Holt Think: Ed, Creativity, Tech, Administration
RSSTexas Education Agency - Dyslexia Technology Plan
The purpose of this letter is to inform school districts and open-enrollment charter schools of a new online tool available to assist Texas teachers of all grades and courses in integrating technology to accommodate students with dyslexia.
In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC) §38.0031, added by Senate Bill 866 (82nd Texas Legislature), the Texas Education Agency (TEA) established a committee to develop a plan for integrating technology into the classroom to help accommodate students with dyslexia. The plan was developed as an interactive online tool which is now available at no cost to all Texas educators. The tool is organized into three sections:
- Section One: An overview of the benefits of integrating technology into the classroom to help accommodate students with dyslexia, including research to support the plan
- Section Two: A list with descriptions of classroom technologies that are useful and practical in assisting public schools in accommodating students with dyslexia, considering budget constraints of school districts
- Section Three: A methodology for providing the technologies to students with dyslexia
Access to the online tool Technology Integration For Students With Dyslexia is available through the state dyslexia support siteat Region 10 Education Service Center (ESC) or through the following link: http://www.region10.org/dyslexia/techplan/. Districts and charter schools wishing to obtain additional information about the online tool or to schedule training should contact the dyslexia support specialist at any of the 20 regional ESCs.
In addition to this resource, other statewide dyslexia assistance is available to districts, charter schools, universities, parents, service centers, and other entities. To contact the State Dyslexia Consultant, Virginia Gonzalez, please call the state dyslexia hotline, (800) 232-3030, ext. 1410 or email virginia.gonzalez@region10.org. To contact the Statewide English Language Arts and Reading Coordinator, Karin Miller, please call (512) 463-9581 or email karin.miller@tea.state.tx.us.
Anita Givens
Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs
On Sale: 180 Questions for only 99 Cents
Beginning May 15 and for one week, my iBook 180 Questions will be on sale for just 99 cents USD in almost all iTunes stores across the globe. Now is your chance to got this book right before summer at an incredible price! Just 99 cents! 1/4 of a grande latte at Starbucks! Less than a 20 ounce Coke! Less than half the price of a big Mac! Almost half a cent a question! What a deal!
You know you want it! Now is your chance to own it at an incredible price!
Teacher Development Research: Avoiding Pitfalls | Edutopia
Been adding to my collection of PD material. Here is some more.
List of Free Science Books
Need some science? Get it here. Over 150 free science books. Not vetted by me, so I cannot vouch for correctness.
Willingham has it wrong. It is not the kids, it's the content
Most teachers t think that students today have a problem paying attention. They seem impatient, easily bored. Iâve argued that I think itâs unlikely that they are incapable of paying attention,…
Daniel Willingham is starting to turn into the 21st Century equivalent of the old man that sits on his porch and yells at kids to get of his lawn. In this essay, he waxes poetic about kids that used to be able to pay attention to things in order to learn them. That those darn kids these days are too quick to judge if something is worthwhile or not to study,
What he completely ignores of course, is whether the kids are correct or not. Perhaps the material IS not interesting. Perhaps the material IS not relevant. Perhaps it IS boring.
He essentially is saying the same old tired “You should do it because I told you to” routine that probably his great great grandteacher told him 100 years ago.
The other point he misses in his mind dropping is that while there is a lot of content (which amazingly he kind of dismisses as a bad thing) the skills we should be teaching kids is how to dig through all that content for what is good and what is bad, not just ignore all of it and stare at walls.
Maybe that is the real reason kids hate school…old people teaching old ways to a future that does not exist.
Ed Surge's Best of School Tools: Q1 2013
“Here’s a rundown of the best s’cool tools from the first quarter of 2013. These are the tools that had you clicking, sharing, and tweeting away. Per the usual, we’re only highlighting those tools that are free to use (in some capacity) or currently in beta.
Who Couldn't Use a Mind Map of All the Different Learning Theories?
Here is a mind map of every learning theory out there…enjoy. Good for you next education theory class I suppose.
Old Spock New Spock Audi Ad. Funny. Worth the 2 minutes for all us trekkers!
Nonfiction as Mentor Text: Style | On Common Core | School Library Journal
How to use nonfiction texts to teach writing techniques
Nonfiction works can be used to teach literary techniques and model quality writing styles, such as using strong introductions and conclusions, metaphor and onomatopoeia, educators Myra Zarnowski, Marc Aronson and Mary Ann Cappiello write in this article. They offer examples from children’s nonfiction books that highlight approaches taken by six writers of nonfiction to engage young readers. “The more students consider a writer’s craft in nonfiction, the more they will see that elements of good writing overlap,” they write. School Library Journal/On Common Core (5/2)
Power to the Schools
The Superintendent led school district is not an ideal method for leading large urban districts. Here is why
Robert Slavin’s latest blog post explores a structural problem that inhibits the progress of large urban school districts. According to Slavin, this problem is the power of superintendents. He says, “School boards across the country seek wise, good, honest, and capable people to serve in this outsized job. Then in two to three years they chuck them out and start over. The process causes endless turmoil and undermines faith in the whole school district.” Slavin suggests that the solution to this problem lies within each school: “To put [Philadelphia] and other urban districts on the mend, we need to build on their strengths - the teachers and principals dedicated to their kids - and give school staffs powerful, proven tools to get the job done.” Read more on the Huffington Post.
Ten Reasons to Abolish Homework (And Five Alternatives)
I wonder how long it will take before this message is finally taken seriously? Starting with Alfie Kohn and others a few years back, there is a growing silent minority of educators that are beginning to see that homework’s value is limited, especially with specific populations.
What are your feelings on homework? Valuable or valueless?
Adult Learning Theory and Principles: Great Resource for Edu PD
This looks to be a really nice resource for those of us that are in the business of Adult Professional Education. Lots of good info about Adult Learning Theory.
About Holt Think: Ed, Creativity, Tech, Administration
My new blog, about my quest for a PhD is located at http://callingdrholt.tumblr.com
All of these entries are the sole opinion of Tim Holt and do not reflect the opinions of his employers, friends, relatives, or anyone he happens to know in passing.
All entries here are copyright (cc) Creative Commons except where noted or obvious.
Posts I Like
-
Is Your State’s Highest-Paid Employee A Coach? (Probably)
You may have heard that the highest-paid employee in each state is usually the...
-
In Cisco’s Classroom Of The Future, Your Professor Is Just An IllusionNew telepresence software could let you take a class from anywhere and...
-
Staring At A Wall, Learning About Life
-
hi guys! this is a comic i made for a final in my comics in literature class. we had to do a research paper...
-
99 Life Hacks to make your life easier!
