Preparing for NAPLAN
Great to have a presenter who worked in the system before becoming a consultant. You have some great resources and expertise, David. Thanks.
Real world examples were easily adapted to the classroom.
Lots of energy, humour & passion.
Catered for year 3 to high school – good to get perspectives from different year levels.
Support extended past workshop – thank you.
Genuinely interested in every person who was part of the PD.
Consideration was given to all individuals’ positions/ jobs/ roles.
Very specific examples relevant to my teaching.
Enjoyed communicating ideas to fellow teachers – will definitely use some of these.
Handouts and resources were great.
Made a point of including all year levels – useful to get the whole picture from P – 10.
Balanced and positive – no blame.
Liked the point about relaxation techniques and usefulness to students.
Allowed for different types of learners: visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, linguistic and so on.
Autistic Spectrum Disorder...
It was one of the most practical and informative workshops I’d ever attended.
I thoroughly enjoyed the day and have a better insight into ASD students. I got some good ideas for resources. This was more informative than any ASD inservice I have been to in 14 years of working with special needs. Gail.
Thank you David, you have opened another work doorway for me.
Thank you for empowering me to serve.
A most encouraging day – inspired me to go back with all the information to share.
I really enjoyed the way the resources were integrated into the presentation.
Excellent ideas, I will try to use them with all of my kids.
Writing ... Thank you so much for providing us with such fabulous hands-on activities. last week.
We thought it was one of the best PDs we had ever attended!
Dyslexia ... Majella ... provided us with a really valuable insight into dyslexia.
Great to have a presenter who has had experience with a variety of schools staff and students, and is obviously passionate about good quality teaching practices.
Hearing Majella’s life history was brilliant – gave more meaning about Dyslexia than what I have ever heard.
General ... I really appreciated that you covered every angle - parent, teacher, teacher aide.
We went away with more knowledge.
I always enjoy David's style of delivery - he's very casual, non threatening, lots of fun - great for learning.
Lots of knowledge to take back and use.
David catered for all grades, offering many options and ideas. Everyone was invloved in the discussions.
Great style and delivery, easy to understand and listen to, keep engaged. Didn't want to stop for lunch!
Teacher Aide and Parent of a Dyslexic student: All the knowledge you have is such a gift to everyone you train... We feel that you were finally the first one that could shed some light on our struggles and put it into practical lingo for us to know how to help and get results!
Comprehension...
Hands on activities will be very useful to apply to classroom context
Down to earth practical approach was appreciated
Good to hear some theory mixed with practical ideas
Great to hear or revisit some strategies which will assist my class
Very clear and confident delivery. Helpful handouts which will allow me to revisit the many comprehension-enhancing activities presented.
I found the strategies and user friendly ideas fantastic and easy to adapt to my pedagogy.
Very flexible and informative when answering questions. Very approachable.
David explains useful ways of adapting each activity including p – 3 yrs
Really practical stuff I will use … really well constructed workshop … lots of books to choose from … great workshop I got a lot of skills out of it that I will use.
The strategies demonstrated will be easily included or modified to parts of my program.
Have left this course with great things
Great people skills; evident that he cares
Functional Grammar ...
After doing the 5 days this helped to make it ‘click’ (my understanding of functional grammar). Thank you!
A great follow up from EQ’s five day Literacy Inservice for clarification.
It became really clear to me how to use functional grammar in my classroom and some strategies to improve writing.
All were included.
Very easy to understand – made sense, great delivery of info.
Learnt a lot which I could see myself using. Great to meet with other ‘aides’ also.
Fun, casual but professional.
Fast paced but very interesting.
Related work to primary and secondary schools.
Workshop is well planned and not too many technical terminologies used. Relaxing yet practical. Didn’t look at my watch.
Finally am beginning to understand. Thanks, I can now see the value to Functional Grammar and I’m looking forward to using it.
This was great. I now feel confident to teach this to the children in my class.
Music in the Inclusive Classroom...
It was a lot of fun, very practical and I can see where I can use many of the songs and activities with the Students With Disabilities.
Good understandable language.
Well constructed – provided lots of food for thought and discussion.
I loved the way Debbie made us get up and down.
It was great to share ideas with others – especially listening to special education teachers.
Felt very casual, warm and friendly environment.
Covered a lot in a small time.
All done professionally and in a relaxed manner.
Intellectual Impairment
Excellent stories and experience
Very Informative sharing
I really enjoyed this seminar! Well presented and enjoyable!
Did you feel valued in the group? Absolutely. It was very obvious that the groups participation was encouraged, valued and wanted.
Overall this was probably one of the most practical PD’s I have ever attended. Totally enjoyable while learning. What could be better!
Fantastic! Possibly the best training day I’ve been to. Clear, thorough & concise.
Value for money.
David was very patient and accommodating.
No comment was ridiculed or dismissed. Every comment felt important.
Enjoyed gathering teaching ideas from others in the group.
Most informative and relaxed.
Handout format – easy to follow.
David was attuned to individuals work situations/ very encouraging/ sensitive.
Day went quickly, as presented enthusiastically, supportively & relevantly.
I liked the pace – moving well, not labouring and not being weighed down with numerous personal stories – just enough to make the point.
I also appreciated the realism in regard to II kids and in regard to how schools are – rather then lamenting of how it should be. I really enjoyed the day and would attend other seminars.
Excellent workshop, David very friendly and knowledgeable, great to know there is further help if we want it.
Wonderful opportunity to talk with colleagues and share practices.
Hi David
As per your request yesterday I submit the following testimony from yesterday:
Inservice: Including Students with Intellectual Impairment
To David and Majella I offer my appreciation for your expertise during yesterday's inservice on Intellectually Impaired Children in the Classroom. Your energy and enthusiasm for the subject matter were extraordinary. The room was alive with excitement and all 12 participants seemed to thrive on the imput. Your group sessions and subsequent sharing were extremely beneficial to all particiapant. Everyone at your inservice was energized into going back to their school and hopefully making a difference for their Intellectually Impaired children in their care.
As a teacher with 30 years experience I am happy to say that I did indeed learn something yesterday. Indeed I learned many things and I was also given the opportunity to consolidate and share some of my our exptertise in the classroom. I look forward to once again having the opportunity to be a part of another inservice which you offer in the future. I certainly hope our paths cross again in the education field.
With thanks
Cath Finlay
Year 4 classroom teacher