Kirk Martin - available January 2012

"Families are under assault. Defiance, disrespect and power struggles are common. There is too much yelling and screaming. Marriages are suffering. Schools and churches are not immune. It's time to fight back with practical, concrete action steps.
 

"How can parents get back control over their homes if they can't control themselves? How can we teach our kids self-control if we don't model it? We show parents and teachers step-by-step how to discipline AND build close, trusting relationships. It's unlike any training you've ever experienced. And it's coming to Chicago. If YOU act."

Can you relate to the above?

Contact your schools now. Forward this to principals, staff, teachers and other decision-makers in your school district. Ask them to bring Kirk Martin to McHenry County during the week of January 18-23.


For information on Kirk's programs, go to www.celebratecalm.com and call Brett at 888.506.1871 regarding scheduling and information.

How many schools operate like this?

How many schools operate on a zero-tolerance policy that actually defeats progress, whether educationally, emotionally or in any other way?

Read this week's email blast from Kirk Martin at www.celebratecalm.com

It's about 9-year-old Sam and a problem in the classroom. Sam ended up with a 10-day suspension, thanks to a head-in-the-sand rule about zero tolerance.

You may be able to find the article from this week's newsletter on the Celebrate Calm website. If not, sign up for their free e-newsletter and don't miss future messages that you'll be glad to receive.

Kirk and his son, Casey, come through the Chicagoland area periodically, and you'll want to attend one of his parent workshops or teacher trainings. For information about scheduling, call 888.506.1871 And check out the DVDs on the website. They are worth every penny.

Parent Empowerment Call - Oct. 6

The McHenry County Mental Health Board and Family CARE announce the next Parent Empowerment Call, which will be Thursday, October 6, at 12:00PM (Noon).

Parents of children with emotional or illnesses or disabilities are invited to dial in just before Noon on this toll-free call. The topic for October 6 will be "Advocating for a Lifetime."

These are educational calls being offered to all parents in Illinois who have a child with an emotional and/or behavioral concern, and will focus on giving parents information they need to advocate for and support their children.

Call the following toll-free number, 800-260-0712, and use this Participant Access Code: 182276. The presenters on this call will be Family Consumer Specialists.

If you have questions about the Parent Empowerment Calls, call Judy Hutchinson, Family Consumer Specialist, DHS Division of Mental Health Child and Adolescent Services, at 618-838-9382.

Did your child regress over the summer?

Parents, how are your kids doing in this new school year? Have they settled into the "groove"?

Were you concerned last spring that your child might regress over the summer, if he didn't have some structured school work (math, reading, spelling) to do over the summer? Did you try to get your school district to provide summer school for him? Schools, of course, have a fancy name now for summer school - it's Extended School Year (ESY).

How hard did you fight with your school district last spring to get ESY services for your child? You knew he or she would fall behind, didn't you? After all, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that, if a child is struggling throughout the school year to learn and to keep up, s/he will not retain what was learned, once the atmosphere changes.

What was the reception from your Special Education department at your child's school last spring? Did they refuse ESY?

And what has happened this fall? You were right, weren't you? Now what are you going to do about it?

Do not sit back and expect the Special Ed Department to say, "Oops, we made a mistake. Let's see how we are going to fix this problem fast."

You need to be at your kid's school, at the office of the Special Ed Director (oh, I remember; now called Special Services...), and at the office of the District Superintendent. And maybe at school board meetings.

Demand the necessary services for your child to get the education he is supposed to get. If he is in the 11th Grade and reading or doing math at a 3rd Grade level, what is the District's plan to educate your child, for which the administrators and teachers are being paid handsomely, whether or not your child gets educated or not? Results! Get results, not promises!

Save the date - Oct. 22 - Penguins

The 2011 "Don't Kick The Penguins" program of diversity awareness and bullying prevention is scheduled for Saturday October 22, at McHenry County College, starting at 8:30AM. Nine workshops will be offered for middle school students, with condensed versions for adults.

