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December 2008 - February 2009
The
irculator
SST 5
C
5555 Youngstown-Warren Road Unit 696
Ph: (800) 776-8298
www.sst5.k12.oh.us
FAX: (330) 544-1000
Niles, OH 44446
d
SST 5 Assistive Technology Consultant Moves to OCALI
T he Ohio Center for Autism and Low books, websites, and names of
Incidence (OCALI) is one human resource organizations where additional
richer these days, thanks to Jim information on each topic can be found.
Earnhart’s On this website you will also discover
decision to join two great OCALI-generated newsletters.
the OCALI staff As OCALI’s Northeast Ohio Regional AT The Sphere offers news, information,
as their Coach, Jim will continue to provide events and people whose lives are
Northeast Ohio support to families and educators touched by autism and low incidence;
Assistive working with children with autism and Technology for Success provides
Technology spectrum disorders, multiple disabilities, information to Ohio educators and
Coach. orthopedic impairments, traumatic brain families on current topics related to
e
Jim began his
injuries, and other health impairments.
He will work with OCALI to assist
Universal Design for Learning,
Differentiated Instruction, and
employment individuals with autism and low integration of technology/assistive
with State Support Team Region 5 in incidence disabilities in improving their technology for all students.
1987, when the facility was known as outcomes and ultimately achieving their
the North East Ohio Special Education full potential. Jim is eager to support OCALI’s mission
Regional Resource Center (NEOSERRC). in serving families, educators, and
Over the years, Jim has fine-tuned his The OCALI website, www.ocali.org, professionals working with students with
skills in the field of assistive technology offers a wealth of resources including autism and low-incidence disabilities.
(AT), becoming an indispensable the Ohio's Parent Guide to Autism He will certainly play a key role in
resource to the families and educators Spectrum Disorders, a manual that maintaining the organization’s success
of northeast Ohio. Through his broad
range of AT experience and expertise,
provides an overview of the world of
autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It
d through his excellent leadership, training,
and AT/technical assistance skills. All of
Jim has literally helped to enhance the covers a wide range of topics of interest us at SST 5 wish Jim continued success
lives of many Ohio students with autism to families, and each chapter contains and hope to see him as he makes his way
and low incidence disabilities. rich reference materials, including throughout his OCALI region.
Source: www.ocali.org
What is Assistive Technology? Teachers,
According to www.ocali.org, assistive technology (AT) is “any
item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether check out
acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, the cool tools
that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional
capabilities of individuals with disabilities. you can use ... page 8
Any modification or adaptation that enables a student to more fully participate in daily
educational activities may be considered as AT. This adaptation may be as simple as a
Newsletter Routing List
pencil grip, or as complex as an adapted computer system. Please route this publication to the following
personnel:
A school district is responsible for determining the special education services necessary for
each child with disabilities to receive a free and appropriate public education. This n Building Principals n Teachers’ Lounge
includes the provision for AT devices and services.” Learn more about assistive technology n Related Services n Parents
and the Ohio SST AT network at www.ocali.org. n Other
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT l SPECIAL EDUCATION l EARLY CHILDHOOD l LITERACY
BUILDING BLOCKS
Why the Early Education Sector is More Innovative than K-12
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Over the past 6 months, I’ve home-based care, and might not otherwise be able to
From the Early Ed Watch been spending a lot of time participate in pre-K programs.
Blog on the New America thinking about educational
Foundation (NAF) website— innovation, because Andy And these are just a few examples of innovation in early
www.newamerica.net Rotherham and I have been education.
writing a paper for the
Submiited by Sara Mead, Brookings Institution on the Why has the early education sector fostered
Senior Research Fellow, federal role in supporting and embraced innovation in ways the K-12
Education Policy Program educational innovation. One world has not? It’s a question that’s been
and Workforce and Family of the things that’s become bothering me a lot lately. I think there are a
Program, NAF increasingly clear to me is number of reasons.
that the early education
sector is much more innovative—and offers a much more First, it’s worth noting that the idea of early education
hospitable climate for innovators—than the K-12 education programs for young children is itself something of an innovation.
system. The idea that parents and educators should be providing
education, rather than simply safe, nurturing care, for young
Consider: Last week I attended a meeting about the Classroom children is a relatively new one. As recently as the 1950s only
Assessment Scoring System (see CLASS, page 3), a validated, about 10 percent of children attended preschool or pre-K
reliable observational system, about which we’ve written programs, compared to more than two-thirds of 4-year-olds today.
previously, that enables trained observers to, in a relatively
short amount of time, measure the quality of teachers’ Related, early education doesn’t have the kind of deeply
interactions with children in the classroom. Most importantly, entrenched structure that exists in the public education system,
evidence shows that kids whose teachers perform better on the with its school districts, the public schools they operate, and
CLASS learn more than children whose teachers score less well. the webs of state-level policies, funding streams, and
That’s a tremendously important innovation that can support all institutions that fund, regulate, and oversee the public schools.
kinds of new approaches to teacher training, professional Instead, early education is delivered through a diverse
development, and even program monitoring and accountability, patchwork of public schools, community-based providers, Head
and right now the researchers at the University of Virginia who Start, and both center-based and family childcare. This diversity
developed CLASS are working with local and state policymakers and lack of an established system can often frustrate early
to implement innovative approaches that utilize CLASS. education reformers, and lead to gaps in access and quality. But
they also help create a fertile climate for innovation, because
Interestingly, CLASS can be used in both early childhood (pre-K) there is less of an entrenched system to stand in the way of new
and early elementary (K-3) settings, but the vast majority of ideas, and diverse providers provide more opportunities to try
interest in using it has come from early childhood—there doesn’t out a diverse array of models, approaches, and tools.
