Spread the Word To End the Word

I call myself an accidental Special Educator, because it wasn’t my plan to be in this field. I finished BS Family Life and Child Development in the Philippine’s most prestigious University. Growing up with my grandparents who are both doctors, everyone who knew me as a child believed that I was destined to become a doctor. And I was in medicine proper, in full scholarship, when I realized I was called for another profession. I may have failed everybody but I did not fail myself, I believe I am now in a better position.

I did not become a doctor; I became a special education teacher. I don’t look after people’s physical health but the children’s mental health. I don’t dissect people’s brain but their minds. I don’t open people’s hearts but I am able to touch their hearts. Most importantly, I am able to save their lives in a different way. I expect myself to hold on to my advocacy of making a big difference in my students' lives.

Working with exceptional children made me realize that, just like the regular children, they need us to make them feel important. They yearn for our love and affection.

Working with them has helped me to view these kids as productive individuals not merely the “least ones”, for they have exceptional qualities that are waiting to be discovered.

They don't deserve to be given our leftovers: leftover love, leftover laughter, leftover stories, leftover patience, leftover kindness, leftover energy...

Moreover, they don't deserve to be called the "R-Word".

SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD!

Spring!

The butterflies danced throughout the air, a peaceful spring morning with not a care...

Back to work today. I did not get a chance to go out of town, just stayed home this spring break. I had to do some paperwork for my National Board (almost there!) and the DC CAS Alt portfolios of two of my students. But I enjoyed having lunch at buffet restaurants almost everyday, and just spending quiet and quality time with my baby, which I only usually get to do during weekends.

Will go to the Tidal Basins for a walk this weekend with family and some friends. I miss the Cherry Blossoms!

NWP Spring Meeting 2009

After a three year hiatus I will be joining my NWP colleagues again for the NWP Annual Spring Meeting. What is this about?

2009 NWP Spring Meeting
April 2–3, 2009
Washington Court Hotel

525 New Jersey Ave., NW

Washington DC

Join your colleagues in the nation's capital on April 2–3, for the 2009 NWP Spring Meeting. Always an exciting event, the meeting gives writing project teachers and leaders an opportunity to share their classroom successes with members of Congress and with each other. More

We already lined up our activities for the DCAWP Teacher Consultants, I can't wait to see them all again! Here are some last minute reminders from the National Writing Project:

We hope that you have found the Guidelines for Legislative Visits helpful, and that you continue to use them to plan for your visits with other delegates from your state.

Please coordinate your Senate visits and to plan for meetings collectively.

If you are a DCAWP Teacher Consultant, here's our instructions; we have just confirmed our appointment with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2009.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Office
2136 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202 225-8050

Some of us will also be attending the NWP session in the Cannon Building at 8:30 a.m. We need to be there at 8:30 a.m. for the site roll call. DC should be well represented! After that meeting (It’s over at 10:30), some of us usually just hang out and socialize with each other until time to meet with Congresswoman Norton.

I will be there the entire day on Friday, April 3, at the Washington Court Hotel with a keynote speech by Jacqueline Jones Royster, Professor of English at The Ohio State University.

See you there, NWP colleagues!

Dr. Robert Marzano's study of ActivClassrooms

From the Promethean Planet blog:

The Marzano Research Laboratory has been conducting studies of Education Technology and in particular, the Promethean Activclassroom. At the recent CUE conference in Palm Springs, Dr Marzano presented a keynote where he discussed some of his inital findings.

In this great review of the presentation not only do they outline the learning gains they found where Promethean technology was being used, they also unpick a number of the key ideas that really get to the heart of what is needed to make technology work in classrooms.

Promethean Podcast Interview, etc...

Two weeks ago, I received a message from Promethean USA that the Promethean ActivClassroom set that I won from the national blogging competition and the hardware installations should be received by last week. It was our spring break so I won’t know if it was already installed for our Special Ed Dep’t until I go back to work tomorrow. I’m excited!

.

They also interviewed me last Thursday about how I am using ICT with my students and its impact to student achievement. They said it will be on the Promethean Planet website in two weeks. I guess I did pretty well during the interview. I hope I didn’t talk too much!

Yesterday, another Promethean Senior Manager emailed me to share Robert Marzano’s study on ActivClassrooms, which I am going to share later. She invited me to attend the NECC, which is the largest tech Conference in the US. Great that it’s going to be here in Washington DC on June 30-July 2. She also asked me to present, whew! This is a national conference and I really have to prepare for this if I am going to do it. There’s always the first time and I think it would be an excellent opportunity for me.

