November 2009

About Our Students

• Camelot Center students who performed at the Kennedy Center last spring were recently featured in a segment of School Scene on Red Apple Channel 21. Students performed the historical play, "Timeless Journey" marking the first time oral deaf students have presented a play at the Kennedy Center.

Especially for Parents

• The Related Services providers will be offering a workshop for parents on November 10, 2009, at Dunn Loring Center, Room 11 from 10:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. Related services represented at this presentation will include: Therapy Services (OT/PT), Deaf and Hard-of Hearing, Vision, Speech and Language. For more information and registration go to: http://www.fcps.edu/cco/prc/index.htm
• The Office of Special Education Instruction (OSEI) will offer an ABA Parent Workshop on November 12 titled, “Facilitating Play and Leisure Skills”. This workshop is for parents whose children are receiving special education services using applied behavior analysis (ABA) at the preschool, elementary or secondary levels. Two sessions will be offered: 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., both at Dunn Loring Center, Room 1. For the complete schedule of ABA Parent Workshops, please visit the website at http://www.fcps.edu/dss/sei/ABA/.
  
• During the 2009-2010 school year, Assistive Technology Services (ATS) will be offering training sessions focused on the use of high-end Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. Participants will learn basic programming and maintenance of the devices. These sessions are open to both staff members and parents of students using the specific devices. November sessions include the following topics:
  • Nov. 10 – 9:00-12:00- Intro to Mightymo/Minimo- West Potomac HS, Room 309
  • Nov. 11 - 9:00-12:00- Intro to Springboard- West Potomac HS, Room 309
  • Nov. 12 - 9:00-12:00- Intro to Dynavox Series 4- Dunn Loring, Center Room 11
  • Nov. 17 - 9:00-3:00- Intro to Dynavox 3100- Dunn Loring Center, Room 11

To register, contact the ATS Resource Teacher that is assigned to your child’s school.

• Behavior Intervention Services in collaboration with the Parent Resource Center is presenting a workshop titled, “Good Behavior Made Easy 1…2…3!” This workshop will focus on parenting skills that will reduce the likelihood of challenging behaviors in preschool and kindergarten children. The workshop will take place on November 13 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Dunn Loring Center. For more information and to register call 703-204-3941 or visit http://www.fcps.edu/cco/prc.
  
• Early Childhood Special Education is offering a wider variety of screening options for children and families participating in the Child Find process to identify possible special needs of children. Some new screening options include behavior, communication, and social skills/play workshops. These workshops are offered monthly to families who contact the Child Find offices with concerns for their child’s development.
  
• Become a new Keep in Touch (KIT) Plus subscriber and receive Keep in Touch e-mails about special education services and Parent Resource Center events by e-mail. Subscribe today at http://www.fcps.edu/kit/.
  
• Mark Your Calendars! The 5th Annual Parent and Educators Resource Conference will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at Lee High School. The nationally renowned public speaker and author, Jonathan Mooney, will deliver the keynote address.

Especially for Staff

• FCPS Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services participated in the annual “Walk4Hearing” sponsored by the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) to raise awareness about hearing loss and funds to promote accessibility for people with hearing loss. They are continuing to raise funds through December via the HLAA website www.walk4hearing.org. So far, they have raised nearly $7,000.
  
• From November 12-14, four FCPS Teachers of the Visually Impaired will present at the Getting in Touch With Literacy conference in Costa Mesa, California. Anna Swenson will present “Beyond the Braille Code: Teaching Vocabulary and Comprehension Strategies to Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired.” Sue Ribyat, Danielle Serfozo, and Lia Marmo will present “The Dual Media Dilemma.”
  
• On November 19, 2009, Assistive Technology Services (ATS) will sponsor an Assistive Technology Fair at Woodson HS for staff members at Woodson. The fair will provide staff with an opportunity to explore assistive technology software and devices that are commonly used by students in Fairfax County.
  
• On November 19, 2009, staff members from Assistive Technology Services (ATS) will present “Talk On: Next Steps in Speech Recognition Training” at the TechKnowledgy conference in Richmond, VA.
  
• Bucknell ES recently completed New Team Training to become a school trained in implementing Positive Behavior Support (PBS). The staff is planning to kick-off the initiative during the second quarter. Bucknell ES is the 123rd school in the county participating in PBS.
  

Professional Development Opportunities for Staff

• Members of the Office of Special Education Instruction in collaboration with members of Instructional Services Department have provided and will provide VGLA content support trainings to teachers on:
  • VGLA Math Support on November 9
  • VGLA Writing, Science, and Social Studies on November 11
    
• Behavior Intervention Services is presenting a workshop titled, “Building Positive Relationships with Students”. This workshop designed for general and special education teachers PreK- Grade 6 will focus on the key principles necessary to form positive and constructive relationships with their students. The workshop will be held on November 9, 2009, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Gatehouse in Room 4050. Please call 571-423-4106 to register.
  
• On November 9, 2009 - Assistive Technology Services will offer a training session for Technology Outreach Program Support (TOPS) teachers on the Read:Outloud software program. Members of the TOPS program can register through MyPLT.
  
• The second ED Round Table will take place on November 9 at Armstrong Elementary School. Discussions will focus on topics related to effective practices in the areas of behavior, curriculum, and developing interpersonal relationships. Teachers can sign up on MyPLT.
  
• On November 13, 2009 - VGLA Writing training will be offered for teachers. This training is designed for teachers working with students in grade 5 who will be doing the writing VGLA. Members from the Office of Special Education Instruction, Instructional Services, Assistive Technology Services, and Assessment and Summer Services will be presenting. The course will be offered at Gatehouse and teachers can register through MyPLT.

