Effective Strategies with Dr. Boie
This interactive workshop, Effective Strategies for the Most Common Mental Health Difficulties in Students, presented by Dr. Alina Boie, focused on understanding the most common mental health concerns in students: ADHD, depression, anxiety, and oppositional defiance. Staff learned about, and practiced, effective behavior management tools that help to support students in need.
Bringing out the Best with Ms. Whitman
In this training session, Bringing out the Best in Our Students: Strategies for Building Independence, Ms. Deborah Whitman, BCBA/LBA, covered procedures and strategies to increase the levels of independence for students regardless of their current levels by using appropriate prompting and prompt fading procedures as well as consequence strategies. Ms. Whitman highlighted reinforcement techniques outside the typical praise and how to respond to unexpected behaviors.
Special Helper
GHS Teacher Ms. Lauren Edwards spent her professional development day with her personal assistant, Spencer. He "helped" catch up on grading during the planning time. She tells us that she was very grateful for the planning time today and put it to good use. We suspect Spencer was grateful for the comfy seat.
Universal Design for Learning
The second training session in Universal Design for Learning for all GPS teachers, moved from the theory of UDL, which was the focus at the November PD, to the implementation in the classroom. Teachers met in large and small groups to discuss how they see UDL in their classrooms.
Working Hard ... in Slippers
Social Worker Ms. Danielle Polizzi told us that she very much appreciated being able to participate in professional development from home. Her fantastic work environment including a big cup of java, the warm sun shining on her back from her window, and her comfy slippers!
Bilingual and Bicultural Evaluations
Catherine “Cate” Crowley, J.D. Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is a Professor of Practice in Teachers College, Columbia University’s CSD program, and director of the bilingual/multicultural focus at Bilingual SLP Extension Institute. Her presentation reviewed the current research and the federal law to understand how to appropriately evaluate bilingual and bicultural students to identify a language disorder.
Writing at Old Greenwich
Ms. Yates at Hamilton Avenue's Kitchen Center
Ms. Yates, a dual certified Special Education and General Education Preschool Teacher at Hamilton Avenue School, created a kitchen center for every student in her classroom to ensure dramatic play.
Some great examples in the kitchens are: bottle tops for knobs on the stove that turn, aluminum foil over cardboard to make baking sheets, large pompoms for sponges, and painted plastic piping for faucets.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children. tells us: “Culturally relevant dramatic play centers let young children draw from their experiences to enhance their play. Children reenact activities and observations from family life and share common events in their cultures. Authentic dramatic play leads to children's meaningful learning - especially in language and vocabulary.”
Reading Services at Parkway
Special Education Teacher Ms. Kristin Machi works on a reading activity with a student during their service time. Teachers use a variety of strategies to teach and take data on student improvement.
Bullying Prevention at CMS
Dr. Fabian A. Boie engages with seventh-graders at Central Middle School in a conversation about bullying prevention. These SEL student workshops are part of GPS' efforts to promote awareness about bullying prevention and actively teach students SEL skills, such as how to be assertive and stand up for others.
Mindfulness at Parkway
Dr. Alina Boie teaches kindergarten students at Parkway how to use mindful breathing exercises to calm down and focus in school. Students learned how the brain reacts to stress and practiced effective strategies to help them relax
Attention Grade 5 and Grade 8 Parents
The Office of Special Education and Student Supports will be hosting a parent evening to discuss the process for students transitioning from fifth to sixth grade and eighth to ninth grade. Special Education staff and parents will share information about the transition process and steps that parents can do to assist their child.
Eighth-Ninth Grade Transition
March 3 at 6:30 PM
Fifth-Sixth Grade Transition
March 1 at 6:30 PM
The Office of Special Education and Student Supports
