MzTeachuh: Clair de Lune

MzTeachuh: Clair de Lune:   Moonlight on the Winter solstice. Claude Debussy "Clair de lune" by Angela Hewitt  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ip6...

Clair de Lune

 

Moonlight on the Winter Solstice.

Claude Debussy "Clair de lune" by Angela Hewitt 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ip64cG7gK4 

 

MzTeachuh: [little tree]

MzTeachuh: [little tree]: [little tree] By E. E. Cummings   little tree little silent Christmas tree ...

[little tree]

By E. E. Cummings

 

little tree

little silent Christmas tree

you are so little

you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest

and were you very sorry to come away?

see          i will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark

and hug you safe and tight

just as your mother would,

only don't be afraid

look          the spangles

that sleep all the year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms

and i'll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they'll stare!

oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we'll dance and sing

"Noel Noel"

MzTeachuh: The Ever-Learning Teacher Tweets of the Day 12/21...

MzTeachuh: The Ever-Learning Teacher Tweets of the Day 12/21...: 1. You've Got to Reach Before You Teach http://www.edutopia.org/blog/importance-reaching-children-before-teaching-maurice-elias   ...

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/21/13

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/21/13: 1. Does Your Child Have Executive Function Difficulties? http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/executive-function-disorders/e...

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/21/13

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/21/13: 1. The Analog Teacher’s Guide To Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy http://www.edudemic.com/blooms-digital-taxonomy/   2. 6 Online Tools That W...

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/21/13

1. Does Your Child Have Executive Function Difficulties?

http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/executive-function-disorders/executive-dysfunction-checklist 

2. Teaching Expressive Writing to Students with LD

 http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/ld-education-teachers/teaching-expressive-writing-students-with-ld

3. UPDATE: Missing Ariz. Man with Asperger Syndrome Found 

 http://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/update-missing-ariz-man-asperger-syndrome-found

4.  Assistive Technology Devices and Services 

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/atech.index.htm 

5. The Therapeutic Teacher.... or Parent

 http://learn2bebuddies.blogspot.com/2009/08/therapeutic-teacher-or-parent.html

6. Guest Blog: Cognitive Dissonance 

 http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2013/12/guest-blog-cognitive-dissonance.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

7. Study Finds Autism More Challenging For Caregivers

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/12/20/study-autism-challenging/18987/ 

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: Activities for Winter--Grab Your Mittens!

MzTeachuh: Activities for Winter--Grab Your Mittens!:   One of my backyard visitors last January. How To Make Pine Cone Bird Feeders http://treesandshrubs.about.com/od/topiarybonsai/ht...

The Ever-Learning Teacher Tweets of the Day 12/21/13

1. You've Got to Reach Before You Teach

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/importance-reaching-children-before-teaching-maurice-elias 

2. A Cure for Cheating: Learning For Learning’s Sake

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/12/a-cure-for-cheating-learning-for-learnings-sake/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

3. How Should I Teach My Kids About Money?

http://blog.k12.com/tips-parents/how-should-i-teach-my-kids-about-money?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thinktank12+%28thinktanK12%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo#.UrSD8eKnet8 

4. Low-income inner-city achievement gap starts to close, test scores of urban school districts improve faster than nation over past 10 years, Washington D.C. stands out

http://educationbythenumbers.org/content/naep-urban-district-scores_770/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HechingerReport+%28Hechinger+Report%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

5. Adaptive learning

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2013/12/adaptive-learning.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dangerouslyirrelevant+%28Dangerously+Irrelevant%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

6. The Real Reason(s) Teens Are Forgetful

http://www.edudemic.com/teens-are-forgetful/ 

7. 13 Energy-Generating Ideas for Teachers 

http://www.teachhub.com/13-energy-generating-ideas-teachers 

8. More on developmentally appropriate practice

http://www.danielwillingham.com/1/post/2013/12/more-on-developmentally-appropriate-practice.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nbspDanielWillingham-DanielWillinghamScienceAndEducationBlog+%28Daniel+Willingham%27s+Science+and+Education+Blog%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

 

 

Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/21/13

1. The Analog Teacher’s Guide To Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy

http://www.edudemic.com/blooms-digital-taxonomy/ 

2. 6 Online Tools That Will Help The Writing Process

http://www.edudemic.com/tools-help-writing-process/ 

3. What Are Your Predictions for 2014?

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/what-are-your-predictions-for-2014/?_r=0 

