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AVERY Family and School Psychology Services

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Canada
Calgary, AB
AVERY Family and School Psychology Services

We are taking new clients! It’s so hard when your child struggles at school - for us as parents and for our kids. Avery can help

04/21/2026

Today, we’re starting our math supports by highlighting tools that break problems into clear, manageable steps. Tools like Photomath, Microsoft Math Solver, Khan Academy, and Prodigy provide visual explanations and guided solutions that help students see how and why a problem is solved.
Rather than simply giving answers, these tools model problem-solving strategies, reinforce key concepts, and allow students to review steps as many times as needed. This supports conceptual understanding and reduces anxiety around making mistakes.
Many of these platforms also offer extra practice in a low-pressure format, helping students build confidence and persistence over time.
These supports can be great for students who may need modelled problem-solving, benefit from visual explanations, or require extra practice to solidify understanding.

04/14/2026

Getting started is often the hardest part of writing. Today, we’re focusing on visual brainstorming and planning tools like MindMeister, Coggle, MindMup, WiseMapping, Popplet, and Inspiration Maps that help students organize ideas before writing.
These tools allow students to map out thoughts visually, making it easier to see connections between ideas, plan paragraphs, and structure essays or stories. Reducing the pressure to write in full sentences right away can help reduce overwhelm and support students who struggle with planning and executive functioning.
Visual organizers also help students hold on to ideas while deciding what comes first, what comes next, and which details belong together. This leads to clearer, more organized writing and a smoother transition from planning to drafting.
These supports can be great for students who “have the ideas but can’t get started,” feel overwhelmed by blank pages, or need structure for planning.

04/07/2026

Welcome back to our next Writing feature in our Assistive Technology series!
Once students have their ideas down, editing can often feel overwhelming or discouraging. Today, we’re highlighting writing tools that support revision without taking over the thinking. Tools like Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Hemingway Editor, and the editing features in Google Read&Write help students notice grammar, punctuation, and sentence clarity in a supportive, step-by-step way.
These tools reduce frustration by offering clear suggestions instead of vague feedback. Students can focus on improving one part of their writing at a time, such as sentence flow, word choice, or mechanics, rather than feeling stuck or unsure where to start. Over time, this can build awareness of writing patterns and increase confidence in the quality of their work.
Editing tools are most effective when used after ideas are expressed, helping students refine their message rather than limiting creativity upfront.
These supports can be great for, students who have strong ideas but struggle with mechanics, confidence, or independent revision.

03/17/2026

To kick off our writing supports, we’re focusing on two high-impact tools: dictation (speech-to-text) and keyboarding. Tools like Google/Apple/Microsoft Speech-to-Text and Dragon NaturallySpeaking give students a way to get their ideas onto the page without the barrier of handwriting or fine-motor demands. When students can speak their thoughts aloud, their written output often becomes longer, clearer, and more aligned with their actual thinking.
Keyboarding practice builds efficiency and independence, helping students shift from effortful handwriting to a more accessible, sustainable method of writing. Both tools free up cognitive energy so students can focus on content, such as what they want to say, rather than the mechanics of forming letters.
Dictation and keyboarding also support reading (students can dictate responses to reading comprehension questions) and math (students can explain reasoning or type multi-step solutions without getting stuck on handwriting).
These resources can be great for: Dysgraphia, slow or effortful handwriting, expressive language support, and any student who has stronger ideas than their pencil can keep up with.

03/10/2026

Today we’re highlighting digital tools that make reading more accessible, understandable, and visually comfortable. Extensions like BeeLine Reader, OpenDyslexic, Rewordify, Newsela, and SMMRY support students by simplifying complex text, reducing visual strain, and adjusting reading level without changing core content.
Colour-gradient lines (BeeLine) help with visual tracking, while dyslexia-friendly fonts (OpenDyslexic) could help support comfort and stamina. Tools like Rewordify can also help break down challenging vocabulary, and Newsela provides leveled versions of the same article so students can build comprehension at a pace that matches their needs. SMMRY helps students understand the bigger picture before diving deeper, which is especially helpful for note-taking, studying, and writing about what they’ve read.
These tools also carry over into writing (supporting research, summarizing, and idea generation) and math (making word problems more approachable by lowering the reading load).
These resources can be great for: students needing comprehension support, help with visual tracking, fluency practice, or accessible text options.

03/03/2026

Accessible books and audiobooks open the door for students to engage with rich, grade-level content even when decoding is a barrier. Tools like Learning Ally, Bookshare, and Libby provide professional-quality audiobooks with human narration or high-quality text-to-speech that are often paired with synchronized text so students can listen and follow along.
These resources allow learners to access novels, textbooks, and classroom reading materials at the level where they can understand and not just the level they can currently decode. This not only builds vocabulary and background knowledge but also boosts confidence and keeps students included in classroom discussions.
Audiobooks support more than reading: they help students review complex concepts in science and math, and they offer models of fluent language that strengthen writing skills.
These resources can be great for: Students who comprehend more than they can decode, students with dyslexia, emerging readers, and anyone who benefits from listening while reading.

