Newsletter of the First Nations Special Education Toll-free Resource Line Vol. 4, No. 8 April, 2004 5

First Nations Special Education

CONNECTIONS

1.

About theFirst Nations SpecialEducation Toll-free

Resource Line:

You can learn more about special

needs resources by contacting

Karen Horner at the First Nations

Special Education Resource Line:

Toll-free 1-877-547-1919

Monday to Thursday

12:30 - 4:30 p.m.

11011 Taylor Way

Delta, BC V4C 4K2

khorner@uniserve.com

Back issues of Connections areavailable from

http://www.firstnations-schools.bc.ca/karen.htm

The First Nations Special

Education Resource Line is a

collaborative project of the First

Nations Education Steering

Committee and the First Nations

Schools Association, made

possible by financial assistance

from the Department of Indian

Affairs.

FNESC and the FNSA are offering some great professional developmentopportunities in the next few months and throughout the summer. Hereare some details:

FNESC/FNSA is once again collaborating with SFU to bring theSupporting Diverse Learners graduate diploma or certificate to fivesites this summer. This two-year program focuses on ways to help allstudents experience success in school, with particular attention tosupporting students who struggle with learning and those with specialneeds. The program is flexible and multi-leveled so you can studyrelevant topics and apply what you learn in your workplace, using localresources and community connections. The program is suitable forclassroom teachers, resource teachers, learning assistance teachers,school administrators, educational assistants and teacher aides.Community-based educators such as Head Start, preschool, daycare,infant development, and adult education workers are also invited.

If you have a teaching certificate and/or university degree and experiencein education, you may apply for a Graduate Diploma through FieldPrograms at Simon Fraser University. If you have not completed auniversity or college program before,you will be enrolled as a non-creditstudent. The possibility of credit atthe college level is presently beingdiscussed.

Summer Institute Dates andLocations for 2004:Lower Mainland - July 5th - 16th

Salmon Arm - July 12th –23rd

Nanaimo - August 9th – 20th

Prince George - August 16th – 27th

Upper Fraser Valley – August 16th – 27th

For questions about the program, contact Pat Holborn, SFU FieldPrograms Program Coordinator, at P: 604-291-4770 or email:Patricia_Holborn@sfu.ca, or Barb Kolbus, SFU Field Programs FieldAssociate at: 604-291-5795 or email: bjkolbus@sfu.ca. For a copy ofthe program brochure, contact Karen Horner at the First Nations SpecialEducation Resource Line.

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2.

FNESC/FNSA is sponsoring the following workshop:De-Mystifying the Assessment Process: Bridging toEffective Interventions – It is intended for school based teammembers who develop IEPs for students with a range of specialneeds. Participants will engage in hands-on activities and learnhow to bridge assessment information to appropriate goals andstrategies for an effective IEP. Intended audience: classroomteachers, resource teachers, learning assistance teachers, TA’s,community specialists, and principals.

2004 workshop dates and locations:April 25, Vancouver – Marriott Pinnacle, following the FNSA ConferenceApril 30, Williams Lake, Overlander Hotel & Convention CentreMay 14, Fort St. James, Nakalbun Elementary SchoolMay 17, Moricetown, Moricetown Elementary SchoolMay 25, Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw Council ChambersJune 4, Kamloops, Sk’elep School of Excellence

Registration limited to 30 participants per workshop. Fee $50. Fora registration form, contact the FNESC office at:1-877-422-3672

*Special Education Loaning Library – Now you can browsethrough the library’s special education materials online by visitingthe website: http://www.fnesc.org. Videos for professionaldevelopment, practical guides, and resource books are availablefor a 30-day loan. You may request up to 5 items from the loaninglibrary at one time. Also, check out what is in the general FNESCResource Library on the FNESC webserver http://www.fnesc.organd search by topic or title.

*May 9-12 – Prince George – Circles of Influence Conference –Building Capacity Through Partnership and Collaboration.Designed to bring together families, policy makers, professionalsand researchers, this conference will integrate aspects of positiveparenting, and family and community development. The theme willhighlight the influences that all members of a community, includingparents, children, youth, community leaders and professionals canhave on families. Sessions include: Dreamcatcher project,Supporting Adults Living with FASD, Aboriginal HIPPYPresentation, Tri-Nations Health Liaison Program, Bridging theCultural Gap: Collaboration with First Nations Families, and muchmore. At the Coast Inn of the North. Registration: $350. For theconference brochure or to register, visit their website:http://www.cfcc-pg.ca.

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Safe, Caring and OrderlySchools: A Guide has beenposted to the website of the BCMinistry of Education. The guideidentifies attributes of safe,caring and orderly schools, andprovides provincial standardsfor codes of conduct:http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/sco/

3.

