MzTeachuh: Does My Child Need Special Ed. Services?

MzTeachuh: Does My Child Need Special Ed. Services?: Resource Specialist in General Ed. Class No need to panic! Kids develop on their own schedules. But it is a good idea to notice how yo...

Does My Child Need Special Ed. Services?

Resource Specialist in General Ed. Class

No need to panic! Kids develop on their own schedules. But it is a good idea to notice how your child (or a child in your class) is responding to instruction since there could be a learning disability hampering their success.

Here are some general questions to ask:

• Does the child remember verbal instructions well?
• Does the child retain information in written or graphic form?
• Is the child's attention span similar to that of her/his peers?
• Does the child's handwriting and art fall within the general expectations of the grade level?

• Can the child spell within grade level expectations?

This is a very general list. If parents and teachers do think there may be a learning disability, the most common are auditory and/or visual. In my experience, the students usually qualify for services in Reading/ELA with a mild visual processing disorder.

In this state, the Special Education teacher would use specialized testing materials to pinpoint the current academic levels for the student. We tested with WIAT II or Woodcock Johnson and sometimes the TOWL, but there are many tests that will be sufficient. The law states that a qualified staff member must do the testing. To discern a processing disorder or other handicap, a district educational psychologist will administer other tests. Then the IEP team will initially meet and a decision will be made if the child qualifies for services.

Here are some links to further inform a parent or teacher of what performance or behavior might indicate a learning disability.

Learning Disabilities Association of America
http://www.ldanatl.org/index.cfm

Visual Processing Disorder (Dyslexia)

• Reads slowly and painfully
• Experiences decoding errors, especially with the order of letters
• Shows wide disparity between listening comprehension and reading comprehension of some text
• Has trouble with spelling
• May have difficulty with handwriting
• Exhibits difficulty recalling known words
• Has difficulty with written language
• May experience difficulty with math computations
• Decoding real words is better than nonsense words
• Substitutes one small sight word for another: a, I, he, the, there, was 

National Center for Learning Disabilities
http://www.ncld.org/ld-basics/related-issues/information-processing/auditory-processing-disorders-in-detail

 Auditory Processing Disorders

• Learning to read
• Distinguishing difference between similar sounds. Example: Seventy and seventeen
• Understanding spoken language, following directions and remembering details
• Seems to hear but not listen
• Remembering people's names
• Memorizing telephone numbers
• Following multi-step directions
• Recalling stories or songs 
• Confusing multi-digit numbers, such as 74 and 47
• Confusing lists and other types of sequences 
• Remembering the correct order of a series of instructions

These are the two prominent processing disorders, with Reading/ELA being the most common area to qualify for Special Ed. services, at least in my experience.  Attention Deficit and its variations  is another topic altogether, but can aggravate other learning problems.

Check with the child's team--parents, teachers, Special Education staff--see what's up and how this young one can get the assistance to succeed.

MzTeachuh: Autumn Amble with Pissaro

MzTeachuh: Autumn Amble with Pissaro: Camille Pissarro | Autumn at Eragny Go outside. Breathe the air. Take a walk. See if Mario can come along. (Maybe Luigi, too.) Jesse ...

Autumn Amble with Pissaro

Camille Pissarro | Autumn at Eragny

Go outside. Breathe the air. Take a walk. See if Mario can come along. (Maybe Luigi, too.)

Jesse Cook - Mario Takes a Walk 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3iTfEF52kw 

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Leading The Adventure To Middle Earth

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Leading The Adventure To Middle Earth: 1. The Hobbit FREE lesson plans and links Do you love Tolkien and The Hobbit? http://www.betsyanne.com/Hobbit_Links.htm   Hmm...

Teaching Is Leading The Adventure To Middle Earth

1. The Hobbit FREE lesson plans and links

Do you love Tolkien and The Hobbit?
http://www.betsyanne.com/Hobbit_Links.htm 

Hmm, where's Hobbiton?

