Week in Review - March 8, 2013
WEEK IN REVIEWNewNASETPublications and Articles of Interest in Special Education and Disabilities That Were Reported This WeekMarch 8, 2013 - Vol 9, Issue 10 |
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New This Week on NASETNASET's The Practical Teacher Students Who Have Difficulty Learning to Read with Phonics Written by Matthew Glavach, Ph.D. and Warren Pribyl, M.A., Students Who Have Difficulty Learning to Read with Phonics is a revision of an article presented in the October 2012 Practical Teacher entitled Is There Only One Way to Teach Reading? It is in response to teachers who were interested in the reading instruction program and would like to use their own books or sets of books from the school library rather than purchasing the books recommended in the original article. The focus of the article is on the steps used in the program and how to adapt your own books to the program. To read or download this issue -Click here (login required) ______________________________________________________ See NASET's Latest Job Listings |
Draft of Next Generation of Educator Preparation Accreditation Standards Released for Public CommentAs the new national accreditor for educator preparation, theCouncil for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation(CAEP) is seeking public comment on the draft of the next generation of accreditation standards and performance measures. All stakeholders in education and educator preparation are encouraged to review and comment on the draft standards, which are available for public comment through March 29. Please visithttp://caepnet.orgor follow @CAEPupdates on Twitter for the most up-to-date information. |
Plastics Chemical BPA Tied to Higher Asthma Risk in KidsChildren exposed to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) may run a higher risk of developing asthma, a new study suggests. BPA is used in many plastic containers and in the linings of metal cans that hold food. It's even been found in store check-out receipts using thermal paper. The chemical has been previously linked to a number of health concerns, including breathing problems, obesity, increased blood sugar levels and behavioral issues, the researchers noted. "As in all such studies, what we see is an association, not necessarily causation, but our finding suggests that BPA exposure during childhood may increase the risk of asthma," said lead researcher Dr. Kathleen Donohue, an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York City. To read more,click here |
Did You Know That.... The National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems (NCCRESt) provided technical assistance and professional development to close the achievement gap between students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and their peers, and reduce inappropriate referrals to special education. The project has ended, but its materials and tools remain online at www.nccrest.org |
Video Games May Sharpen Focusing Skills in Kids With DyslexiaHere's one possible treatment for dyslexia that kids won't complain about: video games. Italian researchers report that they found that children with the reading disability scored better on tests after they played an action video game for hours, possibly because their minds temporarily became more focused. It's not clear if video games directly improved the dyslexia in the kids. If it did, no one knows how long the effect might last or whether the strategy is a better approach than traditional treatments. In other words, dyslexic children shouldn't necessarily play a couple of video games and call their reading specialist in the morning. To read more,click here |
When Kids Exercise More, Their Grades Might Rise TooOne key to better grades in the classroom may lie in the gym or on the playground, a new study finds. The research, to be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Pediatrics, found that elementary and middle school students who don't get enough exercise are more likely to fail math and reading tests. Although the study didn't prove a cause-and-effect relationship, the findings may be especially important in light of the fact that some school districts in the United States have cut physical education classes in order to devote more time to the "3 Rs" (reading, writing and arithmetic), the researchers said. To read more,click here |
NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET MembersThrough an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.