4. Cyberbullying: A Resource for Educators

https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/blog/cyberbullying-resource-educators?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+responsive+%28Responsive%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

5. #NPRBlacksInTech: Creating Technology 'Comes From Passion' 

http://www.npr.org/2013/12/20/255751618/-nprblacksintech-creating-technology-comes-from-passion?ft=1&f=1013 

6. 5 Amazing Videos to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

http://www.goodnet.org/articles/5-amazing-videos-to-get-you-in-holiday-spirit 

6. Winners Of 15 Second Vocabulary Video Contest Announced By NY Times

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2013/12/19/winners-of-15-second-vocabulary-video-contest-announced-by-ny-times/ 

7.  Survey Shows Blended Learning Appealing Strongly To Schools

http://www.educationnews.org/online-schools/survey-finds-blended-learning-programs-outpace-online-programs/ 

 

Activities for Winter--Grab Your Mittens!

 

One of my backyard visitors last January.

How To Make Pine Cone Bird Feeders

http://treesandshrubs.about.com/od/topiarybonsai/ht/pineconbirdfeed.htm 

Make ice art--and 11 other ideas
Freeze water colored with food coloring into blocks and other shapes, using ice cube trays, muffin tins, Jell-O molds, and old yogurt containers. (This step is more easily done in your freezer, but you can also try it outdoors.) Then bring your colorful ice blocks outside, along with any natural ice and snow you can collect, to create your own ice sculptures. In sub-freezing temperatures, you can stick the pieces together by dribbling water on them—it should quickly freeze them in place.
http://www.outdoors.org/publications/outdoors/2012/kids/great-outdoor-winter-activities-for-kids.cfm

Animal Tracks in Snow
http://penelopedia.blogspot.com/2009/01/animal-tracks-in-snow.html 

Make Your Own Avalanche
http://www.parks.state.co.us/SiteCollectionImages/parks/Landing/Kids/CREATE%20AN%20AVALANCHE.pdf 

Snowy Pine Cone Trees
http://www.parks.state.co.us/SiteCollectionImages/parks/Landing/Kids/SNOWY%20PINE%20CONE%20TREES.pdf

Winter

It's a great time to play outdoors
Twig tower building, tree planting,
hunting for animal tracks in the mud
or snow...

http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/winter/

MzTeachuh: Everyone Helps Kids Read

MzTeachuh: Everyone Helps Kids Read: Teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle Reading Rockets is an extremely valuable resource for reading education, but mo...

Everyone Helps Kids Read

Teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle

Reading Rockets is an extremely valuable resource for reading education, but more especially, the mechanics of reading.






Reading Rockets
http://www.readingrockets.org/

For Parents
http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/parents/

For Teachers

http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/teachers/ 

For Principals

http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/professionals/principals/ 

For Librarians 

http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/professionals/librarians/ 

 

For School Psychologists

http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/professionals/schoolpsychologists/ 

For School Counselors

http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/professionals/counselors/ 

First Book http://www.firstbook.org/

For Preschool & Childcare

http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/professionals/preschool/ 

ABCs of Teaching Reading

http://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/ 

The Common Core Standards

http://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/commoncore/ 

Classroom Strategies

http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/ 

Reading Topics A-Z

http://www.readingrockets.org/atoz/ 

The Best in Children's Literature

Children’s Books & Authors

http://www.readingrockets.org/books/ 

Breton Children Reading  Emile Vernon

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: Christmas Music For Feeling Sorry For Yourself

MzTeachuh: Christmas Music For Feeling Sorry For Yourself: Oh boo hoo. NPR understands what I'm trying to say. Have Yourself A Sullen Little Christmas http://www.npr.org/2013/12/20/25555...

Christmas Music For Feeling Sorry For Yourself

Oh boo hoo.

NPR understands what I'm trying to say.

Have Yourself A Sullen Little Christmas

http://www.npr.org/2013/12/20/255550407/sad-christmas-songs-capture-slice-of-holiday-spirit 

RIVER ~ JONI MITCHELL ~ (Lyrics)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpFudDAYqxY

Elvis Presley & Martina McBride - Blue Christmas 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KK6sMo8NBY 

Judy Garland - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4lY8Y3eoo 

Dean Martin - The Christmas Blues 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX8-WY__WkM 

It's Christmas Baby Please Come Home World Premiere 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ8ahtAS8YQ 

These last two songs are pretty much rated R--but the Pogues' song is actually a masterpiece.

