Special Education Directors,
 

Project EASEL, in partnership with ADE, would like to invite you to tune into the Exploring Strategies for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) fall and spring professional learning series. We plan to share a variety of information and strategies that will support your understanding and implementation of assertiveness, self-efficacy, and self-regulation. 

Details for the upcoming SEL session:

Middle School Students Can Self-Regulate: Strategies for Supporting Self-Regulation

September 20, 2022, 3:00–4:00 p.m.

Description: Do your students have difficulty turning in homework, focusing on academics during class, studying for tests, completing all aspects of projects, or managing their emotions?  Self-regulation instruction can help. Self-regulation instruction and practice can support students in completing tasks, reaching goals, and managing their emotional reactions. During this one-hour webinar, you will learn instructional activities that build and support self-regulation, including how to support students in developing detailed plans and help them to predict and plan for potential setbacks as they work toward accomplishing a task.

Registration is required for all Project EASEL sessions. Please register in advance for Strategies for Supporting Self-Regulation.

Please review this flyer for upcoming Project EASEL sessions with updated details. If you have any questions, please email Pattie Noonan.

Special Education Directors,

Please share the following literacy professional learning opportunities with general and special education teachers.

The following virtual sessions are being offered via Zoom and are free to attend. Click the session link to view the session description and to pre-register.

Creating Culturally, Linguistically, and Inclusive Math Spaces: Using Interactive Read-Alouds for Grades K–12 

Tuesday, September 13 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Experience how to use the Interactive Read-Aloud strategy to introduce math topics, engage in high-interest problem-solving, and develop students’ reasoning.  

Establishing a Consistent, Organized, and Respectful Learning Environment through Classroom Libraries for Grades K–12

Tuesday, October 25 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Engage in research, practices, and strategies to create an inclusive classroom library space where all students can self-select books they love, understand, and read fluently.

Putting the L in S.T.E.M. for Grades K–12

Tuesday, November 29 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Focus on creating meaningful literacy and STEM connections! This session is appropriate for special and general education teachers.

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Special Education Directors,

ESS collects data each year through the Teacher Attrition Survey to make informed decisions about recruitment and retention efforts in Arizona. Participation in the survey is mandatory for all public education agencies in Arizona.

For the past few years, the survey has opened in February and closed in May of each fiscal year. This school year, the Teacher Attrition Survey will open on November 1, 2022, and close on January 31, 2023.

Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Teacher Attrition survey can be located online.

For additional questions regarding the Teacher Attrition Survey, please email the ESS Recruitment and Retention Inbox. 

Special Education Administrators,

Special Education Learning Experiences for Competency in Teaching (SELECT) is a federally funded program sponsored by the Arizona Department of Education/Exceptional Student Services and is offered through the Institute for Human Development at Northern Arizona University. SELECT courses are recommended for special and general education teachers, administrators, related service personnel, paraeducators, and other interested individuals.

Certified school personnel can take SELECT classes for certificate renewal hours. SELECT classes can be taken for university credit for those teachers or administrators who are required by their school districts to have official transcripts and for those who may need to transfer hours out of state (tuition and associated fees apply). The classes can also be taken for professional growth contact hours for free.

To continually improve the SELECT course offerings, please take the Needs Assessment Survey to provide information about where you work, what you do, and what training you think would be the most valuable to the professional growth of special education and general education personnel who work with students with disabilities. Please share this survey with your colleagues and staff.

For more information, please email the SELECT inbox.

Special Education Directors,

Please share the following math professional learning opportunities with general and special education teachers who teach mathematics.

The following virtual sessions are being offered via Zoom and are free to attend.  Click the session link to view the session description and to pre-register.

Take a D.I.P. (Daily Inclusive Practices) into Desmos’ Polygraphs for Grades 4–12 

Wednesday, August 31 from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Creating Culturally Linguistic and Inclusive Math Spaces: Using Interactive Read-Alouds for Grades K–12 

Tuesday, September 13 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Take a D.I.P. into Splat! for Grades K–6 

Wednesday, September 21st from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Take a D.I.P. into Desmos’ Marbleslides for Grades 7–12 

Wednesday, October 26th from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Putting the L in S.T.E.M. for Grades K–12 

Tuesday, November 29 from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Take a D.I.P. into Three-Act Tasks for Grades K–5 

Wednesday, November 30th from 4:00–5:00 p.m. 

Take a D.I.P. into Three-Act Tasks for Grades 6–12 

Thursday, December 1st from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Introduction to Fluency with Whole Numbers (Grades K–6)

Wednesday, December 14th from 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Please email Jenifer Fernandez or email Rob Hilliker with any questions.

