Thursday, October 4, 2012

Don't Kick Penguins - Oct. 20

This year's Don't Kick Penguin anti-bullying program will be held on Saturday, October 20, at McHenry County College.

See complete information here.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Parent Empowerment Call - Thurs., Oct. 4


The October Parent Empowerment Call, sponsored by IDHS, will be held on Thursday, October 4, from 12:00pm-1:00pm.

This month's topic is "Rx Assist".

Dial 800-260-0702
Participant Access Code: 228137

Darlene McGary, Family Consumer Specialist, will be the presenter this month. Calls are sponsored by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Child and Adolescent Services.





Parents are invited to dial in tollfree. Please be prompt and join at the beginning of the call.

Questions about the Parent Empowerment Calls? Call 1-618-838-9382


These calls occur monthly on the first Thursday.

Two-day workshop - Special Ed

A two-day workshop by Paula Kluth and Cindy Golden will be presented on October 16-17 in Arlington Heights. The title is "Designing Successful Inclusive and Special Education Classrooms".

Although this is scheduled in just two weeks, there might be time for parents to hit up their Special Education Departments at their kids' schools to send a couple of teachers to it. Spread the word.

Complete information can be viewed here.

The Inclusive Classroom, presented by Paula Kluth, Ph.D.
This interactive day features group activities, real-world stories, and tools you can bring back to the classroom immediately. Participants will learn practical ways of supporting students with autism spectrum labels and other disabilities within a general education classroom. The centerpiece of the presentation is Dr. Kluth’s “Top Ten Strategies List for Inclusive Classrooms” in which she addresses the need for sensory supports, visuals, active learning, “safe space,” and materials that capitalize on student strengths. Other topics addressed include defining (and redefining) autism, listening to the voices of those with autism, creating more responsive lessons, making the classroom comfortable, and providing opportunities for communication skill development. The presentation provides teachers with the necessary knowledge and strategies to understand every student as complex, as capable, and as a learner.


The Special Educator’s Toolkit, presented by Cindy Golden, Ed.D.
Based on her popular book, The Special Educator’s Toolkit, Dr. Cindy Golden, a seasoned special educator, administrator, and psychologist with almost 30 years of experience, developed this teacher-friendly toolkit and training from her popular OMAC (Organization and Management of All Classrooms) system- an innovative approach to creating effective classrooms for students with all types of disabilities. This is the ultimate guide for every special educator, from the first-year teacher setting up a new classroom to the seasoned veteran who wants a guide to current best practices. Based on researched best practice, special educators will get step-by-step, ready-to-use guidance on managing six key aspects of their daily work. Teachers will come away empowered and motivated to get and stay organized, and they’ll see the positive results year after year in their classrooms.