Directions to Hotchkiss School: click here

Lodgine and dining near Hotchkiss: click here.

Schedule for 10/24
Schedule for the Day
9:30-10:00 Registration and Coffee
10:00 Greetings
10:15-12:15 Group A: Presentation by Dr. Lee
Group B: Morning Small Group Session
*New Professionals/New Programs:
12:15-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:00 Group B: Presentation by Dr. Lee
Group A: Afternoon Small Group Sessions
*Tools of the Trade
*Documentation, Accommodation, and Confidentiality


To register, please contact Joanne Hayhurst at: jhayhurs@hotchkiss.org
When you register, please indicate your preferred small group sessions.
The cost for the day is $50, which includes NEALS membership and lunch.

Registration is limited to 100 participants, so register soon.

Please join us at Hotchkiss School on October 24th for a day of hands-on learning with Christopher M. Lee. Dr. Lee is a nationally renowned advocate, author, speaker and leader in the field of learning disabilities and adaptive technology. In 1992, he published Faking It: A Look into the Mind of a Creative Learner, and in 2001, What About Me? Strategies for Teaching Misunderstood Learners (Portsmouth NH: Heinemann, Boynton and Cook). These books draw on Christopher’s developmental experiences and his challenges attending the University of Georgia (UGA) to help teachers and parents optimize learning disabled students’ performance. Christopher has published a one of a kind on-line guide, Learning Disabilities and Technology, an Emerging Way to Touch the Future. He has published articles, chapters and several journals, and has been selected to chair many collaborative projects that relate to disability issues. Joanne, Hayhurst, who has generously offered to host our meeting, has this to say about Christopher and his teaching: I am thrilled that our Fall '06 NEALS meeting will feature workshops with Christopher M. Lee, the nationally recognized, passionate, knowledgeable proponent of assistive technology for all kinds of learners. I met Christopher in April at a Vassar College sponsored workshop where I had gone, initially, to learn more about Kurzweil-type software. Since a parent had generously offered to purchase such a system for student use in our Study Center, I wanted to learn as much as I could, so that the donation would be put to optimal use. Little did I know how little I knew! He showed us how the variety of AT now available could be useful for many more students than those with diagnosed disabilities. Inspired by the Vassar workshop, I have arranged for a year-long pilot program using AT for a small group of Hotchkiss students. Christopher has agreed to be our on-call consultant throughout the year. I feel like we've really entered the 21st century.... the world of learning access feels fresh again. I truly hope everyone who can will come to Hotchkiss on Oct. 24th to learn from the guru.... he's awesome! Joanne Hayhurst Director of Study Skills The Hotchkiss School
Registration will be limited to 100 participants. Please visit this page again as complete details will be posted shortly.

Our fall meeting at Miss Hall's School was a huge success. The entire NEALS community sends a heartfelt thanks to the talented staff of the Academic Skills Center for their hospitality and wisdom.

We are now looking for a brave soul (or souls) to host our Fall 2006 meeting!

Here's what you need to host a meeting:

• A facility that will accomodate 50- 100 engaging and charming individuals
• The ability to feed all of the engaging and charming individuals you invite
• A fantastic program idea (or a friend with one!)
• The willingness to have the undying admiration of your peers for assuming this worthy task

Here's what NEALS will do:

• Provide the services of its talented Program Director and board members to help you in all aspects of the event planning and related mailings
• A budget (!) to offset the cost of feeding our hungry selves and speakers fees
• Provide you with great company throughout the planning and hosting process

Sound like fun? I thought so!

Please contact any of your friendly Executive Board Members for more information or to volunteer.

Kara Ashley, President kashley@fayschool.org

Rebecca Peterson, Program Director rpeterson@sbschool.org

Amy Good, Public Relations Director agood@lacademy.edu

Marcia Ramunni, Treasurer /Membership Coordinator mramunni@salisburyschool.org

Marcia King, Secretary mking@hebronacademy.org

Mark FrigoAss’t. P. R. Director frigom@avonoldfarms.com

Northeast Association of Learning Specialists
Fall Meeting

Wednesday, November 9, 2005
9 AM to 3 PM
Miss Hall’s School, Pittsfield, MA

Keynote speaker: Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang

“Navigating the New Neuroscience:
How the development of emotion, motivation and social functioning are changing how we think about thinking.”

Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, Ed.D., recently earned her doctorate in Human Development and Psychology at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, where she was the recipient of grants from the Spencer Foundation and the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation. She studies cognitive, linguistic and emotional development, especially as they interact neuropsychologically to shape brain development. Before returning to graduate school, she taught French at an independent school, and science at a public junior/senior high school. She will be moving to the University of Southern California this winter to accept a joint appointment in neuroscience and education with Antonio and Hanna Damasio. There, her work will focus on the development of emotion, executive function, creativity and decision-making in relation to brain development. At NEALS, Dr. Immordino-Yang will discuss recent advances in the study of the brain and emotion that are enabling new insights into adolescent functioning, focusing particularly on methods and thinking in this interdisciplinary approach.

Schedule for the day:

9 AM Registration and coffee
9:30 – 10 AM Business meeting – all members and
guests welcome
10 AM – 11:30 “Navigating the New Neuroscience,” Part I
11:30 – 12:30 Lunch break
12:30 – 2 PM “Navigating the New Neuroscience,” Part II
2 PM – 3 PM Student Panel – Students from Miss Hall’s discuss their experiences with academic support

The fee for the conference is $10 for members and $20 for non-members.
Checks should be made payable to NEALS and brought to registration

RSVP to Rebecca Peterson: rpeterson@sbschool.org

Please share this invitation with your colleagues!

Directions to Miss Hall's School

From the north…
Pittsfield is on Route 7, which runs north-south through western Massachusetts. Take Route 7 South through Pittsfield. You will drive past the Pittsfield Country Club and cross the Lenox town line. Make a left at the Mobil station onto Holmes Road. Miss Hall's is 2.2 miles down on the left.

From the west…
Route 20 West leads directly to the center of Pittsfield. Take Route 7 South through Pittsfield. You will drive past the Pittsfield Country Club and cross the Lenox town line. Make a left at the Mobil station onto Holmes Road. Miss Hall's is 2.2 miles down on the left.From New York City…Take the Taconic Parkway North or I-87 North (NY Thruway) to the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90 East). Take exit 2 off the turnpike, and follow Route 20 West to Route 7 North. You are now in the town of Lenox. Stay on Route 7 North, not 7A! At the Mobil Station, turn right onto Holmes Road. (This turn is technically in Lenox.) Miss Hall's School is 2.2 miles down on your left. Note: Travel time from the Turnpike to Miss Hall's is approximately 20 minutes.
From eastern Connecticut…
Follow I-91 North to the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90 West) to exit 2. Follow Route 20 West to Route 7 North. You are now in the town of Lenox. Stay on Route 7 North, not 7A! At the Mobil Station, turn right onto Holmes Road. (This turn is technically in Lenox.) Miss Hall's School is 2.2 miles down on your left. Note: Travel time from the Turnpike to Miss Hall's is approximately 20 minutes.
From eastern Massachusetts…
Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90 West) to exit 2. Follow Route 20 West to Route 7 North. You are now in the town of Lenox. Stay on Route 7 North, not 7A! At the Mobil Station, turn right onto Holmes Road. (This turn is technically in Lenox.) Miss Hall's School is 2.2 miles down on your left. Note: Travel time from the Turnpike to Miss Hall's is approximately 20 minutes.