You win some and you lose some. 1897 Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs

whew.....

I was having computer problems for awhile but now everything is working again. And the Christmas season is upon us!

Learning to win and learning to lose is important when working with young children. Children tend to watch a lot of television and hear a lot of stories AND almost always the main character that the child identifies with wins in the end. Often we let small children win when we play with them, so it can come as a shock when the begin to play with their peers and don't always win. So, don't forget to give your child opportunities to lose and let them know that gracious losers are also winners!

Whether You Think You Can or You think You Can't, You're Always Right

A lot of my job is convincing kids that they can do it. This time of the year, that often involves hooking into the excitement of the season. Kids who are struggling with adding and subtracting, find it easier when we're adding and subtracting pumpkins. So take advantage of the season and Happy Halloween!

MAPS

"Look where you're going instead of where you've been and you'll quit running into stuff."

Jodi Turner's dad told her when she played softball as a kid. Today is a day when we're looking where we're going. It's a late start day that most of the teachers are using to get "MAPS" training. MAPS is a computerized assessment program that we're beginning to use for students in the 2nd grade through high school. It adapts to the students level, offering easier questions when a student misses items and more difficult questions when a student is correct. The beauty of the program is that we can get results for students that tell us where we should be going and who else in our class needs the same skills taught so that we have the knowledge needed to figure out how to group for effective instruction without "tracking". The down-side is, this is a powerful, complicated system that is going to take us awhile to figure out how to use, and even longer to use efficiently and effectively. And we're all so busy teaching day to day that we don't have a lot of time learn how to use this new tool to "look where we're going". So....... today we have been given a few hours to do just that.

A PROMISE IS A PROMISE, 220 BC The Home Book of Proverbs

whew.....

I just spent my entire planning period figuring out how to "reset" my blog account. I was told why this had to be done but it was technical and unimportant. What was important is that I had to go through the process....... follow the directions........ (sent in multiple e-mails and requiring a verification number that was sent to my phone) in order to continue writing in this blog. But I made myself a promise that I would do better with this year's blog than last year. So......

And from the students also; I don't expect miraculous over-night change. I'm looking for a improvement over time and a firm promise: a steady commitment to doing what needs to be done; making the attempt, that will lead inevitably to increased achievement.

Be it ever so humble there's no place like home. John Howard Payne 1823

A word about homework

This Friday, in their take home packets, most of our Parkside students will have homework. There's lots of good reasons for homework and there's lots of advice for parents and students about how to manage homework, but I'm not going to talk about either of those things.

What I want to share is: what to do when the homework is TOO HARD, or TOO FRUSTRATING!

The most important thing is communicate with your child's teachers! Sometimes you just need to know a little bit more about what is being asked or what the expectations are. Sometimes you need a trick, for example a different way to study the spelling words. Sometimes you can do the paper in a different way. For example, some kids are writing on their own, some kids really benefit from dictating and then reading what they've dictated. While some kids can read the practice story, some kids should be looking for a particular letter and circling it each time they find it and then only reading those words (with help).

So if you, or your child are frustrated by the homework, communicate with the teacher. If your child has an IEP be sure and let the IEP teacher know about the problem. He or she will have lots of resources to help homework time become a happier time.

"It's easier to keep up than to catch up" Michelle Thomas

This week is an important week in the classroom as students are learning routines that will serve them well all year long. But I don't have a class of my own, I provide academic support to students. So what do those of us who provide academic support do this week?

We test students! We want to know who is going to have to do the very hard job of playing catch-up so that we can figure out how to best help them and we want to find out who is going to need support to stay caught up so that they don't fall behind. Really we're figuring out what our job is for the first semester, finding out where kids are and planning paths for them to get where they need to be. Next comes the very difficult job of scheduling so that we can provide students the help and support they need.

With Flexibility comes a greater choice of options...unknown

Parkside is a great place to be on the first day of school! Yesterday all the staff was busy getting ready and part of that getting ready included our "annual employee notification of legal rights and responsibilities". I wanted to share a portion of the policies and procedures as they pertain to Special Education because I've seen that these are not just words on paper that we all read and then go and do what we were going to do anyway, but a statement of real attitudes and beliefs here at Parkside. So here is it, straight from the school board's document:

The District recognizes that students whose disabilities adversely impact educational performance and who require specially designed instruction have potential for improving educational performance when they receive special education and related services tailored to fit their needs. Each eligible special education student in the District will be afforded a full educational opportunity. This goal will be met consistent with the state's goals through ensuring the provision of a free appropriate public education, complying with state and local procedures, and improving performance goal indicators.

New School Year!

Yeah! We're back! The teachers are all here, working hard, getting ready for a great year. We can't wait to see all of you wonderful student.

It is easier to tear a hole than to mend one, Russian proverb

May.... wow! 150 days of school have passed 30 days to go.   Bear week was a great success.  We're looking forward to the Jog-a-thon on Friday.  Some students are missing their pull-out times because they're working on mother's day gifts.    But we continue to fit in lots of reading, writing and 'rithmatic, not to mention how to get along with folks.

The wrongdoer forgets, but not the wronged, African Proverb

There are 38 days of school left.  It's a wonderful time of the year.  I love the long days, the flowers, and the flowers.  But, I am moving into a very busy time of the year with a heavy paperwork load.    I love teaching students, paperwork, not so much.

50 days of school to go!

Only 50 days of school to go.  Now is the time of the year when it becomes essential for the special education teacher to plan ahead.  I want the last 50 days of school to be wonderful for the students.  And I know that they will be filled with many special events.  They will also be filled with testing, meetings, and paperwork requirements.