Thursday, February 5, 2015




Here is a short animated video about 'Stress and Anxiety,' developed as part of Bridge the gAPP, a free mobile app that supports mental wellness among youth in Newfoundland and Labrador.






Here is a 60-sec promotional video for Bridge the gAPP, a free mobile app that supports mental wellness among youth in Newfoundland and Labrador.







Here is a short animated video about 'Bullying,' developed as part of Bridge the gAPP, a free mobile app that supports mental wellness among youth in Newfoundland and Labrador.





Bridge the Gap


a free mobile app to support mental wellness amongst teens in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Monday, December 29, 2014

Professional Learning Plan - NL


Five attributes of effective professional learning communities which encompass mutual respect, promotion of risk taking and innovation, and collaboration are:

  • supportive and shared leadership,
  • collective creativity,
  • shared values and vision,
  • supportive conditions, and
  • shared personal practice.
Source: Department of Education (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador) 

Professional Learning Communities

Click the link above to read an interesting article about PLCs!!



Professors Coral Mitchell and Larry Sackney have defined a professional learning community as one "where teachers and administrators take an active, reflective, collaborative, learning-oriented and growth-promoting approach to the mysteries and challenges of teaching and learning".

A PLC has come to mean "schools where the entire staff is involved in data-based decision making about student needs, where they define school goals and directions to meet those needs and engage in ongoing study, discussion, testing and reflection to change their practice".

Source: Professional Learning Communities: Model for collaborative teaching or the latest bandwagon? by Leanne Miller

21st Century Learning ----- Click the link below







Monday, December 8, 2014

Learning Disability with Impairment in Written Expression


A learning disability with impairment in written expression (formerly known as Dysgraphia) is the inability to write primarily referring to handwriting, but also in terms of coherence. Dysgraphia represents with impaired handwriting, may impact orthographic encoding, and other fine motor skills which may be similar to writing in spite of average to above-average intelligence. This "writing disability" in no way impairs the logical thought process. 
A learning disability with impairment in written expression occurs when there is an issue in the areas of the brain that manage orthographic encoding and is not, in fact, caused by visual impairments. While a disorder which affects the ability to write, Dysgraphia in no way impairs the ability to think or understand complex ideas.

Warning Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of a learning disability with impairment in written expression do not show significant change as the individual ages. According to the DSM-V, young children, elementary-age children, adolescents, and adults tend to exhibit similar difficulties, including:
  • Spelling accuracy
  • Grammar and punctuation accuracy
  • Clarity or organization of written expression
Source - LDANL
http://www.ldanl.org/lda/?q=Dyslexia    - click link

Learning Disability with Impairment in Reading


A learning disability with impairment in reading (formerly referred to as Dyslexia) is the inability or difficulty in interpreting written language in spite of normal or above-normal intelligence. This "reading disability" can impact upon phonological awareness or decoding, orthographic decoding, and even auditory short-term memory, and is considered to be the most common learning disability. 
A learning disability with impairment in reading occurs when there is an issue in the areas of the brain that help to interpret language and is not, in fact, caused by visual impairments. While a disorder which affects the ability to read, Dyslexia in no way impairs the ability to think or understand complex ideas.

Warning Signs and Symptoms


Symptoms of a learning disability with impairment in reading do not show significant change as the individual ages. According to the DSM-V, young children, elementary-age children, adolescents, and adults tend to exhibit similar difficulties, including:
  • Word reading accuracy 
  • Reading rate or fluency
  • Reading comprehension 
Source - LDANL


Learning Disability with Impairment in Mathematics - click link


A learning disability with impairment in mathematics, (formerly referred to as Dyscalculia) is a broad category of life-long difficulties related to calculation, spatial relationships, timekeeping and other mathematic functions. There is no easy single definition of Dyscalculia at this time. Since the disability varies so much in its presentation, the effects Dyscalculia may have on individual development can be just as varied. For example, two individuals with a learning disability with impairment in mathematics may have varying degrees of math comprehension and performance. In some cases, short term memory may be affected. 

Warning Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of a learning disability with impairment in mathematics do not show significant change as the individual ages. According to the DSM-V, young children, elementary-age children, adolescents, and adults tend to exhibit similar difficulties, including:
  • Number sense
  • Memorization of arithmetic facts
  • Accurate or fluent calculation
  • Accurate math reasoning
Source - LDANL