Maximizing Instructional Time Through Positive Behavior Strategies

Raising student achievement and having a positive impact on student learning are goals of teachers and administrators. Decreasing behavioral problems and increasing instructional time through implementation of positive behavioral strategies in your classroom and school can accomplish these goals. A teacher loses at least 10 minutes of instructional time on a problem behavior referred to the office, meaning 10 minutes of learning lost for each student. This presentation will give teachers and administrators tools to create a positive, proactive environment that supports the learning of all students. Learn how to create behavioral expectations and teach these expectations as well as develop consequences and incentives. You will be actively engaged in a variety of group activities and interactive discussions.

Wendy AllenMonica Ballay
Presentation
Handouts

Labor Day Weekend...labor free?

How was my first week of school? Totally different from the past!

It makes a BIG difference when the leadership of the school, educators and all the staff are working together and are supporting each other. The administrators were vigilant in doing their rounds and hall sweeps and teachers were at their duty posts everyday. Principal Patton and the teachers were there outside the school to greet the students who were lining up to get through the metal detectors. Some students still tried to break the uniform rules, but they did not get past through the teachers before they entered the auditorium to join their respective homeroom. It's good to see the students in their complete uniform, it's like saying "I belong to Jefferson family, and I want to succeed!". I guess we were able to set the tone from Day 1 that inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated in school.

As I've always been doing during the first weekend of school, I have started updating our class portal: http://digitalanthology.blogspot.com/ with the syllabus, encoding the names of my students in my online gradebook and the weekly lesson plans so that students, parents and tutors can have access to my class materials even outside the classroom. Check out http://engrade.com/ colleagues, it is a free grading program that enables teachers to post assignments and grades for parents and students. It saved my job last summer during an unexpected visit from a DCPS monitor! My classblog is an extension of my classroom, and I have links of my classroom presentations and different educational games so they can work at home on their skills needed to be at par with their grade level peers.

In the past I used to feel stressed, pressured and anxious during the beginning of school. This year there are too many things going on. My school is in a transition stage, and this is my first year to teach 6th graders. The pacing guide looks different from the 7th and 8th grade pacing guides and their textbooks are of different publishers. I am teaching both ELA and Math in multilevel-noncategorical resource classes; other teachers told me that I have the most challenging classes this year. Time to be creative and innovative! I have to create a system for myself in lesson planning. I have a lot of great ideas for differentiating instruction but I'm still trying to figure out how to put this on a lesson plan template. My syllabus is done; I have started lesson planning yesterday but I did not finish it. I will work on it and finish it today, because I want to have a labor free day on Monday. Am I stressed?

This past weeks, I have been getting up early in the morning to the call of my 6 month old baby that I don't need an alarm clock anymore. I leave the house just early enough to have my 45 min. drive to work with no traffic and to get a nice and safe parking spot in school. Today, I am doing the laundry and preparing a grocery shopping list, while blogging and constructing a lesson plan in my mind before I type it. Oh, I should not forget to buy my 5th grade daughter's violin required for her strings music class (Charles County Public Schools in MD, they have excellent education!); she's been into violin since first grade. She's all set with her school supplies, and thanks God for a wonderful husband, he takes care of assisting her with her homework while I'm still at work or on my way home. Am I stressed?

I promise to have a labor free day on Monday. I am physically tired but, no, I am not stressed. This holiday weekend will give me the rest and leisure that I need to have a fresh start next week.

Transforming Education for the 21st Century

My school is now a high tech campus! Our "Classroom of the Future", at the multi-media center, is almost finished and I saw a Promethian Board there last week during a walkthrough. Our entire school is now both wired and with wireless internet connection. Every classroom has a telephone from where we can call the parents too when a student is misbehaving. Every teacher has a working computer on his/ her desk (though some of them cannot get their computers moved from their previous schools yet). Yesterday in a 6th grade science class, I saw students using brand new Mac laptops; we have at least two carts of around 50 Mac laptops per cart. There are two classrooms in the first floor with a web conference technology which lets us:

- See every class, students, and educators anywhere in the world
- Share classroom instructions, presentations, video, and multimedia with the click of a mouse
- Demonstrate lessons and view desktops
- Invite others educators and students to collaborate spontaneously

I am so excited to collaborate with my colleagues across the nation (Technology Liaisons from the National Writing Project) and other educators across the globe. I can't wait to integrate these technology into my teaching this school year. I am very sure that I can get my students with special needs, who are visual and kinesthetic learners and are digital natives, to enthusiastically learn. I will have a lot of suggestions to the 6th grade regular education teachers during our collaborative meetings on how we can get this going for our students. I am sure they will be open to my creative ideas. I've heard from our previous principal that Cisco Systems, a multinational corporation which designed these networking and communications technology and services that we now have, will have their small office in our school. Here's a trailer for a 30-minute Cisco broadcast which can be viewed at www.cisco.com/go/education/bizwise

Are you the 21st century teacher?

I made a self assessment here in this post to see if I am prepared for our exponentially changing school system and ready to face our new generation of students called "Millenials".

How about you, do you want to know if you are a 21st century educator? Thanks to the Educational Origami, see for yourself...

