October is LD Month!

Check out the Learning Disabilities Association of America's Calendar of Events to recognize LD Month this October. This calendar offers free webinars, links to great apps, and a wealth of information.

https://ldaamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2016-LDMonth-Calendar.pdf?utm_source=LD+Month+Oct+2016&utm_campaign=LD+Month+2015&utm_medium=email

Forum for Excellence - Sessions emphasizing Special Learning Needs

There's a great program line-up for the Forum for Excellence beginning this Wednesday at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center! Here are some especially great sessions that will emphasis teaching and learning for Special Learning Needs:

Special Populations Support Strategies – Beaufort

Wednesday, September 28^th - 10:45-11:45am

Aime’e Julian & Casey Anderson

Bipolar Disorder: What It Means to You and Your Classroom – Fell B

Wednesday, September 28^th – 1:15-2:15pm

Bevan Gibson

Technology Ideas for Classroom Instruction – Broadway

Wednesday, September 28^th – 2:30-3:30pm

Heather Martin & Tara Schwab

Creating an Engaging Learning Environment – Redbird E

Thursday, September 29^th – 8:30-9:30am

Kathy Young

Teaching with Multiple Intelligences “In Mind” – Redbird G

Thursday, September 29^th – 9:45-10:45am

Sarah Goldammer

For more information visit: http://icsps.illinoisstate.edu/pd/forum-for-excellence/

Hope to see you at the Forum!

Parkland to be Central/Southern Host

Thanks to Parkland College for their hospitality in agreeing to host the Institute to Credential Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists training in the central/southern regions! The dates at Parkland are: 

Friday, October 28, 2016
Friday, December 9, 2016
Friday, April 14, 2017

Please contact Sarah Goldammer at sgoldam@siue.edu for more information or to request an application. 

Olive Harvey to Host 16-17 SLN Northern Training

Thanks to Olive Harvey College for their hospitality in agreeing to host the Institute to Credential Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists training in the north! The dates at Olive Harvey are: 

Friday, October 21, 2016
Friday, December 2, 2016
Friday, March 31, 2017

Please contact Sarah Goldammer at sgoldam@siue.edu for more information or to request an application. Dates and location for the Central/Southern group coming soon!

Bravo Dwayne Reed! 

Chicago teacher pens rap song to inspirestudents...http://abc7.ws/2bN1mdR

Who wouldn't want to be a student in his class?!!

I hope this inspires you to reach your students where they are and find the joy of learning for both of you!

Have a great year!

Institute to Credential Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists

Are you interested in learning strategies to help your students learn? Do you know someone who is interested? We're getting ready to form a new learning group for The Institute to Credential Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists (SLN). 

This is an intensive training designed to enhance program capacity to meet the needs of adults with special learning needs through the development of local resource specialists.  Participants will be trained to serve as resources for instructional staff in their programs and provide screening for SLN, observe the manifestations of special learning needs, and develop appropriate instructional strategies for use by instructors within their programs.

Locations and dates to be determined by interest from the field

For more information or to host this training at your site, contact Sarah Goldammer at sgoldam@siue.edu

Check out these fabulous free training opportunities!

New online training: Teaching Research Skills to ESL and ABE/ASE Students

There are new training modules with resources to teach ESL and ABE/ASE students available. Email sipdctrainer@gmail.com for access to these new opportunities.

Also new are technology resources for adult ed on the SIPDC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN1V3VjlWEdvPeGijNTVtFg

Thanks to Tara Schwab and Heather Martin of Waubonsse Community College for creating these new training opportunities! Tara and Heather are fabulous teachers and Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists doing their part to improve this world!

SignAloud: Gloves that Transliterate Sign Language into Text and Speech

Check this out!

Thomas Pryor and Navid Azodi of the University of Washington are the $10,000 Lemelson-MIT “Use it!” Undergraduate Winners for their invention SignAloud, gloves that transliterate sign language into text and speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l01sdzJHCCM

Fresh Ideas from the Field

Thanks to Kathy Young for sharing the following:

At McHenry County College we had a speaker who had earned her GED^® and has since gone through college and earned multiple certificates. The speaker, Susana, explained to the students that time management skills will help them reach their goal of passing the GED. Susana said that she used to think that she would never have the time to study at home since she had a family and a job. When she started keeping track of how she used her time, she realized that she DID have time to study.

Each student was given a small spiral notebook. They were told that they needed to write down what they do for three entire days. They need to keep track of how long they spend doing certain activities. After they have recorded this information, they will bring the spiral to school and we will look at it to see what they could do to find the time to study. After they figure out how to budget their activities to find the time to study, we will have them create a schedule for the week. This schedule will include the exact time each day that they can use for studying. The students all have assignment books from the college so they will use these books to keep track of the dates and time frame for school work. We will also work with them to help them set a goal that says they will follow this schedule for two weeks. After that we will meet and see how the plan worked and revise as needed. Susana also volunteered to come back in a month to provide support and encouragement to the students as they work to develop their time management skills.

