Holiday Concert

Wow! What an amazing Christmas Concert put on by students and staff of Sagonaska! Congratulations to all of our learners for doing an amazing job! We would like to thank everyone for joining us for this special presentation where students and staff got to show off their many talents!! 

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Apps for Learners (updated)

I have updated this resource (again), but that's technology, forever changing. It amazes me how well our students adapt to this change. I'm feeling more and more that mobile technology is simply the new pen to paper, and that's okay. Many students have adopted this change and reach for their device to explain their thinking, collect information or submit created content. Just like introducing a child to a pen or pencil, though, they must be shown how to hold it and use it effectively to get their thoughts and ideas on paper. Technology is no different. Although many students have exceptional navigational skills with technology, tailoring those skills to support and thrive in a collaborative learning environment is something that must be considered and taught.

These apps are not answers to deliver and teach curriculum, but enhance a collaborative, engaging learning environment that is full of excitement and wonder. 

Happy learning :) 

Terry Fox Run

Back in September, Sagonaska participated in the Terry Fox Run with a Super Hero theme! The sun was out, the costumes were great, and our spirits were high! There was lots to celebrate considering our tiny school of 40 students raised over $800!! $811.65 to be exact! Which is close to $200 more than last year! Way to go Dragons!

Sagonaska Spirit Week

Our newly formed Leadership Team has planned some exciting activities for our students to participate in!  

• There will be separate Halloween activities taking place in residence.  Information will come home in the home going books.
• On behalf of the student leadership team, we hope all the students show their spirit by participating! Noah & Nikolas

Updated Workshop Flyer

Our newest list of workshops is now available for viewing on the right hand side of this blog, under "Professional Development Opportunities" or at our official Ministry website at http://psbnet.ca/eng/schools/sagonaska/workshops_educators.html.  If you are familiar with our model in the past, please note that while we will continue to offer on-site workshops, we are now offering potential off-site workshops for groups of four or more individuals.  Groups can tailor their workshops by selecting from a variety of topics of interests related to either the LD profile, Instruction, and/or Technology. We are very excited about the new model and are looking forward to sharing our knowledge with the schools and school boards in our catchment area. Parents of current students are also invited to register for workshops.  If you have any questions, please contact either Tammy Brintnell (tammy.brintnell@ontario.ca) or myself (anne.truaisch@ontario.ca).  The Out-Reach workshops will need to organized through us and will be subject to staff availability or you can register for the onsite workshops either through us or online at http://psbnet.ca/eng/schools/sagonaska/workshops_educators.html.

Attention Sagonaska Parents!

These announcements are for current Sagonaska parents!  

Life Touch photos and order forms will be coming home this Thursday! (Friday is a PA Day). You can order your child's photos in two different ways; directly online at www.lifetouch.ca or by sending back the envelope with your student..  Orders are due by Wednesday, October 19th so they should be sent back with your child no later than Monday, October 17th.  To order online, follow the instructions listed on the order form.

 

Fundraising forms will also be coming home this Thursday.  Our fundraising campaign runs until October 24th.  With Thanksgiving holiday being this weekend, this is a perfect opportunity for your child to share his or her fundraising magazines with family and friends. The magazines are full of Christmas decor, fun household items, chocolate & gourmet food mixes, and other great gift ideas.  There is something for everyone. Please remind your child it is not safe to go door-to-door to ask strangers to contribute.

Tips for Parents of Students with Learning Disabilities

As educators who specialize in working with students with learning disabilities, we are often asked what resources are out there for parents or how can parents help their children at home.  A couple of weeks ago we shared the LD@School website and it is a great Canadian resource, full of relevant information for our parents and teachers.  There is another site called LD Online.  It is an American website but many of the strategies, tips, and resources are applicable for our Ontario parents. Below e is a link to an article, for example, that shares lots of great information for parents like how they can help with school work, and what medical professionals may be of assistance to a family with a child with a reading disability.  Please take a few minutes to read the article and look over the site and I'm sure you will find something of interest or relevance to you.

CLICK HERE  to read the article

First Year First Impressions

We just finished the first full week of school, and we thought it would be nice to hear what some of our first year students had to say about their time so far at Sagonaska.  (We know what the second years would say... they LOVE it... that's why they are back!)  Read below to hear what some of our newbies had to say!

