Dordt Education Symposium: Welcoming All Learners to Inclusive Classrooms

Join us on April 3 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. for a free education symposium focusing on special education. Dordt University’s education faculty will share current research and key strategies that you can immediately implement in your classroom. This event will allow you to network with fellow special educators as you learn alongside one another.

9 - 9:15 a.m. | Welcome and devotions, led by Joe Bakker

9:15 - 11:15 | "Let's talk about behavior: 'He doesn't like it when he can't get his way!"

Led by Dr. Kathleen VanTol, this session will discuss the typical causes of behavior problems. You will learn key strategies for "listening" to the behavior and determining how to respond.

11:15 - 12:15 p.m. | Thrive Center Tour & Poster Presentations

The Thrive Center of Dordt University is a teaching center that serves the Northwest Iowa region in the areas of behavior therapy and skills acquisition for children. Dordt University professors and students are involved in numerous aspects of the services provided. This unique relationship allows future teachers and practitioners to get a supervised hands-on learning experience.

12:15 - 1 p.m. | Lunch & Networking

1 - 1:30 p.m. | Master of Special Education & Master of Education Presentation led by Joe Bakker

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | "The Environment and the Brain"

This hands-on session, led by Dr. Gwen Marra, will examine the impact that life experiences have on how a child’s brain develops. This affects later learning and we will consider what we can do about it as teachers.

2:30 - 2:35 p.m. | Break

2:35 - 3:20 p.m. | "Mastery or Interleaving?"

This session compares two approaches to teaching and intervention. We will look at each approach and examine what research says. We will end with recommendations for practice.

3:20 - 3:30 p.m. | Closing & Reflection