Announcements

• Free screening of "Including Samuel" tomorrow, January 10th from 6-9 p.m. at the Aquarium by the Bay Theater, Pier 39.  Pre-registration is required:  www.childrenscouncil.org
• Click here to check out the article published in the SF Examiner about our Inclusive Schools Week. 
• Previous Special Edition Newsletters are now accessible online. Please click here to access them.

Making Magic In Ghana

Sue Gonzalez, E.R. Taylor

As a special education teacher, I am continuously searching for meaningful ways to inspire my students to improve their literacy skills. I teach students with learning disabilities who often find school a frustrating place to be. This summer, I traveled to Elmina, Ghana to begin a global connection of an International Book Club where students from my school as well as the Bantuma School in Elmina would have the opportunity to author and publish their own books to share with each other and with children around the world through the website bookclub.realelibrary.com.

For three weeks, I volunteered at Bantuma School teaching writing through a writer's workshop process. Working alongside an amazing librarian, we had 37 students, from grades 4 through middle school, participating in our book club. It was such a humbling and inspiring experience to teach the Ghanaian students who came to class each day with such passion and unwavering motivation to write their own stories. Since the students are accustomed to rote learning, teaching a creative process was challenging yet very rewarding. 

I started every lesson with a read aloud, a mini lesson about the writing process, time for writing and finally a time for students to share ideas. Traditionally, these students do not have much classroom time for discussion. It was amazing to listen to them discuss character and plot development with each other. After each discussion, they had the opportunity to share an appreciation. This was also a new experience for them.

One of my most memorable days was when I brought the markers and crayons out for the students to illustrate their stories. Usually, the students were very serious in class. But, on this day, they had the biggest, most beautiful smiles! The students had never seen so many choices of colors before. Since we had lots of markers, each student was able to keep as many as they wanted at their desk. It was fun to watch a student try to hold on to 15 markers in one hand while trying to illustrate with the other hand.

On the last day of the Book project, we celebrated with a party and each student was given their own book. The students were beaming with pride and were so excited to have the opportunity to take their books home to their families! It was a very memorable day for me and the students who worked so hard in the Book Club.

During my stay, I had the opportunity to see a baboon sanctuary, visit with a Chief from a rural village and eat traditional fufu with the Headmaster of Bantuma School. Although I had so many amazing experiences during my fellowship, it was through the students' stories that I gained a deeper understanding of life in Ghana. These students appear to be so joyful and spirited, but through their stories, I understood their worries and fears as well as their hopes and dreams for a brighter future.

SEIS Transition Update  

In the article Extended Time Testing Accommodations:  What does the Research Say Benjamin Lovett discusses the current research on the implications providing extended time has for all students. 

Click here to read more.

Co-teaching Webinar Opportunity

Effective co-teaching in the inclusive classroom 
 

Whether you're already part of a co-teaching partnership or will soon join a program, our free upcoming webinar on effective co-teaching is for you.

Join Gloria Lodato Wilson and Joan Blednick, ASCD authors of the recently released book "Teaching in Tandem," on Tuesday, 10 Jan. at 12-1 Pacific TIME. Wilson and Blednick will discuss the fundamentals of co-teaching and how to address program obstacles through a problem-solving process and a streamlined method for co-planning lessons.

The California Coastal Commission invites California students in kindergarten through 12th grade to submit artwork or poetry with a California coastal or marine theme to the annual Coastal Art & Poetry Contest. Up to ten winners will be selected to win $100 gift certificates to an art supply or book store, and each winner's sponsoring teacher will receive a $50 gift certificate for educational supplies, courtesy of Acorn Naturalists, www.acornnaturalists.com.

All winners and honorable mentions will receive tickets for their families to visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, courtesy of the Aquarium. Students may have their work featured on Commission web pages and materials, and winning entries will be exhibited throughout the state, including at the Ford House Museum in Mendocino, the Point Reyes Visitors Center in Marin County, and at Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach. Entries must be postmarked by January 31, 2012 to be eligible for the upcoming contest.

For rules and entry form (and helpful links for teachers and students), visit www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/poster/poster.html (or follow the links from www.coastforyou.org), email coast4u@coastal.ca.gov, or call (800) Coast-4U. Contest flyer (PDF or hard copy) is available upon request or can be downloaded from the website.

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