2. The Hobbit Lesson Plans for Teachers

http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/hobbit/

 3.  Welcome to Tolkien's Middle-earth

 http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/lordoftheringstrilogy/lessons/ 

4. J. R. R. Tolkien
Lesson plans for The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings

http://www.webenglishteacher.com/tolkien.html 

5. Ideas for Teachers

http://www.tolkiensociety.org/ed/teachers.html 

6. Worksheets for The Hobbit

http://www.classroomjr.com/worksheets-for-the-hobbit/ 

I think we're in time for Hobbit Second Breakfast.

7. The Hobbit Lesson Plans

Find teacher approved The Hobbit lesson plan ideas and activities

http://www.lessonplanet.com/lesson-plans/the-hobbit 

8. The Hobbit By J.R.R. Tolkien

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/hobbit.htm 

 

MzTeachuh: Cornucopia of Thanksgiving Activities

MzTeachuh: Cornucopia of Thanksgiving Activities:   Special Arts and Crafts for Thanksgiving  http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/special-arts-and-crafts-for-thanksgiving.html   T...

Cornucopia of Thanksgiving Activities

 

Special Arts and Crafts for Thanksgiving 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/special-arts-and-crafts-for-thanksgiving.html 

Ten Books for Thanksgiving from Reading Rockets

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/ten-books-for-thanksgiving-from-reading.html 

Cheesy Jokes and Serious Thoughts About Thanksgiving 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/cheesy-jokes-and-serious-thoughts-about.html 

Teachable Moment: Kids' Indoor Herb Garden and Recipes 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/teachable-moment-kids-indoor-herb.html 

 Thanksgiving Song 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/thanksgiving-song.html 

A Thanksgiving to God, for his House

 http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-thanksgiving-to-god-for-his-house.html

Tis a Gift 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/tis-gift.html 

Ideas for Thanksgiving Lessons 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/ideas-for-thanksgiving-lessons.html 

Eight Great Ways To Be Thankful 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/eight-great-ways-to-be-thankful.html 

An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott (and recipes) 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/an-old-fashioned-thanksgiving-by-louisa.html 

Painting by Grandma Moses

 

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 11/15/14

MzTeachuh: MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 11/15/14: Cheesy Jokes and Serious Thoughts About Thanksgiving  http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/cheesy-jokes-and-serious-thoughts-about_8.h...

MzTeachuh's Top Posts of the Week 11/15/14

Cheesy Jokes and Serious Thoughts About Thanksgiving 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/cheesy-jokes-and-serious-thoughts-about_8.html 

Teaching Is Trying Everything To Get Through 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/10/teaching-is-trying-everything-to-get.html 

When GenEd and SpecEd Collaboration Really Works #1 Putting the Puzzle Together 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/when-gened-and-speced-collaboration.html 

Special Education News 11/12/14 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/special-education-news-111214.html

Teachable Moment: The Four Freedoms 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/teachable-moment-four-freedoms.html 

Making School Better--the Grassroots Way 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/making-school-better-grassroots-way.html 

BAM Radio--for Educators: Check It Out 

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/bam-radio-for-educators-check-it-out.html 

Falling Autumn Leaves: Barbra Streisand and Vincent Van Gogh

http://mzteachuh.blogspot.com/2014/11/falling-autumn-leaves-barbra-streisand.html 

 

 

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: Making School Better--the Grassroots Way

MzTeachuh: Making School Better--the Grassroots Way: School Garden! Big Ideas for Better Schools: Ten Ways to Improve Education http://www.edutopia.org/big-ideas-better-schools    65 W...

Making School Better--the Grassroots Way

School Garden!

