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Click here for full information! (PDF)What:This Trainer of Paraeducator Academies (TOPA) train the trainer session is designed for experienced educators that have worked with paraprofessionals. The session will provide an overview of the essential skills needed to be an effective presenter, how to use Powerpoint presentations, and will give each participant access to online information to teach the twenty two academies. These academies provide a solid working foundation for teachers and paraprofessionals that create a common understanding of special education goals, objectives, and language. These trainings are a great way to create a team approach to meet the needs of students.When:February 1, 20122:00 pm - 4:00 pmWhere:Columbus Middle SchoolMini Computer LabContact:Monica PughPhone: (406) 322-5298Email: ssgpugh11@yahoo.com

What:The Trainer of Paraeducator Academies (TOPA) train the trainer session is designed for experienced educators that have worked with paraprofessionals. The session will provide an overview of the essential skills needed to be an effective presenter, how to use Powerpoint presentations, and will give each participant access to online information to teach the twenty two academies. These academies provide a solid working foundation for teachers and paraprofessionals that create a common understanding of special education goals, objectives, and language. These trainings are a great way to create a team approach to meet the needs of students. When:March 7, 20124:00 pm - 8:00 pmWhere:Laurel Administration Building, Board Room410 Colorado Avenue, Laurel Contact:Stephanie ZickefooseDirector YWCCSSCPhone: (406)628-7903Email: stephanie@ywccssc.k12.mt.us

The Butte school district has violated federal law and a special education student’s rights, according to a June 8 report in response to a complaint filed April 13 with the state Office of Public Instruction. The district failed to provide an administrator at the student’s Individual Education Plan meetings, which resulted in the student receiving inadequate services, the complaint states. Mary Boyle, of Butte, mother of the 6-year-old kindergarten student who has disabilities, said that the district failed to assign a one-on-one full-time paraprofessional for her daughter, which was required by her daughter’s Individual Education Plan, because no administrators capable of assigning the paraprofessional attended the IEP meetings.

Click here to download the full flyer with registration information (PDF) What: This academy is intended to give the paraeducator knowledge and skills specific to the use of instructional strategies and methods. The academy bases teaching upon the belief that paraeducators must be constantly involved in the dynamic process of analyzing the teaching environment and individual student needs for the partic-ular level of support; degree of adaptation/accommodation or modification, and instructional method that would best facilitate learning. The academy is designed to provide these skills for use by paraeducators supporting students in inclusive classrooms, resource rooms, or in self-contained settings. When: October 20, 2011 8:00am - 5:30pm Where: Marias River Electric Coop Shelby, MT

Webinar - All About Apps for Education: Just the Apps and Nothing but the Apps Thursday, May 5, 2011, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Mountain – Web-Based Training, register Discover the wonderful world of apps for education. This webinar will help you navigate and maximize your use of the iPod/iPad. The presenters will take you on an app adventure and share a variety of apps in such categories as early childhood, literacy, autism, communication, organization, and more. Funding for this webinar is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education. The source of funding is from federal award, Grants to States-Special Education CFDA 84.027, P.L. 108-446 Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. Basic Vocabulary Organization in PRC Devices Monday, May 16, 2011, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mountain – PACER Center, Bloomington, MN, register This free workshop is for parents and professionals to learn more about Unity vocabulary organization included in all Prentke Romich Company PRC Communication or AAC Devices.  Participants will be introduced to the vocabulary options available.  This workshop will be held in the PACER computer lab where participants can bring their own device or use computer emulation software (Vantage Lite PASS software version 5.02).  The training will include hands-on experience to become familiar with how Unity supports creation of spontaneous novel communication, and to teach basic device operations such as customizing messages, changing icons, hiding keys, and backing up the device. The presenter is PRC Regional Consultant Helen Canfield.  The workshop is limited to 20 participants. Classroom Suite Version 4 Foundations Wednesday, May 18, 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mountain - PACER Center, register This workshop is designed for educators, SLPs, OTs, AT specialists, paraprofessionals and parents who are new to (or have limited experience with) Classroom Suite V.4. The goal of the Foundation Workshop for Classroom Suite V.4 is to enable educators to use Classroom Suite to teach early concepts, reading, writing, and math to students struggling because of learning difficulties or access issues. This workshop is sponsored by Cambium Learning Technologies. Registration fee $225. Kurzweil 3000 Version 11 Foundations Thursday, May 19, 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mountain - PACER Center, register This workshop is designed for educators, SLPs, OTs, AT specialists, paraprofessionals and parents who support students with learning disabilities and are new to (or have limited experience with) Kurzweil 3000. This workshop is sponsored by Cambium Learning Technologies. Registration fee $225.00. Putting LAMP (Language Acquisition through Motor Planning) to Work: AAC Strategies to Promote Communication Friday, May 20, 2011, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mountain – PACER Center, Bloomington, MN, register Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) is a therapeutic approach based on neurological and motor learning principles.  The goal is to give individuals who are nonverbal or have limited verbal abilities or speech a method to independently and spontaneously express themselves.  This workshop is for parents, professionals, and SLPs and will give an overview of the LAMP treatment approach, discussion of the components of LAMP and how and why children with autism would benefit from using a voice output AAC device, and discussion of features that are beneficial for teaching language to children with autism and other disabilities.  Lunch will not be provided.  A one hour lunch break will be taken and maps to area restaurants will be provided.  This free workshop will offer 0.5 ASHA CEUs.

