Teacher Education/Special Education Latest News
From the Academic Advisor
Hello TC’s!
I hope the switch week transition is going well for everyone. Welcome to all those who are getting ready to start as new TCs this spring! If you’ve recently joined the program, make sure to remember to activate your email as this is the official means of communication. Hope everyone is able to get a bit of rest over Thanksgiving break I know some of you will be continuing in your partner schools! Please see below for important reminders and registration information. And please contact via email or phone for any questions regarding registration for spring.
Just a couple of reminders:
Deposit Refunds
If you are in your final semester of internships this Fall, your $250 deposit will be refunded to you the beginning of November. Please look for emails from Rachel.
Teacher Ed and Special Ed Handbooks
You can now find the handbooks and all appendices on the SEHD website – under CURRENT STUDENTS – CURRENT STUDENT RESOURCES. Or click here!
Scholarship Deadline
The deadline to apply for SEHD scholarships is November 1. Please see the section under CRITICAL DATES for more information.
You can also access more information about local and national scholarships through UCD’s Scholarship Resource Office at: http://www.ucdenver.edu/student-services/Pages/Scholarships.aspx
Spring Registration
Registration start dates for spring are dependent on the number of total credits. Students with 60 credits or less will be starting registration on Nov. 12. You will be getting an email to your UCD account with the exact date/time that you will be registering. As always, you can check the SMART system for this information as well. Please call or make an appointment if you need assistance or have questions about your course plan.
Beginning with registration for the Spring 2010 semester, you will be required to provide the University with your local address information, as well as emergency contact information, before you can register. You will be prompted by the registration system to verify and update your contact information.
The University of Colorado needs to have the ability to contact the person you designate as your emergency contact in the event of a serious illness to you, an accident, or other unforeseen event. In addition, the University also needs to know where you live for the purpose of sending out correspondence, or in the event of a fire, flood, or other type of event where assistance might be needed. Because of this, we now need you to provide us this information prior to each registration. Note that any name and address you designate as mother, father, spouse, etc. is protected from release to any party outside of the University of Colorado.
If the information you have already entered is accurate for both LOCAL/MAILING and EMERGENCY CONTACT, you only need to VERIFY the information for the registration term. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Registrar’s Office (303)556-2389.
To update your contact information:
Step 1: Log into SMART
Step 2: Click on the Address/PIN tab as shown below
Step 3: Click on the Address tab
Step 4: As shown below, click on the button that states “Click here to proceed and view addresses”
Step 5: Update your Local Mailing and Emergency Contact if the default is incorrect.
Step 6: On the same page make sure you verify the term you would like to register for.
Planning around Professional Development Schools’ calendar
You will soon receive your placement assignment for the Spring term (see section below re: REGISTRATION FOR INTERNSHIPS) Your welcome letter from the PDS will include important dates and links to their calendar in order to plan for when to start internships. Please note that some schools can start as early as early January, so plan accordingly. Academic classes for Spring will begin January 19, 2010.
Registration for Internships
Placements will be emailed in December. Some placements are still being assigned, so if any of your placements are listed as “TBD,” please be patient. We are trying to have all placements assigned by the end of November. Your email will include your internship assignment, section number, and call number. You will register for internships just like you register for your courses.
Remember, if you are a 12 month student starting the IPTE program this summer or fall, you will need to use a Schedule Adjustment Form to register for your second internship. Please fill out the form using the information provided in your placement email and fax ATTN RACHEL to 303.315.6311 or email the form to rachel.fraser@ucdenver.edu. Please remember, we cannot process SAFs if you are on waitlists. As soon as you are registered for 17 credit hours (with no waitlists), then we will process your form.
Finally, if this is your first internship, you will also be receiving a welcome letter from your first placement assignment. These will be sent out by holiday break in December.
Completion of Teaching License/Endorsement
Congratulations! Please plan to join us in celebration of your completion of your license/endorsement at our Summer/Fall commencement ceremony-Saturday, December 12, 2009, Denver Convention Center, 11am-1pm, Rooms 405-407. We will be serving beverages and cake and invite you to come celebrate this great achievement with us!
Fall Licensure/Endorsement Completers
To start your licensure application process, use this link to the CDE application wizard to download the applications-http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/Licensure_main.asp. If you would rather pick up the checklist and CDE paperwork, we have copies available in our student services center office.
Remember-all grades must be complete and listed on transcript before you can start the application process. Grades will begin to be posted December 22, 2009. I will not be able to begin signing on licensure paperwork until January 4, 2010.