Earth Hour

I got a chance to SKYPE chat with my brother, who's in the Philippines, this morning 8 minutes before their scheduled Earth Hour (12 hour difference). He was the one who reminded me, he said "It's Earth hour in 8 minutes, I will have to log off".

I went to the website and learned that Earth Hour is today, March 28, 2009 @ 8:30 local time. It's tonight?! Where was I?

I said "Hmmm...I guess we will have to observe Earth Hour everyday here at home to save up on electricity". He said "That's what my daughter said, we'll turn off lights one hour earlier from now on".

Wow, this is a great campaign to go green! Here are some photos of Earth Hour City photos around the world.

LIGHTS OUT @ 8:30 tonight local time! Spread the word!

School board approves budget that spends more on NBCTs

An Alabama school district has increased its budget by nearly $1 million in the upcoming fiscal year to pay bonuses to National Board Certified Teachers. Officials said the money likely will be supplemented by state and federal funding. Shelby County Reporter (Columbiana, Ala.)

It's not all bad news for us. I'm still hopeful that they will come up with something to support and encourage more DCPS teachers to become National Board Certified; something that's good for kids and fair to teachers :)

Two points more, got to get back to writing my last entry. I really don't know why I decided to redo an entire entry when I could have just taken a computer based assessment. Well, I am more confident with what I am doing now. We'll see the results in November. Wish me some luck!

Florida teachers go green to save cash

I love this, and I'm glad I decided to have a paperless classroom this year :)

In an effort to be more environmentally and financially conscious, teachers throughout South Florida are limiting the amount of paper they use. Students are completing their homework online, submitting term papers to Web sites and solving math problems on interactive white boards instead of in workbooks. The Miami Herald

Obama: Some teachers just aren't right for the job

Responding to a teacher's question at a Thursday forum, President Barack Obama called for a way to remove poor teachers from the classroom that does not rely on testing data. The teacher who asked the question refused to answer when Obama asked whether she knew any educators she wouldn't want teaching her children. Google/The Associated Press

United For DC Kids

United4DCKids means working together for DC's school children in a new and different way.

The Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) has submitted a bold and progressive teacher contract proposal to District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). If implemented, the elements in this proposal will dramatically improve teaching and learning in our schools.

The proposal is more than just words on paper--it is an action plan for schools that draws from successful, collaborative contracts from across the region and the nation, and takes a comprehensive approach to addressing the serious issues facing the students in DC's Public Schools.

Most important, the WTU's proposal stresses the importance of accountability, collaboration and cooperation among all stakeholders, essential characteristics of any successful school district.

Do you believe that our children deserve our best effort?

We encourage everyone from all walks of life, wherever you are, to join us in bringing real education reform to D.C.'s public schools.

How?

1. Blogs/ Website. If you have a blog or website, then you can copy and paste this for your blog sidebar/ website widget:

Note: Please email me if you need the HTML code for the widget.

2. Facebook/ Twitter. If you have a facebook or Twitter account, please help disseminate our campaign through your social networking sites.

3. Flyers/ Leafletting. WTU members and volunteers took their message to 25 D.C. area Metro stops, distributing over 4,000 informational flyers to over 4,000 commuters. Please feel free to email Jodie (jeasley@aft.org) if you need some more!

4. Yard Signs. To date we have distributed over 800 yard signs! We are getting calls about yard signs in grocery stores, in lawns and windows all over the city and surrounding areas.

Thank you for your hardwork in making a difference in the lives of our DC school children. Keep the fire burning!

"That I may care enough to love enough to share enough to let others become what they can be" - John O'Brien

Thanks for your support:

- GetLite http://getlite.blogspot.com/ from New York City Public Schools.

Teachers are "master recyclers" when it comes to supplies

Las Vegas educators can turn everything from a windshield cover to tile samples into teaching tools, says the director of the Public Education Foundation. The Teachers Exchange, which has been operating since 2002, offers donated supplies to teachers, and the nonprofit organization is increasing efforts to attract more donors and teachers to the warehouse. Las Vegas Sun

U.S. teachers learn from Singapore's academic success

PRESCHOOL: Children line up in front of their teacher to head to class. Singapore schooling is highly successful.

Singapore's excellence in science and math could be attributed to its high regard for teachers and salaries that rival private-sector careers in science and engineering. Teaching is seen as a profession in Singapore, says educator Linda Mariotti. Teachers in Singapore also receive 100 hours of paid professional-development time. The Christian Science Monitor

4 is the new A at schools adopting standards-based grading

Parents have complained that since the new grading system is based on year-end expectations, 4s are generally not available until the final marking period.

