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

HELPING OUR STUDENTS SEE THE WORLD MORE CLEARLY

SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS INITIATIVE

Sturomski & Associates
in Collaboration with
Payne & Associates

Introduction Letter

Special Learning Needs Training called Effective Instruction for All Adult Education Students Including Those with Special Learning Needs will enable the teacher and the local program to improve performance measures, improve retention of students and teachers, and assist the teachers and the students who struggle to progress despite many hours of instruction.

The overall goals of Effective Instruction for All Adult Education Students Including Those with Special Learning Needs are to assist adult education staff to understand and recognize the needs of all adult learners, including those who have learning disabilities and other special learning needs and identify and use effective instructional practices with all learners as well as applying accommodations so that adult learners who have special learning needs can maximize their potential and reach their goals.

Special Learning Needs Training is a sustained professional development opportunity which takes 48 hours of instruction along with time to complete the practice work with students in the classroom. One of the many benefits of this sustained PD opportunity is that follow up is given to each participant in order to ensure that each participant is using the newfound skills and the Payne Learning Needs Inventory correctly.

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 and an introduction to the issue of disabilities and special learning needs. Texas LEARNS chose the collaboration of national consultants in the field of learning disabilities, Neil Sturomski and Nancie Payne, 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.

Thus far, 150 adult educators in Texas have been trained and the results of the training show that of the classroom teachers who have completed this training, eighty percent of them have improved performance measures compared to their performance measures prior to the training. This translates into practical training that the teachers can effectively use in the classroom to help students who struggle to progress despite many hours of instruction. This training is proving to be effective for ALL adult education students, not just those with learning difficulties.

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

Sincerely,

Joanie Rethlake, Director
Texas LEARNS
State Office of Adult Education and Family Literacy

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 Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist will learn the following:

• 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

Criteria for Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist

1. Possess the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues within their programs
2. Be active in an adult education program, preferably in the classroom
3. Be willing to administer screenings/inventories and to serve as resources for administrators and instructors in their local programs
4. Be willing to complete assignments and homework in the classroom with students
5. Be willing to be a “leader” at the local program
6. Must have recommendation and sponsorship from a local Adult Education, EL Civics or Even Start program
7. Anticipate continued employment within local program and/or in the adult education field
8. Must possess a minimum of a Bachelors Degree

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

Successful Completion of the Special Learning Needs Training results in:

• Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist Certificate
• Teacher Credential points=35 points
• Improved Performance Measures!!

Training Calendar for the Special Learning Needs Institutes

Regional Trainings will be posted as they are scheduled on the TCALL Calendar website at: http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/confrence.htm

Regional Trainings will be posted by the GREAT Centers as they are scheduled on the TCALL Calendar

Also, call the GREAT Center for more information in your area:

• Central Region, 877-798-5522
• Coastal Region, 281-290-5259
• East Region, 936-435-8330
• Far West Region, 915-937-1700
• North Region, 936-435-8330
• South Region, 361-593-4183
• South Central Region, 210-370-5236
• West Region, 915-747-7089

Region Trainings offered by the GREAT Centers will be conducted by a certified Special Learning Needs Trainer who has been through intensive training by Neil Sturomski and Nancie Payne. Meet the Special Learning Needs Trainers here – Certified Trainers for Special Learning Needs Training for Texas.

Local Programs With a Special Learning Needs Resource Specialist

Reviews from the Field

Effective Instruction for All Adult Education Students Including Those with Special Learning Needs is a dynamic professional development experience that will give the adult educator the practical tools to be more effective. Here are some comments made by adult educators who have attended this training in our state:

“This training is very valuable and has already made a difference in my class. The most rewarding part has been the student’s comments that this is the first time an instructor has shown so much interest in them and their learning. It seems to have made a difference in self-esteem and effort in the classroom.” – Cohort 2 participant

“The best training I have ever had!” – Cohort 2 participant

“All of it was valuable. I lovedthat everything was student focused and easily applied to the classroom.” – Cohort 2 participant

“I have used many of the ideas in my classroom, they work!! You both have showed me that there is so much in Adult Education that I was not aware of - Thank You!” – Cohort 2 participant

“It all came together - the way information was introduced, modeled and then used by us during activities was great!” – Cohort 1 participant

“I learned from every session; I feel empowered now to advocate for my students with special needs.” – Cohort 1 participant

“This has helped change my focus from just teaching to pass the GED Test to being an ABE/ASE teacher teaching skills for life. I am teaching to help students discover and achieve life goals (long term and short term goals), not just skills to pass a test.” - Krista Young, Abilene ISD

“Thank you for bringing this to Texas for all students.” – Cohort 1 participant

“Thanks for expanding my teaching techniques and knowledge.” – Cohort 1 participant

“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!” – Cohort 1 participant

State Contact for this Project:

Tracy Hendrix
Grant Services Manager
Texas LEARNS
State Office of Adult Education and Family Literacy
6005 Westview Drive
Houston, Texas 77055
713-696-0717
thendrix@hcde-texas.org

Special Learning Needs Resource List

American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
www.aapd-dc.org

Association for Higher Education and Disability
www.ahead.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Resources
http://w3.addresources.org/

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
www.chadd.org or www.help4adhd.org

GED Testing Service
www.gedtest.org

Getting Hired – where people with disabilities gather, network & find work
www.gettinghired.com

Learning Disabilities Association of America
www.ldanatl.org

LD Online
www.ldonline.org

Job Accommodation Network
www.jan.wvu.edu

Learning Disabilities Association of Texas
http://www.ldat.org/

National Clearinghouse on Postsecondary Education for Individuals with Disabilities; HEATH Resource Center
askheath@heath.gwu.edu or http://www.ninds.nih.gov/find_people/voluntary_orgs/volorg109.htm

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
www.nichcy.org

National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
www.ncld.org

Office of Disability Employment Policy: Workforce, Opportunity, Leadership
http://www.dol.gov/odep