About
This is a blog intended for use by teachers and school staff of Alternative and Special Education. It is also intended to inform School District personnel about developments and current affairs in these two fields. A major sub-category that this blog attempts to reach is Alternative and Special Education Supervisors, Directors and Superintendents who are responsible for advocating for the Alternative and Special Education Student. It is my hope that by reaching this wide audience, the attendance, graduation and post-secondary outcomes for students will be markedly improved. This blog is intended to generate conversation and debate amongst interested educators and others working in the field. Blogging is about Reading and Writing so if you read something, please comment.
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Nice job, Una!
Phil
Cool Tools
I am looking for cool tools that I can share with teachers to allow for a smoother transition to web 2.0 classes. I am happy to note that my school will have access to the intranet for all employees this coming school year. I believe that my instructional meetings will be even more informed and exciting now that I will have common language we can all refer to internet, intranet and visual classrooms.
INSTRUCTIONAL COLLABORATION
Co-teaching in Earth Science. Two teachers, one classroom aide. I am happy that the entering maturity of students and the trust of teachers is working in the best instructional interests of all. The board members/component school district officials will be touring the programs next month. Co-teaching must be highlighted. We are following the work of S. Kuenkel.
Another example of trust and venturing into the unknow is the new class that will be taught by as an elective to Alt. Ed students - Marine Science. Tomorrow the adventure begins. Teachers are the first pioneers. I meet the students of this new class tomorrow - my challenge to them is going to be adventure and trail blazing exploration of a new frontier - special ed. and alt. ed working together to produce high school graduates who are willing to embrace change and leaning in new environments! Who said it was not possible?
Work Experience in the Southern Tier
A Teaching Assistant has been hired to assist the work experience teacher in achieving greater outreach to students with special needs in both the northern and southern parts of Chautauqua County, NY. A state grant secured by the Director of Special and Alternative Education, Danielle OConnor on behalf of Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattauraugus BOCES, will fund this instructional expansion to enhance school to work links. With this position will also be the need to fill the Transition Coordinator position which will tie together the work experience programs of both Erie and Chautauqua County. I will be a member of the interview panel for this latter postion tomorrow afternoon. Our hope is to fill this position in order to continue the work of this program to include all BOCES high school students with special needs registered in instructional programs aimed at graduation. What a tremendous opportunity to sell the need for relevance of education and workl place skills to youth who otherwise may become disenfranchised with this local economy
I Pods
The office has procured ten for use by instructional staff. Today I have identified two people in Special Ed and one in Alt Ed. who will be able to turn key with me the training of other teachers in the use of I Pods for podcasting in the classroom. What an exciting adventure for students and teachers. Another opportunity to bridge the generational and skills gap in schools.
Just today I read a positive referral on a student. The teacher could not figure out how to save a document on the computer desktop so as to use it over and over again - the student came through and helped. Wow! Trust between teachers and students is key to this web 2.0 journey. I am proud to recognize that at one moment in time the roles of teacher and student were reversed.
Co-teaching
Next month Michelle Boutwell, SETRC trainer will be visiting the Hewes Center to have a breakfast conversation with teachers about co-teaching. We are fortunate that we have both content and HOUSSE certified teachers in our High School program. Our challenge is to how best to continue to exploit the best of instructional strategies, raise the standards bar and teach to a higher level of expectation all students in our programs. Sandra Kunkel, co-teaching guru advocates a summer pilot with full immersion. We are going at a slower pace, increasing elective offerings and sharing instrucitional and physical resources. The students are becoming in the process better advocates of their own learning needs. Today I have met two Gen. Ed. students who want to take classes taught by content certified teachers whose employment seniority lies in the field of special education.
How many of us need to be taught HOW (strategies) to learn what is important rather than just content? Co-teaching answers both questions with both teachers teaching to their instructional strengths.