8 Tips to Boost Working Memory

Want to help your students improve their working memory? Want to improve your own? Check out these eight tips from author Amanda Morin:

1. Work on visualization skills

2. Teach someone else

3. Play games that use visual memory

4. Play cards

5. Encourage active reading

6. Chunk information into smaller bites

7. Make it multisensory

8. Help make connections

These suggestions were made for children but I adapted them slightly and suggest trying them with your adult learners. They are great ideas for ourselves to improve working memory. These will look familiar to those who have been through the SLN Institute, but it's always good to have a reminder.

Read the full article at: https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/learning-at-home/homework-study-skills/8-working-memory-boosters?utm_campaign=partner&utm_source=lda&utm_medium=email&utm_content=may&utm_source=Understood+May+2016+Campaign&utm_campaign=Understood-May+2016&utm_medium=emailhttps://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/learning-at-home/homework-study-skills/8-working-memory-boosters?utm_campaign=partner&utm_source=lda&utm_medium=email&utm_content=may&utm_source=Understood+May+2016+Campaign&utm_campaign=Understood-May+2016&utm_medium=email

Congratulations to Special Learning Needs Resource Specialsts

Hats off to our newest SLN Resource Specialists! This is a persistent group who decided even with "lack of budget storms" raging all around, they would NOT be deterred! Congratulations on working through logistical issues and finding a way to learn and grow with and from each other making a difference in our students' lives!

Irina Cline                Morton College                              

Alexis Lorzano         Triton College                                 

Cathy Matthews       Sauk Valley Community College

Juan F. Ovalle          Triton College                                 

Antoinette Stella      Triton College                                 

Kathy Young             McHenry Community College

Tools from the Educator Tool Belt

Thanks to educators out there for sharing their great ideas for effective instruction - tools from their educator tool belt!

Accommodating ALL Learners in Adult Ed

Thanks to the participants today for attending the online session Introduction to Special Learning Needs! I appreciate all of your attention and comments. Please post below ideas of ways you meet the needs of your students in your program.

Seeing Clearly - A Lesson in Empathy

For years I’ve asked participants in the Special Learning Needs training to imagine something that is difficult for them, something they have struggled with for years. Now imagine people you respect saying to “just try harder” to overcome this struggle. Just try harder to overcome this obstacle.

This was my attempt, as a trainer, to gain empathy for someone who struggles with a learning disability. People have told me this was a helpful exercise. It’s eye-opening. For my struggle, I’ve always imagined directionality. I’m not sure why, but that part of my brain absolutely didn’t develop. My best coping strategy before GPS was going the opposite direction of where my brain told me to go. The other way was most likely the right way.

Last week I had an experience that was more raw, more real for me. This is my new frame of reference.

For about 15 years I have considered LASIK surgery to correct my very nearsighted eyes. I’m not sure what it is like to wake up in the morning and be able to see. Since the first week of school in 1^st grade, when I had my initial vision screening, I knew I couldn’t see very well. I knew this because a nice woman at school told me I failed the vision test. Before being told, I didn’t know that other people saw clearer than me. I just thought everyone’s world was fuzzy. My accommodation for 46 years has been glasses or contacts. I am very fortunate that this particular challenge in my life has a very nice, fairly easy answer. I can play on a level playing field with better sighted folks because I have special lenses. Being so nearsighted does have its challenges and especially as I age, I thought maybe there was a better answer for me, maybe I could find a better accommodation.

LASIK screening happened for me last week after talking about it with my local optometrist for eight years (that’s right – I just thought about it by myself for seven years – talked about it locally for eight more – then I made a decision to do something – please don’t judge – it does give a window on my world). Off to LASIK land I went for a series of testing. No worries, I’m very good at testing. I have always approached tests with confidence.

After some initial measurements of my eyes, I was placed in an exam room sitting without my glasses. My blurred world was not alarming to me. To be able to see, all I needed to do was reach over and pick up my accommodation – my glasses. The optometrist walked in and even in my haze I thought “I think he is pretty young.” Yes, as he came closer and I could actually see his face – that would be within a foot of me – I confirmed that I could definitely be his mother. When did they start letting doctors be so young?

We jumped right in and it was a short time before I was asked to read the smallest line in front of me. Now just to clarify, I had some strong refraction helping me in the large, very attractive accumulation of lenses they like to play with at the eye doc’s office. You know, “which is clearer, one or two, two or three,” and so on until they start over before actually moving into double digits. I’ve always wondered why they don’t just keep going. Are the larger numbers too hard to keep track of? So, again to clarify, I can’t see the largest “E” without major help.

