Educational Links of the Day 8/20/14

Helping Students Start the Year with a Positive Mindset

http://www.edutopia.org//blog/helping-students-start-year-positive-mindset-maurice-elias?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29 

Now that students are back in school, it's a good time to help them refocus on learning, their strengths, and the personal and other resources that will help them succeed.

Giving the kids fuel for confidence is the wisest way for a successful year.

Starting From Scratch: A Public School Built on Dreams of Students and Parents

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/08/starting-from-scratch-a-public-school-built-on-dreams-of-students-and-parents/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FnHAK+%28MindShift%29 

All last year five teachers and two administrators researched school models, drew on business practices and used design thinking principles to combine the most inspiring practices into a new school. They even brought their ideas before the community several times to get feedback.

 I would like to see the plan for Special Education.

The Problem With Understanding

http://www.teachthought.com/learning/the-problem-with-understanding/ 

Unfortunately, professional development gives a lower level of attention to developing quality assessments, training that is rarely commensurate with this complexity. The challenge of assessment is no less than figuring out what a learner knows, and where he or she needs to go next. In other words, what do they know, and how should I respond?

The preparation and execution of assessment needs to include  seeing the whole student--providing a learning environment supporting SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) and considering physical needs. Is the testing room comfortable? Are the students hungry, thirsty? Is there tissue? I know, I'm sounding like a mom. But I've tested hundreds of students K-12--and the greatest success equaled the greatest respect and attention to the needs of the students.
  
Also check these websites for more interesting articles: Edutopia,  TeachHUB,  TeachThought,  MindShift KQED.

What Teachers Want: EdSurge Insights on Five Literacy Tools 

https://www.edsurge.com/n/2014-08-20-what-teachers-want-edsurge-insights-on-five literacy-tools

 Why do some literacy tools flourish in the classroom, while others don’t get traction?

Online discussion are a great source of information so we don't try everything ourselves first.

 Share Lesson Outlines in Google Calendar 

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/08/share-lesson-outlines-in-google-calendar.html?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=freetech4teachers#.U_TWhWMfgwA 

 In my Google Calendar account I always create a calendar for each the classes that I teach. Then in those calendars I create events for each class meeting. 

Richard is the best resource online for free ed tech as well as clear instruction for us folks not very techy. 

New Technology in the Classroom – Troubleshooting Tips 

http://www.teachhub.com/new-technology-classroom-weve-got-you-covered 

This year, you have laptops, Chromebooks, a pod of desktops, and a cart of iPads. Your IT folks will do their best to support you, but you know--without a doubt--it will fall on your shoulders when the lesson is about to start and the computers don't work.

Collaborate! Ask for help! Be honest! If you are the smart one--be helpful! This is a team effort.

Check out these websites for more interesting articles: Edudemic, eSchoolNews , and  EdTechReview. 

The Bears in the Park: Anxiety and the Autism Parent

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leigh-merryday/the-bears-in-the-parkanxi_b_5652328.html 

We must begin to teach our citizens, our schools, our medical personnel, and our law enforcement how to interact with autistic persons. We must learn new ways to teach, engage, employ, and live amongst those who experience the world differently.  

I have extreme respect for Special Needs parents. Being the Special Education  professional on the front lines at school is a tremendous responsibility. Be relentless in support of families.

More Parents Reported Cases of Disabilities in Children In Past Decade

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2014/08/cases_of_disabilities.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OnSpecialEducation+%28Education+Week+Blog%3A+On+Special+Education%29 

An increasing number of parents—particularly higher-income parents—reported between 2001 and 2011 that their child had a disability, a new study finds. The biggest increase came from households with incomes that were more than 400 percent above the federal poverty level, according to the study in the journal Pediatrics. 

The access to information about disabilities makes diagnosis easier because parents are more informed to get assessment going. NCLB created requirements for schools to attend to the  Special Education process for thoroughly.

Down Syndrome Laws Stir Debate

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/08/20/down-syndrome-laws-stir-debate/19602/ 

The Down Syndrome Prenatal and Postnatal Education Act, effective Oct. 1, mandates that medical practitioners give expectant or new parents “informational publications,” to be provided online by the state health department.

Support for Special Needs families is a privilege the community can assume. And should.

Check out these websites for more interesting articles. 

National Center for Learning Disabilities , Special_Ism, Special Needs Digest.

 

Toddler With Down Syndrome Proves What Makes You Different Is What Makes You Beautiful http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/02/pip-mccallan-different-makes-you-beautiful_n_4705491.html