2009 Outstanding Special Education Teacher Award

One of my favorite students and the most challenging one did the unimaginable in my classroom after I left the school the other day. It just made my entire day yesterday one of the worst in my life! Since the moment I entered my classroom first thing in the morning, I couldn't focus anymore, just the thought made me want to throw up, I couldn't eat, my energy was drained and was having a migraine all day long! I am not going to tell what happened. I just reminded myself that my love for my students is unconditional, and I love my job because I am directly and positively impacting their lives. This is just one of those days that made me want to cry...

Before I left the school building in the afternoon, my principal told me : "I have something for you, see me before you leave". I said "A gift? Our birthday is coming up!", I was kidding her because we have the same birthday!

So I went to her office before signing out. She gave me a folder and she said, "Congratulations for being the recipient of a national award!" Surprised, I opened the folder and saw an award certificate from the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) which reads:

Be it known that Maria Lourdes C. Angala is the recipient of the Outstanding Special Education Teacher Award.

This certificate is hereby conferred to Maria Lourdes C. Angala to honor and recognize the dedication, loyalty, perseverance, and enthusiasm given to the exceptional students at the Jefferson Middle School. Presented by The National Association of Special Education Teachers 2008-2009.

There was a letter to my principal letting her know of the award bestowed upon me, and also a copy of the 3-page nomination essay submitted by one of my colleagues who believes in me. This job indeed is the most challenging but for me the most rewarding. What keeps me going? You!

2009 DENny Award (Discovery Educators Network)

I love blogging! In the 5 years that I have been blogging here, I have learned many things about special education, about the best practices in teaching, about education policies that impact our schools and students, and a lot about myself (that I can write and rock the web!).

:D Got an email the other day, got another national award for my blog! Part of the letter reads:

I want to congratulate you on winning a DENny Award for 2009. This is the first year we have awarded these prestigious honors to select members of the DEN and I want to thank you for being part of the inaugural class. You have really done an amazing job supporting the DEN community in so many ways and the DENny Award is a small gesture of our appreciation.

And, If you are really confused right now, check out the DEN Blog and you will see the list of award winners including yourself: http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/2009/05/27/1st-annual-denny-awards/

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email or call me.

Can't wait to join the STAR Discovery Educators in San Francisco for our week-long National Institute. I promise to bring back to my colleagues in DCPS all the technology stuff and knowledge on how to effectively integrate technology in the classroom. Two weeks more and I will have more time for some action...bring it on!

Preteen who is gifted raises money to fight hunger

Taylor Graham, 11, who is gifted, has a knack for fundraising that helped him raise nearly $13,000 this year through the "Read for the Need" program to aid an Oregon food pantry. In 2004, Taylor thought up and spearheaded "Read for the Need," which raised $29,000 in its first three years. The Oregonian (Portland)

Minnesota teen with autism earns Eagle Scout honors

Lucas Brown received his special award just last weekend, but what's even more amazing is just how much he had to overcome to get it.

High-school senior Lucas Brown, who is mildly autistic, has completed 21 merit badges and become an Eagle Scout. Brown will graduate with academic honors in June and plans to attend a trade school to study welding and fabrication. WCCO-TV (Minneapolis)

Kindergartner with leukemia uses webcam to follow class

Two Arizona educators and a volunteer enabled a kindergartner with leukemia to attend class virtually in order to protect her health. They set up a webcam system that allowed Amelia Brueggemann, 6, to hear her teacher and see the blackboard in her kindergarten classroom from home or her hospital bed. Arizona Daily Star (Tucson)

Study shows fidgeting may help children with ADHD to focus

Children with ADHD may need to fidget to help them access their short-term memory, according to a study from University of Central Florida researchers. Boys with and without ADHD fidgeted more when asked to recall numbers and patterns, but the study found those with ADHD moved much more. Only when their concentration wasn't needed did the boys sit still, researchers said. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.)

