Virtual Learning Connections

Ever considered doing VIRTUAL SCHOOLING? Here is a GREAT RESOURCE BLOG from the National Connections Academy website.
Virtual school can be provided FULL TIME for Elementary students or with PRIVATE PAYING take just a couple of classes.
Click on the words below to go directly to Virtual Learning Connections BLOG....enjoy!
Virtual Learning Connections

Kelle Hampton Touches World With Story of Down Syndrome

Beautiful story...beautiful photography....beautiful children....perfect new baby...with Down syndrome! Take a peek and enjoy this beautiful blog by Kelle Hampton as she invites the world to see, know and feel the feelings and emotions as she learns of the news that her baby has Down syndrome. Click on the words below to go directly to Kelle's blog. Subscribe to her blog and ENJOY!!

Blogger Kelle Hampton Touches World With Story of Down Syndrome - ParentDish

321 Bike 4 DS New LOGO

 

321 Bike 4 DS New LOGO
by Mark Harris

Finally have our NEW LOGO for our Annual Membership Drive and Fundraiser 321 Bike 4 DS Event being held on 3.21.10 WORLD DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS DAY.
*3 of the 21st Chromosome is Down syndrome!

321 BIKE 4 DS
DEBUT FUNDRAISER EVENT this year will be held at:
Heritage Park across from DUCK POND on Peters Rd. & Fig Tree Lane Plantation, Florida
$1.50 per person for Park entrance.
Annual Membership drive ~fees are:
Family membership- $20 per year
Single membership- $10 per year.
Pizza Soda Chips & Special CAKE- $5 fundraiser donation
Decorated Bike Contest + Food- $5 fundraiser donation

This is our FIRST ANNUAL PODS Angels ~ A Support Group for Down syndrome 321 Bike 4 DS Annual Membership Drive and Fundraiser Event.

Our mission is to raise awareness on World Down Syndrome Day about Down syndrome and partner with community supports and resources like Bike Safety Awareness, Parent Support groups, Disability & Advocacy Training Resources, Inclusion Awareness and its benefits at home, school and community by participating in different community programs and clubs like the 4H, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, Project Stable and many other community programs.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend! Bring the family and invite some friends. Come out and be supportive of your friends and neighbors who are raising children with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities.

Bring your BIKES/TRIKES/TANDEMS/RECUMBENT/STROLLERS/WHEELCHAIRS/ANYTHING WITH WHEELS and participate in what we are calling our 321 Bike 4 DS DECORATED BIKE CONTEST!

WHAT TO BRING:
Bring to the park for our BIKE DECORATION Party all your fancy bike decoration items as this will be one of things families will be doing together. Bring your own roll of scotch tape, pom-poms, streamers, decorative ribbons, pack of playing cards and close pins, just about anything you can think of to decorate your 'wheels' for our FUNDRAISER DECORATED BIKE CONTEST!

*If you have surplus art supplies that could be used as BIKE DECORATIONS & ITEMS TO SHARE ~ ANY DONATED BIKE DECORATION ITEMS will be greatly appreciated!

Vendors this year so far will be:
BUDDY BIKE - Tandem demonstrations and bike rides
Antique Fire Truck - will be providing rides
TRIKE SHOPPE, LLC - Trike and information on Recumbent Tandem Custom Bikes
Plantation Police Department - Bike Safety Awareness
(free give-away items)
Know someone that would like to participate that promotes fitness and bicycling? Tell them to contact us!

RSVP via email if you are making plans to attend at:
podsangels@bellsouth.net


See you on Sunday March 21st, 2010
Heritage Park across from Duck Pond in Plantation
on the corner of Peters Rd. & Fig Tree Lane

Volunteer opportunities available
Any Donations of ICE, Food & Drink items accepted.

Thank you & See you on 3.21.10!

Nancy Harris
Executive Director & Founder
Mary Pringle
President
PODS Angels ~ A Support Group for Down syndrome
(954) 612-2997
www.podsangels.org
podsangels@bellsouth.net
SWFL PODS Angels Parent Group is a 501(c)(3)Non Profit

Katie: Laptops and Webcams and SMART Boards – Oh My!

