College for Special Education Students

This is an interesting article in light of Michigan's new graduation requirements.  Special educators would love for college to be the expectation for many special education students but the new graduation requirements are making it even more difficult for students labeled with only a learning disability.

http://articles.philly.com/2011-02-23/news/28620693_1_haddonfield-schools-special-education-disabilities

A Day in the Life of a Special Education Teacher

This article is a great example of what a special education teacher deals with on a daily basis.  Whether you teach special education or general education we all work hard but it is helpful to be able to understand the point of view of your co-workers.  After having worked in the Early Childhood Program, which makes me a classroom teacher following a curriculum and includes the responsibilities of a special education teacher, meeting goals and objectives in the IEPs, I have had a healthy dose of both worlds.  I would much prefer to have the responsibilities of one or the other because both at the same time are very labor intensive.

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110227/A_NEWS/102270317/-1/NEWSMAP

Declining Special Education Numbers

This is an interesting article.  There are a few schools in Northern Michigan experiencing this same phenomenon.  This is one of the reasons my job was cut from full time to part time; we did not have the special education numbers in the elementary school to justify two resource room teachers.  This is great but also very unexpected for many schools experiencing this.

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/education/schooled/article_070cc44c-42c6-11e0-9b87-001cc4c03286.html

Great Technology Tips

This is a great, quick read for elementary teachers who want to bring technology into their classroom.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/technology-tips-younger-elementary?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Changes in Technology in Education

While I feel this author's outlook is a bit bleak, it is probably true.  I wish education could catch up faster!

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/technology-future-education-learning-bob-lenz?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

This Teacher Truly Understands Technology and Teaching

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/farmville-standards-linda-deneher?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

This is such a cool idea.  I wish I would have thought of it.  What a great way to ingrate technology and engage students.

Technology Integration

This is a good post although the title is a bit misleading.  It is entitled "A Two-Step Approach to Integrating Technology".  When you begin reading the article you realize technology has been integrated into her classroom already.  This should be entitled "A Two-Step Approach for using Best Practices With Technology".  Either way it is a good read if you are currently using technology on the classroom.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/two-step-tech-integration-elementary-mary-beth-hertz?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Great Article for any Subject

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/nuclear-war-climate-change/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Not only is this a truly interesting article, it has so many possibilities in the classroom.  This could be a great starter for an amazing discussion or project.

Autistic Students Learn from Music Lessons

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/fenway-kenmore/2011/02/at_the_boston_conservatory_aut.html

As a special educator, I see many families struggling with coming to terms with their child's special needs.  This struggle often leads to pseudoscientific programs.  I get very frustrated with programs that do nothing more than exploit families who are trying to find ways to help their child.  That is why it is so great to read articles like this one.  Programs actually making a difference for children and their families need to be more visible and vocal than the scams.

Protective Playcase for iPhones from Fisher-Price

This is probably too young for most of your classes but a great idea if you have or know anyone with a baby.

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/02/protective-playcase-for-iphones-from-fisher-price/

Human vs Computer

Here is an interesting topic to talk about.  I did not see this but I may have to watch the next two episodes.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/02/watson-wrong-answer-trebek/

Uncontacted Tribe in Brazilian Jungle

Here is an interesting video that shows a Brazilian tribe uncontacted by civilization.  Very interesting video that could initiate very interesting conversations or writing prompts in the classroom.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/uncontacted-tribe-video/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Great new tool for post secondary transitions for students with Autism

This is a source to consider when creating transition IEPs for students with Autism.

http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/03/new-tool-aimed-at-teens-with-autism/

Great Science Article

This is an article about a water flea that has more genes than humans.  Not only do they have more genes they have genes scientists have never seen before.  Very interesting article.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/02/water-flea-genome/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Autism Rates on the Rise in CA

Autism rates still on the rise.  Here is an article on CA autism rates.  Unfortunately, we are still unable to identify why they continue to rise.

http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/autism-rate-triples-among-k-12-students-8488

Beautiful Underwater Photographs

These pictures are amazing.  These pictures could be used for any subject, assignment, or writing prompt.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/01/pl_last_reef/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Reader&pid=4531

New Dinosaur

I find fossils, especially new species' fossils so exciting.  Here is a great link to share with a class whether you are a science teacher or not.

feed://www.wired.com/wiredscience/feed/

An Affordable Solution

Maybe this new tablet will be an affordable alternative to the iPad for education.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/01/t-mobile-dell-streak-seven/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Evolution Debate

Below is a great article from Wired on teaching Evolution.

I know this is a "hot" topic but I believe the topic needs to be discussed.  What are we teaching children about science and the scientific method if we are not teaching evolution and allowing Intelligent Design to be taught in a science classroom?

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/scopes-weeps/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Graduation regulations condemned | Education | projo.com | The Providence Journal

Are the new graduation requirements hurting our special education students? I believe they are, however, at the same, we cannot lower our standards and we cannot make graduation requirements different depending on the strengths and weaknesses of every student. I am not sure how to remedy the situation but I feel terrible that special education students struggle socially and academically in high school to leave with a certificate of completion.

Below is an article that highlights the fallout of the new graduation requirements.

Graduation regulations condemned | Education | projo.com | The Providence Journal

Special Education

I work in an early childhood self-contained classroom and I believe my students should be integrated into the general education population.  My position should be one of support; I should be supporting the general education preschool teachers. My students will leave my self-contained classroom of 10 and go to a general education kindergarten class of 30. To add to that the administration firmly believes that resource room support should not be put into their kindergarten transition IEPs because they want the students to attempt kindergarten without special education support.
I understand the need for self-contained classrooms and I understand that some students (a very small population) need to be pulled form their general education classroom but I feel a special education teacher's position should be one of support to general education teachers, keeping students in the general education setting.
I am curious how others feel about full integration of special education students, especially general education teachers, who have high need, special education students in their classroom.

Deepest ever ocean expedition

Here is a great video that recaps Jacque Piccard's ocean expedition.  This would be a great video for students learning about the sea!

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/01/mariana-trench-dive/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

A Good Special Education Resource

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is a great resource for special education teachers but also for general education teachers who would like more information on a particular topic.  You can sign up for an e mail service called CEC Smart Brief.  Here is their description of the service:

"CEC SmartBrief brings you the special education news that really matters. Our editors handpick key articles from hundreds of publications, do a brief summary of each and provide links back to the original sources."


I have been using this service for a few years and I often find really interesting articles that keep me abreast of what is happening and new trends in special education all over the country.


Unfortunately there is no RSS feed yet.


Here is a link to sign up if anyone is interested:
http://www.smartbrief.com/cec/

iPads for special education

I think using iPads in the classroom is an amazing idea.  I think using them for special education is an even better idea.  With all of the apps and the iPads' capabilities, it provides endless opportunities for students with special needs.  Below is a link on a school in Ohio using them in special education.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/local&id=7902451

No School

No school today!  Here is a good site for MLK day lesson plans:

http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/holidays/mlk/

Delicious

Here is a link to my delicious site

http://www.delicious.com/brookeedigiacomo

Hi

Hi
My name is Brooke and I am new to blogging.  So far blogging reminds me of Facebook, although I can see how a blog could be useful in education.