Learning as a Way of Teaching

For years, I have believed that paraprofessionals make or break a Special Education program.  Life is fantastic when you have a para that is skilled and willing.  Life is miserable when a para is unskilled and/or unwilling.

I also firmly believe that we do not spend enough time training these valuable educators.  Too many times, paras have told me, “I don’t know what to do.”  Yes, the training is an ongoing process, but I do not believe there is enough formal training.  Hard working paras with a zeal to learn and do what is expected should be given ample training.

Setting aside time to train them not only helps them develop professionally, but it also sends a message to them.  A message that say, “We care about you and we want you to become better.”  The paras that I have trained have been very grateful because they felt like someone cared enough about them to talk with them.

The Role of the Paraprofessional is a small workshop I gave to our paras on an inservice afternoon.  The response was overwhelming as I visited with the paras of our district and how they are viewed by their supervisors.  The Powerpoint presentation is in my “Box” files on the right.

What are you thoughts on paraprofessional training? 

A group of Houstonians are taking on the TAKS test.  They say that preparing students for the TAKS test is taking up too much instructional time. 

First, let me say that a lot of energy is put into the TAKS test.  Yes, our school’s rating hangs in the balance, and there is even the question of “Will my kid pass to the next grade if he does not pass the TAKS?”

One has to argue, though, that if we teach the TEKS; then aren’t we preparing students for the test?  OR is the problem that we are focusing on test taking strategies too much?  Well, why not?  Students have to take tests in college and need to know how to prepare for them.

If I am taking the BAR exam, I would want to know what kind of questions that will be asked and how to take the exam.  So to say we are teaching to the test, there are two ways to see it.

Which way do you see it?

Region 10 has hired my to write curriculum for their upcoming TAKS Academy this summer.  My role is to write the special education side of the academy as we try to help high school teachers accelerate students to grade level.

As I am thinking about the history of assessments for students with learning disabilities, I have to say that I am very frustrated that the TAKS-M test is not further along in development.  Maybe it is and TEA is just keeping it a big secret.

But perhaps it is not TEA’s fault?  I found this on their website:

TAKS-Modified (TAKS-M) pilot tests will be administered in the 2007-2008 school year, with a fall testing window currently scheduled. TAKS-M will be developed pending the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA’s) receipt of final regulations from the USDE regarding required assessments for students with disabilities who will be assessed using modified achievement standards. Further information, including the required grades and subjects to be assessed, will be made available as soon as federal regulations are finalized. Note that TAKS-M dates have not been specified on the calendar, although placeholders have been included for review purposes.

Perhaps it’s all the Feds’ fault?  Just thinking.

…I barely knew ye!  Today officially ended the MacBook Project as FedEx took it back to California.  I did not get to spend nearly enough time on it, and maybe they will let me borrow another one that has Windows on it.  Why in the world would I want a Mac with Windows, you ask?  Well, we are a Windows only district and I want to see how Macs will run on the network in order to use some 21st century tools.

A handful of Special Education teachers from McKinney ISD paid a visit to discuss Inclusion strategies.  We had a great visit and exchanged some wonderful ideas.  One idea was to begin an online collaboration relationship to continue our information exchange.  We probably could have visited for the rest of the day, and I am looking forward to working with them again.

In light of 21st century skills, I borrowed a MacBook from Apple, Inc. as part of their loan program for schools.  I have to say, Macs are WAY easier to produce audio and video projects.  The students loved it as well.  You can find more of what we did on the blog created by the MacBook.  I wish I had more time…

To say that the Internet has changed education would be the understatement of the year.  The good news is this: schools have jumped on the technology board and are riding the waves the best they can.

Trouble is, many schools cannot keep up.  Actually, the bigger problem is that the Internet is changing faster than anyone can keep up with.  Blogs, wikis, podcasts, screencasts, online collaboration, social networking, and countless other buzzwords are not used in the classroom, but our students are.

Is it possible for Special Education teachers to spearhead the effort to bring 21st century tools to the Inclusion classroom?

Would you believe that there are schools in the world that are trying to get a laptop for every student?  I think that would help launch our initiative to get to Web 2.0, but there are many other concerns that the administrator side of me cries out to.

How in the world can Math be taught in the Blogged classroom?

According to Jamie Tubbs, it can be done.  The equation above was created with MathCast.  The idea of writing in the classroom seems like an idea that needs to be further developed.  To be able to “see” what a student thinks about Math and the algorithms he is using to solve a problem can help teachers better understand what is being learned and retained.

The Read/Write web has so many fascinating possibilites for the classroom.  Is it possible to know all of them?  How else can I learn than to simply dive in and start blogging?  Join me as I seek out new (and old) ways to use the Web 2.0 in the classroom.