Newsletter of the First Nations Special Education Toll-free Resource Line Vol. 4, No. 9 May, 2004 5 First Nations Special Education CONNECTIONS 1. About the First Nations Special Education Toll-free Resource Line: You can learn more about special needs resources by contacting Karen Horner at the First Nations Special Education Resource Line: Toll-free 1-877-547-1919 Monday to Thursday 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. 11011 Taylor Way Delta, BC V4C 4K2 [email protected]Back issues of Connections are available from http://www.firstnations- schools.bc.ca/karen.htm The First Nations Special Education Resource Line is a collaborative project of the First Nations Education Steering Committee and the First Nations Schools Association, made possible by financial assistance from the Department of Indian Affairs. This is the last issue of the First Nations Special Education Connections newsletter for this school year. There will not be a June newsletter, but it will resume again in September. I would also like to take this opportunity to let you know that after June 30, 2004, I will no longer be working on the First Nations Special Education Resource Line. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with, meeting and corresponding with you over the past 4 years. I wish you all the best as you continue to work with the students with special needs in your classrooms, schools and communities. Karen Horner First Nations Special Education Resource Line Coordinator * ProD Reminders Is your staff thinking ahead to next year’s ProD? The FNESC/FNSA Special Education Loaning Library has some wonderful videos and cds to suit your needs! These resources are an easy way to deliver meaningful professional development. You can borrow them for 1 month at a time perhaps for August ProD or throughout the year! View the full listing of resources at: http://www.fnesc.org . Some video and cd titles include: Foundations - Establishing Positive Discipline Policies: Module I - The Process - An on-going cycle of school improvement - “The Process” establishes the vision of a “safe and civil school” and provides guidance on setting up a leadership team, involving the entire faculty in the process, collecting and analyzing data, articulating staff beliefs, and developing “Guidelines for Success.” Seven cds are included. Foundations - Establishing Positive Discipline Policies - Module II Behavior in The Common Areas - “Improving Common Areas” explores the reasons for misbehavior in common areas, provides information on analyzing and restructuring common area settings, and addresses the design and implementation of lessons to teach expected behaviors. Two of the six cds focus entirely on training staff to effectively supervise common areas.
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Newsletter of the First Nations Special Education Toll-free Resource Line Vol. 4, No. 9 May, 2004 5
This is the last issue of the First Nations Special Education Connectionsnewsletter for this school year. There will not be a June newsletter, but itwill resume again in September.
I would also like to take this opportunity to let you know that after June30, 2004, I will no longer be working on the First Nations SpecialEducation Resource Line. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with,meeting and corresponding with you over the past 4 years. I wish you allthe best as you continue to work with the students with special needs inyour classrooms, schools and communities.
Karen HornerFirst Nations Special Education Resource Line Coordinator
*ProD Reminders
Is your staff thinking ahead to next year’s ProD? The FNESC/FNSASpecial Education Loaning Library has some wonderful videos andcds to suit your needs! These resources are an easy way to delivermeaningful professional development. You can borrow them for 1 monthat a time perhaps for August ProD or throughout the year! View the fulllisting of resources at: http://www.fnesc.org.
Some video and cd titles include:
Foundations - Establishing Positive Discipline Policies: Module I -The Process - An on-going cycle of school improvement - “TheProcess” establishes the vision of a “safe and civil school” and providesguidance on setting up a leadership team, involving the entire faculty inthe process, collecting and analyzing data, articulating staff beliefs, anddeveloping “Guidelines for Success.” Seven cds are included.
Foundations - Establishing Positive Discipline Policies - Module IIBehavior in The Common Areas - “Improving Common Areas”explores the reasons for misbehavior in common areas, providesinformation on analyzing and restructuring common area settings, andaddresses the design and implementation of lessons to teach expectedbehaviors. Two of the six cds focus entirely on training staff to effectivelysupervise common areas.
