Collaboration
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Description: Message from Virginia Education Update (2024-36) - In order to provide assistance to ensure that the appropriate students are assessed using this alternate assessment, school and division administrators are encouraged to review the School Leaders Series on including Students with Disabilities in Assessments. Information in this series can be tailored to meet school division needs and continue to support IEP Teams in their decision-making process regarding assessments and preceding academic...
Description: Working with Families - The importance of collaborating with families to promote participation in educational decision-making has been identified as one of the key principles of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). IDEA provides for specific rights that enable parents to participate as equal members of the IEP team and to be involved in evaluation, placement, and special education and related service decisions. Family–professional partnerships have been defined as a relationship...
Description: The topics included are: Attention and Focus Communication Collaboration Language Development Math Memory Motivation Organization Problem Solving Positive Relationships Reading Reading Comprehension Remote Learning Resilience/Flexibility Self-Monitoring Writing
Description: Return to School Webinars sponsored by CBIRT, a center under the Department of Psychology at the University of Oregon, conducts research and training to improve the lives of children and adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). CBIRT’s research focuses on developing interventions to improve outcomes related to education, employability, and quality of life. Our training activities promote the use of best practices among educators and other professionals who serve individuals...
Description: The Why and How of a Positive School Climate in 2023 - Maintaining a positive school climate has never been more challenging for districts — or more essential. With rising concerns about mental health, school violence, academic recovery, and the politicization of education, K–12 districts that fail to set climate goals and make steady improvements risk higher staff turnover and poorer student outcomes. By regularly assessing the social-emotional well-being and mental health of...
Description: Brain Injury Association of Virginia (BIAV) is a statewide, primary source of information and personal support for individuals, families, and professionals whose lives have been impacted by brain injury. Community Resource Directory Looking for a brain injury service or program in your area? Search our database for support groups, therapists, rehabilitation providers, attorneys and more. You can search by keyword, category, and/or address. Self-Paced Online Courses The Brain Injury...
Description: Chalk It Up to Experience! Tips from Real Co-Teachers of Virginia Report This report was created by demonstration site teams to celebrate the first five years of the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative. Teams share practical advice for effective co-teaching and practices they consider critical to establishing a strong collaborative relationship. This document will serve as an instructional resource for co-teaching teams and administrators to inform their co-teaching practices. Real Co-Teachers...
Description: Mental Health Virginia (MHV) is a partner with other agencies providing a peer-run warm line specifically for those struggling with addiction in the Richmond area, their loved ones, and others to talk with trained individuals who have lived experience in addiction recovery. This Warm Line, part of the Alive RVA program, is open 7 days/week, 8 AM – Midnight. The addiction recovery line supports MHV’s statewide peer-run warm line by specializing in recovery from opioids and other...
Description: This self-paced tutorial has been developed for parents and professionals who are just beginning to learn about CVI. In this tutorial you will view interviews with parents, engage in web searches to expand your resources, and view presentations related to each module’s topic. Along the way, you will build an individualized action plan for your child to address Diagnosis Assessment Intervention Teamwork / collaboration IEP Development Advocacy This workshop is available in an...
Description: Does your school's atmosphere shout "Welcome!" to parents, students, and staff? Ed World's "Principal Files" team shares ways in which they have created welcoming atmospheres in their schools. Most of their ideas are quite easy to duplicate. All principals want their schools to feel warm and welcoming. That's why they go out of their way to make entryways inviting and front offices efficient. That's why they create brochures, Web sites, and newsletters. That's why they encourage special events...
Description: Ready is a National public service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to promote preparedness through public involvement. Ready asks that individuals: stay informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses make a family emergency plan and build an emergency supply kit, and get involved in your...
Description: HLP 5 Highlight Tool 2024.docx - The High Leverage Practices (HLP) Highlight Tools were developed to acquaint educators with the key components of each HLP in order to begin implementation into their instruction and strengthen inclusive practices with students. Each Highlight Tool contains a brief description, video clips, suggested activities and a Plan of Action activity teachers can implement with students to help get them started. As teachers become more acquainted with HLPs, additional...
Description: These questions can be used to establish a relationship with families and encourage two-way communication. Edit this survey to fit the needs of your community and classroom. Remember: brevity is best. Only include the questions that you believe will best inform your relationship with your students and families. Bolded & italicized script should especially be edited. The attached Word version can be updated for the current school year.