21st Century Educator

view presentation (tags: pd technology education educator)

The Adaptor
- Harnessed as we are to an assessment focused education model the 21st Century Educator must be able to adapt the curriculum and the requirements to teach to the curriculum in imaginative ways.
- They must also be able to adapt to a dynamic teaching experience. When it all goes wrong in the middle of a class, when the technologies fail, the show must go on.
- As an educator, we must understand and apply different learning styles. we must be able to adapt our teaching style to be inclusive of different modes of learning.

The Visionary
- They must see the potential in the emerging tools and web technologies, grasp these and manipulate them to serve their needs. If we look at the technologies we currently see emerging, how many are developed for education?
- The visionary teacher can look at others ideas and envisage how they would use these in their class.
- The visionary also looks across the disciplines and through the curricula. They can make links that reinforce and value learning in other areas, and leverage other fields to reinforce their own teaching and the learning of their students.

The Collaborator
- Ning, Blogger, Wikispaces, Bebo, MSN, MySpace, Second life - as an educator we must be able to leverage these collaborative tools to enhance and captivate our learners.
- We too, must be collaborators; sharing, contributing, adapting and inventing.

The Risk taker
- You must take risks and some times surrender yourself to the students knowledge.
- Use the strengths of the digital natives to understand and navigate new products, have the students teach each other. The learning pyramid shows that the highest retention of knowledge comes from teaching others. Trust your students.

The Learner
- We too must continue to absorb experiences and knowledge. We must endeavour to stay current. I wonder how many people are still using their lesson and unit plans from 5 years ago.
- To be a teacher here you must change and learn as the horizons and landscape changes.
- The 21st Century teacher or educator must learn and adapt.

The Communicator
- To have anywhere anytime learning, the teacher to must be anywhere and anytime.
- They are fluent in tools and technologies that enable communication and collaboration.
- They go beyond learning just how to do it, they also know how to facilitate it, stimulate and control it, moderate and manage it.

The Model
- We must model the behaviours that we expect from our students. Today and tommorow more so, there is an expectation that teachers will teach values.
- We, are often the most consistent part of our student life. Teachers will see the students more often, for longer and more reliably than their parents. This is not a criticism of the parents rather a reflection.

Teachers Things To Remember On The First Week of School

First Day of School went smoothly yesterday. I went around the 6th grade classrooms yesterday and introduced myself to each class as the Inclusion teacher, and that I am going to help the students who have different styles of learning by presenting to them the same lessons in a way that they will understand them. I expressed that I will be working with them and their lead teacher to make sure that all students are successful in the classroom. We are starting out the new school year with a strong new 6th grade team and a great group of students! We have high expectations for academics and behavior, and we are consistent and tough, but fair.

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I will be spending the rest of this week going over their IEPs and getting acquainted with those students in my caseload (19 students). Aside from that, here are other things that I will be doing...

Movie highlights inappropriateness of "R-word"

The "R-word" is as inflammatory for the families of those with intellectual disabilities as the "N-word" is for blacks, writes California's first lady, Maria Shriver, who serves on the Special Olympics board. The "R-word" should not be acceptable in the move "Tropic Thunder" nor on playgrounds or at gyms, she says. Los Angeles Times

'Tropic Thunder' OK to Be Stupid @ Yahoo! Video

Are we ready for the 21st century learners?

The 21st Century Learner, they will be in our classrooms again very very soon.

I am a Generation X; and you, a Baby Boomer or Traditionalist? Our students are called "Neo-Millenials"? Are we ready for them?

If we look at the characteristics of the 21st Century Learner, this will provide us with an indication of what our learning spaces should look like. From Educational Origami, 21st Century Learners are:

- Technology literate and adept
- Media savvy
- Flexible and dynamic
- multitasking
- communicators and collaborators
- interactive and networked
- reflective and critical
- instant
- creative and adaptive
- student centric, life long learners & anywhere anytime learners
- have Multimodal learning styles

The 21st Century Learning Space, our classrooms must encompass these characteristics of our 21st century students.

"There is one thing worse than not being able to see. Being able to see, but having no vision." (Hellen Keller)

Take a look at this slide presentation...can you catch up?

Technology...it's all around us...

view presentation (tags: web2.0 digital computers technology)

Gold medalist with ADHD rewrites Olympic history

Michael Phelps has now won his eighth gold medal of the 2008 Olympic games -- more than any other athlete in the modern history of the games -- with a focus that belies his history of ADHD. "It really shows that no matter what you set your imagination to, anything can happen," he said. "If you dream as big as you can dream, anything's possible." TIME , Bloomberg

Special educator finds equine therapy fun, effective

Orthopedic and physical therapy teacher Nancy Hasenstein-Kleffman always dreaded her own sessions to treat cerebral palsy before she discovered equine therapy. "Riding has helped me loosen up, all while I'm doing something fun," she said. PJStar.com (Peoria, Ill.)

Inclusion: How Do We Modify and Meet Standards?

This is one of the sessions that I attended during the US Dep't of Education Teacher Workshops. Participants explored misconceptions and barriers to accessing general education standards in the inclusive classroom. Participants gained strategies for maintaining the balance between rigor and modifying in the inclusive classroom.

Sandra Richter
Presentation
Handouts

We are doing partial inclusion in my school for the first time this year. I'm confident that with all the trainings that I've attended on Differentiated Instruction, Inclusion and RTI this summer from the US Department of Education, OSSE, and DCPS, I will be able to serve the needs of my students in their Least Restrictive Environment. Things are different now, and I want to do it the way it should be. I'm excited to meet my new 6th grade students! Here's a great video that I found that tells about the advantages of inclusion...

