SPEDNET NEWS     1
 
SPEDNET NEWS (VOL. 1, ISSUE 3, 1997)
FEBRUARY 21, 1997
Le Ganschow, Coordinator of Special Education
([log in to unmask]) (529-6621)
Issues for Remainder of  the Year:  March 21, April 11, April 25
 
Please remind your fellow students to check their e-mail for SPEDNET NEWS.  We
are not reaching all of you!
 
Miller Award Ceremony Will Recognize Outstanding Special Ed Students
Outstanding senior special ed majors will receive awards at the annual Miller
Award ceremony on Wednesday, April 9, 5:00-6:00, in 207 McGuffey.   Several
awards will be presented:   (1) A special award for the student who
exemplifies "what a Miami special ed major can achieve;"  (2) the outstanding
academic achievement award; (3) the student recommended by SCEC to have
contributed the most to this organization; and (4) students whose overall
GPA's are 3.5 or higher.  Special ed majors and minors are invited to attend
this special ceremony.  Refreshments will be served.
 
Volunteer Opportunities
Student volunteers are needed to assist on Science Day, April 5, 1997.  The
50th Annual SW Ohio District Science Day features close to 700 middle and high
school students who will bring their science projects to Miami University.  90
UG students are needed to monitor project display areas from 7:30 a.m. through
2:30 p.m.  Breakfast and lunch are provided.  Contact [log in to unmask] or
call Dr. Helen Stevenson at 529-1859 if you are interested in helping out.
 
Oxford Parks and Recreation Dept. is looking for a volunteer to do an
independent study  by helping a 23 year old man with mental retardation.  They
 want this volunteer to spend a couple of hours a week with Michael, who is an
"avid Miami Athletics fan.   Contact Barbara Thomas at 533-5888 or Troy Rees
at 523-6314.
 
Summer Job Opportunities
Camp Stepping Stones in the Greater Cincinnati area is looking for camps
counselors and lifeguards for June 9-August 15.  Call Stepping Stones Center,
513-831-4660.
 
Students Hold Session at Linking Conference
Special ed majors, dual majors, and minors were well represented by a panel
who did a presentation on teacher training issues for the 3rd annual Linking
Conference, held at Mason Middle School on Saturday, February 21.  The panel
included Foley Bezane, Eileen Egger, Tina Obradouvic, Jessica Grotevant, and
Alison Clebes.  The room was filled -- standing room only -- with students,
classroom teachers, and faculty.    The panel raised a number of important
issues including:
        o the issue of overlap in coursework
        o the need for early field experiences
        o the need for more general education methods (social studies, science)
        o the need for general ed majors to have more preparation in special
education,              including students in elementary and secondary ed, music ed, art
ed, and                 physical ed
        o importance of work on collaboration and teaming
        o the need for more collaboration between speech/language majors and other
teachers-in-training
        o the need for sign language for special ed majors
 
SIGN Classes
Students in Speech and Hearing offer noncredit informal evening sign classes
for interested persons.  Classes are on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, 7:00,
in 220 Culler.  Call Sally Vallquette at 529-2550 or 524-0415.
 
There are generally  a few slots available in Dr. Hutchinson's sign courses.
If you really want the sign course, contact Dr. Ganschow , who will make your
interest known to Dr. Hutchinson.
 
DAARS
Check your DAARS regularly.  If you see inaccuracies, contact Le Ganschow by
e-mail (ganschl@muohioedu) or by phone and leave message describing the
problem (529-6621).
 
Fall/Spring Capstones in 1997-1998
Special Education offers two capstones: EDP 460, a research course, is offered
Wednesday evenings.  EDP 4/597, is a service learning capstone with
hands-on-training and tutoring working with children with severe reading and
spelling problems.   This course is offered in downtown Cincinnati.  Students
have an option of MW or TR 4:00-6:00 and must sign up with Dr. Ganschow by
permission only.     See Dr. Ganschow as soon as possible because these spots
fill quickly.
 
New Licensure Standards for Teacher Preparation To Go into Effect Fall, 1998
Changes in teacher training are in process here at Miami, to meet the proposed
licensure standards that will go into effect in the fall of 1998.   In the new
licensure standards, there will be three general education certificates:
Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, and Adolescence.  In special education at
Miami four "Intervention Specialist" licensures are being proposed.  These
licensures will change the current "categorical" certifications to more
"generic" certifications and include: (a) Intervention Specialist:
Mild/Moderate; Intervention Specialist: Moderate/Intensive; Intervention
Specialist: Early Intervention; and Intervention Specialist: Gifted.  (These
changes do not affect students currently enrolled in our teacher preparation
programs.)
 
Meetings on New Teaching Certification Standards
Students are invited to attend several meetings on the proposed standards for
teacher preparation that are scheduled to go into effect in the fall of 1998.
John Nicholson from the Ohio Department of Education will meet with interested
persons on March 3 at these times and places:  10-11:30, Open Session in 413
McGuffey;  11:30-1::00, Brown Bag lunch in Mee Room, 304 McGuffey; 1:00-2:30
Open session in 456 McGuffey.
 
There will also be an open regional forum on teacher licensure standards on
March 19, 1997, at the Miami Inn, from 1:00-3:30.
 
Special Education Students To Help Revise Teacher Preparation at Miami
Special ed students are being invited to serve on several committees to plan
for the changes in teacher preparation.  In the next issue will inform you
about who your representatives will be.
 
News from SCEC  (Miami's Student Council for Exceptional Children )
SCEC's next meeting will be on Monday, March 17, at 5:30 in Room 413 McGuffey.
 All are welcome!  We are planning a Disabilities Awareness Week for April
14-19, kicking it off with a spaghetti dinner and a raffle where we have some
great prizes and ending the week with a Miami swim and gym for adults with
disabilities.  Tickets for the spaghetti dinner and the raffle will go on sale
after spring break.  If you would like to get involved but can't make the
meetings, or if you have any questions, call Tina at 524-1439.  (Submitted by
Tina Obradovik)
 
Vista Workers Needed
We are looking for two Vista workers -- students who are graduating this year
or by the end of the summer!  Two possible Vista positions may be opening up
for next year (August, 1997), in downtown Cincinnati.  The Vista projects
involve working with the Family Literacy Center on training for adults of low
literacy and their families and working at the Scottish
Rite Masonic Children's Learning Center on helping children with dyslexia.
Vista is a U.S. government project.  Workers earn minimum wage ($7000 a year
for this service and $200 a month for the year following their service.
Workers attend a national week-long training seminar in late summer.  E-mail
Dr. Ganschow ([log in to unmask]) or call 529-6621.
 
UG Student Worker Needed Now
The special education Intervention Specialist Committee is looking for a
student who can work about 75 hours between now and mid-June (about $450).
This person will be responsible for helping us coordinate our work on the new
teacher licensure standards. E-mail or call Dr. Ganschow.