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When someone you know stutters: Invaluable advice from a specialist
Sheilamary Koch EducationWhile young children may not even notice that they stutter, as they get older, living with this speech fluency disorder becomes increasingly stressful for many. "Stuttering is a disorder that comprises many elements, some that are very specific to the individual, so it’s critical that it's accurately diagnosed and managed through treatment," says pediatric speech and language pathologist Amy Sindelar, a specialist in stuttering as well as language delays and disorders. Speaking in front of the class, meeting new teachers or classmates, eating at restaurants and socializing at events have been reported to Sindelar as difficult speaking situations by some of the young people who have been in treatment for stuttering with her.
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Study concludes later school start time benefits student learning
Brian Stack EducationI recently spent time eavesdropping on some of my students while on a bus ride for a field trip. I couldn't help but listen to their discussion on later start times at school. The day prior, our school had a two-hour delay due to weather, the fifth this school year. The students were remarking at how much more productive and effective they felt overall when we had weather delays, and they wished school would start later on a regular basis. The conversation got me thinking about an issue that has come up for me time and time again as a high school principal.
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Schools, law enforcement team up to curb new trends in drug use
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityThe latest surge of drugs impacting teens is a matter of serious concern. While drug abuse has always been a problem, some of the newer ones are scary in the ways they are presented inconspicuously and innocently. This is why some law enforcement officials are teaming up with schools to warn parents of the latest teen drug trends as a part of their preventative efforts. These troubling new trends include prescription drugs, fentanyl, and heroin. Additionally, there's the risk of having entire generations addicted to nicotine. Federal, state, and local authorities want parents to be aware of all these so that they know the signs and act right away.
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Useful hints for ESL teachers
Douglas Magrath EducationContent and grammar go together as learners strive towards the goal of L2 proficiency and communication skills. The various sub-skills of grammar, listening, reading, writing, and cultural awareness all work together in the language acquisition process. Grammar is especially important to ensure communication, but the material presented should be meaningful and relevant to the learners' daily lives. Grammar is best presented in a meaningful context rather than in isolation.
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Are classroom sizes hurting students?
Patrick Gleeson EducationIs there some point beyond which every student added to a classroom reduces the overall result? As a former teacher, I've watched the growing debate over class size in American primary and secondary education with interest and some alarm. My instinctive response is that class size does matter and that we’re headed in the wrong direction, but does the evidence bear this out? A National Education Association study, for example, reported that funding cuts for education required increasing class size limits in Georgia and Fairfax County, Virginia, which already had larger-than-average class sizes.
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Tips on how school counselors can use technology to up their game
Christy Conley EducationIn a time when school counselor caseloads can vary from the desired ASCA model number of 250 students per counselor to a caseload of over 900 students, counseling offices are constantly searching for avenues to produce large results with limited time and resources. Utilizing new technology is a great way to reach the masses and leave a lasting impression. New apps and websites are constantly hitting the market and can help counselors work smarter and not harder. This article features a few of my favorites.
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Oakland, California, teachers’ strike helps define new era for education…
Michelle R. Matisons Education2018 was a year of unprecedented labor actions that rocked the education world. Now, one year after the West Virginia teachers' strike, we see Oakland, California’s teachers’ union, the Oakland Education Association (OEA), on the picket line with very serious and locale-specific demands. Bay Area housing costs are too high to retain quality educators in local public schools.
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2 folk songs for upper elementary students
Aileen Miracle EducationToday, I'm sharing two folk songs that are wonderful for upper elementary. The first song is called "Sandy’s Mill," which I learned from Joan Litman at Capital University. Students sit in a circle, passing a playground ball to the beat. On the word “pom,” they switch directions. Any time the teacher plays the hand drum, they also switch directions! A student volunteer can also play the hand drum. This is great for practicing steady beat, and for that reason, the song would also work really well with older beginners who need practice with steady beat.
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An unexpected way to reignite the spark for veteran teachers
Catherine Iste EducationOften, professional development throughout the year is based on the newest trends, a district initiative or a fundamental requirement that just has to get done. Unfortunately, it seems the longer an educator teaches, the less value these training sessions provide. Instead of resigning yourself to boredom, try this unexpected way to reignite the teaching spark and enjoy a genuine opportunity for professional development. Instead of looking at professional development seminars as the only opportunity for professional development, consider opportunities for change as additional options for learning and growth.
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4 keys to successful intervention for children with speech, language and…
Sheilamary Koch EducationMany deficits in the area of speech, language and hearing are progressive. This is why Amy Sindelar, a pediatric speech-language pathologist, believes so strongly in looking out for those early red flags in children under 3 years old. "The earlier you can get started in therapy the better," says Sindelar, who is an adjunct lecturer at Northwestern University and is on staff as a speech and language pathologist at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Illinois. "Research supports that early detection has a positive impact on long-term prognosis so it’s important to catch issues in the critical window of opportunity."
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