NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

January 28, 2022                 Vol 18 Issue #4

Dear NASET Members and Guests,

Welcome to NASET's WEEK in REVIEW.  Here, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASET to read and or download, as well as some of the most interesting articles that have happened this week in the field of special education. We hope you enjoy this publication.  Feel free to send us articles for this publication or let us know your thoughts about the WEEK in REVIEW at news@naset.org. Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

WHATS NEW AT NASET

Naset's How To Series

How to Develop Behavior Contracts

Introduction

A behavior contract is an agreement between the child and teacher and often includes the student's parent(s).

The behavior contract is a written agreement about how the individual will behave.

It will indicate the appropriate consequence should the student neglect to behave according to the contract and it also states the reinforcer to be used for successful compliance. The behavior contract provides the student with structure and self-management.

Read More

Why Learning Loss is Prompting Educators to Rethink the Traditional School Calendar: Start Earlier, End Later, Extend Breaks for Remediation

Pandemic-related school closures, which caused an alarming rate of learning loss among the country’s most vulnerable students, have prompted some administrators to reconsider the school calendar. An earlier start date, a later end date and numerous, elongated breaks throughout the year could allow more timely remediation for children in need — and enrichment for those who are not. New York City’s new schools chancellor David Banks, has proposed that children in the nation’s largest district report to class on Saturday and during the summer. In neighboring Connecticut, Hartford Public Schools have already started opening several buildings on Saturdays, offering some 800 students who have fallen behind a chance to accelerate their learning. Read More

What to Know About Echolalia and Children with ADHD

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that starts in childhood and usually continues into adolescence. People with ADHD show symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity, inattention, or a combination of both. Echolalia is when a person repeats what another person has said, either immediately after or later on. Echolalia is a normal part of language development but usually stops by about age 3 when children have acquired more developed language skills. If a person over age 3 is still regularly engaging in echolalia, it's possible something else is at play. Echolalia is usually associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but some people with ADHD also engage in echolalia. This article will explore the types of echolalia, why it occurs in children with ADHD, and treatment options. Read More

Combining Remote and In-Person Learning Led to Chaos, Study Finds

Although educators are trying to keep schools open during the pandemic, they still have to figure out how to educate children quarantining at home. Some school leaders have been turning to an innovative solution: allowing children at home to learn remotely along with their in-person classmates. That sounds simple, but it means that teachers have to track students who are only present in Zoom squares while watching others at desks in the room. Now a small study of teachers across nine states finds that this hybrid solution is the worst way to teach because it’s exhausting for teachers to toggle back and forth between the two modes and all students appear to learn less this way. Student failures during the 2020-21 school year prompted three districts in the study to abandon the dual approach and split into separate in-person only and remote only classes. Read More

FDA Cites Hair-Based Autism Diagnostic Aid as ‘Breakthrough’

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted ‘breakthrough device’ designation to a hair-based test designed to aid autism diagnosis. The acknowledgment shifts the test into a fast lane through the agency’s regulatory review process. The test, called StrandDx, analyzes the levels of chemicals in a strand of a child’s hair to capture a snapshot of her ‘exposome’ — some of her cumulative environmental exposures and how she regulates certain essential nutrients. The measures suggest how a person’s physiology responds to her environment, which can predict her chances of having autism, says Manish Arora, Edith J. Baerwald Professor and vice chairman of environmental medicine and public health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City and co-founder of New York-based Linus Biotechnology, which is developing the test. Read More

6 Tips for Making MRI Exams More Autism-Friendly

New guidance published in the journal Autism offers insight into how providers can help make MRI scans more comfortable for autistic patients who might be anxious during clinical exams. MRI exams can be a stressful event for patients who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The loud noises and narrow tube may increase anxiety in those with sensory sensitivities and communicating needs or discomforts can be challenging with these patients. All of these factors can also decrease the quality of the examination, potentially nullifying results. “While there are currently many studies using MRI to further our understanding about autism, there is a paucity of studies to assess how autistic individuals experience MRI; often reasonable adjustments are based on generalized assumptions about autistic experience and behavior. Furthermore, many adjustments are targeted to make the autistic person ‘MR-compatible’ and not making the MRI environment truly ‘autism/patient-friendly,’” corresponding author Nikolaos Stogiannos, with the Medical Imaging Department at Corfu General Hospital in Greece, and co-authors explained. Read More