So I read the top line (largest) to answer the request for smallest line I can see. I sensed this was not what he had hoped I would do. He asked me to try the line below. I struggled but must have guessed correctly because he rewarded my efforts by assigning yet another, smaller row for me to read.

“I would just be guessing.” I told the young doc. Now I stress the young part not because I thought in any way he was incapable. He certainly seemed like he knew what he was doing. I’ve been to many eye appointments in my day so I feel I am competent to judge qualifications. I stress the young part only to illustrate that pretty early on I felt he might be feeling sorry for the “the old gal.” This only served to magnify what I was fully knowledgeable of but just now focusing on (pun intended) for the first time – I was failing!!

I tried to guess, only because I am a people-pleaser. I squinted my eyes, strained my brain, tried with every fiber of myself. Yes, I tried harder. A little voice of reason told me I was not being rational, but my desire to please the young guy, my desire to succeed overrode the little voice. We plowed ahead.

Five separate times I was asked to “try harder”, and five separate times I tried as hard as I could. Silly, I know, I can try harder, but my vision is my vision. It’s not about effort.

I felt lousy. I don’t even have adjectives to describe my feelings. He told me good try. He was a wonderful supporter. He tried hard too. He tried everything he had in his optometrist play book. But I knew I was failing. I felt it in the air. I heard it in the tone of his voice.

An older, supposedly more experienced doctor came in later. Yes, I have entered the phase of life when I assume older is better. I believe this is called being middle aged. Oh well. Anyway, he broke the news to me. I am not a candidate for LASIK. I wouldn’t have the desired results.

We talked for a few minutes about all the reasons that is my reality. He patiently answered all of my questions. We were both professional and composed. Even though the very fiber of my being yelled, “This is not fair! How did I fail? I tried my hardest!”

I truly was bummed. I had allowed myself to dream of seeing without extra lenses. As I drove home (think Mr. Magoo), I processed what happened to me. I am blessed, I can reach over and put on accommodation and the world comes into focus for me. But for a few minutes last week, I felt the pain of trying my hardest and failing. That pit in my gut when I realized my best is not good enough. Yes, I’ve been picked last numerous times for the kickball teams back in the day, but most of my experiences have been about trying hard and succeeding. This time it didn’t matter how hard I tried.

One of the many things I love teaching teachers about special learning needs, is that I feel I help them to think differently about approaching their students. It’s not about trying harder; it’s about trying differently. My story illustrates that very point. I could keep squinting and trying harder or I can go about seeing in a different way. The latter has proven successful. The former just makes me feel lousy.

Asking someone to try in conventional ways when their brain is not wired to process conventionally is the same silliness as asking me to see clearly when my eyes are not shaped to see 20/20. We both need accommodations to succeed.

To all you fabulous teachers out there, thanks for helping your students to learn differently. Thanks for giving them the pathway to success. Thanks for helping them SEE!

For anyone wanting more information about helping your students, please email me at sgoldam@siue.edu for many options including free, online training we have available through the Southern Illinois Professional Development Center.

Smart on the Inside - another great read!

Wow, I have been reading some fabulous books lately. I recently told you about Neil Sturomski's book, Scrambled, which I found gave great insight into the world of someone with a learning disability. Please read my review of Scrambled on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Scrambled-Neil-Sturomski/product-reviews/099703100X/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_btm?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=recent

My latest read is Smart on the Inside by Eileen Gold Kushner as told by Kathy Young. Kathy is a talented and giving teacher from McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Illinois.Kathy is also a current participant in the Institute to Credential Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists! What an inspiration this book is! I know Kathy is a motivator to her students and helps them to succeed by meeting them where they are and teaching them to move forward in their own strengths! Check out this book at:
http://www.smartontheinside.com/

SLN Group Meets at Triton College

With the budget constraints in Illinois this year and everyone taking on additional responsibilities at their programs to make ends meet, there are plenty of reasons to delay additional training with added projects and coursework. 

Thanks to the individuals below and to their programs for saying, "Special Learning Needs training is too important to delay. I'm going to sign up and do the work no matter what is in my way!"

The groups pictured below met last Friday at Triton College where they worked hard and supported each other in their learning. Thanks each of them for supporting their students and using so much time and energy to ensure their students' success! What a tenacious and FUN group!

Thanks also to our fabulous host, Triton College!

Online training opportunity - tell your colleagues

Introduction to Special Learning Needs (SLN)

Join this overview to look at the difference between learning preferences, learning difficulties and a learning disability as well as taking a look at learning styles. Strategies for effective instruction and providing an engaging learning environment for individuals with special learning needs and for ALL learners will be explored.

Online learning opportunity – completion of this session and a short application assignment will result in one Certificate of Participation to fulfill the Illinois Community College Board's yearly professional development requirement.

 

This session is presented online via Go To Training. There is no cost to attend.

