NC ELSSP-VI Newsletter
October 2017
Each child will be honored, respected, and empowered to achieve success in school and life.
Jordyn, Mommy & Ms. Lori
Jordyn
OT, Shonda Page
Jordyn & Mommy
Jamaya & Ms. Nancy
O & M, Nancy Kirby-Sauls
Jordyn
Jamaya
North Carolina Early Learning Sensory Support Program for Children with Visual Impairments
Office of Early Learning
Email: bethany.mayo@dpi.nc.gov
Website: earlylearning.nc.gov
Location: 6371 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699
Phone: (919) 733-0533
October's Quote
Teachers who put relationships first don't just have students for one year; they have students who view them as 'their' teacher for life.
-Educator Justin Tarte
Contents
Professional Development Submitted by Lin Causey & Heather Lister
Pumpkins & Prizes 2017 Submitted by Sandy Bryant
Teacher's Toolbox Submitted by Heather Lister
Welcome New Staff
Staff Birthdays for October
Photo/Video Credits
Professional Development Opportunities
How We All Learn….The Brain, The Body, and Communication
Communication is the basis of all interactions, especially those focused on learning. During this workshop, we will study how we all learn and the importance of understanding this process in order to appropriately select and use best practices. We will explore “typical” aspects of learning, sensory systems impact on learning, some basic sociological and psychological developmental aspects of self, and how those systems and experiences apply to learning for learners with deafblindness and other low incidence disabilities who have intensive support needs.
The workshop will be Thursday, November 2 in Chapel Hill. East Carolina University DB Teacher Support Program is sponsoring this FREE interactive, day-long workshop that will include presentations, simulations, video examples and practice. Mark Campano, Statewide Coordinator of the Delaware Program for Children with Deaf-Blindness, will be the presenter.
This workshop is available to teams (up to 5 members) of special AND general educators, HI & VI itinerant teachers, infant-toddler and early childhood service providers, related services specialists (e.g., speech therapists, OTs, PTs) and family members supporting learners with deafblindness, significant disabilities, or other multiple impairments in home, school, or center-based programs. This is a great opportunity to network, learn, and access great resources…and to work with your colleagues!
Please register by Friday, October 13 by completing the online registration form at: http://bit.ly/NC-DB
67th Conference on Exceptional Children
Monthly Webinars: Partnering with YOU through Visual Impairment information sharing
From the North Carolina Department of Publlc Instruction
Monthly Webinars 3:30-4:30 PM
October 18th
The Expanded Core Curriculum: An Educational Requirement
November 2nd
Getting Ready for the December 1st Headcount
December 4th
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About APH Quota Funds
January 11th
Testing Accommodations for Students with Visual Impairment
February 15th
Secondary Transition for Students with Visual Impairment
April 12th
Practical Strategies for Preparing Students with VI for State Testing
May 3rd
Transitioning Students From One Level to the Next:
Preschool through High School
Pumpkins & Prizes 2017
Hosted by NC Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
Please join us for some Fall fun!
October 28, 2017 11 am to 1 pm
Pizza & Drinks *** Technology Demo's *** Goalball demo
Pumpkin carving and decorating *** Light Box Room *** Crafts and activities Community Groups to Explore **** and Prizes to be won!
Fun for all ages!
Our Event will be held at:
Governor Morehead School for the Blind Dining Hall, Raleigh, NC
For more information and to register, send an email to ncapvi@gmail.com with the number of adults and children that will be attending.
For the children, please be sure to include ages to help us with planning.
Teacher's Toolbox
BUTTON BOTTLE
The Button Bottle is an easy to make activity that can be used to work on several areas:
Color Identification
Shape Identification
Visual-Motor
Fine Motor
Following one/two step directions
Materials:
Fabric softener (or similar) bottle (clean and dried)
Velcro
Various color/shape buttons
Directions:
1. Attach one side of Velcro circles to bottle on three sides (do not use side with handle).
2. Attach other side of Velcro to buttons.
3. Attach buttons to bottle.
Welcome Malikata Blakey!!!
Malikata Blakey lives in Raleigh with her husband and three kids. She has passionately worked in the field of Special Education in various capacities for over 18 years. Malikata holds a Bachelor’s with a focus in English Literature (she wanted to be a creative writer), a Master’s in Special Education with a focus on Child Development and a Post-Master's Certification in Learning Disabilities Teacher-Consultant from Rutgers University. She worked as a CBRS provider in the Infant Toddler Program since 2008 prior to relocating her family of three (at that time) from NJ. Before moving to North Carolina Malikata had the pleasure of working as a special education teacher in a school for children with severe needs, as well as a therapist in NJ’s early intervention program. She also served as a Licensed Learning Disability Teacher Consultant for Newark, NJ public schools which required evaluating students for learning difficulties; developing IEP’s and assisting teachers with strategies to best help children with special needs. In that role she was also responsible for overseeing classrooms for students with Autism and developing programs for the students. Malikata's first day with ELSSP/VI was September 18th. Welcome Malikata!
October Staff Birthdays
October 5th Maggie Dessing
October 6th Paula Roten
October 12th Deidre Dorsey
Photo/Video Credits
NC ELSSP-VI Staff