Being a special educator can be a very challenging task.  Teaching, paperwork, IEP meetings and overseeing paraprofessionals leaves special education teacher drained at the end of the day.  Its no wonder that 50% of special education teachers leave their jobs within 5 years. Parents can help their child with special needs succeed by helping their special teachers breath!

Working in the Arts with Children on the Autism Spectrum When: 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday, April 28 Where: Paris Gibson Education Center-Cafeteria, 2400 Central Avenue, Great Falls Renewal Credits: 6 OPI Cost: Free Target Audience: Teaching artists, classroom teachers and paraprofessionals, arts education staff from cultural organizations, and support staff for people with disabilities

What:This academy provides the paraeducator with the knowledge and skills needed for working with children who have significant behavior needs. The academy focuses on working with students who have challenging behaviors. Its aim is to provide paraeducators with a basic understanding of behavior support and to provide them with the necessary skills to implement written behavior support plans. Click here to download he flier for complete information!When:March 5, 20128:00 am - 4:00 pmWhere:Columbus High SchoolContact:Monica PughStillwater Sweet Grass Coop.Phone: (406) 322-5298Email: ssgpugh11@yahoo.com

Click here to register and get more information!What:Free training for general and special educators, paraprofessionals, agency personnel, parents andothers who work with elementary age children.Any reading program can be “powered up” when delivered with effective instructional techniques. Participants will review the “Big Five” strands of reading instruction with a particular focus on phonological awareness and phonics. They will learn and practice evidence-based, explicit teaching techniques, practice, and activities that can increase student learning whether used with large groups, small groups or individual students.When and Where:8:30 AM - 3:00 PM MountainDecember 7th, 2011 - Great Falls, MT - Hampton InnDecember 8th, 2011 - Havre, MT - Fifth Ave Christian ChurchContact:Aileen CouchPhone: (406) 265-4356 ext. 322Email: cspd@havre.k12.mt.us

When/Where: October 4, 2010 Fifth Avenue Christian Church Havre, MT October 5, 2010 Hampton Inn Great Falls, MT Free Training For: Elementary and middle school teachers Special education teachers Therapists Administrators Reading teachers Paraprofessionals Parents. The purpose of this Level II professional development is to: Focus on specifics in instructional practices for mathematics; evaluating and enhancing mathematics curricula to meet the needs of learners; progress monitoring (National Council of Teachers of Math Big Ideas Probe). Advice for diagnostic throughout the school year using Curriculum Based Measurements and Mathematics Diagnostic Assessment. Differentiating math for students with diverse levels of mathematical competency by using data and key ideas for differentiated instruction. Action goals/plans for follow up using Video-Conference Sessions.

Click here to download the full brochure with registration form (PDF) When: February 2, 2010 Where: Fifth Avenue Christian Church Havre, MT What: Educators everywhere can agree that students need to master a core body of personal skills and competencies thereby positively impacting their school and community, actively engaging in their education. Participants will learn strategies for moving schools from operating in a 20th Century paradigm to creating a model that reflects our dynamic 21st Century, interconnected world. FREE TRAINING FOR: Elementary middle school and high school teachers special education teachers administrators paraprofessionals and parents.