Do ADHD Symptoms Differ in Boys and Girls?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2016, approximately 6.1 million children (9.4%) in the United States had an ADHD diagnosis. The rate of diagnosis is higher for boys at 12.9% than for girls at 5.6%. Researchers note that the difference in the rate of diagnosis between boys and girls is likely due to ADHD presenting differently in girls, which may lead to the condition being underdiagnosed in girls. This article will explain how the symptoms of ADHD in girls vs. boys and when to talk to your healthcare provider. Read Mor

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to: Kylie Powell, Tracey Christilles, Karen Frantz-Fry, Olga Stavro, Bridget Richardson, Susan Mason, Brandey Crawford, Cynthia Fortlage, Doobal Bashyal, Stephanie Jenkins , Tiffany L. Wilson, Corinn Mildenberg, Joanna Blau, Shavon Paul, Zenaida Lemus, Sheila Marie Trzcinka, Karen Breisinger, Katrina Snider, Heather Sweigart, Lauro Esquilona, Kimberly Lockley, Elizabeth Ciccarelli-Rosa, Susan Duffany, Cynthia Turcotte, Diane Campbell-Mitchell, Amanda Johnson, Lori Otto, Helma Wardenaar, Constance Sherrod, Renee Chichester, Patsy Ray, Jennifer Malinowski, Julia Sappington, Cindi Maurice, and Nancy Maxwell who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question:

Under the federal special education law, IDEIA, all students receiving special education services are afforded a “FAPE”. The FA stands for “Free Appropriate”. What does the “PE” stand for?

Answer: PUBLIC EDUCATION

This week's trivia question: According to recent research published in JAMA Pediatrics, do parents report that their children's behavioral health at home is better, the same, or worse during remote learning when compared to their behavior with in-person learning?

If you know the answer to this week's trivia questions, email it to us at contactus@naset.org by February 1, 2022. If you are correct, you will be acknowledged in next week's NASET's Week in Review

One State’s Plan to Confront COVID Teacher Shortages: Easing Residency Requirements, Welcoming Back Retired Educators

New Jersey lawmakers approved two bills Monday intended to help schools struggling with continuing staffing issues amid a new, highly-transmissible coronavirus variant. One bill, passed unanimously by both chambers Monday, would allow retired teachers to return to the classroom through the 2022-2023 school year and still collect their pensions. Another measure would eliminate the requirement for public school employees to live in the state for three years before they are hired. Currently, public school employees can’t reside outside New Jersey unless they have a waiver, largely barring schools from hiring people living in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York. Read More

Students with Attention Problems More Likely to Cheat

High school students who have trouble paying attention in class are more likely to admit to cheating, a new study shows. Researchers found that inattention led to hyperactivity in the students, and both together contributed to higher levels of cheating. The issue is important because many students with attention problems don't get an official diagnosis, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, said Eric Anderman, lead author of the study and professor of educational psychology at The Ohio State University. "Students diagnosed with ADHD get a lot of support and help in school, but many other kids with attention problems fall through the cracks," Anderman said. Read More

I Don't Want to Cure My Autism, I Want to Own It

Being a late-diagnosed autistic and feeling like I neither understood myself, nor the world around me made self-acceptance near impossible. Having lived for 22 years without knowing I was autistic there were several aspects of my personality and my thought processes that didn't add up. But when I discovered the autistic person I've always been, everything I previously couldn't explain about myself finally made sense; my meltdowns, my social difficulties and the intensity with which I explore my passions. Read More

Improving Reading Skills Through Action Video Games

Decoding letters into sound is a key point in learning to read but is not enough to master it. "Reading calls upon several other essential mechanisms that we don't necessarily think about, such as knowing how to move our eyes on the page or how to use our working memory to link words together in a coherent sentence," points out Daphné Bavelier, a professor in the Psychology Section of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (FPSE) at the UNIGE. "These other skills, such as vision, the deployment of attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, are known to be improved by action video games," explains Angela Pasqualotto, first author of this study, which is based on her PhD thesis at the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science of the University of Trento under the direction of Professors Venuti and De Angeli. Read More

Repeated Exposure to Major Disasters has Long-Term Mental Health Impacts

Repeated exposure to major disasters does not make people mentally stronger, a recent study from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health found: individuals who have been repeatedly exposed to major disasters show a reduction in mental health scores. Additionally, the research team found that the more experience the individuals had with such events, the lower their mental health was. "We discovered the reverse of the adage 'what does not kill you makes you stronger,'" said the study's lead author Garett Sansom, research assistant professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health at the School of Public Health. Sansom and a team of Texas A&M researchers studied individuals from the Houston area, which is susceptible to hurricanes and flooding as well as industrial emergencies. The results of the study were published recently in the journal Natural Hazards. Read More

