General ed. teachers ill-prepared for students with disabilities

"It's a matter of how do you provide good service for people and kids and yet still keep it within the budgetary realm of a public school?" - Bob Lanzieri


From the CEC Smart Brief:

Teacher candidates in general education often do not get the training they need to handle children with exceptional needs yet they must teach these students with growing frequency, education experts say. East Brunswick (N.J.) Sentinel (8/31)

Developer mulls expanding Google's Accessible Search

From the CEC Smart Brief:

TV Raman, the Google engineer who developed the company's new Accessible Search, says initial feedback from users with sight impairments has been largely positive, but some want the service to be expanded for people with other disabilities. Raman says the "expert" algorithm on which Accessible Search is based could perhaps be used to find sites for people with learning disabilities. Internetnews.com (8/23)

ADHD: FDA requires warning label on ADHD drug

From the CEC Smart Brief:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked GlaxoSmithKline to add a warning label to its prescription drug Dexedrine that states use of the stimulant has been linked to sudden death, heart problems and psychological side effects. An NYU psychiatrist notes that the caution, less severe than a black box warning, does not assume causality. Forbes /HealthDay News (free registration) (8/23)

PINOY PRIDE: TheSpeaks

A young, talented, and charismatic five-piece band from the Washington, DC area are dominating the mid-atlantic area music scene and are completely redefining the global image of rock music today.

TheSpeaks’ amazing live performances and infectious sound have created a loyal and dedicated following within the local, national, and international music scene – with fans all across the world, the numbers are growing fast in the tens of thousands. Over the past 6 years, they have outlasted numerous growing pains to hone their craft and establish their current line-up. This knack for hard work has paid off for the band – their self-produced and self-financed debut CD “Old Man” in 1997 sold 5,000+ copies via gigs/colleges/internet. Their next cd release (November 2003) “Life’s A Joke” recorded at world-renowned Cue Studios, one of the area’s premier recording venues, has had great success by quadrupling their sales. In January 2005, thespeaks signed an international distribution, production and publishing deal with Warner Music (Asia). Their hit single, “Life’s A Joke” has been on the top 30 countdown for over 5 months! Their next single release, “High” will be aired in April 2005 and the music video, directed by MTV-nominated music video director, Cullin Tobin, will also be released on MTV Asia, MYX (Asia), Channel V (Asia) and TFC (USA).

SOURCE: http://www.titikpilipino.com/news/?aid=598

Disabled Boy Scout achieves Eagle Scout status

From the CEC Smart Brief:

Eighteen-year-old A.J. Trueblood, who has Down syndrome, completed his own service project and earned 21 merit badges to receive the top Boy Scout honor, Eagle Scout. The Miami Herald (free registration) (8/21)

Special-ed programs shouldn't catch all the blame

From the CEC Smart Brief:

School systems that fail to meet NCLB requirements need to be sure not to blame students in special-education programs, The Washington Post writes in this editorial. Instead, the newspaper says emphasis needs to be placed on the improvements needed to fix the special-education program's shortcomings. The Washington Post (free registration) (8/20)

Mr. Harry Wong Meets PTN

Filipino Teachers from PG County MD (3), Washington DC (1) and Baltimore MD (119), representing the Pinoy Teachers Network (PTN), were invited as special guests at the Digital Harbor High School Baltimore MD by the keynote speaker himself, Mr. Harry Wong, last Tuesday August 15 during the school’s New Teachers’ Orientation.

Mr. Wong is the author of “The First Days of School” and the most sought-after speaker in education today. More than half a million teachers all over the world adhere to his wisdom. He is a living legend to every successful teacher worldwide!

It was an honor and a privilege for PTN to be personally invited, to have our books autographed, to casually talk and have photos with him. He overwhelmed us with his presence and motivated us with his practical strategies, common sense, user-friendly, no cost approach to managing a classroom for high level student success. Because of his inspiration, indeed every Filipino Teacher will not only survive but thrive.

LOOKING BACK A YEAR AGO...

