Workshops

| Workshops | Testimonials | Presentations from 2007 |

Workshops for 2008

For educators and allied professionals (most of these are half day presentations)

Workshop 1
Learning Differently: Reflecting on Dyslexia (and Specific Learning Difficulties)

Workshop 2
The 'A' Students: What's to know when working Asperger Syndrome and ADHD students?

Workshop 3
Mentoring: A unique South Australian program inspiring transformation in students needing that extra care

Workshop 4
Positive Connections with Learning: Motivation beyond curriculum and tell-offs. A handout from the Third International SPELD Conference, held in Adelaide April 2007 can be viewed here. A handout from Mark's Keynote presentation from SPELD New Zealand's INC International Conference 2007 can also be viewed here.

Workskop 5
Classroom strategies for managing the emotion and behaviour of students identified with DIFFICULTIES

For parents (each of these is about a one and a half hour presentation)

Workshop 6
What Are You Setting Your Child up for?

Workshop 7
How to Build Better behaviours

Workshop 8
Ideas to Build Your Child's Emotional Resilience

Workshop 9
Got Homework Problems? There are solutions

All workshops can be lengthened or shortened and the content can be rearranged to meet specific needs. Just ask.

| Workshops | Testimonials | Presentations from 2007 |

Workshop Testimonials

Mark is a charismatic speaker. I could listen to him for hours. I love his up close and real stories about students who learn differently. I always come away with a pearl of wisdom to challenge my thinking and improve my practice. One of Mark's pearls, that I've often shared with others is that girls work hard to please; boys work hard to please someone they have a good relationship with.

I have asked Mark to present on several occasions to my school community. Mark's insights into effective ways to support our children and his understanding of 'what makes our children tick' is always illuminating and thought provoking. We come away not only with some great strategies to help our children to be successful, but also feel affirmed as teachers and parents that we are on the right track.

The attendees at the SPELD Queensland workshop were delighted with Mark's presentation on Cognitive Behavioural Training this year. He gave very practical strategies to support them to find effective ways to help their children succeed. Mark is a dynamic and empathetic presenter who knows his stuff - as a result his rapport with his audience is very high! As a SPELD organisation we were thrilled not only with the way in which Mark delivered his workshop, but also with the fact that his content was backed up by sound research.

Mark is a dynamic presenter. He builds a great rapport with the audience and they respond to him well. The information he delivers is current and well researched which builds credibility in his content. He matches his pace to suit the needs of the group.

Participating in Mark's workshops is an opportunity not to be missed. Mark's greatest strength is that he speaks as a parent and his wisdom is from experience. Parents easily identified with his practical insights into parenting in today's world. They came away from the series of workshops both affirmed in their parenting and challenged to explore very realistic suggestions for enhancing their parenting skills and nurturing emotional resilience in their children.

Most of our staff have attended professional workshops run by Mark and always return energised and with new initiatives. Knowing this we invited Mark to work with our parent community. He offered real, practical ideas for parents to develop better relationships with their children. Just his wonderful sense of humour helps parents to cope better who find themselves in trying situations!

Our parents were really looking forward to hearing Mark speak because they were interested in the topic and had heard a lot about his reputation for working with young people.

The presentation was meaningful and thought-provoking yet at the same time there were moments of light-heartedness and wonderful humour that we appreciated and enjoyed. Mark's style is honest, warm and engaging.

The presentation included a range of facts, research statistics and interesting / humorous anecdotes that kept the audience involved and engaged throughout the evening. Some parents commented that it was over too soon and many parents commented on how much they enjoyed Mark's presentation.

It's clear that Mark is passionate about helping young people to reach their full potential.

Mark has worked with the St. Mary's College staff in a professional development capacity, and with new parents exploring issues around transition. He is an engaging presenter, who connects with his audience by drawing on his considerable experience as an educator, as well as sound academic research.

I confidently recommend Mark as a presenter on all issues associated with student wellbeing and learning needs.

Mark's presentation was one of the most informative and engaging I have ever been to. His friendly and humorous style had my colleagues asking, "Where did that day go?"

Mark's presentation was so powerful that we had him presenting to teachers from our cluster within a month of us having seen him as counsellors.

| Workshops | Testimonials | Presentations from 2007 |

Presentations from 2007

A sample of Mark's presentations from 2007 is set out below:

January

• Setting up for Success, for educators in the far north of South Australia

February

• What's on Offer at home? for parents, Independent Schools, Brisbane

April

• Stretching the Motivation and Perseverance of Students, for educators at Concordia College, South Australia
• Successful Connections with Students. The 3rd International Conference of the Specific Learning Difficulties Association, for educators and parents, Adelaide, South Australia

May

• Setting up for Success, for educators, Mt Gambier
• Got Homework problems? There are Solutions! and Ideas to Build Your Child's Emotional Resilience, for State Parent Annual Conference, Launceston, Tasmania

June

• Setting up for Success, for educators in the Riverland of South Australia
• Promoting positive connections - from research to practice, Keynote Speaker at SPELD New Zealand's International Learning Difficulty Conference

July

• How to Build Better Behaviours, for parents at Brighton schools, South Australia

August

• Making Connections and Developing Resilience in Students, South Australian Primary Counsellor's Association Annual Conference

September

• Weaving the Threads, for educators Catholic National Conference, Melbourne
  What really Counts with Students? South Australian Catholic Counsellors Executive

October

• Promoting positive connections, for educators and What's on Offer at home? For parents, Mt Gambier and Millicent, South Australia

November

• How Can I help? For parents and educators, Learning and Attentional Difficulties Society, Perth, Western Australia
• Classroom strategies for managing the emotion and behaviour of students identified with ADHD, Oppositional Defiance Disorder and Specific learning Difficulties and Positive Connections with Learning: 'motivation beyond curriculum and tell-offs', for educators, Singapore

| Workshops | Testimonials | Presentations from 2007 |