LearningConnections
A Different Way of Learning can lead to Success!
A publication serving our members and friends throughout the Region of Peel
2014 Summer Edition
Inside This Issue:
Featured Article
Page 2-3
Guest Speakers Workshops/
What’s Happening in the Community
Page 4
Upcoming Special Events/Get
Involved
Page 5
Featured Programs
Page 6
Programs Dates
Page 7
Contact Information
Page 8
Learning Disabilities Association of Peel Region
Information  Reviews
News and Views
Your Source for Information, Reviews and Resources for individuals and families living in Brampton, Caledon & Mississauga
5 Ways to Keep
Your Kids'
Brains Active
All Summer
Long
By Janet Forgrieve
Kids across the country recently closed their books, put down their pencils
and adjusted their inner clocks to the unstructured hours of summer. While
it’s a necessary break from the routine of school, summer can also be a
great time to find fun ways to keep kids from losing what they’ve learned.
Studies going back decades have documented a “summer slide” among
kids who don’t engage in enough mental work during summer vacation.
Then, in the fall, teachers must spend weeks reviewing concepts students
learned the previous year before moving on to the new grade’s lessons,
says Patricia Froelich, youth services consultant for Colorado State
Library.
To combat the slide, parents can strike a balance between learning and fun,
infusing summer lessons with informality and grabbing opportunities to
teach where they can find them. Most have learned through trial and error
that sitting kids down at set times of day with work to do in the summer
backfires. The more it feels like schoolwork, the faster you lose them.
In contrast, keeping it fun can not only keep kids from falling behind but
also may give them a leg up when they head back to class in the fall.
“A lot of it is just hiding the learning in the fun,” says Christy Wright,
director of Big Horn K-12 summer school in Wyoming. “We’re very antiworksheet, anti-sitting in desks. We want movement, music and kids
getting engaged. We don’t want ‘kill and drill,’ we’re totally opposed to
that. It’s all activity-based learning.”
Here are some ways to keep kids’ minds active when they’re out of school:
1) Summer reading
Summer reading programs have been around for a century, providing ageappropriate options for kids of every grade and helping those who aren’t
naturally great readers to find the material that will make them want to
pick up a book, says Froelich.
“Public libraries are trying to do more outreach and trying to connect more
with parents to get their kids reading in the summer,” she says.
Books designed as bridges from the old grade to the new are also available
and can help prepare kids to start classes in the fall. Still, parents don’t
necessarily need an outside program to keep kids engaged with books.
summer came on Mother’s Day, when 6-year-old Grace and 4-year-old
Sean asked if they could get out the beads and make their mom some
jewelry.
“They were having so much fun, and as I was thinking about the end of the
school year, I thought ‘Hey, they really thought beading was fun,’ and then
I thought beads seemed like an easy way for Grace to keep track of the
books she was reading,” Parry says.
Armed with a stack of appropriate books for a child transitioning from 1st
to 2nd grade, Parry made the simple rules, with the goal of getting in 30
minutes of daily reading this summer. Each time Grace finishes reading a
book aloud to her mom or dad, she gets to put another bead on a string
that’s hanging on the wall.
Now, Grace watches her accomplishments grow while her parents see her
reading improve.
2) Science, from nature to chemistry set
Families who spend quality summer time camping and hiking have
abundant natural learning resources.
If you’re traveling to another part of the country or the world for outdoor
adventures, do some homework first with your kids about what you’re
likely to see when you get there. If you’re closer to home, take along books
about the natural flora and fauna, so your kids have a resource to learn
more about the nature they’ve just met in person.
Indoor science lessons (cleverly disguised as games or toys) may be just as
valuable, teaching not only science concepts but also fostering skills kids
will need when they head back to the classroom.
Kelly Pascal Gould, mother of Jackson, 7, and almost-2-year-old Georgia,
says her son naturally gravitates toward experiments and creative projects
so she stocked up last spring on chemistry sets and science kits hoping to
engage Jackson, a budding inventor who needs to increase his attention
span.
“I try to use those things as a gateway to get him better at things he’s not so
good at yet, like remaining focused when he’s back in the classroom,”
Gould says.
Recently, she spent $8.99 for a Soda Can Robug kit, which turns an old
soda can into a robot. Jackson loves it, she says, because he put it together
himself and he can watch it scoot around. Meanwhile, he’s learning about
recycling and mechanics, while also soaking up lessons in focusing on a
task until it’s complete.
