Northern California Branch of The International Dyslexia Association Newsletter

October 16 Presentation by Regina G. Richards, M.A.

The Reluctant Writer: What's Going On?
October Program Launches Workshop Series for Teachers, Parents

The ability to write well provides a sturdy foundation for learning and for life. Unfortunately, many students struggle to master this skill, while teachers and parents often lack a clear understanding of how to help them.

Educational therapist Regina G. Richards, M.A., will share insights into this complex problem at NCB-IDA's Saturday, October 16th program, The Reluctant Writer: What's Going On?, to be held at the UC Berkeley Extension International Center, 2222 Harold Way, Berkeley, from 9:00 am to noon.

The October program is the first in a three-workshop series entitled Writing Research, Writing Practice that NCB-IDA will sponsor in the coming academic year. The series will address critical aspects of teaching writing to students of all ages.

"Poor writing skills are among the most misunderstood of learning problems," said Richards, who is Director of Richards Educational Therapy Center in Riverside, California, and former director of Big Springs School, specializing in multidisciplinary programs for language learning disabilities, especially dyslexia and dysgraphia.

Writing is a complex activity that requires competency in a wide range of skills, according to Richards. The actual act of writing involves the precise, rapid, and simultaneous mobilization of many processing functions. Richards's presentation will explain the issues that interfere with success in written expression and why the specific, structured multisensory strategies that are imperative for dyslexic and dysgraphic students are helpful to any student in a traditional classroom. Participants will leave the workshop with a task analysis of the writing process and greater awareness of the needs and perspectives of various types of learners.

A practicing educational therapist in Riverside, California, since 1975, Richards began her career in bilingual education. She has authored a variety of journal articles and books on reading, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and visual development. Her two latest books, published by LinguiSystems Publishers, are The Source for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia and The Source for Learning and Memory. Her favorite book is the one she co-authored with her son entitled, Eli, the Boy Who Hated to Write: Understanding Dysgraphia. Richards was president of her local IDA branch from 1991 to 1996 and began serving another term in January 2003. She has taught at University of California Extension programs at the Riverside and San Diego campuses since 1970 and speaks at school districts and conferences around the country.

The Reluctant Writer: What's Going On?
Regina G. Richards, M.A.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
UC Berkeley Extension International Center (BEIC Auditorium)
2222 Harold Way, Berkeley
9:00 am to noon.

BEIC is one block west of Shattuck Ave. and three blocks south of University Ave., close to BART and public transportation. Parking is available on the street or in a nearby garage on Allston Street at Harold Street.

Helpful links:
Written directions - www.unex.berkeley.edu/loc/bk.html
Map - www.unex.berkeley.edu/loc/bkmap.html
Directions - www.mapquest.com

Fee (includes continental breakfast):
  $40 for members and students
  $50 for non-members
  $55 for walk-ins

Register online now. Online registrations must be received by October 14th.

Save these dates for the next workshops in our Writing Research, Writing Practice series:
February 5, 2005: "Successful Teaching Approaches"
April 9, 2005: "Merging Writing with Technology"

For details, visit our website at www.dyslexia-ncbida.org

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