June 29 – July 1 – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – Bridges to LearningInstitute 2004. Some of the workshop presentations include:Strategies for Improving Reading Fluency, Catch’em Before They Fall-Preventing Behavior Problems in Young Children, DIBELS: DynamicIndicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, Teaching Social Competence,Step Up to Writing (Kim Marcum), Coaching for Reading Success,Helping Low-Performing Students Achieve High Standards in MiddleSchool Mathematics, A Proactive, Positive Discipline Strategy (KimMarcum), Improving the Vocabulary Skills of Struggling Readers (AnitaArcher), Encyclopedia of Behavior Management: A Resource forSolving Common Behavior Problems (Randy Sprick), and Spelling,Helping Struggling Readers Decode Longer Words (Anita Archer).Great speakers and great topics! Earlybird discount before May 21,2004 $359 U.S. Funds. Multi-registration discount for 4 or more $333U.S. Funds each. Or for more information and to register, check outtheir website at: http://www.bettereducator.com

*UBC Faculty of Education, Office of External Programs, has twoprograms: Certificate/Diploma for Infant Development andSupported Child Care Consultants. IDP Consultants who workwith children requiring extra support (and their families) from birth toage three, primarily in the child’s home setting, and Supported ChildCare Consultants who work with children requiring extra support frombirth to 12 years in child care settings. For detailed information onboth the certificate and the diploma programs, seehttp://www.ecps.educ.ubc.ca/diploma/idsc.html

*The following articles are found in the International DyslexiaAssociation Perspectives Magazine, Vol. 30 No. 1, Winter 2004 issue.This issue’s special focus is on teaching vocabulary.

Building Vocabulary in Remedial Settings: Focus on WordRelatedness by Camille Blachowicz and Peter Fisher. Strategiesand techniques are introduced that are especially appropriate for olderstruggling readers.

Have Fun! Increasing Vocabulary For At-Risk Learners byMargaret Richek. Teaching vocabulary for small or large groups withregular and at-risk students. The main focus is on engaging studentsin meaningful fun.

Teaching Vocabulary to Struggling Older Readers by MichaelMcKenna. Guidelines and effective teaching strategies based onstrong research on vocabulary instruction.

Scaly? Audacious? Debris? Salubrious? - Vocabulary Learningand the Child with Learning Disabilities by Steven Stahl. Thisarticle talks about the other types of vocabularies – concepts, contentarea vocabularies, and the different ways they should be taught.

Cathy Smith is a new liaisonworker from the Canadian Hardof Hearing Association(CHHA), BC Chapter. Sheworks with Aboriginal familieswho have a member with ahearing loss. She can providelarge group or one-to-onesupport, facilitate a workshop onmanaging hearing loss,demonstrate how to use newtechnical devices, and will alsobe able to travel to communitiesfor in-home service. Costs forthese services are provided bythe CHHA. She can be reachedtoll-free: 1-866-888-2442F: 1-866-888-2443 email:chha_bc@yahoo.ca.

4.

Preparing for the Parent-Teacher or IEP Conference by RebeccaClingman in the Parent-to-Parent column of Perspectives. This shortarticle provides practical steps parents can use to prepare for effectiveIEP or parent-teacher conferences.

For a copy of any of these articles, contact Karen Horner at the FirstNations Special Education Resource Line.

*The following two articles are from Teaching Exceptional Childrenmagazine, Vol 36,No 3 Jan/Feb 2004 issue.

Student Voice and Critical Reflection – Helping Students at Riskby Steve Koeger and others. A description of a project to strengthat-risk student’s bonds to school in the hopes of avoiding futuredropouts. Three phases were implemented: listening to students,listening to the environment, and reflection on our practice.

Enhancing Student Learning and Social Behavior ThroughMnemonic Strategies by Karen A. Kleinheksel and Sarah E. Summy.Teaching the use of three specific types of mnemonic strategies: theletter strategy, the keyword mnemonic, and the peg-word strategy.

For a copy of any of these articles, contact Karen Horner at the FirstNations Special Education Resource Line.

*In the Winter 2003 Family Groundwork magazine, an article calledShifting Gears - rethinking education and FASD by Stacey Burnard.This article discusses the need for FAS diagnosis for planning anappropriate program, along with including information about two mainobjectives – development of a structured learning environment and abehavioural management system. For a copy of this article, contactKaren Horner at the First Nations Special Education Resource Line.