A New York school has abolished the letter system for grading, instead opting to score students on a scale of 1 to 4. This system produces "standards-based report cards" and is based on what students are expected to know by the end of the year. Educators say the system establishes clear expectations for students, but some parents say the report cards are confusing. The New York Times

Teachers using RTI to detect learning problems early

Teachers nationwide are using a new method for discovering whether students have learning disabilities, writes teacher Cathy Estes in the Las Vegas Sun. The process, called Response to Intervention, is designed to discover a learning disability early by measuring a student's progress over time and offering additional support and intervention if necessary, she writes. Las Vegas Sun

Teachers in U.S. working more than international peers

U.S. fourth-graders rank in the middle in reading and math among their G-8 counterparts, a report finds.

A report finds that teachers in the U.S. are contracted to work more hours than educators in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the U.K. Teachers in the U.S. work an average of 1,080 hours each academic year, according to the report. CNN

Too few students with visual disabilities learn to use Braille

Winona Brackett, 12, reads from her Braille science school book on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, in Stuart, Fla. Fewer than 10 percent of the 1.3 million legally blind people in the United States read Braille, and just 10 percent of blind children are learning it, according to a report to be released Thursday by the National Federation of the Blind. (AP Photo/Steve Mitchell)

Only about 10% of children who cannot see learn to read Braille and an even smaller percentage of those who are legally blind have learned to do so, according to a report from the National Federation of the Blind. Many educators instead rely on audiobooks and technology, but the federation says that such approaches leave people with visual disabilities functionally illiterate. The Washington Post/The Associated Press

Violin solo by 4-year old prodigy

Violin Solo by Multi-Talented 4 Years Old Kid @ Yahoo! Video

Dhanat Plewtianyingthawee is the world's youngest artist, who ever had his first solo art exhibition in Bangkok in April 2006 at the age of 3 and a half years old. At present, he paints over two thousand remarkable big and small abstracts and sold worldwide. His talent has been exposed on many local and international TV programs, newspapers, magazines, radio, and international websites. You can find all the websites where his works are listed at www.squidoo.com/dhanat He does not only good in painting but another kind of 'ART' skill that is MUSIC is also considered very good. His music hearing ability was recognized when he was only one year and ten months. He started his first violin lesson when he was only three and a half years old. This video shows his violin solo in the Grand Auditorium of Thailand Cultural Center when he was 4 years and 4 months old he's now 6 years old). Four songs were perfectly played with confidence. Enjoy yourself.

WTU Special Needs Assessment Survey Results

Special Education has become one of the top priorities of the Washington Teachers' Union (WTU) membership and its leadership. In order to assess special education needs within DC Public Schools (DCPS), the WTU administered a survey to its members. For survey questions and results, click here.

The WTU and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) recently had an opportunity to present these survey findings to the Obama administration and staff at the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education during a national discussion on how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds should be used in each state. In addition, the WTU will be using this data to advocate for improvements for DCPS Special Education and options for professional development. Starting this spring, the WTU, AFT and DCPS will meet regularly to develop a plan of action to include short and long term goals for improving Special Education within DCPS.

Thai fireman in 'spider-man' rescue of autistic boy

AFP/File – A sufing "Spider-man". A Thai fireman turned superhero when he dressed up as comic-book character …

From the news.

BANGKOK (AFP) – A Thai fireman turned superhero when he dressed up as comic-book character Spider-Man to coax a frightened eight-year-old from a balcony, police said Tuesday.

Teachers at a special needs school in Bangkok alerted authorities on Monday when an autistic pupil, scared of attending his first day at school, sat out on the third-floor ledge and refused to come inside, a police sergeant told AFP.

Despite teachers' efforts to beckon the boy inside, he refused to budge until his mother mentioned her son's love of superheroes, prompting fireman Sonchai Yoosabai to take a novel approach to the problem.

The rescuer dashed back to his fire station and made a quick change into a Spider-Man costume before returning to the boy, he said.

"I told him Spider-Man is here to rescue you, no monsters are going to attack you and I told him to walk slowly towards me as running could be dangerous," Somchai told local television.

The young boy immediately stood up and walked into his rescuer's arms, police said.

Somchai said he keeps the Spider-Man costume and an outfit of Japanese television character Ultraman at the station in order to liven up school fire drills.

Dolls with disabilities have supporters, critics

Toymakers argue their dolls normalize disability, but some parents say they pigeonhole kids.

Dolls that resemble children with developmental, sensory and physical disabilities appeal to some parents who say they boost children's self-esteem. But others fear the toys perpetuate stereotypes. TIME

How will the economic-stimulus package affect special education?