ADHD: Many children with ADHD still undermedicated

From the CEC Smart Brief:

Despite an increase in the number of children diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, a new study shows that many children with the condition are still not receiving treatment. "Rather than the popular belief that children are being overmedicated... in fact they're being undermedicated," said study co-author Wendy Reich, of Washington University School of Medicine, in St. Louis, Missouri. Topix.net (8/15)

SWAN uses audio to assist visually impaired

From the CEC Smart Brief:

Researchers are developing a computerized tracking system that assists navigation of unfamiliar and cluttered territory by sending audio clues to the user. The System for Wearable Audio Navigation could be used to help blind people, firefighters, soldiers or anyone else in situations that might leave them visually impaired. The Guardian (London) (8/15)

Florida teen with Down Syndrome makes Eagle Scout

From the CEC Smart Brief:

To join the ranks of the roughly 4% of Boy Scouts who attain Eagle Scout, A.J. Trueblood, who has Down syndrome, completed the application on his own and earned the necessary 21 badges before he turned 18. For his community service project, the Lakeland, Fl., teen landscaped a home for people with disabilities. The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.) (8/14)

Stanford launches online high school for gifted children

From the CEC Smart Brief:

Gifted children will likely find the challenge and community they need at Stanford University's new online high school for very bright children. Advocates of gifted education have complained that NCLB has hurt very bright students by forcing teachers to concentrate on bringing up all students to at least proficiency level. San Francisco Chronicle (8/14)

ADHD: College kids cram with ADHD drugs

From the CEC Smart Brief:

College students in Allentown, Pa., report that Adderall, a stimulant used to treat ADHD, is a popular study aid during finals even though health experts say the drug and others like it can carry serious side effects. The pills can be bought for between $3 and $5 apiece from friends with prescriptions, local students say. Lexington Herald-Leader (Ky.) /The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) (8/11)

Learning Disability Online

Let's make students and parents aware of helpful websites:

- http://ldonline.com, then click on "LD In Depth", then click on "Writing". This informative site includes copies of several helpful articles about teaching writing, suggested software for math and writing instruction, a review of Inspiration software, plus suggestions for helping with organizational skills. This site is a definite to visit.

ADHD: New "LD Podcast" offers parenting tips

From the CEC Smart Brief:

Pennsylvania parent Whitney Hoffman in June launched a podcast show for parents of children with learning disabilities, after she searched in vain for such a show among the many that address parenting in general. Hoffman's broadcasts draw on her own experiences raising two boys with ADHD as well of those of a friend whose son has Asperger's. The News Journal (Del.) (8/6)

ADHD: New books say ADHD can be a special blessing

Two new books -- "Delivered from Distraction" and "The Gift of ADHD" -- argue that ADHD, if properly managed, can actually be an asset, fostering creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial risk-taking. Some critics fear that mind-set romanticizes a serious disorder and ignores its downsides. Newsweek

Pioneering teachers embrace interactive technologies

From the CEC Smart Brief:

Tech-savvy educators are pushing their students to develop online blogs and podcasts to refine their reading, writing and research skills. Using headsets and Skype's free Voice over Internet Protocol software, pupils of Texas speech and debate teacher Michael Cunningham are chatting with peers around the world for free. The New York Times (free registration) (8/3)

I found this news, it still holds so true. It's very accurate with my last entry here. How different is this from what we are doing?

SKYPE me!

Last night I was talking to Rox through SKYPE giving me instructions on how to set up my mic and webcam. We set a schedule to have an online conference at 3:30 AM here (3:30 PM Manila time) to have a small talk with his students who are members of the Kilyawan Boys Choir. They have participated and won in the World Choir Olympics which was held last month at Xiamen , China .

Rox was able to organize a web conference of 10 educators/ teachers from all over the globe:

- Charles= Uganda
- Moira = London, UK
- Raine = Boston, USA
- Yaodong = China
- Yang = China
- Sara Yulan = China
- Venny= Taipei, Taiwan
- Maggie = China
- Rox= Quezon City, Philippines
- Marisol= Washington DC, USA

We were all having fun chatting with each other, listening to Rox's students serenading us online during the webcast. It was so wonderful listening to the Claretian Choir's angelic voices, I am so proud of them!

Well, I got my SKYPE status button on the left sidebar now, so SKYPE me whenever I'm available and we can have a live chat. With SKYPE, you can make free conference calls and create multi-chats. Aside from chat, webcast and audiocast, we can interact through a virtual room with a blackboard where any of us can write on and show powerpoint slides. COOL! This is what we did with Rox last night. It's as simple as using Yahoo Messenger (YM) but it has a lot more features. TRY IT!!! SKYPE you later *wink!