Smart WhiteBoard

Boy! Was I so surprised to see my co-teacher's TeacherTube video posted at The DC Education Blog. We've always admired each other's technology skills, and have always shared our knowledge and expertise in integrating technology in the classroom. I call him my tech guru.

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Yesterday, he dropped by my classroom to let me know that he already found a way on how to create a cheap interactive smartboard. I said, "will you make me one?" ...and as what a teacher would tell his student, he replied "I will show you how".

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We went to the staff lounge as all our computers in our classrooms were no yet hooked up. But another teacher was there. Disappointed, we said we'll meet again today.

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First thing this morning, before 8:00am, before anybody else could use the computer in the staff lounge, he showed me this exact video. I was sooo impressed! Excitedly, I asked him again "will you make me one?!" Again he replied, "I will show you how". I already have the materials at home except for the bluetooth pen and the software.

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I did not forget to proudly mention his discovery during our departmental meeting with my principal this morning when one of my co-teachers was asking about a Promethean (another interactive whiteboard). I understand that our school does not have the access yet for additional funds. This cheap interactive whiteboard is going to be a hit, especially that my school is now a high tech campus already. You should come and visit our "Classroom of the Future" when it's ready!

Do you teach or do you educate?

"Education is not the filling of a vessel, but the kindling of a flame." - Socrates

Citywide Literacy Campaign

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) invites all District residents to participate in a new citywide literacy campaign to combat the growing problem of illiteracy and to encourage residents to engage in reading as a daily practice. The OSSE is encouraging District residents to document a 'Day in the Life of Reading' by photographing their families, friends and communities reading. Read more.

Teacher Tips 1st Two Weeks of School

I feel satisfied today knowing that I was able to do things as planned. I went to the Special Education Conference by OSSE this morning and saw some of my past co-teachers at Jefferson now going to teach in DC Charter Schools, even one of our former Assistant Principals was there. I participated in one of the sessions on IDEIA and asked them my burning question:

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"I have special ed students every year who show significant improvements using other evaluation tools like the Brigance, WJIII, and/or portfolio assessments (classroom). But they would always fall Below Basic with the DC CAS, because of their disabilities-- difficulty with computation and basic fact retrieval and poor memory skills, etc -- despite testing accomodations stated in their IEPs. This may not be the right test for their skills. I really want to help them, maybe you can help me figure out what can be done.

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This reasearch http://www.necompact.org/Literature_review.pdf found that, " Although many students with disabilities received accomodations, the impact of these accomodations....was generally small, failing to reduce the gap in performance between students with and without disabilities."

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If I use the DC CAS with accomodations again in spring, I'm afraid that just like the previous years, majority of them will get BB again...we must be doing something wrong. Any advice you can give will be appreciated."

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I did not get a definite answer from the presenters. I was told to email him to follow up on it.

After lunch I went to my school at Jefferson and found my classroom newly waxed and shining! I started cleaning up, arranging the desks, closets, computers, etc. My friend, our new Math Professional Developer, helped me move my stuff from Room 100 to Room 118. I met my new neighbor, the 6th grade Social Studies teacher. I left at past 5:00pm tired but satisfied for what I have accomplished today. I'm getting ready for tomorrow's mandatory training.

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Now here's 5 tips to help teachers get ready for those first few weeks of school.

Welcome Back to School

Hi Colleagues,

Here's an awesome video used on the first day of school - hilarious! enjoy watching!

DCPS Back-To-School Event

I had the Back-to-School Event in my calendar for August 19 (Tuesday) as stated in this memo (see #4). I was upset that it would coincide with this mandatory SPED training. I'm glad that I got the robo call from President Parker who informed me that it was rescheduled:

"DCPS will hold a back to school rally for all teachers on this Friday, August 22nd at the Verizon Center from 8:00 am - 11:30 am. Teachers should report to the Verizon Center at 8:00 am."

UPDATE:

8/23/2008. Of course I did not go to the Verizon Center yesterday. I was told, by my colleagues at the last minute, that the kick-off event will be at the Convention Center. Here's the WaPo article on it.

A Paradigm Shift for Special Education

"Tools for Success"

Mandatory Attendance for DCPS Special Educators and Related Service Providers

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August 19, 2008 Tuesday

8:00 am - 3:30 pm

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Kellogg Conference Hotel

Gallaudett University

800 Florida Avenue

Washington DC 20002

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Making Special Education Better by Putting Children First!

The Washington Teacher blog

Welcome to the blogosphere, The Washington Teacher.

Implementing Reading Intervention in Secondary Schools

Secondary educators have known for years that students lack the reading comprehension skills necessary to understand the challenging content presented in core textbooks. Secondary educators often feel ill-prepared to provide the reading instruction many of these students need. Reading intervention is about much more than hiring a reading coach; it is about whole-school reform. Learn about the critical components that must be addressed in order to successfully implement a literacy intervention program in secondary schools, including data analysis, leadership, professional development and school culture. Learn how a common vision of literacy for all students can change the culture of the school into one where each student reads and thrives.