D.C. Council considers program for problem students

The Washington, D.C., Council is threatening to get in the way of a program that has successfully helped some of the district's most troubled students, according to a Washington Post columnist. D.C. START aims to stop behavioral problems when they begin by placing social workers in elementary and middle schools; the program goes so far as to draw together multiple agencies, including police and social services, with the goal of getting to the root of the problems plaguing students. The Washington Post

Effective teachers collaborate

Stanford University professor of education Linda Darling-Hammond, who founded the Stanford Educational Leadership Institute and the School Redesign Network, says the best teachers make time to collaborate with other educators on best practices. The most effective teachers also focus on individual student needs, allow students to apply what they have learned and improve student achievement by helping them better utilize their strengths, she says. The Des Moines Register (Iowa)

High Performing, Inclusive Secondary Schools: A Leadership Institute

Institute Participants Will Gain Knowledge and Skills in the Following Areas:

• Current research and effective practices in standards-based literacy, mathematics and scienceat the secondary level


• Relevant and practical co-teaching strategies formiddle and high school classrooms, incorporatingstrategies for students with and without disabilities


• Strategies to promote social success among middleand high school students
• Progress monitoring strategies based on currenttrends in assessing and grading secondary studentswith disabilities
• Curricular adaptations in a high stakes environment
• Quick and easy strategies across content areas toimpact learning for all students
• Culturally responsive educational practices
• Techniques for building stronger partnershipsbetween general and special educators, as well aswith students and families
• Effective use of common planning time

Who Should Attend:

School-based teamsincluding:

• Co-teaching Teams
• General and Special Educators
• School-based Administrators
• Inclusion Facilitators
• Related Services Personnel
• Other Faculty interested in Inclusive Education

To Register:
Visit www.inclusiveschools.org Registration begins MAY 27, 2009. Space is limited - registrations accepted on a first come first serve basis.

Research looks at gender's role in autism

Ten year-old Tristan Bonnert, who has autism, with his mother Delilah at their home in Columbia, S.C.

A recently discovered gene could help unravel why boys are more often affected by autism, according to a report in Molecular Psychiatry. "We are going to have a much better understanding of the causes of autism over the next five to 10 years," said a scientist involved in collecting data for the research. "We're in a period of great discovery." TIME

Don't use restraints when other methods are available

Better support and training is needed for teachers who encounter students who may become violent. "You only should be using these restraints and seclusions for kids with significant challenging behaviors, and only when they're a danger to themselves or others," said the CEC's Deborah Ziegler. "These restraints are being used on far too many kids inappropriately when other less-intrusive behaviors should be used." The Washington Post/Loudoun Extra

Restraint testimony "startling," House leader says

Toni Price told Congress a teacher's disciplinary actions killed her 14-year-old foster child, Cedric.

Children who died at school after being restrained had their stories told before the U.S. House education committee, which is considering whether restraint is overused on children with disabilities. "This is just unacceptable," said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., the committee's chairman. "This punishment is way out of bounds of what I believe are the social norms of this society." CNN

Craft a more effective behavioral strategy

Behavior specialist Deborah Lipsky offers special educators tips for designing behavioral plans for students with disabilities. Consequences must quickly follow inappropriate behaviors, and positive reinforcement can be used to reward good behavior, she says. Disability Scoop

NBPTS to create Advanced Principal Standards committee

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is accepting applications from educators who wish to serve on a committee for the development of standards for accomplished principals. Applications must be completed by 5 p.m. EDT on May 30. Read more.

CEC, Look who's blogging now!

This month's blogger on Exploring Response to Intervention is Joseph Kovaleski, a psychology professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and co-principal investigator of the Pennsylvania RTI Project. Kovaleski will outline the multitiered structure of RTI and what services should be included at each level. Check it out.

