A comprehensive overview course on Down Syndrome, what it is, and how you as a teacher or SNA can support someone in your class
What are Speech Sound Disorders?
How can you help children who have them?
What are AAC devices?
What is the difference between Lite tech, and High tech?
How do you know where to start?
Practical strategies and supports which you can setup in your classroom to assist a pupil with ASD. Will discuss understanding challenging behaviors, supporting children through transitions, and structuring the environment to support learning.
SUGGESTED PRE-REQUISITE Online Course: AUTISM 101
When you take this course, you will learn what autism is and how it affects their children or students in the learning environment.
You will learn ways to help support your pupils, to attend, to organize and to communicate when they need help utilizing simple and affordable techniques such as picture schedules, token rewards, and visual aids.
Psychotherapist Jacci Jones gives a quick talk on Childhood Anxiety, and how you can help a child in your care.
This discussion was recorded near the start of the Covid-19 pandemic as a response to requests for a once off live webinair that would help people better understand any anxieties or otherwise that they were experiencing.
The secret tool that almost nobody uses. If there is ever a ‘Silver Bullet’ item, when done well, that can help teachers, SNAs and family members to work together to ensure a pupil is given the best chance – this is it.
Psychotherapist Jacci Jones gives a quick talk on Childhood Anxiety, and how you can help a child in your care.
This is a general talk designed to provide information on language development in young children.
Short overview about behaviour. This topic comes up a lot in requests from parents, teachers and carers alike. But… what is behaviour?
Once you understand how it works, and how you filter other people’s actions, it helps you in turn, to better understand them. Once understanding has started, then helping the other person becomes easier.
What are AAC devices? What is the difference between Lite tech, and High tech? How do you know where to start?
This training course will cover: What is Down Syndrome The scope and range of Down Syndrome Co-morbidity and what it means Early intervention Typical accommodations to support a pupil with Down Syndrome in school
Introduction to Mindfulness. Use it as a reference, a starting point in your practice - or just stop here and keep using what it teaches. :)
When you take this course, you will learn what autism is (according to the Mother of two young adults with Autism) and how it affects their children or students in the learning environment.
You will learn ways to help support your pupils, to attend, to organize and to communicate when they need help utilizing simple and affordable techniques such as picture schedules, token rewards, and visual aids.
Imitation is something all children know, Right? Wrong. In some cases it needs to be taught.
Stuttering, or stammering can profoundly affect an individual. There are ways you can practically help.
How to do it PROPERLY to help the child in your class communicate with others – AND reduce anxiety and frustration. (For everyone!)
Being able to successfully communicate the source of, and even cause of, pain is vitally important in a young child or a person with communication issues.
A social story is a great tool to help manage expectations, which can often lead to a reduction in what is often termed ‘Problem behaviour’.
What is Attention, and how can we help kids ‘tune in’?
Practical strategies and supports which you can setup in your classroom to assist a pupil with ASD. Jennifer will discuss understanding challenging behaviors, supporting children through transitions, and structuring the environment to support learning. SUGGESTED PRE-REQUISITE Online Course: AUTISM 101
What are AAC devices? What is the difference between Lite tech, and High tech? How do you know where to start?
The secret tool that almost nobody uses. If there is ever a ‘Silver Bullet’ item, when done well, that can help teachers, SNAs and family members to work together to ensure a pupil is given the best chance – this is it.
Education Nation is an Online learning platform to better help all pupils with Special Educational Needs. We currently have over 30 hours and counting of video training on Special Education Needs courses online. All school staff can access – regardless of role.
No more waiting for a course to be announced that can help you help someone in your class
– or trying to source the funds to attend it.
Membership is open to Teachers and SNAs at Whole-School level. Once your school is signed up to Education Nation your school’s subscription gives you constant access to the library, which means that any staff member can take any course when they need to – or refresh a portion of a course as desired.
Education Nation was created in response to SNA’s and teachers identifying a need for accessible and timely training, delivered on topics that will make a practical difference in the classroom.
I don’t need to make sense of handouts or my notes from a course I attended ages ago. I just log on and quickly review the course itself anytime during the school year as I need it.
Primary Teacher
What if you and all your colleagues could access the same CPD courses, whenever you wanted?
– All school staff can access – regardless of role.
– Memberships are based on number of pupils, 0-50 up to schools with 500.
– Special Schools are based on number of pupils, with additional user licenses due to the higher pupil: teacher ratio.
– School subscriptions include the right to broadcast courses within the premises, such as for training days or parent information days.
Want to take control of your own destiny? – Don’t delay.
– Open to Teachers, SNAs, parents, students
– Best value if you wish to know more about a wide range of Special Educational Needs areas.
– No need to go hunting through notes from a course you attended last summer when you actually NEED to use the knowledge. Just log on and refresh your memory anytime during the year.
– If your school signs up, or you transfer to an Education Nation school, your account and CPD logs can be moved to your school’s subscription and we will reimburse you for time remaining on your Individual account. That way, you won’t lose out! 🙂
"I liked how the instructor broke the course down into different sections. She was very clear and her simple explanations were very easy to follow. She used personal experiences which are very relatable. Her synopsis was very well structured and detailed."