Tracy Wilson
Presentation
Handouts

The First Six Weeks of School

The First Six Weeks of School. I recommend this book to my K-6 teacher friends to jump start the new school year." Concrete strategies for turning intention into practice. This comprehensive guidebook for K-6 teachers features:

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- Daily plans for the first three weeks and commentary about these plans at three grade levels: primary (K-2), middle (3-4), and upper (5-6)
- Detailed guidelines for:— Building community— Creating rules and teaching routines— Introducing engaging curriculum— Fostering autonomy— Integrating social and academic learning— Establishing high expectations for learning and behavior
- An extensive collection of games, activities, greetings, songs, read-alouds, and resources especially useful during the early weeks of school

Click here for details.

D.C. Teachers to Decide: Job Security or $100,000 Paycheck

This was happening this morning while I was at Logan for the training for new special educators (a refresher for me!)...

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As the start of school gets close, a look at teacher blogs shows D.C. teachers are far apart on a new contract. "It's more money and I think it will bring more qualified teachers into the system and get rid of some teachers who aren't," said teacher Heather Migdon. Teacher Jeff Canady doesn't agree. "This is not pay tied to performance. This is basically a scheme to eliminate teachers rights." ABC7News

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The rift is playing out in a blizzard of cellphone messages and e-mails, Facebook entries and posts on teacher blogs such as D.C. Teacher Chic and Dee Does the District. The Washington Post

CHEERS to our new DCPS Principals!

SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Aiton Elementary School Peggy Mussenden
Amidon Elementary School Almeta Hawkins
Anacostia High School Rodney McBride
Ballou High School Rahman Branch
Ballou STAY High School Wilbert Miller
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Bancroft Elementary School Fay Thompson
Banneker High School Anita Berger
Barnard Elementary School Shirley Hopkinson
Beers Elementary School Gwendolyn Payton
Bell High School Maria Tukeva
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Birney Elementary School Charles Webb
Brent Elementary School Cheryl Wilhoyte
Brightwood Education Center Wanda Fox
Brookland Education Center Donna Pressley
Brown, R. Middle School Darin Slade
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Browne, H. Education Center Keith Stephenson
Bruce-Monroe Elementary School Marta Palacios
Burroughs Education Center Linda Little
Burrville Elementary School Donnie Rutledge
Cardozo High School Gwendolyn Grant
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Choice Academy MS/HS Gary Washington
Cleveland Elementary School Annie Mair
Cooke, HD Elementary School Kathleen Black
Coolidge High School Nelson Burton
Davis Elementary School Joyce Thompson
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Deal Middle School Melissa Kim
Draper Elementary School Sandra Coates
Drew Elementary School Kimberly Davis
Dunbar High School Gerald Austin
Eastern High School William Chiselom
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Eaton Elementary School Jacqueline Gartrell
Eliot-Hine Middle School Willie Jackson
Ellington School of the Arts Rory Pullens
Emery Education Center Ron Taylor
Ferebee-Hope Elementary School Sharron Stroman
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Filmore Arts Education Center Katherine Latterner
Francis Education Center Maurice Kennard
Garfield Elementary School Tammy Thomas
Garrison Elementary School Geneva Williams
Hardy Middle School Patrick Pope
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Harris, C.W. Elementary School Shirley Ambush
Hart Middle School Kisha Webster
Hearst Elementary School Bernarda Tally
Hendley Elementary School Barbara Green
Houston Elementary School Charlotte Whitten-Watkins
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Hyde Elementary School Dana Nerenberg

Incarcerated YouthProgram, Correctional Detention Facility Milo Howard
Janney Elementary School Karen Crews
Jefferson Middle School Stephanie Patton
Johnson Middle School Robert Saunders
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Kelly Miller Middle School Laureal Robinson
Kenilworth Elementary School Fatima Johnson
Ketcham Elementary School Joyce Goche-Grimes
Key Elementary School David Landeryou
Kimball Elementary School Sheila West Miller
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King Elementary School Valoria Baylor
Kramer Middle School Kenneth Parker
Lafayette Elementary School Lynn Main
Langdon Education Center Barbara Campbell
LaSalle-Backus Education Center Richard Rogers
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Leckie Elementary School Clementine Homesley
Lee, Mamie D. School Jo Ann Turner
Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School Carolyn Cobbs
MacFarland Middle School Harold Barber
Malcolm X Elementary School Darwin Bobbitt
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Mann Elementary School Liz Whisnant
Marshall Education Center Margaret Blake
Maury Elementary School Michael Wilson
McKinley Tech High School David Pinder
Miner Elementary School Lavonne Taliaferro Bunch
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Montgomery Elementary School Melissa Martin
Moore Academy Reginald Elliott
Moten Elementary School Margaret Stephens-Aliendre
Murch Elementary School Brenda Lewis
Nalle Elementary School Kim Burke
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Noyes Education Center Wayne Ryan
Orr Elementary School Michelle Edwards
Oyster-Adams Bilingual School Monica Aguirre
Patterson Elementary School Linda Williams
Payne Elementary School Vielka Scott
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Cap Hill Cluster Brandon Eatman
Plummer Elementary School Christopher Gray
Powell Elementary School Mikki Crenshaw
Randle Highlands Elementary School Sheron Colston
Raymond Elementary School Lashada Ham
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Reed Learning Center Dayo Akinsheye
River Terrace Elementary School Shannon Foster
Roosevelt High School Adela Acosta
Roosevelt STAY High School Charles Royster
Ross Elementary School Amanda Alexander
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Savoy Elementary School Anne Evans
School Without Walls High School Richard Trogisch
Seaton Elementary School Douglas Rice
Shaed Education Center Cheryl Taylor
Sharpe Health Deborah Williams
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Shaw Middle School Brian Betts
Shepherd Elementary School Galeet BenZion
Simon Elementary School Adelaide Flamer
Smothers Elementary School Angela Morton
Sousa Middle School Dwan Jordon
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Spingarn High School Reginald Burke
Spingarn STAY High School Tanishia Williams-Minor
Stanton Elementary School Donald Presswood
Stoddert Elementary School Andrianna Kalapothakos
Takoma Education Center Rikki Taylor
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Terrell, MC/McGogney Elementary School Tanya Deskins
Thomas Elementary School Ruth Barnes
Thomson Elementary School Gladys Camp
Truesdell Education Center Brearn Wright
Tubman Elementary School Harry Hughes
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Turner Elementary School Robert Gregory
Tyler Elementary School Terry Dade

