February 19, 2008

New Resources for Teachers with LD Students

LD OnLine.org provides many useful tools for educators who help students with learning disabilities reach their full potential.  A section especially for educators http://www.ldonline.org/educators has articles on instructional strategies and issues such as assessment, differentiated instruction, and using technology in the classroom and a question and answer section on teaching http://www.ldonline.org/questions/teaching .   For information on what is going on in other states (and possibly your own) in the field of special education, you might want to subscribe to LD Online's daily clipping service http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews which sends you the latest news all over the country. 

Has the Highway 40 shutdown got you stuck?

On January 2nd about five miles of Highway 40 between Ballas Road and Hanley were closed for 2 years.  Traffic conditions all over the county will be affected.  Maybe you need an alternate plan?  A number of useful information sites are listed below for you to make alternate travel plans.

Think how useful it would be to say that you cannot attend an afterschool meeting because your carpool or Metrolink ride won't wait for you.

General Information:  MoDot   St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Bi-State/MetroLink:  Don't Get Stuck

Car pooling:  RideFinders    eRideshare   Craigslist

Attorney Referal Program

Did you know NEA mebers can consult with an attorney 2 times per year for free?

Call our office to find out more about the MNEA attorney referal program.

314-432-2425

or click here Attorneys for a list of participating attorneys.

October 9, 2007

Preparing for the Praxis?

Get a preview of the exam or attend a free preparation workshop.

Find out more.

September 14, 2007

Attention SDNEA Members: Auto & Home Insurance Program

at Special Member Rates


MyAPlus.com : Secure, private access to your auto and home insurance policies, documents, ID cards and bills

• Competitive rates exclusibely for NEA members and their families*

           (* Eligible family members include parents, in-laws, and adult children living away from home.)

• Multi-policy discounts - up to 10% off of your auto/home policy.
• Numerous discounts such as: accident free, multi-car, utility and credit for longevity with prior insurance company.
• $500 personal property protection, including school supplies.
• Deductible waived entirely for vandalism to your vehicle that occurs on or within 500 feet of school property, or while attending a school sponsored event
• Convenient payment plans including E-Z Pay, a monthly payment plan with Summer Skip option.
• 99% of our customers would recommend A+ California Casualty.
• 24/7 emergency claims service, 365 days a year.
• To request a quote by telephone call (877) 411-3419 or visit us on the web at www.calcas.com/mnea
  
  Local Representative:
  Rebecca Stumpf
  Field Marketing Manager
  800-964-3903 x5928

Date: February 19, 2008

The federal government offers a treasure trove of teaching and learning resources. Where can you find them?

FREE ( http://www.free.ed.gov ).

FREE organizes more than 1,500 lesson plans, primary documents, science animations, math challenges, and works of art, literature, and music from the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, National Archives, National Science Foundation, NASA, National Institutes of Health, National Gallery of Art, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other federal agencies.

See resources by subject ( http://www.free.ed.gov/sitemap.cfm ) or topic

(http://www.free.ed.gov/sitemap.cfm?page=alpha ).

Date: June 9, 2006

Assistive Technology Planner kit now available.

A new resource is now available to help educators plan and implement appropriate assessment and instruction for students with disabilities.

The Assistive Technology Planner: From IEP Consideration to Classroom Implementation is intended to support IEP team members effectively implement assistive technology with students.  The kit includes a user's guide, assistive implementation planning tool, and three individual planners tailored for classroom teachers, families, and administrators.

The Assistive Technology Planner is an outgrowth of successful practices used in 60+ school districts in 10 different states and based upon research funded by the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).  The kit ($35 plus shipping) can be ordered from the Technology and Media Division of the Council for Exceptional Children (TAM). Order forms are available at www.tamcec.org

Date: November 26, 2007

Doing What Works

The U.S. Department of Education has launched a new Web site to provide teachers, administrators and other educators with recommendations on effective teaching practices and examples of possible ways to implement those practices to help promote excellence in American education and improve student achievement. The first in the series focuses on English language learners. The new Web site, http://dww.ed.gov/ , offers a user-friendly interface to quickly locate teaching practices that have been found effective by the department's research arm, the Institute of Education Sciences , and similar organizations. In addition, it cites examples of possible ways, although not necessarily the only ways, this research may be used to help students reach their academic potential.

Date: May 4, 2006

New Toolkit Resource from U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education has announced the availability of the following resource.  The primary audience for the Tool Kit is state-level policymakers and state departments of education.  Each state department of education will be expected to use this resource as a framework for including students with disabilities in state and local large-scale assessment and accountability programs (i.e., ESEA/NCLB).  Of particular interest to general and special educators is the description of assessment accommodations.

Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students with Disabilities

http://www.osepideasthatwork.org/toolkit/index.asp

The Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students with Disabilities represents a collaborative effort between the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) to assist states in raising the achievement of all students with disabilities. Their initial audiences for this Tool Kit are those in state-level leadership positions. This Tool Kit includes a set of papers titled Including Students with Disabilities in Large-Scale Assessments , with an executive summary and a glossary of terms, written by experts in large-scale assessments and the education of students with disabilities. The Tool Kit also includes 14 technical assistance documents developed by OSERS' grantees. To facilitate broad dissemination of these materials, OSEP launched a new Web site accessible through

http:// www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/reports.html .

This message is provided by NEA to inform and assist our members on issues related to special education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Click Here for Special Offer from SPRINT

Teacher Certification:  Beginning Teacher Assistance programs are required for certification in Missouri.  The $25.00 registration fee is waived for NEA members.

Go to the www.mnea.org link above to register online.

September 2005

Dr. Richard Overfelt classes now being accepted for tuition reimbursement and salary placement.  Course list as follows:

• Invitational Educator
• Improvement of Schools for Children and Young Persons
• Developing a Learning Environment
• Personalizing Instruction & Curriculum

Contact Truman State University ( www.truman.edu ) and/or

SSD Human Resources (989-8180) for more information.