For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here |
Animals May Boost Social Interaction in Kids With AutismA new study finds that animals may help children with autism connect with other people. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired communication and social interactions. Australian researchers compared how children with autism (aged 5 to 13) interacted with adults and non-autistic children when there were either two guinea pigs or toys in a room. Compared to having toys around, the children with autism were more likely to talk, look at faces and make physical contact when the guinea pigs were present. They also were more likely to respond to other children's attempts to play with them. To read more,click here |
GEEO Travel Programs for EducatorsGlobal Exploration for Educators Organization (GEEO) is a non-profit organization that runs summer professional development travel programs designed for teachers. |
Brain Connections Differ in Children With AutismA small new study has identified a distinct and unique pattern in the way brains of children with autism process information. Researchers used electroencephalograms (EEGs) to track electrical activity in the brains of 30 children with autism and detected certain features in brain connections, according to the study, which was published Feb. 27 in the journal BMC Medicine. Compared to other children, those with autism have more short-range links within different brain regions but fewer connections between more distant areas, said the researchers from Boston Children's Hospital. They said their findings may help improve understanding about certain behaviors in children with autism. To read more,click here |
Mother's Drinking Increases Risk of Infant's Death: StudyChildren of women who are diagnosed with an alcohol disorder during pregnancy or within a year after giving birth have a three-fold higher risk of dying from SIDS -- sudden infant death syndrome -- compared to babies whose mothers do not have alcohol issues, according to a new Australian study. In the study, a mother's problem drinking was implicated in about one out of every six SIDS deaths, according to the researchers. Alcohol abuse by the mothers was also linked with about 3 percent of the deaths caused by something other than SIDS, the researchers found. "Maternal alcohol-use disorder is a significant risk factor for SIDS and infant mortality excluding SIDS," wrote researcher Colleen O'Leary, of Curtin University in Perth, and colleagues. To read more,click here |
C-Section May Raise Child's Risk of Allergies, Asthma: StudyBabies born by cesarean section are more likely than others to develop allergies, a new study says. Researchers evaluated more than 1,200 newborns when they were 1 month, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years old. By age 2, babies born by cesarean section were five times more likely to have allergies than those born naturally when exposed to high levels of common household allergens such as pet dander and dust mites. The findings "further advance the hygiene hypothesis that early childhood exposure to microorganisms affects the immune system's development and onset of allergies," study lead author Christine Cole Johnson, chairwoman of the health sciences department at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, said in a hospital news release. "We believe a baby's exposure to bacteria in the birth canal is a major influencer on their immune system." To read more,click here |
Did You Know That....The IRIS Center is a national center that serves college and university faculty and professional development providers by providing resources about students with disabilities. IRIS develops free, online, interactive training enhancements that translate research about the education of students with disabilities into practice. |
Suspending or expelling a child from school should be a rare last resort and not a routine punishment for bullying, drug use or other infractions, according to a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP, a leading group of pediatricians, said school "zero-tolerance" policies toward kids' behavior problems do no good. If the parents are at work when a child is out of school, more inappropriate behavior often occurs, the authors said in the statement, which was published online Feb. 25 in the journal Pediatrics. Students who are suspended or expelled are more likely to never get a high school diploma, end up in the juvenile justice system or eventually land a low-paying job or no job at all. To read more,click here
'Zero-tolerance' Policies Don't Have the Desired Effect, American Academy of Pediatrics Says. |
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Pediatrics Group Issues New Ear Infection GuidelinesThe American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines for identifying and treating a common childhood ailment that can cause a lot of misery -- the ear infection. In the guidelines released Monday, the pediatrics group more clearly defines the signs and symptoms that indicate an infection that might need treatment. They also encourage observation with close follow-up instead of antibiotic treatment for many children, including some under the age of 2 years. And, for parents of children with recurrent infections, the new guidelines advise physicians and parents when it's time to see a specialist. To read more,click here |
FDA Panel Backs Brain Stimulator for EpilepsyA U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel has unanimously backed a device that lowers the rate of seizures among people with epilepsy. Smaller and thinner than an implantable defibrillator, the battery-powered, programmable device, called the RNS System, is placed just under the skull during surgery. Electrodes reach from the device to the one or two places in the patient's brain that create the abnormal electrical activity that causes seizures. The device works by short-circuiting nerve cells in that area to normalize brain activity before a seizure is triggered. On Friday, the panel voted 11-0, with two members abstaining, to recommend approval of the system, according to MedPage Today. The FDA does not have to follow the recommendations of its expert panels, but it typically does. To read more,click here |
NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET MembersThrough an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.