Big Ideas for Better Schools: Ten Ways to Improve Education

http://www.edutopia.org/big-ideas-better-schools 

 65 Ways Students Can Change Schools

http://www.soundout.org/article.115.html 

How to Make School Better for Boys

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/09/how-to-make-school-better-for-boys/279635/ 

Make Your School a Better Workplace

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/make-your-school-better-workplace 

Changes Schools Should Make to Better Serve Students: A Student's View

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adora-svitak/changes-schools-should-ma_b_829406.html 

Poetry Slam!

10 Big Ideas to Improve Your Schools 

http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3752306

How to Improve Your School

http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-School 

Ten easy ways to help your child's school

http://www.greatschools.org/improvement/volunteering/19-easy-ways-to-help.gs 

 

MzTeachuh: Thanksgiving Song

MzTeachuh: Thanksgiving Song:   The Potato Eaters, Van Gogh 1885 Thanksgiving Song - Mary Chapin Carpenter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NSQLMPUK-8   On T...

Thanksgiving Song

 

The Potato Eaters, Van Gogh 1885

Thanksgiving Song - Mary Chapin Carpenter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NSQLMPUK-8 

On Thanksgiving, we all are potato eaters, pretty much.

 

MzTeachuh: Educational Links 11/14/14

MzTeachuh: Educational Links 11/14/14: Debunking Homework Myths http://www.edutopia.org//blog/debunking-homework-myths-ben-johnson?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&a...

Educational Links 11/14/14

Debunking Homework Myths

http://www.edutopia.org//blog/debunking-homework-myths-ben-johnson?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29 

Don't Help Your Kids With Their Homework

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/04/and-dont-help-your-kids-with-their-homework/358636/?single_page=true&utm_source=Newsletter+2014110514&utm_campaign=October+Newsletter+20141029&utm_medium=email 

 How To Connect Schools And Communities Using Technology

http://www.teachthought.com/learning/how-to-connect-schools-and-communities-using-technology/

Move to Think: Why Kids Need More Movement for Brain Function and What We Can Do About It 

http://www.nesca-news.com/2014/11/move-to-think-why-kids-need-more.html 

What Are Learning Disabilities? 

http://ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/what-is-ld/what-are-learning-disabilities 

White House Announces Official Date of Superintendents' Summit

https://www.edsurge.com/n/2014-11-13-white-house-announces-official-date-of-superintendents-summit 

Putting Art On the Map - A Google Maps and Earth Activity 

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/11/putting-art-on-map-google-maps-and.html?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=freetech4teachers#.VGZu9MmMTBY 

Help Stop Pneumonia, the Leading Infectious Killer of Children

http://shotofprevention.com/2014/11/12/help-stop-pneumonia-the-leading-infectious-killer-of-children/ 

5 ways to make your classroom fun (but not chaotic)

http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/2014/11/5-ways-to-make-your-classroom-fun-but-not-chaotic.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheCornerstone+%28The+Cornerstone+Blog%29 

What We Can Learn from Unsuccessful Online Students - See more at: http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/can-learn-unsuccessful-online-students/#sthash.ijMyfqfz.dpuf

 

 

 

 

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Communicating With Parents

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Communicating With Parents: 1. Tips for Parents: Parent Teacher Conferences  http://www.thelearningcommunity.us/resources-by-format/tips-for-parents/pare...

Teaching Is Communicating With Parents

1. Tips for Parents: Parent Teacher Conferences 

http://www.thelearningcommunity.us/resources-by-format/tips-for-parents/parent-teacher-conferences.aspx 

2. Parent-Teacher Conference Tip Sheets for Principals, Teachers, and Parents

http://www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/browse-our-publications/parent-teacher-conference-tip-sheets-for-principals-teachers-and-parents 

3. 10 Tips for a Successful Parent-Teacher Conference

http://school.familyeducation.com/slideshow/parents-and-school/38585.html 

4. Parent-Teacher Conference: Tips for Parents

http://habee.hubpages.com/hub/Parent-Teacher-Conference-Tips-for-Parents 

5. 12 Questions to Ask at Your Parent-Teacher Conference

http://www.parentsconnect.com/parenting-your-kids/parenting-kids/learning-and-school/elementary-school-parents/parent_teacher_conference.html 

6. Top Ten Questions to Ask at an IEP

http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/top-ten-questions-to-ask-at-an-iep/ 

7.  The Best IEP Questions to Ask

http://seemyiep.com/the-best-iep-questions-to-ask/ 

Great smile, teacher: warm, sincere, and look at all that info for the student.