Description: This document includes a non-exhaustive list of non-profit legal services and advocacy organizations in Virginia that provide no-cost legal or advocacy services, technical assistance, and/or referrals to the public. Other attorney or non-attorney services, including pro bono services and special education resources may be available in your community. The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service (VLRS), a program of the Virginia State Bar, provides a low-cost attorney referral and consultation service....
Description: The SETT Framework and Evaluating Assistive Technology Remotely by Aleksandra Hollingshead, Ed.D.; Joy Zabala, Ed.D.; Janice Carson, Ed.D. - Educational teams evaluate assistive technology (AT) needs at least annually for each student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). One of the most common methods of AT needs evaluation is the SETT Framework (Zabala, 2005). This blog provides a description of the AT evaluation strategies with practical strategies and considerations for distance...
Description: Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful and overwhelming. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will help you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient. Stress can cause the following: Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration. Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests. Trouble concentrating and making decisions. Nightmares or problems sleeping. Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach...
Description: Welcome to the online trauma learning modules for Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports, VTSS. They believe that becoming a Trauma-Sensitive School is a journey. These tools will help to develop the systems to gain knowledge, to build practices, and to have the skills to support a Trauma-Sensitive School. Within the learning modules, you will interact with content that is focused on developing a Trauma-Sensitive School. Supplemental activities, resources, and an action planner are included to...
Description: Why Build Resilience? A focus on compassion resilience will guide all staff back to the core set of values and the drive for a sense of purpose that drew them to work in schools in the first place. It will do so by supporting the development of a strong set of skills to manage expectations, set professional and personal boundaries, build effective collegial relationships, and practice real-time and ongoing self-care. A focus on relational trust between teachers, students, families, colleagues,...
Description: Resilience is required in all aspects of life from understanding yourself and your goals, building personal relationships with friends and families to finding common ground with people you disagree with. This resilience toolkit provides reflections, exercises, videos, and materials you can use to develop the ability to bounce back in the face of stressful situations and inevitable setbacks.
Description: The mission of the American Institute of Stress is to improve the mental and physical health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence of stress management in education, research, clinical care, home life and the workplace. We educate and credential health care professionals and offer products and educational tools for everyone. They are a clearinghouse that gathers evidence based stress solutions.
Description: Addressing educator stress, compassion fatigue and secondary trauma has never been more important. Educators are faced with unique pandemic-related issues (how will students receive food, students lacking WiFi access, living in unsafe homes, etc.) that only add to an already challenging career. In order for us to be there for our students, we all must first take care of ourselves and our staff. This community conversation with Erin Scherder, LPES, NCSP, begins by asking us to take a holistic...
Description: CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) CARES is an initiative that connects the SEL community with experts to address how SEL can be most helpful in response to today’s circumstances. The first opportunity in this series features Dr. Marc Brackett, CASEL board member and director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Key Takeaways: Give yourself and others the permission to feel all emotions. Accept all feelings and use them wisely. Strive to become an...
Description: Strengthen Adult SEL Competencies and Capacity - In order to create conditions for students to engage in SEL, adults need to feel empowered, supported, and valued. This calls on districts to foster a supportive staff community that promotes adults’ own SEL. This focus area helps districts strengthen staff expertise and skills to lead SEL initiatives, as well as cultivate adults’ social, emotional and cultural competencies. Key Activities include: Central Office Expertise,...
Description: Download the Adult SEL Toolkit - This Adult SEL Toolkit is aligned to CASEL's Focus Area 2 for SEL implementation. This Kit supports adult SEL across three categories: Supporting Educator Well-Being and Self Care Audio-Guided Mindfulness Practices Educator Self-Care Plan Mindful Observation Building Adult Capacity for Social-Emotional Learning 40 Inclusive Get-to-Know-You Questions for Educators Adult SEL Self-Reflection Worksheet Great Virtues: SEL Self-Reflection for Educators Creating...
Description: Calm - Free Tools for Resilient Classrooms: 30 Days of Mindfulness in the Classroom- Bring mindfulness to your classrooms with ease. From breathing exercises to meditations to relaxation activities, each day is a new mindful exploration complete with a lesson plan. Self Care Guide for Teachers- At the heart of a mindful classroom is a healthy and happy teacher. When you’re thriving you naturally have more energy, creativity, and empathy to offer your students. It’s a...
