Author of Secret Code Actions
™
Presentations
J Cooney
Grade 2 classroom teacher
B.C., Canada
I recently attended Nancy’s workshop on supporting students reading. I have struggled with explaining aspects of written English in a way that was engaging and memorable to my students. Nancy’s book and instruction have given me some amazing ideas to use with my students. I am excited to get back to my classroom and put it to use.
Your presentation on the secrets of the code was one of the very best I have ever attended! You not only explained to teachers why reading instruction needs to be structured, but you showed how much fun it can be for kids if they are moving while they learn! If your methods were used in more schools, I think there would be far fewer kids with reading problems out there!
Currently available only online – hoping to be back to offering in-person
in late 2022! (Stay safe, everyone!)
Presentations (1.5 to 3 hours)
Climbing the Ladder of Reading & Writing:
Some Children Climb More Slowly While Others Leap Up
Using her globally recognized Ladder of Reading & Writing infographic, Nancy will address the wide range of ease as children learn to read and the instructional implications. She’ll briefly summarize the components underlying skilled reading and writing and delve into the relevance of those components for those for whom learning is more challenging as well as those with advanced skills. Emphasized will be the importance of differentiated instruction to ensure all students continue to move forward in their learning. Briefly addressed will be the needs of students with dyslexia, ADHD, and giftedness – recognizing that some students may have co-occurring exceptionalities.
A Win-win! Weaving in Movement as
Children Master the Secrets of the Code!
Nancy will review (referencing her Ladder of Reading & Writing infographic) the wide range of learning needs as children learn to read and write. She’ll then summarize research on the need for increased physical activity in schools, including research on the benefits of integrating movement into learning tasks. Throughout the session, Nancy will show examples of ways to weave movement into reading and writing instruction and practice. Educators will find out how easy it can be to learn and practice skills using engaging and FUN code-based movements whether in the classroom, in the gym, or at the playground. Disclosure: Some of the examples presented will be from Nancy’s book "Secret Code Actions".
*Note: Purchase of Nancy Young’s book, “Secret Code Actions” is suggested. See footer for ordering instructions.
If this presentation is delivered in a longer workshop, all participants are required to have a copy of Nancy’s book (which serves as the “workshop text” referenced throughout the session and then available for teachers to reference and continue learning from after the workshop).
Twice-exceptional (2e) students who are gifted and have dyslexia.
Students with the exceptionalities of either giftedness or dyslexia are often underserved in today’s schools. At even greater risk of not being identified and effectively supported are students who are intellectually gifted AND have dyslexia. Described as twice-exceptional (2e), these students require programming that addresses both their strengths - intellectual and personal - and their challenges in learning to read/spell/write. In this session, Nancy will summarize the research on 2e (gifted and dyslexia). She'll then provide examples of how to provide differentiated instruction that is intellectually engaging while teaching the components of structured literacy in the regular classroom kindergarten to grade 3.
Gifted Students with Co-Occurring ADHD in the Early Grades
Within some K to grade 3 classrooms are gifted students with the co-occurring exceptionality of ADHD. Likely to not yet be formally identified, these twice-exceptional students are at risk for academic and emotional struggles if their giftedness, as well as their ADHD needs, are not met. In this session, Nancy will summarize the research on 2e learners generally, and the importance of a strength-based approach that recognizes their above-average or higher cognitive abilities. She’ll then address foundational reading and writing instruction for these students, recognizing that some may be advanced in those skills while others may find mastery more challenging. Nancy will emphasize the need for differentiation that considers both skill development and enrichment while respecting and cultivating personal strengths and interests. Examples provided will include ways to enable children with ADHD to be physically active and to be engaged in novel tasks during the learning process.
Bridging Research Silos: Looking Beyond to Better Support ALL Students
The huge movement to address the needs of struggling readers is causing changes to happen in more and more classrooms and in teacher training at the university level. Yet, those who research the science of how children learn to read suggest we need to be cautious and recognize that we still need to know more about how to translate that science into effective instruction. As we continue to work towards this important goal, should we not consider other areas within education that may impact the development of improved reading methods and programs? In this session, Nancy will propose that we need to bridge across to other areas of research as we move forward. She’ll address four areas in particular: 1) Differentiation to meet the wide range of skill mastery; 2) Challenging learning opportunities for gifted students; 3) Inclusion of parents as true members of the team (supporting their learning to help them better support their children); and 3) Physical activity and the connection between movement and academic success. As she addresses each of these areas, she will point out how they connect to learning to read and to one another.
(The topics in the above presentations can be combined and delivered in a more interactive workshop format or 3 hours or more. Please contact Nancy to discuss options.)
Presentations & Handouts
Click the button below to access Nancy's handouts listing presentation references (some also listing additional helpful resources). Depending on the presentation topic, Nancy may provide additional materials. NOTE: Generally, Nancy’s slides are only available to registrants via the hosting organization.
**ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Would you like to use materials Nancy has created in a presentation, on a website, in course materials or in a publication? Please contact Nancy first.**