Webinars<strong>for</strong> parentsAutism Spectrum Disorder(ASD)March 27, 2012May 8, 2012May 31, 2012LEARNGiant Steps<strong>SWLSB</strong>To register: conference@learnquebec.ca7:00 p.m.Thomas Stenzel, LEARN With Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, a diploma in Art Education and Special Education andan M.A. in Educational Psychology, Thomas brings this varied background into play in his daily work. He has workedas a special education teacher at both the primary and secondary level, as a McGill instructor both in EducationalTechnology and Inclusive Education, as a <strong>School</strong> <strong>Board</strong> consultant supporting the integrated use of technology in theclassroom and as a Portfolio designer. He is presently working <strong>for</strong> LEARN as a pedagogical consultant and as RECIT,Service à la communauté anglophone.This webinar will look at various ways that technology can be used by students with special needs to develop writtencommunication competencies across their curriculum. We will explore how the writing process, in<strong>for</strong>mation processingand production can be enhanced with the aid of technology.Lisa Levy, Giant Steps <strong>School</strong>, is currently the Behavior Management Specialist and member of the team ofNon Violent Crisis Intervention Instructors at the Giant Steps <strong>School</strong>. Her experience includes working with studentswith intellectual and physical disabilities, and behavioral, pervasive developmental and psychopathological disorders.Her workplace experiences include the Peter Hall <strong>School</strong> and the Sun Youth Organization. Her academic experiencesinclude applied behavioral analysis technician training, early intensive behavioral intervention training, certification inchild studies and inclusive education at McGill University. She also offers coaching services privately to familiesstruggling to increase positive behaviors at home.Have you ever felt frustrated when you and your child or students don’t agree? Have you ever said “Do it right now!”or heard the words “You can’t make me”? Lisa Levy’s webinar entitled “The Power Struggle” will help you identifysituations that place you in a power struggle and reactions to avoid in the battle <strong>for</strong> control. Various methods to disengage quickly andreasonably will be explained, and finally, easy tips <strong>for</strong> preventing power struggles from occurring in the classroom or at home will presented.Gail McCoubrey, <strong>Sir</strong> <strong>Wilfrid</strong> <strong>Laurier</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>Board</strong>, obtained her Master’s and Doctorate (pending) in<strong>School</strong>/Applied Child Psychology from McGill University. Her research interests include learning disabilities assessmentand intervention, specifically, <strong>for</strong> reading disabilities. She has been working as a Psychologist <strong>for</strong> the <strong>Sir</strong> <strong>Wilfrid</strong><strong>Laurier</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>Board</strong> since 2007 and services the elementary schools. Throughout her training and career she workedwith children and adolescents with learning disabilities, behaviour disorders, and pervasive developmental disorders/autism spectrum disorder. (ASD) She also works in private practice conducting psycho-educational assessments <strong>for</strong>children, adolescents and adults.One of the most significant educational challenges <strong>for</strong> students with ASD is to develop reading comprehension skills.Many children with ASD will develop the decoding skills necessary to read text, although many will continue to strugglewith reading comprehension. A closely related challenge is <strong>for</strong> educators to apply effective instructional methods in order to help childrenwith ASD develop their comprehension skills in reading.My Webinar will first discuss why reading comprehension is especially challenging <strong>for</strong> children with ASD. Specifically, what types of cognitiveprocesses are related to weak reading comprehension among children with ASD? I will then discuss best practices <strong>for</strong> reading comprehensioninstruction <strong>for</strong> children with ASD, based on the most recent literature, as well as specific recommendations that teachers can use to help planinstruction in the general education classroom.SIR WILFRID LAURIER SCHOOL BOARD Page 6 VOLUME 3 · ISSUE 3 · March 2012
photo by Nik SchnellDuring the week of January 26, 2012, the Learning Partnership, a national non-profitorganization, dedicated to championing a strong public education system in Canada,announced that Grenville Elementary <strong>School</strong> Principal, Nancy Bennett had been selected asone of Canada's Outstanding Principals <strong>for</strong> 2012. Nancy is the only Principal from Québecto have been chosen.Canada’s Outstanding Principal program is a collaborative partnership between the LearningPartnership and the Rotman <strong>School</strong> of Management in Toronto, Ontario. Each year leadingprincipals selected from Canada-wide nominations are honoured <strong>for</strong> their exemplary contributionsto quality public education. As one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals, Nancy willattend a five day Executive Leadership Training Program at the University of Toronto’s Rotman<strong>School</strong> of Management. There, she will have the opportunity to dialogue and reflect on leadershipissues with other renowned leaders from the educational, social, cultural and businesssectors.On February 28 th at a Gala Event in Toronto Nancy will be inducted into the National Academyof Outstanding Principals and participate in a year-long online <strong>for</strong>um and engage incollaborative deliberations about leadership issues in education.From all of us at <strong>Sir</strong> <strong>Wilfrid</strong> <strong>Laurier</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>Board</strong>, Congratulations Nancy!!!SIR WILFRID LAURIER SCHOOL BOARD Page 7 VOLUME 3 · ISSUE 3 · March 2012
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