Controversial autism treatment may harm children, some experts say

Dr. Mark Geier (left) and his son, David, say they have developed a treatment for autism that produces dramatic results. (Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune)

Some parents of children with autism are using a controversial drug based on a unconfirmed theory that autism is tied to a connection between mercury and testosterone. Some call Lupron -- which is sometimes used on sex offenders -- a miracle drug, but critics say it is based on bad research and could affect puberty and physical development. Chicago Tribune

Some wary of advances in scientific understanding of autism

Ari Ne'eman, 21, doesn't want his Asperger's syndrome to be cured and fears that the development of a prenatal test might lead to selective abortion. Ne'eman, who founded the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, sees the syndrome as a difference that should be valued rather than as a disability. Newsweek

Last day of school may help students prepare for future

Educators can use the last day of school to help students avoid a summer slide, writes high-school teacher Larry Ferlazzo in this article. Teachers can help their students celebrate successes or press them to think about long-term goals on their last day together, he writes. Teacher Magazine

Students may be taking a vacation from ADHD medication

As summer nears, blogger and middle-school teacher "Mrs. Bluebird" writes that she has noticed more parents taking their children off ADHD medications. While she understands the reasoning, she writes that the students are brimming with excess energy. Bluebird's Classroom blog

Clue to autism mystery found

Researchers find a genetic clue that may explain why autism affects boys 4 times more often than girls. Yahoo News

WTU Teacher Appreciation Event

Our good stewards and teacher leaders were honored last Tuesday, May 5, 2009 during the WTU Teacher Appreciation Event at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel ballroom. Great food, fun, and fellowship! The photos say it all!

Teachers may be affected if Obama school plan is realized

Education Secretary Arne Duncan says that President Obama wants 5,000 of the nation's public schools to reopen, after being closed for failure to perform. Here, Duncan is seen at the White House in Washington after a meeting with Obama on Thursday.

President Barack Obama is proposing to close 5,000 of the most underperforming schools during the next five years, clean house and reopen them. "If we turn around just the bottom 1%, the bottom thousand schools per year for the next five years, we could really move the needle, lift the bottom and change the lives of tens of millions of underserved children," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. USA TODAY/The Associated Press

Canadian teen wins CEC award for play about life with autism

Stephen Booth, 18, who has autism, has won a CEC award for writing a play meant to explain his disorder. His drama "Autism ... It's My Life" is "a firsthand account of a young person speaking to young people. So it's accessible. And it's contemporary," said John Nabben, head of the drama department at a community arts center, who helped Booth with the play. The Windsor Star (Ontario)

Man with autism, ADHD graduates from college

After being diagnosed with autism and several learning and speech disabilities as a toddler, Clayton Tauscher graduated from the University of Tennessee on Friday.

Clayton Tauscher, who has autism and ADHD, graduated with a history major from the University of Tennessee despite his disabilities; he plans to pursue a doctorate. "Seeing his hard work, his perseverance and how he stuck to everything, I'm just so proud of that," said Clayton's mother, Darla Tauscher, who has become a special educator. "God put wonderful teachers in his path and just put the right people there for him every year," she said. WBIR-TV (Knoxville, Tenn.)

Baltimore teacher wins classroom makeover

Janna Chevon Thompson shows her outmoded classroom for dramatic arts and dance. (Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis / May 8, 2009)

A Baltimore teacher has won the Baltimore Teachers Union's Extreme Classroom/Library Makeover contest, winning the chance to transform her classroom, which she called "an uninhabitable learning environment." Janna Chevon Thompson was selected based on an essay she wrote, and will soon begin meeting with designers as the union begins fundraising for the project. The Sun (Baltimore)

Teen with multiple disabilities competes on school track team

Alfredo Castaneda, 15, cannot see and is deaf without his hearing aids, but that hasn't stopped him from running track and throwing discus for his high school. "Whenever I look at athletes, I don't necessarily want to see the fastest or strongest," said coach Adam Guenther. "I want to see who's the most courageous. ... That's Alfredo." The Oregonian (Portland)

Alfredo Castaneda, Glencoe track and field

Proposed federal budget would increase funds for disability services

President Barack Obama's proposed 2010 budget would allot $11.5 billion for special education, $211 million for autism research and awareness and $125 million for mental-health care for children and teens with emotional disabilities. Additional funds would be dedicated to Social Security, civil rights and independent-living programs. Disability Scoop

Teacher keeps in touch with ill student via Skype

Lauren Shields (Lauren Shields' Web site)

A third-grade teacher in New York uses Skype to communicate with a student with medical disabilities who has been hospitalized since winter break. The online tool has allowed third-grader Lauren Shields to communicate with her teacher and classmates. The Journal News (Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, N.Y.)

