Curriculum Based Assessment Resources

In searching for my grad class on curriculum based assessments, I landed here.  So easy to use, so simple, so flexible.  I can't believe I forget about these sites and make my own from scratch! 

http://www.interventioncentral.org/curriculum-based-measurement-reading-math-assesment-tests

This pages focuses on writing

http://www.interventioncentral.org/assessment/writing_assessment_elementary

I also landed on the famous Jim Wright's sites.  Jim has been taking his CBA probes on the road for a long time.  His resources are fabulous

Curriculum-Based Measurement: A Manual for Teachers (Jim Wright)

www.jimwrightonline.com/pdfdocs/cbaManual.pdf

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View shared postGraphing data resources

www.jimwrightonline.com/pdfdocs/cbmresources/.../writing_40_12.pd

A whole lot of resources

http://www.jimwrightonline.com/htmdocs/interventions/cbmwarehouse.php

A virtual workshop on assessment

www.jimwrightonline.com/pdfdocs/cbmresources/cbaWkshpPacket.PDF

ADHD: Questioning the interaction of nature and nurture

My friend, former boss posted a really interesting link from psychology today on social media.  I've been thinking a lot about kids who appear to have some ADHD symptoms and so this link has me thinking about causes and the international differences in kids, families, and perhaps even schools.    
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/suffer-the-children/201203/why-french-kids-dont-have-adhd
 

The article begins with describing a difference in kids diagnosed / treated with ADHD `(9% of school-aged children in US and less than .5% in France).  It is important to note that they don't use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM in France; instead, they focus use a CFTMEA which focuses on underlying psychosocial causes of children's symptoms.
 

It then goes on to describe different philosophies of child-rearing in the United States and France. This too could be a factor in the differences.  The author of the article states, "From the time their children are born, French parents provide them with a firm cadre—the word means "frame" or "structure." Children are not allowed, for example, to snack whenever they want... French parents let their babies "cry it out" if they are not sleeping through the night at the age of four months."

I must admit that while I find the article interesting, it's hard to think that ADHD is totally environmentally determined.  In addition, there have been children and adults I have known whose lives have been dramatically improved by short term and long term treatments for ADHD (medication and / or behavioral therapies) so I would hope we don't go back to thinking, "It must be the parents or the environment."  Sometimes, it is the difference in being able to access learning and thus I would hope that teachers and parents keep their eyes on the goal!

However, like so many conditions of human existence, nature and nurture may indeed interact to determine the extent to which a preexisting tendency will develop.  In some ways, perhaps, it might be like Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and even some forms of cancer.  While we can slow or deter these tendencies in our bodies, the tendencies are biologically determined.  If you are prone to skin cancer, sunscreens, hats and checks will help keep the disease at bay - at least for a while.  If you have the ADHD tendency, your environment can make it a little bit better or a little bit worse, but your tendency is still there.  Sure makes you wonder though....and I sure hope that researchers are looking into to help parents and teachers provide the best framework to help all of us be the best we can be. 

IPad Apps for Readers and Writers

Yes, I am still making my way through a syllabus; however, on the journy, I am finding some AMAZING resources.....this one is a keeper for sure.  It presents lots of great apps for Ipads that would support struggling writers! 
http://www.teachthought.com/apps-2/50-popular-ipad-apps-for-struggling-readers-writers/

Some of my favorites:

 