In the Spring 2004 Family Groundwork magazine, are two short articlesof interest on the topic of bullying:

The Vigilant Parent – Strategies to combat bullying by KendraGrant. Students with special needs can be the targets of bullies but theycan also be bullies. This article addresses three issues of concern thatparents can work on with their children’s school: communication,relationships and planning.

Navigating the Playground – Tips for parents of bullied childrenby Susan MacRae. A short article on how parents can approachteachers if they suspect their child is being bullied. Some OnlineResources are also mentioned.

For a copy of any of these articles, contact Karen Horner at the FirstNations Special Education Resource Line.

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5.

From The Vital Link, Vol 9 No 1 Fall 2003 of the Learning AssistanceTeachers Association (LATA). This issue focuses on IEPs and the IEPprocess.

Forms you can use as part of the IEP process:o Preparing for an IEP Meetingo Record of Communicationo IEP Year-End Summaryo Transition to Middle Schoolo Teacher/Parent Communicationo Informal Student Interviewo School Based IEP (Adapted/Modified)o School Based Individualized Behavioral Plan (IBP)o Learning Plan

ReportWriter IEP computerized program – this short articledescribes the experiences of the Langley and Abbotsford SchoolDistricts as they developed this program and it includes a description ofthe program components. To find out more or to request a demo of theprogram contact Rosmarie Janssen at the Special ServicesDepartment in Langley at: 604-534-7891.

MultiPro computerized IEP program by School District #64 (GulfIslands). This article describes the MultiPro program and how it not onlyautomates and standardizes IEP writing, but also the day-to-day recordkeeping and report card writing. For more information about thisprogram, contact Michael Ryan at 604-537-5548.

Kindergarten Screen – Early Identification of At-Risk Learnersdeveloped by School District #43 (Coquitlam) – a checklist that you canuse as you consider the development of at-risk Kindergarten students.

For a copy of any of these handouts, contact Karen Horner at the FirstNations Special Education Resource Line.

*Here are more handouts from the Alaska FAS Summit 2002. Both setsof handouts are from workshops presented by Paula Cook:

Workshop: School Shouldn’t be Painful: Balancing the Sensory, Social,Behavioral and Academic Needs of Students with FASD- handout: Blending and Balancing FAS Model of Behavior Supportattitude, environment, sensory integration and auditory- handout: Planning for Multiple Learning Styles – taking intoconsideration Gardner’s multiple intelligences- handout: Action Plan Grid – form for planning – to continue, start, domore, do less or stop a component of a student’s program

Workshop: Behaviour- handout: from Diane Malbin on Paradigm Shifts and FAS/E –changing your thinking from seeing a child as to understanding a childas…- handout: from Kathy Jones - Resiliency Factors for Children –

comparing the resilient child to the child with FAS/E in the following fourcategories: socially competent, good problem solving skills, ability totake initiative and flexible.

*Heather Mallory, learning assistance teacher in SD #70 (Alberni), hasdeveloped numeracy and literacy modules for purchase that areuseful to LAT’s, support teachers and classroom teachers. To find outmore, contact Heather at P: 250-723-3744 F: 250-723-3711

- Numeracy Module – fractions, decimals, calculating the average,percentage, ratio, problem solving, measurement, basic facts,interpreting graphs and tables of information, computation, and money(life skills are included in this section – budgeting, etc).- Literacy Module – covers decoding, comprehension, vocabulary,written expression, novel study and more.

*In February, the Early Years Conference took place in Vancouver.The keynote and pre-conference presenter was Dr. Bruce Perry and thekeynote address was on The Power of Early Childhood: How Familyand Community Create the Early Experiences that Shape Child andCulture. In the conference syllabus, there were extensive handouts.The Caregiver Education Series developed by the ChildTraumaAcademy, were written to assist parents, caregivers, teachers andvarious professionals working with maltreated and traumatized children.I have copies of two of the booklets. For a copy of either of thesebooklets, contact Karen Horner at the First Nations Special EducationResource Line.

Bonding and Attachment in Maltreated Children – Consequences ofEmotional Neglect in Childhood

Helping Traumatized Children – A Brief Overview for Caregivers

*FASD Videos

FAS FORWARD: A Fresh Look at Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - Alberta:Distribution Access, 2001. 30 min. Ray, Sadie, Naomi and Sindy livewith Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The media often portrays the situations ofpeople with FAS to be hopeless. However these individuals, togetherwith the support of people who love and care for them, lead rich andmeaningful lives. Stories of hope, stories of compassion and love. Thevideo explores some of the strategies and approaches that make adifference in these people’s lives. It gives voice to those who live withthe disability and others who support them. It also examines some ofthe very real challenges that FAS presents, and debunks some of themany myths and misconceptions that exist about the disability. Access/Alberta Learning, Canadian Learning Television, Program Sales andDistribution, P: 1-888-440-4640 email: crystalh@incentre.net 6.