"I had never of heard of this before so it was all new!"
"I really liked that there were videos to demonstrate how to use the different strategies. I find these very useful as for myself, I find it easier to learn when I am able to see exactly how the techniques are used."
"I like the way she makes it interesting from her own personal experiences with her own children. It confirms that what she does works as it has been tried and tested. I like the way in which she invites you to go further with everything."
"I really liked the comparison between the t- Rex and the scale, I think a child would really enjoy this"
"I liked the ideas strategies and scenarios explained. I will try to incorporate these in the Early Years"
"I learned to be more aware of my own well being and its importance as not just as a teacher but as a wife and mother."
"Course was really well presented and full of practical strategies"
"I liked how real life situations were given rather than it being focused on hypotheticals."
"Thoroughly enjoyed the session, lots of practical ideas and tips."
"I found it very interesting, with some great ideas that I look forward to using when we get back to work."
"The practical tips on helping a child with down syndrome, such as giving choice, being aware that their physical or health problems may be impacting on their ability to learn in the classroom."
"I like the real life footage, putting the strategies in place"
This is a fantastic resource. Thank you!
"It is important to allow the child to express their emotions but that you should give them strategies to cope with these big emotions"
"I liked the way the course was delivered easy to follow and understand. I also got a few ideas that I could use in my work going forward."
It is really easy to setup and administer, even with 70 staff in our school!
"Being a primary school teacher, I have worked with a number of children with ASD throughout the years. However, as a result of this course I feel I have a much better understanding of children with ASD. I learned many new strategies and supports that can be set up in my classroom to help support."
"I liked the delivery of the course. The provider was easy to listen to and conveyed her information clearly and concisely. The ideas to teach body parts and concept of pain were very helpful."
"I liked the hands on presentation, which gave very clear examples that I could relate to children i am working with."
"I didn’t realize how many opportunities there were each day to work on communication, both formally and informally. Excellent"
"Clear slides. Warm presenter. I loved the lecturers personal experience & examples given."
"This course is very suitable for people who are working with children with Autism."
"I loved the way it was presented and so clearly explained, also how she said to use phrases like sometimes/ I will try etc, it gives the child the understanding that they will not always get it right nor are they expected too."
This is a great initiative – it is brilliant to be able to share information with the rest of our team
"Loved this course, especially the importance of teaching and of talking about pain and how it is presented."
"I found it all really informative. It covered a lot of techniques that would be useful in the classroom that I work in."
"Lots! Simple approaches to use in the classroom. Helped me to understand myself and how my own mindset could have an affect on my classroom."
"Autism 101 gives a clearer understanding from the child’s experience and will be of benefit to individual children within my care."
"The delivery of the course was very informative and gave me a lot to help implement in the classroom setting"
"I learned that behaviour is just an action- observation is key."
"The course was very informative. It covered alot in a short space of time. Interesting and practical advice given. I learned alot."
"Good overview of AAC devices and allowed user to gain knowledge and make proper choice in what suits students best"
"I have learned loads. I have to minimise distractions. Keep my language simple, not have long sentences. smaller sentences in chunks. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Try and encourage turn-taking. Use visual clues."
"Potential approaches in how to deal with ‘challenging behaviour’ and the need to be aware of your own state of mind when/before dealing with it."
"I really enjoyed the course, I found it very informative and I will watch the videos again to get as much info to sink in as possible."
"I have learned in order to teach pain you have to teach body parts and the concept of pain combined. I have been given lots of ideas to do this."
"I learned not to say calm down or don’t be angry/sad. I feel sometimes this can be a normal reaction but from now on I will be saying “What will make us feel a little less ………”"
"I liked seeing how the ABCs are completed and understand them. I also got to learn about how my reaction to behaviours affect the outcome."
"I learned to be conscious of why we are thinking things and how to perhaps communicate with ours more evenly and less stressfully"
"I feel this course has covered so much and I have gained so much from it I can’t think of anything else that could be included."
The courses are great.
"Great course, well done to all involved. I took many notes that I will definitely be referring to throughout my teaching career. Thank you!"
"All the different strategies for teaching communicaton. All techniques were clearly explained. The use of the child alongside the lecturer in the video made it a lot easier to understand."
"It was very clear and helpful. I learned a lot from it."
"I learned about choosing something that interest them to base the social story on, also the importance of positivity & not setting the child up to fail"
"I learned a great deal about the stages of development of behaviour, and I did not realise that these stages occur throughout your life and not just in your early years."
I love that I can have all my staff able to access the same training regardless of role – and great value for my school’s money
"I never thought of it in the way it was presented in this talk."
Its great to be able to just go take a course when you feel like it
"I learned to give a child time to process what you are telling them. Show picture support. Show good listening yourself"
"I liked that there was a lot of examples used to describe situations.I felt it really helped me to visualise a lot of behaviours and outcomes. I thought it was very informative and easily explained,which i liked a lot. A really good presentation with facts and examples. thank you."
"I liked the walkthrough of emotional support documents"
"Found it very interesting. As someone who already works in a special needs school there was plenty of content that would really help me when working with a child who has down syndrome."