'Understaffed and Overwhelmed,' Survey Finds Schools are Struggling Across Illinois

School officials across Illinois say a shortage of teachers and substitutes is forcing them to cancel course offerings, move them online or fill open positions with people who are not fully qualified. Those are the findings of the latest survey by the Illinois Association or Regional Superintendents of Schools, the fifth such survey the organization has conducted in as many years. “Our schools need help, now more than ever,” said Mark Klaisner, IARSS president. “For five years of our study, we have shown how schools are struggling to find qualified teachers and are under tremendous stress to provide the best education possible while understaffed and overwhelmed. COVID-19 has only made those challenges worse.” Read More

A Discussion Protocol for Group Learning Experiences

If you’re looking for a way to engage your students and transition them with ease into a learning community, the following three simple phrases can offer you and your students a wonderful tool to begin their day or class period: “I observe...” (what can be seen); “I perceive...” (reading behind what can be seen); “I wonder...” (engaging in curiosity). Adapted from one of Eric Morris’s acting craft approaches, Observe, Perceive, Wonder is a group learning experience that can be utilized in the classroom for a number of learning intentions as well as to reduce stress, focus attention, help students to connect with others, and create a positive learning environment. Read More

Helping Young Writers Improve With a Unit on Word Choice

For a beginning writer, organization and conventions are mammoth mountains to climb, and they can fill all of our instruction and feedback time. But what about those proficient writers who have already mastered these things? According to our standardized statewide writing assessment NAPLAN, my school had relatively high-scoring students, but they were not showing much growth between years. How do we help these high-achieving writers who already have a good grasp on conventions and organization achieve greater growth as they progress through primary school? Read More

Variants Fuel Decline in Student Mental Health

Almost nine in 10 college students think campuses are facing a mental health crisis, according to a new survey from TimelyMD, a student-first telehealth provider. The survey of nearly 1,700 college students found that 88 percent believe there is a mental health crisis on college campuses. While each student might have a different understanding of what a mental health crisis is, it’s clear that students are suffering, said Alan Dennington, chief medical officer and co-founder of TimelyMD. “I think that the perception of there being a crisis is around how many students a respondent knows, or themself, that feels like they have stress and anxiety and have mental health issues that they don’t feel are being met,” Dennington said. Read More

A Digital Divide Haunts Schools Adapting to Virus Hurdles

When April Schneider’s children returned to in-person classrooms this year, she thought they were leaving behind the struggles from more than a year of remote learning. No more problems with borrowed tablets. No more days of missed lessons because her kids couldn’t connect to their virtual schooling. But coronavirus cases in her children’s New York City classrooms, and the subsequent quarantines, sent her kids back to learning from home. Without personal devices for each child, Schneider said they were largely left to do nothing while stuck at home. “So there you go again, with no computer, and you’re back to square one as if COVID just begun all over again in a smaller form,” Schneider said. As more families pivot back to remote learning amid quarantines and school closures, reliable, consistent access to devices and home internet remains elusive for many students who need them to keep up with their schoolwork. Read More

JOB POSTINGS

* [2022-2023] 7th Grade Learning Specialist - Reporting to the Academic Dean, the Learning Specialist will be responsible for providing tailored support to students with special education needs, through integrated co-teaching, in small group settings, or a combination of both. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned educator who is passionate about ensuring all students succeed and thrive in school. To learn more- Click here

* [2022-2023] Middle School Learning Specialist - Reporting to the Academic Dean, the Learning Specialist will be responsible for providing tailored support to students with special education needs, through integrated co-teaching, in small group settings, or a combination of both. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned educator who is passionate about ensuring all students succeed and thrive in school. To learn more- Click here

* Executive Director, MARCH Inc. of Manchester (CT) - MARCH, Inc. of Manchester (MARCH) seeks a leader experienced in intellectual and developmental disabilities to position the organization for growth and sustainability by anticipating trends and changes in the developmental disabilities field in Connecticut. We are looking for an Executive Director skilled in external relations, partnership building, fundraising, and communications, balanced with being able to build its people and agency operations. To learn more- Click here

* Special Education Teacher, Institutional Settings - Dedicated and collaborative teams of educators committed to supporting teaching excellence through coaching, professional development and excellent administrative support. CES prides itself on providing robust and engaging learning opportunities to all its teachers. To learn more- Click here

* [Immediate Hire] High School Math Learning Specialist - Reporting to the Academic Dean, the High School Math Learning Specialist will be responsible for providing tailored support to students with special education needs, through integrated co-teaching, in small group settings, or a combination of both. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned educator who is passionate about ensuring all students succeed and thrive in school. To learn more- Click here

