SPELD NZ Courses

SPELD NZ is registered as a private training establishment by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) under the provisions of the Education Act 1989 and its subsequent amendments.

He mea rehita na te Mana Tohu Matauranga o Aotearoa kia
tu hei Wahi Whakangungu Motuhake I raro I te maru o te
Ture Matauranga 1989 me ona menemana.

SPELD NZ offers a Certificate Course, an Introductory Course and Assessor Training.We also host an annual Conference and from time to time, parent information evenings.  Read on for further information under the following headings: 

• Certificate Course in Specific Learning Disabilitites
• Introductory Course in Specific Learning Disabilities
• Community Presentations
  
• Assessor Training
• Conferences

The following Courses are approved by New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and SPELD NZ is accredited to deliver the Courses.

SPELD NZ Certificate in Specific Learning Disabilities

This Level 5 Course is available to New Zealand Certificated Secondary, Primary, and Early Childhood teachers, or those with a tertiary qualification and experience in working with children, who wish to extend their knowledge and expertise in teaching, or learning about, people with Specific Learning Disabilities.The course is offered in partnership with Aoraki Poytechnic.

The objectives of the Course are to:

• Provide ways of identifying students with Dyslexia and other Specific Learning Disabilities within various age ranges.
• Provide practical classroom strategies to better meet the needs of students with Dyslexia and Specific Learning Disabilities.
• Equip teachers to design and implement a classroom teaching programme that will meet the needs of the student with Dyslexia’ and Specific Learning Disabilities and the needs of the whole class.
• Equip teachers to support the student with Dyslexia and other Specific Learning Disabilities.
• Equip teachers to interpret specialist reports as a result of the educational assessment Woodcock Johnson III.

Areas covered in the Certificate Course include:

• Signs of Dyslexia in the five-seven, seven-thirteen, thirteen-eighteen and adult age groups.
• Overview of Theory Development
• Child development and exceptional children
• An Introduction to Neurology
• A Neuro-Psychological Introduction to Dyslexia
• Values, Materials and Uses of Different Play Media Related to Age Development and Interest of children
• Dyslexia in adolescence
• Self Help Strategies for Students
• Effects on families/whanau
• Behaviour and Emotions
• Auditory and Visual processes
• Assessment and lesson planning
• Reading, spelling, writing and maths with Dyslexia and Specific Learning Disabilities
• Remedial theories
• Sensory integration and motor development
• Teaching learners with Dyslexia - children to adults
• Technology and Specific Learning Disabilities
• Assessment and interpretation
• Lesson planning from an assessment report

Delivery method

There are two delivery systems available for the Certificate Course. Each requires 400 hours participation/study activity.

Online Course Delivery Method

Block Course Delivery Method

For information on a Block (face to face) Course near you, email admin@speld.org.nz

SPELD NZ Introductory Course in Specific Learning Difficulties

This Level 3 introductory course offers parents, caregivers, teachers and teacher aides a non-technical overview of Dyslexia and Specific Learning Disabilities and an insight into what it is like to have a learning disability. It offers strategies for assisting in the classroom and within the home environment.

This is a two-day course with activities to complete out of Course time. A certificate is issued on completion of the Course requirements.

Course topics include:

• How it feels to have a Dyslexia and other specific learning disability
• How failure leads to frustration and trouble in the classroom
• How the brain works
• Literacy
• Numeracy

No prior qualifications are needed to enrol in this course.

Introductory Courses currently available

SPELD NZ Assessor Training

This Course is held once a year and aimed towards training applicants who have the required NZCER Level C qualifications, in the administration and interpretation of WJIII.This involves a 3 day workshop, assignments, and for those intending to become SPELD registered assessors, a mentoring programme.

Topics covered include:

• use of the WJIII assessment kit including administration and interpretation of data
• an understanding of SPELD as an organisation
• identifying those with specific learning disabilities

How to apply for the next assessor training course:

1. Obtain a letter from NZCER certifying a minimum "C" grade tester status. (Go to www.nzcer.org.nz for guidance).
   
2. Contact your local SPELD association ( 0800 773 536) for membership and application forms, and the association's endorsement.
3. Forward your application to SPELD NZ, National Office, PO Box 24-042, Royal Oak, Auckland 1345

Applications have now closed for 2012 Assessor training.

For further details of training and 2013 programme contact: admin@speld.org.nz

SPELD NZ  Conferences

                                               SPELD NZ Conference 2010                                                    Promoting Positive Connections

With a focus on creating a positive learning environment in the classroom, the 2010 conference showed us how to help learners with SLD/Dyslexia and updated us with the latest brain research and how this impacts our understanding of learning differences.

Dr Loretta Giorcelli from Sydney, Australia showed us the links between learning and behaviour and how this effects success in the classroom. She  discussed how good quality teaching effected students with academic and social vulnerabilites. Happy children learn better! This was reinforced by the work of Dr Lorraine Hammond looking at best practice in her research in Western Australian Schools.

A big thank-you to all our sponsors, exhibitors and speakers below, our helpers, The Langham Hotel and Multimedia Systems for making the  conference a great success:

Exhibitors

Aquila Books, Learning Staircase, Fastforword, Read Auckland, Learning Skills, Dore, The Sensory Corner, Silvereye, NZCER, Rainbow Readers, Lioncrest Education, Adaptice Technology, SPELD NZ.

Sponsors

The Lotteries Commission, SkyCity Charitable Trust, Mary Lloyd SPELD Auckland Trust, Simunovich Estates, 5 Star Promotions, Carol Laloli Flowers, Curriculum Concepts, Whittakers Chocolates.

The Speakers

          Dr Loretta Giorcelli, Dr Lorraine Hammond, Dr Karen Waldie, Nathan Mikaere-Wallis, Laughton King and Sian Jaquet.

Please click on the links below for the following documents:

Full Conference Programme

Speakers Profiles

Presentation Overviews and Social Programme

SPELD NZ Conference 2009
Going for GoLD – Celebrating Creativity

A selection of presentations can be downloaded by clicking on the presentations displayed below.

Kathryn EdmandsSensory Processing Impact	Lorraine Hammond Pull a rabbit from a hat	Lorraine Hammond I can say it better