CEC is pleased to offer the latest information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the economic-stimulus package, and how it will affect special education. Resources include a Q-and-A summarizing portions of the act that CEC believes to be of particular interest to special-educators. Find out more.

High-school student wins regional Braille competition

High-school senior Keila Alequin, who has visual disabilities and started learning Braille when she was 7, won top honors in a Long Island Braille contest that tests spelling, reading speed, reading comprehension and understanding of charts and graphs. Alequin, 18, will compete in the national Braille Institute of America championship in June. Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.)

Special-educators in demand despite recession

Yesterday, I received this email from one of the teachers across the country who reads my blog:

Dear Ms. Angala,

I am currently a Special Education teacher in Birmingham, AL. I am relocating to the Washington DC area for the 2009-2010 school year and I am looking for a job. I know there are many schools where I could work but I would like to narrow my search. If you have any suggestions of a good school district or particular school or organization, I would be really appreciative. As a fellow stressed overworked teacher, I know you are busy so I understand if you cannot get back to me. Thanks again.

List of Vacancies of Schools in the Metro-DC area:

Charles County Public Schools

DC Public Schools

Arlington County Public Schools

Fairfax County Public Schools

Baltimore County Public Schools

There are many job openings for special education teachers around the Metr0-DC area. It's in the news last weekend that special educators are in demand despite recession. Even as some Southern California districts lay off hundreds of teachers, they are hiring special-education, math, science and foreign-language teachers. At a job fair, one district was offering a $9,000 bonus for special-educators. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.)

Students will be able to identify themselves as multiracial

My students often ask me, "Ms. Angala, are you Black or White?" I tell them "I'm Asian, I'm a Filipino, so I'm Brown". "There's Brown now?" they wonder. Then it gives me an opportunity to speak to them about diversity.

In the news, students in the Washington, D.C.-area no longer will have to choose only one ethnicity when reporting information about themselves. Beginning in 2010, parents can check off each ethnicity that applies to their children when they are registering for school. The Washington Post

Teachers turn to technology to engage students

Zack Goins, 16, uses connectors to learn about structure design at Northwest Rankin High School. The STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — program is a creative teaching method that takes students beyond textbooks.
(Vickie D. King/The Clarion-Ledger)

Teachers increasingly are moving away from lectures and looking for ways to enhance their lessons with technology. A Mississippi teacher uses a laptop to teach students about velocity, showing them an animated ladder that falls faster and faster. Less time spent lecturing also means teachers have more time to work with students individually. The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Miss.)

Student who is gifted receives high honors in New Zealand

Emily Adlam wants to get a PhD and work in scientific research.

Emily Adlam, a student who is gifted, is being honored with six outstanding scholar awards in New Zealand. Adlam plans to pursue a Ph.D. and attributes her success in juggling her many activities to thinking of each activity as break from the others, which makes her pursuits feel more recreational, she said. The New Zealand Herald

Introducing Discovery Student Adventures

Discovery Education streaming brings the world to your students every day. Now you have the chance to bring your students to the world. We're excited to announce the launch of Discovery Student Adventures. Immersive, educational, international trips custom-designed with the magic of Discovery.As a valued STAR DEN member, we want you to be the first to lead a group of students on an inaugural 2010 trip. It's the opportunity to take your teaching beyond the classroom as you share the thrill of discovery on one of these life-changing adventures.

• 
  
  Enroll five or more students and travel for free
• 
  
  Curriculum-based trips with lesson plans, student activities and videos aligned to state standards
• 
  
  Opportunity to travel with other STAR DEN members
• 
  
  All the networking tools you need to share your experiences with students back home and around the world

Visit www.discoverystudentadventures.com to learn more. But hurry. The trips will remain with you forever, but 2010 spaces are limited and will be gone in no time.

Boy with dyslexia saves mother's life

William Finkelstein, 9, saved his mother when she was pulled into the bagel-making machine at her South Carolina bagel shop. William's quick thinking allowed him to stop the machine before his mother was seriously hurt. He says he was just returning the favor: His mom, who also has dyslexia, moved to South Carolina in the hopes that her son would receive a better education. The State (Columbia, S.C.)

Column: Teacher training key to U.S. education reforms:

Obama and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to improve education will not be successful unless there is increased emphasis on teacher training, writes Marc Bernstein, a Long Island superintendent. Bernstein suggests that Obama gather representatives from teachers unions and other organizations to study successful teacher-training programs. Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.)

Minn. educators: Classroom technology should survive budget cuts

Every student at Oak-Land Junior High School in Lake Elmo gets a laptop to use in class and take home at night. Here teacher Katy Pupungatoa, left, helped ninth-graders Victoria Amundson, Meghan Jacobson and Laura Ruiz connect a laptop to an acceleration sensor during a class on Newton’s second law of motion.

