. . .Resource Room Newsletter - September 2002
<http://www.resourceroom.net >
If you'd like to get future (free) newsletters, send an email and say "subscribe."Links, articles and lesson plans
This month's feature: Independent Learning
Accommodations and modifications are an important part of teaching students with learning disabilities, and of "making the curriculum accessible" to them. However, each modification makes us wonder what we're sacrificing in terms of student independence. When we are considering things like providing extra structure to assignments, reading and dictation support on assignments and tests, or daily teacher-parent communication about assignments, there is often disagreement (open or unspoken) between teachers, students and/or parents about just how much help is appropriate.
One way to defuse this is to consider the path to independence whenever an accommodation or modification is made. Then, consider the possible paths to independence, whether in terms of remediation or compensation (so a student getting reading support could be learning to read independently as well as learning to use books on tapes and assistive technology for scanning and reading text). Study skills such as highlighting and note-taking, and learning to organize and apply higher level thinking skills to new material are examples of skills not necessarily reflected in assignment grades and test scores. Steps towards independence may include explicit teaching of these skills. A student may need to have the amount of material to be learned reduced, while learning the thinking and organizing skills to learn the material at a deeper or higher level.
Here are useful links for helping students become independent learners:
Tips for Developing Organizational Skills in Children
< http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/parenting/ccld_organization.html >
The Coordinated Campaign for Learning Disabilities put this list of strategies together. Building these habits early can help prevent patterns of frustration and failure later.Getting Organized and Having Good Work Habits
< http://www.allkindsofminds.org/library/challenges/GOHIntro.htm >
From All Kinds of Minds, there's a bit of jargon in here but also many excellent insights into the specific skills needed to develop independent work habits, and the challenges some students have developing them. It's in three sections: managing time and effort, organizing materials and work space, and study skills. A bibliography for further information is included at http://www.allkindsofminds.org/library/bibliography/GOHReferences.htmLowering the Language Barriers in Middle and Secondary School
<http://www.resourceroom.net/myarticles/barriers.asp >
by Susan Jones, M.Ed.
What does make it so difficult for a bright, motivated LD student (well, at least until s/he's failed for a while) to succeed in general education classes? What can a teacher do about it?Resource Room - Tips for a working model
http://www.resourceroom.net/myarticles/Jones_resourcetips.html
by Susan Jones, M.Ed.
Thoughts and lesson ideas for the often-unstructured "resource room" setting in middle and secondary schools.
Study Skills:
There are hosts of sites about study skills for college students. Interestingly, many of them refer to the significant differences between studying in high school and college. For students with LDs, "study skills" are more than strategies to improve grades; they can be the difference between surviving a class and learning from it and being able to use that knowledge in the future.Learning Strategies Database
http://muskingum.edu/~cal/database/
This is a huge database of graphic organizers and study strategies for just about any topic out there. (Operative word huge -- big enough to make many computers choke and crash, unfortunately.)Santa Barbara City College's Disabled Student Programs & Services
http://www.west.net/~ger/
Many of the resources for students and faculty, and readings used in courses are online here. Lots of information on learning styles, accommodations, and getting tested for LDs in the college setting, including a well-selected (and not overwhelming) group of study skills links at http://www.west.net/~ger/studyskills2.html
Learning Enhancement Resources
http://www.willamette.edu/cla/ler/studyskills.htm
This is a collection of resources with a personal angle by John Tenny; "John Tenny is a Faculty Emeritus in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program at Willamette Univeristy, Salem, Oregon. He teaches study skills to children and adults; and encourages and advises all manner of Purple People."
In the news
FCAT Requirement may hold back some learning disabled students
< http://www.tampatrib.com/MGAADJVB46D.html >
Tampa Tribune, Sept. 15, 2002
Discusses the toll of high-stakes testing on students who have low expectations of passing.Phonics First Irks Teachers
< http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59455-2002Sep9.html >
The Washington Post, September 9, 2002
No, the reading wars aren't over. This article examines the latest in reading politics, claims that the people publishing the standardized tests used in reading research are the same people publishing the reading programs which the research says are effective.Leveling Learning: Assistive Technology Evens Playing Field For Students
< http://www.thekansan.com/stories/091402/fro_0914020009.shtml >
The Kansan Online, September 14, 2002
An assistive technology expert is working to get the word out about new innovations and possibilities for learning.
Personal stories in the news:
A Late Bloomer Learns To Read
< http://www.post-gazette.com/lifestyle/20020825literacy0825fnp3.asp >
Post- Gazette (Pittsburgh), August 25, 2002
With the help of tutors from the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, a woman overcomes her obstacles one word at a time.Joey Pants Comes Home: In a new book, actor Joe Pantoliano recalls his early days in Hoboken
< http://www.nj.com/tv/ledger/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1031908236122174.xml >
New Jersey Online, September 13, 2002
"The walk continues, as Pantoliano marvels over the life he's built for himself. A dyslexic who was held back in school three times by teachers
who were convinced he was retarded, he has now co-authored a book. A child of poverty, he's one of the most sought-after character actors in
Hollywood.A Hike That Might Help
< http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.rodricks13sep13.column?coll=bal%2Dhome%2Dcolumnists >
Baltimore Sun, September 13, 2002. Scroll down to the second section a bout a mother of a bright boy with dyslexia who speaks about "why his life went as it did - through a cycle of counseling, treatment, arrest, incarceration, rehabilitation and relapse - and ended as it did."
You're welcome to come chat with us!
Net Haven
<http://www.net-haven.net >
Net Haven is a small, friendly chat site where parents and teachers can supportively share challenges and ideas.Chat topics are not strictly enforced -- we've been known to wander!
Some of the educational resources available from the Resource Room Store
Tandem Reading
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/tandem.asp >
Help new and not-so-new readers make the connection between phonics and good literature. This guide to reading with a child is designed for parents or tutors to support phonics programs with guided practice and reinforcement -- but without losing the fun of reading! Strategies include "penciling" (a simplified version of Alice Ansara's technique) and practicing words and patterns before oral reading.Harry Potter Comprehension Compendium
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/HarryPotterComprehension.asp >
More than 170 pages of comprehension exercises, chapter by chapter, to accompany Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The workbook is sent directly to your computer as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file. Introductory price: $12.95.Drill Bits and Drillable Syllables
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/drillbits.asp >
Word lists and flashcard sets based on the syllable patterns as taught in Orton-Gillingham programs. Lists are broken down into problem areas such as individual vowel sounds, blends and common "irregular" spelling patterns.Tools for the Times Tables
by Dr. Steve Chinn (accompanying workbook by Susan Jones)
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/toolstimes.asp >
Who needs a whole book and a workbook about the times tables?
Well, who needs to understand numbers?
Written especially for hands-on learners, this book and workbook are full of strategies and ideas so that students can really master the times tables and come away with a true understanding of numbers and how they work.
If you know someone of any age who finds calculations frustrating, take a look at these books.Books for New Readers
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/literacy.asp > >
These easy, excellent and inexpensive books were written for adults. Romance, adventure and non-fiction are all featured, with diverse characters.sep15all