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PLUK eNews October
1, 2004
http://www.pluk.org/eNews/Oct_01_04.htm
Volume 3 Issue 5
Welcome to PLUK's electronic
newsletter!
(Download the printable pdf version at: http://www.pluk.org/eNews/Oct_01_04.pdf
)
We are proud to present news of interest for Montana families of children with disabilities and special health care needs, and for the professionals and educators who serve them; however, it does not constitute an endorsement.
Free Children's Tickets Available to the NILE Rodeo,
October 13, Billings
PLUK has a limited number of children's tickets for the NILE Rodeo on
October 13. Call Bernice at the PLUK office 255-0540 if you are interested.
"Blue Coupon Book" Now on Sale in Billings
PLUK is selling the Billings Area Preferred Savings Guide commonly call the
"blue coupon book." The books sell for $20.00 each and contain 285
coupons for fast food, area restaurants, stores, hotels, car washes, oil
changes, etc. Buy one for yourself and extras for gifts.
If you are interested in purchasing a coupon book please contact Bernice at
255-0540.
SAVING THE SMART KIDS
"Are schools leaving the most gifted children behind if they don't
allow them to skip ahead?" asks John Cloud. Americans don't seem to have
any problem with teenagers who show genius in sports (LeBron James) or
entertainment (Hilary Duff). But we have a deeply ambivalent relationship with
intellectually gifted kids. Since it was signed in 2002, the No Child Left
Behind law has focused attention on the kids who can't keep up, but research
shows that gifted kids are also at risk. In a 2000 study for "Gifted Child
Quarterly," Joseph Renzulli and Sunghee Park found that 5% of the 3,520
gifted students they followed dropped out after eighth grade. Astonishingly,
that's almost as high as the 5.2% of nongifted kids who dropped out. Untold
numbers of other highly intelligent kids stay in school but tune out. "When
we ask exceptional children about their main obstacle, they almost always say
it's their school," says Jan Davidson. "Their school makes them put in
seat time, and they can't learn at their own ability level." It's
impossible to say how many students who should be accelerated are kept with
their age-mates, but more than 22,000 of the 87,000 seventh- and eighth-graders
who take the SAT as part of talent-search programs each year score at the level
of college-bound seniors. "If they can do that kind of work, the typical
curriculum is going to be way below their needs," says Nicholas Colangelo.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040927-699423,00.html
Opinion: A BROKEN PROMISE TO CHILDREN
One of the many lamentable things about this presidential campaign is how
the real issues have been obscured in a sea of mud and deception. Exhibit A,
writes Robert Kuttner, is education. For half the cost of the Iraq War or for
less than half the cost of the Bush tax cuts, we could keep faith with America's
schools and educate the next generation of at-risk kids. We could provide
high-quality early education -- or paid parental leave - so mothers (as well as
fathers) forced to work full time would know that their children were safe and
learning. Isn't this the sort of thing Americans should be debating?
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/09/22/a_broken_promise_to_children/
CONFRONTING CYBERBULLYING
Cyberbullying is harassing, humiliating, intimidating and/or threatening
others on the Internet. Although the Internet is most often used for healthy
social communications, teens are increasingly using the Internet to deliver
cruel and harmful messages and photographs. Cyberbullying sometimes involves
racial, religious or culture slurs. It can also be sexual in nature. It can
involve someone your child knows or a complete stranger. Cyberbullying can
include cruel jokes, malicious gossip, embarrassing information or photographs,
and/or websites designed to target a specific child or teacher. Bullying is a
widespread problem that has affected most of us at some point in our lives. It
is especially difficult, even traumatic, for young people. Unfortunately,
bullies have begun using the Internet as a means for reaching their victims at
home via instant messaging, chat rooms, websites, and blogs. The MindOH!
