Hi, I have gotten several ideas on how student support and general education teachers communicate with one another and with parents. One of my favorites is the use of the IPOD! I was hoping for a few more ideas to share with the Parent Advisory Board.
I have some board maker ideas from various teachers also that are kid friendly and parent friendly.
E-mail or send me some samples or ideas.
Ann Loftus
aloftus@linnmar.12.ia.us
Monday, February 7, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Medicaid Kudos and What is the right wording?
Hello All!
It's a snowy day out there and I always appreciate the time to catch up on my "to do list"! Here are a couple interesting items that have come to my desk this past week:
1.) Medicaid reimbursement. Please pass on to all the designated adult associates, bus drivers, nurses and other staff the excellent work they have all done in completing medicaid forms this past year. We have received over 1.4 million dollars in medicaid reimbursement. You might think we are "rolling in the dough!" However, with only 40% of special education costs covered by Federal dollars, we are actually still in the red with a deficit around $400,00. Just think what we would be doing without the Medicaid reimbursement! Whew!
2.) In conversations concerning testing accommodations on IEPs and 504s, it has come to our attention that our wording for testing accommodations may not be consistent. Let's try to see if we can get more consistent across the district....please use the terms "extended time" rather than "untimed tests". The extended time guideline that ACT, SAT, and other testing centers use is 1 1/2 times the recommended time limit. This would be a good amount of time to try to follow for all testing accommodations at any grade level.
If you have any thoughts or comments concerning either of these items please feel free to share...
Stay safe and warm!
Julie
It's a snowy day out there and I always appreciate the time to catch up on my "to do list"! Here are a couple interesting items that have come to my desk this past week:
1.) Medicaid reimbursement. Please pass on to all the designated adult associates, bus drivers, nurses and other staff the excellent work they have all done in completing medicaid forms this past year. We have received over 1.4 million dollars in medicaid reimbursement. You might think we are "rolling in the dough!" However, with only 40% of special education costs covered by Federal dollars, we are actually still in the red with a deficit around $400,00. Just think what we would be doing without the Medicaid reimbursement! Whew!
2.) In conversations concerning testing accommodations on IEPs and 504s, it has come to our attention that our wording for testing accommodations may not be consistent. Let's try to see if we can get more consistent across the district....please use the terms "extended time" rather than "untimed tests". The extended time guideline that ACT, SAT, and other testing centers use is 1 1/2 times the recommended time limit. This would be a good amount of time to try to follow for all testing accommodations at any grade level.
If you have any thoughts or comments concerning either of these items please feel free to share...
Stay safe and warm!
Julie
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I have to get used to 'blogging'
I am going to attempt to check this often! Maybe Fridays of each week.
Back to Blogging...
Hello!
As you can see, I have been a little negligent in posting on the blog..and was really wishing someone would ask me what happened to the BLOG??? I do realize we all get pulled in so many directions, the thought of checking one more form of communication isn't what we may feel like doing! However, I also know if you are like me, communication tends to be my most frustrating aspect of my work and knowing there is this wonderful technology tool out there to help with communication is a gift....so I vow to try to communicate more via the blog and I hope you could join me in checking in once and awhile as well.
Three important items to share today:
1.) Our Parent Advisory group is working on ways to improve some of our communication with parents and other teachers. We would like some samples of what our teachers are using to communicate daily or weekly information about our students with parents and teachers. They would like you to send any samples of communication you have found helpful to Ann Loftus at Linn Grove. Please feel free to send electronically to Ann as well...Ann, Kristin Hatfield from Bowman Woods, and Kelly Von Lehmden (parent from Westfield) are co-chairing this wonderful advisory group. We have had exciting meetings this Fall which have been noted in previous blogs. THANKS FOR HELPING US OUT ON MAKING COMMUNICATION BETTER FOR ALL!
2.)Although it may feel rather cool outside Carol O'Donnell is right in the middle of the beginning stages of summer school planning. As you know, for Carol to have a good handle on the numbers of staff needed for the summer programming she needs to have a handle on the students attending. Please note Carol's email message on the time lines for extended year services and meetings that need to be held.
3.) February 21st will be here before we know it....that is our next scheduled Professional Development Day. It will be a great day here in the district with a Wellness Fair planned for all staff along with other 'healthy meetings'. For the purposes of Student Services teachers, there will be no formal meetings scheduled that day. I would ask that the current teachers that serve 5th grade students and the teachers that will serve 6th grade students please meet together to facilitate any transition questions of services and/or programming for the upcoming 6th graders. The AEA staff can help support your meetings as well. It seems the most challenging transitions occur from the elementary to the middle schools. My guess is that is because of the 7 buildings transitioning to 2 buildings. Thank you for your ongoing work together to help with those transition times!