• If you need a confirmation letter for employment while waiting for your licensure paperwork to process, please email me your request with details and how you would like the letter delivered or held for pick up.
• Please note, if an incomplete has been taken in any licensure course (SAPS for example) the grade must be posted for the incomplete course. All prerequisite courses must be completed and you must have passed the PLACE or PRAXIS II tests. This is a requirement that should have been completed prior to entering your third internship.
• You can make a request for UCD transcripts to be mailed to your home once grades are posted via SMART or pick them up from the Bursar’s office for $20.00. Graduate students will also need to include a copy of undergraduate transcripts-we have an extra copy of your transcripts in your file if needed.
• CLAS Undergraduate Licensure Completers will submit their licensure paperwork for institutional recommendation to Stephanie Hamington. Graduate teacher education students submit their paperwork to Meredith Lopez.
• Master Options for Graduate Licensure Completers–All teacher education graduate licensure completers who are going on to complete a Masters option are required to complete an IPTE MA Option Selection Sheet indicating the MA Option that will be pursued and the term starting the MA Option. Please turn this form into the SSC office. For a complete list of IPTE MA Option course requirements, click here. We encourage you to contact the faculty advisor listed on the options sheet for more information and sequencing of courses.
Office Calendar/Schedule
Please note that our main SSC office is now on official fall schedule and is open 8-6pm M-Thursday and 8-5pm Fridays. Our office will be closed Thursday Nov. 26, 2009 in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. You can reach me for appointments or questions by calling 303-315-4980 or emailing Meredith.lopez@ucdenver.edu
~Meredith Lopez, Academic Advisor, IPTE
NEW! Student Printing Stations
Beginning Monday October 26th, the School of Education & Human development has made available student printing stations on each SEHD floor.
The 6th floor printing station is in the student common area (through the door to the right as you exit the elevator).
The 7th floor printing station is in the lobby (outside the elevator area).
The 11th floor printing station is currently still in the lab (with an additional station to be setup outside the lab in the next 2 weeks)
You can make use of these printing stations by:
1) clicking the ‘Printstation’ icon on the desktop of the printing kiosks
2) Logging in (as you do in the lab)
3) You can print documents you have stored online (email attachments, google docs, etc) or you can also plug in a USB flash or hard drive into the small kiosk CPU to retrieve files to print that way as well.
See http://sehdlabs.ucdenver.edu for more information or for assistance.
LLC5030
In the SPRING 2010 The School of Education and Human Development would like to pilot a special section of LLC5030 Language and Literacy Acquisition I with a merged linguistically diverse and special education focus. The course will cover such topics as first and second language acquisition for students with and without disabilities, explore the differences among language/literacy acquisition versus disability for English language learners, and best practices for promoting language and literacy development for English language learners with and without disabilities.
The course would be open to both LDE and SPED majors who will receive credit toward their respective degrees.
If you would be interested in taking this course in the Spring 2010 please email Dr. Barbara Dray at barbara.dray@ucdenver.edu.
EPSY5180
Click here for flier.
Critical Dates
School of Education and Human Development Scholarships!
Make sure you apply for any and all scholarships you qualify for! Materials below! Due date is November 1st !!!
Letter of Recommendation Form for Scholarships
2009-10 Praxis Bulletin
Remember! You must take the Place or Praxis Licensure Exam before your third internship. Check out this bulletin to see when you can take the next Praxis II exam (we also have hard copies in the Student Services Center, Lawrence Street Center, Room 701). Keep time on your side, take it early!
If you have any questions about which exam to take for your content area, please contact Meredith Lopez. Once you have received your passing scores, please send a copy of the full score report to Rachel Fraser in the Student Services Center, in Lawrence Center building, room 701.
Please note that checking the box for UCD when taking licensure exam is not the same thing as submitting scores to SSC. We need to retain the full score report which contains sub scores as well. A PDF, copy, or fax of your score report are all acceptable. Keep your original at all times. You will need to reference this exam report many times in your teaching career. To replace it can cost up to $50.
Starting September 2009, Praxis is no longer sending you official scores in the mail. They give you access to a website where you can print and save your scores. This website is accessible for a few weeks and then they shut it off. YOU MUST SAVE THE PDF TO YOUR COMPUTER BEFORE THEY TURN OFF YOUR ACCESS. If you don’t, you have to pay $40 to get your scores.
If you are starting your third internship this spring and we do not have your score report, please send it to Rachel immediately. Please email it to rachel.fraser@ucdenver.edu or fax to 303.315.6311. We must have your scores on record 20 days before you start your internship.
