J and J Literacy, Tātai Angitu—Literacy at Massey University, and Lifting Literacy Aotearoa, are proud to bring to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2025 the one and only Dr. Nancy Young - Reading, Spelling, Writing Specialist.

Author of the famous ‘Ladder of Reading & Writing’ and Co-Editor of the book ‘Climbing the Ladder of Reading & Writing: Meeting the Needs of ALL Learners’ (2024).

She will be doing a 3-city tour of New Zealand. This listing is for the Wednesday 22 Jan 2025 event in Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau.

Start the year off learning about the need for differentiated reading and writing instruction to serve ALL your students! Who? What? Why? How?

This is a full day seminar 9.00 am - 3.30 pm split into three sessions and will include:

Nancy’s journey to creating the Ladder of Reading & Writing - the personal events and experiences as a parent and educator that led her to create the infographic and Book - and an in-depth explanation of the key features, research and terminology packed into the infographic.

An exploration of differentiation in classroom practice, referencing content within the Book ‘Climbing the Ladder of Reading & Writing: Meeting the Needs of ALL Learners’ (2024) and its Study Guide.

A panel discussion during which Nancy and experts representing exceptionalities across New Zealand will address differentiated instruction for literacy. Topics of conversation to include: gaps in the research; classroom practices supporting learners with exceptionalities; and getting the next bit right in NZ from a policy and practice viewpoint. Details of panellists to be announced

Morning tea and lunch are included.

Details of Panellists:

Melissa Chan-Green: Melissa Chan-Green is a broadcaster with more than 2 decades of experience across New Zealand and Europe - covering everything from conflict zones to Olympic Games to royal weddings. Most recently she was host of the AM Show on TV3 and has lately been dedicating her time to a research project on the science of reading. She has been speaking with teachers and educators who are at various stages of implementing structured literacy and is looking forward to continuing this discussion as MC of the panel. Melissa has two children, a son about to start school and a daughter who is one and a half.

Dr Nina Hood: Dr Nina Hood is Academic Director at The Teachers' Institute, a new tertiary organisation providing initial teacher education programmes. She has a background as a secondary teacher and has also been an academic at the Faculty of Education at The University of Auckland. Nina is the founder of The Education Hub, a not-for-profit with a mission to bridge the gap between research and practice in education. She has been involved in the writing of the revised English Curriculum for Y0-6 and she is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Koi Tū: the Centre for Informed Futures at the University of Auckland. She is the co-author of two important reports: Now I don’t know my ABC. The perilous state of literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand (2022), and, The illusion of inclusion. The experiences of neurodivergent children and those supporting them in Aotearoa New Zealand’s education system (2024).

Madelaine Armstrong Willcocks: Madelaine is the Head of Programmes at the Neurodiversity in Education Project, who offer specialist programmes to learners AND their teachers, with a view to creating a more neuroinclusive education system. As a specialist teacher working with gifted and neurodivergent students, she also has a strong interest in literacy development, and ensuring that structured literacy is neuroinclusive. Madelaine is a member of Ministry of Education's Gifted Advisory Group and a former NZ delegate on the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children.

Joann Bevens: As the Assistant Principal and Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) at Gulf Harbour School, Joann spends her days ensuring that every student has the opportunity to belong and succeed. Joann has over eighteen years of classroom teaching experience and is a skilled practitioner of structured literacy. She holds a master’s degree in special education and is certified as a Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). Additionally, Joann serves as a learning disabilities assessor with the Learning Disabilities Association of New Zealand, where she is also a committee member. Special education work is a personal passion for Joann, as she is a person with dyslexia and the mother of a neurodiverse child.

TBC - Ministry of Education

Note that you do not have to have a copy of the Book or Study Guide for this session. We are offering special package deals for both with your ticket for those that wish to acquire a copy of the books. These need to be pre-ordered with your ticket (see the different ticketing options) and will be available for pick up at registration on the day (they will not be posted out before). A limited number of copies will also be available for purchase on the day at regular retail price. See J and J Literacy Shop for full details on the books.

Early Bird tickets close 7 December. After that tickets will be $275+GST

Contact the host of Nancy Young NZ Tour 2025 - Auckland