EC Newsletter: April 2018
Exceptional Supports for Literacy & Learning
Welcome to the EC Department's Monthly Newsletter!
Do you have ideas for future newsletter topics, teachers/service providers who should be featured, or general feedback? Let us know by emailing ashley1.kogutkiewicz@cms.k12.nc.us.
Our staff is EXCEPTIONAL!
Project SEARCH
Did you see our program on the news?! If you didn't, check out what CMS teacher Paige Henderson has been doing with our Project SEARCH program at Atrium Health in Pineville!
Middle School Extensions Dance
(if you post pictures on twitter of great things happening at your school- tag us in your tweets @CMS_EC so we can feature you in a future newsletter!)
Literacy Strategy/Resource of the Month
Children at all levels are exposed to new words every day. Teaching students (particularly 4th grade and up) to use auditory and visual memory skills gives them a link and aids in improving their understanding of key vocabulary in a lesson/unit.
Students should follow these steps in lincing the meaning of new vocabulary:
1. Write the term that students are expected to understand and remember.
2. Write a brief, clear definition with the most essential information.
3. Come up with a reminding word that sounds like the new word and will become an auditory clue for students.
4. Create a lincing story that is a short phrase/sentence and contains the reminding word and new definition. This provides both auditory and visual clues for students.
5. Finally, a simple lincing picture of the new term provides a visual clue for students.
Students should practice the parts forward and backward to learn the new, identified words.
These steps are part of the Vocabulary Lincing Routine, University of Kansas – Center for Research on Learning
Compliance Tip of the Month
We have recently created a “Top 10 EC Compliance Tips” sheet, based on the EC Department's annual Indicator 15 Compliance Audit that was completed this winter. Check it out!
Did you know...
Classrooms are noisy! With students interacting, furniture moving, fans running, and teachers instructing, the noise level of a classroom can become distracting. Because classrooms are made of hard surfaces (floors, walls, ceiling and windows), sounds in the classroom bounce around the room, amplifying small noises. This noisy environment can make it difficult for students to concentrate, and in some cases the students may not be able to filter the important sounds (like the teacher's instruction) from others. Here are some simple and inexpensive ways to improve the listening environment of your classroom:
- Use old/donated tennis balls or pieces of felt on the bottom of chairs
- Add rugs or carpet to hard floors (check with carpet suppliers for donated remnants)
- Encourage students to wear soft-soled shoes
- Cover windows with curtains made of approved fabrics
- Turn off computers/SmartBoards when not in use
- Keep classroom door closed
- Turn off classroom fans (AC/heat) when not needed
Learning & Teaching Gateway
Check out the amazing resource hub that the CMS Learning & Teaching Department has created for all grade bands and content areas!
https://cms.instructure.com/courses/198074Want to receive great weekly updates from the CMS Elementary Literacy Team? Fill out this form to be added to their distribution list! http://bit.ly/2yYwOim
Professional Development Opportunities
Did you know that the EC Department regularly offers in-person, virtual, or blended Professional Development as well as role-specific Support Groups? Click the link below to see upcoming opportunities and join us for one soon!
Upcoming EC Department Events
Parent Round Table #4 (option #2)
Tuesday, April 24th
6:30PM-7:30PM
Smith Family Center
Staff Round Table #4
Tuesday, May 1st
4:00PM-5:00PM
West Mecklenburg High School
To learn more information about future Round Tables, please click HERE.
Archived Communication
Too many emails and not enough time to read all of them? Take a quick look at our consolidated EC Department Communication Archive to see recent messages that may have come your way from the EC Department and make sure you didn't miss anything important!
Happenings in the broader Special Education Community
Social Media
Important Contacts
Need help but not sure who to ask?
Our teams are here to give you the support you need! Click HERE to see who from the EC Department supports your school.
Don't forget about the EC HelpDesk who can also answer any questions that you may have!
980-343-2724