CHAMPS: A Proactive and Positive Approach to ClassroomManagement - This series, with ten video tapes, facilitator’sguide, and two copies of CHAMPS: A Proactive and PositiveApproach to Classroom Management, provides everythingnecessary to lead a class or study group working through theCHAMPS book. The fast-paced videos provide a wealth ofinformation to help bring the CHAMPS book to life and to guidegroups of teachers in discussion and self-assessment activitiesthat ensure effective implementation.
Fetal Alcohol and Other Drug Effects – A Four Part TrainingSeries for Parents and Professionals – four one-hour trainingvideos developed to provide accessible and practical informationfor parents and professionals. Topics include:- Diagnostic Criteria: Effects of Prenatal Exposure;- Common Learning and Behavioral Characteristics;- Behaviors and Overlapping Diagnoses; and- Barriers to Identification: Historical, Cultural, Professional andPersonal.
The Little Fox (for parents with children from 0-5 yrs.) - This storyportrays a mother and father fox and their young daughter fox whohas Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
The Little Mask (6-11 yrs) This story portrays two youngraccoons with FAS/FAE who are left to fend for themselves afterlosing their parents in a tragic alcohol related accident. Focus is onages
Sees No Danger and Wanders Afar (2-17 yrs) - This storyportrays two young bears with FAS/FAE who meet, fall in love, andmust fend for themselves after leaving home at a young age.
Travels in Circles (18-22 yrs) - This story portrays a young puffinwith FAS/FAE who is left to fend for himself after losing hisparents.
Understanding Learning Disabilities - How Difficult Can ThisBe? - Richard Lavoie leads a group of parents, educators,psychologists and children through exercises that dramatize theclassroom experience of children with learning disabilities.Participants discuss strategies for working more effectively withlearning disabled children.
Learning Disabilities and Social Skills - Last One Picked . . .First One Picked On – Richard Lavoie discusses learningdisabilities and social skills, addresses the social problems thatchildren with learning disabilities face, and offers practicalsolutions for parents.
Parents Are Teachers Too! - This video is one of a seriesdesigned to encourage parents and guardians to get involved intheir children’s education. In this video, parents talk to other
Don’t forget the FNESC/FNSASpecial Education sponsoredworkshop: De-mystifying theAssessment Process: Bridgingto Effective Intervention.Workshops are happening in aregion near you!
May 14 – NakalbunElementary School, FortSt. James
May 17 – MoricetownElementary School,Moricetown
May 25 – SnuneymuxwCouncil Chambers,Nanaimo
June 4 – Sk’elep School ofExcellence, Kamloops
This is an opportunity to gainhands-on practice and expertinformation to assist you as youplan programs for your studentswith special needs who haveundergone a psycho-educationalassessment. Only $50 per person!For more information or to register,contact the FNESC office at:1-877-422-3672.
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parents about ideas that work for them. First Nations version. Runningtime: 10 min.13 sec. User’s guide included.
DEC (Division of Early Childhood) Recommended PracticesVideo Selected Strategies for Teaching Young Children WithSpecial Needs - This video demonstrates environments and severalteaching strategies to meet the individual needs of young childrenincluding peer mediated strategies, positive reinforcement, promptingstrategies, and environments that promote learning.
*Here are some ProD events you might want to take in over thesummer:
August 30-31 – Surrey – Orchestrating Success Summer Institutewith Dawn Reithaug. Receive 150+ pages of positive practices toimprove your student’s learning and behaviour.
Session I: Orchestrating Success in Reading – discussingthe five components of reading, assessing students at risk in theprimary grades, assessing older, struggling readers, intervening at theprimary, intermediate and secondary level using the current scientificresearch about teaching reading, making an immediate impact uponyour students’ success in reading.