New York City closes doors to most new teachers

Officials from New York City schools have announced they will fill nearly all teaching vacancies internally, hiring almost no recent graduates, career-changers or other external candidates. The system will hire externally only for speech therapy, bilingual special education and other hard-to-fill jobs. The New York Times

Duncan hears special-education concerns on tour's first stop

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan smiles as he listens to parents and teachers during discussion at Eagle School in Martinsburg, W.Va. Tuesday, May 5, 2009.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (Alex Brandon - AP)

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan met with parents, teachers and students Tuesday in West Virginia, where he launched his nationwide "listening and learning" tour to gather feedback on No Child Left Behind. Duncan heard from a special-education teacher who said her students often are frustrated by state tests that damage their self-esteem. "To have a child taking a test that it is literally impossible for them to pass and having that humiliation, and holding schools accountable for that, that doesn't make sense," Duncan said. The Washington Post/The Associated Press , The Herald Mail (Hagerstown, Md.)

Career-changers find teaching jobs aren't recession-proof

When John Sphar was laid off from his tech job after the dot-com implosion, he reinvented himself, becoming a science teacher at Andrew Hill High School in the East Side Union High School District at the age of 55. But because Sphar is a relatively new teacher who lacks seniority, he's one of 129 teachers in the district who have gotten a pink slip, and could be laid off at the end of the year. Other mid-career professionals who came to teaching later in life are in the same boat and wondering if they will have to reinvent themselves yet again. (Dai Sugano/Mercury News) ( Dai Sugano )

People who recently changed careers to become teachers are being hit hard by layoffs in California. Although many of the educators are older and specialize in fields -- such as math, science or special education -- many lack seniority. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.)

Support, mentoring aids retention of special-education teachers

Key Center teacher Beth Curtis, described by the Springfield school's principal as "a natural," works with student Carlos Hinojosa-Castro. (Photos By Dominic Bracco Ii For The Washington Post)

School districts nationwide are reporting shortages of certified special-education teachers. The position has one of the highest attrition rates among educators. Administrators say successful retention of special-education teachers involves mentoring, training and support. The Washington Post

Videoconferencing blends technology, history lessons

Makayla Newman and Andrew Gillespie of Millerton School keep a close eye on the TV during a video conference with five other schools from across New Brunswick, Wednesday. The video conference was the climax of a project spearheaded by 21 Inc that saw the students make video projects about their communities.

Students from schools in New Brunswick, Canada, are using videoconferencing to communicate and discuss video projects they completed about their communities. "As a whole, it was a great learning experience," said teacher Jane Donaldson. "It gave the kids a good opportunity to research the [area] and it also gave them a chance to use new technology in the production of their video." Miramichi Leader (New Brunswick, Canada)

NEA: Merit pay for teachers should go to NBCTs

President Barack Obama is looking to invest more in merit pay for teachers, and the Department of Education has proposed $517 million for performance pay in the fiscal 2010 budget. National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel said in a statement that the money should go to teachers who earn National Board Certification and seek other professional-development opportunities. The Washington Post

Mother's Day Specials

The Risk of Trying

It seemed likely that Special Olympics would be just like so many of the other events Susan Senator had tried with her son Nat. There seemed to be no place where he truly belonged. But this was different.Find out why.

Celebrate Mothers

Looking for a way to honor your mom this Mother's Day? Make a donation in her name to Special Olympics. Learn how

More!