Despite a lean budget year, some Minnesota school officials say that classroom technology is one area that cannot be cut. At least one district is expanding a program that provides a laptop computer for each student. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul)

Technology takes students along for ride on Iditarod

Students in Bonnie Edwards' sixth-grade class at Tropical Elementary on Merritt Island participate in a teleconference about the Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska. (Michelle Spitzer, FLORIDA TODAY)

Students in 300 classrooms nationwide are participating in the IDITAProject, which allows them to experience and learn about Alaska's Iditarod sled-dog race via teleconference. A Florida teacher says she is using the 1,100-mile race to teach lessons in geography, math and social studies, among other topics. Florida Today (Melbourne)

Software used to boost achievement among students with autism

A customizable online software package has been designed to help teachers and administrators boost achievement among students with autism. AutismPro offers teaching techniques and strategies, and also includes more than 5,000 lesson plans to help educators. T.H.E. Journal

Technology to be the focus of teacher training

About 60 Arizona teachers will receive training in June on how to use technology, such as podcasts and text messages, to engage their students in classroom lessons. "Not all students are excited about school, so you have to use things they are aware of and that might have the 'cool factor' that will get them excited about learning," said Gail Barker of the University of Arizona, which is co-sponsoring the teacher-training program. Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)

Top achievers to be eligible for gifted programs

Smart Brooklyn and Queens kindergarteners and first-graders will have access to three new gifted programs this fall.

Kindergartners and first-graders scoring in the 97th percentile on entrance exams will be eligible to enroll in three gifted programs opening in New York in September. "We're confident there will be enough demand to fill the programs," said Andrew Jacob, an Education Department spokesman. New York Daily News , The New York Times/City Room

2 Million Minutes

This is a documentary called Two Million Minutes (click to watch video), which profiles six high school seniors in US, China and India, and shows how vigorous the other schools are while US kids are cheerleading, parying, playing video games, etc.

"Regardless of nationality, as soon as a student completes the eighth grade -- they have just Two Million Minutes to prepare for college and ultimately a career.This important documentary examines how students in India and China are being better prepared than American students to compete in a flattening world."

It's not quite that negative and does highlight the creative spirit of the US kids, but the implications are clear: we need to do more math and science to compete in the world.

Two Million Minutes: http://www.2mminutes.com/

PS -- Two Million Minutes refers to the number of minutes a typical child will spend in high school and asks, what will they do with that time?

A Parental ADD Resource

I stumbled across the web site of Brenda Nicholson, ADD Student. The mother of 3 children with Attention Deficit Disorder, Nicholson is a trained ADD Coach who began learning about the disorder over 20 years ago. While some of the information is on a cost basis (a 12 week email coaching program for parents), there is also a wealth of general info free for site visitors including subcategory links to specific areas such as ADD and Life Skills, Organization, School and Time Management.

Web site offers free standardized test help

A new site, Socrato.com, quizzes students preparing for Massachusetts standardized tests and asks them to explain how they formulated their answers as a way to help teachers target weak areas. "We believe that we will be able to help students and teachers save time, spend less time on test preparation, and still score higher on the test," said site founder Raju Gupta. The site currently is being piloted by around 1,000 people, this article says. The Boston Globe

School Web site ad sales help ease budget cuts

Some Washington, D.C.-area schools have started selling ad space on their Web sites as a way to offset budget cuts. Schools in Prince George's County, Md., have raised $50,000 through the ad sales since October, and officials hope to raise another $25,000 this school year. The Washington Post

Jonathan Krohn Address

The future of the conservative movement presented himself on Friday, February 27, 2009 and he was 13.

Jonathan Krohn, the author of "Define Conservatism" and political prodigy voted "Atlanta's Most Talented Child" in 2006, was the talk of the Conservative Political Action Conference for a brief portion of the afternoon session.

Watch his two-minute address on "Conservative Victories Across the Nation":

Professional development leads to student success

Our school's MPD (Math Professional Developer), Ms. Domingo, shares how we do professional development during collaborative meetings in her blog. Guess whose classroom is this...

A recent report confirms that professional development of teachers is crucial to student achievement.

