VocabularySpellingCity has a new summer word study program that allows children to sharpen academic skills as they play. These simple assignments are a daily workout for the brain, building literacy skills such as vocabulary, spelling, and writing.
A response to Ron Clark's article by Doug Goldbert. " If you don't already, I feel you will learn to regret writing this article. This article has the ability to create an even bigger chasm between Parents and Teachers. Parent Involvement in a Child's Education, as proven by 20 years of research, is one of the most effective methods in a child's academic success. Educating our children needs to be a partnership between Parents and Teachers. Especially, since school age children spend 70% of their time outside of school. Your article makes it painfully aware that your idea of a Parent - Teacher partnership is one where Parents do everything you ask without input or questions. "
Begin with ME! is a project that provides a rich environment full of resources and support that allows teachers and teacher consultants to work together, share ideas, and learn new ways to help all students, including those with special needs, become better writers.
1. When appropriate technology tools and strategies are integrated into instruction, all students, including those with special needs and those at risk for academic failure will become better writers.\n\n2. Given adequate training and support, teachers can comfortably integrate technology into their writing curriculum.\n\n3. Supporting struggling students in the general education classroom can be effective and easily replicated.
Some great resources that can be downloaded in PDF form from these workshops focusing on special education and differentiation! Each presentation includes the presentation and handouts in PDF form (2 documents per workshop). Good article on co-teaching.
Excellent resources, presentations, handouts from teacher workshops on special education and differentiation. Teacher-to-Teacher is US Dept of Education initiative.
The Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative has been created by and for America's teachers. It supports teachers' efforts in the classroom through professional development workshops and digital workshops and by sharing relevant information through email updates.
Teacher Workshops
Teacher Workshops offer classroom teachers a free opportunity to participate in high-quality professional development designed to provide the classroom support, technical assistance, and increased collaboration needed to assure academic success for all students.
What is RTI?
Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered approach to help struggling learners. Students' progress is closely monitored at each stage of intervention to determine the need for further research-based instruction and/or intervention in general education, in special education, or both.
Response to Intervention could easily be implemented through the use of web 2.0 tools. Maybe we should start a discussion forum on RTI and have people contribute specific ways/tools that could be used.
He had to work hard. He often woke up early to study before school and studied for hours in the evening. He went to summer school and retook tests.
He repeated kindergarten, then first grade, until he was in the same grade as his younger sister. But he continued to lag far behind his peers. By the time he reached sixth grade, he was still reading on a first- or second-grade level.
Thaller's story is familiar to many students with learning disabilities who must work two or three times harder than their classmates, often with less results.
On Monday morning, he joined his younger sister, Rachel, on a stage at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall and became a graduate of one of the nation's top high schools.
Low scores on cognitive tests prompted many medical professionals and educators to say it would be impossible for Thaller to ever attend college. Many suggested he pursue a diploma with fewer requirements or transfer to a special school with a less academic focus.
A major breakthrough came in middle school. Thaller's mother would read him chapters from the Harry Potter series at night. He was so impatient for her to get to the next chapter that he started reading ahead, pushing himself to understand the vocabulary and follow the story.