FREE Professional Development
Delivering Uncomfortable News: How to Talk with Parents & Teachers
Dr. Tammy L. Stephens & Georgene Moon, M.Ed.
This session will focus on how and when to talk to parents, teachers and other stakeholders about test results, as well as what to stress when reviewing our assessments. Too often there is not time to talk to a parent and to sit with faculty in a “pre-ARD” setting. No one at the table likes surprises; everyone wants to hear the results they expected to hear; and parents and teachers want to know what their child/student can do….. not what they can’t. Building on a child’s abilities and strengths is what they come to hear and we will show you how to find and stress the “strengths” and not the “negatives” as you share FIE results.
Date of webinar: 11-01-2024 (12-1pm CST)
Link to Registration: https://riversideinsights.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dbat2pduTRu3ng8Adkfo2A
What to do with a DNQ? Dr. Tammy L. Stephens and Georgene Moon
Not everyone qualifies for Special Education services and often these are the students that appear to need the most help. In this session, you will have a quick review of how and when to schedule time to share results of your FIE. As you focus on the sources of data you used as your foundation, you may need to have a serious discussion about such things as attendance, frequent school changes, language and cultural differences, and the possibility that the child needs more time in RTI to develop needed skills that are age and grade appropriate. We will look at recommendations and accommodations that have not been implemented as the student returns to Tier/Level 3 for continued monitoring.
Date of webinar: 11-08-2024 (12-1pm CST)
Link to Registration: https://riversideinsights.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qTFiGI9cQfCUmg5w90lCRA
Date: November 14, 2024
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CST
Title: Dyslexia: How do Educational Diagnosticians Support Classroom Teachers? Presenter: Danielle M. Frith, Ph.D. LDT-C, NCED
Through this presentation, participants will learn about the indicators of dyslexia. We will dispel some widely distributed myths about dyslexia. Participants will understand how structured literacy can be effective for all students, including those with dyslexia. We will review the simple view of reading and the five pillars of reading as identified by the National Reading Panel. Social and emotional implications of dyslexia will be discussed, along with some teacher-friendly strategies and approaches. Finally, participants will be provided with a repertoire of dyslexia resources that they can readily share with teachers.
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctdeCtqDguH9FbHtc0-NnqmwhZmHnEnRQH
Report Writing: Organizing Your Data
Dr. Tammy L. Stephens & Georgene Moon, M.Ed.
You’ve gathered all your data, asked for more data, observed your student in two classes, interviewed parent(s), teacher(s), student, and assessed. Now what? Most of us use district report writing programs that may or may not be what we would like to have. In this session, you will learn/review how to organize and use all the data to write a comprehensive integrated report that tells the “story” of the student.
Date of webinar: 11-15-2024 (12-1pm CST)
Link to Registration: https://riversideinsights.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vz_hQ3fUQqiExKbh69KdEQ
Recordings of Previous Lunch and Learn Sessions
October 23, 2024
FBA’s & BIP’s: Collaborating for Student Success
Dr. Lisa McClearly, LP, LSSP, BCBA-D, NCSP
Recording can be viewed here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/I7uGy69-P6131eYlwquhGYov9e6TBvLqX12I5lw3hHbBd7t5-hVib4QFgybNAjSB.fiK2Wb1W4JGaMIL-
Passcode: uD4Y@dKq
June 26, 2024
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Understanding Exclusionary Factors: All Things Considered
Presenter: Georgene Moon, NCED
This session covers the role of Exclusionary Factors and their impact on SLD identification, while also considering the continued impact from Covid-19 on education and the importance of documentation in our reports. Included in the presentation is a brief review of the Exclusionary Factors required by federal and state law and the impact of societal changes: social, economic, cultural and technology related. The updated Exclusionary Factors Checklist is presented, as well as additional forms that can be used as documentation during your data gathering and evaluation process. In addition, the possible impact of Covid-19, both short and long term, on our students’ education and the ethical implications of disregarding Exclusionary Factors is reviewed.