Kristin Prager, left, who teaches fourth and fifth grade at Pine Bluffs Elementary School, listens to Laramie County School District 2 "master teacher" Craig Williams during a teacher development session at the school in Pine Bluffs, Wyo., on Feb. 18, 2009. A recent study says students in European and Asian countries that devote more time to routine teacher development score higher than American students on math and science. The school district recently voted to do away with teacher development every Wednesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Mead Gruver)

A Wyoming school district has abandoned a Wednesday ritual of sending students home early so teachers can participate in professional development. Some parents felt their children were being cheated out of instructional time, but a recent report shows the most successful students have teachers who spend a lot of time training. Google/The Associated Press

Testing tips from my students

Because of the results of the last DC BAS which showed progress, my students are very eager to do practice probes and kept reminding me to give them more exercises aligned to the DC CAS. They said they want to be "TEST READY!", I can't believe how pumped up they are!

Following the advice of a colleague here , I asked my students what testing tips would they give other students who want to do better this coming spring testing.

Here's some of their exceptional testing tips:

Before:

• -Put pencils in your backpack.
• -Eat a good breakfast.
• - Don't stay up late.

During:

• -Answer each question.
• -Ask for help.
• -Do your best.

After:

• -Share your worries with your teachers and parents.
• -Relax. It's over.

One of my students even composed a rap, and I was very impressed because he did it in less than 10 minutes and sounded like a pro. Will upload and share it to you later...

Obama shows commitment to teachers, pushes for reforms

In his first major education speech as president, Barack Obama unveiled a potentially controversial plan that includes merit-based teacher pay, a longer school year, tracking of individual students' progress and removal of restrictions on charter schools. Reacting to Obama's speech, National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel said Obama showed he plans to provide resources when he sets policy and is supporting teachers. "When Secretary [Arne] Duncan was in Chicago, what he focused on was not test scores but on teachers who are National Board Certified," Van Roekel said. "He was right. It paid off. That is being paid for performance." Chicago Tribune , MSNBC/The Associated Press , The Washington Post

Stem cells reportedly help toddler see for the first time

A 2-year-old British girl born without sight can see after doctors in China injected her with stem cells from umbilical cord blood in an effort to repair her damaged optic nerves. The girl was able to track objects and recognize people three weeks after receiving the treatment, according to this article. The Sun (London)

Online fight videos trouble educators

As videos of fights involving students attract viewers on YouTube and other Internet sites, some educators are concerned the trend could increase school violence. "Kids are looking for their 15 megabytes of fame," said Parry Aftab, executive director of the Internet safety group WiredSafety.org. "Kids' popularity is measured by how many hits they get, how many people visit their sites." The Dallas Morning News/The Associated Press

Technology-focused projects can motivate students

Blogger buddies: St. Stephen second-grader Jalen Broussard, left, Abby Bilyeu, center, and Connor Lannon work together to make a blog entry on the computer about their classwork.

Michigan educators say elementary school teachers have more flexibility to integrate technology into their lessons, and they are taking advantage of that opportunity. Some Hudsonville elementary students are posting poetry podcasts, and fifth-graders in Hastings are creating multimedia online reports -- technology-driven projects that teachers say help motivate students to learn. The Grand Rapids Press (Mich.)

Obama supports teacher merit pay in education speech

President Barack Obama unveiled more details on his plan to reform U.S. education from "cradle to career." In a speech that aides called a first step to reforming U.S. schools, Obama focused on merit-based pay for teachers, lowering the high school dropout rate and ensuring states have world-class education standards. The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)/The Associated Press , CBS News , The Washington Post/Reuters , Bloomberg

Schools to receive billions in stimulus money this month

U.S. schools are expected to receive billions of dollars in economic-stimulus money in the next few weeks, and there are plans to invest about $100 billion over the next several months, federal officials announced Friday. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sent a five-page document to school officials instructing them to spend the money quickly to save and create new jobs as well as help boost student achievement. The New York Times (3/8) , The Washington Post

On student achievement

This week, the scores from the last benchmark assessments went out. My students did great! They showed tremendous improvement from their baseline scores. Students who scored proficient or advanced in the DC BAS in my school were given a ticket to dress down last Wednesday to reward them because they made a difference for working hard. In one of the general ed classes where I do inclusion (just started this January), only five students were dressed down that day, and three of them were students with special needs who come to my resource class for intervention. As a result, they started getting respect from other students who were calling them "special ed!" or other names to embarrass them. Teachers learned that everyone can learn, achieve and become successful with the right instruction, given appropriate resources and positive supports.

In my school, with our last benchmark assessments results, I have seen tremendous progress from those students who are being taught by excellent teachers; teachers who believe in their students, who have high expectations for them, who teach creatively implementing instructional best practices...their scores were so high!

Some students who scored below basic have the capability to achieve, but their self confidence was very low. I remember when I was still in school, I was an honor student but I performed poorly with teachers who did not challenge me and who were always embarrassing and putting my classmates down. I would never ever forget my math teacher, learning was horrible in his classroom. He was the reason why I still hate and I am still poor in math up to now.