seem to be a lot of states or districts that are aware of CLASS or
interested in using it in their elementary school classrooms. Similarly, the early education system features a tremendous
amount of parent choice and competition, which creates both
Similarly, Wireless Generation is a for-profit company that opportunities and incentives for providers to innovate and
produces a technology platform that allows teachers to track differentiate their services.
students’ reading progress and administer real-time assessments
on handheld devices (similar to PDAs) that automatically upload Also, in comparison to the K-12 system, the early education
data to the web, where teachers can analyze it and use it to sector is relatively strapped for resources—state early education
guide instruction. Wireless Generation's major products are programs often provide far less funding per-child for pre-K than
automated versions of early literacy assessments and other tools K-12, providers often have to scrape together funds from
for use in early childhood classrooms. private and philanthropic sources to fund early childhood
services for which there is no state funding, childcare providers’
The early education sector has also been innovative in delivering ability to raise costs is constrained by what parents can afford
new delivery models to serve the diverse needs of young to pay—which means that providers and reformers face constant
children and their families. For example, Illinois Action for pressure to seek out innovative approaches that enable them to
Children has developed an innovative delivery model, called do more, and provide better quality, with less resources.
Community Connections, that partners home-based care
providers with center-based pre-K programs, so that children in Finally, the early education sector benefits from an
home-based childcare can receive a half day of high-quality pre- especially rich body of research. There are, of course, the
K, while their parents still benefit from the flexibility, seminal randomized controlled studies of model early childhood
affordability, and extended schedules home-based providers programs in the 1960s and since—Perry Preschool, Abecedarian,
offer. The program also provides support to help home-based Chicago’s Child Parent Centers. And this kind of high-quality
care providers improve the quality of care and educational effectiveness research is often lacking elsewhere in education.
supports they offer. This is an innovative model that shows Early education has also benefitted from the now well-known
promise for reaching low-income children, who tend to be in neuroscience, psychology, and child development research,
Continued on Page 3
2 The Circulator l December 2008-February 2009
Teacher Resource Center News
Teacher Resource Center News
The State Support Team Region 5 Teacher Resource Centers offer clients a wide Save the Date!
variety of resources including: 2009 Ohio Early Care &
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Education Conference
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES (ex: Specialized Catalogs)
PRODUCTION RESOURCES (ex: laminating, Ellison machines)
Coming May 28-30
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES (ex: alternative keyboards/mice) The Ohio Association for the
Education of Young Children
As a reminder, those wishing to utilize the Teacher Resource Centers are first (OAEYC) and the Ohio Department
required to attend a brief overview training presentation. Please contact the of Education will present Ohio’s
Trumbull or Mahoning Center to schedule an appointment. premiere statewide early childhood
conference at the Greater
TRUMBULL: MAHONING: Columbus Convention Center on
Phone (800) 776-8298, ext. 112 Phone (330) 729-4047 May 28-30, 2009.
Preschools wishing to offer a group staff training can call (800) 776-8298, ext. This collaborative event is
103. All hours are by appointment only. Additional information/updates will be designed for educators/service
posted at www.sst5.k12.oh.us. Click the “Teacher Resource Center” link. providers who work with children,
birth through grade three.
HOLIDAY HOURS In observance of the upcoming holiday season, the Participants will explore the latest
SST 5 Teacher Resource Centers will be closed from December 24 research, best practices and
through January 2. resources available in the field of
early learning. For details, search:
2009 Ohio Early Care at
H Congratulations www.ode.k12.oh.us.
State Support Team Region 5 would like to recognize
Hope Children’s Academy, Warren, Ohio, an early
child care provider who recently achieved a Step Up to Quality One-Star Rating.
For more information on Step Up to Quality, visit http://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/stepUpQuality.stm. There you will find a
wealth of information, such as the requirements that a provider must meet to achieve a One-Star Rating, Step Up
To Quality Parent Fact Sheets, Ohio child care search links, specialized training information, including a PowerPoint
presentation for centers, and much more.
CLASS (Classroom Assessment Continued from Page 2
Scoring System)... summed up in works such as Neurons to Neighborhoods and Eager to Learn,
Is an observational instrument developed at that, starting in the 1990s, began to focus much more of parents’ and
the University of Virginia to assess classroom policymakers’ attention on the importance of brain development and early
quality learning in the first several years of life—and also established a base of scientific
Describes multiple dimensions of teaching evidence about the reality of what children need during this time. Less noted
that are linked to student achievement and but equally important have been non-experimental and quasi-experimental
social development studies based on large samples of children in childcare and early education
Has been validated in over 2,000 classrooms programs: The Cost, Quality and Outcomes Study, the NICHD Study of Early Child
Provides a tool to help new and experienced Care, the SWEEP and Multi-State studies of state pre-K programs. These
teachers become more effective studies have provided valuable information about the reality of children’s
early education experiences, as well as further documentation of the link
Visit www.classobservation.com for details. between quality and child outcomes, and refinements in our understanding
of what quality means in large scale early education and childcare
programs. Moreover, this research, and the need.for measures of classroom quality to support that research, gave rise to tools like
CLASS that are now available to help improve quality in early childhood education.
Now, early education’s experience is also an illustration of the limits of what innovation can do. In large part because of the lack of
funding and non-system nature of the early education sector, quality in early education programs is still highly varied, and too often
not good enough to support the kind of learning children need in these early years. To improve results for children, innovation needs
to be partnered with resources, infrastructure, and policies that allow early educators to implement effective innovative
approaches in a high-quality way, as well as accountability and ongoing assessments of innovative models.
But it’s also true that the more hospitable climate for innovation that can be found in early education has fostered the development
of ideas and resources that are now playing an important role in efforts to improve quality, access, alignment, and outcomes for
children in early education. When it comes to innovation, the K-12 public school system could learn a thing or two from the early
education sector.
