Choose from one of the following:
Lisa Sparey : Neurodiversity
This session will outline neurodiversity whilst sharing skills, approaches and practical ideas to support children with diverse needs in a respectful relationship focused way. The main goal in helping children with learning differences is to enable them to achieve their true potential as a learner whilst also building their self esteem.
- Interactive warm up games (suitable to use with children)
- Understanding the basic indicators of Neurodiversity
- Approaches and strategies to support students
- Practical ideas to use in the classroom
- Possible resources to use with students
- Reflection and questions
Jane van der Zeyden : Where do I start with a brand new learner of English?
Many schools are enrolling an increasing number of migrant children who are at the very early stages of learning English. It is often challenging to know where to start with these learners.
In this workshop we will:
- Think about the ‘silent period’ that some learners go through and how to support these learners
- Discuss timeframes for developing proficiency in English and consider the expectations that would be realistic
- Identify the key foundational vocabulary that we need to teach explicitly
- Have a brief introduction to some useful resources
Caroline Blair : Understanding the Brain
This essential workshop explores how stress affects the brain and introduces practical techniques to help staff and students manage stress in challenging situations. Designed specifically for teaching assistants, it equips you with valuable skills to support a positive and calm learning environment.
You will come away with:
❖ A clearer understanding of how the brain responds to stress
❖ Simple, effective tools and techniques to reduce your stress and that of your learners
in the classroom
❖ Practical strategies for managing your own well-being amidst the demands of school
life
With a background in education and a genuine passion for well-being, Caroline is a Life Coach (ANZCAL) at Renew Your Mind and an experienced educator. She spent over 11 years as a primary school teacher. She has direct experience working with neurodiverse learners and has had the privilege of managing an invaluable team of teacher aides. Caroline is dedicated to equipping educators with practical tools to foster mental health, build meaningful connections, and create inclusive, positive school environments.
