The Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) Service recently organised a course for parents at the Gozo College Boys’ Secondary School.

Ever since SpLD Service was formally established in 1997, it strongly believed in involving parents in their children’s learning and over the years parents were invited to attend various courses.

The courses took place in order for the parents to understand how to further support their children at home using multisensory strategies to help them improve their literacy skills, as well as how to help their children study more effectively.The course in Gozo consisted of four sessions spread over three months. The sessions were delivered by Ms Jocelyn Jones and Ms Joanna Tabone, the SpLD teachers assigned to the Gozo College. The first session was held in February.

Mr Victor Galea, Gozo College Principal and Dr Christine Firman, E.O., first addressed the parents and the parents were then provided with some information on dyslexia and following that they were also exposed to the Paired Reading strategy, a very beneficial method whereby parents and children read together for a short period of time every day.

In March, parents attended a second session that focused on how to improve spelling using multisensory strategies. The third session, which was held at the beginning of April, dealt with how to help children study more effectively, while during the final session at the end of April parents were shown how ICT can provide further support for their children.

A number of websites that can help to reinforce reading and spelling skills were also shown to the parents.

In May, parents were presented with certificates of participation by Mr Galea and Dr Firman, in the presence of Heads of School, as well as two SpLD Heads of Department, Ms Karen Grech and Ms Christine Xuereb.

During this ceremony, a parent of two dyslexic children shared her experiences and provided parents with some tips on how to support their children.

A local artist, Mr Charles Camilleri, was also invited to talk about how he managed to become a successful artist in spite of his dyslexia.

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