The PreK-12 Adapted Curriculum section of the Office of Special Education Instruction (OSEI) is offering the following professional development opportunities during the month of November for staff members providing instruction and support to students with autism, intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities. Registration for all trainings is through MyPLT.

On November 9, 2009, OSEI will be offering the following Elementary Designated Monday trainings:

• Instructional Practices to Improve Outcomes for Students with Low Incidence Disabilities. This will be a hands-on training to explore a variety of resources and strategies to provide instruction to students with low-incidence disabilities. Training will be held from 2:00-3:30 at Bren Mar Park Elementary.
  
• Addressing the Needs of Students with High Functioning Autism (HFA) & Asperger’s Syndrome (AS). This training will cover instructional strategies to promote learning, independence, and academic and social success in the school setting. Training will be held from 2:00-3:30 at Gatehouse 3050/3051.
  
• Best Practices for Instructional Assistants in Understanding and Dealing with Challenging Behaviors. Participants will explore proactive strategies for dealing with challenging behaviors in the classroom setting. Training will be held from 2:00-3:30 at the Plum Center, room 148/150.
  
• Managing Challenging Behaviors
  November 12, 2009 - Participants will gain an understanding of the conflict cycle and explore proactive strategies for preventing and de-escalating challenging behaviors within the classroom setting. Training will be held at Devonshire Center from 8:30-3:30.
  
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Fundamentals November 17, 2009 - Participants will learn foundations of applied behavior analysis, reinforcement, and modifying behaviors. This workshop will be held at Gatehouse from 8:30-3:30.
  
• Community-Based Instruction/Community Work Experience (CBI/CWE)
  November 18 & 19 - Participants will become familiar with the philosophy and framework of CBI and CWE, the FCPS guidelines for CBI, curriculum content and development of appropriate lessons to address CBI/CWE experiences for students. OSEI will offer this training for secondary teachers at Pulley Center and Davis Center.
  
• Visual Strategies to Support Students with Low Incidence Disabilities
  November 19, 2009 - Participants will learn the importance of providing visual supports within the classroom to promote independence, improve instruction, and manage behavior. Hands-on activities will be provided. Training will be held at Gatehouse from 8:30-3:30.

The Assessment and Summer Services section is offering the following training sessions in November to address Virginia State Assessments for students with disabilities. Registration is through MyPLT:

• VGLA Writing Training –Grade 5
  November 13 - This training, presented in conjunction with Instructional Services, is the next step for teachers who are collecting evidence and completing binders for students participating in the grade 5 Writing VGLA.
  
• VGLA Social Studies Training – Grades 3 and 4/6
  November 17 - This training, presented in conjunction with Instructional Services, is the next step for teachers who are collecting evidence and completing binders for students participating in the 3, 4, or 6 grade Social Studies VGLA.
  
• VGLA 7th and 8th Grade: Mathematics (November 9, 2009) and VGLA 7th and 8th Grade: Science, Social Studies, and Writing (November 11, 2009)
  These training sessions are the next step for teachers who are collecting evidence and completing binders for students participating in 7th or 8th grade Virginia Grade Level Alternative assessments (VGLA). Come learn how to break apart the standards, identify problem areas, and clear up common misconceptions. Participants will learn how to find available resources and strategies for putting together a successful collection of evidence.
  
• VGLA/VAAP: After School Support Sessions
  After School Support Sessions for teachers collecting evidence for the VGLA or VAAP. Learn about resources to instruct and assess the Standards/Aligned Standards of Learning. Share ideas about collecting evidence with other teachers. Bring your VGLA and/or VAAP binder in any content area (Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Writing). Choose the location nearest to you and attend only one session this month.
  November 11 – Stone MS; November 12 – Virginia Hills Center;
  November 17 - Gatehouse Administration Center; November 18 – Hughes MS

Training Updates

Below please find a summary of a number of training sessions provided to various staff members held throughout the month of October by the Office of Special Education Instruction. Included among these were sessions providing an overview of special education services for new middle and high school counselors as well as training for teachers in VAAP, VGLA and Cognitive Reading Strategies, levels 1 and 2.

• October 5, 2009 - first ED Round Table of the year, at Laurel Ridge Elementary - The round table provides an opportunity for teachers of self-contained students’ with emotional disabilities to come together and share ideas, strategies and practices that foster student success. Discussions focused on building relationships with students and establishing routines in the classroom.
  
• October 5, 2009 - After school workshop for high school teachers who teach Reinforcing Foundations, a remediation elective at high schools to support students meeting their literacy and numeracy requirements.
  
• October 19, 2009 - After school workshop for 15 middle school and 20 high school teachers to provide curriculum support for teaching Basic Skills.
  
• October 21, 2009 - Leadership academy workshop entitled, Overview of Special Education Reading Instruction and Programs.
  
• October 22, 2009 - The first of four follow-up support sessions to teachers trained in Wilson: Just Words® program.
  
• October 26, 2009 - After school workshop on the topic of balancing multi-level groups and lesson planning.
  
• October 26, 2009 - Physical and Occupational Therapists completed a successful training on “Data Based Decision Making and Progress Monitoring” that was presented by Gloria Frolek Clark, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA and Lisa Smith DPT, consultants and therapists from the Iowa Department of Education. The training focused on the six components of performance monitoring: behavior definitions, data collection measurement, establishment of baselines, goal writing, chart use to monitor progress, and intervention and decision-making plan development. This training supports the FCPS best practice of “Planning and Teaching for Student Learning”.

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