Dr. Valdine Bjornson has been an educator for over 20 years in public and private, international and Manitoba schools teaching music, early years, EAL and as a Reading Clinician. She has worked overseas (Japan, Finland and Egypt) teaching EFL and EAL in immersion, private/public and English language schools from ages 3 to adult. She has provided in-services, training as well as collaborative and formal diagnostic assessments, goal setting and intervention in elementary and middle schools. She also works with university students as a Reading Specialist at the Indigenous Student Centre. She has completed a Doctor of Education degree in Language and Literacy (Educational Research) focusing upon dyslexia in adults.
She founded the Reading and Learning Clinic of Manitoba in order to provide evidence-based professional development to Manitoba educators as well as advocacy and intervention to students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Her goal is to help all of her students embrace learning and become language conscious. Her speciality is working with students to support their learning to close any gaps and help them to reach their potential.
Some of her students are diagnosed with Specific Learning Disorders (Learning Disabilities) under the categories of Reading (Dyslexia), Writing or Math (Dyscalculia).
All of her students struggle with academic performance especially in the areas of reading, writing, spelling and/or math.
She can help support students with all areas of learning including study strategies, memory techniques, reading, spelling, composition and math - using approaches that are specifically geared for students with learning disabilities.
Dr. Valdine Bjornson is accredited with the International Dyslexia Association (Structured Literacy/Dyslexia Specialist), listed with the Ontario Branch of the International Dyslexia Association as well as accredited with the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators (Fellow-in-Training - FIT/AOGPE). She is a permanently certified Reading Clinician through Manitoba Professional Certification with Manitoba Education and Training.
Reading Specialist | University of Manitoba [January 2017 - Till Date]
She is currently employed at the Indigenous Student Centre at the University of Manitoba as a reading specialist. In her role as a Reading Specialist, she is developing and overseeing a reading skills program. Her position is intended to increase reading, writing and critical thinking competencies and outcomes related to student’s courses. The core component of her role is to assess students’ reading skills and suggest strategies for improvement including accessibility tools. She also provide presentations to students regarding reading strategies, reading-writing connections, and accessibility tools. Further, she coordinates study groups within various faculties in order to provide interactive book studies around content area reading.
Reading Clinician | Reading and Learning Clinic of Manitoba
In her role as a Reading Clinician, she has trained staff and facilitated professional development for educational assistants, schools, resource teachers and classroom teachers with a vast array of literacy programming, report procedures and assessment protocol. She is also responsible for Tier 3 level diagnostic and remedial intensive intervention assessments and programs. She consults and collaborates with resource and classroom teachers regarding Tier 1 and Tier 2 accommodations, including reading, writing and comprehension skills.
In her EAL support teacher position, she served as a staff collaborator, trainer and consultant as well as direct interventionist for EAL students especially in the area of content area literacy, receptive-expressive language competency and core literacy foundation skills.
For many years, she has presented to Manitoba educators for professional development events, as well as keynote addresses, regarding specific learning disabilities, assessment and intervention approaches for emergent and struggling reader-writers.
She also provides direct intervention as well as oversee intervention with OG trained tutors and family advocacy for students with LD – dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia.
For many years, Dr. Valdine Bjornson has presented to Manitoba educators for professional development events, as well as keynote addresses, regarding specific learning disabilities, assessment and intervention approaches for emergent and struggling reader-writers.
Dr. Valdine Bjornson has been quoted in:
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