Be A Well Informed Advocate For Your Child!
Parents' Rights
California Department of Education (http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/qa/pssummary.asp)
Page Generated: 12/11/2010 2:36:13 PM
A brief summary of Procedural Safeguards for students with disabilities receiving special education services.
Parents of children with disabilities from ages three through twenty-one have specific educational rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These rights are called procedural safeguards. Individuals serving as surrogate parents and students aged eighteen receiving special education services, are also entitled to these rights.
A number of staff in the child’s district and special education local plan area (SELPA) may answer questions about the child’s education and the parents' rights and responsibilities. When the parent has a concern, it is important that they contact their child’s teachers or administrators to talk about their child and any problems they see. This conversation often solves the problem and helps maintain open communication.
Parents must be given opportunities to participate in any decision-making meeting regarding their child’s special education program. Parents have the right to participate in individualized education program (IEP) meetings about the special education eligibility, assessment, educational placement of their child and other matters relating to their child’s free appropriate public education (FAPE).
When a parent cannot be identified or located, a district may appoint a surrogate parent to represent a child with a disability.
Click here to read the rest of this article: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/qa/pssummary.asp?print=yes
Let's Stop the Bullying in Our Schools!
"A Community Responsibility"
California Department of Education (http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/prevbully.asp)
Page Generated: 12/11/2010 2:25:41 PM
"Bullying is such a long-established behavior in our society and schools that it has often been ignored as "a normal part of growing up." However, research has shown that there are severe long-term consequences for both the targets and the bullies. Further, severe reactions to bullying have been cited as one of the causes of the extremely violent incidents on school campuses that have received so much media attention in recent years.
Fortunately, well-documented research has been done which provides techniques for preventing bullying, responding to incidents of bullying, and dealing with its long term consequences. The key elements of a bullying prevention program are....."
Read the remainder of the article at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/prevbully.asp
California Reading List (CRL)
Based on your child's score on the California English-Language Arts Standards Test, a specific list has been designated as appropriate for him or her in terms of reading difficulty and interest level. http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/readinglist.asp
About My Favorite Librarian, Andrea ....
I am a librarian who loves to read YA/childrens books. In my previous job, I was a reference librarian in a public library. I hope to never do that again. I have one son, one husband, two dogs, two blogs, and one hectic life.To read more about, Andrea the Librarian, just clock on her image below
Submitted by Childrens Book Press on
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 9:48am
TAN TO TAMARIND is named an honor book in the 2009 APA Awards for Literature
Congratulations to Malathi Michelle Iyengar and Jamel Akib, author and illustrator of Tan to Tamarind: Poems About the Color Brown. It was named an Honor Book in the Picture Book Category of the 2009 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. (Read the press release here.) The award is given annualy by the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association. The awards promote Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and are awarded based on literary and artistic merit. The winners will each receive an award plaque at the APALA Award Ceremony on Sunday, June 27 during the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. It's expected to be an exciting event because the APALA is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Just click on the following link to visit the
Articles and Websites are posted here as tools to help parents help their children with school work.
Click on the following link, Different Learning Styles, to read an article written by Christy Rakoczy for YourDictionary.com
This following information was taken from,
NDT-Resource Center website
Understanding Different Learning Styles
What is the best way to learn?
The best way for a person to learn depends on the person, of course. It is well know that people have different leaning styles that work best for them. The best approach for an instructor to take is to address a variety of learning styles with their teaching plan. It is also helpful to encourage students to understand their preferred leaning style. By the time students reach the college level it is often assumed that they have figured out the best and most productive way to study to retain information. Of course, this is not a correct assumption. Teachers should make students aware of the various learning styles and encourage them to consider their preferred style as they complete their studies.
Providing the right environment conducive to learning
The classroom environment can also have a big effect on the amount of learning that occurs. Here again, people are different and have different environmental preferences. Nevertheless, understand what effects the learning process is important to know. Some of the common learning styles and environmental factors that should be considered when attempting to create the best learning conditions are listed below.
(This following information was adapted from: Moore, Carol. (1992). Learning Styles - Classroom Adaptation.
Learning Styles
DESCRIPTION
Structure of Lessons
Most students learn best when there is a logical sequential, delineated lesson that provides the objective and systematic steps to do the assignment. This type of student benefits from the use of rubrics so that they can better follow lectures and assignments. However, some students do not like much structure and appreciate being given choices and allowed to be creative.
Sociological
Some students benefit greatly from group activities and other do not. For those who are peer learners, pair them with another student when possible. For those who are self learners, do not force them into a group/peer-learning situation all the time. Cooperative learning is an important learning tool but some students are more introverted than others and may have difficulty participating in group activities.
Auditory
Some students learn best by listening. Auditory learners do well with lecture, class discussions, etc. While lecture is considered the least effective teaching method, some students learn best by simply listening. These students may also be more sensitive to outside noises.
Visual
Visual learners benefit from a variety of ocular stimulation. One example would be the use of colors. These students like images and written information. They like to be able to read instructions or the text on their own to increase their understanding. When studying it is helpful for these student to use different color highlighters or pens as they are reading and taking notes. These students may also be more sensitive to visual distractions.
Tactile
Most people learn best with hands-on activities, but some gain a lot more from it than others. Some students really increase their learn potential when they are give they opportunity to do something by themselves Especially in a science classroom there should be plenty of opportunities to learn by doing.
Environmental Factors
Formal vs. Informal
A formal setting would be the traditional desk and chair or possibly a table. An informal setting would be the floor, a couch, a beanbag, etc. Every student's brain will not function the same in the same postural position. So when you see a student slouching in a traditional desk or chair, it may simply mean that they would learn better in more of a informal setting.
Noise vs. Quiet
Some students find sound distracting and some find it calming. It may be beneficial to have several study areas established. One where the noise level is kept to a minimum and one where some background noise is present.
Temperature
Room temperature also plays a key role in learning. If a student is too cold or too hot, they will have more of a hard time concentrating on what their learning task is. It is recommended that the classroom temperature be cool if possible. This way those who do not like being cold can simply wear another layer of clothing and be comfortable.
Bright vs. Dim
Everybody's eyes react differently to light. Some students may need to sit by a bright reading lamp while others may get a headache when too much light is present. A light level that all students find comfortable should be sought.
Kinesthetic
Some people need to have continuous movement as they are studying, such as tapping there fingers or foot on the floor, fooling with their hair, using a stress ball, or chewing gum. This is absolutely natural but if they are not alone studying, make sure they do not distract others.
Mobility
The human body is built to move and it does particularly like to sit still for long periods of time. Have students to stand, stretch, and take short breaks as needed during studying. It is good to study in 20-30 minute increments with a brief break between each block of time. Research has shown that it only takes 30 seconds to rest and recharge the brain.