Your help is needed to -

   -distribute posters and flyers

   -help on the day of the event

   -donate gifts and items for middle school students as door prizes

   -make cash donations for overhead expenses

Please make tax-deductible checks payable to:Principled Minds and mail to 227 N. Throop Street, Woodstock, Illinois 60098. Principled Minds is a 501(c)(3), tax exempt, not-for profit corporation. It's Federal Tax ID Number is 20-5156417.

To offer help or in other ways, contact Harold Rail at hprail@yahoo.com or Mary Fox at foxpax@sbcglobal.net as soon as possible.

You are also invited to attend planning meetings every Thursday at 3PM at MCC.

Willow Creek to start new group

You are Invited to Join Us as We

Begin the Fall 2011 Session of Eagle's Nest

(a parent support group for parents with a special needs child)

We meet twice a month, starting September 10, 2011

at Willow Creek Community Church

Barrington Rd & Algonquin

South Barrington

 

Meetings are from 3:30 - 5pm on Saturdays

 

A children's program, Eagle's Nest Kids, is available for your special needs child, as well as their siblings

 

The groups meet for support, encouragement, fun, fellowship, and for spiritual growth through Bible study.

 

Call Trudy at 847-855-9571 to register!

 

Feel free to forward this invitation to any parents you think might be interested.  This invitation is open to all, regardless of church affiliation.

Bullying - big problem for kids in Special Ed

Bullying is often a big problem for boys and girls in Special Education. Too often they are considered easy targets for bullies, and bystanders do not quickly intervene and stand up to bullies.

See today's article on http://www.woodstockadvocate.com/ about the K.A.R.M.A. Foundation and Jessica Brookshire. If you miss it today or have trouble finding it on another day, just search on that blog for "Brookshire".

Information about her Foundation can be viewed at http://www.thekarma.org/  While Jessica was not a Special Education student, she was bullied in school. In the past two years she has spoken to 85,000 students, and she is definitely a young woman who is making a difference!

Watch for any news in the future about her appearance in McHenry County or northern Illinois or in southern Wisconsin.

End of (school) year woes

Yesterday I wrote on www.woodstockadvocate.com about problems two area mothers had with the son's schools. One student is in Special Education; the other is not. Neither is in Woodstock.

How did the school year go for your child? And for you?

Did you want your child in summer school to prevent regression over the summer? Did it happen? Is your child progressing in school or merely attending?

Thirteen months ago Woodstock District 200 surveyed parents of students in Special Education. Parents indicated that they wanted information, programs and training. Parents also wanted a Parent Advisory Council.

Not a Parent Support Group. They are different. Just ask the parents in Huntley. They have true input to the school system, rather than being force-fed "the line" and being expected to sit there and swallow it.

What happened to the survey and its results? Nothing. It must have gone in the round file or a dusty bottom drawer.

Parents want to be active participants in the education of their children. They want to be partners with the teachers. Yet too many school districts hold parents at a distance and prevent them from getting in contact with one another. It's too bad that this kind of segregation isn't unlawful.

A friend in Denver recently suggested that parents of Special Ed students could form a Meet-Up group. There are over 1,000 students in Special Education in Woodstock District 200. This means there are probably at least 700 parents from which a group might draw its attendance.

Interested?

Monday night at Family Service

As part of the May Mental Health Awareness Month events a program will be conducted at Family Service on Monday at 7:00PM, titled "Helping Young Adults Navigate Today's Challenges." Discussion will center on exploration of the social and emotional challenges facing today's youth. Free.

Family Service and Community Mental Health Center
4100 Veterans Parkway
McHenry, Ill.
7:00 until ?

For information, email biehl@mc708.net or call 815.455.2828 (McHenry County Mental Health Board)

Kirk Martin/Celebrate Calm in So. Barrington canceled

If you were planning to go to South Barrington on Wednesday night for the Kirk & Casey Martin/Celebrate Calm program, don't. The program has been canceled due to space limitations and will be re-scheduled.

Keep an eye on the schedule on www.celebratecalm.com/ for Kirk's next trip to Chicagoland.