* Find this article at: http://www.newamerica.net/blog/early-ed-watch/2008/why-early-education-sector-more-innovative-k-12-7786
The Circulator l December 2008-February 2009 3
News Special Education Leadership
Conference Presentations,
OEC Revised Operating Standards Handouts Available
Documents Available Online ODE's Office for Exceptional Children
Kathe Shelby, Director, Office for Exceptional Children (OEC), distributed an
Dr.The state of Ohio (OEC) hosted the second annual Special
important CD in October to all superintendents, principals, directors, and Education Leadership Conference on
community school sponsors containing the revised Operating Standards and Sept. 24-25, 2008 at the Aladdin Shrine
miscellaneous resources pertaining to Gifted Students and Students with Center in Columbus. Special education
Disabilities, effective July 1, 2008. The downloadable PDF documents can be directors in public and community
accessed at www.sst5.k12.oh.us. Select the "Resources/Related Links" under schools, as well as other leaders in Ohio's
which you will find the NEW! Operating Standards for Ohio Educational Agencies special education system, attended the
Serving Exceptional Children heading. two-day conference. Participants had the
opportunity to meet OEC's new director,
Dr. Kathe Shelby, and learn about
Two Trumbull County Districts, Six Region 5 changes in the Operating Standards,
Buildings Designated "Excellent with Distinction" OEC's monitoring plan, and other state-
level special education policies and
Lakeview and Howland Local School Districts in Trumbull County were the only
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
programs. Conference presentations and
districts within Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana Counties to be handouts are now available on the ODE
designated "Excellent with Distinction" by the Ohio Department of Education. Of the website. To download the documents, visit
four SST Region 5 counties, a total of six buildings were designated "Excellent with www.ode.state.oh.us and search:
Distinction": Special Education Conference Handouts.
1. Lakeview Middle School—Lakeview Local, Trumbull County;
2. McDonald High School—McDonald Local, Trumbull County;
3. Southington Elementary School—Southington Local, Trumbull County; Information on Special
4. Robinwood Lane Elementary School—Boardman Local, Mahoning County; Education Forms Posted
5. North Elementary School—Poland Local, Mahoning Co.; and DE has posted information on
6. West Branch Middle School—West Branch Local, Mahoning County. the special education forms
that schools and parents
The ODE website has available a State and Local Report Card page that features
must use in the assessment
Report Cards for Ohio schools and districts, as well as more in-depth information,
of students with disabilities and in the
including previous years' Report Cards and related data. Informational resources
administration of related programs and
including guides and documentation are also available. To view the 2007-2008
services. The current forms, PR-01 to PR-
State Report Card and related resources, log on to www.ode.state.oh.us and
07, will NOT change for 2008-09, as they
search: Report Card; or type www.reportcard.ohio.gov directly into your browser.
meet all requirements of current federal/
state law, regulation and rule. The
Evaluation Team Report (PR-06) and the
New Report Card Measure New Data Tools Catalog IEP Form (PR-07) will be modified during
2008-09 based on stakeholder input. The
revised versions will be required in the
Shows How School Adds Released
Value To Student Progress The Ohio Department of Education Data 2009-10 school year and have been
This year, Ohio has a new "value-added" Tools Catalog describes the ODE- available since November 2008 so that
measurement on the school building and sponsored data tools, explains the IEPs written for the following year will be
district report cards that shows the resources available, and provides compliant. Search: Special Education
amount of student academic growth for guidance for implementing a data-driven Forms at www.ode.state.oh.us for details.
the same group of students for previous process. It is designed to provide
school years. These report cards serve as information to the educator who is just
a way for parents to have conversations starting the process and to inform those
Special Education Operating
with teachers about basic questions such who have already implemented one. The Standards Video Link Provided
as what a child knows and needs to know. catalog is organized in three sections: the Ann Guinan, Assistant Director of
Find more information, such as first contains the information needed to Procedural Safeguards in the Office for
understanding value- implement a data-driven process; the Exceptional Children, and Barbara
added data and how to second includes student achievement Weinberg, Office of Early Learning and
access Ohio's online data tools that help districts/schools School Readiness, hosted a webinar
report cards, at analyze “how are we doing”; and the third regarding the Operating Standards for
www.ode.state.oh.us; concludes with contextual data tools to Children with Disabilities. This two-hour
search: New Report help educators understand the factors video compressed for the web is hosted on
Card Measure. affecting student achievement results. the Ohio Center for Autism and Low
The Data Tools Overview and the Catalog Incidence (OCALI) website and can be
Access Ohio’s report cards at can be found at www.ode.state.oh.us by accessed at: http://www.ocali.org/
www.reportcard.ohio.gov searching: Data Tools Catalog. resources/ODE_Summ_Op.php.
4 The Circulator l December 2008-February 2009
Admission Policies for counselor
Talk with your child’s teachers EMIS Update
Encourage your child's interests
Students with Disabilities in
Important updates regarding the
CTE Programs Clarified Get involved in your child's learning
Education Management Information
There has been a need for ODE to clarify
System (EMIS), a statewide data
some general admission procedures Visitors will also find a college and career
collection system for Ohio's primary
regarding students with disabilities (SWD) planning tool for families of middle/high
and secondary education, include:
in career-technical education (CTE) school students—the Ohio Career and
programs. ODE advises that CTE Information System (OCIS) and the EMIS Redesign Clarification
providers review current policy and Individual Academic and Career Plan Updates to EMIS Redesign were
practice for student application to, and (IACP)—which allows children to develop recently provided by ODE which
enrollment in, CTE programs. Providers a personalized portfolio, expand upon their basically addressed the progress that
should make sure they have written and interests, research career options, and has been made and some of the future
clearly defensible policies for application plan their high school coursework. To learn activities. Since flat file data submission
and admission, and that these policies are more about the OCIS and IACP and for is not something new, it was not
followed for all students including SWD. more career planning resources, search: discussed, leading some attendees to
For clarification, seach: SWD CTE College and Career Planning. believe that it was not going to be
at www.ode.state.oh.us. available in the future. To reiterate
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
Spring 2009 OAT & OGT previous communications, flat file data
Master Teacher PPT submission remains a viable option for
submitting data via EMIS for a limited
Information Posted
Presentation Available Beginning with the Spring 2009 test period of time. (The earliest time for the
A 20-minute PowerPoint presentation administration, Form SV will be used for removal of flat file submission is still
describing the key features of the Master students using an English audio, foreign thought to be 2015).