"It was scary the first few days, but now its getting better.  I really like it and it's helping me learn already!" Holly, Grade 6

"I have only been here for not even two weeks and I'm already starting to improve.  I've already moved up a level so I'm really excited!" Zoey, Grade 7

"I feel like I'm already learning how to read!" Ella, Grade 7

"It's a really good school." Nathan, Grade 7

"It's one of the best things out there for kids with LDs.  And you learn a lot too." Lyndsey, Grade 7

"It is awesome!" Carter, Grade 7

"It's been good so far." Ryan, Grade 6

"It's a really good school.  You learn a lot.  And the teachers let you use Mindcraft!" Landon, Grade 5

"I found it very fun and not as boring as I thought it would be.  I've actually learned a lot in the short time I've been here." Cody, Grade 7

""It's a good school." Logan, Grade 6

"I love it." James, Grade 7

"The friendly atmosphere is really nice.  It's not as nerve wracking as being in a big class." Nikolas, Grade 8

"It's been really welcoming.  All the people are really nice.  Everything is really cool.  And it's fun." Hannah, Grade 8

"It's very inviting." Tyler, Grade 8

"It's been very good and I like it here. Everyone is welcoming and very nice.  And I wish this wasn't just a one or two year school.  I wish it was a forever school." Jordan, Grade 8

"It was very fun.  There was a lot of learning.  And I'm definitely coming back for the third week." Josh, Grade 8

"It's been pretty good.  It's been a lot of fun.  Residence is amazing!" Naomi, Grade 9

"I've been enjoying everything.  The best part is the dorm.  They keep you busy!" Martin, Grade 9

"I really like the residence and the learning.  I know my reading is going to get better." Cameron, Grade 9

LD@School

LD@School is an amazing resource for educators and parents of students with Learning Disabilities. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, it's definitely worth the time.  This website is the first resource of its kind.  It provides educators and parents with information about learning disabilities, shares resources that are available, and highlights research related to teaching students with learning disabilities.  There are amazing webinars and podcasts with experts in the field on a variety of topics, from assistive technology use to understanding executive functioning and the LD learner.  The success stories would be an excellent section to read with your child or student as well! Please take the time to check it out.  The link is always provided here on our blog on the right-hand side, under "Sites Worth Checking Out", but you can click below to go directly to the site as well.

CLICK HERE

First Week Activities!

Attending Sagonaska School is a unique experience for our students because not many kids live away from home at such a young age. In order for our students to feel safe and happy, our staff organized some activities to help the students get to know each other and the staff quickly and in an active and fun way.  It is so important to establish these trusting relationships right away in order for the students to feel at home and ready to learn.  Take a look at some of the cool teamwork photos that were taken over the first week to help bring us together as a family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Great Read! "Jay Leno's Advice for My Dyslexic Son"

Here's a nice story shared by our psychologist, Don Shattuck! A great read for the start of the year! There's no secret to success - except persistence, humour, improvisation and grit!!

Click HERE to take you to the story!



Monthly Cafeteria Menu

Attention all parents and students, new and old!


Are you curious about what's for lunch and dinner each day in the cafeteria? Well, wonder no more! Each month a copy of the monthly calendar will be posted under the link on the right hand side of this blog! Just click the link and you can see what you or your son or daughter will be eating throughout the month of September!

WELCOME BACK!

We are very excited to be welcoming our new students and welcoming back our returning students! 2016 - 2017 is going to be an amazing year at Sagonaska! Much of the school staff stayed the same with the exception of Jill Tracze, our new Grade 7 teacher! We are truly looking forward to seeing the transformations our all our students over the course of the year as they improve their reading, technology use, and advocacy skills. We are also looking forward to all the unique experiences our students will have as we grow as a team both in school and residence to help each and every student reach their full potential.  Remember to check the blog often for updates on school events, technology use, student achievement, and so on!

Parent Tips for Reading with your child

Why Read Over The Summer?

We know students with LD’s who have made great progress risk regressing if they do not practice consistently.  Our program has our students reading at least 120 minutes a day in some capacity. However, we would like for you and your child to read a little bit each day.  Your child should be applying the different strategies they have learned in order to maintain their growth.

What Have We Worked On This Year?

At Sagonaska, your child has used a variety of programs that target various skills that make up reading.  Reading includes; decoding, comprehension, and fluency.

Decoding - breaking down words into manageable parts in order to piece it back together as a whole.  There needs to be an understanding of sounds, affixes, and syllables.

Comprehension - understanding what you have read.  Strategies to help improve comprehension include summarizing, making connections, visualizing what you have read, and making relevant predictions.  Students should practice taking what they have read and CLEARLY explain, in their OWN words, their understanding of the text.

Fluency - being able to read a piece of text at an appropriate pace with the use of expression.  A fluent reader, when reading, sounds as if they are speaking in conversation.

What Programs Have Supported Our Literacy Program?