1, Speak It!: Speak It! is a great text-to-speech solution that can allow students with reading disabilities to get a little help with reading when they need it.
2, Dragon Dictation: Dragon Dictation works in reverse of the two apps we just listed. Instead of
        reading text out loud, the application writes down spoken text. For students who struggle with
        writing, it can be a great way for them to jot down ideas or get help learning.
3. Flashcards for iPad: This app makes it easy to study words, spelling, and other things that  
          young and LD readers might need help with.
4. Alphabet Zoo: Alphabet Zoo is a great tool for helping young readers to recognize letter   
         sounds. Using text and pictures of animals, kids can build their reading skills while having fun.
5 . The Writing Machine: By correlating pictures and words, reading text, sounding out letters,
         this tool helps students develop early literacy abilities with greater ease.
6 . WordSort: One of the top educational apps out there, this game helps kids to learn how to  
         identify parts of speech, like nouns, adverbs, and verbs, as well as emphasizing grammar skills.
7. Blio: Blio offers all the same features of any basic e-reader, and also a few things that make it
         unique. Through synchronized highlighting and a serial presentation view, the app helps  
         those with reading disabilities make sense of the text, something many other similar apps don’t
         offer.
8. iStoryTime: There are numerous titles to choose from in the iStoryTime series, all of which allow kids to have the book read to them or to get help reading it themselves.
9. MeeGenius! Kids’ Books: MeeGenius is another series that’s perfect for practicing reading skills. Those with trouble reading can use illustrations and helpful word highlighting to get help, or just have the book read to them until they’re confident enough to do it on their own.
10. iWrite Words: Named by The Washington Post as one of the best apps for special needs kids, this game-based program helps youngsters learn to write their letters through a fun and engaging 11. 11. Sentence Builder: Through this application, elementary school children will learn how to build grammatically correct sentences, with a special focus on using connector words.
12. Word Wizard: Lauded by The New York Times, this word-focused app lets kids hear the sounds of letters and words through a movable alphabet while also engaging them in spelling practice and games.
I DID NOT DO THE RESEARCH for this post...so give credit to the sources including onlinecollegecourses.com  I did, however, check out the content :)

Ideas for Reluctant Readers

I'm working on a few syllabi this week....and so I am coming across some great online articles like this one....that I may or may not be using!?  See the whole article for HOW to do it! 

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/8-great-ways-get-kids-reading

 

 Pull in Reluctant Readers
 

1| Do some “karaoke” reading.

2| Be word architects.

3| Sniff out the news.

4| Make a Mad Libs book.
 
5| Record an audiobook.

6| Create a graphic novel.

7| Form book clubs.
 
8| Get in character.

 

 

Special Ed Teachers: Connecting Through Blogs

Through my PLN - professional learning network - I have been exploring the web big time this month.  Through a Twitter feed, I came across this is a list of 50 blogs that are recommended for special ed teachers. The source is www.onlineuniversities.com

"While being a teacher is never easy, working with students in special education comes with some unique challenges. From writing lengthy IEPs to working closely with parents and other teachers, it takes a calm, collected, organized, confident, and very special person to work with students who often need a great deal more support and assistance than their peers to succeed. Yet even the best special education teachers can use a little guidance, inspiration, and information to help them to be even better at what they do."

Yes indeed.

Check it out:

http://edudemic.com/2012/08/special-ed-blogs-updated/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I loved.......but please check out the entire list of resources - and bookmark them for the busy days ahead.

1. Teachers at Risk: Teacher Elona Hartjes, a teacher of the year, shares resources and advice.
2. Successful Teaching: Advice on classrom management and more! 
3. Special Education and Learning Differences: Tips and ideas
4. The Cooke Special Education Blog: Ideas for special needs children.

This opinion essay will get you thinking

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/07/18/36frank.h31.html?tkn=TMYFoq2lx4hGW%2FFhSrooY0JybCvFm2Hi4Er8&cmp=clp-edweek

This article about special education appeared in my Twitter News Feed this morning.  It's one to get people thinking and talking while clearly expressing an opinion. Admittedly, the catchy title, Improving Special Education in Tough Times, caught my eye.  The authors are reflecting on their experiences working in urban settings and thus it does not reflect all settings.

The authors suggest:
• More inclusive settings might reduce teacher burnout / turnover.
• Focus on instructional quality.

I think they are suggesting:
• Co-teaching classrooms with differentiated instruction.

My comments:

• Co-teaching can be a fabulous teaching and learning environment for students and teachers.
• Co-teaching is a setting that does not in and of itself assure learning for ALL students. 
• The focus should be on assuring a range of environments AND teaching strategies to assure that ALL students learn because we know that ALL students CAN learn.