TC/Partner School Spotlight
Whitney Blakeslee
(photo coming soon!)
From the moment Whitney Blakeslee joined our Rose Hill staff in August as a Teacher Candidate, her passion for teaching students with special needs was obvious. Even before Whitney became a 5910 SPED T.C., she had worked in various capacities with children who have special needs. She was a S.L.P.A. (Speech Language Pathologist’s Assistant) for a year and interned in an autism clinic for a semester. She is a real natural in the classroom, who grew up helping her mom in her classroom. She has also been a kindergarten para and has worked for the Big Brother Big Sister after school tutoring program.
Whitney’s experiences with and her dedication to children are a real asset. She is a keen observer and quickly notes how she can adapt her instruction to meet an individual student’s needs. She recognizes that she herself learns differently and is ardent about addressing a range of learning styles. She genuinely cares about her students and they respond well to her calm, kind, gentle, supportive demeonor.
As a Teacher Candidate, Whitney appreciates the opportunity to learn from experienced teachers. She says that “Getting input and ideas from so many different people helps us to build our own beliefs about how we will teach our students in the future.” Regarding her future as a SPED teacher, she says that her biggest goal is “to make sure that I am giving every student what they need to learn and to be successful.”
Thank you, Whitney, for your hard work and for your commitment to our Rose Hill SPED students!
- Carol Younghans, Site Professor, Rose Hill Elementary, ACSD#14
Central Elementary Breaking Ground
As part of this year’s Legacy Project, our TCs decided to add a flower garden at the entrance of the school. The previous area was not landscaped and didn’t add anything towards the beauty of the school. The TCs, worked with the grounds department to prepare the plot of land and planted many tulips and daffodils that will be a delightful and refreshing pop of color this spring after a long winter. The TCs were Danielle DePew, Becky Kramlich, Andrea Temple, Robby Allen, and Michelle Sherry.
I was particularly happy to see the smiling faces of students helping with the planting.
Central thanks you!
- Nikki Miles, Site Professor, Central Elementary School, ACSD#14
Montbello TCs Rock!
On Thursday Oct. 8, the Montbello Teacher Candidates hosted another After School Seminar in the Montbello High School Media Center. Even though it was Homecoming Week with numerous student events competing with the seminar, 65 students eagerly entered the library ready to discuss “Media on the Mind.” As always, articles and pre-planners were organized by the Teacher Candidates; the subject was advertising and the effect of advertising on high school students.
Acting as seminar facilitators, the Montbello TCs listened carefully to the high school students (freshmen through senior) critically analyzing the role of advertising in society. A crescendo of student voices filled the Media Center; the students actively engaged in learning for the sake of learning.
The students were asked to fill out Exit Cards as they left the seminar; here are some of the responses:
“I really liked today I got a lot of input.”
“This was a very interesting seminar discussion; true and false advertisement kept our minds wondering”
“I thoroughly enjoyed myself, the food was good and I feel that we got a lot accomplished.”
“Tonight I really enjoyed sharing my ideas with my classmates; our ideas were interesting and really cool!”
“Today I had a great conversation with the Teacher Candidates and my fellow classmates that was beneficial to me. I have come to these seminars the past couple years and I enjoy them more each time. I would like to personally thank everyone who takes part in this for everything they have done.”
“I think it went really well and I like the topics we talked about and how I got to say what I think.”
“It was cool; I loved it.”
Kudos to Amanda Raker, Jennifer Reinert, Brooke Stringfellow, Chris Henningson, JoyAnn Ruscha, and Carrie Gebel.
In addition to this wonderful event, on Friday Oct. 16th, Brooke Stringfellow and Jennifer Reinert were asked by the Montbello Teachers to conduct a Professional Development session concerning motivating and engaging students. Even though this request represented a considerable challenge for these Teacher Candidates, they agreed to facilitate this event for the entire Montbello High School Staff.
Brooke and Jennifer spent hours planning and practicing for the big event. When the day arrived, these two Teacher Candidates truly engaged the staff in an exciting and deep learning experience. They designed a workshop that was teacher-centered and allowed all teacher voices in the room. Brooke and Jennifer sponsored a friendly competition in their workshop that motivated the teachers to work collaboratively to win prizes at the end of the learning.
One teacher described it this way, “They did an amazing job! All of us are now interested in learning more about motivating and engaging our students.”
Jouanna Crossland-Wells said, “The teachers were overjoyed to attend their session and the teachers continued talking about it later in the day.”
Talk about leadership! UCD is proud of these two educators who are on the road to creating meaningful learning environments for students and teachers. Congratulations!
