Your child's treatment team - who is on it?

The next Parent Empowerment Call (PEC) will be Thursday, and the topic will be “Who’s who on My Child's Treatment Team?”

These one-hour teleconference calls are worth it. They provide valuable information, and they are free.

The calls are sponsored by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health - Child and Adolescent Services. Got that? (There will be a test later...)

The topic for this call will be “Who’s who on My Child's Treatment Team?”

The presenter will be Chris Gleason, Chief Clinical Officer, Family Service and Community Mental Health Center of McHenry County.

Time? Thursday, November 4, 2010, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM C.S.T.
Place? Your telephone. Call 800/260-0712
Enter the Participant Access Code 120964, when prompted. Call in about 11:58AM.

Please listen carefully for any instructions to mute your phone (if you can) and for any Q&A period that will probably follow the basic presentation.

This is a toll free educational call being offered to all parents in Illinois who have a child with an emotional and/or behavioral concern. It will focus on giving parents information they need to advocate for and support their children.

Should you have any questions, please contact:
Judy Hutchinson
Family Consumer Specialist, Region 5
DMH Child & Adolescent Network
1501 Olive St.
Lawrenceville, IL 62439
judy.hutchinson@illinois.gov

I.E.P. - What's it mean?

I.E.P.

Individualized Education Program. That's Individualized Education Program.

It doesn't mean individualized, if the District can afford it.

It doesn't mean individualized, if the District would rather follow a one-size-fits-all approach.

It doesn't mean individualized, only if the teachers want to do it.

It doesn't mean individualized, if the parents don't know better.

It doesn't mean individualized, if the teachers are brave enough to stand up to administration.

It does mean tailored to the individual child and his or her needs.

It does mean that Special Education Coordinators of the District shouldn't just slap on out-of-the-box, off-the-shelf, straight-from-teacher-training-workshops accommodations that will not be implemented or cannot be measured.

Pete and Pam Wright (www.wrightslaw.com) said in a Chicagoland workshop several years ago that no child with an IEP should be failing. This does not mean giving As and Bs to a student who cannot read.

Example: Reading is a skill that must be learned by the child capable of learning. If a student is in 10th Grade but reading at the 3rd-4th Grade level, should there be any question whatsoever that the student needs, and must be provided with, the necessary instruction and tutoring to improve reading skills?

Available in Woodstock or McHenry County - Kirk Martin

Maybe I should go to work for Kirk Martin. I willingly promote him and the workshops that his 17-year-old son, Casey, present all over the eastern half of the United States. Yesterday a friend and I drove to Geneva, Ill. for Kirk's workshop at Geneva High School. This is the fourth time I've attended a workshop by Kirk, and this one, too, was worth the trip.

I overheard compliments from both teachers and parents who attended. There were even a few school children there, and Kirk included his remarks to them, so that they would feel involved and included, not just "talked about." But the meat of his workshop is for parents and is information that parents can benefit greatly from hearing (again).

Should I go to work for Kirk? Working with him would be great. Not sure about the pay, though, since many of Kirk's workshop are offered without charge. Even if he paid me 25% for promoting them, 25% of zero is - come on, you math students; what's the answer?

Kirk and Casey have produced a series of CDs and DVDs, which are sold at programs. Yesterday's proceeds from CD sales? Donated 100% to an Oak Park home for abused and orphaned children. For information about workshops and other trainings and CDs, visit www.celebratecalm.com

We could have a workshop right here in Woodstock or in McHenry County. If 200-300 parents contacted District 200 (not just Special Education), maybe they'd listen to you. If you do make a contact, let Kirk know, so that he can track efforts. Let him know the name and title of the person you contacted and what the result was.

Kirk was here about three years ago and presented a Saturday morning workshop at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Woodstock. Teachers and parents came from all over the North Shore? From Woodstock? I think I saw one.

Anybody wish to help organize and promote it?

When kids don't try

The following is copied from a recent newsletter of Kirk Martin, "America's Calm Coach", and his 17-year-old son, Casey. Kirk and Casey travel the eastern half of the U.S. to present workshops for parents, teachers and students. Visit http://www.celebratecalm.com/ and also check out their radio talkshow schedule.