In Wright’s summer school program, many of the students referred to her
classes have trouble concentrating in class. She says that projects that teach
them about science, nature and how things work tend to keep them focused
on the task at hand and also begin to ingrain better concentration habits for
the future.
In the three years that Wright has run the program, the vast majority of
summer school students either maintain or improve on their standardized
test scores, she says. Even better, most head back to class in the fall better
able to tune out distractions and focus on the work in front of them.
Lisa Parry’s inspiration for helping keep her kids’ brains sharp this
2 2
Learning Disabilities Association of Peel Region
(Continued on page 3)
Featured Article
3) Games
You might think that hours spent at the game console are anything but
mindless wasted time, but some of the newer games actually get kids
moving more than a joystick and may actually improve their ability to focus
and learn new skills, says Wright.
In her summer school program, kids come in early to play Dance Dance
Revolution or Guitar Hero, and Wright encourages those and other games
played on consoles like Xbox, PlayStation and Wii. Games that engage the
body while encouraging mental concentration not only help kids learn, they
also prepare younger students to sit still for lessons later, she says.
“Cross-lateral movement, which means doing something crossover like
jumping rope or playing ball, is good because they’re using one side of the
body and that engages the other side of the brain, so both body and mind are
moving,” she says. “It helps kids comprehend, and then settle down and
learn.”
More traditional games can also provide a learning experience. Susan Aust’s
sons Tucker, 13, and Bailey, 11, are currently working on creating a new
board game that’s a combination of Life and Monopoly. The kids make up
the rules as they go along based on their research into the existing games.
“They’ve researched all the images and they’re really having fun in the
process,” says Aust. “Summer is a time to pursue what really interests
them.”
4) Cooking
To enjoy the fruits of their culinary labors, kids must first master reading,
measuring and following directions -- lessons that are much easier to
swallow when they come in the form of a tasty dish they’ve made
themselves, says Wright.
It may take patience on the part of parents who see cooking as another
household chore to complete as quickly as possible, but taking the time to
teach kids cooking skills actually forces us to slow down and remember
there’s joy to be found in the kitchen when you have someone to share the
work.
If the experience still leaves you feeling that cooking is just work, well, at
least you’re training someone else to someday take over in the kitchen.
5) Set up an art studio; foster creative pursuits
Gould set up a place where Jackson could go and create to his heart’s content.
The art room has just about anything a budding artist needs to create his own
unique works of art, she says.
She stocked up on art and activity books, including one titled “Leonardo
DaVinci for Kids,” which includes stories about the artist, his life and work,
as well as activities for children to help them absorb what they’re learning.
Jackson also recently learned to embroider, a tedious task that requires
complete focus and offers something creative to show at the end.
Aust’s older son Tucker is into art of a different kind, having developed a
love of all things theatrical and voraciously reading books about famous
actors and actresses, she says. So, this summer Aust started a weekly film
festival.
Long summer days offer lots of opportunities to practice school skills without even realizing it.
Join a neighborhood reading program. Many bookstores and libraries run
programs to encourage summer reading, offering badges or books as rewards.
Some hold discussion-and-pizza book groups - a great way to promote
reading and social skills.

"Read" a movie. Read books that have been turned into movies, then
rent the film or see it at the theater. Discuss how closely the movie followed
the book, or chart the similarities on a poster board.

Send postcards. Let your child buy or make postcards to send to friends,
whether he's on a trip or in his own back yard. Encourage him to keep up a
running commentary - writing is a critical skill to practice over the summer.
Parry’s daughter Grace loves to help in the kitchen, and kids generally enjoy
the tangible sense of accomplishment when they put a meal they’ve helped
create on the table.
Keep a journal. Help your child keep a journal of the summer's events.
Photos and memorabilia can help her remember details as she practices her
writing and retelling skills. When the next school year begins, she can share
the journal with her teacher and classmates - a creative way to introduce
herself.of frustration. Parents and teachers can also benefit from greater
knowledge and access to the tools that support LD/gifted learners.
“She’s old enough now where she can measure and scoop,” Parry says. “It’s
fun for both of us.”
Taken from:
http://life.gaiam.com/article/5-ways-keep-your-kids-brains-active-all-summer-long
Career Opportunities
Here at the LDAPR, we are looking to hire talented
tutors, facilitators and volunteers for our various programs and services.