"I like that it gave you case scenarios and how to recognise the behaviour and where it’s coming from."
"I learned a lot about sensory issues, I would not be very familiar with these. I learned a lot of new strategies to try out with my children in my class."
"The presenter gave very clear instructions on how to help a child with behaviours that challenge. The 8 points were very simply put and easy to follow."
"I loved how thoroughly Jennifer addressed each sensory issue and strategies to help teachers support these children in the classroom. I particularly liked part 3 where Jennifer discussed and gave examples of a number of visuals that would work in the classroom also. This is very beneficial to me as a primary school teacher."
"I learned that it is acceptable for a child to want to ‘escape’ from a situation. That we as educators must take a better look at what is going on, at what the child wants to escape from and why. I learned that it is acceptable to make a ‘safe zone’ within the classroom with cushions etc as a private spot for the child to recharge."
"It gave a clear insight into all ages of a child with Down syndrome and the difficulties they may face along the way, I found the course very interesting."
"The eight area’s covered each had their own learning, from the use of the abc approach to grandma’s rule it is important to consider how our reaction to each situation can impact the child."
"The course was very descriptive and easy to follow, full of information and ideas that I will use within my own work with the children with Autism that I work with. Great lessons."
"Thank you for a very informative course. It was concise, to the point and very clear. I found the instructor particularly easy to listen to."
"I really enjoyed AAC Devices 101"
"Loved the style of the video and the fact you could see the pages of the passport as she was explaining them."
"I enjoyed this course especially as there were videos to demonstrate all the elements of trying to encourage communication."
"I learned that it’s ok to let a child have these emotions, as long as we provide them with tools to help them come back down the scale again to help them feel ok"
"Engaging presenter !! Lots of useful information."
"I liked how the course was presented, easy to listen and watch and very approachable and understandable even for people completely new to the autism world."
"I found the dyspraxia speech disorder very interesting and learnt the importance of using visuals."
"I learned that it is very important to use the right phrases. That verbal children can help to write social stories with you as opposed to having it written for them."
"A very important couse for my life and tools that I will use to recognise my state of mind and recognising how it fluctuates throughout the day."
"I learned that no one system, may be adequate and the technology may be used for different purposes"
"I liked how each form of communication was covered and the pros and cons to each and everyone. I also liked how it was explained how you can prompt the person without going straight to tell the person."
"Great tips and ideas to help me with the children I work with."
"The different ways that you can alter your teaching to cater for their difficulties. The fact that they are a child with down syndrome and not a down syndrome child -lovely! The verbal and memory difficulties and how to help them in class – found very interesting."
"I feel that i can use my new knowledge in the classroom and for my own self-growth."
"The short videos were very helpful and gave great ideas to try"
"I liked the positive emphasis, the highlighting of the importance of the student’s autonomy and enjoyment and the practical approach she had!"
"Love the examples and template! Very useful."
"I liked the section which explained the visual aids required to make emotional regulation a success."
"I got loads of ideas to work on expressive/receptive language in relation to expressing pain"
"Lisa was very easy to listen to and gave some very good examples of situations that we could understand"
"Lisa really knows her stuff"
"I really enjoyed it & I will recommend it to other SNAs & Teachers. I look forward to putting the information I learned into practice."
"I liked Jacci's down to earth approach and her clear way of explaining things"
"So much information given. I have notes upon notes and Jennifer was excellent."
"Thank you very much, I really enjoyed the course and found the resources very helpful"
"Teaches simple techniques on how to approach children that might be struggling with their thoughts and behaviours."
"Having the tools to deal with stress is an important factor to becoming a successful educator and having a healthy life work balance."
"This course covered a huge range of speech disorders , and explained them all very thoroughly."
"I really enjoyed it and I learned a lot from it. Thank you!"
"I really liked every aspect of this course and feel that I can take a lot of information away from it."
"I got a much better insight into all the differences between the sensitivities of a child. I could see than in some of the kids I work with were hypersensitive for some and hypo sensitive for others, I never really realised that they could be mixed. I feel that I new have a much better understanding of some of the kids in my class."
"Great to have someone talking that has first hand experience in supporting children with autism"
"It will definitely help me with my work as an SNA. Thank you"
"Loved it!! Haven't used Social Stories before. Can't wait to check out websites recommended."
The trainers really know their stuff
"I liked the quick, simple and incidental learning methods. Concise and engaging course. The presenter was informative and her personal stories interesting."
"The speaker is very articulate and explains things very well. the eight things to consider give a good overview of how best to manage behaviour so as not to negatively impact the child."
"I liked the way it was presented. I liked the ways to look at behaviour and I especially liked the scenarios there were giving and how to approach the behaviour."
"I have been working with some pupils with down syndrome and was never told a lot of this. I learned lots of practical tips that I can use. Thanks"
"I learned how to complete an ABC chart, which I have heard of before but I would not have felt comfortable completing. I now feel that I could do so, thank you."
"I never realised something pretty obvious: the need of teaching the body parts in order for the children to communicate effectively where it hurts."
"Easy to listen to. Makes you think about how much overthinking you can do"
Education Nation is part of CATTS Ireland Online Speech Therapy and Training.