Addressing Learning Disabilities in the Inclusive Classroom A Collaboration between the Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta and the Alberta Teachers Association April 23, 2015 – ATA Webinar – Allison McCaffrey

Who I Am? 2

Goals of the webinar: Understand the nature and prevalence of learning disabilities. Discuss and experience a variety of strategies to use with students with different Learning Disabilities. 3

Student in Your Pocket 4

What Are Learning Disabilities … 5 Two Facts and a Fib Let’s determine which of the following statements is NOT correct for each slide.

Two Facts and a Fib 6 Students with Learning Disabilities tend to have deficits in short term memory. In looking at the tests scores you will often find these scores below the 25 th percentile. Students with LD have a cognitive disability which is why learning takes longer. About one third of students with learning disabilities have attention difficulties as well.

Two Facts and a Fib 7 Learning Disabilities are easy to identify and therefore do not need a formalized assessment to be accurately diagnosed. As many as 50 % of students with LD will drop out of school prior to their high school graduation. Students with LD are more likely to encounter trouble with the law.

8

LD Simulation 9 On the next page you will find a passage the replicates challenges some of our readers face in deciphering passages. Imagine that you are being asked to read this and then do a comprehension quiz for this. As the student what are your feelings????? Please feel free to write down your thoughts on the slide

10

A great on-line site that has a number of simulations of different LD challenges can be found at /attention.html 11

12 then we must teach the way they learn. Source unknown If they can’t learn the way we teach,

Six Main Categories of Learning Disabilities Visual Processing Auditory Processing Motor Coordination Difficulties Social Skill Difficulties Organizational Difficulties Conceptualization Difficulties 13

Organizational Difficulties 14

Conceptual Difficulties - Mathematics 15

Other 16

17 Questions?

18 Student in your Pocket How can I support him/her tomorrow?

Support After the Workshop ATA Library Books, journal articles, multimedia, resources ATA Workshops Many different workshops available for only $ plus G.S.T. Teacher Welfare and Member Services Workshops and services available Join a Specialist Council Visit the ATA website ATA Ed Trust grants an bursaries available Grants and bursaries for PD, courses and projects Become an ATA Instructor 19

20