Join them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/celebratecalm
Listen to their Radio Show: www.celebratecalm.com/RadioShow.html
Does this video describe your home: www.celebratecalm.com/workshops.html

Be a courageous parent

Kirk Martin and his son, Casey, will be in our McHenry County area for a free two-hour parent workshop! Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, May 25, from 7:00-9:00PM at Willow Creek Community Church, SE corner of Algonquin Road (Rte. 62) and Barrington Road, in South Barrington.

Details can be viewed at www.woodstockadvocate.com/2011/05/kirk-martin-may-25.html

Also, visit http://www.celebratecalm.com/

I highly recommend Kirk's CD programs.

Don't leave your kids (students) at home; take them. Kirk and Casey will address their needs and perspectives. Babies? Please be consider of all the others there and find a sitter for them (or sit near an exit so they and you can step outside at the first whimper (my request; not Kirk's)). If you have "active" kids (students), bring them.

ATTN. Harvard parents of special ed students

A recent article in the Northwest Herald drew my attention to possible problems in Harvard with the programs of students in special education.

I have certainly experienced a full range of problems that I have personally witnessed and experienced in the Woodstock area since 1996. Prior to that, I had virtually no experience with special education and school districts. My daughter grew up in Philadelphia and Poughkeepsie with her mother, and there were no special education needs there. In all the cities and towns in which I lived before 1996, I had not come in contact with any special education districts.

Once I got to Woodstock, I began to learn about special education. People have told me I should write a book. Frankly, I don't think one book would be enough to cover all the stories, but who likes to read bad news all the time.

Dr. Peter Koehn (pronounced "kane") has blown the whistle on the Harvard (Ill.) School District by getting the Office of Civil Rights of the federal government involved. I never dragged problems that far; usually, just getting the Superintendent involved was enough to get the needed correction. But I certainly made many trips to her office, when Special Education administrators (not teachers) threw up roadblocks and speed bumps.

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) cannot be unilaterally changed; i.e., a teacher or an administrator cannot make the decision in isolation to change a student's IEP. Changes are supposed to be made at an IEP meeting, which should be attended by the "IEP Team", which includes the parent(s). The Team members are specified in procedures established by the Feds and the Illinois State Board of Education.

The big problem with the "Team" is that most teachers know that they had better not make any waves. If something is wrong with the implementation of an IEP, it could be a "professional" death sentence for a teacher to speak up. So what happens if they read their reports and sit there until the meeting is over. They know that they had better not buck the administrator who is there. After all, who does their performance reviews? Who decides whether they end up monitoring the toilets or the playground? Who gets raises? Who gets canned?

Dr. Peter Koehn is a whistleblower. I like whistleblowers. I'm sorry they must exist. I'm sorry they get fired for blowing whistles. If you are a parent of a Harvard Special Education student and would like to speak with Dr. Koehn, you can call him at 815.212.3209

OCR heads to Harvard Special Education

The following article was published on WoodstockAdvocate.com and is re-published here for parents of Special Education students.


In today's Northwest Herald is a front-page (top of the page, even) article about Special Education. Reporter Chelsea McDougall mentions Harvard School District 50 and a recently-terminated psychologist. Also, she mentions a retired school psychologist and author.

Chelsea is in the ballpark, but the "experts" were tossing 98MPH fast balls at her. Let's slow down and see what is really going on.

I don't have experience with the Harvard school district, but I do have considerable experience with Woodstock District 200 Special Education. And I'd be willing to bet all the money in the Northwest Herald's bank account that the Special Education problems in Harvard are real, just as they are in District 200 and schools all over McHenry County and the State of Illinois.

Read the article at www.nwherald.com/2011/04/11/d-50-special-ed-moves-draw-scrutiny/avwh5yh/

District 50 Superintendent Lauri Tobias was quoted by her front-page photograph as saying, "We absolutely did not change IEPs with students. We have a procedure, and we go through the process beautifully."