Teacher Program is now available through language or needing a read-a-loud
ODE's Office of Educator Standards. This administration. Form 1 and Form A, used EMIS PPT Presentations
production will help familiarize district for OGT and OAT respectively, will no EMIS PowerPoint presentations from
personnel/educators with Master Teacher longer be the designated form for the read- conferences/trainings held by the Ohio
responsibilities for districts, local a-loud. Districts will need to order Form SV Association of EMIS Professionals, the
committees and teachers. For an overview in Tide for the OGT and Schoolhouse for Ohio Education Data Systems
of the program and to view the the OAT for read-a-loud administrations. Association, and ODE are available at
presentation, visit www.ode.state.oh.us Details are forthcoming and will be posted www.ode.state.oh.us. They will help
and search: Master Teacher PowerPoint. at www.ode.state.oh.us. Search: Spring EMIS coordinators with changes in the
2009 OAT and OGT. reporting system and applying EMIS to
Statewide Assessment specific areas such as Special
Young Writers Contest Education, the Local Report Card, and
Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) data.
Accommodations Listed
ODE provides a list of common Deadline is Jan. 15 Search EMIS PowerPoint to access the
assessment accommodations to help The deadline for presentations.
individualized education program (IEP) Ohioana’s Robert Fox
teams make appropriate decisions about Award for Young Writers Reading First EMIS Reporting
allowable accommodations for statewide contest, open to Ohio Reading First is a new national initiative
assessment. Designations such as students in grades 9-12, is aimed at helping every child in every
"allowable" or "not allowable" for the test Jan. 15, 2009. Established state become a successful reader. Up
subjects/grades and accommodations have in 2007, the award honors Robert Fox to $5 billion will be distributed among
been made in light of the four allowable (1943-2003), a writer and poet who served the 50 states, the District of Columbia,
criteria for statewide assessment as the first poet in the schools of the Ohio Puerto Rico, and outlying areas over
accommodations explained at the Arts Council, and then became its literary the next several years. These funds are
beginning of the list. To be directed to the coordinator. Three awards will be given in specifically dedicated to helping states
list and to the Ohio Statewide Testing prose and three in poetry. First place and local school districts establish high-
Program Rules Book, search: Allowable winners will receive $250; second place quality, comprehensive reading
Accommodations at www.ode.state.oh.us. will receive $150; and third place will instruction for all children in
receive $100. The awards will be kindergarten through third grade. The
presented at the Third Annual Ohioana ODE website provides access to
Book Festival, to be held May 9 on the important Reading First EMIS reporting
Tips and Tools to Help
Parents Explore Careers grounds of the Ohio Statehouse in information. Search: EMIS Reading
An abundance of great tips, tools, and Columbus. The festival’s purpose is to First at www.ode.state.oh.us.
resources to help parents explore career increase awareness of the importance of
paths with their adolescents is available at Ohio writers and their contributions to the For more information on EMIS,
www.ode.state.oh.us. Practical advice for literary arts. For contest entry forms and including EMIS changes, processing
parents includes: more information, visit www.ohioana.org schedules, and various resources,
Start early and click on “Awards” at the top. search EMIS at www.ode.state.oh.us.
Talk with your child's guidance
The Circulator l December 2008-February 2009 5
The Ohio Medicaid Schools
State Board Names New District Staff Profiles for
Program Information Posted
ODE, in collaboration with the Ohio
State Superintendent of 1980-1998 Accessible
Public Instruction Department of Job and Family Services ODE offers an interactive page that
On Oct. 14, the (ODJFS), has developed a document allows users to get current staff profiles
State Board of entitled "Planning for the Medicaid School for Ohio school districts for 1980-1998.
Education Program (MSP)" to give schools some Reports can be generated for individual
appointed basic information on what the program will districts, various district groupings,
Deborah Delisle be and how to enroll with ODJFS as a counties, and the total state. To access
as the new state MSP provider. Note that the this page, search: District Staff Profiles
superintendent administrative rules needed to start the at www.ode.state.oh.us.
of public MSP were to have been filed sometime in
instruction. October and ODFJS is in the process of Supplemental Education
Delisle replaces making the MSP Medicaid Provider
Susan Tave Zelman, who served as application available. ODE and ODJFS
Services Resources for
state superintendent since 1999. staff are working on program guides and Parents
instructions that will provide much more Under NCLB School
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
Since 2003, Delisle has been the detail about all aspects of the MSP districts are required,
superintendent of the Cleveland program. To learn more, log on to under some
Heights-University Heights School www.ode.state.oh.us and search: Ohio circumstances, to
District. She previously held the Medicaid Schools. provide parents and
position of associate superintendent their children with the option of using
for educational services at the Middle and High School supplemental educational services (SES).