- Get the family involved this Mother’s Day & volunteer with the Special Olympics

- Take action on all the times your Mom “washed your mouth out with soap” – take a pledge against the R-Word: http://www.r-word.org
- Do something nice this Mother’s Day. Donate to Special Olympics [https://ssl.charityweb.net/specialolympics/?Split=51009]
- Utilize Mother’s Day e-card: http://www.specialolympics.org/mothers_day.aspx

NBPTS lauds NBCTs during National Teacher Appreciation Week

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards extends its thanks to the 74,000 National Board Certified Teachers across the country who are serving our schools and communities. "National Board Certified Teachers are working every day to provide excellent teaching to all students, lead within their schools and mentor new or struggling teachers," said Joseph Aguerrebere, president and CEO of NBPTS, in a statement issued today. Read more.

Does project-based learning improve achievement?

Sophomore Tamika Taylor, front, gets help from fellow sophomore Jasmine Mareko at a computer station at Nanakuli High and Intermediate. Each student has a computer account and has an assigned computer station in classes.

A struggling Hawaii high school is overhauling its teaching practices to incorporate more project-based learning in an effort to boost student achievement with more hands-on activities. "Traditional teaching is the teacher up front lecturing about the subject as the expert. But with project-based learning, the students come up with the questions, they do the research, finding answers, and the teacher becomes a facilitator," said Robin Kitsu, a curriculum coordinator and mass media teacher at the high school. The Honolulu Advertiser

Private-school network sued for rejecting children with special needs

The private Nobel Learning Communities network of schools allegedly denied or kicked out children with disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit. The network "vigorously denies the allegations," according to a statement, and says that of its 50,000-some students, nearly 1,400 are students with disabilities. Disability Scoop

Duncan asks teachers at closed schools to prepare home-based lessons

With more than 430 schools nationwide closed because of swine flu, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan urged affected teachers to rework lessons so students can learn from home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also encouraged schools to stay closed for 14 days to prevent the infection's spread. The Boston Globe/The Associated Press , The Washington Post

Students with emotional, behavioral disabilities learn from seniors

Christopher Anthony, a second-grader at Calvin Hunsinger Exceptional Center, looks up at his “buddy” Evelyn Kusk, 92, after she putts on the green at Mease Manor on Friday.

Biweekly visits to senior citizens in a nearby retirement center have helped some students with emotional and behavioral disorders to practice their social skills and improve their reading scores. Students must behave appropriately in class in order to be eligible for the trip. St. Petersburg Times (Fla.)

Teacher Appreciation

Dear colleagues,

Please know that, second to my students, you are my inspiration in whatever I do in the classroom. From experience I learned that tough times never last but tough teachers do.

For an excellent job this school year, cheers to us educators!!!

Teacher of the Year uses storytelling to engage students

ARCH School students of Tony Mullen celebrate their teacher being named 2009 National Teacher of the Year. From left:Christian Blanche, 18, Erick Gardia,19, Mike Dattilo, 19, Dennis Ahneman,16, Steven Rodas,18, and Nacole Carey, 17. (Helen Neafsey/Staff Photographer)

Special educator Tony Mullen, who this week was named the 2009 National Teacher of the Year, uses humor and storytelling to engage his students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, they say. "He teaches like it's a movie, where you don't totally get [the plot] and he lets it build up. Then he'll say something at the end, and it'll all make sense," says Christian Blanche, 18. Greenwich Time (Conn.)

Discussions with students about missed assignments yield results

Students who refuse to complete assignments at home may do so for a variety of reasons, members of the Teacher Leaders Network said in a recent discussion. Most said private discussions with students can help educators better understand why the work is not being completed and reiterate to students the importance of the work to their learning and grades. Accommodations should be considered for students with challenging home environments, they said, and homework always should be meaningful. Teacher Magazine

Special educator named an outstanding teacher

ANDREA FOWLER (Courtesy Of Anne Arundel County Public Schools - Courtesy Of Anne Arundel County Public Schools)

Special educator Andrea Fowler of Maryland will be honored May 12 for her work to help mainstreamed fourth-graders better understand their lessons. She also co-teaches in a fifth-grade classroom. Fowler, who grew up as a Spanish-language learner in Puerto Rico, says the experience gave her a deeper understanding of learning differences. The Washington Post