 

 

MzTeachuh: Eight Great Ways To Be Thankful

MzTeachuh: Eight Great Ways To Be Thankful

Eight Great Ways To Be Thankful

MzTeachuh: Educational Links 11/13/14

MzTeachuh: Educational Links 11/13/14:     5 Creative Ways to Help Students With ADHD Thrive in the Classroom http://www.edudemic....

Educational Links 11/13/14

 

 

5 Creative Ways to Help Students With ADHD Thrive in the Classroom

http://www.edudemic.com/5-ways-to-help-students-adhd/ 

Taking the Mystery Out of Dysgraphia

http://special-ism.com/taking-the-mystery-out-of-dysgraphia/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Special-ism+%28Special-ism%29 

6 tools for parent-teacher collaboration

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/11/13/parent-teacher-collaboration-389/ 

More districts turn to technology buy-back programs

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/11/04/technology-buyback-programs-520/ 

Blended Learning: Working With One iPad

http://www.edutopia.org//blog/blended-learning-working-one-ipad?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29

Quiet Riot: Celebrating Introverted Kids in an Extroverted World 

http://www.specialneedsdigest.com/2014/11/quiet-riot-celebrating-introverted-kids.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FLUdSt+%28Special+Needs+Digest%29 

Good Talk: Raising Smart Learners Through Rich Conversations

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/09/good-talk-raising-smart-learners-through-rich-conversations/ 

How Google Impacts The Way Students Think

http://www.teachthought.com/learning/how-google-impacts-the-way-students-think/ 

 

 

MzTeachuh: ePLNs for Teachers –Getting Connected

MzTeachuh: ePLNs for Teachers –Getting Connected: Teachers can find professional networking  online.  Educational sites afford convenience, privacy, and expertise in a variety of educatio...

ePLNs for Teachers –Getting Connected

Teachers can find professional networking  online.  Educational sites afford convenience, privacy, and expertise in a variety of educational areas. There are also interactive activities for teachers joining an online community. Here are a few advantages to connecting online:

·         Current educational topics discussed by experts and educators in a timely, thorough manner.  For example, the latest input on educational technology use in the class, special education innovations, and school-wide interventions such as social and emotional interventions are hot topics currently inspiring teachers in their professional pursuits.

·         Convenience and privacy comes with networking online. Professional development is generally limited to scheduled on-campus staff or team meetings, conferences, or District trainings. A teacher may have a question or comment on a topic with no opportunity during these gatherings, or the teacher feels the question or comment is too basic or too sophisticated for the discussion. Educational sites can provide a responsive venue through articles, group discussions, webcasts, videos or a search by a teacher using key words at the teacher’s convenience.

·         Opportunities to investigate new teaching areas and/or extend teaching expertise abound through sites that are specific to educational technology, special education, or improved teaching methods. A teacher may want more information about learning disabilities, for personal or professional reasons, and find helpful information and professionals online.  Maybe a video demonstrating a specific lesson would be very helpful. There is an abundance of sites to enhance a teacher’s knowledge and methods.

