International expert to hold NZ workshops

Kiwi teachers and educators will have the opportunity to benefit from latest international thinking on dyslexia this June, when renowned dyslexia expert Neil Mackay holds a series of workshops throughout the country.

Mr Mackay, architect of Britain’s successful Dyslexia Friendly Schools initiative and consultant to governments in the UK, Hong Kong and Malta, will run the half-day workshops in association with Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand (DFNZ).

The workshops are focused on professional development and will provide practical advice on dyslexia best practice in education, taking into account NZ’s new curriculum and resources available for teachers.

DFNZ chair of trustees Guy Pope-Mayell says dyslexia-focused professional development is critical to improving educational outcomes for dyslexic students – and reducing behavioural issues and social problems later in life.

“Low self-esteem engendered by dyslexia often manifests in acting out, both in and outside the classroom. Simple changes in the classroom can have an immediate and positive impact on this.

“Mr Mackay’s suggestions are simple, manageable and virtually cost-free. UK schools which have adopted his ideas have noticed instant improvements, not just in areas like reading and writing, but in attendance, punctuality and reduced levels of behavioural problems and expulsions among dyslexic students,” Mr Pope-Mayell says.

“There is a clear correlation between failure at school and failure later in life. With 10 per cent of NZ students affected by dyslexia, professional development for educators is a clear and effective way of removing one of the key early stumbling blocks for Kiwi kids.”

Mr Mackay, author of seminal dyslexia publication, Removing Dyslexia as a Barrier to Achievement, is also a consultant for DFNZ’s own 4D|For Dyslexia schools programme.
This free programme, launched late last year and now adopted by more than 160 NZ schools, offers teachers guidance on simple classroom changes to help dyslexic students.

Mr Mackay says he is looking forward to the workshops, and to meeting NZ teachers throughout the week.

“The enthusiastic response to the 4D programme shows that NZ educators are already passionate about improving educational outcomes for students with dyslexia. With schools preparing for the new curriculum and its challenge to find relevant solutions to local challenges, these workshops will draw on the latest international thinking to provide guidance appropriate for NZ environment.”