Foundation has created cyberbullying and other bullying resources for the
victims of bullying, those who bully, and for bystanders. These activity
worksheets are designed to help youth understand the full meaning and
consequences of bullying, to reflect on the choices they are making with regard
to this issue, and to explore ways of stopping online social cruelty.
http://www.mindohfoundation.org/bullying.htm
National Center for Learning Disabilities and Schwab
Learning Release a Parent's Guide to "No Child Left Behind"
Guide Designed to Improve Academic Achievement for the Three Million
School-Age Children with Learning Disabilities
New York, NY-Two national organizations, the National Center for Learning
Disabilities (NCLD) and Schwab Learning, have collaborated to develop a handbook
designed to provide simple, accessible information for parents on the No Child
Left Behind Act (NCLB). Making the "No Child Left Behind Act" Work for
Children Who Struggle to Learn: A Parent's Guide, is available now at: http://www.LD.org/NCLB
and http://www.SchwabLearning.org/NCLB.
"The need for parents of children with learning disabilities to understand
how NCLB and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) work
together has never been more urgent," says Jodell Seagrave, managing
director of Schwab Learning, a nonprofit program of the Charles and Helen Schwab
Foundation, which co-produced the guide with NCLD. "This guide has the
potential to have a huge impact on the learning environments of children with
disabilities."
http://ld.org/press/PR2004/NCLBGuide_0904.cfm
FREE TIP SHEETS FOR PARENTS
KSA-Plus Communications and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's ENLACE initiative
have teamed up to present four new resources with advice on what parents can do
at home and at school to help their children become successful learners. The new
resources (in English and Spanish) include a parent primer on education in the
United States (designed mainly for immigrant families), and tip sheets on
testing, supplemental education services, and reading. These publications, as
well as other parent-friendly resources, can be downloaded for free at:
http://www.parents.ksaplus.com
Paraeducator / Parent Stipends in Region III (Billings)
A limited number of stipends of $50 each are available for
paraeducators/parents in Region III from July 1, 2004-June 30, 2005. The
stipends will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis, to
paraprofessionals/parents attending professional development activities in the
following areas: early childhood; positive behavior supports; reading, writing,
and/or math; special education for general educators (strategies that are
inclusionary); early childhood or post high school transitions; or paraeducator
training. Applications must be received before the event occurs. Recipients will
receive a letter confirming the approval of the stipend before the event. After
the workshop, a completed W-9 form and a copy of the workshop certification of
completion must be sent to Region III CSPD to receive payment.
For more information and to download an application, go to http://www.msubillings.edu/cspd/grants.htm
Assistive Technology and Individuals with Learning
Disabilities
On September 30 the EASI webcast about assistive technology for individuals
with learning disabilities occurred. You may access the archive until October 7
at http://easi.cc/archive/nobleld/nobleld.htm
until October 7 2004.
Ann Black, Director of the Special Education Technology Center in Washington
mentioned a document on her website detailing steps for implementation of
assistive technology to support reading and writing for learning disabled
students. This is chock-full of good information.
http://www.cwu.edu/~setc/ldtech/SequencedApproachReport.PDF
Dance Class for Special Kids in Kalispell
The Academy of Performing Arts in Kalispell is offering a ballet/tap class
for children with special needs Mondays at 4:30 PM. For information, contact the
Academy at 755-0139.
PLUK trainings and activities planned for 2004-05
PLUK associate boards around the state are sponsoring a number of trainings
and activities this coming year. Mark your calendar if you are interested in
participating.
Go to http://www.pluk.org/training
for more detailed information and registration.
Statewide Interactive Videoconferences
Other Training Activities
Other Community Activities
Parent's, Let's Unite for Kids - PLUK
516 N 32nd St
Billings MT 59101-6003
800-222-7585; 406-255-0540; 406-255-0523 (fax)
plukinfo@pluk.org
http://www.pluk.org
Edited by: Roger Holt rholt@pluk.org
Proofed & condensed by: Elisabeth Mills scribe@pluk.org
Mission Statement: Parent's Let's Unite for Kids unites parents, professionals, families and friends of children with special needs to support one another, and share information for the benefit of their children.
Vision Statement: Given information and support, individuals with disabilities and their families will feel empowered to advocate for themselves and participate fully in educational and community opportunities.
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