Teen with Tourette's aims to improve understanding of the syndrome

Ariel Small, 15, who has Tourette syndrome, has managed despite his tics to play two high-school sports and win academic honors. "Just because I have Tourette's doesn't mean that I can't be a normal person," said Small, who won a trip to a Washington, D.C., seminar meant to help him better explain his condition to others. Chicago Tribune

Finnish teacher focuses on student talent through music

Markku Kaikkonen (left) helps Marko Koivu and other students become skilled musicians, even though they don't read conventional musical notation. Petri Krook/Special to the Christian Science Monitor

A teacher in Finland is using music to focus on the talents of students with special needs, not on their physical or mental disabilities. Markku Kaikkonen uses a teaching technique called "figurenotes," which teaches students to play musical instruments by matching symbols to notes. The Christian Science Monitor

Scottish singer Susan Boyle

Scottish singer Susan Boyle, 47, who has learning disabilities, has become an Internet sensation after her performance on "Britain's Got Talent," a show whose judges include Simon Cowell. Her performance has been viewed more than 30 million times on YouTube, and has moved many to tears. "Susan Boyle is a Disney movie waiting to happen," says Kansas church worker Janelle Gregory. USA TODAY

Stephen Hawking inspires many with Lou Gehrig's disease

Stephen Hawking, shown in Pasadena, California, in March, is hospitalized but said to be "comfortable."

Scientist and best-selling author Stephen Hawking, 67, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, has beaten all expectations for people with the disorder, living more than 40 years with the disease that kills most in two to five years. "To have achieved so much in his lifetime while battling Lou Gehrig's disease is quite remarkable," said Dr. Lucie Bruijn, the ALS Association's scientific director. CNN

Writer grades online teaching tools

There are numerous online tools for teachers, but the five best, according to technology columnist Don Reisinger, are Blackboard, Classroom 2.0, TeacherTube, Engrade and MyGradeBook. Blackboard allows teachers to keep track of student grades and other information online, and Classroom 2.0 is a site where teachers can interact and share tips. CNET/Webware

AFT Survey on Contract Negotiations

False history gets made all day, any day,
the truth of the new is never on the news. -Adrienne Rich-

I was doing my blog hopping routine and I just can't help feeling disappointed at how easily some people jump into conclusion without doing scientific investigation. Why is it that some people continue to admire what they don't understand?

Just like many of my DCPS colleagues, I was polled last week by Hart Research Associates about the WTU's contract proposal and other issues.

I was driving home from work when I received a call about this. I immediately set my cellphone on "speaker phone", I am used to multi-tasking as a teacher. I wanted to take this poll because I wanted to let them know how I personally feel about the two contract proposals that are currently on the negotiations table.

The poll took about thirty minutes I guess. I live 30 miles away which takes me 45 minutes to one hour to get home. I started the lengthy survey just after I left my school and finished a few blocks away from home. Here's a copy of the questionnaire used: aft_survey_questions.doc. It mentioned both sides of the issues. I feel that some of the questions were framed negatively but fairly repeated several times as part of the research tool to get more about the teacher's opinions on the contract proposals. No, I did not feel push polled. The fact that the poll contained negative information about one of the contract proposals does not make it in itself a push poll.

I have read and received enough information about the two contract proposals to know which contract proposal talks about real education reform and is truly sincere about what is good for the students and fair to teachers. Based from the realities that are currently happening in our schools and in our classrooms on a daily basis, I believe that, just like me, majority of my colleagues were able to take the survey honestly...results will give us the truth.

Question: If hands-free celphone use was a distraction to driving, wouldn't be listening to music, talking to another passager, sight seeing or engaging in other activities more distracting? Just a thought...

What is the best way to gauge a teacher's effectiveness?

At O.L. Smith Middle School in Dearborn, teacher Patty Faletti helps Eric Zielinski, 13, find information for a class project last month. The state says emphasizing classroom effectiveness helps ensure students can meet higher state standards set for them.

