Writing Studio - Writing Mastery Courses, Workshops and Assessments

The Writing Studio offers the following workshops at the Dragon Academy and at other locations by appointment. Contact us if you would like to register or to arrange a workshop at a location convenient to you. These workshops are suitable for teachers, tutors, parents and other professionals working in the field of education. All workshops are two hours, cost $45 including tax and materials and run on Saturday mornings 10:00 am -12:00 pm.

Why Phonemic Awareness Is Important for Reading Success
This workshop defines and explains phonemic awareness. Latest research findings describing the importance of phonemic awareness in the development of fluent reading will be shared. Many practical activities and strategies are provided to enhance phonemic awareness. A list of resources and a handout is included.

Dyslexia Defined
Parents and educators will learn the characteristics of dyslexia and which remedial methods are effective. Methodologies based on the Orton-Gillingham approach will be described and practical suggestions for educators and parents will be given. A handout and list of resources will be provided.

Writing Mastery Level I: Strengthening the Foundations©
The Foundations Method is an infallible method that will help your students create simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences. A variety of activities and exercises proven to enhance written expression will be taught.

Writing Mastery II: How to Write Essays and Reports©
Educators will learn how to teach students to write reports and essays that are clear and well organized using a step-by-step, structured method. Examples of several kinds of essays will be modelled as the participants are taken through the development of an essay, from the conception of a topic or thesis, through the inclusion of reasons, facts and details to support their arguments and explanations. This practical, easy to follow method will demystify the report writing process and help students eliminate “essay panic.”

Writing Mastery III: Creative Writing©
In this two-part workshop writers and teachers will be shown how to create unique, yet credible characters and plots, using the 20 Master Plots Program© and The Plot Genie©. Participants will learn fascinating and amusing facts, descriptions and stories, which will provoke the creative muse and provide an antidote to writer’s block, no matter how well entrenched. Topics such as class structure, etiquette, style and the stock market will be discussed. A handout and list of resources will be provided.

Is This Child Learning Disabled or Just a ‘Late-Starter’?
This workshop is designed to help the teacher and parent differentiate between a student who needs more time to develop age appropriate skills and a student who has a learning disability, which needs to be brought to the attention of the resource staff at school.

How Derivational Morphology can Expand Expression
Learn how the study of Anglo-Saxon, Greek and Latin roots, prefixes and suffixes can help students enhance their vocabulary. This workshop will show how to turn derivational morphology into a powerful teaching tool. A variety of structured activities will be presented. Meanings of common suffixes, prefixes and roots and the appropriate age level at which to introduce them will be given. A handout of activities, drills and resources will be provided.

What Remedial Programs are Available for Children with Learning Disabilities
A wide variety of current methods used in public and private schools will be described, such as Orton-Gillingham, Reasoning and Writing, Open Court, Slingerland and many more. An overview of each method and the relative advantages and disadvantages of each method will be discussed. This workshop is particularly valuable for psychologists involved in testing and assessing who are required to make recommendations based on their findings, and is also suitable for teachers and parents.