I do not doubt that Ms. Tobias believes what she told the newspaper reporter. Believing it doesn't make it true. Yes, it is true that she believes it. And she probably believes what she is told about how the special education department operates. They will tell her that they always follow the laws and the rules. Would they dare tell her otherwise? So, based on what she is told, she believes that correct procedures, laws and rules are being followed. But that doesn't make it so.

Here is why I don't believe her statement.

In District 200 a third-grade student's IEP wasn't being followed. Of course, it's hard for a parent to uncover the facts, because s/he is not in school every day to watch what goes on. But after consultants from Project Choices (http://www.projectchoices.org/) visited the classroom of the student, they reported to the principal at an after-school meeting that the teacher could not arbitrarily change a student's IEP. They had made that observation during their one visit. What happened? The teacher stormed out of the meeting, and the social worker went with her "to see if she was okay." What should have happened was, the teacher should have been required to return the meeting and be accountable for her errors in the classroom.

Every year that student's IEP was violated. Later, in 9th Grade, a first-hour computer class was put in his schedule. It turned out there was no computer available and no room available, so the student was sent to study hall to twiddle his thumbs for an hour. No wonder he didn't want to go to school. His absenteeism in 9th Grade was over 60%, and he was never reported for truancy.

Parents of special education students are kept isolated from one another. This, of course, keeps them from exchanging information and forming groups to bring about change and correction.

I don't know Peter Koehn, the former junior high school psychologist who blew the whistle in Harvard. Somehow, though, I'm pretty sure I'd like him. He stuck up for the kids. Look where it got him. Fired.

And then think back to Huntley, where a Special Education Director was tossed out because she stuck up for the kids. Parents liked her; she knew the Special Ed laws and followed them. Of course, that got her in hot water with the district's administrators.

If you want to keep your job, you learn to keep your head down. Don't make waves. Don't talk to parents. Don't tell parents that their kids are not getting what they are supposed to. Be a follower; don't ever try to be a leader. Get tenure. Know your place. Just keep sucking at the public trough.

The former associate superintendent of District 200 told me that "every teacher is an advocate for every student." I almost fell off my chair laughing. Yeah, sure.... at the risk of their jobs, maybe. And they won't risk them by standing up for what is wrong in their Special Education departments.

Watch for following articles here to correct the wrong information that was given to the reporter. And, if you are parent of a Special Education student, get in touch with me. I'll help you find other like-minded parents in your school district.

Your kid's school lunch - who decides?

Who decides what your kid eats for lunch at school?

I'm not talking about whether he hits the junk food line or chooses mac & cheese or three bags of Fritos. If you want to pack his lunch (or, better yet, have him pack it himself, should you be able to do that?

And what if, horror of all horrors, you want to send some carrots, celery sticks and an apple or pear to school with him? Think you ought to be able to do that?

If you do, you'll want to keep your distance from the principal at Little Village Academy, on Chicago's west side.

Read this article, and then read the Chicago Tribune article from the link within it.

http://www.parentalrights.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={9B09A27B-2C09-4B7D-A772-40A27108FA7C}&DE=

And watch out that it doesn't happen where you live!

Behavior Plans - good or bad?

How good are behavior plans? You know - those plans dreamed up at school that are supposed to change your kid's bad behavior into good behavior?

Did you ever read one of them? I mean, really read it?

Too many of them are punitive in nature. The teacher is supposed to catch your kid doing everything bad. And record it. And report it. As if that is going to "fix" your kid.

Did it? Does it?

Read what Kirk Martin has to say about behavior plans at www.celebratecalm.com

In this week's email message to parents, Kirk wrote: "Most behavior plans fail because they:

(1) Address the outward behavior, but not the real underlying issue.
(2) Assume incorrectly that the behavior is rational and that consequences work. They simply don't.
(3) Focus on irrelevant consequences rather than showing kids how to react to situations differently."

Who wrote that? A teacher - a frustrated teacher!

Sign up at www.celebratecalm.com for Kirk's free e-newsletter and also listen to his online radio show.

Awaiting return of CDs

Help! I'm trying to locate Penny, mom of three kids, who lives in Lake in the Hills and to whom I loaned a Kirk Martin CD set about calm parenting in March 2010.

