In this issue you will Find Topics On:
- After School and Summer Learning
- Collaborative Learning
- Early Intervention
- Families and Community
- Middle School Experience
- Mobile Learning
- Project-Based Learning Strategies
- Sexuality Education and Students with Disabilities
- Social Media
- Social Skills and Academic Achievement
- Transition
After School and Summer Learning
Expanding Minds and Opportunities: Leveraging the Power of Afterschool and Summer Learning for Student Success
Book
https://www.expandinglearning.org/expandingminds
“Expanding Minds and Opportunities: Leveraging the Power of Afterschool and Summer Learning for Student Success,” is a collection of articles on the role that afterschool and summer learning play in improving and expanding students’ education, the ways that communities with different demographics build successful supports for their students, the role that afterschool programs play in education reform, and the ways in which these programs are helping students become more career and college ready and engaged in learning.
Collaborative Learning
Edutopia: Collaborative Learning
Education Idea Link
https://tinyurl.com/amnk28m
The Edutopia website recommends Collaborative Learning in improving education. Research shows that collaborative math and discussion-based English can help promote deeper learning, critical thinking, and community.
Early Intervention
Tips and tools for supporting social-emotional development in the early years.
From Zero to Three, this lengthy resource page offers many avenues to explore with respect to understanding and supporting healthy emotional development starting at birth.
https://tinyurl.com/axq6zc3
Don’t forget about TACSEI and CSEFEL.
The Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) has taken the research that shows which practices improve the social-emotional outcomes for young children with, or at risk for, delays or disabilities. TACSEI has created free products and resources to help decision-makers, caregivers, and service providers apply these best practices in the work they do every day. The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) focuses on promoting the social-emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5.
- Raid TACSEI’s resources (in English and Spanish).
https://www.challengingbehavior.org/index.htm
- Raid CSEFEL’s resources (in English and Spanish).
https://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/
Families and Community
Bookshare an accessible online library for people with print disabilities.
Bookshare provides the world’s largest online library of accessible reading materials for people with print disabilities. Individuals and organizations that serve individuals with print disabilities can sign up for membership and access the library. And guess what? If you search using the term “social skills,” you’ll find lots of accessible books on the subject!
Learning difficulties and social skills: What’s the connection?
This article explores the meaning of social competence and how learning difficulties can affect a student’s ability to read social cues and respond in ways that promote relationship building. Tips for parents on how to build their child’s social skills are included.
https://tinyurl.com/afudzmv
Your child’s social and emotional skills.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities offers this rich suite of resources on social skills and young people with learning disabilities.
https://www.ncld.org/parents-child-disabilities/social-emotional-skills
Helping youth develop soft skills for job success: Tips for parents and families.
This InfoBrief discusses the importance of soft skills (such as communication skills and interpersonal skills) and offers strategies that parents and families can use to help their child develop skills for employment success. Also available in Spanish.
https://www.ncwd-youth.info/information-brief-28
Best Buddies.
This nonprofit organization creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There are almost 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide.
https://www.bestbuddies.org/best-buddies
Rare Disease Day 2013.
Rare disease day is the last day of February. Join people around the world in spreading the word, sharing your story, and giving strength and hope. Here are a few resources on Rare Diseases and Disorders:
- NICHCY’s Rare Disorders page
https://nichcy.org/disability/specific/raredisorders
- National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD)
https://www.rarediseases.org/
- Rare Disease Day website
https://www.rarediseaseday.org/
Middle School Experience
Keeping Kids on Track in the Middle School Years
Report
https://tinyurl.com/b5ymnfu
The National Human Services Assembly’s “Keeping Kids on Track in the Middle School Years: Investing in Out-of-School Time Staff and Volunteer Competencies as a Dropout Prevention Strategy” explains why adults who serve middle schoolers in out-of-school time (OST) programs need to have core competencies to be effective and highlights three leading practices: training and development in working with middle schoolers; aligning talent development with quality improvement; and investing in the competence of OST managers.
Mobile Learning
Edutopia: Mobile Learning
Education Idea Link
https://tinyurl.com/b7zm3pl
The Edutopia website recommends Mobile Learning in improving education. Today’s students have a variety of mobile technologies available, from smartphones and tablets, to MP3 players and e-readers/ Educators are finding new ways to engage students and make curriculum relevant.