I have some things to say about how excellent teachers, given the appropriate resources and right supports, can impact student achievement based from data, observation and experience. I want to let this out but I will have to stop right here.

Back to state assessments...a 10-year teaching veteran is offering tips on how to prepare students for standardized tests without sacrificing curriculum and teaching time. Heather Wolpert-Gawron suggests that students practice filling answer bubbles, learn common test terms, have goals and be confident. Edutopia.org

Restaurant helps Chinese parent build future for son with disabilities

Jiuhe, who can speak some English, says he likes coming to the restaurant with his father.

Zhao Dongyue started a restaurant business in China to help care for his son, Zhao Jiuhe, 19, who has cerebral palsy. Other people with disabilities work at the restaurant as well, gaining experience for other jobs in a country where attitudes toward people with disabilities are changing for the better. CNN

Blog Award

A refreshing and revitalizing blog award nomination was bestowed upon me by a DCPS teacher blogger, Dee Does the District, and I am humbled by it. Dee is a first year teacher, a DC Teaching Fellow, who is very passionate about her job and an advocate of her exceptional needs students. She is an excellent teacher and very strong willed. I can see a future teacher leader in her. She writes...

I'm going to nominate another DCPS education blog for this award: Teacher SOL. Teacher SOL is maintained by Maria Angala who I regard as an outstanding resource to DCPS and also an outstanding champion for all special education students (and teachers). Although she has several blogs, Teacher SOL, is my favorite. It provides an incredible amount of resources for those involved in special education. And in addition to providing wonderful resources, she is also a terrific mentor to me and other colleagues. She is helping me and many others through this difficult year and I cannot express my gratitute enough!!

Thank you so much Dee, it feels great to be appreciated.

One of the things that make me a better person, or a better teacher, is self-reflection. I love keeping a journal since grade school, and I write poetry, and I doodle a lot during meetings, I record my thoughts. So when I discovered blogging five years ago when I was a struggling newcomer in the US (in DCPS), I immediately became addicted to it. In this blog, I post about the things that are happening to me, good or bad, then I analyze and reflect on how I can make my situation better tomorrow. In this blog I celebrate small victories and small joys and small wonders. This blog is a part of me, it chronicles my life as a migrant inner-city public school teacher, the challenges, how I survived and thrived.

There is one blogger who have followed my pursuits since I started my Teacher Sol blog - Nathan, the author of the DC Education blog. And I am giving him a shout out for all his contributions to us teachers, always keeping us in the loop of what's happening to DC Education. He's been busy but never fails to keep us posted. Nathan, I am your fan :D

Note, if you are nominated:

• 1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
• 2. Nominate blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude
• 3. Link to your nominees within your post.
• 4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
• 5. Share the love and link this post to the person from whom you received your award.

Inventor with dyslexia looks for unique solutions

Winfield Matsler with his sport bike cushion. - Zia Nizami/BND

Inventor Winfield Matsler, 51, uses his dyslexia to spark his imagination. "With dyslexia, you see things backwards," he said. "It made me see things that possibly others didn't see, like a problem and a different approach to solving the problem." Belleville News-Democrat (Ill.)

Artists with disabilities to win recognition at Kennedy Center showcase

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts aims in June 2010 to feature the largest show ever featuring artists with disabilities. "The single biggest challenge people with disabilities continue to face is stigma," said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts, a nonprofit for artists with disabilities. The Seattle Times/The Associated Press

Mentoring Co-Teachers For Successful Inclusion

March 11, 2009 4:00P – 5:45P (U.S. Eastern Time)
Presenters: Lisa Dieker and Chris Mason

The importance of co-teaching and collaboration in inclusive classrooms has reached new heights in recent years. Learn how to work more effectively as a cohesive team providing appropriate instruction for your diverse group of learners.

Participants will be able to:

• Identify needs and strategies for high poverty urban schools.


• Identity options for co-planning, instruction, and assessment.


• Identify ways to overcome obstacles to co-teaching.


• Implement practical ideas for both teachers in a co-taught environment.