Here are well-established educational sites excellent for teacher connections.

http://www.edutopia.org/

 Edutopia This is an attractive, vast website that is has numerous educational topics: experts and educators writing articles, groups to join, videos, classroom guides.  Edutopia is a great support for teachers.

https://www.teachingchannel.org/

The Teaching Channel  provides specific video demonstrations in K-12 classrooms and lesson plan points on basic curriculum areas, as well as information on implementing the Common Core.  There are also articles and blogs. The Teaching Channel provides a ‘Teaching Team’ feature for professional development.

http://www.ncld.org/

The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) This site offers connections for parents and teachers in the complex, challenging area of Special Education. There is a diversity of articles that are thorough, clear, and understandable for those not trained in Special Education.  The site offers ebooks, podcasts, videos and current news about the IEP process, IDEA, funding, and interventions. NCLD is a tremendous asset for teachers and parents.

http://www.edudemic.com/

Edudemic is a clear, concise, and thorough guide to educational technology, blended and flipped learning, and educational innovation using technology. There are many guidelines on a wide variety of topics that a teacher may not even have enough background in ed tech to ask about. For a teacher wishing to deepen knowledge of ed tech, or a beginner hoping to catch up--Edudemic is very effective.

MzTeachuh: When GenEd and SpecEd Collaboration Really Works: ...

MzTeachuh: When GenEd and SpecEd Collaboration Really Works: ...:   Classroom problems are obvious: the student is not successful academically or has behavior issues. The solutions are not so obvious. ...

When GenEd and SpecEd Collaboration Really Works: Solving Problems

 

Classroom problems are obvious: the student is not successful academically or has behavior issues. The solutions are not so obvious. Here is how GenEd and SpecEd can work together for solutions for the student (and the classroom.) Honesty, transparency, clarity between colleagues will produce true solutions for students. Be ready for candid interaction, my GenEd and SpecEd colleagues! There will be questions!

Scenario #1: The student makes an effort, but remains well below standards despite effective interventions.

SpecEd will ask (or should) for documentation of the intervention. The parent should already know how many hours per day for how many weeks the student has been in the intervention--and have products of the work accomplished. The data of the student's further need should not be a mystery to anyone. Parent contact should be regular.  GenEd needs to be organized for this. Hopefully, the intervention classes at the school site are coordinating and use the same result templates so a parent or SpecEd teacher can readily identify the strengths and needs of the student during a specific time period. If there is other, more unusual input over a period of time about the student, GeEd needs to document this with type of behavior, date, and class activity.

An anecdotal report might go like this:

10/5/-- Margaret began classwork, but after 10 minutes was drawing rather than writing the assignment. The picture was of a child, but it was one big circle with a smile. She did this for 10 minutes, then sat still, not working, despite many prompts to write.

With accurate data, Admin, GenEd and SpecEd should meet with the parents and may then suggest Special Education testing to the parent, if the parent has not already requested it.

A situation once arose at a Middle School where I was RSP for Grade 6. The structure was four teachers on a team, and I worked in the classrooms of Math and ELA. A Soc. Science teacher clued me into two transfer students she noticed may be SpecEd but perhaps their paperwork hadn't arrived yet.

One student had created an illustration for an essay that struck the teacher as disturbing. She showed it to me, I was able to observe and speak to the student. I contacted the Ed. Psychologist, and the Grade 6 Counselor. After getting contact info from his previous school across country, we discovered the parent had not informed us the student had been identified as ED (Emotionally Disturbed) and had a serious incident the previous school year. We couldn't clarify why the parents did not inform us, but because the Social Science teacher actually checked and read her classes' assignments every day we could get him to the proper placement quickly.

Another student was not able to understand the work at all, but was very popular despite a stutter. Again, the team of Counselor, Ed. Psychologist, SpecEd and GenEd did a search of his records, spoke to the parents (who needed a translator, the Ed. Psychologist was fluent in Spanish) and we found that due to frequent school changes, he had never been tested for SpecEd, or Speech Therapy. I tested him from my end, the Speech Therapist from his end, the Ed. Psychologist from her end, and we were prepared for a meeting which resulted in a better placement.

Scenario #2: The student has shown grade level ability, but is too disorganized to function in the class.