Session II: Orchestrating Positive Plans for StudentsRequiring Behaviour Support – a.m. – Individual EducationPlanning,p.m. – Functional Behavioural Assessment with Planning
8:30-3:00 at the Sheraton Guilford Hotel, Surrey. Continental breakfastincluded. Registration: Single session I or II - $140, Both Sessions -$250. Earlybird registration by May 31, 2004: Single Session I - $125,Both Sessions - $225. Register by phone: 778-838-4019 or for moreinformation, email: [email protected]
*August 16-18, 2004 - Hands-On Math with Manipulatives- Level 1instructed by Marilyn Wardrop. The Hands-On Math workshopprovides participants with a hands-on multi-sensory approach to helpstudents achieve mastery of basic mathematics. Teachers, tutorsand parents can learn how to help their students build confidence asthey ‘build’ mathematical concepts. A bridge is created from theconcrete level (the manipulatives), to the representational level(drawings), to the abstract level (numbers and mathematicalequations). For more information about the course, please visitwww.mathworkshops.com. Please note that completion of homeworkassignments and demonstrated mastery of concepts is required toattain Level 1 certification. Marilyn Wardrop has been working withchildren with learning disabilities for 23 years as an Orton GillinghamTutor. She was aware of many different teaching aids, techniques andmnemonic devices to assist these children in learning basic skills inmathematics. It was only by teaching math with the manipulatives and
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the three-part lesson that she was able to assure each student would besuccessful and independent while working on their math skills andcurriculum. The course will be held 9:00am - 3:00pm daily at theLearning Disabilities Association of Vancouver Learning Center at 3292E. Broadway St., Vancouver. Registration deadline: June 25, 2004.Fees: Tuition $285 Materials: $150 (optional purchase). For generalinformation and registration, call 604-873-1839 orhttp://www.ldav.ca or email: [email protected]. For more informationabout the workshop, contact Marilyn Wardrop at:www.mathworkshop.com
*Here are some ProD Conferences in the Fall that you might want to planahead for:
October 21-22 – Vancouver - B.C. School Counsellors’ Association(BCSCA) Conference, Building Community…With Heart, at theCoast Plaza Hotel on Denman. Featuring Gabor Mate and MichelleBorba. Many presenters. For more details contact Jan Pinkerton,[email protected], Debra Cullinane, [email protected], or JoanellClarke, [email protected].
October 14-16 - Kananaskis, Alberta - Alberta Teachers Association,Special Education Council’s Celebrating the Challenges Conference.Check out their Association’s website for details in the next few months:http://www.specialeducation.ab.ca/
November 4-7 - BC Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) will behosting the Canadian CEC Conference - Intervention and Support forAutism Spectrum Disorders. Check out the Canadian CEC website at:http://canadian.cec.sped.org for more details in the coming months.
November 25-27 - Edmonton, Alberta - Safe Schools Conferencesponsored by the Alberta Association of School Resource Officers(AASRO). Website: www.aasro.com or email: [email protected]
*Looking for some practical strategies for working with students with FAS?Check out TIPS – Thoughts, Ideas, Practices and Strategies – ForWorking Effectively with Children Who Have Alcohol RelatedDisorders. Developed by the Winnipeg School Division, Child GuidanceClinic. Only $12.95 + GST and shipping. A small handbook that has lotsof great ideas. For an order form, contact Karen Horner at the FirstNations Special Education Resource Line at 1-877-547-1919.
*Do you get tired of dotting out letters and words for those ‘struggling’printers and writers? Check out Handwriting for Kids – downloadpractice pages with and without dots to guide printing practices – bothcursive and manuscript! Website: www.handwritingforkids.com
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Do you wonder what websitesare safe, challenging and fun forchildren? Check out theParenting Advice Website:http://www.parenting-advice.net/links/onlineactivitiesforkids.html
TestBuddy.com offers individual users access to the widely usedskills-based software, SkillsTutor. SkillsTutor includes instruction in thebasic skills in lesson, quiz, and test form. It is a great resource for:- Test Preparation - Geared toward learners 3rd grade and up,SkillsTutor aligns with what your children are expected to learn. You cantrack and measure your child’s ongoing success.- Boosting Basic Skills - SkillsTutor online educational software offers away to boost the academic basic skills of learners in grade six and up.- Adult Education – Assists adults with basic skills growth and masteryin preparation for achievement tests.