If you are an existing CEC customer (member, subscriber, past registrant), please log in and register for the meeting. - Log In

If you have never been a CEC customer, you must create a web account in order to register for the meeting. - Create a web account

Student with special needs crowned queen by her classmates

Bingham High School senior Tessa Feld - who has an undiagnosed intellectual disability - was named queen of the Sweethearts Ball. (Courtesy of Judy Feld)

Students at a Utah school elected senior Tessa Feld, a student with intellectual disabilities who cannot speak, as queen of a school dance. "She was so excited about even being nominated," said her mother, Judy Feld. "I think it was almost incomprehensible for her that she got the crown." The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)

Differentiated instruction challenges educators

BARBARA ANDREWS, a literary consultant from Texas, works during a January session with, clockwise from left, third-graders Tauren Brown, 9, Isabel Quiros, 8, and Nik Faton, 8, at O'Connell Elementary School in East Hartford. The school is part of a "differentiated instruction" program, in which students of varied reading abilities are each given specialized teaching but in the same classroom with students at other reading levels. (STEPHEN DUNN / HARTFORD COURANT / January 9, 2009)

Tailoring lessons to individual students allows more students with special needs to be placed in mainstream classrooms, but the method requires more training, planning time and top classroom-management skills, educators say. "It's a very demanding, very difficult form of teaching," said John Gallacher, superintendent of a Connecticut district. The Hartford Courant (Conn.)

Can Skype help close achievement gaps?

Skype might allow top teachers to reach students in impoverished or rural areas, which could help close achievement gaps, says British education-technology professor Sugata Mitra, whose earlier work inspired the Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire." "Financial incentives are no good if [teachers are] sitting there wishing they were somewhere else -- children sense these things and it has a knock-on effect on how they learn," he said. "Computers cannot replace good teachers but they can get a high standard of education into the schools where they are needed most, while still allowing teachers to live where they want to." ScienceDaily

SKYPE me! ID: teachersol

Dispute may limit Kindle 2's usefulness for users with disabilities

Some people with visual and learning disabilities were excited by a new feature of Amazon's Kindle 2 that reads book text aloud in a computer-generated voice. But a copyright dispute has prompted Amazon to limit the feature only to publishers and authors that pre-approve the automated reading. The Wall Street Journal (free content)

Should schools reward students for good performance?

There is conflicting data on whether rewarding students for good performance in school is effective, but some school districts already have programs in place that offer students money for making good grades or taking challenging courses. Some say the rewards improve achievement in the short term, but could do more harm than good in the long term. The New York Times

Q-and-A: How to better manage behavioral disabilities

Behavioral specialist Deborah Lipsky, who learned to control her own autism and helps schools develop behavior plans, offers advice to educators on improving the behavior of students with disabilities. Negative behavior, she says, is often an attempt to communicate: Meltdowns signal a person's overwhelming frustration, she says, while tantrums are used to manipulate others into changing their behavior. Disability Scoop

Busy Bee

It's been a long week doing some IEP preps (need to finish remaining IEP meetings before March 20) and finishing the DC CAS Alt portfolios of two of my students. Special educators can relate to how hectic the month of March usually is.

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I do not enjoy this time of the school year that much because it's crunch time, few more weeks before the state assessments. I am giving my students skill-and-drill targeting their weak areas and it's killing me because I cannot use my creativity. Most of my students are visual, so I make sure that they know exactly how the questions will look like and how they will be phrased in the test booklets during the DC CAS.

But I still make sure that I give them rewards for their hardwork and that we still have Friday Funday. We're doing excellent so far!

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Few more days before the Spring Break, yes! I need this vacation sooo badly!

Just a two-hour delay?

Last night, my hubby told me that we might not have school today because surrounding school districts will be closed. Expected to have 8-12 inches of snow today. That's what the weatherman said!

I woke up early as usual, checked our school district's website, and there it says a two-hour delay for schools. Great. I will be driving 30 miles going to work on a snowy day :(

DC Weather forecast now says: Today: Windy. Snow this morning will taper to a few snow showers this afternoon. Cold. High 28F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. 1 to 2 inches of snow expected

MD Weather forecast says: Severe weather alert: Windy. Snow, heavy at times this morning, will taper to a few snow showers this afternoon. High 31F. Winds NNW at 20 to 30 mph. Additional snow accumulating 2 to 4 inches. Total storm accumulations 3-6 inches.

When will it be spring?

News says: Washington mayor Adrian Fenty declared a snow emergency in the nation's capital on Sunday afternoon, hours before snowflakes began to fall.

Most school systems in the area of the national capital were closed, and over 23,200 homes and businesses were without electricity, local WTOP radio reported.

I was all dressed up for work, my husband stopped me. "Where do you think you're going?" I said, "Work. We got a two-hour delay". He replied, "OK, if you can drive until the end of this block, you can go". I looked at the front of our house and the street, it's badly covered with 6 inches of snow.

Yeah, I live in Waldorf MD now not three-blocks away from my school anymore. I emailed my principal and changed clothes ready to have some fun in the snow in my backyard with my kids and hubby!

Will post pics later!

UPDATE: And again, we made it to the news!