Walker-Jones Education Center Jeffrey Grant

Webb/Wheatley Elementary School Scott Cartland

West Elementary School Marlen Moses
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Whittier Education Center Nicole Clifton
Wilson, JO Elementary School Cheryl Warley
Wilson High School Peter Cahall
Winston Education Center Katie Jones
Woodson, H.D. High School Philip Robey
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Youth Services Center Arthur Linder
Phelps Architecture,Construction, andEngineering HS Michael Johnson
Youth Engagement Academy Eric Counts
Hamilton Education Center David Mason
Prospect Learning Center Eve Peterson
Transition Academy Diane McCutchen

Gold medalist found his focus in the water

Michael Phelps was medicated for two years in elementary school to treat his ADHD, but as an 11-year-old he asked to be taken off the drugs. His swimming career was already blossoming and his focus on practicing and improving technique was astounding, says his mother, Deborah Phelps, a middle-school principal. The Boston Globe

1st Annual Statewide Teacher Conference

Strong Schools. Strong Minds. Strong Futures

Statewide Special Education Conference
OSSE and The Special Education Co-operative present the 1st Annual Statewide Special Education Conference "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work" August 18th 2008, 8:30 - 4:00.

The conference is a continuation of the Co-op’s Casey Jumpstart Conference (held every August for the past 5 years). The goal is to prepare and inspire.

ALL teachers, principals and school leaders are encouraged to attend.

This year’s keynote address will be delivered by the nationally recognized professor and author, Mel Levine.

Breakout topics will include:
Differentiation: sessions tailored to grade levels and area of instruction
Interventions: real strategies teachers can use with struggling students
Routines & Rituals: setting the classroom up for success
Accommodations: making them work in the classroom

All Public School Teachers in the District of Columbia: Take the Praxis to Become Licensed and/or Highly Qualified

Praxis Test Fee Assistance Program

Computer-based Praxis I Vouchers Available for tests taken August-September 20, 2008

Praxis II Registration Form Due Date: August 21, 2008Test Date: September 13, 2008

Refer to the ETS Website for forms and registration information at: www.ets.org/praxis
Sponsored by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Office of Educator Licensure and Quality, located at 51 N Street, NE 3rd Floor

The OSSE will fund the test and registration fees for Praxis I and Praxis II exams for all eligible public school teachers in the District of Columbia on a first come, first served basis.

For more information visit: mailto:%20hqt.help@dc.gov or call (202) 741-5311 or (202) 741-5900.

Praxis Fee Assistance Program

Registration Instructions for All Test-Takers

You must be a currently appointed/employed public school teacher in the District of Columbia to qualify for this program.

You are eligible to register for more than one test.

Registrations will be processed on a first come, first served basis for fully complete registration forms until program funds have been expended.

Detailed registration information can be found on the ETS website.

Please send an email to mailto:%20hqt.help@dc.gov if you have further questions.

Praxis I Registration Instructions
- Test fee assistance for Praxis I is only available for computer-based tests taken from August 2008 until September 20, 2008.
- Pick up a Praxis I voucher from the Office of Educator Licensure and Quality - 51 N Street, NE, 3rd Floor between the hours of 1 pm and 6 pm (Mon.-Fri.). You will need the voucher to make an appointment with a computer-based testing center (list available at www.ets.org/praxis).
- Vouchers will be available for pick-up from August 18-September 15, 2008 (or earlier based on a limited quantity of vouchers; they will be distributed first come, first served).
- Bring evidence of current employment, e.g., pay stub, original new hire letter, or other letter from your school’s principal verifying current employment when you come to pick up the voucher.
- To complete the registration process, contact the testing center where you would like to take the Praxis I.
- Voucher recipients who do not take the test will be required to repay OSSE the full registration and test fee by October 30, 2008.

Praxis II Registration Instructions

- Test fee assistance for Praxis II is only available for the paper-based test administration on September 13, 2008.
- Print out a paper registration form from the ETS website.
- Fax the completed registration form and evidence of current employment, e.g., pay stub, original new hire letter, or other letter from your school’s principal verifying current employment to (202) 741-8868; or deliver it to the Office of Educator Licensure and Quality - 51 N Street, NE, 3rd Floor between the hours of 1 pm and 6 pm (Mon.-Fri.). You may also scan and email your completed form to mailto:%20hqt.help@dc.gov. For DCPS employees, an alternate drop-off location is the DCPS Office of Human Resources at 825 North Capitol Street, NE, 6th Floor (office closes at 5 pm).
- The due date for the paper-based registration form is August 21, 2008.
- When completing the paper-based registration form, please fill out all requested information EXCEPT the Payment section.
- It is not permissible to transfer fees to the next available test date. Do not check this box on the form.
- Fill in the Total Amount Due in the Surcharges and Taxes section.
- Write out the closing statement indicated on the registration form and provide your signature.

