Join Natalie Hale as she leads attendees through an effective plan to teach reading to learners of any age with Down syndrome. (Information given is also relative to other diagnoses involving developmental delays, e.g.: ASD, PDDNOS, and Autism. She covers in detail "Reading M&Ms:" the most effective Methods, Materials, and Motivation.)
Topics covered include current best practice, the optimal order of learning, sight word learning vs. Phonemic awareness, teaching nonverbal children, teaching older non-readers, errorless testing techniques, how to engage motivation, the Fast Flash method, comprehension tips, and guidelines for creating personal books and adapting trade books.
Attendees will need to bring their child's/student's favorite book from home/school, or preferably buy a new reading book on a topic they know their child/student will like.
REGISTRATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 17 AT 5 P.M.
• To provide a clear, step-by-step plan for teaching reading to individuals with Down syndrome, regardless of age.
• To provide information of such a present, accessible nature that attendees can immediately put into practice what they have learned in the workshop.
• To give attendees a deeper understanding of how individuals with Down syndrome learn, including knowledge of learning weakness and strengths and how to work with those issues.
• To communicate the importance of first engaging the learner’s interest and willingness through high-interest material, often neglected in typical classroom situations.
• To help parents understand effective ways to communicate their child’s reading needs and current levels to educators.
• To help both educators and parents to understand that “it’s never too late to learn to read,” and to give attendees the tools to make this happen.
About Natalie Hale
Natalie Hale is an award-winning author, an innovative educator, parent of an adult son with Down syndrome (Jonathan, 28), and for over 20 years, a national speaker on the topic of teaching reading to learners with Down syndrome and other developmental delays. In 2000, she founded the publishing company Special Reads for Special Needs to provide parents and educators with reading books and materials specifically designed for learners with Down syndrome.
Her most recent book was published by Woodbine House: “Down Syndrome Parenting 101: Must-Have Advice for Making Your Life Easier,” which won the Best Special Needs Parenting Book of 2012 About.com Reader’s Choice Award. Also through Woodbine House is her workbook for teens and adults titled, “Managing My Money: Banking and Budgeting Basics.” She is also the author of the chapter book for siblings, “Oh, Brother! Growing Up With A Special Needs Sibling,” published by the American Psychological Association.
Natalie currently lives in Los Angeles and tutors reading through the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles. She continues to teach parents and educators across the country through workshops and through her Facebook page, Down Syndrome Reading with Natalie Hale. A Spanish version of that page, Lectura Ascerca del Sindrome de Down con Natalie Hale, is due to launch on Facebook this Spring.