Teacher Education/Special Education Latest News

Important Information from Meredith Lopez, UCTE Academic Advisor:

Hello TC’s:  Welcome to all those who are starting as new TCs this fall in October block classes! I hope the switch week transition is going well for everyone as you move into new classrooms within your school. Please see below for important reminders and registration information. And please contact via email or phone for any questions regarding registration for spring.

A couple of reminders:

Student Voice

I am happy to announce that we’ve added Student Voice to the TC NewsFeed:

Student Voice – It’s an important part of responsive pedagogy!

The faculty and staff of the Urban Community Teacher Education program want to hear from you. Your voice is important to your program.

Please use Student Voice to submit celebrations, ideas, concerns, and suggestions for program adjustments.

The boxes labeled “name and email” are not required. However, if you would like a response, there is a box you can check to have a SEHD representative contact you. Otherwise your post will be anonymous.

Each month, prior to our faculty and staff meetings, comments under Student Voice will be shared, so that we can learn from what you have to say and respond appropriately.

Click here to start leaving comments

Deposit Refunds

If you are in your final semester of internships this Fall, your $250 deposit will be refunded to you the middle of November. Please look for emails from Rachel.

Teacher Ed and Special Ed Handbooks

You can find the handbooks and all appendices on the SEHD website – under CURRENT STUDENTS – CURRENT STUDENT RESOURCES.

Scholarship Deadline

The deadline to apply for SEHD scholarships is November 1. Please click here. You can also access more information about local and national scholarships through UCD’s Scholarship Resource Office.

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 in early November. 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 UCDAccess system for this information as well. Please call or make an appointment if you need assistance or have questions about your course plan

Planning around Professional Development Schools’ calendar

You will receive your placement assignment for the Spring term at the beginning of December. (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.

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 registering for more than 18 credits hours in one semester, you will need to fill out a Schedule Adjustment Form. 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 all waitlists are removed, we will process your form.

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 Celebration

Congratulations! Please plan to join us in celebration of your completion of your license/endorsement at our Summer/Fall commencement ceremony- Saturday, December 18, 2010, Denver Convention Center, 11am-1pm, Rooms 201-203. 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.  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 23, 2010. I will not be able to begin signing on licensure paperwork until January 4, 2011.

•    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 UCDAccess or pick them up from the Bursar’s office for a fee. 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.

•    IMPORTANT: 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 & Friday Nov. 25-26, 2010 in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. You can reach me for appointments or questions by email Meredith.lopez@ucdenver.edu or phone 303-315-4980.

New Master’s Course in Special Education SPED 5740 Language of diverse learners with disabilities

This is an advanced course designed to provide an in depth overview of theoretical perspectives of monolingual English and bilingual language development, language variation, and the interface with special education.

Spring 2010 – Mondays from 5-8:20pm

Open to Special Education majors as well as master’s students interested in taking a literacy course elective.

For more information please contact Barbara Dray: Barbara.dray@ucdenver.edu

Please obtain approval from your advisor prior to enrollment.

TC Student/PDS Spotlight

Site Coordinator Tristin Koch (Drake Middle School) is Spotlighted on 9News!

ARVADA – When you see her in class at Drake Middle School, you can just tell how much she cares about her students. Tristin Koch says she is simply trying to instill confidence, then the learning will happen.

Miss Koch, was nominated by students in last year’s class. They told us that she was a special teacher, who inspired them.

One student, Megan Myers told us, “Miss Koch not only inspired us to reach our potential as students, but as people and leaders.”

Molly Kubesh said, “We always felt comfortable talking to her and asking her for help.”

According to Lindsey Haligas, “Miss Koch challenged our ability and helped us accomplish really difficult goals.”

And Allyson Goto told us, “Miss Koch is probably the most inspiring, caring and determined teacher that any of us have ever had and probably will ever have.”

One of the things that made that class special was its community service project. They were encouraged by their teacher to work with senior citizens at two nursing homes. It was also an economics lesson, learning how the recession had affected the seniors.

The students spent time volunteering, raised more than $4,000 for the nursing homes, made friends and forged bonds. Their project received national recognition, winning an award and a $50,000 grant for a trip to Washington D.C. They got to meet with Colorado lawmakers, visited historic sites and learned many of life’s lessons outside of the classroom.

“These kids are our future and I don’t just say that lightly,” Miss Koch said. “They are at a very unique age where they want responsibility. They’re learning how to deal with responsibility. So I gave it to them and they ran with it. And they accomplished some really great things.”

While she says she’s very greatful for everything that happened with last year’s class, Miss Koch is now focused on the future. She spends a lot of time working with her current students one-on-one in and outside of class. She plans to take some of them to China next summer for another great learning experience.

She stresses to them that they can acomplish amazing things if they put their minds to it and do their best. And she says she always tries to do her best too.

“The kids need the best,” she said. “They need the best education, they need the best teachers, they need the best support right now, especially in middle school. And I feel like I have to give them the best.”

It’s just another reason Tristin Koch deserves to be honored as the October “9Teachers Who Care” winner.

(KUSA-TV © 2010 Multimedia Holdings Corporation) To see article and video on 9News.com, click here!

THIS JUST IN FROM STUDENT VOICE! Grant Won at Clayton Partnership School!

I am proud to announce that my clinical teacher and I at Clayton Partnership School just won a grant for our Success For All Students life skills and transition class!  We are starting to build the curriculum this month and will begin the class in late October!  With the help of this grant we are able to purchase curriculum materials, binders, notebooks and other supplies for our students to learn various self -advocacy and self-determination skills.  I’d like to thank Dr. Donna Soebel and Dr. Caron Westland for their instruction on grant writing and collaboration, which helped me sail through this experience!