OSSE will fund all DC required Praxis II tests except ESL: Teaching English as a Second Language and ECE: Education of Young Children (not core areas under No Child Left Behind).

Classroom Organization Tips from Veteran Teachers

I facilitated the special education session during the DCPS New Teachers Orientation today. It is so refreshing to see excited and eager new teachers anticipating to meet their students on the first day of school. DCPS Clinical Psychologists were the presenters for the special education sessions; now I swear that I will work on finishing my PhD in Clinical Psychology so I can join their team soon. It's been long overdue.

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After the NTO, I'll go back to my school to finish moving my things from Room 100 to Room 118. I want to be ready for my new students. Here's some tips from veteran teachers that are always helpful to me:

1. Use accordion folders with 10 to 14 slots to organize anything. It helps to keep assignments, activities, quizzes, tests, and lecture notes in order.
Beth Hayes West Liberty, WV Grade Levels: 9-12

2. Teach your class an attention code. I say "Hey" in a sing-song voice and the class responds with "Ho." This code alerts the children that they need to stop whatever they are doing and immediately look in my direction. This is useful in the classroom when the students are working in centers and I need their attention. If we are on the playground, my class is quickly distinguished from the others by this code.

Angie Dulaney Delhi Elementary School Delhi, LA Grade Levels: 3-5

3. Make a file folder for each child for all parent/teacher communication. Then all year you have a concise record of every note you have either written to or received from parents.
Jerri McCreless Brookwood Elementary School Tuscaloosa, AL Grade Levels: 3-5

4. Collect the kids' school supplies at the beginning of the year so they don't overfill the desks and floors. Label them with their names and do a bimonthly supply restocking.
Jane Armbruster University Park Creative Arts School Charlotte, NC Grade Levels: 3-5

5. You don't have to grade and record every paper or piece of writing. As a new teacher, I felt I had to read through every piece of their work, write comments, and record nearly everything in the grade book. Prioritize what work is important enough to grade, note which students aren't catching on, and then recycle the rest of the papers and worksheets!
NatalieSt. Cecilia School St. Louis, MO Grade Levels: 3-5

6. At the beginning of a new quarter give each student a piece of paper with three bathroom passes drawn on it. They may use them during the quarter, but if they do not, add extra points to their report card grades. It motivates the students to use the restroom during their normal breaktimes, and really cuts back on classtime disruptions!
Marissa Hurley Mt. Carmel School Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands Grade Levels: 3-5

7. Assign each child the number that corresponds to the number in the grade book. Each child writes that number in the upper right-hand corner of everything that has to be turned in. With this done, I can simply put the papers in numerical order and call out any missing numbers. It also helps with recording grades in the grade book and saves loads of time.
Angie Dulaney Delhi Elementary School Delhi, LA Grade Levels: 3-5

8. Make a class list with columns. Draw the necessary columns next to the students' names and assign headings that are appropriate for that specific list. It can be used to keep up as students bring in supplies, money for field trips, and important signed forms.
Sybil Derderian Shrine of the Little Flower Elementary School Royal Oak, MI Grade Levels: 3-5

9. Offer extra credit when you need papers back ASAP. Give the extra credit to all that return the papers within two days!
Jennell Ward Pines Middle School Pembroke Pines, FL Grade Levels: 6-8

10. Make an "Appointment Clock" at the beginning of each quarter. Draw an outline of a clock, but only label the times 12, 3, 6, and 9. Next to these numbers I draw a line. I run off enough for each student and use a different color for each quarter. Then give students 3 minutes to get an appointment (or partner) for each of the times. They must have four different people and can not repeat the previous quarter. They clip it into their binder and the next time I say, "Meet with your 12 o'clock partner" they know exactly who to go to.
JodiLyn Simmons-Machota Dirksen School Joliet, IL Grade Levels: 6-8

11. The first week of school, write all of your student's names on 3"x5" notecards. When looking for "helpers," taking turns reading, or answering questions refer to the names on the cards. This will give everyone an equal chance and keep them on their toes. Use a blank card to separate the beginning and end; when you get to the blank card shuffle the cards before going on. It also cuts down on discipline problems because if students are not doing what they should be, then they forfeit their turn.
Patti Kopp Sigel Elementary School St. Louis, MO Grade Levels: K-2

12. When I was a new teacher, I amassed materials. That was 12 years ago. Since then, I have taught many different subjects and ability levels. I have also moved classrooms more times than I can count. With the wonder of the Internet and scanners and CD burners, it is no longer necessary to carry (and move) loads of papers and books everywhere. If I were starting out now, I would
- a) choose a color-code system and stick to it from the get-go, and
- b) store as much electronically as possible.
I'm preparing to go back to school to a new position and have spent much of the summer re-organizing, cleaning out files (wow, the things I'd forgotten I had!) and minimizing clutter. If only I'd started out that way!
Good luck to all new teachers!
Shyrl Cone Third Grade Teacher Hartland, Michigan

13. Make sure you find out bus numbers for each child before school starts if you are a kindergarten, first grade or special education teacher.
Anonymous

Engaging Reluctant Students

Poor student motivation has become an epidemic in schools across this nation.This session explores a variety of strategies teachers can utilize in their classrooms in order to increase the likelihood of academic success with reluctant students.

