Determining Eligibility for Special Education
Here is a brief overview of the process of determining if a child is eligible to receive special education. CHILD STUDY If a parent/guardian requests a Child Study Team meeting,…
IEP Writing 101
Just to give a little background on myself. I am a graduate of James Madison University (JMU; and former student of Dr. Jen Newton)! I remember after my first day…
Recess Is A Right
I posted a picture on our social media of a tweet from the 2006 MN Teacher of the Year Dr. Lee-Ann Stephens that read: Advice to a new elementary school…
We Need To Talk About Punishment
Recently, after working with teachers on shifting our approach from punishing to teaching, a teacher in attendance emailed me saying, "At first, I wasn't sure I was going to "buy…
Embracing Failure
I am a big fan of mistake making. Well, not the making of the mistakes part so much but of the learning from mistakes, expecting mistakes, embracing mistakes. What if…
Teaching is Political
In teacher education programs, we have a responsibility to prepare future teachers for the civic profession of education. For me, this means registering students to vote in my classes, advocating…
Every Classroom, Every Day: Rethinking Inclusion
What is Special Education? When I began my undergraduate studies in Elementary and Special Education, I hoped to gain a deeper understanding of how to support students with Individualized Education…
Reimagining Quality of Life for Adults with Significant Needs: Finding Holland
Since the tender age of ten, I have been contemplating what will happen to my brother, CJ, when my parents pass away. When I was four, CJ was diagnosed with…
Behavior is Communication
I'm a big believer that words matter. Words are powerful and, despite that "sticks and stones" rubbish, words can certainly hurt us. Therefore, when talking about "behavior management," by the…
Things I Know
Children learn through experience. It is our duty, as educators, to enhance and strengthen children's opportunities to explore the world, while also modeling effective communication and positive relationships. Children are…