~Laura Anderson (Dischler), Teacher Candidate, Clayton Partnership School, Mapleton

Christian Miller

“Becoming a teacher was always in the back of my mind, as I was going through college”, states Christian Miller, when asked why he decided to become a teacher. Volunteering at a local elementary school after graduation, confirmed that decision. “I like working with kids and the academic environment.” We at Rose Hill Elementary School are delighted that Christian is one of our TC’S. His strong work ethic; his genuine caring about students; and his clear dedication to teaching have made him a valuable member of our staff.

Christian has demonstrated his flexibility and skill in adapting his instructional and classroom management strategies, by working in kindergarten and in third grade. All of his students have responded well to his calm, respectful demeanor. Third graders especially appreciate his gentle sense of humor.

Christian is especially reflective about and intent on meeting the wide range of students’ needs and connecting with them in meaningful ways. He recently discovered that going outside and playing games with his students during recess is a fun way to make those connections and is worth the extra time it takes.

Like so many TC’S, one of Christian’s biggest challenges has been time management. Working full-time, he has had to find a balance between his job, UCD classes, and his internships at Rose Hill. He’ll now be starting his final internship and will be able to devote most of his time to Rose Hill. He’s looking forward to being with his third-graders Monday’s through Friday’s.

Looking to the future and his first year as a teacher, Christian’s biggest goal is to be able to apply the concepts he’s learned in the UCD program. “I think that is one of the more difficult aspects of being a teacher…taking the best practices and applying them to real life situations.” How true!

~Carol Younghans, Site Professor, Rose Hill Elementary School, Adams #14

Check it out!

Education Nation Summit

As part of NBC News’ Education Nation Summit that launched Monday, September 27, a special address was given by Sec. Arne Duncan to announce the launch of the Department of Education’s TEACH Campaign, a national teacher recruitment initiative. During the one-hour special, Sec. Duncan fielded questions from prospective teachers at Arizona State University, Howard University, Miami Dade College and Michigan State University.  Recognition of higher education’s important role in preparing educators properly was a significant message during this national spotlight on the teaching profession.  The higher ed segment as well as others can be seen here.

Conferences & Special Events

UCAN SERVE AMERICORPS ORIENTATION

Thursday, October 21st, 2010
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Q&A from 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm

LOCATION:
1380 Lawrence Street, 6th Floor, Room 600

The orientation is mandatory and all interested should RSVP. Please email Willie.Brown@ucdenver.edu with any questions.

Please click here for more information.

Job/Volunteer Opportunities

Escuela Bilingue Pioneer Seeking Bilingual Interventionist

We have a full time position open for a teacher with credentials.  The job would involve working with small groups of struggling bilingual learners in an RtI model; teaching both literacy and math.  It is a fantastic opportunity, and we are hoping that you might know someone who would be a good fit for the position.

It has not been easy finding the right candidate to fill the position and so I have been asked to contact you.  If you don’t know anyone, but do know someone who might, please pass this along or send me their information so that we can get in touch with them.

We are interested in filling this position as soon as possible. Please click here for more information.

Thanks!

David Woodward

Math Coach

Escuela Bilingue Pioneer

720-771-8345

Denver School of Science and Technology seeking Volunteers

The Denver School of Science and Technology has partnered with UCD for their health sciences programs.  They admitted their first class of middle school students this year.  There is an opportunity for CLAS students involved in the various teacher licensure programs to volunteer for the tutoring programs at the school – this provides the students with role models in college as well as immediate help with their studies.

Please pass this opportunity on to your students and have them contact Jeff Osborne at DSST directly if they are interested.

Thanks –

Tammy Stone, Ph.D., R.P.A.
Associate Dean
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
University of Colorado Denver

A West Seeking Long Term Spanish Substitute

Arvada West is looking for a long term Spanish sub starting in a couple of weeks. If you are intersted, please contact Mandy Kelver, Site Coordinator, A West.

Cottonwood Creek Elementary School seeking Severe Needs Cognitive Teacher

POSTING DATE:      10/13/2010
CLOSING DATE:      10/20/2010 4:00 pm
JOB NUMBER:      E10467
FACILITY:      Cottonwood Creek Elem
POSITION:      Severe Needs Cognitive (ILC Teacher)
GROUP / GRADE:      Teacher
JOB QUALIFICATIONS:      The Cherry Creek School District complies with the rules and regulations set forth by the Colorado Department of Education in terms of hiring candidates who are CURRENTLY LICENSED OR ENDORSED IN THE APPROPRIATE CONTENT AREA(S)

The Cherry Creek School District complies with the rules and regulations set forth by the Colorado Department of Education in terms of hiring cadidates who are CURRENTLY LICENSED OR ENDORSED IN THE APPROPRIATE CONTENT AREA(S)

1. Strong commitment to the academic and social development of children with severe needs.
2. Excellent organizational skills.
3. Commitment to the use of data to monitor student progress.
4. Experience administering & interpreting formal and informal addessments.
5. Ability to communicate well with parents and staff.
6. Ability to collaborate with classroom teachers and special education team members.
7. Ability to write an IEP.
8. Training in nonverbal communication methods such as PEC’s and TEACCH mondel a plus.

Endorsements/Licenses:

• SPED Severe Needs Cognitive/EMH
• SPED Generalist
• Endorsements/Licenses:

WORK HOURS:     FROM – 8:00 am   TO – 4:00 pm
DAYS:      185
START DATE:      11/29/2010