Cleveland Heights-University Heights SES can be used when a student's school
School District. As superintendent, Transformation Documents is a Title I served building that has not
Delisle implemented the district’s One Provided demonstrated Adequate Yearly Progress
to One Teaching and Learning with Ohio middle and high (AYP) for three years. Eligible students are
Technology program, which by 2012 school transformation those from low-income families who attend
will provide all students/teachers in focuses on three a Title I served school in School
grades 6-12 with a laptop computer transition points, Improvement Year 2 or higher, including
for wireless learning. The program is occurring among grades corrective action, or restructuring. ODE has
in its pilot year this school year and 6-14 and critical to resources to help parents with identifying
recently distributed laptops to all student success. At the state level, their children's needs and how they can be
students in the Monticello Middle success is measured through the use of met, and in selecting an SES provider. For
School. performance indicators and assessments. details, including a look-up link to state-
The ODE website provides two approved providers, search: SES Parents
Delisle conducted her post-graduate downloadable documents which offer at www.ode.state.oh.us
work at Kent State University and more information on these critical
Ashland University in administration transition points: the Framework to McKinney-Vento Homeless
and curriculum development. She Prepare and Graduate All Students
received her Bachelor’s degree from brochure and the Critical Transitions in Grant Recipients Announced
Springfield College in Massachusetts Education chart. Find these documents A list of McKinney-Vento Homeless Grant
and a Master’s degree in Special and more by searching: School Recipients for 2008-2009 is available on
Education from Kent State University. Transformation at www.ode.state.oh.us. the ODE website. The purpose of the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and
As state superintendent, Delisle will Youth Program is to ensure that all
lead and supervise the state’s
HQT Toolkit Revised for children/youth have equal access to the
elementary/secondary education 2008-2009 same free and appropriate public
system; oversee the ODE; administer The Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) education, including preschool education
licensing of Ohio’s early childhood Reporting Materials Toolkit, revised for the as non-homeless children/youth. To view
through high school educators; serve 2008-2009 school year, is now available the list, visit www.ode.state.oh.us and
as the State Board’s secretary; and on the ODE website. These materials search: Homeless Students. Other
manage relationships with key serve as a guide for Ohio's school resources include a parent brochure, an
stakeholders, such as the governor, administrators to assist in reporting HQTs excellent overview of homeless education,
state legislature, chancellor of Ohio’s and qualified instructional that can be distributed to parents and
university system and local school paraprofessionals. Although the guidelines school personnel. More resources and
districts. Delisle is slated to begin her have not changed, the revised toolkit has information about the grant, including
new position no later than Dec. 1, been enhanced with some additional informational posters, can be downloaded
2008. examples and frequently asked questions. at www.naehcy.org (the website of the
To download the new toolkit, search HQT National Association for the Education of
Read more at www.ode.state.oh.us. Toolkit at www.ode.state.oh.us. Homeless Children and Youth).
6 The Circulator l December 2008-February 2009
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; www.kurzweiledu.com
Kurzweil Educational Systems'
research-aligned technologies provide
For more than 25 years, IntelliTools and Kurzweil have functioned as leading
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The company has just announced the
CLT upholds the core principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). These include release of Kurzweil 3000 for
multiple means of representation, multiple means of expression, and multiple means Windows Version 11. This new
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For example, IntelliTools' products support different learning styles to help all writing, reading, comprehension,
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CLT recently added Stages: Software Solutions for reading, writing, and mathematics,
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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
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educators a common language for reviewing learner progress. a unique intervention tool that
combines direct instruction with a
Learn more about Cambium Learning Technology’s product offerings, including flexible tool environment to help
IntelliTools and Kurzweil, at www.cambiumlearningtechnologies.com. pre-K-5 students master reading,
(Source: www.cambiumlearningtechnologies.com)
writing and math.
LeaderLink Available
from Don Johnston Suggested Reading:
Don Johnston, Inc., the leader Using Assistive
in providing intervention solutions Technology to Meet
to schools and districts across the Literacy Standards
U.S., UK and Canada, now offers an easy way to keep up-to-date with the latest By Sherry L. Purcell, PhD
assistive technologies and innovative instructional programs to improve the core and Debbie Grant, MA
literacy skills of students with special needs. The company’s new e-newsletter, ISBN # 978-1578614936
LeaderLink, showcases informative articles from expert authors, educators and
The authors provide AT
collaborators. Published 10 times a year, it is sent via email to thousands of teachers,
solutions and sample IEP goals written
administrators, educational specialists and parents. LeaderLink subscribers will also be
to literacy standards, while covering a
the first to hear about special offers, new products and free resources. To sign up to
wide range of AT options, from digital
receive Leaderlink, visit www.donjohnston.com and click on “Newsletters”
talkers to eye pointers. Written for staff
under the “Professional Services” tab.
who work with students in grades 4–6, it
offers excellent assistance for writing
SST 5 Recognized by Don Johnston goals and objectives regardless of the
State Support Team Region 5 was honored to receive a plaque from user’s background. Curriculum areas
Don Johnston in recognition of “Outstanding Leadership Efforts in the include reading, writing, written and
Use of Technology by Promoting Literacy Success” for 2008-2009. We are oral composition, listening and
pleased to play an important role in improving the literacy skills of special needs speaking. Find this book plus the K-3
students, and extend our gratitude to Don Johnston for their recognition and support. and 7-12 editions at www.amazon.com.
The Circulator l December 2008-February 2009 7
February is Black History Month
On February as a tribute to the birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham
Bits and Pieces Lincoln the noted African American scholar and historian Carter G Woodson initiated
Black History Week the forerunner of what has become Black History Month (BHM)
For great BHM resources visit http://www infoplease com/spot/bhm html
A One Stop Resource for Educators
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The PBS Teachers website, a portal for pre-K-12 educators, offers a wide range of curriculum resources, video products, and
online professional development opportunities. The site also offers membership to PBS Teachers Connect, an easy and
effective way to share ideas, experiences, and innovations on using digital resources to teach. Visit www.pbs.org/teachers to
discover this one-stop resource.
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World Book Web Now Available Through INFOhio
INFOhio now offers a link to World Book Encyclopedias for three levels: World Book Kids (K-5),
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World Book Student (5-9), and World Book Advanced (8-12 and college). A World Book Online
Reference Center (4-9) is also available, under which users can explore the Educators' Tools
page, which provides a range of resources, including correlations from World Book content to states curriculum correlations,
links to lesson plans, and professional education links. Find it all under the “Core Collection” icon at www.infohio.org.