If you are claiming income tax,you might be interested in theChild Disability Benefit (CDB).It is a non-taxable supplement tothe Canada Child Tax Benefit andChildren’s Special Allowances.The CDB will provide up to$133.33 per month ($1600 peryear) to low and modest incomefamilies to help them with thecosts of raising children under 18who have a severe andprolonged mental or physicalimpairment. For moreinformation about this program,you can contact CanadaRevenue Agency at:1-800-387-1193 or downloadinformation and forms from theirwebsite:http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/cdb/

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FAS: When the Children Grow Up - Knowledge Network, 2002. 40min. A special television documentary which tells the stories of threeadults living with FAS/E-some who were diagnosed early and otherswho were not - and the events, programs, and people who made adifference in their lives. Through first person accounts and experttestimonials, the program examines the causes, effects, stigmas andmyths of FAS/E and the factors that can improve the quality of life foradults who live with the syndrome. The program concludes with an in-studio discussion about the realities of those living with FAS/E and whatresources are currently available in B.C. Magic LanternP: 1-800-263-1717

Painting a Future: A Young Adult Succeeding with FAE - Fairbanks:University of Alaska Press, 1999. 8 min. This concise videotapefeatures a teacher helping middle school students learn about art, butwhat appears to be a typical classroom scene is actually a powerful andvisible example of what a young person with fetal alcohol syndrome/effects can accomplish. Cindy Gere, a young woman with FAS/E,graduated from college with an art degree, then became certified as ateacher. The videotape also includes an interview in which Cindy talksabout finding the courage to overcome obstacles in her life. Parents andprofessionals find this short, crisp video useful in showing skeptics whatyoung people with FAS/E can do, and for showing young people withFAS/E that the obstacles they face can be overcome.P: 1-888-252-6657 e-mail: fypress@uaf.eduWebsite: http://www.uaf.edu/uapress/books/PaintingaFuture.htm

FASD Parenting Videos

Different Directions: Understanding Fetal Alcohol Syndrome -Produced by Frameline Productions for Ontario’s North for the Childrenand Toronto’s Breaking the Cycle, with the assistance of HealthCanada, 2000. 22 min. This video looks at two children with FAS andtheir remarkable mothers: 5 year-old Brenda and her adoptive mother,Kim Meawisige, both of Aboriginal ancestry; and young adult Joe and hisbirth mother Chris Margetson. Both Meawasige and Margetson workwith FAS professionally, and bring to their work compassionateunderstanding of the struggle faced daily by children with FAS and theirfamilies. Kim Meawasige, mother of seven children, four with FAS/FAE,bursts into tears. “Knowing how many kids are lost, either killed or livingon the street with FAS and FAE, it scares me.... One of the reasons Iadopted my children is because I know that...no matter how weird ourfamily is, we’re family and we’ll be there for them.”P: 705-567-5926 F: 705-567-2466 email: tbfnorth@onlink.net,

Redefining Success: Raising Children Exposed Prenatally toAlcohol - Victoria: Ministry of Children and Families, 2001. 28 min.Interviews with five families in BC who have adopted children exposedprenatally to alcohol. One important message is that, with supports andservices, a parent may already have the parenting skills that arenecessary to parent these children, and if not, the skills can be learned.Not only do the children benefit from a stable, structured loving home,

but that their parents reap similar rewards of pride, love, andconnection. Government Publications Services P: 250-387-6409 orP: 1-800-663-6105 email: QPPublications@gems5.gov.bc.ca, Website:http://www.publications.gov.bc.ca

Helping Families - Helping Children - Produced by Yellowknife Filmsfor Yellowknife Association for Community Living. 29 min. For parents ofchildren up to six years affected by FAS/FAE. Concrete ways forparents to support their children to develop to their full potential.Explains the problems to expect and gives strategies for managing.P: 1-867-920-2644 email: nwtacl@ssimicro.com

Worth the Trip: Children Affected by Fetal Alcohol - Vida HealthCommunications, 1996. 57 min. This parent support video is a thoroughoverview of problems faced by adoptive and birth parents of childrenwith children with FAS. Two Canadian parents are included. Vida HealthCommunications, Cambridge, MA $150 U.S. Funds P: 1-800-550-7047

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8.

First Nations SpecialEducation Connections aimsto provide teachers,administrators and parents withlinks to quality materials andservices. Due to the largequantity of availableresources, however, some of thelisted materials and serviceshave not been assessed forquality. The First NationsSpecial Education Resource Lineis a non-profit service and itreceives no payments from theabove-listed companies.