About Choice Learning
About Sharna
My name is Sharna. I have a teaching degree as well as a Master's degree in Educational Psychology and an additional Post Graduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching - Learning & Behaviour. I am also an experienced Bilingual Assessor.
I have worked in Auckland as a Classroom Teacher as well as a Specialist Teacher supporting students and teachers, and providing development for a range of teaching professionals.
While sometimes diagnosis is necessary, it doesn't always provide practical steps that can be taken to improve outcomes. Choice Learning will NOT provide a label. We will focus specifically on finding next steps for students to develop confidence and independence in academic abilities. We aim to provide examples of activities that will allow students to achieve development. We will also provide resources to support the individuals who are working with learners to help them achieve optimal results.
My Story
One of my children had traits of Developmental Dyspraxia. It meant that he was 5 years old by the time his speech could be understood. He struggled to dress himself until he was 8 and this was also when his handwriting started to improve. During the years that he should have been learning to socialise he was coping with huge frustration that no one could understand him, and his clumsiness was extreme.
Once he started at school it was clear that classroom time was a huge social challenge for him even though he was quite evidently intelligent. School is a social arena and much of our learning depends strongly on communication and coordination skills. Difficulty in these areas makes progress more difficult.
My son was fortunate that he had support to gain capability. Our education system is currently struggling with so many students needing intensive support. But there are things we can do to support our children and to make our teachers' jobs achievable. My passion is to help students tap into that support.