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Multicultural Books Every Child Should Read
The National Education Association (NEA) website boasts a wonderful list of 50 must-have multicultural books, compiled by
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the Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin. The list features a breakdown by age
search that includes preschool, ages 5-7, ages 7-9, and ages 9-12. The titles offer great gift suggestions, lesson ideas, or
recommendations on what to read to your classroom. Find this book list and others at www.nea.org/readacross under “Book
Lists” in the right column.
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NEA Partners with Kidthing to Offer Free Book Downloads
To help promote the National Education Association’s (NEA) Read Across America program and Read Across
America Day on March 2, 2009, NEA has partnered with Kidthing to offer free downloads of selected Read Across
R
America books. A wide variety of titles will be available throughout the school year. Kidthing is a free,
downloadable media player that allows children and classrooms to experience digital books, games, and videos,
with no ads or subscriptions. To learn more, visit www.kidthing.com/nea. To find out more about Read Across America, log
on to www.nea.org/readacross.
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Vital Resources for Social Studies Teachers
The Ohio Social Studies Resource Center (OSSRC) provides free access to peer-reviewed resources to all Ohio social studies
educators. Twelve partnering agencies presently serve the OSSRC and work together to improve the teaching and learning
resources that are available. Check out the OSSRC and all that it has to offer by logging on to www.ossrc.org.
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The Ohio Social Studies Signal Newsletter is another great resource for social studies educators. ODE fills this newsletter with
timely information on a monthly basis to keep social studies educators informed of important news from ODE, professional
development opportunities, and classroom resources. Find it at www.ode.state.oh.us under “Publications.”
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FREE Teacher Resources in a Snap
The Federal Resource for Educational Excellence (FREE) website makes it easy to track down new teaching resources from
federal agencies. Some of the latest topics include water purification, planets, artists and trail diaries. To find these topics
and many more, visit www.free.ed.gov, select a subject from the drop-down menu, and you’re on your way.
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Tools to Promote Global Thinking
At www.ThinkGlobalOhio.org, educators can discover a world of great advocacy and awareness tools,
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including a multimedia toolkit to help Ohio schools prepare students for the interconnected world of the 21st
century. The site recently added a database of our state’s “International Connections” which can be viewed
country by country, by clicking on a flag. Under “Other Resources” teachers can access lesson plans with an
international focus, compliments of the ODE Instructional Management System (IMS). Organized by continent,
users can easily find lesson plans aligned to Ohio’s Academic Content Standards.
BITS AND PIECES
AN ESCHOOL NEWS ONLINE SITE OF THE WEEK
LearningExpress—an industry leader in both web-based and print resources with special emphasis on writing
improvement programs—has created a new blog for educators called The Writing Teacher. Its goal is to enable
educators to share ideas and expertise on helping students improve their writing. According to the National
Assessment of Educational Progress, only 33 percent of eighth grade students in the U.S. are writing at a
proficient level. To help change that statistic, The Writing Teacher features writing input, content, and
feedback, and encourages those who teach writing every day to participate.
According to the website, many of the articles will be based on NWREL's 6+1 traits of writing, providing a solid foundation for teaching.
Topics like: writing as part of ELA, writing across disciplines, and writing instruction in different student populations will be included.
The blog's debut article, "Research-Based Best Practices for Teaching Writing: A Discussion with Steve Graham," offers great advice from
a literacy professor at Vanderbilt University. The website also allows users to search article archives, sign up to receive e-mail updates,
learn about upcoming events, and more. To discover this resource, visit www.thewritingteacher.org.
8 The Circulator l December 2008-February 2009
National Campaign Encourages Girls
Looks to Strengthen Fitness & Nutrition to Explore Engineering
Project Appleseed, a major educational resource and advocate In 2004, members of the engineering
for parents and families, is aimed at positively impacting public community formed a coalition to
education. Project Appleseed promotes quality improvement in encourage academically prepared girls to
learning, wellness, and school facilities to aid parents and enroll in engineering programs. After
educators in meeting the needs of the whole child. extensive research revealed some of the
reasons girls were not interested in engineering,
National Family Fitness Week is January 18-24, 2009 the coalition developed and tested new messages that
As part of their school fitness and nutrition component, the emphasized how creative and varied engineering can be and
Project Appleseed website boasts a wealth of resources—just in what a difference engineers make. The messages—creativity has
time to promote National Family Fitness Week. For example, its rewards, explore the possibilities, and make a world of difference
users can download the Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & —are now part of a national campaign designed to encourage
Nutrition (WE CAN!) Parent Handbook. WE CAN! is a new public college bound girls to explore the field. The new website,
education outreach program designed to help children 8–13 years www.engineeryourlife.org, is the centerpiece of the national
old stay at a healthy weight through improving food choices, campaign, and is meant for high school girls and the adults in
increasing physical activity, and reducing screen time. Other their lives (parents, counselors, teachers, etc.) who want to
helpful links include “Helping Your Overweight Child” and “6 learn more about what life and work are like for engineers.
Food Mistakes Parents Make.” Find these links and more at
www.projectappleseed.org. The campaign looks to encourage girls to pursue engineering
careers by introducing them to young female engineers, helping
counselors/teachers better understand engineering by providing
LDsuccess org Shares Useful Insight them with resources to advise students, and more. On the site,
Nearly 3 million school-age students receive the services of users will discover a link to www.engineergirl.org, designed
special education due to having a learning disability (LD) of some specifically for middle school girls. Visitors to this unique site
kind. Much insight into how individuals handle and cope with LD can find out more about engineering careers, read profiles of
can be found at www.ldsuccess.org. This website shares women engineers, explore fun facts, and find out what classes
research about key factors ("success attributes") that contribute to take in high school to prepare for this career.