* [2021-2022] Reading Interventionist - The Reading Interventionist will be responsible for providing tailored support to students that are reading significantly below grade level in grades K-2 through small group instruction (3-4 students) and push-in support. This is an exciting opportunity for a seasoned educator who is passionate about ensuring all students succeed and thrive in school. To learn more- Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Rivermont, is a subsidiary of New Story Schools, which is an educational organization comprised of special education schools in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. We offer an academic learning environment integrated with behavior support services for students diagnosed with autism or emotional/behavioral disorders. To learn more- Click here

* Principal - Our multidisciplinary teams collaborate with families, school districts and community partners to empower children in overcoming challenges and creating new stories in their lives. Do you have a passion for education and being a part of a mission-driven organization?  Do you want to join a fast-growing company with excellent benefits, such as tuition reimbursement, generous paid time off, and so much more? To learn more- Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Do you aspire to help children with diverse challenges build skills for their future? Are you ready to make a real impact in their lives? As a Special Education Teacher at Bancroft, you will draw upon a wealth of curriculum and clinical resources to design individualized student goals. To learn more- Click here

* [SY 21-22] High School Lunch Coach - Originally founded in 1991 as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of six PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom. To learn more- Click here

* Director of Oregon Migrant Education Service Center - The Director position for the Oregon Migrant Education Service Center (OMESC) will provide leadership for the 3rd largest migrant education  program in the nation that includes nine education service districts and nine district regional program. To learn more- Click here

* Executive Director of Special Education - Willamette Education Service District is accepting applications for a full-time (40 hours per week) Executive Director of Special Education position.  Successful candidate will work as a member of the Special Education Department and will follow a 240-day calendar. This position will be based at the Willamette ESD Marion Center in Salem, OR and will begin July 1, 2022. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher-Options Program - The teacher would need to be passionate about supporting inclusion in an academically rigorous environment as well as qualified to teach differentiated, developmental instruction based on student needs. The options Program teacher would help support success for both the student and general education teacher in the inclusion classroom. The teacher is also a key member of the larger Special Services team and should be excited to not only teach, but also work collaboratively to grow this new program. To learn more- Click here

* Special Education Teacher (All Specializations) - 2022-23 School Year - DCPS serves approximately 49,000 students in the nation's capital through the efforts of approximately 4,200 educators in 117 schools. As part of a comprehensive reform effort to become the preeminent urban school system in America, DCPS intends to have the highest-performing, best paid (Salary Range: $56,313 - $90,905), most satisfied, and most honored educator force in the nation and a distinctive central office staff whose work supports and drives instructional excellence and significant achievement gains for DCPS students. To learn more- Click here

*ESE/ESOL Teacher - The ESE/ESOL Teacher at New Beginnings High School utilizes a blended learning approach that combines traditional classroom instruction with online instruction and activities. This model enables New Beginnings High School to offer a wide variety of courses and to increase the amount of self-directed learning that is so crucial to the post-secondary success of our customer. To learn more- Click here

* Middle School Special Education Teacher - The Halton School, an independent school for students with Asperger’s, is looking for a Middle School Special Education teacher. The teacher will provide special education instruction to students in a small multi-grade class. The teacher will utilize a variety of teaching methods to meet student’s educational needs and adapt and develop instructional materials accordingly. To learn more- Click here

* Director of McKay Academic Center (Academic Support) - The Dunham School is a PK-12, non-denominational Christian, independent school serving 785 students on one campus. The school offers fee paid tutoring, coaching, small group instruction and individual courses for students with a range of learning challenges including ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia and high functioning autism. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - STARS is owned and operated by Occupational Therapists. You will be an employee and receive full benefits. Summers off with year-round pay and year-round appreciation. With a proven track record, STARS is able to offer you an unbeatable support system and resources. STARS is hiring for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. STARS places Special Education Teachers throughout the Phoenix, Tucson and the surrounding area public schools. To learn more- Click here

* Middle School and High School Special Needs Teacher at the Anglo-American School of Sofia - We are a school of extraordinary families and outstanding teachers. We are an inspiring educational community - nestled in the stunning foothills of Mount Vitosha on the outskirts of Sofia. We are an exceptional IB world school offering children from 4 to 18 years a world class educational experience. We take pride in academic achievement, and value creativity and athletic talent with equal vigor. We offer a curriculum and approach that looks beyond the classroom and prepares our students for the challenges and opportunities that the world has to offer. To learn more- Click here

If you are an Employer looking for excellent special education staff - Click here for more information

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed: And the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I fail and keep trying. Tom Hopkins