If you have experience in working with those who have
learning and attentional differences, and would like to be a part of
the exciting things we do, please visit the opportunities page
on our website for more information about current postings.
http://www.ldapr.ca/opportunities/
www.ldapr.ca
3
Guest Speaker Workshops/Contests
Registered Disability Savings Plan Seminar
Date: Monday June 16th, 2014
Date: Monday June 16th, 2014
Time: 7-8:30 pm
Location: South Fletcher’s Sportsplex
(Youth Room)
Address: 500 Ray Lawson Blvd.,
Brampton, ON L6Y 5B3
Presenter: Seema Ranger, BA Financial Consultant at Investors Group
Contest to be featured in short film for
First Annual Educators Institute
The LDAPR is looking for students from
primary, middle and high school to submit a
couple of sentences on their
experience with Learning Disabilities.
This seminar is an interactive learning session about RDSP’s
with lots of time for questions and answers.
Learn …
• How do you get $10,500 in Grant with the first $4500
contribution???
• How much are the grants and how you can get a grant each
year for low income earners without having to make any
contributions to the plan?
• How are Learning Disabilities and ADHD related to the
RDSP?
• What are the rules when it comes to taking the money out?
• How does it affect ODSP payments?
Please submit your submissions to
cwarwick@ldapr.ca by Friday, June 6 and
the top submissions from each category will
get the chance to be featured on a video to
be presented at the First Annual Educator’s
Institute on August 27th 2014. Make your
The presentation will be 30 to 45 minutes in length, with time
for questions and discussion.
submissions now, this is a win/win situation!
Fee: $5.00 per person per workshop
(1 complimentary admission for LDA Members)
Advance Registration is required
Spaces are limited.
E-mail: info@ldapr.ca OR
Call: 905-791-4100/905-272-4100
*Cash will only be accepted at the door.
Remember, the deadline is Friday, June 6
What is Happening in the Community?
Post-Secondary Transition Information Day
For students with Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NVLD)
or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or and their families.
Friday, June 27th, 2014
9:00 a.m - 3:30 p.m
York University, Keele Campus
Room Location: Seymour Schulich Building
(Room N109)
This is an information day for students with NLD’s ASD’s
or who are planning on attending any post-secondary
institution (university or college) in the fall.
4
Topics that will be discussed include:





transition realities for the student and their family
accessing support systems
strategies for academic success
social life at university/college
nurturing independence
Cost: $20 per person
Registration: Fill out the registration form at http://
lds.info.yorku.ca/asd-registration/ and send in with
payment by Friday, June 21st, 2014.
Learning Disabilities Association of Peel Region
Upcoming Special Events/Get Involved
LDAPR’s Literacy Day
LDAPR’s Got Talent Annual Talent Show
LDAPR'S Annual Talent Show and Fundraiser
to be held at Mississauga Secondary School on
Monday June 9th. The event will start at
6:30pm and will feature a violin solo, African
drum and dance, Bollywood dancing, B-girls
break-dance, bands, Spoken Word, Tag
Bhangra and a lot more. There will be
giveaways from Boston Pizza, Holiday Inn,
Laserquest, Paintball Nation, Flow 93.5,
Mississauga Steelheads, the CNE and lots
more. for tics e-mail utibbin@ldapr.ca
Join LDAPR for their celebration of World
Literacy Day, as they bring two local authors; Unblind
Tibbin and Angelot Ndongmo and have them read
from their books, encourage literacy and creative
expression. These authors will also
be signing
autographs and talk about the process of writing and
the value of being and author and the literacy
culture.
Where: Knowledge Bookstore at 177 Queen St.,
West, Brampton, ON, L6Y 1M5
When Sunday September 7th from 1pm-4 pm
Tickets are $6 and less for children and
families of 4.
Cost: $10 which includes a backpack full of school
supplies and creative tools to start of the 2014 school
year right.
GET READY FOR
LDAPR’S ANNUAL
RESOURCE FAIR
COMING THIS FALL
We Need Volunteers!
Volunteers will gain valuable experience assisting
our program instructors with the delivery
specialized and unique programs and events.
of
Opportunities exist to assist with our
Annual
Talent Show, Youth Group, Community
Outreach and Special Events.