I'd surely like to get the CD album back, so that I can loan it to other parents. I know she intended to return them when she borrowed them. With three kids, I'll bet she just got busy and put the CD album in the stack of programs "to listen to sometime." Maybe my card got just separated from the album.

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help me get in touch with Penny!

Is your kid a victim of bullying?

The next meeting of the Principled Minds' anti-bullying group will be held on Saturday, April 2, at the Woodstock (Ill.) Public Library. Starting time is 9:15AM in a downstairs meeting room.

Principals of McHenry County school district schools have been invited. Even though it's the Saturday at the end of Spring Break, either a principal or a staff member designated by the principal could attend, plus parents and other residents who are ready to put an end to bullying.

Talk to the principal of your child's school and make a specific request that the school be represented at this meeting. Try to get a commitment from the principal regarding attendance. Ask who will attend. (And then thank the principal after the meeting for having the school represented.)

The only way to get bullying stopped is for parents, administrators and teachers - and students - to work together. Bullying can come to a screeching halt.

Please consider the courtesy of parking across Judd Street in the new parking lot. Thanks!

Save the date - April 29

The third annual Visions of Hope Awards presentation will be held on Friday, April 29, 7:00PM, at the Woodstock Opera House. It will be followed by a performance of "Maybe in a Moment" by the Thresholds Theater Arts Performance Group.

Watch for more information before April 29.

There is no charge for the evening, but donations are appreciated. Make your reservation by emailing biehl@mc708.org or calling 815.455.2828

This performance is very likely to be SRO, so make your reservation early.

Bullying and kids in Special Education

Read today's article on www.woodstockadvocate.com about bullying and the great work being done by Jodee Blanco of Orland Park, Ill. Also, read the Daily Herald article; the link is within my article there.

If you don't get there "today", search on that other blog for "bullying" or just go to www.jodeeblanco.com

Boys and girls in Special Education know first-hand about bullying - unfortunately. It's time to put a stop to bullying.

Do you home-school your children?

Here's a letter from a home-school mom. The letter was sent to me by a candidate for School Board in Marengo.

 

To: Everyone

 

Please send this out to all of our home school parents.

I just want to let everyone know that I called the Senators office today. I have a 45 minute phone call with his staff member who was wonderful.

 

She wrote down all of my points and said the Senator might be in touch with me because my points were all so good and valid.

 

She is getting 100's of calls.. It is very important to call 773-881-4180 and voice your objections.

It helped that I am from the south side but they still want to hear from you.

 

These were the points.

 

1. Make public schools safe and make all public schools actually perform and then lets talk about home school registration.

 

2. Give all parents school choice.

 

3. Get rid of all Regional Superintendent of schools positions and save Illinois tax payers 4.5 million dollars. If Cook county can get away without a ROE then why should we in the Suberbs be burdened with their cost.

 

Right now there is NO oversight of their activities by anyone. These individuals don't add any value to the public or to school children. They abuse Parents and Children. I gave our personal example and she was horrified.

 

Don't find more for them to do...get rid of them and give that money to the communities to invest in education.

 

4   By providing school choice you will get parents to naturally want to participate in Home School registration but until you can make it of value to parents you will only get a back lash by trying to force it. Until you can make it safe for parents to home school without retaliation then don't put the cart before the horse.

 

5. Parents are tax payers and are not able to send their home schooled children to the public school for sports. We pay for services we are not entitled to use..fix this first .

 

6. Give parents the parent trigger law in Illinois. Allow us to take over unsafe under performing schools.

 

7. Force consolidations of small schools to bring more money and value to the tax payer. Right now Illinois has over 950 school districts..We should have 350.

 

Don't you think you have more to do in Illinois than this??? Please consider all of the problems First.

 

I can buy software for my child with 170 lessons in five subjects for $20.00 and its a better teacher than the public school teachers and I am paying thousands in tax money for nothing. And exposing them to unsafe environments.