Project-Based Learning Strategies
Edutopia: Project-Based Learning Strategies
Education Idea Link
https://tinyurl.com/bdnwnw5
The Edutopia website recommends Project-Based Learning (PBL) in improving education. Innovative PBL exercises can be fun and but educators striving to reform the learning process need to check the research on the critical elements of successful programs to ensure that PBL instruction provides rigorous and powerful real-world learning experiences.
Sexuality Education and Students with Disabilities
Sexuality Education and Students with Disabilities
Resource Page
https://nichcy.org/schools-administrators/sexed
The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) has updated its 2010 resource page addressing the development of sexuality: what sexuality is, its meaning in adolescent and adult life, and the responsibilities that go along with exploring and experiencing one’s own sexuality.
Social Media
Edutopia: Social Media
Education Idea Link
https://tinyurl.com/a9bfegw
The Edutopia website recommends Social Media in improving education. Social media are fast becoming widely popular. Using them educationally calls for responsibly integrating them in classrooms and thinking through policies for their use in the individual school.
Social Skills and Academic Achievement
Report
https://nichcy.org/research/ee/social-skills
“Social Skills and Academic Achievement,” a 2008 issue, with links updated 2011, of “Evidence for Education,” reviews what research has to say about social skills interventions and programs for children with disabilities. It reviews the research findings and includes examples of social skills interventions that can be applied in both classroom and home settings.
The teacher’s role in developing social skills.
There is much that a teacher can do to foster and promote social development in students. This article by Rich Lavoie is short and to the point.
https://www.ricklavoie.com/teacherart.html
A social skills curriculum for students with developmental disabilities.
The learning of appropriate social skills by students with developmental disabilities provides the basis for their independence in domestic, community, and vocational settings. This curriculum is a tool that can be used in a school or home program to systematically improve social skills.
https://www.mresc.k12.nj.us/special/Social%20Skills%20Curriculum9_30_10.pdf
Social skills training can be part of therapy.
How social skills training can be used by therapists to help individuals with mental health concerns.
https://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Social-skills-training.html
Teaching social skills to those who don’t have them (yet).
Lots of useful insights and practical guidance in this article.
https://www.behavioradvisor.com/SocialSkills.html
Social skills toolbox.
From Do2Learn, this robust toolkit focuses on improving social skills and behavior, and includes lots of graphic organizers and tools.
https://www.do2learn.com/organizationtools/SocialSkillsToolbox/index.htm
Transition
Mapping Dreams: The Transition to Adulthood
Book
https://www.pacer.org/premium-publications/transition.asp#ST-40
“Mapping Dreams: The Transition to Adulthood” outlines practical steps parents can take to help plan for their child’s transition from high school to adult employment, postsecondary education or training, and independent living. It includes “Talk to Your Child” sections and checklists to help start discussions about the child’s future, as well as a resource list.
National High School Center Fact Sheets: The First Year of High School and College and Career Readiness
Fact Sheets
https://www.betterhighschools.org/
The National High School Center has released two new fact sheets, “Quick Stats Fact Sheet: The First Year of High School” and “College and Career Readiness: A Quick Stats Fact Sheet.” “The First Year of High School” provides statistics related to the transition into high school, highlighting U.S. high-school enrollment rates, predictors of high-school dropout, and ninth grade transition strategies. “College and Career Readiness” offers findings and statistics on the current status of high school graduates’ readiness for life after high school. It highlights some of the challenges and opportunities facing high school students after graduation as well as some of the consequences and implications for America’s underprepared graduates.
Students with Disabilities and College/Career Readiness
Reports
https://nsttac.org/content/students-w-disabilities-and-collegecareer-readiness-101-documents
The National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center (NSTTAC) has updated four documents on topics relevant to secondary education and students with disabilities: “College and Career Ready Standards and Secondary Transition for Students with Disabilities,” “High School Redesign and Secondary Transition for Students with Disabilities,” “Tiered Interventions and Secondary Transition for Students with Disabilities,” and “Universal Design for Learning and Secondary Transition for Students with Disabilities.” These resources were developed as entry level guidance intended to synthesize the research, policy, and discussion on topics pertinent to secondary special educators and related to helping secondary students with disabilities access and succeed in the high school curriculum to be prepared for their adult lives.