to success for those with LD, focusing on self-awareness, (Source: www.engineeryourlife.org)
proactivity, perseverance, goal-setting, support systems, and
emotional coping strategies. The site also features innovative OSSB Marching Band to Perform in
guides for parents and teachers to help them lead children with
LD to successful life outcomes. The complete Parent Guide can Tournament of Roses Parade
be reviewed on the site. The Teacher Guide is a preview to the The Ohio State School for the Blind (OSSB)
new Teacher Guide, "The Six Attributes of Successful Students marching band—the only blind marching band in
with Learning Disabilities: 60 Ready-to-Use Activities to Promote the nation—recently received exciting news. The 17-
Social Skills and Personal Achievement" (available Spring of 2009). member ensemble has been invited to participate in
the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade, held each New Year’s Day
Camp Nuhop Offers Respite in Pasadena, CA. This will mark the first time that the parade—
famous for its floats made entirely of flowers—has hosted a blind
Weekends marching band. The OSSB band now has a year to perfect their
Camp Nuhop in Ashland, Ohio is offering performance. Each member has a marching assistant to help
seasonal weekend respite programs for them stay in formation and prepare for their six-mile, two-hour
children with learning disabilities, march. They will also be busy raising funds for their cross-
attention deficit disorders and behavior country quest to Pasadena.
disorders. Both the Winter Respite (Jan.
16-18, 2009) and the Spring Respite (Mar. 6-8, 2009) offer fun The OSSB is a publicly funded educational facility located in
and friendship centered around seasonal programming. Columbus. The school is dedicated to the intellectual, social,
physical, and emotional growth of students with visual
Numerous residential Summer Camp programs are also offered, impairments, including those with multiple disabilities. Students,
such as Lake Erie Islands Camp, Artistic Ventures, Science Camp, ages 3 to 21, can receive their entire education—Kindergarten
Sports Skills Camp, and Canoe Camp. Applications, downloadable through high school—at the institution. To find out more about
from the website, will be accepted until all places are filled the OSSB and how to make a donation to the OSSB marching
(usually around May 30). Spaces are limited. Find all the details band, visit www.ossb.oh.gov.
BITS AND PIECES
at www.campnuhop.org. (Source: The Columbus Dispatch Online, 10/21/2008)
Reading Rockets Offers Toolkit for School Psychologists
School psychologists (SPs) play an increasingly vital role in the lives of struggling learners, and are becoming leaders in developing
and implementing assessment and placement decisions that can critically impact students. SPs can also help schools decrease the
number of students who lag behind grade level and increase the number of successful readers.
To support this role, Reading Rockets and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) have created a free Toolkit for School
Psychologists. Its resources help SPs get more involved in the development of comprehensive, research-based, reading programs;
apply evidence-based strategies to the assessments of students with reading difficulties; help students become good readers; and
keep more kids from unnecessarily entering special education. Search School Psych Toolkit at ww.readingrockets.org.
The Circulator l December 2008-February 2009 9
Bits and Pieces IEP U com Helps Create
Effective IEPs Find out how well your four-year old’s early literacy skills are
To create an effective Individualized Education developing by using the Get Ready to Read! Screening Tool. The
Program (IEP), parents, teachers, other school staff tool enables users to get a snapshot of the skills your child has
must unite and closely examine the student's developed and the new skills he/she will continue to develop
unique needs. Their goal is to create an IEP that over the course of the school year. Use this 20-question
will help the student progress in the general curriculum. research-based tool during the fall, in the middle of the year,
Certainly, writing and implementing an effective IEP requires a and at the end of the year, to see the progress that your child
team effort. IEP4U.com was developed to help those involved in makes as he/she gets ready for kindergarten. The score will
the education of a child with a disability develop and carry out show if a child's pre-reading skills are weak, strong, or
an IEP The website provides its members with over 4000 free
. somewhere in between. Don't use the tool more than three
goals and objectives, each with changeable benchmarks. Users times in a year, as it's not designed to measure small changes,
are able to access their own customized IEP objectives and use and children develop new skills gradually. Find the Get Ready to
prebuilt templates with the ability to pull pre-approved sections Read! Screening Tool at www.getreadytoread.org.
from school districts. Parents are able to login, review, and if
.
allowed, approved their child's IEP The overall goal of IEP4U.com Autism Tool Kit Shines as a
is to help provide the best IEP for the child while easing the
burden on the team building it. To learn more, visit
Resource for Families & Educators
www.IEP4U.com. Parents, teachers, and administrators
can find useful ideas, suggestions, and resources pertaining to
autism in a free downloadable document called the School
CELL Publishes New Practice Guides Community Tool Kit. Its goal is to provide information about
The Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) recently published autism, as well as tools and strategies that can help to establish
70 new practice guides which were developed to help parents more positive interactions for all members of a school
and practitioners promote the early and emergent literacy skills community. While not intended to be a curriculum for special
of young children with disabilities or delays. The guides, education, this tool kit can act as a support for the general
organized by age and type of literacy skill, include 31 infant, 22 education and administrative school staff who interact with
toddler, and 17 preschool practice guides that can be printed and autistic students in various capacities. The hosting website,
used by parents or practitioners. Titles range from Letterpalooza www.autismspeaks.org, also features video interviews with
to Delighting in Writing. Find those and many more at autism experts and principals who are involved with inclusion
www.earlyliteracylearning.org. programs, as well as printable worksheets and more.
ecommended
R eading
Kids’ Classics That Deal with Hard Financial Times
According to Slate magazine’s Erica S. Pearl, our current
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
11th Annual Educational
financial crisis can actually bring some good to light, in Technology Conference:
particular great children’s literature. Economic struggle
has been the subject of many memorable and award-
Ohio Connects!