Empower Reading Program

Strategies from EMPOWER include; Sounding Out, Rhyming, Peeling Off, Vowel Alert, Spy

In order to prompt your child to use these strategies, ask them to use their “GAME PLAN” that is outlined on the bookmark in their summer reading package. Some comprehension questions have been put on the opposite side of the bookmark.

LEXIA / CORE 5 / Reading Plus

An online program that helps reinforce a variety of literacy skills.  Each child is currently using one of these programs on a nightly basis during homework period.

RAZ Kids

Another online program that allows students to work on comprehension and fluency skills.  Students are able to access leveled texts in both fiction and nonfiction.

Summer Reading - Sample Schedule

Reading should be a frequent activity, but short and enjoyable so it doesn't overwhelm you and your child.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Lexia / Core 5 / Reading Plus (10 mins)	Lexia / Core 5 / Reading Plus (10 mins)	Lexia / Core 5 / Reading Plus (10 mins)	Lexia / Core 5 / Reading Plus (10 mins)	Lexia / Core 5 / Reading Plus (10 mins)
Reading Practice (10 mins.) - Use a text from the package, these texts can be read multiple days.	Reading Practice (10 mins.) - Use a text from the package, these texts can be read multiple days.	Reading Practice (10 mins.) - Use a text from the package, these texts can be read multiple days.	Reading Practice (10 mins.) - Use a text from the package, these texts can be read multiple days.	Reading Practice (10 mins.) - Use a text from the package, these texts can be read multiple days.
Suggested Practice Reading Activities Choose 5 words to decode Figure out meaning of each word (use device if necessary)	Suggested Practice Reading Activities Look at Titles and Subtitles Determine what the text will be about (Make Predictions) Or Summarize previous reading if from a chapter book Read a section of text	Suggested Practice Reading Activities Read section of text. While reading prompt your child to use their “Game plan” Discuss what you have read	Suggested Practice Reading Activities Same as Wednesday Discuss what you have read	Suggested Practice Reading Activities Let your child teach you Practice previous reading for fluency Review Empower Folder Games (Boggle) Comprehension questions

Looking For More Ideas To Structure Reading Time With Your Child?

Ask why are you reading

1. If it is for fun as a bonding time, then choose something that interests your child, you can take the lead on reading if it is beyond their level.
2. If it is for practice the passage should be between their Fluency and Independent Levels

Make sure the passage is at their level

3. Have child read first page, if there are more than 3-5 errors, chances are the text is too difficult.
4. Using the app LitLeveler will allow your child to independently select appropriate texts.

No matter the length of the text, chunk it into sections (sentence, paragraph, page)

When your child is stuck on a word, encourage them to use their “GamePlan”.  

Re-read each chucked section fluently after decoding.

5. Encourage your child to pause at commas, take a breath at periods.

Ask comprehension questions (ex. Tell me in your own words what happened)

Celebrate your child’s reading, this helps with motivation.

Recognition Day

Just a reminder for parents that Recognition Day is Tuesday, June 28th from 1pm until 2:30pm, followed by a celebration barbecue lunch.  Check out the invitation below and contact Tara to RSVP by next Monday, June 6th!

Using Mobile Technology? Great! What's Your Model?

Mobile technology needs to exist in education. The focus shouldn't be on 'apps', but rather, the focus should begin with the learner in mind. What are their needs? Once established, create a collaborative goal, involving both learner and learning team. Just as important, consideration must be given to the ideal model for all learners that have access to technology or at least recognizing the challenges and benefits of the current model that exists within your learning environment. Here's an infographic that was created using easelly (http://www.easel.ly/) that looks at the different mobile technology models that exist in a learning environment.

I believe access to technology, regardless of the model, is an amazing thing! I also believe that the independent model (BYOD) is the model we should all be striving for. I have 'suggested' a few apps that we have tested and used with our learners in the infographic. They are not to be considered as the 'best apps of all time', but ones that won't crash and are a good starting point based on your current model. Technology should support students in life and not just school. If the model we are teaching doesn't apply to life after school, maybe we should reconsider our model.  

Free Webinar for Parents - ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

FREE WEBINAR: 

Lead with Pedagogy, follow with Technology

Presented by: DJ Cunningham

1. Wed, Apr 20, 2016 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM EDT

In this interactive webinar, DJ Cunningham will help educators understand how to utilize assistive technology in the classroom to enhance student engagement and learning.  DJ Cunningham has been a user of Assistive Technologies for the past 10 years and has trained hundreds of students and led numerous training workshops. 

Participants will learn more about Google Read&Write and Google Apps for Education.

Participants will also leave with helpful resources and access to a cloud based tool. 


Click here to find out more information about this FREE webinar on the LD@school website!  http://ldatschool.ca/