This Sunday, October 2, 2011, from 9:30am to 4:30pm is the annual OC Children’s Book Festival at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. Entry and parking are free. Molly Shannon, along with other authors, will be promoting their children’s books! Click here for more info.
Need some back to school tips? LD Online lists their top ten resources for parents. Enjoy!
In the field of education, homework has been a point of contention for many years. There have been studies indicating significant positive correlation between amount of homework and achievement levels. On the other hand, there is also compelling research indicating that homework causes problems in familial well-being, as well as challenges to economically disadvantaged students and families. As an educator, I am not as concerned with the amount of homework or time spent on homework as I am with the quality of and rationale behind the homework given. Ideally, educators should ensure that assigned homework serves a purpose which will benefit the child’s learning. Additionally, I am always cognizant of whether the child will have the home support needed to benefit from the homework. With this in mind, collaboration with the parents and caregivers as well as parent education is critical. Click here to see an article containing research surrounding the debate. Chime in and let us know your thoughts!
Parent Workshop ASK-Reading Strategies 9-2011
Click on the link above for more information on our upcoming parent workshop. We are partnering with Autism Solutions for Kids to bring a parent workshop your way. Parents will gain a deeper understanding of the skills involved in reading development, as well as strategies for addressing reading challenges. This is a two hour workshop on September 22, 2011, from 6-8pm. Hope to see you there!
The Kids Institute for Development and Advancement, also known as KiDA, is hosting their 2011 Summit on Autism at the Bren Events Center at UC Irvine on September 17, 2011. Speakers include local professionals Dr. Wendy Goldberg and Dr. Connie Kasari. Additionally, president of the Autism Science Foundation–Alison Carter, associate professor at Harvard–Dr. Howard Shane, and director of clinical research at the MIT media lab–Dr. Matthew Goodwin, will speak on topics of family and technology alignment. Keynote address will be given by first lady, Rosalynn Carter, a national advocate for mental health and care givers. Hope to see you there!
With the summer ending and the new school year beginning, we have been receiving calls from high school graduates in need of transitional support, as well as struggling college students in need of academic help. This morning, doing my typical routine of checking emails and voicemails, confirming our schedule for the day, and skimming through all of the organizations we follow, I came across this Facebook message from CHADD. Although this is a last minute blog post, I hope some of you will find the information helpful.
CHADD(Children and Adults with AD/HD) is a non-profit organization offering support for individuals, family members, teachers and professionals. Today, August 24, 2011, at 3:30pm EST, or 12:30pm PST, Robert Tadisco, Edge Foundation Executive Director, will be offering an online chat. The topic is The Transition to College: What Students Need to Know. Tadisco will be answering questions regarding college accommodations, coaching, and self-advocacy. Click here for more information and to join the conversation.
Thought I’d share this neat idea for children with oral sensory issues. It’s a chewable pendant that serves as a sensory tool for children oral motor needs, designed by a mom for her own child. Check out Kid Companions for more information.
Autism Speaks U enables college students to advocate and fundraise for autism awareness causes. For more information about Autism Speaks U and to find out how you can join, click here. August 11th at 3pm EDT, Kerry Magro, will be hosting a live facebook chat. Kerry is an adult with autism who recently graduated from Seton Hall University. Kerry is the founder of KFM Making a Difference in the Community, a non-profit organization focused on housing for the disabled community in New Jersey. He is also an active member of Autism Speaks U. For more information about Kerry, visit his website.
For all the private school educators out there looking for professional development opportunities this summer, check out the ADSE Summer Institute at Pepperdine! Why not make a trip to Malibu for some learning and some relaxation? Hope to see you there next week! For more info on registration, click here.