To register, go to https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/7368086176535247618

 

Any questions should be addressed to Southern Illinois Professional Development Centersipdctrainer@gmail.com or call Sarah or Colleen at 618-650-2254

Check out this new book by Neil Sturomski!

So excited this morning because my copy of Neil Sturomski's new book, Scrambled, just arrived! Neil is the co-creator of the Institute to Credential Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists. You can visit Neil's website to order your copy: http://neilsturomski.com/

Here's the scoop:

SƆRAMBLƎD: A Novel

By Neil Sturomski

SƆRAMBLƎD exemplifies the struggles faced by many individuals with learning disabilities. Its main character – Matt Walsh – is a twenty-something adult whose learning disability is the root cause of persistent angst, frustration and turmoil as he tries desperately to achieve, to succeed both in his career – and in his personal life.

The novel attempts to describe Matt’s inner-most thoughts as he works to better himself and overcome his skill deficits. His anxiety – and life’s common distractions – often get the better of him as he strives to move up the ladder toward career security.

In addition to coping with his work-related issues, Matt has fallen in love with Sarah – a beautiful and talented woman with a budding medical career. She is fully aware of Matt’s learning issues, loves him for his perseverance and his innate talents, and supports his desire and efforts at improvement. But, Matt’s love for Sarah causes him additional anxiety. He needlessly worries that he can’t meet her expectations. And he fears moving forward with her until he can provide financially for her and the family they both want.

The pages of SƆRAMBLƎD will show you how Matt perseverates on his difficulties. You’ll meet individuals who play a role in Matt’s life, realize the opportunities they present, and learn how Matt reacts to them. You’ll see how his strength of will helps him succeed and how his fears almost undo all of his hard work. And you’ll see how his intense love for Sarah both energizes and nearly paralyzes him. In the end, does Matt truly succeed? Is he able to gain control over his learning, his career, his personal life? These questions, and more, are all answered in “SƆRAMBLƎD”.

Just Stepping Stones to Greatness

Shark Tank Fans Take Note!



If you're like me and love the TV show, Shark Tank, or  if you just  want to learn more about learning issues and how to help  and inspire, check out  this interview on the website understood.org.

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/personal-stories/famous-people/daymond-john-and-mom-learning-from-experience?utm_campaign=partner&utm_source=lda&utm_medium=email&utm_content=march&utm_source=Understood+March+2016+Campaign&utm_campaign=LD+Month+2015&utm_medium=email


 

This from  LDA: Behind just about every successful entrepreneur is a strong support network. And that's certainly true of Shark Tank's Daymond John. Daymond John and his mom sat down to share stories about his path to success. In this exclusive video series, we learn how John has thrived in spite of-or perhaps because of-his learning differences. The entrepreneur and his mom discuss his learning issues and how they were "just stepping stones to greatness."

Elements of Effective Instruction

The Institute to Credential Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists 2016 is in full swing with a highly motivated and persistent group determined to learn all they can to better serve their students with or without funding!

Today we discussed elements of effective instruction and some of the key areas were:

• Establish consistent  classroom routines
• Make expectations clear
• Develop and follow lesson structure
• Demonstrate activities
• Emphasize the use of techniques/strategies  
• Use effective questioning
• Provide many opportunities for practice
•  Provide consistent and useful feedback
• Review previously learned materials  

Please share your ideas of  how you  lay a foundation for effective instruction to foster learning.

Putting the ‘special’ in specially designed math instruction

The LD Source provided this resource earlier today: Putting the "special" in specially designed math instruction.

http://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/putting-the-special-in-specially-designed-math-instruction/education

I think this is a great resource so I wanted to provide it to you, but I'm also sharing this because this type of instruction has been shared and will be shared again this year in the Institute to Credential Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists. It's not too late to join this year's group. We'll focus on what our students CAN do and how to help them unlock their potential with a plethora of  practical, research-based learning strategies.

Email Sarah at sgoldam@siue.edu for more information. Check out the link above to give you a 2016 inspiration for instruction!

Institute to Credential Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists

Special learning needs training will begin later this month online. Triton College will host the two in-person sessions later this spring. It's not too late to join the group. Contact Sarah Goldammer at the Southern Illinois Professional Development Center ASAP if you are interested or need more information - sgoldam@siue.edu.

If you are from the central or southern part of the state and are interested in SLN training, please contact Sarah ASAP as additional  groups will be formed as needed.

Tribute to Nancie Payne

For those of us fortunate to know Nancie Payne and to be blessed by her wisdom and wit, we are sorry to learn of her passing. I am providing a link to her funeral information as she will be remembered later today in Washington. Nancie has made the world a better place by sharing her knowledge and encouraging those of us attempting to learn from her and to emulate her kind and comprehensive approach to helping others learn and develop. I tip my hat to a wonderful gal full of love and compassion. My sympathies to her family.

http://www.funeralalternatives.org/portfolio-item/payne-nancie/