 

 Please ask everyone you know who thinks Home schooling should be free from restrictions to call..Very important. Office is 773-881-4180

 

Send out to your entire email lists.

 

 

Thanks

 

Cynthia Allen Schenk

Running for District 165 School Board April 5th 2011

 

Dr. David J. Schenk

Anti-Bullying Network to meet in Woodstock

The following press release may be of interest to you, if you are a parent, teacher or young person who has been (or is) affected by bullying.

Woodstock -- The next meeting of the McHenry County Anti-Bullying Network will be held at the Woodstock Library, 414 W. Judd Street, on Saturday, February 19, from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M.

The newly formed organization is devoted to reducing the amount and effects of bullying in schools and among children and teens generally.  The group is open to parents, teachers and other school staff, and others who work with children and youth who are interested in helping to alleviate this problem.

The group is sponsored by Principled Minds, a non-profit organization based in Woodstock that seeks justice and equality for all persons in McHenry County. Principled Minds has made efforts to combat bullying one of its highest priorities and recently was a sponsor of the Don’t Kick the Penguins anti-bullying program at McHenry County College.

For more information, e-mail Principled Minds President Dan Larsen at dplarsen1073@att.net

Excellent workshop on Guardianship today

There was an excellent workshop on Guardianships today at McHenry County College, put together by SEDOM and others. The seminar classroom was full, and the hand-outs were plentiful.

The panel included two attorneys, Brian Rubin of Buffalo Grove and Bob Farley of Naperville. Brian explained Special Needs Trusts, and Bob mentioned a successful lawsuit against the State of Illinois to obtain substantially increased benefits for a disabled client.

The advice of the attorneys is "don't assume that you can't get benefits (or higher benefits)", if you have a significant disability. An example was the level of care that can be paid for to a developmentally-disabled person only until he is 21, after which the State says the family can pay for it. Suppose the person needs round-the-clock care. How does a family afford that?

Options & Advocacy www.optionsandadvocacy.org/ was represented by its Executive Director, Cindy Sullivan. Also on the panel was Annette Hammortree, of Hammortree Financial Services www.hammortreefinancial.com/. A representative from Equip for Equality www.equipforequality.org/, Chicago, came all the way out to Crystal Lake for this meeting, and a mother and her son from Johnsburg completed the panel.

Services of the attorneys can be viewed on their websites:
Bob Farley: http://www.farley1.com/
Brian Rubin: http://www.snfp.com/

D-200 Parent U. - Feb. 28

On Saturday, February 28, Woodstock (Ill.) District 200 school district will present Parent University at Woodstock North High School. The U. starts at 8:30AM and is scheduled to conclude at 11:30AM. This program is open to all parents (of middle and high school students), not just parents of students in Special Education.
A variety of sessions is planned, including topics such as (anti)-bullying, co-parenting in homes, and raising healthier teens.

Registration and a continental breakfast begin at 8:00AM. The opening speaker is scheduled at 8:30AM, and two one-hour break-out sessions are scheduled for 9:00AM and 10:30AM.

From 10:00-10:30AM there will be a break and a "Resourse" Fair. YES! That's how it reads: Resourse (sic) Fair. Keep in mind that this is the spelling on a school district-produced schedule. What are we raising around here? What are we hiring around here??? There are numerous grammatical errors in the online program; they are not typos!

Another example? "Co-parenting with someone who lives in a different home may results (sic) in very different views..."

Everybody is in a hurry these days. Some say there is too much work to be done by too few people in too short a time. But, if you don't have time to do it right the first time, you definitely do not have time to do it over!

Do I have little tolerance for highly-paid school district personnel who make these errors? You bet!

Let's hope that Parent U. is successful. Notice also that program scheduling doesn't allow time for movement between "classes."

Be sure to check out the online Registration Form. As you examine it, ask yourself the logical questions. You'll see what I mean, when you read it!

Yes, I know I'm critical, so you don't have to tell me.