One of LDAPR’s mission is to provide education
and community awareness. LDAPR will be
hosting our 13th Annual Resource Fair and
Speaker Corner conference in the fall of 2014.
Stay in touch and watch for details at
www.ldapr.ca and in our next Newsletter. Our
primary purpose for this event is to provide
further
knowledge
to
parents/caregivers,
educators and professionals who work with
families and individuals who are impacted by the
effects and stigma of having a learning
disability.
Volunteer hours will be provided.
www.ldapr.ca
5
Featured Programs
2014 Summer Camp
A full-day program (or half-day program) designed to incorporate learning
and fun for 7 weeks in July and August. Participants will range in age from
6 to 12 and will be encouraged to develop and improve academic and study
skills, basic life skills, and take part in exciting social skills activities
and trips!
Academic Instruction from 9am-12pm
 We create a positive learning environment;
 We customize our program to each participant;
 Our Facilitators and tutors work to improve all academic levels;
Social Skills 1pm-4pm
 We assist in the development of social, life skills and social problem solving strategies;
 We encourage friendship making and positive inter-personal relationships;
 We work to correct and prevent social behavioral problems;
 We foster self-awareness and a positive outlook.
Outdoor games and off-site activities are used to reinforce
Summer Camp Dates
social skills, and participants must be able to engage in
moderate physical activity for 30-90 minutes each day.
June 30– July 4, 2014 (4 days)
*Note: Lunch is not provided but is supervised.
Youth Group
This
program is designed for
youths ages 11 to 16 years old
who needs support in developing
positive social interactions and
developing self-esteem. We
provide a relaxed and fun
environment for youths to build
friendships and strengthen their social skills with other
youths with learning disabilities and attention disorders.
Youth Membership: Registration will be accepted for
Fall 2014, Winter 2015 and Spring 2015 Sessions.
Dates, Events and Costs TBD. Please call to us for more
information.
Upcoming Brampton Dates /Activity / Cost
May 24, 2014 - Chinguacousy Park $10
June 7, 2014 - Paintball Nation $15
Are you interested in a youth group in Mississauga?
Call the office to express your interest.
Learning Disabilities Association of Peel Region
6
July 7 - 11, 2014
July 14 - 18, 2014
July 21 - 25, 2014
July 28 - August 1, 2014
August 5 - 8, 2014 (4 days)
August 11 - 15, 2014
Offered both in Mississauga and Brampton.
Please note there are fees for the program:
Full day: $250/week
Half day: $150/week
Members’ discount: $25 off (each child)
Multiple week discount: 10% off
Multiple child discount: 5% off (each child)
Early Bird discount: 10% off—If paid in full by
June 6th, 2014.
Locations:
Brampton—Cardinal Newman School
Mississauga—Mary Fix School
Programs and Services
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
Mississauga
Brampton
Parent Support Group:
Registration is Mandatory
Cost: Free
Once a month on Mondays at 7:00 pm
June 2, 2014
Parent Support Group:
Registration is Mandatory
Cost: Free
Once a month on Monday at 7:00 pm
May 26, 2014
June 16, 2014* RSDP workshop (see page 4)
Adult Support Group:
Registration is Mandatory
Cost: Free
Once a month on Mondays at 7:00 pm
June 23, 2014
Adult Support Group:
Registration is Mandatory
Cost: Free
Once a month on Monday at 7:00 pm
June 9, 2014
Academic Tutoring Program
Grades K to 12 – Registration open & ongoing
Academic Tutoring Program
Grades K to 12 - Registration open & ongoing
Social Skills Program
Tuesdays
Ages 7 to 10 - Sept.30-Dec.2, 2014 (6:00pm -7:-00pm)
Ages 11 to 14 - Sept.30-Dec.2, 2014 (7:15 - 8:15pm)
Computer Skills Program (Beginner)
Tuesdays
