Welcome to SPELD NZ's online Kōwae ako-Learning Capsules. We've created these in response to the huge demand from educators and families seeking skills and wisdom to better support those who struggle with dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities.
“What a truly exceptional resource.”
Click on each tile for full details on each Kōwae ako-Learning Capsule. We’ll continue to add more to this knowledge hub so watch this space!
WINTER WARMER NEWS FLASH! For the month of July 2026 only, all Kōwae Ako/ Learning Capsules are available at half price.
Former SPELD NZ student Katie Fisher – now a children’s author and illustrator – shares her journey from a highly anxious child into a resilient adult and the toolkit she has used along the way.
Delve deeply into how sounds are learned in the English language and understand their critical place in developing skills for reading and writing. Learn strategies and tools to strengthen your teaching kete.
Insights from the charismatic and deeply knowledgeable Dr Nathaniel Swain. Learn simple and effective paragraph structures for all students. Plus how to spot style and structure errors and remedy challenges with planning and revision.
Explore how to better understand and support your child’s school journey. Learn key ways to engage with teachers/schools, how to advocate for your child, potential support available, classroom accommodations and ideas to help at home.
Executive Function, Cognitive Load, and Supporting Students with Specific Learning Disabilities. Insightful learning bridging research and practice, with a focus on targeted interventions for students in both school and private settings.
Join Elena Ciobanu as she unpacks this evidence-based approach to developing writing skills across all year levels and subjects.
How can I help boost my child’s literacy and numeracy at home? Learn ways to help using simple, everyday, household materials.
Expert advice on communicating with teachers and learning support staff, navigating workload and stress, building resilience, making the most of A.I., classroom accommodations, special assessment conditions, changes to NCEA and much more.
A highly practical, expert-led webinar on the earliest indicators of learning difficulties and simple, effective interventions to support tamariki in preschool and Year 1. This webinar includes children demonstrating recommended activities.
Learn from Dr Nathaniel Swain’s infectious energy and deep expertise. Understand common writing errors at the sentence level and how to remedy challenges in writing.
Learn advanced spelling instruction and morphology from the dynamic Dr Nathaniel Swain in this presentation from SPELD NZ’s 2025 conference.
Oral Language Competence and Transition to Literacy – What can we learn from research? A SPELD NZ Lifting Literacy conference presentation by Professor Pamela Snow.
How did we get here and where are we going next? A presentation by Professor Pamela Snow at SPELD NZ’s Conference Lifting Literacy.
How knowledge improves spelling. A presentation by Dr Lillian Fawcett at SPELD NZ’s Lifting Literacy conference.
Personal Stories
Find out how SPELD NZ has helped both children and adults overcome their struggles with dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities.
John Lazenby’s struggle with literacy was once viewed as a character defect best rectified by regular beatings. Then one teacher changed everything.
CEO Duncan Milne explains how his company adapts the working environment to harness the talents of staff with dyslexia, ADHD and autism.
Many neurodivergent people don’t find their feet until they reach the workplace. Jordan Kanon despised school but he’s now thriving as a product developer.
SPELD NZ support and a lot of hard work have paid dividends for Nathan Moore.