Finally....thank you for all your continued support and guidance to our students, staffs, and families. I am truly proud of the work that happens within the Linn Mar Community and am always excited to share that with others in the 'outside' world!
Take Care,
Julie
As you can see, I have been a little negligent in posting on the blog..and was really wishing someone would ask me what happened to the BLOG??? I do realize we all get pulled in so many directions, the thought of checking one more form of communication isn't what we may feel like doing! However, I also know if you are like me, communication tends to be my most frustrating aspect of my work and knowing there is this wonderful technology tool out there to help with communication is a gift....so I vow to try to communicate more via the blog and I hope you could join me in checking in once and awhile as well.
Three important items to share today:
1.) Our Parent Advisory group is working on ways to improve some of our communication with parents and other teachers. We would like some samples of what our teachers are using to communicate daily or weekly information about our students with parents and teachers. They would like you to send any samples of communication you have found helpful to Ann Loftus at Linn Grove. Please feel free to send electronically to Ann as well...Ann, Kristin Hatfield from Bowman Woods, and Kelly Von Lehmden (parent from Westfield) are co-chairing this wonderful advisory group. We have had exciting meetings this Fall which have been noted in previous blogs. THANKS FOR HELPING US OUT ON MAKING COMMUNICATION BETTER FOR ALL!
2.)Although it may feel rather cool outside Carol O'Donnell is right in the middle of the beginning stages of summer school planning. As you know, for Carol to have a good handle on the numbers of staff needed for the summer programming she needs to have a handle on the students attending. Please note Carol's email message on the time lines for extended year services and meetings that need to be held.
3.) February 21st will be here before we know it....that is our next scheduled Professional Development Day. It will be a great day here in the district with a Wellness Fair planned for all staff along with other 'healthy meetings'. For the purposes of Student Services teachers, there will be no formal meetings scheduled that day. I would ask that the current teachers that serve 5th grade students and the teachers that will serve 6th grade students please meet together to facilitate any transition questions of services and/or programming for the upcoming 6th graders. The AEA staff can help support your meetings as well. It seems the most challenging transitions occur from the elementary to the middle schools. My guess is that is because of the 7 buildings transitioning to 2 buildings. Thank you for your ongoing work together to help with those transition times!
Finally....thank you for all your continued support and guidance to our students, staffs, and families. I am truly proud of the work that happens within the Linn Mar Community and am always excited to share that with others in the 'outside' world!
Take Care,
Julie
Monday, December 13, 2010
Video Self Modeling for Instructional Purposes
Hello!
There are so many new and exciting ways to integrate technology into the instructional school day. I know several of the Linn Mar staff have asked about using flip videos for recording appropriate student behavior. The key work here is appropriate! Hot off the press coming your way via an AEA staff person is a parent permission form to be used when doing any video self monitoring of a student for instructional purposes. This form will be shared with building principals during a Leadership meeting this week. Please note that there are several important facts to remember when using video modeling:
There are so many new and exciting ways to integrate technology into the instructional school day. I know several of the Linn Mar staff have asked about using flip videos for recording appropriate student behavior. The key work here is appropriate! Hot off the press coming your way via an AEA staff person is a parent permission form to be used when doing any video self monitoring of a student for instructional purposes. This form will be shared with building principals during a Leadership meeting this week. Please note that there are several important facts to remember when using video modeling:
- Parent permission is a must! Parents must sign the form and understand the purpose for the use of the videotaping.
- Only positive appropriate social skill instruction is to be videotaped.
- Videos should never be used to show a negative behavior or to show others a negative behavior.
There are some more facts and information that is available through the AEA staff. Please contact your building consultant, psychologist, or social worker for more information. This staff will have the form available to you as well. Middle school and high school staff will have this information shared via their monthly social skill meeting with Kelly Trier. Please feel free to contact your AEA staff or myself if any questions arise.
Stay warm out there!
Julie
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thankfulness
Hello,
It has been a week or two since I have been able to write a new post. I could certainly give a lot of reasons or 'excuses' to the delay, but I would rather give a list of items that I am thankful for in celebration of our upcoming Thanksgiving Break:
I am thankful for:
-a successful move to Student Services new office area. Please feel free to stop by and see Karen and myself in Room 210 at the LRC!
-AEA staff that support our students, teachers, and building administrators. Did you know the AEA staff are working on a group project with elementary buildings to support students on the autism spectrum in all of our buildings?