Ages 7 to 10 - Sept.30-Dec.2, 2014 (6:00pm - 7:00pm)
Ages 11 to 14 –Sept.30-Dec.2, 2014 (7:15pm - 8:15pm)
Computer Skills Program (Advanced)
Wednesdays
Ages 7 to 10 - Oct.1-Dec.3, 2014 (6:00pm - 7:00pm)
Ages 11 to 14 –Oct.1-Dec.3, 2014 (7:15pm - 8:15pm)
Positive Conflict Resolution
Fridays
Ages 8 to 11 - Oct.3-Dec.5, 2014 (6:00pm -7:00 pm)
Ages 12 to 15 - Oct.3-Dec.5, 2014 (7:15pm - 8:15pm)
Youth Transition Program
Thursdays
Ages 15-18 - Oct.2-Dec.4, 2014 (6:00pm - 7:00pm)
Ages 19-23 - Oct.2-Dec.4, 2014 (7:15pm - 8:15pm)
Adult Social Skills
Wednesdays
Ages 21+ > Oct.1-Dec.3, 2014 (7:00pm - 8:00pm)
Social Skills Program
Tuesdays
Ages 7 to 10 - Sept.30-Dec.2, 2014 (6:00pm -7:-00pm)
Ages 11 to 14 - Sept.30-Dec.2, 2014 (7:15 - 8:15pm)
Computer Skills Program (Beginner)
Tuesdays
Ages 7 to 10 - Sept.30-Dec.2, 2014 (6:00pm - 7:00pm)
Ages 11 to 14 –Sept.30-Dec.2, 2014 (7:15pm - 8:15pm)
Computer Skills Program (Advanced)
Wednesdays
Ages 7 to 10 - Oct.1-Dec.3, 2014 (6:00pm - 7:00pm)
Ages 11 to 14 –Oct.1-Dec.3, 2014 (7:15pm - 8:15pm)
Positive Conflict Resolution
Wednesdays
Ages 8 to 11 - Oct.1-Dec.3, 2014 (6:00 - 7:00pm)
Ages 12 to 15 - Oct.1-Dec.3, 2014 (7:15pm -8:15pm)
Youth Transition Program
Thursdays
Ages 15-18 - Oct.2-Dec.4, 2014 (6:00pm - 7:00pm)
Ages 19-23 - Oct.2-Dec.4, 2014 (7:15pm - 8:15pm)
Adult Social Skills
Fridays
Ages 21+ > Oct.3-Dec.5, 2014 (7:00pm - 8:00pm)
Special Support Programs
Orton-Gillingham Support
Assistive Technology
Registration open & ongoing
Special Support Programs
Orton-Gillingham Support
Assistive Technology
Registration open & ongoing
Youth Group (ages 11-16)
Register for September 2014
Runs for whole school year.
Youth Group (ages 11-16)
Register for September 2014
Runs for whole school year.
Summer Camp Info on Previous Page
NOTE: Dates & Times are Subject to change. Check
back in August for confirmed schedules.
www.ldapr.ca
7
Teachers
A Message
from LDAO
Next Issue: More information on our Fall Resource Fair and our Fall Programming.
The Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario
is proud to announce the new LD@school and
TA@l’école project!
LD@school is a bilingual web resource designed
to meet the needs of Ontario’s educators who
work with students with learning disabilities.
Support for this project was provided by the
Ministry of Education.
This new web resource features a wide variety
of information for educators, including articles
about learning disabilities, submissions of
strategies, practices, and approaches from
Ontario educators that have proven to be
effective in their classrooms, and professional
development opportunities.
LD@school will also be hosting a one-day
Educators’ Institute on Wednesday, August
27th, 2014 in Mississauga which will give
educators the opportunity to develop ideas,
connect with each other, and have a direct
impact on their students with learning students.
For more information on the LD@school and
TA@l’école projects as well as these exciting
professional development activities, please visit
www.LDatSchool.ca or www.TAaLecole.ca
or send us an email at info@LDatSchool.ca.
Disclaimer
The Learning Disabilities Association of Peel Region does
not support, endorse or recommend any method of
treatment, product, remedial centre, program or person
for children or adults with Learning Disabilities. We do,
however, endeavour to inform in the belief in your right
to know.
Contact Us
Brampton Office
150 Central Park Drive, Suite 104
Brampton, Ontario L6T 2T9
Phone: (905) 791-4100
Fax: (905) 791-5189
Mississauga Office
165 Dundas St. W., Suite 800
Mississauga Ontario L5B 2N6
Phone: (905) 272-4100
Fax: (905) 272-4863
Email: info@ldapr.ca
Website: www.ldapr.ca
Follow us on Facebook
@LDAPeelRegion
LDAPR is a United Way of Peel Region funded agency.
LDAPR is a Region of Peel funded agency