Michigan officials are looking to revamp requirements for licensing teachers and are considering tying teachers' effectiveness to their ability to get and keep a teaching license. June Teisan, a National Board Certified Teacher and a former Michigan Teacher of the Year, says she supports a system that assesses teachers based on several factors. "To be a good teacher, you have to have heart for the kids, integrity to push for excellence and a lot of creativity. And it takes stamina like you wouldn't believe," Teisan said. Detroit Free Press

Michael Phelps' mother recalls childhood lessons in memoir

In an Aug. 20, 2008 file photo Debbie Phelps, mother of Olympic gold medalist swimmer Michael Phelps, is interviewed in New York. Debbie Phelps' book "A Mother For All Seasons" will hit the shelves on Tuesday April 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Richard Drew/file)

The mother of Olympic champion Michael Phelps has co-written a book about raising her three children, including Michael, who has ADHD. Debbie Phelps, a school principal, also reflects on her son's more recent troubles in the memoir. The Charlotte Observer (N.C.)

Classroom of the Future

We have a prototype Classroom of the Future in my school at Jefferson. Here's a video of the future of education technology in this vision of an advanced technology classroom of the future showing a smart classroom in a university or k-12 educational environment.

Virtual schools praised for innovation, individualization

Online charter schools that allow children to work at their own pace may end up big winners in U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan's plan to fund more innovative education methods. A Chicago virtual school is drawing kudos from parents for challenging top students as well as helping those with learning disabilities. Chicago Tribune

Education secretary: School day, year should be lengthened

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said Tuesday that his plans for school reform include making sure students spend more time in school. "I fundamentally think that our school day is too short, our school week is too short and our school year is too short. You're competing for jobs with kids from India and China. I think schools should be open six, seven days a week, 11, 12 months a year," Duncan said while touring two Denver schools. KUSA-TV (Denver)/The Associated Press ,

I'm pretty sure he's watched this documentary "2 Million Minutes".

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.

Students must take responsibility for education

A Nevada teacher writes that educators have a role in ensuring students take responsibility for their own education. Cathy Estes, who teaches fourth and fifth grades, writes that while the outcome of a student's education is ultimately up the student, teachers must have a mastery of teaching and understand best practices for ensuring student success. Las Vegas Sun

And off it goes...

I can now relax and focus on more pressing concerns that affect my profession. I finally shipped my Blue Box for my National Board Certification this morning. The long wait for the results is going to be more excruciating. But I am confident that I will certify this time...2 points more... I just hope that nothing goes wrong technically. Wish me luck.

What if I don't certify? It doesn't matter. I definitely feel that I am a better teacher now than three years ago before I started the National Board process. I have completely forgotten myself and focused solely to improving my teaching as measured by student achievement. Spending more than 200 hours every year during the process, constant reflection of teaching practices, video review of my lessons making sure that it has rigor, collating evidence and artifacts of student achievement, going back and forth over and over. This process has made me the teacher that my students deserve.

I am glad that I do not have to leave the classroom to achieve recognition. I can become accomplished even if I do not become an administrator. I love being a classroom teacher knowing that I am directly impacting the lives of my students.

Multiple disabilities don't stop student drummer

Lyndon White, 17, who suffers from physical disabilities so severe that he is unable to speak, has won a national award for handicapped youth for his work with the Sidney Lanier School percussion ensemble. White is shown in class on March 30.

Lyndon White, 17, has cerebral palsy, physical and mental disabilities, is nearly deaf and cannot speak, but the Florida teen is a talented drummer who has played at Disney World and recently won a CEC "Yes I Can" award for his accomplishments. "He's the centerpiece of what we do in our percussion ensemble," said Lyndon's music teacher, Don DeVito. "He communicates at a very high level musically." The Gainesville Sun (Fla.)