-all of the student support teachers that keep our students focused on learning and designing unique ways to deliver instruction!
-guidance from our Department of Education and Ron Peeler, our district attorney to help with supporting families and students by making sure we follow procedures and legal "stuff" in our programming.
-for a Thanksgiving break! May you all enjoy some well deserved time and rest during this Thanksgiving break....(we will get back to more 'technical' messages next week!)
Take Care,
Julie
It has been a week or two since I have been able to write a new post. I could certainly give a lot of reasons or 'excuses' to the delay, but I would rather give a list of items that I am thankful for in celebration of our upcoming Thanksgiving Break:
I am thankful for:
-a successful move to Student Services new office area. Please feel free to stop by and see Karen and myself in Room 210 at the LRC!
-AEA staff that support our students, teachers, and building administrators. Did you know the AEA staff are working on a group project with elementary buildings to support students on the autism spectrum in all of our buildings?
-all of the student support teachers that keep our students focused on learning and designing unique ways to deliver instruction!
-guidance from our Department of Education and Ron Peeler, our district attorney to help with supporting families and students by making sure we follow procedures and legal "stuff" in our programming.
-for a Thanksgiving break! May you all enjoy some well deserved time and rest during this Thanksgiving break....(we will get back to more 'technical' messages next week!)
Take Care,
Julie
Friday, November 5, 2010
Testing Accommodations and more....
Hello!
Ok....this is the second post of the day...the first one was not meant to go out....did you know if you hit the tab button too many times...your blog post will be sent out?! :-)
It is a Friday afternoon in November and I am still able to get by with a light coat....Iowa weather is amazing! Last year at this time I believe there was snow on the ground and the mittens were already on the hands!
One thing that does stay steady is ITBS/ITED testing! Whew! The week is over and unless I hear something in the next half hour, everyone made it through without too many accommodation challenges! Please do note that when an IEP meeting is held, it is always good to review the testing accommodations that are defined for district wide testing. A few areas to clarify include:
Extended time....please define what extended time means...the best guideline is to use 1 1/2 times the set time for a test. (This gets extremely important in middle school and high school programming!)
Scribe vs. writing in the test booklet.....the rule of thumb is to offer a scribe rather than writing in the testbook. We can't copy the test booklet pages (illegal!) and writing in the booklet means the booklet can not be returned!
Small group setting.....hard to define what is a small group...by definition a small group can be two people or up to...a smaller number than the class size....pretty grey area.
Testing accommodations are always a challenge for us, especially this time of year. But as many of you hear me say almost daily...."The beauty of special education is that it is individualized.....the challenge of special education is that it is individualized!!"
From the myths of special education by Thomas Mayes:
Myth: "All this compliance [garbage] is getting in the way of improving student performance." Thomas' reply: Compliance is the road to improved performance. Each compliance 'issue' has a demonstrable link to achievement.
May you enjoy this compliance free weekend with any accommodations that you find helpful!
Have a good one!
Julie
Ok....this is the second post of the day...the first one was not meant to go out....did you know if you hit the tab button too many times...your blog post will be sent out?! :-)
It is a Friday afternoon in November and I am still able to get by with a light coat....Iowa weather is amazing! Last year at this time I believe there was snow on the ground and the mittens were already on the hands!
One thing that does stay steady is ITBS/ITED testing! Whew! The week is over and unless I hear something in the next half hour, everyone made it through without too many accommodation challenges! Please do note that when an IEP meeting is held, it is always good to review the testing accommodations that are defined for district wide testing. A few areas to clarify include:
Extended time....please define what extended time means...the best guideline is to use 1 1/2 times the set time for a test. (This gets extremely important in middle school and high school programming!)
Scribe vs. writing in the test booklet.....the rule of thumb is to offer a scribe rather than writing in the testbook. We can't copy the test booklet pages (illegal!) and writing in the booklet means the booklet can not be returned!
Small group setting.....hard to define what is a small group...by definition a small group can be two people or up to...a smaller number than the class size....pretty grey area.
Testing accommodations are always a challenge for us, especially this time of year. But as many of you hear me say almost daily...."The beauty of special education is that it is individualized.....the challenge of special education is that it is individualized!!"
From the myths of special education by Thomas Mayes:
Myth: "All this compliance [garbage] is getting in the way of improving student performance." Thomas' reply: Compliance is the road to improved performance. Each compliance 'issue' has a demonstrable link to achievement.
May you enjoy this compliance free weekend with any accommodations that you find helpful!
Have a good one!
Julie
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