Fairytale of New York by the pogues lyrics 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv0hlbWpa1w 

Blink-182 - Won't Be Home For Christmas 

http://www.lyrics007.com/Blink-182%20Lyrics/Won%27t%20Be%20Home%20For%20Christmas%20Lyrics.html 

MzTeachuh: Do Behavior Support Plans Work?

MzTeachuh: Do Behavior Support Plans Work?: I don't know how many BSPs I have written, probably an average of five a year for fifteen years. The This is a pretty way to pictur...

Do Behavior Support Plans Work?

I don't know how many BSPs I have written, probably an average of five a year for fifteen years. The

This is a pretty way to picture it.

effectiveness of the BSP lays mostly on the adults involved and actually less on the students. Here are very general guidelines beginning with the most complicated student needs.

1. My experience in Special Education included directing a Non-Public School (that's a separate facility for kids with extreme behavior problems due to behavior dysfunctions or emotional disturbance who have been expelled from their home public school.) At the small school I directed, we had students who had been expelled from the larger non-public schools. It follows that the Behavior Support Plans added to the IEPs (Individualized Educational Programs)  for these students were written with input from medical doctors, educational psychologists, counselors, and frequently psychiatrists as well as District personnel and myself as the case carrier.

These were precision directives, much like a medical prescription or a protocol for physical therapy. There was nothing haphazard about this. With a carefully administrated system of positive reinforcement, interesting curriculum, and above all, parent buy-in, we saw progress. This was the elite level of teaching. Only the few, the proud and the thoroughly trained can maintain.

2. Behavior Support Plans are also written for students in other areas of Special Education. Many students on a public school are classified as Moderately Handicapped, and mostly learn in one classroom separate from general education. The handicaps are not the same, and could include OHI (Other Health Impaired), autistic, SLD (Specific Learning Disability) or a variety of disabilities identified as Moderate by special testing done by the District psychologist. In our state, for many years this was called Special Day Class requiring more specialized instruction for the students to succeed. There are separate Special Day Classes for Emotional Disturbed students because the regimen required is differently structured than other classes. The BSPs for these students are similar to the ones in a non-public school, addressing specific behaviors that can be modified by positive intervention.

Finger pointing is not considered a positive support.

In a typical SDC (Special Day Class)  the students could mainstream for a class or two, lunch and breaks. If a student in such a class exhibits disruptive behavior out of the norm, then a BSP will be added to the existing IEP. The Special Education teacher schedules an addendum IEP meeting to discuss the Behavior Support Plan, and following discussion and collaboration from parents, the teaching team, administration and District Psychologist, the BSP is added to the IEP. Generally, the BSP includes the homeroom teacher (case carrier)  noting improvement, and a tangible reward will be offered. The consequences for inappropriate behavior are noted in the BSP, can be mild and administered in the classroom unless it has a larger scope and needs a school consequence from an administrator. If all the adults are consistent, this works well.

3.  A student identified as  Mildly Handicapped may also need a BSP. Students in this category may have only one class taught by a Special Education teacher, mainstreaming the remainder of the day. If a student exhibits behavior that merits certain discipline interventions from administration, then the Special Education teacher schedules an addendum IEP meeting, prepares a BSP to support the student to begin showing positive improvement. The whole IEP team includes the student, the parents, all teachers, administration and District Psychologist. This is the team that will help the student replace the inappropriate behavior with appropriate behavior. Again, the BSP is only as effective as the adults administering it. And this is a challenge.

IEP meetings are really, really important.

4. Most Districts have a district level expert (maybe called Behavior Analyst or Positive Behavior Intervention Specialist) who helps administer a program such as this when the students are having a tougher time. Or when the Special Education teacher bothers to ask for help. I have found these professionals to be supremely helpful and awesome experts. They may do a student study called a Functional Behavior Analysis that takes the guesswork out of why the student is behaving this way and what can be done to help. Kids are complicated and may need medical, psychiatric evaluation or more simple interventions like counseling. This input is crucial.

If you are reading this, you are an educator, a parent, or a concerned friend. Maybe you're the student. If you have a concern, check with a professional more trained than yourself to answer questions about your child or student's behavior.

I would also check out (and this advice is for teachers, too) to see how organized the school site is--are the rules consistent? Is the work appropriate for your child's developmental stage? (For example, is there recess? Does your child or class have creative opportunities? Are bullies under control? Is there enough supervision?) Teachers and administrators need to constantly self-evaluate the soundness of a school's program--the entire school. When kids' needs are met, there is less disruptive behavior.

