| Dear Teachers and Parents, It's vacation time! Woo hoo! This time brings up so many emotions for educators and parents of neurodiverse or disabled children. Educators, I’m sure you’re breathing a big sigh of relief. You accomplished so much this year, and this is your well-deserved break, a chance to rest, recharge, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Use this time to bid farewell to lesson plans and writing IEPs, and indulge in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Enjoy the sunshine, pursue your passions, and return in the fall with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Parents, I want to acknowledge that while teachers are taking a break, the summer vacation often disrupts routines for children, especially those who are neurodiverse. I know, from experience, that this can be challenging for everyone involved. My hope for you is that you are able to also take a bit of time for yourself, seek support from others, and find moments of relaxation amid the demands of parenting. Whether you are an educator, parent, student or professional, all of us at SENIA are wishing you a summer filled with joyful moments that you can propel you into the next school year. All my very best, Lori Boll
SENIA International Executive Director
Friendly Reminder: We have lots to share in our newsletter. When you see 3 dots, be sure to click "see more" so you don't miss out on anything. |
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On Wednesday, May 31st, SENIA Rwanda hosted its very first Parent Information Night at The International School of Kigali titled The Summer Slump Solutions. This event offered resources and information to help parents foster a love of learning over the summer months and prevent summer regression. Parents engaged in meaningful dialogue about how to use experiential learning opportunities and quality time to help their learners over the summer. We were grateful for the opportunity to present this pertinent information and greatly look forward to hosting more parent and community events!
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Host Lori Boll speaks with Helen Trethewey, an experienced inclusion leader with a passion for early identification of children with learning differences. She has worked in education for over 29 years in the UK, Belgium, Hong Kong, Vietnam and now Sweden.
Helen is Dyslexic herself and is a specialist Dyslexia teacher and assessor. She also authors a blog on twice exceptionality. On this podcast Helen and Lori discuss how executive functions impact students with learning differences such as ADHD and Dyslexia as well as common misconceptions teachers and parents may have about student performance. Helen gives some easy to implement strategies to support students with their working memory and task initiation. We’re sure you’ll have many takeaways from this podcast.
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Scholarships & Awards
SENIA Student Award |
The SENIA Beijing Youth organized and hosted a 5K Family Charity Fun Run sponsored by DueWest. The event was a great success with all participants completing the race. |
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Become a SENIA Member School and unlock a world of inclusion and support! By becoming a member, you gain access to a network of like-minded inclusion professionals through our powerful Mighty Network.
Imagine having a space where you can share ideas, seek advice, and collaborate with educators who are equally passionate about creating inclusive environments. SENIA's Mighty Network provides just that! Connect with inclusion experts from around the globe and build a supportive community dedicated to fostering diversity and belonging. As a SENIA Member School, you'll discover the value of collective wisdom and experience. Tap into a wealth of resources and practical strategies that empower you to make a real difference in the lives of neurodiverse and disabled students.
Already a SENIA Member but not active on Mighty Networks? You are missing out! Contact Lizzie Hudson, our Director of Membership, at Lizzie@seniainternational.org to get set up today! |
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What We Are Watching
2023 Special Olympics |
The Special Olympics World Games offer the opportunity to unite the world like no other event can. Here people with and without disabilities, people of different nations, cultures, political views and religions meet and can overcome existing prejudices with the power of sport.
From 17 – 25 June 2023, Berlin, Germany will welcome 7,000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from approximately 190 countries to compete in 26 sports. The athletes will be supported by more than 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers. Our very own Joan Badiango from ISManila will be part of the coaching team of Special Education Pilipinas. The Inclusion Revolution Club of ISManila was also able to successfully send off athletes from Special Olympics Pilipinas to compete in the world games after raising sufficient funds from the ‘Rock Your Socks’ campaign for the WDSD celebration! ~ Jay Lingo |
What We Are Reading
The Identity-Conscious Educator: Building Habits & Skills for a More Inclusive School by Liza A. Taluzan |
The three parts of this book: Getting Ready for Identity Work, Building Your Identity-Conscious Practice and Turning Planning into Action, are written in an easily accessible style that takes the reader from the conceptual understanding to the practical reality we face in schools today as we embrace diversity, inclusion, belonging and equity. In this book, Dr. Talusan gives room for personal reflection and exploration while providing hands-on professional learning structures you can use (yes, they are reproducible!) for yourself and your teams. Besides all of the practical tools for building the habits we need to truly make our practices inclusive, I really appreciate that Dr. Talusan addresses conflict and failure because we know that’s going to be a part of the journey. This book is full of examples and tools you can use to build your habits and skills.
~ Reviewed by Jeannie Anthony |
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Level 1 Educator Certification & Coursework |
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Next Course Begins September 11th |
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This coursework is perfect for the beginning to intermediate level Learning Support teacher or general educators who want to learn more about supporting students with learning differences. We've had parents participate and have gotten good feedback from them as well. Take one course or all six. Educators who take all six earn a SENIA Level One Educator certification. Sign up for all 6 courses now and get one course free. |
NEW Teaching Assistant Certification |
Are you ready to supercharge your impact in the classroom? Step into the world of SENIA's Teaching Assistant Certification Course! Unleash your passion for empowering students and unlock a treasure trove of knowledge and skills. Delve into the fascinating history of inclusive practices, unravel the mysteries of educational diagnoses, and become a pro at data collection and confidentiality. Master the art of behavior management, discover the secret sauce for positive transitions and routines, and become a friendship-building guru.
Are you up for the challenge? Join the SENIA Teaching Assistant Certification Course and embark on an unforgettable learning adventure. Let's make a lasting impact in the lives of our amazing students! |
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Want regular updates on SENIA Academy? Join our mailing list. Bonus: Sign up for the SENIA Academy mailing list and we'll share 6 hands-on tips for using AI as an Educator! |
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SENIA Spring 2024 Conference |
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Save the Date! We are thrilled to be returning to Asia in March for our SENIA Asia 2024: Designing For Inclusion conference at International School Ho Chi Minh City on March 1 - 3. Stay tuned to upcoming SENIA Conference Blasts for more information including Keynote announcements, registration details, and more. |
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Remfrey Educational Consulting |
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Educators - Are you looking to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment for all your students? Then look no further... Texthelp is thrilled to announce the launch of their latest guide on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in partnership with CAST. In it, you'll discover:
* What is Universal Design for Learning? * Where did UDL come from? * What are the UDL guidelines? * How we can implement UDL * How to plan instruction using UDL * What role assistive technology has to play in UDL * Why UDL is a valuable approach to both the teacher and the learner * AND what the future holds for UDL
UDL experts Alison Posey and Joni Degner worked with Texthelp to bring you practical insights and strategies that you can use on your UDL journey. They're committed to supporting educators to create an inclusive and flexible learning environment that caters to the needs and abilities of all students.
So whether you're new to UDL or looking to enhance your existing practices, this guide is a must-have resource for every educator! Join them on this exciting adventure towards equitable education for all. https://text.help/uA7JlU
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