Dyscalculia Conference 26th March
Posted by Alan on 4th March and posted in Teaching & Learning
I’m looking forward to this conference on the 26th March in Cornwall, and having just seen the programme it promises to be an enlightening event. The main sessions in the morning will be led by Professor Brian Butterworth and Patricia Babtie.
Brian Butterworth is Professor of Cognitive Neuropsychology in the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (dyscalculia, dyslexia and speech) and Patricia Babtie is Joint author of ‘The Dyscalculia Assessment’
If you are going to the event then say ‘hello’.
I’ve been invited to give an opening address on our senses. world views and limiting beliefs as well as deliver a workshop in the afternoon based on the Magic 4 Learning programme.
As I think about this conference I am reviewing what I think about what we often simply call ‘blocks to learning’.
I guess its true that such ‘blocks; can be neurological, cognitive, emotional or social – or a combination of any or all of them.
A neurological or cognitive limitation I guess will be directly linked to emotional and social responses and I wonder if, when dealing with an issue like dyslexia or dyscalculia how far the coaching support explores each of these ‘domains’.
Of course in the ‘ideal world’ this should not be a question since its really obvious that there is some kind of link, but in reality does the ‘label’ of a specific ‘condition’ become the ‘label of the pain’ and thus dealt with by offering one-dimensional support?
The experience of parents with children having a range of ‘identified conditions’ is a different as the schools their children attend, BUT, I do often hear about interventions that focus on only one aspect of a complex issue…
And, to balance the equation as it were,
I also hear of teachers experiences of parents whose reaction upon having a label given to their child turn into single intervention focused guardians.
All human behaviour is complex. The underpinning causes and motives sometimes getting lost among the varying responses and adaptations to those responses we as human beings are able to create.
I guess what I’m arguing for here is an Educational Programme which supports the individual in an exploration of all of the things which ‘drive their bus’ rather than simply being ‘behaviour management’ programmes.
Alan