But sometimes there are other forces in a child's experience. That's when a parent or teacher checks out what a psychologist or doctor has to say.

Here are some resources on the topic of  Behavior Support Plans.

1. Behavior Support Plans

What is a Behavior Support Plan (BSP)?  http://www.pent.ca.gov/beh/bsp/bsp.htm

2. Behavior Assessment, Plans, and Positive Supports

 http://nichcy.org/schoolage/behavior/behavassess

3. What to Do When Challenging Behavior Persists

http://www.pbs.org/parents/inclusivecommunities/challenging_behavior5.html 

4. Write Your Own Behavior Plan

 http://specialchildren.about.com/od/specialeducation/qt/behaviorplan.htm

This last link is for teachers. Don't forget to check with families, other teachers, administration, and/or a Special Education teacher if a student it giving you a tough time. Maybe you don't know the whole story!    

Here's another platitude that may also help: This, too, shall pass.

 5. Keep Your Cool: Tips for Handling Difficult Students

http://busyteacher.org/6064-keep-your-cool-tips-handling-difficult-students.html 

 

MzTeachuh: Inquiry Based Learning AKA Project Based Learning

MzTeachuh: Inquiry Based Learning AKA Project Based Learning: Mind/Shift and Edutopia are leading sources of educational thought. Cogitate on these for awhile! 1. The Challenges and Realitie...

Inquiry Based Learning AKA Project Based Learning

Mind/Shift and Edutopia are leading sources of educational thought. Cogitate on these for awhile!

1. The Challenges and Realities of Inquiry-Based Learning

 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/07/the-challenges-and-realities-of-inquiry-based-learning/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

2. Inquiry Learning Vs. Standardized Content: Can They Coexist?

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/05/inquiry-learning-vs-standardized-content-can-they-coexist/ 

3. Project-Based Learning

http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning 

4. Project-Based Learning: Success Start to Finish

http://www.edutopia.org/stw-project-based-learning-best-practices 

5. Creating Classrooms We Need: 8 Ways Into Inquiry Learning

 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/03/creating-classrooms-we-need-8-ways-into-inquiry-learning/

6. Project Based Learning Resources

http://www.edutopia.org/groups/project-based-learning/399566 

7. Why Inquiry Learning is Worth the Trouble

 http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/01/what-does-it-take-to-fully-embrace-inquiry-learning/

8. Project-Based Learning as a Context for Arts Integration

 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/PBL-context-for-arts-integration-andrew-miller

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/20/13

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/20/13: 1. A Visual Schedule for Holiday Survival   http://special-ism.com/a-visual-schedule-for-holiday-survival/?utm_source=feedburner&ut...

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/20/13

1. A Visual Schedule for Holiday Survival

 http://special-ism.com/a-visual-schedule-for-holiday-survival/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Special-ism+%28Special-ism%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo

2. Building Resilience in Children

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/pages/Building-Resilience-in-Children.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3A+No+local+token 

3. The Alarming Rise Of Adderall in Two Charts 

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2013/12/the-alarming-rise-of-adderall-in-2.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

4. Advocates Alarmed By ‘Backtracking’ On Teacher Standards

 http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/12/18/advocates-alarmed-backtracking/18981/

5. LD Basics

 http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics

6. Traveling with a Sensory Seeking Child

http://special-ism.com/traveling-with-a-sensory-seeking-child/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Special-ism+%28Special-ism%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

7. 99 Questions About Autism 

http://www.snagglebox.com/2013/11/99-questions-about-autism.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Snagglebox+%28snagglebox%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

 

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/20/13

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/20/13: 1. Pivot Point: At the Crossroads of STEM, STEAM and Arts Integration http://www.edutopia.org/blog/pivot-point-stem-steam-arts-integrat...

Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/20/13

1. Pivot Point: At the Crossroads of STEM, STEAM and Arts Integration

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/pivot-point-stem-steam-arts-integration-susan-riley 

2. What Is Social Learning (And Does It Work)?

http://www.edudemic.com/social-learning/ 

3. Quizzem - The Junior Cert Biology Game

http://www.tmadeeasy.com/home/2013/12/17/quizzem-the-junior-cert-biology-game.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tmadeeasy%2FYfHE+%28Technology+Made+Easy+in+Education%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

4. Magisto for Chrome - Magical Video Editing 

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/12/magisto-for-chrome-magical-video-editing.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freetech4teachers%2FcGEY+%28Free+Technology+for+Teachers%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo#.UrRZX-I5vIU 

