Professional Development with Carla McNeil

In 2019, Michelle Roberts and Ruth Blair attended professional development with Carla McNeil and with it being so good and evidence based, we as a staff decided to continue working with Learning Matters.  Carla is able to share her learning and knowledge through proven practices. Carla's philosophy is based on the science of reading, with a strong focus on developing the executive functions necessary for each child to reach their full potential. Executive function is the "air traffic control system" of the brain. It helps kids focus, remember rules, resist temptation, and to think flexibly. It also includes working memory. We use these skills every day to learn, work and manage daily life. Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions and handle emotions.

Carla uses the science of learning to show how best to teach literacy, based on how the brain explicitly needs direct instruction to develop the skills necessary to read, write and spell. 

All the staff have been given assessments to do on each child to see what stage of spelling they are currently at.  Spelling is essential for reading and writing.  Your child will be undertaking these assessments either in the classroom with their teacher, or with Mrs Norah Thomson.  After these are completed, the teacher will be following a cumulative, systematic, explicit and multi sensory approach to teach literacy. 

Carla McNeil visited Lochiel School on Tuesday, 10 March, 2020 to model literacy lessons with the staff in their classrooms and to conduct another professional development session after school. 

We are excited to be on this learning journey and early adopters of the science of reading.

Please, if you have any questions about your child's reading contact your child's teacher.  They can state exactly what learning is happening and what skills are being taught.