Redesigning Sped in my District

Wow, lucky parents in your district. I don’t think our district even considers parents a part of the equation let alone deserving of such support that you suggest.

My ideal:
1) School’s Attuned for all classrooms results in less need for LD identification.
2) Self-contained for mild to mod. LD children (who need or request it) and combine with those who are struggling but do not meet eligibility but truly need the help.
3) Lindamood-Bell program for remediation since it addresses such a broad range of disabilities. Let’s dump the Reading Recovery and the hodge podge many Sped teachers use. It is has the research to back it up that it works. Lets get the best and dump the rest. Instead we waste money and time on programs that do not require certification to administer; very unproductive!!
4) In-service or requirements for teachers to be educated in learning disabilities (especially since inclusion is not going away any time soon).
5) What the heck, lets educate the parents and teachers together. Nothing but great things could happen with a meeting of such minds.
6) Stop hiring or aquiring “bodies” to fill teaching positions. I do not want a mom who is volunteering her time or an aide with a high school diploma trying to instruct my learning disabled child. I want a certified teacher who knows what she is doing. This is just wrong and unacceptable.
7) A resource library or resource material available to parents to take home and learn more about their child’s disability.
8) A yearly eval. of the sped program from parents. Lets ask the parents what they think and allow them to be honest and most importantly “heard.” They may also be able to add some valuable insight or suggestions that the entire program may find helpful.

I think you are on the right track just by being concerned about the parents in general. Many district (mine) could not care less what we (parents) think.

Good Luck!!

I appreciate your response. You’ve got some great ideas! Thanks for your input!

What programs have you dug up? One reading program that has worked well is Phono-Graphix. I had trained all the teachers and speech therapists on the method two years ago. Checking back with the first grade teachers, they finished the program this year with one referrel for sped services, not due to reading but due to home problems. It is inexpensive and easy to learn. If you want more information, email me but wait a few days, having problems with my email.

One critical question is what the real administrative motivation is. Are they
a) trying to find ways to compete with other sources of information in order to keep parents from making demands they can’t meet (but should have),
or B)trying to educate parents so that the parents don’t assume they have to be adversarial and aggressive because they actually don’t.

Is there part of the training about involving parents?

Sue,
To back up, my district has been involved in a 5 year strategic planning process in which many, many changes have already been implemented in every facet of the workings of the school. It’s been an incredible effort for the last 4 years, with the combined support and participation of the adminstration, teachers, parents (of which I am one) and the Board.

But this is the year we’ve decided to focus on sped. Some of us are looking at actual programs and services, to see which will work in our district. I am part of a sub-group looking at communication and education; for our sped parents (again, I am one), kids and teachers. We feel that by educating parents and creating a support network for them, for example, we may avoid or lessen some of the hostility and confrontation. In the end, this works to the benefit of the district, parents and kids.

So, are there sped parent groups that we should look to affiliate with (sort of like a PTA for sped)? Are there programs that help sped kids feel included by their general ed peers? And what about other teacher training programs and support help? Tell me what your experiences are of what works and what doesn’t!

Thanks!
Susan

Yes, there is. There is a parent support book that each parent can use to work with their child at home. This program is a parent friendly because it began as strictly a program to teach reading at home. The book is Reading Reflex and you can purchase it in many book stores and at the Read America website. If you wish to go to their website, use the search words Reading Reflex. I don’t know why, but it takes me twice to get to their website and it is part of my favorites. If you wish to contact me privately, please feel free.

Can someone tell me how to find out about School’s Attuned? Is there a web site or a number I could call? It sounds like it would be great for our school. Thanks!

Here’s the website for All Kinds of Minds. Schools Attuned is one of Mel Levine’s programs and information on it is on this website. It’s www.allkindsofminds.org

Hope this is helpful - the teachers in my district have given it rave reviews!

OKay :) We had a parent communication meeting once a month in Culpeper County. I don’t think it worked too well since the parents who went were invariably the parents who already knew procedures and rights. THe parents who I would have *loved* to be better educated about getting what their kids needed… they were too busy (worked the wrong shift to be able to be there) or intimidated (administrators are authority figures…) to go.
On the other hand, I was working in the middle school — odds are some of those knowledgeable parents had been not-so-knowledgeable before somebody had taken them under their wings.