Again, do we have a record of  this behavior?
An anecdotal report might go like this:

Luis does well when he has his supplies and brings his homework and outside reading book. But he is missing important items at least 3 times a week. Dates of missing work for March: 3/3, 3/5, 3/9, 3/10, 3/14 etc.

Has GenEd contacted the parents about this lack of functioning? Is there something unusual at home that might be the cause of the disorganization? Now I'm going to get personal, only because I have had to ask myself this question. How organized is the class? How's your classroom management? Are enough cues and directives given to end one activity and start another? Is the class tidy and organized so this student has an appropriate amount of space to function? If the lack of function is not the result of parents or teacher--there could be a Special Ed. reason. Executive functions (ability to be organized) can be impaired by learning disabilities. But not always. If the student's previous teachers are available for comment, ask how little George did last year. So if previous answers to these questions show a need for testing, the SpecEd team will find out--is it ADHD? a learning disability? or just a future Absent Minded Professor who needs a personal assistant? (Kind of kidding about the last, but sometimes parents and teachers feel like they are in that role.)

In my experience as RSP (Resource Specialist) we tested many more students for learning disabilities than qualified for Special Education programs, particularly in Grade 6. That is due to the fact that the huge change in schedule created a perfect storm of confusion for awhile until the kids got their sea legs. But a lack of executive function could well show a need for Special Education support, so please document the need so the student can be fairly evaluated.

Scenario #3: The student is a behavior problem.

Now we are to the real issue to solve. Why do students act up? For attention, for control of the class, or to escape the class through disciplinary action that takes them to the office or maybe to the ramp outside the door (btw, that last strategy is an illegal move and should not happen. Students need supervision.)
 
Again, do we have a record of  this behavior?
An anecdotal report might go like this, and not necessarily only in a referral:

Student (Kayleigh) got out of seat three times in fifteen minutes, and moved around the classroom. She then whacked Angelica on the back of the head, disrupting class.

For a behavior referral for Special Education, you record all instances, and contact with the parents. The team of professionals that is your school and includes you, will research everything about the student, test the student, while effectively managing a positive behavior contract. 

At the first, and I mean first, sign of defiance, contact the parent and document. The most effective teachers I worked with, and later emulated, did this simple thing, and ran a peaceful classroom. Also, document the conversation. Is this tedious? Yes, GenEd, it is. I know, I was GenEd, too. But a behavior issue is the most vital to document. If, deep in your heart, you feel this student has an emotional or serious behavioral issue--contact SpecEd, the Counselor, or the Ed. Psychologist. Maybe the student doesn't have serious problems that may lead to self injury or injuries to others. But maybe so, and you could save injuries and lives if the student gets help early.

In one high school class during a reading intervention, a student was doodling on his work one day. We discovered it was a rather graphic picture of  two young people, one threatening the other with a knife. Taking the picture to the Ed. Psychologist, and having a meeting with the parent led to counseling for the student who had been bullied and assaulted the previous year. His uncle had been murdered in a gang initiation 18 months before. The student was affected. He received counseling.

To be transparent, a positive behavior plan is the most challenging to coordinate with a team of teachers for effective implementation. Really hard. But we don't give up. Good results help everyone. 

When GenEd and SpecEd collaboration really works, there's nothing finer in the school system.

MzTeachuh: A Thanksgiving to God, for his House

MzTeachuh: A Thanksgiving to God, for his House: A Cottage Interior, by William Redmore Bigg. A Thanksgiving to God, for his House By Robert Herrick Lord, Thou hast given ...

A Cottage Interior, by William Redmore Bigg.

A Thanksgiving to God, for his House

By Robert Herrick

Lord, Thou hast given me a cell

         Wherein to dwell,

A little house, whose humble roof

         Is weather-proof:

Under the spars of which I lie

         Both soft, and dry;

Where Thou my chamber for to ward

         Hast set a guard

Of harmless thoughts, to watch and keep

         Me, while I sleep.