winning children’s literary classics. Pearl suggests 10 of Feb. 2-4, 2009
those classics that draw the best from bad times: Greater Columbus Convention
Center --- Columbus, OH
1. Five Little Peppers and How They Grew—by Margaret Sidney
2. Little House in the Big Woods & Little House on the Prairie—by Laura Ingalls Wilder Visit www.etech.ohio.gov
3. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry—by Mildred D. Taylor
4. Ramona and Her Father—by Beverly Cleary
5. Tight Times—by Barbara Shook Hazen “One of the ways I coped was by
6. Homecoming—by Cynthia Voight burying my nose in books and School Improvement
7. How To Steal a Dog—by Barbara O’Connor discovering kids who had it worse than Conference 2009:
8. Waiting for Normal—by Leslie Connor I did. Like Ramona Quimby, whose
Making Ohio Schools Work
BITS AND PIECES
9. Out of the Dust—by Karen Hesse dad got fired and took up residence on
10. Spuds—by Karen Hesse the couch.” — Erica S. Pearl June 16-18, 2009
(source: www.slate.com) Greater Columbus Convention
Center --- Columbus, OH
Great books which deal with topics such as lost income,
foreclosure, and rationing are still being published. Recent Visit www.battelleforkids.org
examples include the Kit Kittredge series of books found at
www.AmericanGirl.com. Kit’s adventures are set in 1934 at the To discover more statewide and
height of the Great Depression. The series of six historical books,
filled with inspiring lessons of compassion, courage, and national events, visit
friendship, includes Meet Kit; Kit Learns a Lesson; Kit’s Surprise; www.sst5.k12.oh.us and select
Happy Birthday, Kit!; Kit Saves the Day; and Changes for Kit. “Calendar of Events”
10 The Circulator l December 2008-February 2009
Need-to-Know Info
Staff Phone: (800) 776-8298 Workshop Cancellation Procedure
Supervisor: Richard Kajuth, ext. 105
In the event of a potential workshop event or meeting
Coordinators: Jeff Lawson, ext. 117
cancellation, please follow this procedure:
Ann Marie Hiznay, ext. 122 1. Check the three local Youngstown TV stations
(WYTV, WKBN, WFMJ) for an announcement ticker
Consultants: Melanie Carfolo, ext. 125 at the bottom of the screen.
Michele DiMuzio, ext. 109 2. Call the site location for cancellation information.
Karen Kanotz, ext. 107 3. Call SST 5 at 1(800) 776-8298; press 2 to reach
Diana Lyon, ext. 106 "Workshop Registration and Meeting Status."
Mary Anne Tyger, ext. 127
Nicholas Bellino, ext. 104 NOTE: If we receive advance notice of a cancellation due
Dr. Jane Sadinski, (330) 301-6995 to circumstances other than inclement weather, we will
Tony DiRenzo, (330) 744-6972 do our best to call or e-mail all registrants in a timely
manner to avoid unnecessary travel and planning.
PRAXIS III: Tom O’Brien, ext. 120
Susan Pullman, ext. 118 STARS/SAFE Account Reminder
YOU NOW MUST REGISTER FOR ALL WORKSHOP
www . . . EVENTS THROUGH STARS v2.0! Before you register
At www.sst5.k12.oh.us, find
through STARS, you must apply for a SAFE account. Note that this
application process is FREE and does not require any form of payment.
more information on our staff,
including their assigned districts q. Go to www.ode.state.oh.us.
and e-mail addresses. q. Select the “SAFE ACCOUNT SIGN IN” button at the bottom.
NOTE: The “Ohio State ID number” option is NOT the number from
Our website also provides information on the latest teaching certificates or licenses. It is issued by the BMV for those
WORKSHOP EVENTS being offered through SST 5 who do not operate a vehicle but need an ID document. NOTE:
and how to register, as well as an extensive listing of
Those who hold an out-of-state license must select OPTION 2.
REGIONAL and STATE/NATIONAL EVENTS. Click
q. Click on “Sign Up” located in the left-hand margin.
q. Read the agreement and click on “I agree” at the bottom.
on “Calendar of Events” then on either “Regional” or q. Continue to follow the prompts on the screen.
“State & National” to learn more.
If you want to register BUT do not have online access or are having
Valuable links to RELATED RESOURCES, including problems, call Brenda Lawrence at 1 (800) 776-8298, ext. 121.
those offered through our Teacher Resource Center,
Once you have a SAFE account, be sure to create a STARS User
along with SST Region 5’s e-News! monthly online Profile so you will be notified automatically of events that match
newsletter (see below) are also accessible. your profile.
If you or someone you know would like to begin receiving The Circulator, complete the following form and mail to:
SST 5, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Rd., Unit 696, Niles, Ohio 44446 ...OR... e-mail your request to
mcoe_cmp@access-k12.org with “Subscription to The Circulator” in the subject line.
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q Check here if you would also like to receive our e-News! monthly online newsletter.
The Circulator l December 2008-February 2009 11
PRSRT STD
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PAID
WARREN, OH
SST 5
5555 Youngstown-Warren Road PERMIT #300
Unit 696
Niles, Ohio 44446
www.sst5.k12.oh.us
e d
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f
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Have a warm &
wonderful winter!
e
Visit our website: www.sst5.k12.oh.us
The Mission of Ohio’s Statewide SST Network System
...To provide regional districts with Leadership Technical Assistance, and High Quality Professional Development in the
service areas of School Improvement, Literacy, Early Learning and School Readiness, and Special Education Compliance.
The Circulator is a free publication of the State Support Team Region 5 (SST 5).
Comments, guest articles, and (free) subscription inquiries are welcome.
The activity which is the subject of this report was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Education through the Ohio Department of
Education. However, opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Education or the Ohio Department of
Education, and no official endorsement by U.S. Department of Education or the Ohio Department of Education should be inferred. The fiscal agent does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in the employment or in the provision of services.
Fiscal Agent: Mahoning County Educational Service Center, Richard Denamen, Superintendent
Design and Layout: Christine Piros, Editor/Secretary, Programs and Products
SST 5, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Unit 696, Niles, Ohio 44446, serving Ashtabula, Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana Counties.
