October 8th Professional Learning

Special education is such a unique field, and we are blessed to have all of you on our team. This upcoming Monday we have a variety of options that we hope will give you at least one new tool for your already full tool belt. Below is the schedule for the day along with descriptors of each learning opportunity. You can choose when you want to attend each, but you need to make sure you get to all four options throughout the day, if possible. K-5 Level 1 instructors will only get to attend two sessions because their morning will be filled with literacy work with Jodie E. and Emily M. at SIS.

Option 1: IEP Best Practice- During this session, we will discuss current guidance around the new Re-evaluation page, use a best practice IEP checklist to evaluate an IEP, and discuss ways to more fully engage parents and students in the IEP process. Please bring a laptop and a positive attitude!

(facilitated by GWAEA special education consultant Katie Petersen)

Option 2: Let's Chat- Learn more about students with anxiety-related and/or oppositional behaviors. Using Jessica Minehan and Nancy Rapparport’s work with the books, The Behavior Code and The Behavior Code Companion, we will explore how anxiety may be behind some of the most challenging behavior we see. Then, we’ll think about how to help these students using a FAIR plan. (facilitated by SCSD instructional coach Andrea Dibble)

Option 3: A few...just a few ways to improve student behavior- A real-life look at the challenges you face every day. Be ready to work through scenarios that have happened this year and maybe a few that are waiting to happen. A few different strategies will be shared that you or your associates can use in no time at all. If you want to be a better teacher, want less stress in your life and want improved motivation for you and your students, this is the spot for you! (facilitated by Zach Wigle)

Option 4: TIME- We know there is never enough of this precious commodity. Please use this in the most productive way possible. Be ready to share at 3:15 how you utilized this time to become a better teacher. (facilitated by you)