02/24/2026

Today we’re starting our Assistive Tech series with one of the most impactful supports for readers: Immersive Readers and Text-to-Speech tools.
These tools, such as Immersive Reader, Google Read&Write, Kurzweil 3000, NaturalReader, and Speechify, allow students to hear text read aloud while each word is highlighted on the screen. This reduces decoding demands, boosts comprehension, and helps students access grade-level material with greater independence.
Text-to-speech also benefits learners beyond reading. Students can use it to check their writing for clarity, follow along with word problems in math, and stay engaged through multi-sensory input. Many tools also allow adjustments to font size, spacing, background colour, and contrast, which are essential supports for visual comfort and sustained attention.
These supports are especially powerful for students with dyslexia, visual processing needs, attention challenges, or anyone who benefits from multi-sensory learning.

02/17/2026

Not sure which assistive technology (AT) tools will support your child? Colleen offers individualized AT consultations designed to pinpoint each student’s strengths, challenges, and learning needs. Whether your child needs support in reading, writing, math, or executive functioning, she recommends tools that are practical, accessible, and aligned with how they learn best.
“Hi, I’m Colleen — and I’m passionate about empowering students to thrive in every part of their educational journey. With over 20 years of experience, including 11 years in post-secondary settings, I specialize in helping learners build confidence, independence, and ownership over their learning. My approach is strengths-based and student-centered, ensuring that every recommendation is tailored and meaningful.”
Want to learn more about AT consultations and student support services? You can explore everything on our website!

02/10/2026

Our next social-media series is all about simple, practical learning supports and bringing awareness to assistive technology that can make school feel easier and more accessible for students. These are the kinds of strategies that help children across all subjects. We can set them up for success with the reading, writing, and math tools we’ll be sharing over the next several weeks.
We’ll talk about things like keeping the focus on a task, using visuals, step-by-step directions, or read-aloud tools to make work clearer. We’ll also highlight ways to build skills before expecting full independence, using tools such as dictation, Immersive Reader, and keyboarding to take pressure off.
You’ll also see ideas for reducing copying, offering digital response options, supporting planning through hands-on tasks and simple guiding questions, and using short breaks to help students stay focused and confident, whether they’re writing, reading, or working through multi-step math problems.
As this series continues, we’ll show how these supports look in reading, writing, and math, and introduce the assistive-tech tools that can make each area more accessible and student-friendly.

01/13/2026

Managing Caregiver Burnout
Caring for a child with ADHD can be rewarding and exhausting. Caregivers need care, too.
Why does this happen?
Constant supervision, emotional regulation support, and advocacy can take a toll. The stress of managing ADHD-related behaviours can lead to fatigue and resentment.
Strategies for Managing Burnout:
• Self-care: Prioritize rest, exercise, and personal time.
• Support Network: Connect with other caregivers or support groups.
• Delegate Tasks: Share responsibilities when possible.
• Professional Support: Therapy can provide coping tools for both caregiver and child.
Supporting caregivers strengthens the entire family system.

01/06/2026

Managing Secondary Characteristics of ADHD
Addressing anxiety, perfectionism, and emotional regulation can make a big difference for people with ADHD.
What helps:
• Therapy: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can reduce anxiety and improve coping skills. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) helps with emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and managing intense reactions, especially when ADHD-related stress feels overwhelming.
• Mindfulness: Builds awareness and emotional control.
• Medication: Can reduce impulsivity and improve focus.
• Parent Training: Helps caregivers manage behaviour and reduce stress.
Supporting the whole person, beyond symptoms, can lead to better well-being and stronger relationships.

12/16/2025

Sleep Disturbances
Sleep issues often go hand in hand with ADHD. Recognizing this link can improve both focus and mood.
Why does this happen?
Difficulties winding down, racing thoughts, or inconsistent routines can disrupt sleep patterns. Medication timing can also play a role. Recent research has also indicated that the ADHD brain ineffectively produces melatonin, the hormone essential for sleep onset. Therefore, good daily sleep habits and sleep hygiene, which promote melatonin production in children may improve ADHD symptoms. Additionally, long-term administration of melatonin at night reduced the hyperactivity score in the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD.
The impact:
Poor sleep can exacerbate inattention, irritability, and emotional dysregulation, creating a frustrating cycle.
What helps:
• Establishing consistent bedtime routines
• Limiting screens before bed
• Practicing mindfulness or relaxation techniques
• Consulting healthcare providers about medication timing

Address

Suite 300/340 Midpark Way SW
Calgary, AB
T2X1P1

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 7pm
Tuesday	9am - 7pm
Wednesday	9am - 7pm
Thursday	9am - 7pm
Friday	9am - 7pm
Saturday	9am - 7pm

Website

http://www.averyfsps.com/

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