5. Flipped Classroom Tips (From A Teacher Who Is Mid-Flip)

http://www.edudemic.com/status-update-flipped-classroom/ 

6. When parents want to opt their children out of ed tech

http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2013/12/when-parents-want-to-opt-their-children-out-of-ed-tech.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dangerouslyirrelevant+%28Dangerously+Irrelevant%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

7. 12 Most Smart Steps to Optimize your Facebook Performance

http://12most.com/2013/12/20/steps-to-optimize-your-facebook-performance/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+12Most+%2812+Most%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 12/20/13

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 12/20/13: George C, Scott's 'A Christmas Carol' 1984 Teachable Moment: Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"  http://m...

MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 12/20/13

George C, Scott's 'A Christmas Carol' 1984

Teachable Moment: Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/teachable-moment-charles-dickens.html

ePLNs for Teachers –Getting Connected

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/10/eplns-for-teachers-getting-connected.html 

What Child Is This? 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/what-child-is-this.html?spref=bl 

Excellent Christmas Short Story by Pearl S. Buck

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/excellent-christmas-short-story-by.html 

Best Articles for Educators Week of 12/15/2013 

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/best-articles-for-educators-week-of.html

Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/19/13

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/ed-tech-and-stem-tweets-of-day-121913.html

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/19/13 

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/special-needs-tweets-of-day-121913.html

...To Face Unafraid The Plans That We Made... 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/to-face-unafraid-plans-that-we-made.html 

Ed Tech and STEM Monday Review Week of 12/16/13 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/ed-tech-and-stem-monday-review-week-of.html 

Have You Talked To Your Kid Today? 

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2013/12/have-you-talked-to-your-kid-today.html

 

 Thanks to our international audience. It is a privilege to serve you. USA, UK, Russia, France, Germany, Canada, Bulgaria, China, Thailand, Japan.

MzTeachuh: While You're On Break...Tweets of the Day 12/19/13...

MzTeachuh: While You're On Break...Tweets of the Day 12/19/13...:     1. Winter Break: Learning Resources That Won’t Feel Like Work https://www.teachingchannel.o...

While You're On Break...Tweets of the Day 12/19/13

 

 

1. Winter Break: Learning Resources That Won’t Feel Like Work

https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2013/12/18/winter-break-learning-resources-that-wont-feel-like-work/ 

2. Top 10 Family Reading and Writing Ideas for the Winter Holidays

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/55193/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Hootsuite&utm_campaign=RRSocialMedia 

3. Changing Instructional Mindsets for the 21st Century

http://edweek.org/tm/articles/2013/12/17/ctq_tolley_tech.html 

4. The Best Books on Writing and Creativity of 2013

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/12/18/best-books-writing-creativity/ 

5. Majority of high school seniors don't think smoking pot regularly is a big deal

http://news.yahoo.com/marijuana-teen-survey-161202645.html 

6. Tricks of the Trade: Classroom Management Tips for Teachers (Video Playlist)

http://www.edutopia.org/classroom-management-teacher-tips-video?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=video-classroom-management-tips-playlist-archived 

7. MindShift’s Big Ideas of 2013: Focus on Learning

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/12/mindshifts-big-ideas-of-2013-focus-on-learning/ 

Here's something for all of us to consider--and a great idea for the return to class in 2014. (you may wish to change the yar at the bottom of the page. We don't want to live in the past.)

 

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/19/13

MzTeachuh: Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/19/13:   12/18/1903 1. The Wright Brothers Flew 110 Years Ago Today…. http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2013/12/17/t...

Ed Tech and STEM Tweets of the Day 12/19/13

 

12/18/1903

1. The Wright Brothers Flew 110 Years Ago Today….

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2013/12/17/the-wright-brothers-flew-110-years-ago-today/ 

2. Needing pencils, iPads or piccolos, teachers turn to crowdsourcing

http://hechingerreport.org/content/needing-pencils-ipads-or-piccolos-teachers-turn-to-crowdsourcing_14114/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HechingerReport+%28Hechinger+Report%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

3. 9 Characteristics Of The Shift To Learning With Tablets

http://www.teachthought.com/technology/9-characteristics-shift-learning-tablets/ 

4. How to Teach Math as a Social Activity

http://www.edutopia.org/math-social-activity-cooperative-learning-video 

5.   THE TWELVE GIFTS OF NATURE: And Now for a Completely Different Shopping Experience

http://blog.childrenandnature.org/2013/12/16/the-twelve-gifts-of-nature/ 

6. What Role Is Google Playing In Education?

http://www.edudemic.com/google-in-education/ 

7. Plagiarism vs. Collaboration on Education’s Digital Frontier

http://plpnetwork.com/2013/12/16/plagiarism-vs-collaboration-educations-digital-frontier/ 

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/19/13

MzTeachuh: Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/19/13: 1. Your Brain Is a Ferrari http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/9338.html   2. Apps for Parents of Children With LD http://www.n...

