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6005 Westview Dr. | Houston, Texas | 77055-5419 | 713-696-0700 | 1-866-696-4233

 

Special Learning Needs Initiative

HELPING OUR STUDENTS SEE THE WORLD MORE CLEARLY

world with magnifying glass

EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION FOR ALL ADULT EDUCATION STUDENTS
INCLUDING THOSE WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS

2007

Sturomski & Associates
in Collaboration with
Payne & Associates


Introduction Letter

Texas LEARNS is very excited to announce the kickoff of a great professional development training opportunity for adult education teachers in Texas. Enclosed you will find the associated application packet. Participation is limited to 40 adult educators who are active in the classroom.

Adult education programs serve adult students with physical disabilities and adults with special learning needs. Many adult educators in our state have been through Bridges to Practice training, which is a great professional development foundation training chosen to move our state forward in this initiative. Texas LEARNS has submitted to TEA a written draft adult education policy guide to assist local programs with development and implementation of local policy. In addition, Texas LEARNS has researched other state policies and talked with many national leaders in the field to find out what other states are doing to meet the related provide professional development need.

Last spring Texas LEARNS posted a bid nationally to find potential consultants to provide specialized training to adult educators in our state. Texas LEARNS is pleased to announce that the collaboration of Neil Sturomski and Nancie Payne has been chosen to train our state in “Effective Instruction for all Adult Education Students including those with Special Learning Needs.” Neil and Nancie have worked with teachers in other states, such as North Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois and Mississippi to implement this training. These states have raved that the training has been a wonderful and life changing experience for the teachers and students alike. Between Neil and Nancie, they have over 30 years of experience in educating adults with disabilities and special learning needs. Neil was one of the original Bridges to Practice developers.

Please review the application packet to get an understanding of what the training will cover and the timeline. Texas LEARNS will pay the participant registration fees for the 4 training sessions. Two trainings will be in Austin and 2 trainings in Houston. The local sponsoring program will cover the travel, applicable per diem, and hotel costs for the participant.

Tracy Hendrix is the Grant Services Manager in charge of the project. Please feel free to call Tracy with any questions that you may have about this training opportunity.

Sincerely,

Joanie Rethlake

Joanie Rethlake, Director
Texas LEARNS


Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist Institute

Successful completion of the Institute will result in a credential of Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist as issued from the project.

A group of 40 adult educators from across the state of Texas will be trained to become Special Learning Needs Resource Specialists in:

  • Understanding adults with Learning Disabilities/Special Learning Needs and their characteristics
  • Recognizing self-esteem and social skill issues of adults in adult education programs and providing ways to foster development in these areas
  • Understanding the differences between assessment, diagnosis and screening
  • Recognizing what screening can and cannot accomplish
  • Applying screening and learning style inventories to improve practice
  • How to use the Basic Skills Education version of the Payne Learning Needs Inventory
  • Using effective instructional practices for all adult education students including those with Special Learning Needs and English as Second Language (ESL) Learners
  • Understanding how to empower students to become their own advocates and lifelong learners
  • Utilizing specific techniques and instructional strategies
  • Understanding the difference between accommodations and accommodated instruction/learning for individuals diagnosed with a disability
  • Understanding the importance of technology and how to implement its use for all adult education students including those with special learning needs
  • Knowing the various national and state resources available
  • Evaluating the appropriateness of all the tools used with adult education students including those with special learning needs
  • Understanding hands on, practical methodologies to implement when working with all adult education students

Trainings will be conducted by Sturomski & Associates in Collaboration with Payne & Associates, National Consultants in Learning Disabilities and Adult Education Students with Special Learning Needs.


Criteria for Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist

Texas LEARNS will accept the 40 applications on a first come, first served basis. However, if more than 40 applications are received, the applicants may be asked to describe why they want to become Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist for their program based on the following criteria:

  • Be able to attend all workshop sessions which will include 4 trainings of 3 days each during the 2007-08 year on the following dates in Austin from 9am – 4pm:
  • 1st Training: October 31, November 1 & 2
  • 2nd Training: January 30, 31 & February 1
  • 3rd Training: March 26, 27 & 28
  • 4th Training: May 21, 22 & 23
  • Possess the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues within their programs
  • Be active classroom teachers, have at least two years of experience teaching adults, and be a teacher of record in TEAMS
  • Be willing to administer screenings/inventories and to serve as resources for administrators and instructors in their local programs
  • Be willing to complete assignments and homework in the classroom with students
  • Consider becoming a trainer in year 2
  • Be willing to be a “leader” at the local program
  • Must have recommendation and sponsorship from a local Adult Education or EL Civics Program
  • Anticipate continued employment within local program
  • Must submit application to Texas LEARNS by the deadline

Participants must be recommended and sponsored by program administrators. No individual applications will be considered.

*Special Note: This Institute represents basic specialist training and will not prepare participants to be trainers or diagnosticians.


Training Calendar for the First Institute

2007-2008

  • 1st Training: October 31, November 1 & 2
  • 2nd Training: January 30, 31 & February 1
  • 3rd Training: March 26, 27 & 28
  • 4th Training: May 21, 22 & 23

Dates for the 2nd Training in 2008-2009 will be posted on this website as soon as arrangements have been made.


Contact Person for this Project:

Tracy Hendrix
Grant Services Manager
Texas LEARNS
6005 Westview Drive
Houston, Texas 77055
713-696-0717
thendrix@hcde-texas.org


Local Programs Participating in the First Special Learning Needs Institute Cohort

Advocacy Outreach
Austin Community College
Austin Learning Academy
Brownsville ISD
College of the Mainland
Community Action
Dallas ISD
Denton ISD
El Paso ISD
Far West GREAT Center
Fort Bend ISD
Fort Worth ISD
Grayson County College
Harris County Department of Education
Houston Community College
Howard College, Big Spring
Humble ISD
Midland College
Navarro College
North GREAT Center
Northeast Adult Education
Paris Junior College
Region 9
Region 20
Seguin ISD
Southwest Texas Junior College
Texarkana ISD, Bowie Cass Adult Education
Texas State University
Victoria Adult Literacy Council
Victoria College
Wharton County Junior College

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