From CEC Newsletter:

February 26, 2010
Katie: Laptops and Webcams and SMART Boards – Oh My!
I remember being in grade school and getting that coveted computer time. Twenty minutes to sit in front of a big, bulky, black-and-white screened machine that was noisy and slow. We would play Oregon Trail, using the keyboard to move our digitized covered wagon (or at least that’s what it was supposed to look like) across the screen. I was enthralled by this technology and loved when I earned the time to use it.
My, how times have changed! Young children are now surrounded by technology, and they know how to use it. Gaming systems, MP3 Players, CD players, computers—and how many kids do you see walking around with cell phones?! Meanwhile, I fondly remember my own cassette tape player and thought I was so cool in eighth grade with my pager.

My preschoolers are able to manage this technology with ease, even upon their first introduction to it. This was evident last week when we brought in a digital camera and laptop with a webcam for the kiddos to use (I know, what were we thinking?). The children did remarkably well—right away they picked up on how to aim the camera while looking at the screen and push the button to snap a shot of a friend. (I wouldn’t say they will be having a gallery showing anytime soon, but some people might see free expression in the heads chopped off of every picture.)

To continue reading visit the CEC Blog - "Katie: Laptops and Webcams and SMART Boards – Oh My!" » http://cecblog.typepad.com/cec/2010/02/katie-laptops-and-webcams-and-smart-boards-oh-my.html

"Reality 101" blog makes an excellent course supplement
Teaching an introductory special-education course? Consider sharing CEC's "Reality 101" blog with your students. As newly minted special-education teachers, CEC's bloggers detail what it's like to be new to the field as they explore topics such as IEPs, lesson plans, parent relationships and more. Follow their stories and offer comments at Reality 101 for New Teachers.

....shhhhh it's FCAT TESTING!

Not a mouse was stirring not even a squeek was heard in the halls of our schools.....shhhhhhh it's FCAT testing time!

No homework night for everyone! Make sure everyone gets plenty of rest and eats a good breakfast says the phone link message across FCAT land...

I have an 8th grader and a 4th grader, both don't 'test well' as the past will tell. They can only do what they can do ~ the rest is all about where the dice lie in the end. They will be relieved to know it will be over and done with till this time again next year. Take a deep breath and breath in and R E L A X and do the best you can!

Here's to all the FCAT Floridians...GOD BLESS every last one of you and your teachers that have taught you well. Let's pray for our school children and their teachers, administrators and grounds keepers and let's not forget the wonderful lunch ladies that are there everyday with warm and hot food for our kiddo's! Eveyone is a part of my child's success!

Thank you!

Ever requested to view your child's school records?

I highly recommend parents take the time each school year to make an appointment to go into the school and view your child's entire school records and complete file. This is not something that feels comfortable to do the first or 2nd time, but once you have done this a few times it gets easier to do after that.

Feeling confident in requesting to view records is an important step in learning to be a better advocate for your son or daughter. Knowing that you have a right to request and view your child's records is empowing to know you can do this important advocacy skill. Parents need to feel comfortable in being able to do this, it takes time to feel confortable doing something we never thought we needed to do.

What will you be looking for when you do set up an appointment to view records? You may find a number of things; tests and quizzes you may not have gotten copies of. Test or assessments you weren't even aware were done and the results. Sample class work that shows how well or how not so well your child is or is not progressing in school. Records of when things were done or completed. IEP documents, Psychological reports, Assistive Technolgy, Physical and Occupational Therapy Tech Assist papers and things pertaining to supports and services. All copies of report cards and parent teacher notes...there will be so many pieces of paper you won't believe how much!

There also is a sheet of paper that documents who and why someone was viewing your Child's school records. If this looks like it hasn't been used correctly or at all, don't be afraid to ask someone about it. Anytime someone views those files, they are suppose to 'sign in'.

You can request for copies of anything in your Child's file, if its just a few copies of things the schools are usually pretty good about not charging for just a few copies....but if you are requesting copies of a good number of the papers...the school does have a right to charge a minimum fee for coping. Be prepared to be charged for copies if you are requesting alot of pages from your Child's school file.

How much time is needed to view records? All depends on how big the file is, how much time is being scheduled to assist the parent during this time and depends on what you are looking for, but I don't believe there is any time limit or cap on being able to view records.

When was the last time you took a moment to view your Child's complete school file and educational records? It makes good sense to do this once a year or every two years. It makes better sense that you do this when you are having particular issues or concerns pertaining to our Child's education.

Leave a comment to this post and let me know of your experiences when you have done a records request and wanted to view records. Was it a positive experience? Were you charged for copies, if so how much. Were you rushed when viewing records? Looking forward to hearing from some of you.