Check it out for yourself at http://woodstockschools.org/news/parent-university-registration-now-open

Guardianship Panel - Tomorrow 1:00PM - Free

The Special Education District of McHenry County

&

McHenry County Transition Planning Committee

Presents:

Panel Discussion: Guardianship Issues for Students with Disabilities

When:        Friday, February 4th, 2011

Where:       McHenry County College

Room A102

Time:          1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Join us for a panel discussion regarding guardianship and hear about different philosophies and options parents have from individuals with expertise in this area.

Topics such as guardianship, power of attorney, trust funds, planning for adulthood, legal services, and advocacy will be discussed.

Speakers will include:

ü    The Law Office of Brian Rubin & Associates

ü    Robert H. Farley, Jr., LTD-Attorney at Law

ü    Annette Hammortree-Hammortree Financial Services

ü    Options & Advocacy for McHenry County

ü    Equip for Equality

ü    Individual with a Disability

                              

There is no cost to attend this event.

Please RSVP to Jeweldean Drechney: jdrechney@sedom.org

Kirk & Casey Martin - Chicago February workshops?

Here is an announcement from Kirk & Casey Martin, a father-son team that presents family-friendly workshops throughout the Eastern and Southeastern U.S. Learn more about them at http://www.celebratecalm.com/  Can we put together an event here in Woodstock?

This would be a natural for Woodstock District 200 to organize, and it wouldn't cost them a penny. Do you have a contact at D200 who could make it happen?

Do you want to help families in Chicago?
We need you to act now.
 

This is a little different, but if you are up to the challenge, we are as well. Many of you know that we are big supporters of an orphanage and children's home for abused children in Chicago. Casey and I have two goals:
   1) Help struggling parents, kids and teachers in Chicagoland through workshops.
   2) Raise money to support Hephzibah Children's Home.
 
The only three open dates we have to come to Chicago during the next three months are February 11, 12 and 14. We want to conduct Workshops throughout the area in local schools, churches and synagogues. Our events give families and educators very practical, concrete strategies that really work.

                        Click here to see a LIVE EVENT in action.

http://www.celebratecalm.com/workshops.html
            New video of teacher and parent workshops are now on the website.

Choose which workshops you want at your school or church.

 

- Enjoy a calm home ~ eliminate yelling, arguing and meltdowns.
- Improve focus, behavior and grades in school.
- Create stress-free mornings, homework and bedtime.

- Eliminate defiance and disrespect.

In order to raise money for Hephzibah, we are going to donate every single penny from workshop fees and CD sales to Hephzibah. Not just proceeds. Every penny. We'll cover our own travel and hotel costs. We just want to make a huge difference because the good people at Hephzibah are saving and rebuilding children's lives.

Because we are donating all of our fees, we have no vested interest--we just want sponsors to have an investment so they enthusiastically spread the word.

This is a rare opportunity to impact your community in many ways. Let's fill these three dates with enthusiastic school and church sponsors.

                            3 Easy Steps to Schedule a Workshop
1. Please forward this email to your PTA, Principal, school counselors or church leader. Let them know how Celebrate Calm has impacted your life.

2. Reply to this email or call Brett at 888-506-1871. We can customize a program based on your specific needs and budget. We are easy to work with!
 
3. We have no special needs when we present. We just need an auditorium, library or cafeteria with chairs. We provide workshop flyers to help promote the workshop. It's that easy!

                           Call 1-888-506-1871

Let's make a huge difference in people's lives to begin 2011.  Thanks and we can't wait to see you again!

How would your life change if you could:

Advocacy tips for SpecEd Parents

Do you know how to advocate properly and effectively for your kid?

Check out the tips in this week's issue of Pete & Pam Wright's e-newsletter. www.wrightslaw.com/howey/10tips.advocates.htm

What should you do? And not do?
www.wrightslaw.com/info/advo.do.dont.margolis.htm

There are many good ideas in those articles. They will work - in an ideal world. However, your kid may not stay in school long enough for you to get many of them into play. After all, kids still graduate at age 18 (and some at 22, after three additional years of "transition" classes). And then you'll be a "non-parent" in the eyes of your school, and all you'll be able to do is watch from the sidelines while other parents fight the same old battles.

