Last weekend, I was honoured to attend a workshop at Edgecumbe School, led by the amazing Rochelle Booth from Dyslexia Unlocked, with support from Alma Holden who travelled all the way from Timaru.
This workshop focused on Davis Learning Strategies — an empowering, inclusive approach that supports every learner by preventing learning difficulties before they start. Unlike many traditional methods, it focuses on how we teach, not just what we teach.
The room was filled with dedicated educators — Teacher Aides, SENCOs, Deputy Principals, Assistant Principals, and Whānau Group representatives from Edgecumbe and Ohaupo Schools. Their commitment was inspiring.
What truly touched me was how this all began:
👉 It started with one determined mum advocating for her child.
A school that didn’t just hear, but truly listened — and acted.
I want to personally thank Principal Mark Barratt and the Edgecumbe School Board for their months of behind-the-scenes dedication to bring this workshop to life.
And it’s incredibly rewarding to see how my own work with a child from Edgecumbe helped spark this movement. 💫
This isn’t just a nice idea — it’s data-backed proof.
🔴 National average: 15% of learners face learning difficulties.
🟣 Davis classrooms? That 15% becomes 0%… and referrals for giftedness skyrocket.
In one Davis class, 40% of students were referred as gifted.
✨ That’s what happens when you meet learners where their minds shine brightest.
Davis Learning Strategies aren’t about patching problems —
They’re about unlocking potential.
If a small town like Edgecumbe can do it, imagine what we can do in our own communities…
Want to be part of this transformation?
Let’s unlock every learner’s potential together.