Professional Learning Opportunities
Westmark School is proud to present or host occasional programs designed for educational professionals. These expert presentations often offer continuing education credit.
See below for upcoming and/or recent professional learning programs held on our campus.
Upcoming Program
Southern California Workshop for Educational Therapists 2025
Organized by Association of Educational Therapists
Saturday, February 22, 9:00 am–3:20 pm
Westmark School
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Self-regulation—the ability to process information, weigh choices and consequences, and make adaptive decisions to pursue a goal—is critical for success in school. For children and young people, engaging in self-regulation can be particularly challenging, especially when learning is challenging. Supporting emotional and cognitive skills, and understanding how these skills relate to the behavior we observe, is equally important in fostering their development.
In this year's workshop—"The Science of Self-Regulation and How It Intersects with Clients' (and, Our Own) Daily Lives"—guest speaker Jennie Grammer, Ph.D., will explore the neuroscience of cognitive and emotional development as it relates to self-regulation. You’ll gain insights into how these processes are interconnected, their behavioral implications, and how these connections evolve from preschool to early adulthood. Following the introduction, the workshop will delve into how insights from developmental and cognitive neuroscience can inform our work with children and youth. You will also learn strategies to support students’ self-regulation at different stages of their development.
Past Programs
Orton-Gillingham Classroom Educator Course
Organized by Orton-Gillingham Academy and International Dyslexia Association–Los Angeles (IDA-LA)
Monday, July 15–Friday, July 19, 8:30 am–4:00 pm
Westmark School
The Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach is a structured, systematic, multisensory, and diagnostic-prescriptive approach for the teaching of language skills (including reading, spelling, and handwriting) for students with dyslexia. This course provided an introduction to the basics of the OG Approach within a classroom or small group. Completion of this course and a supervised practicum prepared the trainee to apply for OG Classroom Educator Certification through the Orton-Gillingham Academy. Thank you to the participants, pictured above on our Lower School Campus, where the training was held.
Southern California Workshop for Educational Therapists 2024
Organized by Association of Educational Therapists
Saturday, March 16, 8:30 am
Westmark School
This program featured the following expert presentations: "Auditory Processing Disorder and Listening Challenges: Strategies for Successful Intervention" by Lois Kam Heymann, M.A., CCC-SLP; and "Understanding the Dyslexia in Dyscalculia: How to Support Your Clients If You Don't 'Do' Math!" by Sandra T. Elliott, Ph.D.