Department of Student Services
Exceptional Students...Exceptional Staff 10.20.15
Spotlight
Kelsey Bartsch is an outstanding intervention specialist at Western Hills University High School. She works with a ninth and tenth grade team of teachers to help provide services to students in an inclusive setting and in a resource room as needed. Ms. B., as her students and co-workers call her, works tirelessly to help her students work in general education classes and achieve their highest potential.
A Clark Montessori graduate, Kelsey knew from a young age that she wanted to work with children. When she was still in high school, she worked as a lifeguard for the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and tutored students for community service. Ms. B. says that she “fell in love with every kid” she worked with, both as a lifeguard and as a tutor. Her senior project at Clark Montessori focused on the ways that poverty affects education, and during this year she realized she wanted to be a teacher. She attended Bellarmine University for her undergraduate studies and UC as a graduate student. Cincinnati Public Schools was fortunate to get her back as a new hire at Western Hills.
Ms. B. says that she had amazing teachers throughout her high school years that she still keeps in touch with today. But one teacher, in particular, influenced her greatly as a student teacher. IN her own words, Ms. B. says, “The teacher that impacted me the most in regard to my current practices was my student teaching cooperating teacher. I completed my student teaching on an Indian Reservation in South Dakota (Pine Ridge Reservation), and it was a life-changing experience that has definitely had major impacts on how I teach and understand my kids now. The teacher I worked with there was incredibly resilient and had the most genuine love and compassion for her students. She was able to deal with the most heartbreaking situations and created hope for each of those students, so that they would simply have a chance. I hope my students see that in me!”
We are lucky to have you back with us, Ms. B. Thank you for all you do for Cincinnati Public Schools and your students!
ESL Info
Culturally Responsive Practices
Culturally Responsive Practices Team Professional Development Sessions. The 3rd Wednesday of Every Month from 4:15-5:45 at Mayerson Academy Course #1784.6606
Oct. 21st
Nov. 18th
Dec. 16th
Jan. 20th
Feb. 17th
Mar. 16th
Apr. 20th
May 18thFamily Involvement
Assistive Technology
Boardmaker Online users
Did you miss the Boardmaker Online webinar or just wish you could re-watch the webinar you attended? You're in luck! Both webinars were recorded and are accessible via these links:
AM Session: https://tobiidynavox.box.com/s/ne0c6idne41zxa0y5okshqtzdv8qr5so
PM Session: https://tobiidynavox.box.com/s/2tf7d4aih4xu6hkbqd4364h2uqw73clf
Keep your eye out for upcoming PD at Mayerson - the next one is on October 29- and be sure to visit the Boardmaker Online help and training center at:
http://helpandtraining.boardmakeronline.com/Go, Go, Goalbook!
Goalbook should now be up and running in your buildings. Your goal this month is to find at least one lesson a week to differentiate with Goalbook. PLEASE share your stories with us! Email your successes (big or small) to Thea Staley staleyt@cps-k12.org
EdPlan Helpful Hints
- When faxing section 14 (the signature page), there is no need to use a cover page. In fact, adding a cover page will cause your signature page to be cancelled out.
- Once your documents are faxed or uploaded, go to "Special Education," then "Documents" in EdPlan to be sure the process was done correctly.
- Remember to save before leaving each page, including when you add parents to the team.
- If you are typing progress monitoring updates you can upload them rather than faxing them into the system.
- Remember to check each day to see if you IEPs were accepted or rejected. If you have a question please contact you support person immediately so they can help with any issues.
Google Drive - The Wave of the Future
CPS teachers, students, administrators, and staff are all discovering just how many uses there are for Google Drive. Your challenge is to be on the forefront of technology by doing the following:
On a laptop:
- Verify that you know your CPS Google email address and password. You must use the long CPS email address, i.e. username@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
- Do an internet search - Download Google Drive
- Download Google Drive Free Cloud Storage
- Use your district account information to log in
On a cell phone:
- Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android)
- Download Google Drive and sign in with your CPS email address and password.