Recording can be viewed here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1paEtnwpZBXIG9sHujACn0N8GHVVX3bML/view
Re
You
June 18, 2024
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Navigating Support for d/Deaf Students: Insights and Strategies for the ARD/IEP Committee
Dr. J. Lindsey Kennon
As we have progressed toward inclusive education for diverse learners, it is essential for IEP committee to equip themselves with the knowledge and tools necessary to support students with diverse needs. One such group is students who are d/Deaf, whose educational journey can be significantly enhanced when their team is prepared to support their unique needs as a micro-population within Special Education. This session aims to empower educators with the knowledge and resources needed to effectively support d/Deaf students in their classrooms. Join us for a lunch-and-learn discussion, outlining the challenges educators may encounter when working with d/Deaf students. The focus of this session will be to share knowledge related to language acquisition and development in students who are d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing and their unique and varied linguistic landscape, including variations in signed languages, communication preferences, and the impact of hearing loss on language acquisition. We will also discuss assessment considerations, as well as actionable strategies for effective support related to LRE, accommodations, modifications, and support services.
Recording available here:
May Lunch and Learn Series
May 29, 2024
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Best Practices in Evaluating Emergent Bilinguals for Special Education
Presenter: Dr. Cristina Rodríguez Chen, RPED, NCED
Emergent Bilinguals (EBs) represent one of the fastest-growing groups of school-age students in the United States, having increased by 60% in the last decade and now encompassing over 400 languages, with approximately 80% speaking Spanish. Public schools are more racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse than ever before, a trend expected to persist. By the year 2030, it is estimated that second language learners will make up approximately 40% of the school-age population. This increasing diversity underscores the urgent need to address the longstanding issue of appropriately identifying and providing educational services for diverse students. However, the future for students identified as EBs is uncertain. They exhibit some of the highest dropout and retention rates among all youth, influenced by societal factors that affect their educational experiences. These include the availability of adequate language supports and limited understanding among educators and evaluation staff regarding how to differentiate cultural/language differences from true disabilities.
Norm-Referenced Test Interpretations: Ensuring Ecological Validity
Presenter(s): Dr. Edward Schultz, NCED
Norm-referenced tests are a helpful tool in identifying learning disabilities. However, evaluators often rely too much on standard score interpretation. To ensure that the tests accurately describe classroom performance, they must be analyzed beyond the standard score level. This session will focus on three other types of analysis to make your tests more generalizable – task demand analysis, contextual analysis, and integrated data analysis.
Recording Available Here. Enter the following passcode to view recording: jkmS6&EZ
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElc-mhrzovEt2UuibD8lLFRdp_E63sPPPq
April Lunch and Learn Series
Assistive Technology Assessment: Running Each Student’s Race Before Passing the Baton
Presenter(s): Dr. Kathleen Sheriff
Imagine running a race in your mind before you ever even get to the track. What can we do to support students in their individual races toward successful school participation? Suppose we plan from the locker room to the finish line for each student in need of assistive technology (AT)? Let’s talk, walk and then run through some steps necessary from supporting foundational skills to carrying a baton across successful barrier lines. Bring your imaginations along with your lunch for our AT Lunch & Learn Time Together!
Recording Available Here. Enter the following passcode to view recording: *&hD$db0 https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcldeGqrT8rE9ZFLWpEUlvqlC9Zf1kFSzMr
Integrative Training for Educational Diagnosticians: Determining PSW for SLD or Educational Diagnostician Detective
Presenter(s): Dr. Marjason
Training for educational diagnosticians aiming to determine a Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW) for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) involves a comprehensive understanding of assessment tools, data interpretation, and collaborative decision-making. The primary goal of this training is to equip educational diagnosticians with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively assess students for Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) by identifying their Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses. The theoretical frameworks, practical assessment techniques, and collaborative problem-solving strategies to guide diagnosticians in determining PSW for SLD. Participants will engage in being a ” detective” and working though a case study for determining SLD using PSW.
Recording Available Here. Enter the following passcode to view recording :
Disclaimers
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