Archive for the ‘Slide-A-Round Updates’ Category
On June 3rd, I was en route to do my sessions at the 2015 IDEAS Conference. After about four hours driving, I was needing to stretch and take a short break from driving. Before I passed Bonaire Middle School in Bonaire, Georgia, I made a quick left turn and pulled into the school’s parking lot. I saw some cars, so thought I would check to see if an administrator and/ or teacher was present. I went into the main office and was greeted by Bonaire Middle School’s principal, Cynthia Randall.
It was apparent that she was busy wrapping up a successful 2014-15 school year. However, Ms. Randall was willing to put some important things on hold. I really appreciate administrators, like Ms. Randall and many others I have met around the United States, to take some time to find new ways to help their students master rigorous math standards.
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Because administrators are wrapping up the 2014-15 school year and already focusing on the 2015-16 school year, I am very appreciative of Tracey Bardak, Assistant Director of Federal Programs and Special Education in Evans County Schools, allocating time to meet with me and observe many of my teaching strategies. When her teachers return for the 2015-16 school year, she is going to share the information that I left her with them.
I sent my articles from the Fall 2014 National Federation of the Blind’s Future Reflections magazine and the Fall 2014 Canadian Deafblind Association’s Intervention magazine to Dr. Mindy Renfro, University of Montana Rural Institute/ Montana Adaptive Equipment Program (MAEP). I really appreciate her help sharing my teaching strategies with in her colleagues in Montana. I am looking forward to the possibility of helping many people all the way from Georgia!
I was searching the Internet and had a pleasant surprise. On the Maryland Department of Disabilities Assistive Technology Blog (4-27-15), my math manipulatives were mentioned as well as my recent article in Future Reflections magazine. I sincerely appreciate their help sharing my teaching strategies!
On June 9th, I am going to demonstrate my teaching strategies in Baton Rouge, LA at the Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network at 1:30. Gary Matherne, LATAN Southern Region Program Director, invited me and helped schedule the demonstration. Mr. Matherne, like many other teachers and administrators I have spoken with over the past 2-3 years, are considering all strategies to help the students they serve.
I have accepted an invitation to demonstrate my manipulatives from Jodi Burr, Assistive Technology Specialist, Louisiana Assistive Technology Initiative at the state-wide 2015 LATI North Summer Summit as Gallaspy College of Education at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana on June 10. Because my manipulatives are available for check-out at the LATI centers, I hope many questions- simple or difficult- will be asked by educators to help them serve their students more efficiently and effectively.
I was notified by DeeDee Buun, Georgia Department for Special Education Services and Supports, that my proposal to present at the 2015 Institute Designed for Educating All Students (IDEAS) Conference on June 1-5 has been accepted! The 2015 IDEAS Conference is sponsored by the GA DOE, Georgia Tools for Life, and Georgia Council for Exceptional Children. This will be my second opportunity to present at the IDEAS Conference.
I am looking forward to hearing from the educators who are using my manipulatives in their classrooms and answer any questions that they might have. See you at the conference!
I appreciate the help I received from Carol Thomas, Principal at Centralhatchee Elementary School in Franklin, GA, for providing an opportunity to share my teaching strategies. With Georgia’s high- stakes testing this month, I know that her time is very valuable. Hopefully, I can provide some last- minute resources to help her students learn their rigorous math standards before they are administered the Georgia Milestones Assessment.
I had two sessions at the 2015 EdCamp Rome Conference in Rome, Georgia. Educators from Floyd County Schools, Rome City Schools, and other regional school districts had many opportunities to make important connections with people and obtain innovative ideas for the students in their classrooms. Saturday was definitely a very productive day!
I would like to take a minute to thank Colleen Lines, Director of the Ogden Resource Center, Washington State School for the Blind, for reviewing and then posting my information on Washington’s list serv. Her willingness to post my information is very helpful, especially due to the distance from Washington to Georgia. If our correspondence can help at least one student in Washington, it will definitely be worth it!