Description: Virginia school divisions are required to have a special education advisory committee. The purpose of the committee is to provide an opportunity for parents and other school board appointees to have a voice in the way that school divisions provide services to students with disabilities. LSEAC members are appointed by local school boards. The committees provide reports and recommendations to their school boards. The purpose of the SEACs Guide: A Guide for Local Special Education...
Description: VDOE is replacing the 2021 Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools with model policies that support positive and safe learning environments for all students while respecting the rights and values of parents.
Description: For LGBTQ+ Students: engaged and supportive families provide needed understanding, care and resilience. supportive families can mitigate other risk factors for LGBTQ+ youth. lack of family support can lead to conflict, running away, homelessness increasing the overall risk for mental health problems, including depression and suicidal ideation, among LGBTQ+ youth. (Excerpted from John Taylor's Side by Side Presentation: School PRIDE in the 21st Century Strategies to Ensure Inclusive School...
Description: While there is a tremendous amount of value to being able to see your students’ faces during distance learning, we can’t force them to be on camera, just as during in-person teaching, we can’t force unengaged students to lift their heads or remove hats or hoodies that obscure their faces. With experimentation and persistence, however, you can arrive at strategies that work. Whether they need options, encouragement, or trust in order to turn their cameras on, there’s...
Description: From scavenger hunts to Pictionary, we’ve gathered a batch of virtual games to get students talking, laughing, and engaging with peers. While most educators feel too worn out to take on anything else this year, classroom games—old and new—can provide a much-needed respite for students and teachers who are burned out on video lessons and miss social connection. We found some easy-to-use virtual games that elementary teachers are playing with their students this year, along with...
Description: Parent Resource Centers (PRCs) exist in nearly forty school divisions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. PRCs work to foster collaborative connections between families of students with disabilities and their schools. PRCs assist families by providing resources, training, and support. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) supports PRCs through the provision of funding for personnel and activities/products that support families of students with disabilities in Virginia. The VDOE also provides...
Description: Odyssey magazine is an award-winning publication published annually by the Clerc Center. Each issue is theme-based, focusing on topics of importance as they relate to research, philosophy, and application of practice of instruction in the deaf education classroom.
Description: An Ombudsman is a person who serves as a designated neutral party who advocates for a fair process and provides confidential, informal assistance and support to parents, guardians, advocates, educators, and students with disabilities. The Parent Ombudsman for Special Education serves as a resource to parents in non-legal special education matters.
Description: HLP 2 Highlight Tool 2024.docx - The High Leverage Practices (HLP) Highlight Tools were developed to acquaint educators with the key components of each HLP in order to begin implementation into their instruction and strengthen inclusive practices with students. Each Highlight Tool contains a brief description, video clips, suggested activities and a Plan of Action activity teachers can implement with students to help get them started. As teachers become more acquainted with HLPs, additional...
Description: Q. How can teachers and family support staff engage parents around children’s learning and development during COVID-19? When creating family engagement plans and strategies to support children’s learning and development under non-traditional circumstances, schools should make sure families have everything they need for their children to learn. Communicating with families around what type of support they need and how they would like to receive this support is important. The only way...
Description: Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Reflection Guide offers a set of reflection questions that make self appraisal, goal setting, and critical conversations across the eight competencies more concrete. We also share research evidence that describes the benefits of culturally responsive teaching. Now is the time to revamp efforts to foster a culturally responsive teacher workforce. We hope this resource enables teachers and those who support them to promote rigorous and relevant learning...
Description: These podcasts are designed so EI practitioners like you can easily listen between visits or on breaks during your busy day. Each episode focuses on an important topic that is discussed by two experienced EI professional development specialists who have also been service coordinators, service providers, and parents of children enrolled in EI. Listen often to learn, reflect on your practices, and hear a few tips to do the work you do well even better. These podcasts are a collaborative effort of...
Description: Parents can obtain ID cards for their children under age 15 at any DMV customer service center. The cost of a child ID card is $2 per year (minimum $10; maximum $16). In addition to serving as an identity document, the child’s photograph is stored in DMV’s database. If the child becomes missing, DMV can retrieve the image from the database and transmit it to law enforcement anywhere in the U.S. Child ID cards will expire on the last day of the customer’s month of birth in a...