Just a few of the many benefits of using the Google Drive are:
- Documents can be uploaded rather than faxed
- There is no need to carry a flash drive- everything is stored online
- Your documents are available on any device that has internet access- desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and phones
Thea Staley is available to provide support and assistance in implementing this amazing technology. Once you have downloaded Google Drive, please If you want to do the above process but run into issues, please contact Thea Staley using the following website: http://tinyurl.com/cpsdrive. You can ask questions, see what questions others have asked, and learn about next steps to take after downloading Drive.
The few minutes it takes to download Google Drive will pay dividends in the long run!
Transition Tip
Thank you to the following building who were represented at the October Transition Coordinators Meeting! We had 80% of our buildings represented this month up from 67%, nice job!
Taft IT
Gamble
Aiken
West High
AWL
Dater
Shroder
Sayler Park
Virtual
AMIS
STEP/WRC
Oyler
Roselawn
Riverview
Clark
Woodward
Hughes
Reminder: The Strategic Plan for Transition is well underway. It is closely aligned with the My Tomorrow initative as well as the requirements for students with disabilities ages 14 and up. Therefore, it is expected that every student be served under the plan. The expectation is all IS with students in grades in 7, 8, and 9 will complete the required activities such as Naviance, 21st century skills, Unique curriculum, and IEP participation as outlined in the plan.
Physical/Occupational Therapy Thoughts
HAPPY PHYSICAL THERAPY MONTH!
National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM) is hosted by APTA each October to recognize how physical therapists and physical therapist assistants help transform society by restoring and improving motion in people's lives.
This year’s theme is "Move Forward: Physical Therapy Brings Motion to Life." The focus is on how PT can help you achieve long term quality of life.
Celebrating our wonderful PTs this month:
Mary Rose Kahmann
Jane Kirsch
Manuela Gianinni
Stacey Unkraut
Diane Baldwin
SLP Spot
What is a speech and/or language impairment?
According to the IDEA, a speech-language impairment is “a communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance.”
The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) defines a communication disorder as an impairment in the ability to receive, send, process, and comprehend concepts or verbal, nonverbal and graphic symbol systems. A communication impairment can be separated into several categories:
A. A speech disorder is an impairment of the articulation of speech sounds, fluency and/or voice.
1. An articulation disorder is the atypical production of speech sounds characterized by substitutions, omissions, additions or distortions that may interfere with intelligibility.
2. A fluency disorder is an interruption in the flow of speaking characterized by atypical rate, rhythm, and repetitions in sounds, syllables, words, and phrases. This may be accompanied by excessive tension, struggle behavior, and secondary mannerisms.
3. A voice disorder is characterized by the abnormal production and/or absences of vocal quality, pitch, loudness, resonance, and/or duration, which is inappropriate for an individual's age and/or sex.
B. A language disorder is impaired comprehension and/or use of spoken, written and/or other symbol systems. The disorder may involve (1) the form of language (phonology, morphology, syntax), (2) the content of language (semantics), and/or (3) the function of language in communication (pragmatics) in any combination.
1. Form of Language
a. Phonology is the sound system of a language and the rules that govern the sound combinations.
b. Morphology is the system that governs the structure of words and the construction of word forms.
c. Syntax is the system governing the order and combination of words to form sentences, and the relationships among the elements within a sentence.
2. Content of Language
a. Semantics is the system that governs the meanings of words and sentences.
3. Function of Language
a. Pragmatics is the system that combines the above language components in functional and socially appropriate communication.
(American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (1993). Definitions of communication disorders and variations)
A speech-language pathologist can assist school teams with discussing concerns and providing intervention strategies through the multi-tiered support system (MTSS)/ Response to Intervention (RTI), as well as screen students who are suspected to have a speech-language impairment through the IAT process.
If you have questions about a specific student or situation, contact your building SLP, or Davida Swanson at swansod@cps-k12.org
New Format
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