning to maximize individual student success.
This course is the equivalent to 30 classroom hours (30 OPI renewal units), which is the equivalent of 2 university credits. This is a self-paced course, but do not expect to complete it in one sitting! Course participants must be comfortable working independently and be self-motivated to complete all work within the flexible time frame.
Registration fee: $250
Credit: 30 OPI Renewal Units or 2 Semester Credits (semester credit is offered through the University of Montana and is an additional fee of $155. The course instructor will provide a separate registration form). The total cost savings is 41% by going through WMPLC to get university continuing education credits.
THE COURSE PROCESS:
* Complete this form.
* Within a few days, you will receive an invoice via email.
* Pay the invoice/registration fee (online or by check) in order to begin.
* You will receive a username and password and steps to access the Moodle course.
* The instructor will send an introductory email and you may begin the class.
* If you are taking the course for OPI renewal units, WMPLC will send you OPI renewal units upon completion of the semester.
* If you are taking the course for University credits, the semester credit registration form will be shared with you when your registration is received. You will then need to send the completed semester credit form and payment to your instructor by the end of the semester for which you are enrolled. The instructor will collect the UM credit paperwork and payments from all participants and send them together to the University of Montana by December 30, 2021 (fall term), May 15, 2022 (spring term), or August 31, 2022 (summer term). The participant’s paperwork will be submitted to UM for the term in which they finish the coursework.
Obtaining copies of the books: Check your school /district or local library. Amazon and other online booksellers often have used copies available. The instructor is available to assist with locating copies, if needed.
Event Number: 22551000
EDU 455/EDU 555
Instructors: Daisy Carlsmith/Ann Ellsworth
Target audience:
This course is intended for those who are interested in learning how to identify and help students who struggle with language learning in school contexts. In particular, the focus is on how to reframe traditional approaches to instruction in favor of multi-sensory and other student-centered approaches. Major course objectives are to help class participants become more confident with identifying symptoms of various disorders and identifying instructional approaches that honor the individual learner.
Learning outcomes:
Upon completion of the course:
(1) Students will have researched a dyslexic individual and composed a tribute poem to that individual.
(2) Students will have identified symptoms of dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other disorders on the spectrum.
(3) Students will have identified learning mechanisms that engage struggling learners and encourage their responsiveness to (language) instruction.
(4) Students will have read a book of their choice that deals with learning disorders and analyzed the author’s claims.
(5) Students will have explained why highly structured, multisensory approaches to language fundamentals are more effective than traditional (paper-pencil) approaches.
(6) Students will have evaluated websites, programs, and approaches for struggling and/or dyslexic learners.
(7) Students will have reflected on how classroom procedures for instruction and assessment can be modified to differentiate for the individual learner.
About the course facilitator:
Ann Ellsworth has taught in elementary and secondary schools in Wisconsin and Montana, and has led reading and writing professional development workshops across Montana and the Midwest. She is the 2019 National Council of Teachers of English's (NCTE) "Grammar Teacher of the Year." The Association of Teachers of English Grammar (ATEG) is an arm of NCTE. She was awarded the 2016 Montana Reading Teacher of the Year, and was a finalist for two national teaching awards. Presently she works with teacher candidates at Montana State University-Bozeman She has served as editor of the MONTANA STATE READING JOURNAL and is working with a publisher on a book on how to improve student writing.
Register at: https://forms.gle/bNmENLqAr8q9uE768