Description: The National Child ID Program has distributed over 70 million inkless in-home child id kits since its founding following Amber Hagerman’s disappearance in 1997. These inkless kits do not enter a database and a stored at home by parents, providing them with a gift of safety they hopefully never have to use. The kits take two minutes to complete and allow parents to safely store in their own home the vast majority of their child’s vital information should law enforcement ever need it...
Description: Training for Suicide Risk Assessment Teams or School-Based Mental Health Providers Brought to you by the Office of Student Services, VDOE Part 1: Prevention Part 2: Intervention Part 3: Postvention Suicide Prevention in the Virtual Setting Presented by: Ben Fernandez, Loudoun County Public Schools Part 1: Prevention Part 2: Intervention
Description: The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is one of 67 University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and is a member of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), a network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities through research, education, and service. Their resource section includes: Advocacy Resources Diagnostic Centers Family and...
Description: Collaboration is a critical high-leverage practice in special education because it is the mechanism through which all the HLPs that directly relate to students are designed, delivered, and evaluated. It also is the vehicle for addressing the complexities of providing a rigorous and responsive education for students with disabilities. Based on the HLP resources (High-Leverage Practices in Special Education: The Final Report of the HLP Writing Team and High-Leverage Practices in the Inclusive...
Description: This module—a revision of Collaborating with Families, which was originally developed in cooperation with the PACER Center—addresses the importance of engaging the families of students with disabilities in their child’s education. It highlights some of the key factors that affect these families and outlines some practical ways to build relationships and create opportunities for involvement (est. completion time: 1 hour).
Description: Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets (A Collaborative Effort Across OSEP-Funded Projects) Virtual Meetings: Strategies, Tips and Resources (The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education, CADRE) Resources for Families and Students (Progress Center: Promoting Progress for Students with Disabilities) IEP Accommodations During Distance Learning (Understood.org) Virtual Learning and Accommodations Guide (Assistive Technology Network of Virginia) How to Support Students in Virtual IEP...
Description: How should you and your co-teacher prepare lessons that meet the needs of all your students when you are providing virtual lessons? In this 33 minute webinar Dr. Wendy Murawski provides practical tips on how to plan lessons and ensure you are meeting the needs of students with an IEP & 504 plans. Presenter: Dr. Wendy Murawski, Executive Director, CSUN CTL, CEO, 2 TEACH, Inc. What is Co-teaching? Parity in Charing a Classroom Administrative Support Scheduling is Important Specially Designed...
Description: The 5C Process is a five step process focused on building continuity across lifelong learning priorities, the annual IEP goals, the inclusive environments (at school or at home) and instructional support for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The process outlines a plan for transitioning instruction between school and home during periods of distance learning. While the 5C Process was developed specifically for students with significant cognitive disabilities, we believe this...
Description: Social Emotional Learning - The Virginia Department of Education’s social emotional learning (SEL) efforts are driven by our commitment to ensure that every student in Virginia attends a school that maximizes their potential and prepares them for the future: academically, socially, and emotionally).
Description: Virtual Meetings: Strategies, Tips and Resources - Circumstances may prohibit participants from attending special education meetings in person. In these situations, technology allows one or all of the individuals to participate through the Internet or telephone. Many types of meetings can occur virtually, including IEP meetings, mediations, resolution sessions, and due process hearings. While each of these types of meetings is unique, virtual meetings share common traits and considerations....
Description: Good mental health is critical to every child's success in school and life. This is particularly true for students with disabilities, who, according to recent research, are more likely to experience social isolation from peer and suffer from depression in adulthood. Students with disabilities may need additional support to process the news and adapt to the many changes we are all facing. Professional working with students with disabilities (SWD) need to proactively support both academic and...
Description: Supporting Survivors of Abuse with Disabilities- 7 Modules - This Module series is designed to help increase your knowledge and skills when supporting a survivor of abuse with disabilities. There are 7 training modules. CEUs and certificates are available. Module 1: Understanding Disability Module 2: Person Centered Thinking and Disability Etiquette Module 3: Disabilities and Abuse Module 4: Brain Injury and Abuse Module 5: Safety Planning and Accommodations Module 6: Disablity Justice,...