Assistive technology enhances "Circus of the Senses"

Ben Nguyen, 15, was among a group of developmentally and visually disabled Lowell residents enjoying the show. SUN / AMANDA-BETH POTTER

The founders of the Big Apple Circus described each act of their special "Circus of the Senses," and their words were beamed into infrared listening devices for audience members with visual disabilities who attended the free performance in Boston. Those with hearing disabilities and developmental disabilities also enjoyed the performance designed for people with special needs. The Sun (Lowell, Mass.)

NBPTS works to increase teacher quality in high-need schools

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has created several initiatives to put more National Board Certified Teachers in high-needs schools. Through the organization's "Targeted High-Need Initiative" program, efforts are under way with schools, state and local education agencies, and the higher-education community to support teachers pursuing National Board Certification in Title I schools. Read more

Union members excluded from salary freeze in Cleveland

Teachers union members are being excluded -- for now -- from a salary freeze affecting administrators and nonunion employees in the Cleveland school district. The freeze is expected to save the district about $1.7 million and help avoid layoffs. The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

Treat disabilities as a difference, not a deficit

High-school senior Kim Kelderhouse hated being classified as having learning disabilities. She writes in the Traverse City Record-Eagle that after spending a few years in special education, her improvement plateaued. But when she went to a school where her learning disabilities were treated as a different style of learning rather than as a deficit, she writes, she was driven to overcome her challenges. Traverse City Record-Eagle (Mich.)

Students with sensory disabilities hunt for special Easter eggs

Cory Steel, 14, finds a beeping egg during a special Easter egg hunt for hearing- and visually impaired students from the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

An Arizona Easter egg hunt featured beeping eggs to help students with visual disabilities find them. "It was like there were a lot of crickets chirping out here," said Keith Hinton, 21, a student at Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind who cannot see. "It wasn't easy to find an egg, but considering I found one, I'm happy." Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)

DEN National Institute 2009

I have a Plan B in case I don't get accepted for a fellowship this summer. And this is another exciting event that I look forward to...

Congratulations on being selected to attend the Discovery Educator Network’s National Institute on July 13-17, 2009 at the Headlands Institute in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We are very excited about this opportunity to connect you with fellow STARs from all over the country.

We received a lot of great applications this year - many more than we were able to accept. Each application went through a blind review process and was scored by six different members of the DEN team.

Thank you for being such an active member of the DEN!

The next step, if you are still interested in attending, is to send me (lance_rougeux@discovery.com) an email confirming your acceptance of a spot at the DEN National Institute.

We have a very long waiting list so you must let me know by Friday, April 24, 2009 at 5 PM EDT. If I do not hear from you by then, we will give your spot to another STAR on the waiting list.

After the RSVP window closes and we have a confirmed list of attendees (Monday, April 27), I will send out additional information to help you coordinate travel plans with each other, etc. However, if you want to search for flights in the interim we will be starting on Monday, July 13 at 2 PM PDT and finishing at 12 PM PDT on Friday, July 17. The closest major airport is San Francisco International (SFO).

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to send me an email (lance_rougeux@discovery.com).

On behalf of the entire DEN team, CONGRATULATIONS!

Lance Rougeux
Director, Discovery Educator Network
Discovery Education
One Discovery Place
Silver Spring, MD 20910
C: 717-215-6418
Toll Free Support: 800-323-9084

Resume blogging...

I apologize for not updating for more than a week. Too many exciting things are happening around me and I am taking it one step at a time.

I'm done with my DC CAS Alt Portfolios finally! Will have it picked up by UPS on Tuesday.

I'm going to finalize the drafts and finish my National Board entry today, box it and ship it before the day ends. But it's a holiday today, I wonder if FedEx is open for business...

I am a person who makes things happen. I have some excellent ideas and I am getting great support. There is no better time to start taking positive action than right now. I researched and I have confidence in my preparations. Experience has made me tough to do the big things in life like taking risks, admitting mistakes, and changing bad habits. I'm ready for some more action!

Monthly Progress Report

Thanks to my loyal readers, our blog is making good progress :D