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With school in full swing, readers are sending more questions than we can answer. Here are a few of your burning questions, and our answers. 1. How Can I Get a Trained, Certified Reading Teacher? "My daughter is in third grade. She has dyslexia, so she is having difficulty learning to read and write. The evaluator told us that she needs to be taught by a certified Wilson or Orton-Gillingham trained instructor. "Last year, her teacher said she was using the Wilson reading program. Later, we learned that the teacher was not trained in the Wilson program. This year, her teacher is not certified in the Wilson reading program either. The school insists that she is "highly qualified" because she has 10 years of experience - but not in Wilson or any other Orton-Gillingham program." In How Can I Get a Trained, Certified Reading Teacher? Sue Heath offers words of wisdom -- and a plan of action. "Trying to get by as a reading teacher when you don't have appropriate training makes a much sense as buying sheet music to become an opera singer. A teacher can't use any method if ...." click here to read article. Preventing Reading Difficulties and Reading Failure: Early Intervention and Prevention - Sue responds to a teacher's request for information about research on teaching children; includes a comprehensive list of free publications, articles, research - and a free video. What Are the Criteria for Remedial Reading Programs? This article defines three reasons for reading failure, six qualities of effective reading programs, requirements for research based reading programs - and the price children pay when we do not teach them to read. Sue also describes the federal model reading program (90 minutes of instruction, 5 days a week) with frequent objective assessments, and provides you with questions you should ask about your child's reading program. Read more articles by Sue Heath in Doing Your Homework. 2. How Can I Get Good Goals in My Child's IEP? "The goals in my child's IEP don't change much from one year to the next - for example, "Jason will improve his reading skills" is in every IEP since he entered special ed four years ago. "When I read articles about IEPs, I learned that IEP goals should be specific, measurable, and tailored to the unique needs of the child. A goal like "Jason will improve his reading skills" is not specific, measurable or tailored to his unique needs. How can I get good goals in my child's IEP?" In SMART IEPs: A Tactics and Strategy Session with Pete and Pam Wright, we answer your questions. Learn about the new requirements for measurable goals in IDEA 2004, and read our SMART IEPs Game Plan. Related Information Learn more about Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd edition. Learn more about Publications and Products from Wrightslaw. Good Books About IEPs 3. Special Ed Law & Advocacy Programs in NC, WV, OH, PA, IL - Boot Camps in FL & MD Wrightslaw offers a variety of special education law and advocacy programs taught by nationally-known experts in the field. The Fall 2006 schedule includes these programs. October 5: Winston-Salem, NC - Special Education Law & Advocacy Training by Pete and Pam Wright, sponsored by CenterPoint Human Services. Download Registration Form. October 13: Wheeling, WV - Special Education Law Training by Wayne Steedman, sponsored by Augusta Levy Learning Center. Download Registration Form October 17: Cleveland, OH - Special Education Law & Advocacy Training by Pete and Pam Wright, sponsored by The Up Side of Downs of Greater Cleveland. Download Registration Form October 19: Erie, PA - Special Education Law & Advocacy Training with Pete and Pam Wright, sponsored by Voices for Independence. Download Flyer & Registration Form October 28: Champaign, IL - Special Education Law & Advocacy Training by Wayne Steedman and Pat Howey, sponsored by the C-U Autism Network. Download Registration Form. * Boot Camps * November 4-5: Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Special Education Law & Advocacy Bootcamp by Wayne Steedman and Pat Howey, sponsored by the Unicorn Children's Foundation. Download Flyer & Registration Form November 10-11: Columbia, MD - Special Education Law & Advocacy Boot Camp by Pete and Pam Wright, sponsored by the Howard County Autism Society. Download Flyer & Registration Form 2006-2007 Schedule l Program Descriptions l Online Training "Do I have a right to observe the class before agreeing (or not agreeing) to a placement for my child? The special ed director said I cannot observe the class because of confidentiality issues with the other children." In Parent Observations v. Student Confidentiality, Pete and Pam offer strategies to deal with administrators who take positions that are not based on law, or common sense. Related Resources Learn more about privacy and confidentiality. 5. IDEA 2004 Regs: Schedule of Public Meetings The Department of Education (OSERS) is hosting a series of public meetings to provide the public with information about the IDEA 2004 regulations. Each meeting will begin with a reception during which Secretary Hager and Director Posny will meet with attendees on an informal basis. The reception will be followed by a presentation that includes information about the regulations, the new IDEA website, and an opportunity to ask questions about the regulations. Schedule of Meetings For more information about these meetings - where they will be held and when - please check the schedule at the Department of Education site. http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004-schedule.html Go to IDEA 2004 at Wrightslaw to learn more about the IDEA 2004 statute, regulations, download the commentary, and read articles about how IDEA 2004 is likely to affect you. 6. Subscription & Contact Info The Special Ed Advocate is a free online newsletter about special education legal and advocacy issues, cases, and tactics and strategies. Newsletter subscribers also receive "alerts" about new cases, events, and special offers on Wrightslaw books. Subscribe Contact Info Pete and Pam Wright |