Lynn Figurate
Presentation
Handouts

Collaborative Teaching in Inclusion Settings

This was my classroom last year, Room 100.

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I am going to miss my classroom last year; my students enjoyed the privacy and there were no distractions due to hallway traffic because we were at the end of the corridor. The classroom was spacious enough for the eight computers that my students used. We had so much fun and good times in this classroom last year.
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I have spoken with my new principal yesterday about my room and class assignment. I was transferred from Room 100 to Room 118. I am excited with all the changes that is happening now. This will be the first time that we will be implementing inclusion in my school. I will be collaborating with the 6th grade regular education teachers to help my students become successful academically. Although the inclusion philosophy is not new to me, I have never tried this. I have always been a resource class teacher and once a self-contained class teacher. The custodian told me that he will be putting 30 chairs in my classroom. Honestly, I still do not know yet what inclusion model are we going to adapt in my school, but I trust my instructional supervisor (principal) on this. We have always failed our students in the past, and I believe my principal will help us move to the right direction. Every school year is an exciting new beginning. There's always something new to learn every day with my students in the classroom. That's why I have always enjoyed this profession.

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I was searching the internet on something about "middle school special ed inclusion" and I stumbled across the blog of "A Cohort 14 NYC Teaching Fellow". He related in one of his posts:

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This week I had a revelation. In order for me to be a successful teacher (and to feel good about my work), I have to be more involved in the design of the courses that I am co-teaching.Easier said than done.

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What it means, is that I must be a much more active participant in the construction of lesson plans and in the delivery of instruction. It is not enough to simply assist the teacher, or to work individually with the special ed students to make lessons more accessible. I must assert myself as a ‘strategy specialist’ (whatever that means) for the course, not just a disciplinarian in the class.

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The problem is time. Planning time. How is it at all possible to successfully plan three different course with three different teachers with limited co-planning time? I am trying to reach for the ideal, but the reality is hitting me in the face. I’m also dealing with working with teachers who are insensitive to the needs of Special Ed students. It’s not like they (the gen ed teachers) chose this field- so on many levels, I cannot blame them. However, I cannot bear witness, or co-sign on inappropriate teaching to students with special needs.

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So it appears like I need to somehow slip in some sensitivity training into my fellow colleagues.

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So yea, this is my revelation, but also my dilemma.

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And it will be mine too very soon. But I believe that we will get the proper training, support and resources on inclusion best practices in my school.

Team HOYT...The real story of an inspirational love between a father and a son.

Parents, what are you willing to do for your child?


Racing Towards Inclusion (click here) For the past twenty five years or more Dick, who is 65, has pushed and pulled his son across the country and over hundreds of finish lines. When Dick runs, Rick is in a wheelchair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small but heavy, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick.

President Parker's Robo Call

Colleagues, for those of us who missed this robo call:

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CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

On Tuesday, August 5th, Chancellor Michelle Rhee gave an interview on FOX 5 News in which she implied that our teachers were not overly concerned about seniority and tenure. The Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) negotiations team is very aware that our members are extremely concerned about their seniority and tenure rights and will not reach a tentative agree that is unfair and leaves our members vulnerable to arbitrary terminations and no due process rights.

All teachers are reminded that regardless of the Chancellor’s comments, the media and Internet frenzy surrounding the contract informational packet, the Chancellor does not have the authority to arbitrarily modify the seniority and tenure rights of our members. The WTU and DC Public Schools (DCPS) have not reached a tentative agreement on these critical issues and will resume negotiations next week.

There exists an abundance of incorrect and misleading information being circulated via the Internet and blogs. Therefore, the WTU strongly encourages all members to contact the WTU directly if you have questions regarding contract negotiations. (Email: gparker@wtulocal6.org) This will ensure that our members have accurate and updated information regarding the status of negotiations.

You can view a copy of this voice message at your WTU email account.

Thank you for supporting the Washington Teachers’ Union.

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I have been blogging for about four years now. As a responsible, professional and instructional teacher blogger I have discovered how to show good taste. I came to know that it is wise to "avoid pandering to lurid curiosity". More importantly, I learned that "pursuit of information is not a license for arrogance". I am very careful about the accuracy of the information I post here-- more facts less opinions. Here's the Blogger's Code of Ethics to guide us...

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The blogosphere is a very dangerous arena, it can make you or break you.

Reminiscing...

I was holding back myself for the past two days from reading this Sunday's The Washington Post's Education Review which tells about us...the Filipino teachers. Less than five years ago in October 2003, I was in the exact situation as my co-Filipino teacher, Mabel Ventura. I have read this over and over, there is a film documentary by Ramona Diaz already, Baltimore Sun's documentary of Aileen Mercado (my friend), and I have already almost finished writing my book of my own adventures as a Filipina teacher in an inner city public school here in Washington DC.

I couldn't help myself, tears were rolling down my cheeks again this morning as I finished reading The WaPo magazine...and I remember my first year...

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This was my classroom last year.

The road to success is rough; you have to pave it yourself.

- Arnold Glasow -

My first year of teaching has been a difficult initiation for me, most especially because I was teaching Junior High school Special Education in an inner city school here in Washington DC. Aside from their diagnosis of having learning disability, oppositional, defiant and conduct disorder, they were going through adolescence identity crisis, and they were having personal challenges with their home environment.

