Fall 2010

Workshops offered to the employees of Suffolk Public Schools through the Department of Professional Development.

Additional PDA Sessions

Inside you will find Professional Development Activities focused on Special Education.

If you are interested in registering for a session(s), please complete the registration form on Page 7 and submit it to DeVries Wicks in Human Resources. One Star Point and One Recertification Point will be awarded per hour.

Suffolk Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diversity within its workforce (Reference Chapter 7, 7-3.1, 7-3.20) Violations of these policies should be reported to the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services at 757-925-6761.

Challenges and Solutions for Children with Writing Disabilities

Presenters: Jessica Williams, Malerie Rubnitz, Dona Hindlin

Dates: October 6, 2010, November 3, 2010, December 1, 2010 and February 2, 2011

Location: John Yeates Middle School

Time: 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Participants in the sessions are given background information regarding the challenges that students with disabilities face when completing the writing process. A different domain of writing is addressed each session. Various writing strategies are practiced through hands-on activities. Attendance at every class is required to earn the four points, as each session builds upon the previous one(s).

Reading Comprehension – Putting Strategies into Practice Every Day!

Presenters: Nicole Parker and Denita Sawyer, Educational Diagnosticians

Dates: November 4, 2010 and December 2, 2010

Location: King’s Fork Middle School

Time: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

During this 3-part series, teachers and other interested professionals will learn how to implement various reading comprehension strategies across the curriculum. Participants will form a Comprehension Strategies consortium to assist colleagues throughout the school year.

American Sign Language

Presenters: Holly Boyce and Reinee Goetsch

Dates: 2nd Tuesday of Each month

Location: King’s Fork Middle School

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Participants in the American Sign Language classes are given instruction in basic sign language, along with information about deaf culture. Different topics are addressed each month, and suggestions are taken from participants to ensure that everyone’s needs are met. Past topics have included things such as: letters, numbers, colors; safety signs; community signs; health signs; most frequently used signs in general conversation; circle time signs; seasonal signs; and school vocabulary. Participants are provided handouts at each class so that they are able to practice and review. Although attendance at every class is highly recommended, the classes do not necessarily build on each other, so you are welcome to join the class at any time. The class would be helpful to anyone who may work with students with a hearing loss, as well as children who are nonverbal, have speech impairments, or use sign language to communicate. The classes have also been well received by general education teachers who use the signs to minimize disruption in their classes, teach the students the sign to match sight words, or help students use multisensory methods to practice spelling words or key concepts.

Inclusion Service Models at the Secondary Level:

Changing the Status Quo

Presenters: Susan Baggerly and Katherine Schuhr

Dates: September 21, 2010, October 5, 2010, October 19, 2010, November 2, 2010, and November 16, 2010

Location: Nansemond River High

Time: 3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

These sessions are designed for school teams consisting of general education teachers, special education teachers, paraprofessionals and administrators.

9/21/10:Complementing Each Other—How to better utilize each professionals’ skills in the classroom and at special education meetings

10/5/10:Evidenced Based Practices—What works & what doesn’t in the secondary setting – Part 1.

10/19/10:Evidenced Based Practices—What works & what doesn’t in the secondary setting – Part 2.

11/2/10:Approaches to Drop-Out Prevention—Appropriate secondary interventions, including Suffolk’s SOS Team Model.

Suffolk Public Schools Staff Development Department

Telephone: (757)925-6758

Fax: (757)925-6751

Please complete this form and submit it to DeVries Wicks in Human Resources Department if you are interested in participating in any of the sessions. If a session cancels, you will be notified.