Special Education Directors,

 In collaboration with the Paraprofessional Resource & Research Center and the CEEDAR Center, the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has developed Effective and High-Leverage Practices for Paraeducators, a free, on-demand, eLearning program for paraeducators.

 Paraeducator participants engage with interactive learning activities, watch videos, and explore resources to support their effective implementation of the high-leverage practices in special education. Participants have access to the program for one full year from the date of their registration through June 1, 2024. PD certificates are available for each phase or the entire completed program. Membership in CEC is not required for program participation.

 Visit the CEC website for more information and to register for the eLearning program.

 Also, be sure to check out the Core Competencies for Special Education Paraeducators, recently updated paraeducator competencies released by CEC based on the four areas of the high-leverage practices in special education.

Special Education Administrators,

Project EASEL, in partnership with ADE, would like to invite you to tune into the Exploring Strategies for Social Emotional Learning fall and spring professional learning series. We plan to share a variety of information and strategies that will support your understanding and implementation of assertiveness, self-efficacy, and self-regulation. 

Registration is required for each session. Please view the this flyer with details of upcoming sessions and registration links. Sessions will be held on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m.

Topics include:

Middle School Students Can Self-Regulate: Strategies for Supporting Self-Regulation

• September 20, 2022

Teaching Middle School Students to Persist Through Challenging Tasks Using Self-Efficacy

• October 11, 2022

Preparing for Postsecondary Success: Teaching High School Students to Self-Regulate

• November 8, 2022

Strengthening Confidence and Persistence: Strategies to Increase Self-Efficacy in High School Students

• January 10, 2023

Teaching Students Respectful Communication: Understanding Assertiveness

• February 21, 2023

Empowering Arizona with Social Emotional Learning

• April 4, 2023

On behalf of Project EASEL, we want to say, “welcome back to a new and exciting school year,” and we look forward to seeing you virtually this fall semester.

For more information or if you have any questions, please email Pattie Noonan.

Special Education Directors,

Please see the following professional development opportunity jointly offered by ADE/ESS teams:

The Heart, Art, Craft, and Sciences of Reading/Writing for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities

The Exceptional Student Services Professional Learning and Sustainability, Special Populations, and Assistive Technology teams are partnering to offer a professional learning opportunity focused on a literacy strengths-based teaching and learning approach for students with low-incidence disabilities in grades K–12.

This day-and-a-half, in-person training will focus on the sciences of reading and writing, adapted to meet the complex needs of all students at Tier 1. The Assistive Technology team will also share tips, tricks, and tools on using technology to enhance reading and writing for all students. Educators will walk away with skills and strategies that can be implemented the next day. This literacy training is for all educators! Participants can earn 10.75 professional development credits for attending the training.

September 23, 2022

• 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (lunch provided)

September 24, 2022

• 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Materials

Participants will receive the book, Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction and Assessment, Second Edition.

Cost

The fee for the class is $40 (includes textbook and Friday lunch).

Location

Arizona Department of Education

100 N. 15th Avenue, Suite #300

Phoenix, AZ 85007

Please email Sandra Figueroa or email Christy Hegebush with any questions.  

Register today!

Special Education Directors,

Please see the following information regarding an external professional development opportunity made available by the Arizona Deafblind Project:

Do you or someone you know work with a student with combined vision and hearing loss?

We are pleased to announce registration is now open for the Arizona Deafblind Project's Intervener Training Program. This training addresses the need for high-quality, evidence-based practices for anyone who serves children and youth with combined vision and hearing loss. 

Our flyer describes this training in more depth and includes a syllabus for this year’s Cohort. If you would like more information on the Open Hands, Open Access (OHOA) learning modules we utilize, check out this Introductory Video.

Thank you in advance for considering this training for yourself, your colleagues, and/or those you supervise. Please consider forwarding this information to others who may be interested. Here is the link for ONLINE REGISTRATION, which closes on August 26th. Our work begins together in September.  

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to any one of the Arizona Deafblind Project Staff. 

Megan Mogan, Deafblind Specialist 

Amy Trollop, Deafblind Specialist

Pat Jung, Deafblind Specialist

Lisa Yencarelli, Project Director

Special Education Directors,

Please see information about a external professional development opportunity:

Are you interested in improving individualized education programs (IEPs)? Are you looking for resources and strategies to help prepare educators to promote progress for students with disabilities? Join the PROGRESS Center for a free two-day virtual learning event, Prepping for PROGRESS! Adding New Tools to Your Backpack (Toolbox) for the Start of School on August 3-4, 2022. The event will focus on sharing information, resources, and lessons learned to support the development and implementation of high-quality educational programming for students with disabilities. ​Learn more about the event and register for sessions on the PROGRESS website!