Special Needs Tweets of the Day 12/19/13

1. Your Brain Is a Ferrari

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/9338.html 

2. Apps for Parents of Children With LD

http://www.ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities/family-coping-ld/apps-parents-children-ld 

3. Common Warning Signs of Dysgraphia in Children in Grades 9–12

http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/common-warning-signs-of-dysgraphia-in-children-in-grades-9-12

4.  Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) 

http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm 

5. Assistive Technology

http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/assistive-technology-education 

6.  Active Listening

http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/active-listening.html 

7. Resources for Writing IEPs Aligned to Common-Core Standards

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2013/12/resources_for_writing_ieps_ali.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OnSpecialEducation+%28Education+Week+Blog%3A+On+Special+Education%29&utm_content=My+Yahoo 

MzTeachuh: Do I Have to Go to the IEP meeting? I'm Not Specia...

MzTeachuh: Do I Have to Go to the IEP meeting? I'm Not Specia...: That confusing enough for you? Am I required to attend IEP meetings if I am not a Special Education teacher?   I've been ask...

Do I Have to Go to the IEP meeting? I'm Not Special Ed.

That confusing enough for you?

Am I required to attend IEP meetings if I am not a Special Education teacher?
 
I've been asked that more than once as the Special Education teacher, and especially as a Resource Specialist, also known as Special Academic Instructor. The answer in our state is that at  least one general education teacher who has the student on his/her caseload needs attend any IEP (Individualized Education Program) whether it be qualifying (evaluating to see if the student will enter Special Education), annual (the once a year assessment), triennial (every third year the educational psychologist also assesses), or an addendum which is called for a unique reason at any time. However, the better school sites have the entire teaching team there. The teachers at my middle school were very dedicated (and wanted to keep their positions) and supported the Special Ed. kids very effectively with attendance.

What should I bring to the IEP as the General Education teacher?

1.  Bring a calm and caring attitude. Parents are always concerned about their kid. Even if you as the classroom instructor have concerns, even serious ones, about the child performance or behavior, a general education teacher must show a caring attitude and a calm demeanor. Even if you must fly out of the meeting at the speed of heat to finish your day's responsibilities--you are so very important to that parent and child that every bit of body language as well as spoken words means the world, and focusing on the positive will get things done better.

2. Bring your expertise and evidence of it.  All teachers have grade books (on-line or otherwise), lesson plans, records of phone calls and communication to the parent, and copies of referrals and time-outs. Just be ready with this information and how to explain the ebb and flow of your classroom. Please have some positive comments to show you know little Johnny and how well he demonstrates a skill, reveals a talent or interest, or did something right in class. If little Janie is lacking, the parent should already have communicated with you because you called, or sent information home. The Special Education teacher should already know, too, if this is a big deal (actually, even a little deal.) The team of teachers plus family can really make it happen for a kid, and communication with coordination is the key.

How Should I Interact At The Meeting?

3. Be ready to explain your testing and grading system, including homework. The child's future hinges on what you do, how you grade, and do you offer help. The parent needs to know how you grade. Is there make up work? A Special Education student usually is not an independent learner, even if they have the intelligence, because of a visual or auditory learning handicap. Do you offer homework help? Test retakes? Tutoring? When and where? The Math Department at my last school was remarkable in the regular, systematic help for all kids. And it got results.

I Don't Feel Prepared For This--What Should I Do?

4. Coordinate with the Special Education teacher. I cannot adequately explain how complex, detailed and mind-boggingly intense all this Special Ed. stuff is. But it is to your advantage as a general education teacher to share information with the RSP or SAI teacher. Most Special Ed. teachers are type B personalities (myself included) and won't bully or force anyone to do anything. But there is such expertise there, one suggestion may change a classroom situation for the better. And frequently there are Behavior Plans to implement for a rascal. The teaching team wants to keep this side of legalities, having i's dotted and t's crossed. Of course, first and foremost, we want to help the kids. A Special Education teacher has district personnel resources and knowledge that can really help.