Comprehensive range of teaching resources on SpLD released
********************************************************** The Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB), in collaboration with tertiary institutions and non-government organisations, today announced the release of a comprehensive range of teaching resources on Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD).
The Principal Assistant Secretary for Education and Manpower (School Administration and Support), Mrs Betty Ip, said EMB had made every effort to help students with SpLD with a view to developing their potential to the fullest. "The key to success hinges on early identification and support, whole-school approach as well as home-school and cross-sectoral co-operation," Mrs Ip said.
"With the introduction of an assessment tool for Primary One in recent years, schools, teachers and parents now have a better understanding of SpLD and hence we managed to identify more students in need. In parallel, we have provided more teaching resources, enhanced teacher training and encouraged parents' participation.
"I am pleased that the concerted effort and contribution of EMB, tertiary institutions and non-Government organisations has borne fruits. We have developed a wide range of teaching resources on SpLD to suit the local context," she said.
"Comprising learning behaviour checklist, computer software, teaching guide as well as learning and support plans for various levels from kindergartens to secondary schools, these resources can equip schools, teachers and parents with better skills in rendering support to students with SpLD."
Mrs Ip pointed out that the bureau had been offering intensive remedial services and resources for primary students with low academic achievement, whereas secondary schools with a high intake of academically low achievers had also been provided with additional teachers and subsidies.
"A new funding mode is being tried out in more than 200 primary schools. They can make use of additional resources in a more flexible manner, from hiring extra manpower to procuring professional service to cater to the actual needs. The funding model, if proven to be effective, will be extended in the future," she added.
"In the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years, seven mainstream schools and 16 special schools will take part in the School Partnership Scheme to serve as resource schools and centres respectively. They will share with other mainstream schools their knowledge and good practices in supporting students with special educational needs.
"On the training front, the bureau will continue with systematic special education programmes, seminars and workshops for teachers. In the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years, we have also commissioned the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to run a 30-hour professional development programme on SpLD for some 240 teachers."
New teaching resources on SpLD announced today are as follows:
* Supporting students with SpLD: a Guide for Secondary School Teachers (EMB)
The Guide, disseminated in the form of CD, aims to enhance teachers' understanding of the behavioural characteristics of secondary school students with SpLD, and offers practical suggestions on how to provide a supportive learning environment. In addition to guidelines, the CD also contains video demonstrations of teaching strategies and interviews with students, teachers, parents and celebrities.
* Enhancing the reading and writing skills of students: A Parent Training Manual (EMB)
This manual, designed for teachers and school guidance personnel to facilitate their organisation of workshops for parents or parent volunteers, aims at empowering parents with effective strategies for helping children with SpLD. Ready-to-use resources include session plans, powerpoint presentations, worksheets and video demonstrations.
* Introduction of English phonics learning software ¡V Rebuilding Our Word-planet "ROW" (EMB)
This software, designed for students with SpLD to explore and master the relationship between sounds and spelling of English words through simple tips and interesting word games, can be used in different ways: Adventure Mode and Tutor Guided Mode. It also allows teachers and parents to assign lessons or tailor word lists for individual students.
* Multi-media CDs to support the learning of Chinese and English language (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
A set of three CDs on the training of morphological awareness (Chinese), listening and reading skills (Chinese), and phonological awareness (English) is developed to support classroom and individualised teaching, targeted at enhancing the learning of Chinese and English language for primary school students with SpLD.
* A Curriculum for Students with SpLD in Chinese Reading and Writing (The Society of Boys' Centres)
The curriculum is designed to enhance the literacy skills of primary students with SpLD in Chinese reading and writing skills. Two CDs contain the theoretical framework of the curriculum and teaching demonstrations as well as samples of teaching plans and worksheets respectively.
* The Hong Kong Learning Behaviour Checklist for Preschool Children [Parents' Version] (The University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong )
This checklist aims to facilitate parents and teachers to identify pre-primary children at risk of SpLD, so that early intervention can be provided.
* Home-school IEP support project for students with dyslexia (The University of Hong Kong)
This study is to try out and promote an indigenous home-school cooperation model in schools in support of children with SpLD.
For teaching resources on special education, please visit the EMB website ¡]http://www.emb.gov.hk/serc).
