Workshop Options

Getting Ready for Junior High: Organizational Strategies and Study Skills for Students in Grades 4 to 6. (Two-hour workshop.)

The transition to junior high is associated with increased expectations for independent learning. Higher achievement is associated with goal setting, efficient use of time, organization, and planning during these years. However, preparation for junior high ideally begins long before grade 7. Students in the upper elementary grades need to develop the strategies and habits that will help them successfully navigate the demands of junior high.

The good news is that study and organization skills are transferable. As they develop into lifelong habits, they are beneficial for other contexts such as home and work. Let’s learn some tips and techniques for learning and studying smarter!

This interactive session is designed for a parent and youth to attend together. Topics to be addressed include:

• Organization of materials
• Managing time
• Goal-setting
• Setting up a successful homework routine
• Effective study skills

Supporting Students with ADHD in the Classroom (1.5 hours or 2-hour workshop.)

The difficulties with attention and organization experienced by students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affect all aspects of their lives, but they are often most noticeable in the classroom. Strategies to support students with ADHD are critical to their success in school.

In this workshop, an overview of the four pillars of support for students with ADHD will be provided: education about ADHD, a healthy lifestyle, strategies and medication. Classroom strategies will be emphasized, focusing on instructional strategies to address common difficulties experienced by students with ADHD, including executive functions (planning and organization), working memory (reducing the load on working memory), and production in the classroom (getting started and completing work).

We will focus on strategies and include time for questions.

When it is Tough to Make Friends: Self-Regulation Strategies that Work. (1.5 hours or 2-hour virtual workshop.)

Teaching academics is far from easy when a student has not learned how to manage stressors or emotions. Whether a student is struggling with anxiety, autism, or ADHD, if they have little ability to manage their emotions, they will also have a hard time focusing on learning.

When it comes to success in school, self-regulation skills are just as, if not more important than academic skills. Self-regulation skills include expressing and managing emotions, controlling behaviours, calming down when frustrated, following rules, planning out appropriate responses, paying attention during instruction, ignoring distractions, and resisting impulses.

Educators play a key role in teaching these skills and setting students up for success across the years.

In the workshop, you will learn tools to teach self-regulation skills in the classroom, including how to help students:

• learn and follow expected behaviours,
• expand their emotional vocabulary,
• use a common language to categorize feelings,
• communicate feelings, and
• develop coping strategies to manage big emotions, such as anger and frustration.

Finally, educators will learn ways to positively reinforce behaviours and where to find opportunities for everyday practice.

These workshops are funded and supported by: