Sue Larkey Blog

The 5 biggest obstacles to learning for neurodiverse students ​And how you can help students to overcome these Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDIncreasing engagement ➡️ SUCCESS! In this podcast I talk about how to increase engagement, including: ✅ How fear of failure can paralyse students ✅ Ideas to give students more direction in their work ✅ How to provide clear directions  ✅ Importance of positive reinforcement ✅ Breaking down tasks into manageable chunks   ✅ My top resources to learn more about engagement This year all my new workshops focus on engagement and participation to increase success for all. Join me for a Live Virtual Workshop or an Online Course - whichever learning style suits you best!Renowned psychologist Professor Skinner identified 5 main obstacles to learning: 1. Fear of failure Encourage independence (p34 Big Blue Book) Why making mistakes is frustrating (p36 Big Blue Book) 2. Lack of...

 Webinar replay Part 2- Questions answered about social emotional learning  What You Will Learn in this Webinar Special needs social strategiesQuestions covered include:  ✅ How to encourage non-verbal children to make social connections  ✅ Managing the transition from special school to mainstream  ✅ Secondary school and young adult social strategies  ✅ Students refusing to sit next to others  ✅ Managing emotions in the playground ✅ Strategies for Oppositional Defiance Disorder in the classroom ✅ Counteracting negative self-talk  ✅ Special needs social strategies Click this Link to sign up for Neurodiversity Network https://elearning.suelarkey.com.au/neurodiversity-network/Sign up to Watch the Replay Social skills, connections, autism strategies-My Live Virtual Webinar last week was a success! But it’s not too late if you missed it – sign up to watch the Replay of the hour of power! Available for a limited time Sign Up Includes: ✅ All of the Above PLUS ✅ EBook with over 100...

 Webinar replay - How to include social emotional learning programs for neurodiverse students in busy, complex classroomsThis podcast contains Effective Social Emotional Learning strategies  What You Will Learn in this Webinar Social Emotional Learning strategies✅ What to Teach, How to Teach, When to Teach: Ideas and Strategies for teaching Social Emotional Learning (SEL) ✅ Improved Learning Outcomes: Two-thirds of students enhance their performance with the addition of an SEL program 🎉 SEL Secret: Discover the one thing about Social Emotional Learning wished to be known 20 years ago ✅ Key Teaching Methods: Apply four strategies to teach students how to cope with losing, missing out, or not getting what they want ✅ Practical Tips: Gain useful advice for implementing SEL in the classroom ✅ Effective Social Emotional Learning strategieswho is it forThe webinar is aimed at primary-aged educators, but everyone is welcome.  Sign up to Watch the Replay -My Live Virtual Webinar...

Top tips for teaching social emotional learning to increase engagement and participation in a busy & complex classroom Teaching social skills Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDSocial skills are not easy to teach as they are complex and so much depends on 'reading' an individual and adjusting to the individual situation as it evolves. We often do not realise exactly what is involved in a social skill but we immediately recognise when it is absent. When teaching social behaviours and skills to students with AS many of us fall into the trap of assuming knowledge on the person with AS's part e.g. we fail to realise that the young child will not know that one greets friends in a different way to the school principal or even the child will understand what the word 'greet' means. It is commonly known that children with AS are socially naive and have the social awareness, without necessarily the quality, of a...

8 ESSENTIAL STEPS TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO PURSUE DIAGNOSIS The Power of Diagnosis  ************************************** Join me for an upcoming Workshop: Sue Larkey Workshops Can't make these Workshop dates? Join me for a self-paced on-demand course: Sue Larkey On-Demand Workshops **************************************   Discussed in this Podcast: ✅ It’s important to remember that a teacher’s role isn’t to offer suggestions of a diagnosis, it’s to bring things to the parents’ attention.✅ 8 Steps to Talking for Families about pursuing a diagnosis.✅ Red Flags for Diagnosis.✅ Why students should get a diagnosis. Make sure you listen to this Podcast as each step is discussed in detail including mistakes to avoid and the power of diagnosis.  8 Steps to Talking for Families about pursuing a diagnosis1. Check your tone.Tone is everything! The first few sentences and gestures you make are so important to the success of the meeting.2. Say nice things.Start with positives....

  How & Why to use Time Timers and MY BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER Unlock the Power of Time!   Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDThis week's podcastThis Podcast guest is Jenny Davis, who comes to us from Time Timer, a USA based company who specializes in helping children and adults understand the concept of time.  Jenny is a mom of 3, former educator/teacher, and understands the need to remove anxiety from activities and surroundings in children’s lives. Unlock the Power of Time! Discussed in this Episode ✅ Easing stressful transitions by showing "how much longer" ✅ By pairing with a visual schedule, it can help set expectations of what comes next and how long on each activity ✅Promoting/Supporting natural strengths/skills/abilities, such as visual thinking ✅Helping visitors stick to routine ✅Increasing confidence and independence ✅Aiding in maintaining persistence by knowing how much time is left for a...

