by Oran Tkatchov As our children put the past school year behind them during summer break, there might be many changes on the horizon that can be a source of anxiety for them. A new teacher? New building? New classmates? New routines? These changes can be overwhelming for all kids, but especially for those who need additional guidance in establishing routines and developing new relationships. Below are five suggestions that can help to minimize the […]
By William Blackwell, Ed.D. & Nancy Stockall, Ph.D. According to the U.S. Department of Education, almost 3.5 million children with disabilities participate in statewide achievement tests each year. Parents typically receive their child’s results in a paper report sent home through the school. Yet, parents often struggle to accurately interpret the reports, which contain complex testing jargon and vague descriptions of their child’s performance. This can lead to what one parent described as “the […]
By Jan Smith A tech integrator shares the games that she uses to prepare special education students for life after school. In the world today, typing is a necessary skill. Most jobs require some degree of computer work, and knowing how to type quickly and efficiently may be an advantage over someone who “finger pecks” at the keyboard. High school graduates need to know how to type, use email, use reference tools on the internet, […]
by Vaughn Lauer An interesting title, isn’t it? But the truths are these: Data (aka behavioral and measurable information, including test scores) are necessary for making good educational decisions. and Test scores do not define our child; they simply help to understand our child’s strengths and needs, so that we can make informed decisions. I think we can all agree on the first statement, that is: Information (data) in behavioral and measurable terms is essential to […]
PUZZLES & CAMO BY SHELLY HUHTANEN We need to focus less on creating barriers and identifying what makes our children with disabilities different and focus our efforts towards tearing down barriers. A few weeks ago, I watched a TED talk about children with disabilities presented by Torrie Dunlap. Torrie has worked with children with disabilities for years and what she discussed was mind blowing. When I say mind blowing, I mean it forced me to […]