I've been told that school folks hate the word "advocate" and that it shouldn't be used by parents or by the people they hire or ask to help them. Oh, yeah? Wouldn't it be nice if you didn't even need an advocate?

Several years ago a Special Ed administrator told me that every teacher is an advocate for every student. Well, you could have fooled me! How he wrote that with a straight face, I'll never know. In fact, I don't know that he did have a "straight face", when he wrote that, since he was sitting at his computer in his own office.

Do you know what happens when a teacher stands up for a Spec Ed student and bucks the "system"? i.e., bucks her administrator?

It's called, "Where do you think you'll enjoy working next?"

And the same with the Spec Ed administrator who fights for what is right - for what a School District is required by laws to do for special ed students. Same question?

New ISBE booklet for Special Ed Parents

A new booklet has been published and made available by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for parents of students in Special Education. We all know how difficult it can be to keep track of our child's information for IEPs and other Special Education-related matters.

Some parents are lucky enough to have the focus, time and organizational and office management skills of a legal secretary. These parents set up filing systems and tabbed notebooks, and they religiously file papers in the right place at the right time, the first time.

ISBE's booklet is the "Illinois Student Records Keeper for Parents Whose Students Receive Special Education Services.". You can download its 56 pages from the ISBE website or from the website of the Parent & Educator Partnership, which is where I learned about this.

The publication date is October 2010. (You've already heard about this from your school district; right?)

The booklet is at http://www.pepartnership.org/media/37861/student_records_keeper.pdf

If you prefer to go directly to the Illinois State Board of Education website and download the booklet there, you can go to www.isbe.net and click through the following path to the booklet:
On the homepage, find the section near the top for "Parents/Students"
Click on "Special Education"
On the right side under Resources, click on "Parents"
Scroll down to the bottom and click on "Student Records Keeper..."

Look around while you are at this index. My guess is you'll find some other very interesting and helpful booklets and brochures.

Anything for Special Ed parents yet?

Is Woodstock District 200 School District providing any services to parents of students in Special Education yet?

It made an attempt at a survey of SpEd parents last April, when survey forms were to be distributed to the parents of all 1,000+ students in Special Education. Only about 60-70 surveys were completed, which caused me to wonder how many parents didn't get them or were discouraged from completing them.

How could a parent be discouraged from completing them? Little comments like "You know nothing will change" might discourage a parent. Or, "I was supposed to give this to you" wouldn't be particularly encouraging.

However, about 60 parents did complete them and the interest in programs and training was representative of what all parents might want.

And what happened after that? The survey results were compiled. And .... and  ...   and, nothing...

There are a few parents who, over the past few years of their own child's years in District 200 Special Education, fought many battles for their child's rights. The rights under Illinois School Law and the laws of the Federal government. Some of these parents are willing to continue to devote time to improvement in the Woodstock District 200 Special Education Department and operations.

But they can't make anything happen now, because they no longer have a child in the system. However, parents of current students can make something happen. For example, read the Memorandum of Chris Koch, State Superintendent of the Illinois State Board of Education. He wrote this particular Memorandum back in about 2004, when he was Director of Special Education for ISBE. At that time he asked all Superintendents, Special Ed Directors and staff to disseminate that Memo to parents of all Special Ed students. Did it happen?

No way. Not even after it was brought to the attention of both the Superintendent and the then-Director of Special Ed (who is no longer with District 200). I think it is still on the ISBE website, but now buried well down. Basically, it reminded School Districts what they must do for parents of Special Ed students.

Maybe that's why it was never disseminated to parents...

Anti-bullying townhall meetings in Alabama

Two large townhall meetings will be held in Alabama this month, organized by K.A.R.M.A., which stands for Kids Against Ridicule, Meanness and Aggression.

See the December 18th article on this blog (below), and see today's article on www.woodstockadvocate.com/ for more information about the townhall meetings. The dates are January 23 in Montgomery and January 24 in Birmingham.

For more information about K.A.R.M.A., go directly to www.TheKarma.org