Back home, in a third world country, I often dreamed of using a better technology to aide me in teaching my special needs students. I was excited when I got here and saw two working computers in my classroom, which was already good for me, but not good enough if I was going to use them as assistive technology tools for my students.

Everyday, I was in constant search for ways on how to establish rapport with my challenging students, to get them to cooperate with me, and to engage them with using technology to accommodate their special learning needs. I was in the "trial and error" stage but I was determined to do what it takes to maximize their hidden potentials.

One day, I was sitting at my computer desk after class while waiting for one of my students. I gave her extended time to finish her classwork.

After a few minutes, she gave me her worksheet. She stood there reading aloud my friend’s email to me.
She couldn’t understand Tagalog.

I translated it for her. "Prices of food and other stuff are just not affordable anymore down here..."

She asked me if she could open her email from my computer.
I let her.
I asked her for her email address.
Then, I wrote her a hello message that night.

The next morning she opened her email from my desk. She announced to the class,
“Hey! Miss Angala wrote me an email!”

It was the first time that she got a personal message from a teacher.
From then on, I get emails from my students, from hello’s, to get well soon’s, to a weekend story, to goodbye’s. Some of them wrote me goodbye poems days before the end of the school year. One of their parents wrote me a thank you letter through email.

Even my husband who reads my email inbox from time to time was surprised.
He said, “I thought your students were mean to you?”
I said, “They were, but not anymore”.

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That was almost five years ago. I am better equipped now, and I keep learning many new things for my professional development. We'll be back to school in less than a couple of weeks from now. It will always be challenging as it was when I was a first year teacher. Sometimes it gets worse. But I am better prepared now and have effective strategies for instruction and classroom management. More importantly, I make sure that I stay focused on the goal: Success...for my students and myself!

Top Filipino teachers encounter new challenges in U.S. schools

My friends and colleagues, have been calling me and emailing this article from The Washington Post which was published yesterday. As I read what she's been through, I see myself again...there's no difference, we went through the same challenges, we survived, and thrived! My story is no secret here ...

Although our new salaries are ample in comparison, veteran educators like my Filipino teacher colleague Mabel Ventura recruited from the Philippines to teach in U.S. school systems at first struggled with the cultural differences surrounding student behavior and parental response. The Washington Post

Inside/Out...School DropOut

Fresh from teaching senior highschools this summer for the first time, I was teary eyed while watching this documentary. The message is very strong...

InsideOut is an emotionally gripping film that exposes the real story about the devastating and lasting effects of dropping out, told by those who live with the consequences every day: Prison inmates.

New RTI Blog ... the field's best thinking on RTI

RTI blog, where experts are sharing their thoughts on RTI. CEC's bloggers will address some of the most pressing issues concerning RTI and its implementation. Learn their insights, ask them questions and exchange ideas with your fellow professionals on CEC's RTI Blog. Find out more.

Nominate a deserving student with a disability for CEC's Yes I Can! Award

CEC's Yes I Can! Awards honor students with disabilities who excel. Plus, every student nominated receives a certificate of achievement. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 14. Find out more

Yes I Can Awards Flyer (pdf)

The Yes I Can! Awards are given in:
- Academics
- Arts
- Athletics
- Community Service
- Employment
- Extracurricular Activities
- Independent Living Skills
- Self Advocacy
- Technology

Eligibility Requirements:
- Candidates must be 2-21 years of age when they are nominated
- The nominee must have an identified disability
- Each candidate is eligible in only one category
- Each candidate must be nominated by one individual (teacher, principal, related service provider, friend, parent)
- International nominations are accepted
- Posthumous nominations are not accepted

Site seeks to spur students' interest in space

A new online program encourages students to learn about NASA's moon and Mars exploration plans. The Lockheed Martin program -- named Orion's Path after the Orion spacecraft the company is designing -- aims to inspire more students to pursue careers in space. Rocky Mountain News (Denver)

Differentiated Instruction

Not all students are alike. Not all children are alike. Children come in all shapes and sizes and with all sorts of interests, and they come to the learning environment with different needs, learning profiles and educational readiness. This session focuses on making the appropriate accommodations and/or modifications to curriculum in order to enable students with disabilities to access the materials in the way they best learn. Gain the tools you need to be flexible in your approach to teaching and to adjust the curriculum and presentation of information to your learners. Learn how to create multiple paths so students of different abilities can experience equally the learning process.

Mark Walker
Presentation
Handouts

Total Solar Eclipse 1 August 2008

I was already cleared yesterday but I went back to my summer school just to see if they still need something from me. Everyone's almost gone, it was graduation day for the seniors so there were not a lot of people there. I only stayed for less than 30 minutes.

My daughter, Rae, had been excitedly awaiting for this day and would tell us everyday to check the weather forecast for Friday August 1 for the total solar eclipse. When I came back home, my daughter was so disappointed. The total solar eclipse was only seen in Canada, Russia, Greenland, China...not in our backyard. Poor baby. I had to check on some good videos from YouTube to show her...

NASA | August 1, 2008 Total Solar Eclipse Preview

Film examines teen culture

A new documentary on high-school culture, "American Teen," exposes the vulnerable children behind the stereotypical jocks, nerds and princesses at Indiana's Warsaw Community High School. The Washington Post , The Boston Globe