"As educators and parents, we all want children who are confident, curious and responsible. We see kids struggling and are so tempted to say, 'If you would just apply yourself more...' or 'If she would put forth more effort...'

"It's frustrating because we see bright kids struggle with academics and behavior. But why is our first assumption that it's only a matter of 'applying yourself?' If it were that easy, don't you think our kids would try harder to avoid harsh consequences?

"Sometimes we don't realize that our kids ARE trying, that it takes herculean emotional energy to survive a school structure that exploits your weaknesses: you have to sit, listen and recall information under pressure; you are a conceptual, idea person, but tests are based on sequential, multi-step instructions; it's difficult to focus with kids surrounding you, some of whom pick on you; recess and lunchtime are supposed to be a release, but they cause great anxiety. So you spend all your energy holding it together and then an adult comes along and says you aren't applying yourself.

"Want to know my reaction? I used to cry, shut down or defiantly say two words I can't say here. So if your child or student is not performing to standard, I encourage you to ask yourself this one question:

"What kind of tools can I provide the child to be successful? Please think tools. No child wants to fail; he usually needs tools. Does the student need more challenging work or is she overwhelmed? Does he need his brain stimulated in my class? Do I need to provide specific, concrete directions? One of Casey's passions is helping other kids like him take ownership of their academics. Listen to what one student did after listening to the Straight Talk for Kids CDs.

"'I burned your Kids CD stuff onto my iPOD and it's pretty interesting. So I made a deal with my Geometry teacher. I'm allowed to stand or sit on the floor in the back with my knees up and book on my knees. She lets me chew gum and lay down when I'm working on problems and that helps a ton-I've always done better when listening to music or chewing on stuff, but now I get why that is. She asked if I'd feel weird being back there like that and I said no way, I've always felt different and it helps me so it doesn't bother me at all. It lets me spread out plus I'm more comfortable and I can bounce my legs without bothering anyone. When we get partners and solve problems together, about half the class ends up on the floor. I told my teacher that I'm not weird, I'm a trendsetter! I'm getting a B now instead of a D so I'm pretty psyched because that means I can drive soon! Thanks for getting it.'
Josh Z., Atlanta, GA

"How can you motivate your child/student internally by getting them using their particular gifts and passions? How can I control my own anxiety about their struggles so they don't shut down?

"Praise and encourage kids to be themselves. Get tools for your child so they can take ownership and be internally motivated at school. Thousands of kids listen to Casey's CD daily for encouragement and use the Workbook to plan their future."

Subscribe to Kirk's free e-newsletter. You'll be glad you did. Go to http://www.celebratecalm.com/

Kirk and Casey will be in Geneva, Ill. on Saturday, October 23. Their program starts at 10:00AM.

Stop defiance and power struggles

Geneva will be the place to be on Saturday, October 23, at 10:00AM, if you are a parent of elementary, middle or high school students who are a bit of a challenge at times.

I don't mean Lake Geneva or Geneva, Switzerland.

I mean Geneva, Illinois! Kirk Martin and his 17-year-old son, Casey, will be at Geneva High School to present their program, "Are you at your wits' end? 10 secrets to stop defiance and power struggles."

To view the flier for this FREE workshop, go to www.celebratecalm.com Then click on Schedule and scroll down to October 23.

Geneva High School is located at 416 McKinley Avenue, Geneva, Ill., only 35 easy miles from Woodstock on a Saturday morning.

I will guarantee you that you'll be glad you made the effort. Take your kids with you. They will get a lot out of it, too, and their questions might surprise you.

I've known Kirk and Casey about three years, and I highly recommend their programs!

Lake County mom - please call again

Yesterday (Thurs., Oct. 7) a mom (A.C.) from Lake County (Ill.) who had come across this blog called me and left a message about some special-education problems with her son. Unfortunately, there were two skips in her phone messages, and two portions of her message were not clear.

She mentioned that she was friends of (this part was skipped in the message), and only the last four digits of her phone number (ending in -85) were in the message.

Will you please call again? Thanks!