R.E.P.A. Assignment 10/27/09

On Tuesday, October 27, 2009 I will be attending the public hearing on R.E.P.A. in Rochester, IN with some of our faculty and students. Please visit http://www.doe.in.gov/news/2009/07-July/REPA.html to become familiar with R.E.P.A.

Your online assignment this week is to voice your opinion by making a comment online at www.doe.in.gov/repacomment by October 30, 2009. Please also post your comment to this blog.

R.E.P.A.

Holly Koski attended the Open Forum and posted this information.

BE EMPOWERED!
I went to the Open Forum meeting today .It was upsetting to hear the possible changes for specialized licenses such as the Early Childhood program at PNC. It is possible that the Early Childhood will be eliminated. If you would like more information about the proposed rules revisions for educator preparation and accountability (REPA) you can contact Dr. Cynthia Fontaine or visit the website if you are concerned about REPA and/or want to know more information. You can submit your comments to the Professional Standards Board by visiting: http://mustang.doe.state.in.us/dg/repa/welcome.cfm There is a public hearing on October 27th, 2009 at 10:00a.m (9:00a.m our time) at Rochester High School, 1 Zebra Lane, Rochester, Indiana. You will be limited to 3 minutes. Lastly, you can submit your comments to individual members of the professional Standards Board. (Dr. Fontaine has the list of these people). OUR VOICE MATTERS! ALL COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY OCTOBER 30th, IF THEY ARE TO BE HEARD!!!

http://www.doe.in.gov/news/2009/07-July/Proposed_Teacher_Licensing_Changes_Summary_090903.pdf

You can go here to check out the summary of the REPA and what Dr. Fontaine talked about at the open forum...

ATTENTION

For this weeks online class you will need to use the powerpoint "Analyzing Student Needs". You can find it under Class Powerpoints.

Also bring food items for the JUST FOR KIDS FOOD DRIVE. As of now Block 2 is in the lead. Let's keep it that way!

Students with Special Needs other than Disabilities 10/20/09

Today you have a choice for your online assignment:

1. Attend the Open Forum today from 12-1 in LSF02

2. Read the following Case Study and create an INCLUDE strategy chart. (See p. 358 in Every Moment Counts book, Question #3). Fill in the chart with information not specifically outlined the the case study descriptions. Be sure to address academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and medical-physical needs. Turn the complete INCLUDE chart in on Thursday, October 29, 2009.


Case Study

David Hollingsworth is a first-year 5th grade teacher in a large urban school district. Although it is only the 8th week of school, he is concerned. Although he is confident of his knowledge of 5th grade content, as well as his teaching skills, he feels he has a strong commitment to teaching all the students assigned to him, he is worried that he won't be able to meet the vast array of student needs represented in this class. Mr. Hollingsworth is well aware that his students' needs are diverse. Wynn has just immigrated to the United States from Vietnam, speaks very little English and she seems overwhelmed by nearly everything at school. Mr. Hollingsworth can't remember ever seeing Wynn smile. Most of the content information is beyond Wynn's understanding because of the language differences. Another student is Reid. Reid is supposed to be taking medication for ADHD, but it doesn't seem to be having the intended effect on him. At an after-school meeting, Mr. Hollingsworth, the school psychologist, the counselor, and the assistant principal discussed the matter with Reid and his mother who is a single parent and Reid and his mom decided the medication wasn't working and that he didn't need to take it every day. Somedays Reid's mother gives him a double dose to account for the days he doesn't take the medication. The counselor is supposed to follow up on this unhealthy and potentially dangerous thinking about medication and keep Mr. Hollingsworth informed. In the meantime, Reid is either bouncing off the walls or zoned out. Irene is a concern as well. She and her twin sister Ida, are struggling academically despite receiving a lot of individual attention and having supportive parents. Neither girl is reading well enough to complete textbook readings. Both girls have been referred in the past for special education services, but neither is eligible to receive them. Mr. Hollingsworth knows that the twins' father has been out of work for nearly a year, and that the family is barely getting by. Mr. Hollingsworth heard last week that one of the grandparents had also come to live with the family due to health issues. He wonders how much of the twins' learning problems are related to their home situation. Mr. Hollingsworth also teaches Kennedy, who just moved into the district and is so far ahead of the other students that Mr. Hollingsworth wishes she were in a program for gifted and talented. Two other students Nancy and Larry are from families that have very little, they come to school without supplies and seem reluctant to interact with the other children.

Open Forum

Please attend the Open Forum on Tuesday, October 20th from 12-1 in LSF 02 to find out about the new proposed rules revisions for teacher educators and accountablility. These changes will impact YOU! Come and find out what you can do to voice your opinion.

TWS Due Date

As we discussed in class you have freedom to choose your due date for the Teacher Work Sample Assignment. Please post your name and the date you are interested in submitting the assignment. You may select any date prior to 12/8/09

Just for the Kids Food Drive

Remember to bring some kid friendly food to class on Thursday for the Just for Kids Food Drive. I just learned today that they are in desperate need of anytype of baby food items. Wouldn't that be fun to buy some baby food, baby crackers, formula, etc.

Low-Incidence Disabilities Assignment 10/8/09

You are a 2nd grade teacher and have discovered that in one week you will be getting a new student who has the following low-incidence disability. Low-incidence disability means you are unlikely to work with a student like this every year. You are now responsible for researching this disability so that you can provide the best learning environment for this student and the other 18 students that are in your 2nd grade class. Research the following disability according to the beginning letter of your last name. Share your findings.
B-D Mental Retardation
F-H Multiple Disabilities
K-L Hearing Impairments
M Orthopedic Impairments
N Other Health Impairments
P Autism
R Visual Impairments
S Deaf-Blindness

On Thursday, Barb Vinson, will be joining our class to share with you the low-incidence disability needs of her daughter Jodi James who passed away on September 5,2009

A Special Request from the Arts Group

The arts group for the SFL is asking the class to start collecting recyclable things from home, like empty cereal boxes, water/pop bottles, paper products, toilet paper rolls, etc. We are scheduled to present on December 3rd. It would really be helpful for our lesson plan idea if you could help collect some items to be reused. Please bring them into class as you collect them. We will have containers in class to store the items. Thank-you!