***Claret's Kilyawan Boys Choir in Manila Bulletin (click here)

AUTISM: Children with autism benefit from individual sports

From the CEC Smart Brief:



Experts say the rhythmic movements of vigorous exercise can help people with autism cope with sensory overload without social consequences. Highly structured adaptive sports program aim to help children with autism develop fitness skills for life. The New York Times (free registration) (8/3)

Study: Vigorous activity linked to better grades:

Taking physical education classes did not help sixth-graders improve their marks, but participating in vigorous physical activities at least three times a week resulted in a 10% increase in core subject grades, finds a new study in this month's journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. News-Medical.Net (8/3)

ADHD Taking Adderall XR

From CEC Smart Brief:

A small study at the Washington Neuropsychological Institute has found that young adults with ADHD who took Adderall XR once a day drove more responsibly in simulators than peers not receiving treatment for their ADHD symptoms. A spokesman for the Attention Deficit Disorder Association says teen and young adult drivers with untreated ADHD may pose a public health threat. Doctor's Guide /Washington Neuropsychological Institute (8/1)

Registered Teacher Agency?

The recruiter that brought me here was Ms. Ligaya Avenida, under a different recruitment agency. My accounts of this in this entry. She had had so many trouble with the law (Federal and Local), here's to name a few:

ABC7 NEWS

JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER

San Francisco Weekly (this involved death of teacher and family)


... and we teachers here in Washington DC are just few of her victims. Labor Attache Jun Sadusta settled the issues with her by asking her to cut the ties with us since she already did her job of bringing us here.

While surfing the net, I found her recruitment agency under a different name now: http://www.ligayaavenida.com/. What's more alarming is that I didn't find her listed with the POEA, and she's brought thousands of teachers in the US, and is bringing hundreds more this school year.

From the news: "Ligaya Avenida and her partners could face some trouble in the Philippines. Investigators there tell the I-Team Avenida has failed to register as a recruiter as required by Philippine law. They take the issue very seriously."

AUTISM: Former classmates with autism reconnect

In his book "Send in the Idiots," Kamran Nazeer, who as a child attended a New York City private school for children with autism, tracks down four classmates to learn what's become of them. Seattle Times book reviewer Ann E. Yow says by blending his own tale with those of his classmates, Nazeer sheds light on the autistic condition. The Seattle Times (free registration)

Smithsonian Exhibit of Filipino-American Centennial Commemoration

The Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex and research organization composed of 16 museums and the National Zoo in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and 2 museums in New York City. When you visit the Smithsonian, you will see why it represents for so many the treasured icons of our past, the vibrant art of the present, and the scientific promise of the future.

It is indeed an honor for the Filipinos to be given a space by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program to show:

1) Exhibit of "Singgalot: Ties That Bind." Open until August 20, 2006, at the S. Dillon Ripley Center at the Smithsonian.

This exhibit pulls rare photographs from the Library of Congress and private collections together to show the 100 years of Philippine History, following the annexation of the Philippines as a U.S. territory in 1898, as colonial subjects and "nationals," as well as their struggles to acquire full citizenship status in this country. There are fabulous stories of accomplishment and loss, and amazing stories of Filipinos who have contributed to the fabric of this country.

It is highly educational and shows how a colonized people turned into an important and influential American community.

2) Filipino American Curriculum Guide (this is so cute, click here)

Created in conjunction with the Filipino American Centennial Commemoration programs, the curriculum for middle school students provides teachers with the tools to incorporate Filipino American Subject matter into their classes. Also included as a link for students who wish to learn FilAm history on their own.

Information on the exhibit and the curriculum guide from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program website (www.apa.si.edu), click on the FilAm Centennial Commemoration.

It's worth knowing our roots. See you at the exhibit!

PINOY PRIDE: Jose Aruego

I meant to post this earlier but I got too busy. Anyways, last July 16, 2006, Sunday, my daughter and I went to the Smithsonian for Jose Aruego's presentation of his illustrations and books.

That was more than 10 years ago when I first met Jose Aruego in the Philippines. I was a fresh graduate and was working as a preschool teacher in Teacher Francie's The Learning Tree. Mr. Aruego, author/ illustrator of 85 books, gave a really fun presentation to our preschoolers. I won a book autographed by him. I couldn't forget his animal characters which he easily and artistically illustrated, easy to do, the kids had fun drawing them too.

Now my daughter's time to enjoy his children's books and illustrations. My daughter was copying his drawing while he was presenting them in front of a very diverse audience who were all obviously amused. He gave Rae several autographed Children's books and a huge personally illustrated poster of Rae's favorite animals, I will have it framed of course.