Welcome
DSF Literacy and Clinical Services (The Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation of WA inc.) has provided vital support to West Australian children and adults with learning disabilities for over 40 years. It remains committed to improving the level of support provided to children and adults with learning disabilities and to the community’s understanding of specific learning disabilities, in particular dyslexia.
DSF continues to focus on ensuring that children and adults with learning disabilities are supported adequately and appropriately, and that all students are provided with the opportunity to achieve their potential. In addition it provides advice and support to families and educators on successful literacy acquisition, evidence-based practice, and the strategies most likely to improve literacy outcomes for all students. Our role includes supporting and advising students, adults and families directly, as well as indirectly through the support and advice provided at a school or employment level.
Upcoming Events
- Alpha to Omega
- 6 May 14
Effective reading programs include both explicit and systematic phonemic awareness and phonics instruction. Wherever possible these programs should be delivered using a range of multi-sensory activities with a significant increase in intensity (e.g. one-on-one or small group). This is particularly the case for struggling students. The Alpha to Omega program is considered to be a very effective, highly structured program that achieves excellent results. It has the added benefit of linking to the very popular computer program WordShark 4. Participants in this workshop will be introduced to the Alpha to Omega program and will have the opportunity to trial a number of the component activities.
Presenter: Kelly Fullarton is a Psychologist at DSF Literacy and Clinical Services. She assesses children, teenagers and adults struggling with acquisition of effective literacy skills and recommends appropriate classroom-based and individual strategies. Kelly is passionate about finding practical and often stress-free strategies to improve literacy skills in children and adults.
Click on link to download registration form
- ‘Talk for Writing’ with Pie Corbett - Workshop One
- 21 Jul 14
How to teach persuasive, informative and narrative writing.
A series of workshops presented by internationally renowned literacy expert and author Pie Corbett*
Throughout the primary years students need to develop the skills required to write in a variety of forms (or genres) including: narrative writing, informative writing, and persuasive writing. Specific knowledge, skills and understandings are required for each of these very different text types
and students need to be taught explicit strategies in order to create text that will successfullyentertain, inform or persuade their audience.‘Talk for Writing’ is a unique process drawing on international research into the effective teaching of writing. It is built around three phases – ‘imitation’, ‘innovation’ and ‘invention’.The approach progresses from creative teacher-led activities, to carefully structured and scaffolded shared writing experiences, through to successful, well-crafted independent writing.Schools implementing the approach have seen dramatic improvements in their students’ writing and it has proved invaluable in supporting the language development of students with home languages other than English.
The workshops will equip participants with a range of effective strategies that can be implemented immediately. The approach will help build the confidence and linguistic ability of students, enabling them to create their own high quality writing.
The approach is ideal for teachers and other professionals working with students aged 5 to 12 years.
*PIE CORBETT has worked as a Primary School Head Teacher, a Senior Lecturer, a School Inspector and contributed to the English Primary and Secondary National Literacy Strategies in England. In 2011, Pie was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters for lifetime services to creative education, poetry and storytelling. Having written and edited over 250 books, he works now on research and development projects with clusters of schools in disadvantaged areas to raise standards in writing and to bring about whole school transformation. The ‘Talk for Writing’ approach has been used by thousands of schools to raise their standards and help children develop as young writers, making rapid and confident progress. Currently, it is part of a large-scale, scientific research programme funded via the Education Endowment Fund.
Pie Corbett
Pie Corbett is renowned for his practical, lively and inspiring training days and conferences. In England, he is affectionately known as the teachers’ ‘literacy guru’. He writes poetry, tells stories and believes that no child should leave a primary school without being able to read and write effectively.
Workshop 1 ‘Talk for Writing’ – Teaching persuasive and informative writing (Monday 21st July)
This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of how to help children speak the language of non-fiction before they attempt to write it. The language and structure of non-fiction text types – such as recounts, instructions, explanations, information, persuasion and discussion – will be explored and compared. Activities linked to the three phases of the ‘Talk for Writing’ approach will be trialled.
Workshop 2 ‘Talk for Writing’ – Teaching narrative writing (Tuesday 22nd July)
This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of how to help children speak the language of fiction before they attempt to write it. The language and structure of fiction text types – such as story-telling and poetry – will be explored and compared. Activities linked to the three phases of the ‘Talk for Writing’ approach will be trialled.
Download a registration form (pdf)
More information on the ‘Talk for Writing’ technique can be found here – talk4writing.co.uk
Pie Corbett’s personal website can be found here – piecorebett.org.uk
Pie Corbett will be presenting workshops around Australia over July and August 2014. More info can be found here – auspeld.org.au
- ‘Talk for Writing’ with Pie Corbett - Workshop Two
- 22 Jul 14
How to teach persuasive, informative and narrative writing.
A series of workshops presented by internationally renowned literacy expert and author Pie Corbett*
Throughout the primary years students need to develop the skills required to write in a variety of forms (or genres) including: narrative writing, informative writing, and persuasive writing. Specific knowledge, skills and understandings are required for each of these very different text types and students need to be taught explicit strategies in order to create text that will successfullyentertain, inform or persuade their audience.
Download a registration form (pdf)More information on the ‘Talk for Writing’ technique can be found here – talk4writing.co.uk
Pie Corbett’s personal website can be found here – piecorebett.org.uk
Pie Corbett will be presenting workshops around Australia over July and August 2014. More info can be found here – auspeld.org.au