By the way, at the end of their session, the teachers applauded.
- John McDermott, Site Professor, Montbello High School, DPS
Check it out!
Mini Grants for Legacy Projects
Teacher Candidates in UCD Partner Schools collaboratively design a legacy project as a way to give back to the partner school that has welcomed and supported their development as a future teacher. It is also an opportunity for Teacher Candidates to step forward into service leadership as an educator and create a project that will truly make an impact on the school that will leave a “legacy” of your collaborative work for years to come. In an effort to support this initiative, the IPTE program, through the generous support of AmeriCorps, provides a mini-grant competition allowing teacher candidates to write a proposal to provide funding support to make the Legacy Project more successful. Please click here for an application.
Council for Exceptional Children
Student Council for Exceptional Children, Auraria Chapter is a great opportunity for both special ed. and general ed. teachers to gain great insight into current issues in special education, while also networking. The next SCEC meeting will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 4th, held in room 320B in the Tivoli at 7:00 pm. We will have a retired principal come as a guest speaker to discuss the interview process. Resumes will also be critiqued, so please bring your resumes!
CEC Student Awards and Scholarships
CEC’s Student Committee is soliciting applications for its 2010 awards and scholarships. All awards and scholarships include a cash prize!
Visit the CEC Web site for more information, including nomination/application packets. Deadline: Oct. 30, 2009.
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Leadership Opportunities for Student Members
Student members who wish to serve CEC at the national level are encouraged to apply for one of two positions available on the CEC Student Committee. Members of the committee are provided registration, accommodations, travel, and meal reimbursement to attend the CEC Annual Convention & Expo.
Visit the CEC Web site for more information and the application packet. Deadline: Oct. 30, 2009.
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2009 “Back to School” Student Membership Campaign
Students can save $10 off CEC Student membership when they join or renew by Oct. 31, 2009! Find out more.
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Questions? Contact us at students@cec.sped.org or (888) 232-7733.
Grant from Verizon Foundation Brings “Thinkfinity” Online to Colorado Teachers
News Release from Colorado Department of Education
Oct. 8, 2009
The Colorado Department of Education, working with the Colorado Legacy Foundation through a grant from the Verizon Foundation, is providing “Thinkfinity” training to teachers across the state.
“Verizon Thinkfinity.org” is a free educational Web site that contains thousands of engaging educational resources that make learning fun. Lesson plans, videos and in-class activities can be found quickly and searched by grade level, keyword or subject. The lessons are standards-based and include many activities designed to develop 21st century skills.
Verizon Thinkfinity.org also offers a comprehensive professional development program that allows teachers to sign up for free online or face-to-face training to learn how to make the most of Verizon Thinkfinity tools.
The $35,000 Verizon Foundation grant is expected to provide training for more than 250 teachers statewide. Since the training began in June, more than 150 teachers and administrators have been trained. Training is available through online courses which are offered monthly, hands-on classroom training or one-hour webinars.
“The grant from the Verizon Foundation is deeply appreciated,” said Commissioner of Education Dwight D. Jones. “Verizon Thinkfinity.org is a terrific resource and teachers appreciate the wealth of materials, lesson plans and professional development.”
“Thinkfinity.org content meets teachers’ needs,” said Dan Morris, director of educational technology and innovation at CDE. “The content is created and reviewed by content specialists and all the lessons tie to standards. The response from teachers has been nothing but enthusiastic.”
Morris said the training is designed to allow teachers to improve lesson plans they have already developed or are in the process of creating. During the online course, educators develop a Thinkfinity Integration Plan and identify ways to use the online resources in the classroom.
The Verizon Thinkfinity.org Web site (www.thinkfinity.org) also provides free educational resources that can be used by students, parents and afterschool programs.
“Whether it’s an English teacher looking for resources to spark a love of reading in a student, or a parent seeking a convenient and user-friendly educational activity to stimulate the mind of a young child, Verizon Thinkfinity.org will help them quickly and easily find the information needed to improve student achievement,” said Tim McCallion, Verizon president for the west region.
Teachers, principals and other school administrators who are interested in the training may contact Dan Morris at dan.morris@coloradothinkfinity.org or by calling 303-229-8301.
About the Colorado Legacy Foundation
As part of the Colorado Department of Education’s “Forward Thinking” plan, the privately-funded nonpartisan Colorado Legacy Foundation seeks to build ongoing statewide leadership capacity and support for aligning Colorado’s P-20 education delivery system to meet the global demands of today’s rapidly expanding, knowledge-centered economy.
