Curriculum & Instruction

Vancouver program helps children understand learning disabilities
Children with learning disabilities are getting individualized help to overcome their challenges at an elementary school in Vancouver, British Columbia. "Before my daughter entered [this] class, she was struggling so much," said Vickie Chesterman, whose third-grade daughter, Jessica, has dyslexia and was working at a first-grade level. "But within a few months, she was back to liking school again. It was amazing to watch the transformation." The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia) (1/7)

First-grade academics may cause later self-esteem, depression issues
Students, especially girls, who struggle with reading and math in the first grade are more likely to develop poor self-perception and depression symptoms in middle school, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Missouri. "Children's individual differences will always exist in basic academic skills, so it is necessary to explore and emphasize other assets in students, especially those with lower academic skill relative to their peers," said Keith Herman, an associate professor in the university's education college. ScienceDaily (1/11)

Study: Preschoolers benefit from early alphabet, phonics practice
Teaching children to identify letters and sounds before they begin school helps them develop better reading skills later on, according to a new survey of thousands of literacy studies. "Literacy skills start developing the moment we're born, and it is literacy that enables a person's ability to participate in society," said Timothy Shanahan, who chaired the National Early Literacy Panel. "We shouldn't leave children's literacy development to chance." Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (1/8)

Educational Leadership

Staffers at school for hearing disabilities urge teachers to learn to sign
A group of Missouri School for the Deaf employees say the school should stop hiring teachers and advisers who are not proficient in American Sign Language. That sometimes causes misunderstandings between employees and makes it harder for students to understand their assignments, members of the group said. Columbia Daily Tribune (Mo.) (1/7)

Economy works to improve Utah teacher shortage
The worsening economy is making it easier to fill teaching jobs and discouraging current employees from retiring, Utah administrators say. "People are looking at their 401(k)s and saying, 'Maybe I ought to hang onto my job for a while,' " said Mike Fraser, a district executive director of human resources. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah) (1/12)

Technology Trends

Computer simulations help college faculty identify at-risk students
Instructors could more easily identify students struggling with mental-health issues with the help of a Web-based training program, according to this article. "You can see clearly if a person is just an overwhelmed freshman or [someone] who has a serious issue," said Ted Henken, a City University of New York professor who used the program. "[The simulation] really shows you how to go through the conversation with empathy." eSchool News (free registration) (1/8)

Policy News

Report: 1 in 7 U.S. adults lack literacy skills
Some 32 million U.S. adults lack the reading skills to understand anything more difficult than a children's picture book, according to U.S. Education Department research. Investing in education could help tackle literacy problems of people with undiagnosed learning disabilities, dropouts and those who do not speak English, said David Harvey, president and CEO of ProLiteracy, an adult-literacy organization. USA TODAY (1/8)

Maryland district dramatically improved vaccination rates with jail threat
A Maryland county's threat to fine or jail parents who failed to get state-mandated immunizations for their children helped reduce the number of students who had not been vaccinated from 2,300 a year ago to 268 in December, a district spokesman said. "People didn't think we were taking this seriously and therefore they didn't comply," said Karen Bates, the district's health services supervisor. The jail threat "served to send a message that everyone in the county was connected and collaborative around this issue of immunization," she added. The Washington Post (1/8)

Eye on Exceptionalities

Study: Skyrocketing Calif. autism rate not all due to better diagnoses
The seven- to eight-fold increase in California's autism rate cannot be blamed on better diagnoses, according to a new study from University of California, Davis, researchers. "It's time to start looking for the environmental culprits responsible for the remarkable increase in the rate of autism in California," said professor Irva Hertz-Picciotto, an internationally respected autism researcher. ScienceDaily (1/8)

Nonprofit aids exceptionally gifted children
Max Wallack, 12, is a budding young inventor who just won a $10,000 national prize thanks in part to the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a nonprofit organization that helps children with IQs in the 99th percentile. Wallack attends a charter high school and works with a Davidson counselor who helps him explore ideas and find competitions that interest him. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (1/8)

CEC Spotlight

RTI and secondary education on CEC's RTI blog
Exploring Response to Intervention (RTI) is the place to exchange ideas and strategies for this important framework for working with struggling learners. For January, Daryl Mellard of the Center for Research on Learning at the University of Kansas will discuss RTI's place in high schools. Find out more.

Surviving graduate study in special education: An insider's guide
Thinking about a graduate degree in special education? How do you find the right program? How do you find funding? What questions do you ask in an interview? What elements should you focus on to ensure your success? Find out more.

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