Learning Cornerstone Series
Learning Series
Cornerstone Workshops
The Learning Series Cornerstone Workshops are intended to support “novice” Resource Teachers working with students who have special learning needs. Each of the four workshops is a full day session focused on topics identified as core knowledge for resource teachers. They offer foundational information as well as hands-on practice of skills for developing an understanding of students and planning the programs and services they require for successful educational experiences.
The Cornerstone Workshops will be offered by regional facilitators as professional development opportunities organized by district Special Education departments. For anyone interested in attending one of these workshops, please contact your district’s Special Education administrator or facilitator listed below for information on workshop availability.
Download Cornerstone Workshop Facilitators List
Workshop 1: Case Management
This workshop focuses on getting to know the strengths, needs and top programming priorities for student with special learning needs. Discussions and practice activities include assessment procedures using the RIOT process, school-based team problem-solving and collaborative team planning to determine appropriate goal areas for individual student programs.
Workshop 2: IEP Development
Students with special needs require an Individual Education Plan that outlines specific program components developed to support their learning, in accordance with Ministry of Education guidelines. This workshop provides an overview of the IEP processes of gathering assessment information, collaborative planning and writing clear goals and objectives to meet individual student needs.
Workshop 3: Understanding and Responding to Challenging Behaviour
Key principles and procedures are presented for responding to behavioural issues through a three-tiered system of positive behaviour support. Information is provided on school-wide support, targeted short-term or group support, and intensive individualized support. Group discussions and practice activities focus on the topics of analyzing challenging behaviour using a Functional Behaviour Assessment process and the elements of developing Behaviour Support Plans.
Workshop 4: Learning Support
An examination of the role of the learning support teacher and an overview of core program activities related to supporting students with special learning needs is the emphasis of this workshop. In addition, instructional processes to promote effective program implementation are explored. These include Response to Intervention (RTI), Differentiating Instruction and Universal Designs for Learning (UDL) - all recognized as effective ways of improving the educational experience of all students.
For Cornerstone Workshop Facilitators:
District facilitators will be provided with the most current workshop presentation materials on the Cornerstone Workshops wiki. You must be a facilitator to access this wiki, and membership requests can be made to the Learning Series coordinator by district Special Education administrators.