For more information, contact Mark Stevens, 303-866-3898, or Megan McDermott, 303-866-2334, in the CDE Office of Communications. To sign up for the CDE e-mail news service, please visit http://www.cde.state.co.us/Communications/index.html.
Conferences & Special Events
Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, WWII’s Forgotten Heroes
In person: Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Mr. Abdul-Jabbar will answer questions and share from his book
Monday, February 22, 2010 :: 10:30 am – 12:15 pm :: $5 per person :: REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
Wells Fargo Theater, Colorado Convention Center, 14th Street and Stout Street
Following the tradition of bringing the best programming possible to the youth of Colorado, the Mizel Museum again partners with Facing History and Ourselves, and the Denver Mayor’s Office for Education and Children to bring middle, high school and college students, along with educators from across the metropolitan Denver area, a program that will educate and inspire. Once again, we are expecting to fill the theater’s 5000 seats.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an accomplished author and researcher who is passionate about history and education. His book Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, WWll’s Forgotten Heroes is the story of a battalion unit that fought long and hard during World War II without respite under the command of General George Patton. The 761st captured thirty towns, liberated Jews from concentration camps, and made history as the first African-American armored unit to enter the war.
Professional Development
Facing History and Ourselves will offer two different full day professional development workshops to prepare you for this event on October 19, 2009 and January 15, 2010. To register, go to www.facinghistory.org/denverevents. For Questions, call Karen Mortimer at 303 316-4848.
DPS Teachers
Tuesday, January 12, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Free Professional Development workshop for DPS teachers bringing students to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar event. The workshop will be sponsored by the Mizel Museum and co-facilitated by Facing History and Ourselves and Denver Public Schools. Light dinner is included.
Job/Volunteer Opportunities
Job Coach Opening for Project SEARCH
We recently had an opening for a job coach for our Project SEARCH program.
We’re looking at potentially filling this position with a Project SEARCH dedicated job coach that would be part time and rather intermittent. The cyclical nature of the program means that we will have an intense need for about 4 to 5 weeks every two or three months (with the next upsurge happening beginning in early December and going through mid January, with a two week break in there due to Aurora Public Schools’ holiday break.) The final upsurge of the year would be in mid-March. During the busiest times, it would be about 25 hours per week, between about 9:30am and 2:30pm.
We would need one person to work with us for the remainder of the school year; and we are looking at either hiring or potentially working it into an internship situation – if that’s of interest or necessity to anyone.
We’re hoping to fill the position as quickly as possible.
Thank you so much,
Jennifer Biggs
Employment Director
Employment Link
jbiggs@emplink.org
Office Phone: 303-283-9631
Internships with the Denver Botanic Gardens
2010 Internships Denver Botanic Gardens
Contact: Gail Martinez
Telephone: 720-865-3531
Fax: 720-865-3722
E-mail: hr@botanicgardens.org for application
College Internship/Education
Center for Continuing Education
Number Available: One
Apply by: April 1, 2010
Duration: mid-May to late-August, 15-20 hours/week
Compensation: $10/hour (Unpaid internships will also be available.If you are also interested in an unpaid internship, please note in your application.)
This hands-on internship provides the opportunity to work side-by-side with professional education staff and volunteers involved in the daily operation and implementation of youth and family education programs at a botanic garden. The focus will be on curriculum development and teaching of summer family programs. Applicants must be currently enrolled in or recently completed a college program (including graduate programs) in Teacher Preparation. Students should have completed their sophomore year of college. Hands-on classroom experience and curriculum development experience is desired. College credit may be available at the discretion of the applicable college or university and is the responsibility of the student.
ATTENTION SCIENCE GRADS! NABT is looking for volunteers!
National Association of Biology Teachers Professional Development Conference
November 11-14, Sheraton Denver Hotel
Biology students will get free registration at the conference if you volunteer for 4 hours at the conference.
See the UC Denver Biology Department Chair for Details!
TO VOLUNTEER AT THE 2009 NABT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE: Connect to the NABT Denver Conference website: www.nabt2009.org
SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
MARIO CAPECCHI: Professor of Genetics – University of Utah School of Medicine
TOM CECH: Nobel Laureate Professor – University of Colorado
PHILLIP DANIELSON: Director of Institute of Forensic Genetics – University of Denver
CHERYL CHARLES: CEO and President of Children and Nature Network
BRIAN “FOX” ELLIS: “Stepping Into Darwin’s Shoes”
SHANE KANATOUS: Leader of the “ice team” to Antarctica – Assistant Professor at CSU