For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here |
Childhood Allergies May Be Affected by Race, GeneticsRace and possibly genetics play a role in childhood allergies, according to a new study. Researchers at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit skin-tested more than 500 children, all of whom were 2 years old, for three food allergens -- egg whites, peanuts and milk -- and seven environmental allergens. The tests showed that about 20 percent of black children and 6.5 percent of white children were sensitized to a food allergen, while nearly 14 percent of black children and 11 percent of white children were sensitized to an environmental allergen. Black children with an allergic parent were sensitized to an environmental allergen about two and a half times more often than black children without an allergic parent, according to the study, scheduled for Saturday presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, in San Antonio, Texas. To read more,click here |
Autism, Psychiatric Disorders Close Genetic CousinsIn the largest study of its kind, researchers are reporting that autism may be more closely tied to a handful of other psychiatric disorders than previously thought. Scientists analyzed the genomes of more than 60,000 people finding that those with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia may all share genetic risk factors. To read more,click here |
With 'World Of Jenks,' MTV Tackles TransitionTMTV is putting a spotlight on the ups and downs facing those with disabilities as they transition to adulthood, with a documentary-style series following a 21-year-old with autism. Chad DenDanto, now 23, is one of three young adults featured on the network's "World of Jenks" premiering Monday at 11 p.m. ET. The show, beginning its second season, features host and documentarian Andrew Jenks living with each subject for a year and filming their journeys. In addition to DenDanto, Jenks also follows Kaylin, a fashion designer who has battled cancer, and D-Real, a street dancer who overcame his gang lifestyle and hopes to inspire others. To read more,click here |
IDEA Sequester Cuts, By The NumbersThe blog IDEA Money Watch compiled information released by the U.S. Department of Education and createda nice chartthat spells out how much each state stands to lose in federal funding for special education, should the sequester cuts stay in place. States received about $11.5 billion in Part B funds for fiscal year 2012-Part B refers to the special education dollars that are used to educate students ages 5 to 21. The numbers in this chart assume a 5 percent reduction in funding for fiscal 2013. As explained in my colleague Alyson Klein's excellent piece onfrequently asked sequester questions, the sequester doesn't mean that states will immediately start to feel the pinch, because the money has been "forward-funded." Any budget impact would start to be felt more in the 2013-14 school year. To read more,click here |
Disability, Literacy Groups Unite On Common Reading GoalThe push to have all children reading on grade level by third grade must include students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia, say two advocacy groups who have bonded over this common goal. The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, based in New Haven, Conn., has made grants to support children with learning disabilities and their families since 1992.The Campaign for Grade-Level Readingis a coalition of philanthropies and associations working towards improving literacy among low-income children. The two organizations have come together to promote a new initiative called"Don't 'Dys' Our Kids,"which offers policy solutions for including students with disabilities like dyslexia in literacy promotion efforts. To read more,click here |
Did You Know That....The National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports was established to address the behavioral and discipline systems needed for successful learning and social development of students. The Center provides capacity-building information and technical support about behavioral systems to assist states and districts in the design of effective schools. for more information, visit http://www.pbis.org |
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Education Secretary Says Special Education To See Cuts Under SequestrationThe Obama administration continued to turn up the volume on the magnitude of the sequestration cuts by bringing U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan before the White House press corps today to outline what will happen if these across-the-board cuts take effect next month. He warned of $725 million in cuts to Title I, and $600 million to special education. He cited one district in West Virginia that has already sent out layoff notices, and warned that more will flood the zone in March and April. To read more,click here |
NASET's Latest Job Listings* $125,000 Salary for Master Middle School Teachers- Earn a $125,000 salary and join a team of master teachers at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, recently featured on the front page of the New York Times. To learn more -Click here * Special Education Teacher- Hillside Academy West Campus (HAWC), an affiliate of The Menta Group® (www.thementagroup.org), is a Special Education school with a kindergarten through 12th grade therapeutic educational services program for Behavior, Emotional, and Developmentally disabled children living in the Chicago, Illinois Metro Area. To learn more -Click here * Master Teacher - Are you an innovative early childhood educator who enjoys creating the foundation for children's education? Do you love motivating students and their parents to develop the abilities, attitudes, skills, and knowledge that will prepare them for a successful life of learning? Then we have the career you are looking for! To learn more -Click here * Assistant Professor-Special Education - The College of Mount Saint Vincent (Riverdale, New York) seeks an Assistant Professor of Special Education with a strong student-centered focus, an earned doctorate and a strong record of teaching experience in collegiate and K-12 school settings to start in Fall 2013. To learn more-Click here * Video Feedback Reviewers- Tools for Teacher Excellence Flexible location - We are seeking Video Feedback Reviewers with certification in bilingual education, math, science, English, special education or social studies. Reviewers will be TNTP employees based out of a home office anywhere in the United States (flexible location). These positions will start training in the late spring and are expected to last through June 2014 with the possible option to extend. To learn more-Click here * Special Education Teacher - Middle and High School Special Education teacher is responsible for developing and providing IDEA mandated modifications and accommodations for students with special needs in order to gain free and appropriate instruction of the subject area curriculum. To learn more -Click here To receive more information on these and other job listings,click here. |
Food For Thought..........Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or self-confidence. Robert Frost |