********************************************************** The Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB), in collaboration with tertiary institutions and non-government organisations, today announced the release of a comprehensive range of teaching resources on Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD).
The Principal Assistant Secretary for Education and Manpower (School Administration and Support), Mrs Betty Ip, said EMB had made every effort to help students with SpLD with a view to developing their potential to the fullest. "The key to success hinges on early identification and support, whole-school approach as well as home-school and cross-sectoral co-operation," Mrs Ip said.
"With the introduction of an assessment tool for Primary One in recent years, schools, teachers and parents now have a better understanding of SpLD and hence we managed to identify more students in need. In parallel, we have provided more teaching resources, enhanced teacher training and encouraged parents' participation.
"I am pleased that the concerted effort and contribution of EMB, tertiary institutions and non-Government organisations has borne fruits. We have developed a wide range of teaching resources on SpLD to suit the local context," she said.
"Comprising learning behaviour checklist, computer software, teaching guide as well as learning and support plans for various levels from kindergartens to secondary schools, these resources can equip schools, teachers and parents with better skills in rendering support to students with SpLD."
Mrs Ip pointed out that the bureau had been offering intensive remedial services and resources for primary students with low academic achievement, whereas secondary schools with a high intake of academically low achievers had also been provided with additional teachers and subsidies.
"A new funding mode is being tried out in more than 200 primary schools. They can make use of additional resources in a more flexible manner, from hiring extra manpower to procuring professional service to cater to the actual needs. The funding model, if proven to be effective, will be extended in the future," she added.
"In the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years, seven mainstream schools and 16 special schools will take part in the School Partnership Scheme to serve as resource schools and centres respectively. They will share with other mainstream schools their knowledge and good practices in supporting students with special educational needs.
"On the training front, the bureau will continue with systematic special education programmes, seminars and workshops for teachers. In the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years, we have also commissioned the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to run a 30-hour professional development programme on SpLD for some 240 teachers."
New teaching resources on SpLD announced today are as follows:
* Supporting students with SpLD: a Guide for Secondary School Teachers (EMB)
The Guide, disseminated in the form of CD, aims to enhance teachers' understanding of the behavioural characteristics of secondary school students with SpLD, and offers practical suggestions on how to provide a supportive learning environment. In addition to guidelines, the CD also contains video demonstrations of teaching strategies and interviews with students, teachers, parents and celebrities.
* Enhancing the reading and writing skills of students: A Parent Training Manual (EMB)
This manual, designed for teachers and school guidance personnel to facilitate their organisation of workshops for parents or parent volunteers, aims at empowering parents with effective strategies for helping children with SpLD. Ready-to-use resources include session plans, powerpoint presentations, worksheets and video demonstrations.
* Introduction of English phonics learning software ¡V Rebuilding Our Word-planet "ROW" (EMB)
This software, designed for students with SpLD to explore and master the relationship between sounds and spelling of English words through simple tips and interesting word games, can be used in different ways: Adventure Mode and Tutor Guided Mode. It also allows teachers and parents to assign lessons or tailor word lists for individual students.
* Multi-media CDs to support the learning of Chinese and English language (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
A set of three CDs on the training of morphological awareness (Chinese), listening and reading skills (Chinese), and phonological awareness (English) is developed to support classroom and individualised teaching, targeted at enhancing the learning of Chinese and English language for primary school students with SpLD.
* A Curriculum for Students with SpLD in Chinese Reading and Writing (The Society of Boys' Centres)
The curriculum is designed to enhance the literacy skills of primary students with SpLD in Chinese reading and writing skills. Two CDs contain the theoretical framework of the curriculum and teaching demonstrations as well as samples of teaching plans and worksheets respectively.
* The Hong Kong Learning Behaviour Checklist for Preschool Children [Parents' Version] (The University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong )
This checklist aims to facilitate parents and teachers to identify pre-primary children at risk of SpLD, so that early intervention can be provided.
* Home-school IEP support project for students with dyslexia (The University of Hong Kong)
This study is to try out and promote an indigenous home-school cooperation model in schools in support of children with SpLD.
For teaching resources on special education, please visit the EMB website ¡]http://www.emb.gov.hk/serc).
Ends/Friday, October 28, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:56
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