Sue reviews her Favourite Resources to support Neurodiverse Children; what, why & how to maximise their impact! Learn to support neurodiverse students! Join me this week as I talk you through my FAVOURITE resources to support neurodiverse students. So, grab a cuppa and download the catalogue and let's chat. ✅ Sue Larkey books (pg 2), ✅ Visual Supports (pg 5) ✅ Social Skills (pg 6) ✅ Understanding Behaviour (pg 8) ✅ Anxiety & Mental Health (pg 9) ✅Early Years (page 10) ✅ Helping Children Manage their Emotions (pg 11) ✅ Teaching Children about Autism Spectrum (page 12) ✅ADHD- Organising & Planning (page 13) ✅ Teen Years & Beyond (pg 15) ✅ Puberty & Sex Education (page 16) ✅ Sensory Books (pg 17) ✅  Sensory Tools (pg 18) ✅ Workshops (pg 19) Support neurodiverse students today! Accommodating Neurodivergent Learners From understanding the autism spectrum to implementing behaviour support strategies, these resources cover all the bases. Not only are they perfect for...

10 Essential Tips to Share to Increase Understanding During April Embrace Neurodiversity Today! Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDNeurodiversity is the concept that neurological differences between people should be recognised and respected. Instead of using terms like ’dys - function’ ‘dis- abilities’ & ‘dis-orders’ neurodiversity is an enabling term that takes into account neurological differences. Neurodiversity - is not one size fits all. We are all different and neurodiversity celebrates difference. In this episode we discuss: ✅ April as an Opportunity to Celebrate & Advocate for Neurodiversity ✅ Why I love the term Neurodiversity✅ Why important to ask about people’s personal preferences for “terminology”✅ During April watch and learn from a Movie, or TV Show. ✅ Connect to Neurodiverse people online to celebrate neurodiversity✅ 10 Top Tips to Understand Neurodiversity to share with your community...

Initiatives and Ideas to Help Build Social Connections for neurodiverse Teens and Adults​ today!  Discussed in this Episode:​ ✅ Why social skills programmes need to be “driven” by individual's needs and their personal goals (HELP) ✅ How to build social capacity in teen years and beyond ✅ The importance of programmes/ relationships being  ✅ Two amazing programmes share insights and information on how programs support teens and young people to develop connections and friends ✅ Range of fabulous options available in most communities to help build social connections. ✅ Importance of building social connections for neurodiverse teensLET'S CREATE SOCIAL CONNECTION FOR NEURODIVERSE TEENS AND ADULTSThis week's Podcast comes from a question from my Facebook community. She was looking for activities for her 23-year-old son to join in as he was isolated, and lonely and wanted friends. Read below the fabulous activities that can build connection.  There are fabulous ideas from chess...

How to use Video Modelling to support Neurodiversity at School & Home (ASD, PDA, ODD, ADHD) Video Modeling and Neurodiversity!  Special Guest Mum of a beautiful boy with autism and a Primary school Principal shares about video modelling and neurodiversity, including: ✅  How she used video modelling to help her son understand a “Playdate” ✅ The power of commenting to help children understand the situation - what is happening, what to do and more ✅ Using Mr Bean to help his son go to the dentist ✅ A wonderful lesson plan to use to explain Autism to your class ✅ A beautiful Poem that would be great to share with your community too  Poem by RenaeIf you liked video modeling and neurodiversity! Check out my other related Podcasts to help understand autism: Talking to Children about ASD with Best Selling Author Kathy Hoopman Episode 150: Sharing Diagnosis with Family & Friends – Who, Why & How Episode 151: How to Share Diagnosis with an Autistic Child, Peers &...

top tips for Preparing neurodiverse students for camp and EXCURSIONS Learn about successfully preparing neurodiverse children for camp! Preparing Neurodiverse Children for Camp: Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDMany neurodiverse children can find the anticipation of camp to be a source of great stress. Letting the student know as much detail as possible from the food to the different sensory feelings they might encounter, can often help to reduce anxiety and uncertainty. Talking about expectations and concerns can allow staff to tailor their support to the child's specific needs. Learn about preparing neurodiverse children for camp today! In this episode we will discuss: ✅Why camp is so important for curriculum and social learning ✅Tips and strategies to prepare for camp and excursions  ✅ How to use social stories, pre-recorded videos or a visit to explain what camp will be like  ✅ Accommodations about food,...

To Medicate or Not to Medicate: Parents share the pros and cons of neurodiverse children using medication (for ASD, ADHD, Anxiety)  Learn about Medicating and Neurodiversity!  I am not a Dr or Specialist, but as a teacher/educator, it is important we understand different medications. In this Podcast on Medicating and Neurodiversity: ✅ Parents share their experiences of trialling medication for Neurodiverse children, including  ASD, ADHD, Anxiety ✅ What to do if your partner doesn’t want your child taking medication ✅ What are the pros and cons to weigh up when trialling medication ✅ When to change or stop the medication ✅ Sue's Top Tips from her best selling book "The Ultimate Guide to School & Home" pg 129 - 130 Medication! This is always such a hard topic for EVERYONE. So I asked my Facebook community to share their actual experiences of medication; asking what medication, what worked and it long it took to work. I know this is a HARD topic but would love people to...