For more information, check out their website at:http://www.testbuddy.com.
*Are you aware that the requirements for graduation will be changingfor September 2004? Check out the Ministry of Education website todownload the entire Graduation Program at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation/grad2004.htm
Graduation Program 2004 Highlights
q Grade 10 courses count for credits.q Students have more choice in the elective area. Graduation
Program policies that recognize other learning opportunities areavailable for Grade 10 students as well as Grade 11-12students, and school districts have increased flexibility todevelop courses and program that respond to local needs.
q A new Planning 10 course encourages students to explore arange of career options, plan their future and develop skills inareas such as employability, healthy decision-making, andfinancial management.
q Students write five exams: Language Arts 10, Science 10,Mathematics 10, Social Studies 11/12, and Language Arts 12.
q Students demonstrate their competencies in areas such ascareer planning, employability skills, and personal well being inthe assembling of a Graduation Portfolio.
*Reading Rocks! An Empowering, Upbeat, and Totally Hip Showfor Kids Ages 7-12 –Reading Rocks! is designed for kids ages sevento twelve and it can also help parents and teachers understand andencourage struggling readers at home and school. Set to a hip-hopsoundtrack, Reading Rocks! is a new PBS television special that useswacky humor and stories of hope to encourage struggling readers tokeep trying. The special also helps parents and teachers understandthe emotional impact of reading troubles and offers ways to motivatestruggling readers at home and school. Check out their website formore details: http://www.readingrockets.org/tv/rocks.php
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Learn about the latest research onthe causes of learning disabilities.The winter 2004 issue ofThe National,Newsletter of theLearning Disabilities Association ofCanada, published an article by Dr.Christina Fiedorowicz covering the2002 updated national definition oflearning disabilities, genetics andlearning disabilities, brain structureand function as causes of learningdisabilities, and the negative effectson brain development. For a copy ofthis article, contact Karen Horner atthe First Nations Special EducationResource Line at 1-877-547-1919.
The April – June 2004 issue of CEC Today has some helpful articles:- Choosing and Using Accommodations on Assessments by SandraJ. Thompson – This 2 page article helps you to choose whichaccommodations will most help your students during assessment.This will help IEP teams as they help students choose the bestaccommodations to access instruction and assessment.- Using Children’s Books with Characters with Disabilities by TinaTaylor Dyches and Emilie Burrow – Using ‘bibliotherapy’ to teach abouta particular disability or to promote social awareness and acceptance ofdifferences. This one-page article provides a list of the most recentfiction books that include a person with a developmental disability.For a copy of these articles, contact Karen Horner at the First NationsSpecial Education Resource Line at 1-877-547-1919.
*Looking for a reading program that will increase reading fluency, wordrecognition and comprehension? You might want to try the Six MinuteSolution: A Reading Fluency Program by Sopris West Publishers.Through unique, research-based methods, every young person in yourclassroom can make dramatic gains in reading fluency, automatic wordrecognition, and comprehension. Students team with partners in dailysix-minute sessions, practice repeated readings, get peer feedback,and keep records. This resource can supplement any reading programand it is easy to implement! It also provides a systematic method oftracking student progress. The book contains 160 nonfiction passages -20 each at grade level (1-8) - so you can meet a wide range of abilitiesin your classroom. It incorporates two research-based practices:repeated reading, and peer-assisted learning, and it can be successfullyused in general education and special education classrooms for wholeclass, small groups or individual students. For more information aboutthis program, check out the Sopris West website at:http://www.sopriswest.com
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First Nations SpecialEducation Connections aimsto provide teachers,administrators and parents withlinks to quality materials andservices. Due to the largequantity of availableresources, however, some of thelisted materials and serviceshave not been assessed forquality. The First NationsSpecial Education Resource Lineis a non-profit service and itreceives no payments from theabove-listed companies.