Low is my porch, as is my fate,

         Both void of state;

And yet the threshold of my door

         Is worn by th' poor,

Who thither come and freely get

         Good words, or meat.

Like as my parlour, so my hall

         And kitchen's small;

A little buttery, and therein

         A little bin,

Which keeps my little loaf of bread

         Unchipp'd, unflead;

Some brittle sticks of thorn or briar

         Make me a fire,

Close by whose living coal I sit,

         And glow like it.

Lord, I confess too, when I dine,

         The pulse is Thine,

And all those other bits, that be

         There plac'd by Thee;

The worts, the purslain, and the mess

         Of water-cress,

Which of Thy kindness Thou hast sent;

         And my content

Makes those, and my beloved beet,

         To be more sweet.

'Tis Thou that crown'st my glittering hearth

         With guiltless mirth;

And giv'st me wassail-bowls to drink,

         Spic'd to the brink.

Lord, 'tis Thy plenty-dropping hand

         That soils my land;

And giv'st me, for my bushel sown,

         Twice ten for one;

Thou mak'st my teeming hen to lay

         Her egg each day;

Besides my healthful ewes to bear

         Me twins each year;

The while the conduits of my kine

         Run cream, for wine.

All these, and better, Thou dost send

         Me, to this end,

That I should render, for my part,

         A thankful heart,

Which, fir'd with incense, I resign,

         As wholly Thine;

But the acceptance, that must be,

         My Christ, by Thee.

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Having Fun Learning

MzTeachuh: Teaching Is Having Fun Learning: 1. OK- Everybody! Share your best classroom games! http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/showthread.php?t=31626   2. Engagi...

Teaching Is Having Fun Learning

1. OK- Everybody! Share your best classroom games!
http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/showthread.php?t=31626 


2. Engaging Classroom Games for All Grades 

http://www.teachhub.com/engaging-classroom-games-all-grades 

3. Fun Classroom Games for High School

http://www.ehow.com/list_6926070_fun-classroom-games-high-school.html 

4. Any suggestions for some fun games to play with a high school class?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070510221853AA9xOxF 

5. Middle School Math Games

http://www.math-play.com/Middle-School-Math-Games.html 

6. Classroom Games for Middle School Language Arts

http://www.ehow.com/list_6080290_classroom-middle-school-language-arts.html 

7. Middle School Group Games

http://www.greatgroupgames.com/middle-school-group-games.htm 

8. Middle School Group Games Activities

http://www.education.com/activity/middle-school/outdoor-group-games/ 

9. Great games for the elementary school classroom 

http://www.helium.com/knowledge/151145-great-games-for-the-elementary-school-classroom 

10. Games in the Elementary Classroom

http://mathpickle.com/Blog/Entries/2010/12/9_Games_in_the_Elementary_Classroom.html 

11. Five Easy Drama Games for the Early Elementary Classroom

http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/how-to/tipsheets/five-easy-drama-games.aspx 

MzTeachuh: Teachable Moment: The Four Freedoms

MzTeachuh: Teachable Moment: The Four Freedoms: Freedom From Want, by Norman Rockwell The Four Freedoms were goals articulated by United States President F ranklin D. Roosevelt on Ja...

Teachable Moment: The Four Freedoms

Freedom From Want, by Norman Rockwell

The Four Freedoms were goals articulated by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 6, 1941. In an address known as the Four Freedoms speech (technically the 1941 State of the Union address), he proposed four fundamental freedoms that people "everywhere in the world" ought to enjoy: freedom speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear. (Wikipedia)
Looking at these Rockwell images with 21st century eyes, we see only one demographic, no diversity. In our time, these four freedoms extend to all our citizens as well as our understanding of worldwide human rights.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

The Four Freedoms

delivered 6 January, 1941 (photo of FDR in 1936)

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/fdrthefourfreedoms.htm