Kentucky State Drop Out Rate

Last night in class Monica asked me about our state's drop out rate. She had been told that it was 50%. It is often that people confuse numbers or statistics.

The state drop out rate was 3.31% in 2005-2006. The data is always a year or so behind as we collect it and make it available.

I would encourage you to take a look at this page that gives you various FACTS about education in KY such as how many schools, districts, teachers, average salary, graduation rate, transition rate after high school, etc.

http://education.ky.gov/KDE/HomePageRepository/News+Room/Kentucky+Education+Facts.htm

Exit Slips

Thanks for the great info on the exit slips! We will do a "What We Remember" activity to begin next week and I will review the concepts we covered last night in class. Remember last night was your INTRODUCTION to these concepts - laying a foundation. We will be building on your knowledge and understanding of these concepts throughout the entire semester.

Feel free to post ideas about what helps you remember things about each of these concepts here, questions you have about phonemes, morphemes, or the big three - - - syntax, semantics and pragmatics here.

I've also posted a link on phonemes that has some games that you might want to take 10 minutes and just click through - especially those who put on their exit slip this is a concept you want to review. Just think about SOUNDS letters or groups of letters make and play a few of these games.

Looking forward to your questions and watching your understanding grow! You're off to a terrific start.

About this Blog Stuff..

So I must be behind the curve becuase I still have a question about the grading.. I figured I'd blog it rather than ask in class just to have another blog under my belt.. The question is that if we "comment" on other people's blog, does that count as one of the 4 for the month?? Thanks!!

Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (Non-teaching)

Okay, so I have done some research on different majors and I think that Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education non-teaching is for me. My previous major was LBD with an emphasis in elem. ed. and i was dreading teaching rather than getting excited about it. Like I said before I wanted to go more toward the health aspect of special education without having to be in school for a long time. The research that I did said that with this major I could work in hospitals or rehabilitation facilities and that is exactly what I wanted to do. Also, I am working with children birth-5, I love babies and toddlers so I am so excited about my major now!!!!

Field Choice

I would have to say that the reason I chose to go into Special Education is partily because I like working one on one. At the same time my brother has ADHD, or so they say. When he was little he had many of the symptoms but now that he is older he does not. I do think that he may be a slower learner but I do not think that he has ADHD. It is important to me that kids are not misdiagnosed. He now has that label and I do not think that it is right. My goal is to go into the field and be able to help these kids and make sure that everything is right. It is frustrating to me when kids that are 4 or 5 that are "busy" must have have attention deficit when in reality they are being 4 and 5 year olds. I do not think that I am wonder woman or anything but I want to be out and be able to help.

Teachers

I would love to work here in Madison County. My major is LBD with middle school social studies. I am torn because I really want to work with special needs one on one but I would love to teach history. I want to teach middle or high school students. I went to Model Pre-K through my senior year so I want to work there. I know a lot of the faculty there. One good thing about Model is that there is not a lot of students so you get to know them at a more personal level, which is something I really enjoy.

Parking

I am not sure the best place to park. I have been parking at AC. I would like to have a walking buddy to walk with to my car with me because I am a big chicken. If someone wants someone to walk with let me know

Parking

Another question for ya, at least for the commuters! Where is the best place to park at night? I have always had day classes, except a short time last Spring semester, so I am not sure how parking is at night. Thanks again!

Some advice, I need it!

Hey everyone! I have a son who has a speech impairment. He has trouble with his r's and w's. His speech teacher is great, but I have a hard time getting in touch with her. I need some advice and techniques that anyone might know that could help me work with him at home. Thanks!

Oh, I forgot to introduce myself again. For those of you who were not in class on Wednesday, my name is Bethany Prall, I am a transfer student from Middle Tennessee University in Murfreesboro, TN but I live in Mt. Juliet which is 30 min. from Nashville. I am originally from California but we moved when I was 7. My major is Deaf and Hard of Hearing with an emphasis on Elementary Education. I love the deaf and all of the knowledge and learning that they have to offer. They are truely my passion. I have been around the Deaf since my Freshman year of High School and just fell in love. I get more excited about it every time that I am around Sign Language and the Deaf. I really look forward to getting to know all of you this semester and to know your passions in life:D 

Hey guys, I really hope that everyone is having a fun and safe Labor day weekend. Im really confused about some of the requirements for the class. Like the observations and the voice recording thing that we have to do!! Can anyone explain it to me more??

Heather

Hey Everyone!

Wednesday night I wasnt able to make it to class so I was just wondering if anyone could give me a brief summary of what went on during the class period? As of now the only thing I am certain of is that each of us have to post at least 4 blogs per month by the end of the month. I am sure Mrs. White mentioned more than just that during the three hours of class so I'm nervous that I may show up this week very unprepared. If there is any kind of reading or assignments that I would need to do before class this coming Wednesday I would greatly appreciate it if someone would be nice enough to tell me about it.

Thanks!!!!

Teachers

For all the future teachers in the class....what subject area, grade level, school district, state or any other information can you give the bloggers of 260?

I would love to teach early U.S. History at the late middle school or early high school levels. Madison County is my home and I would love to stay here and hopefully teach at Clark-Moores Middle School which is where I currently work now. I believe middle school kids present the greatest challenge to educators due to the changes and transitions they are going through in their lives. Furthermore, a lot of students who get lost and fall to the side are lost during this period of their educational careers. Middle school teachers have the opportunity to shape those students who are getting ready for high school or they have the chance to fail to reach those students and allow them to fail to graduate high school. I feelvery strongly that middle school teachers have one of the most important jobs of all educators!

Good Morning

Well here I am, finally blogging. I have all my cliches lined out and am signed up and ready to go. Wednesday night was an interesting class. I really enjoyed the group work and sharing ideas with other special education minds. I am usually extremely shy in class and in group discussions but in this class I feel more comfortable communicating my ideas and thoughts. I am passionate about children with learning and or behavioral disabilities. The teaching profession and especially the special education field are in immediate need for young and new minds who put kids first and I believe from what I saw Wednesday night we have some people in this class that definitely fit that description. I look forward to working with all of you and believe this semester should be beneficial to all of us.

Hey

Hey everyone, sorry I have not been on here sooner. I have been so busy and then went out of town where I was cut off from the world. I am married and I have a 1 1/2 year old little boy. His name is Brayden. My major is LBD with middle school social studies. I thinkm this is going to be a good class. I do have to work until 5 on Wednesday so it will be a challenge to get there everyday. Anyhow I have to be on here 3 more times today so talk to you soon.

hello!!!

Hey my name is matthew vickers. I am from jackson county ky. I am also an assistant basketball coach at jackson county high school. I am currently a high school earth science major, but have always been intrigued by special education. I am taking this class to see if I enjoy the subject. I hope I do.

Hey Guys!

I just wanted to say hello! My name is Melissa Rife (most people call me Missy) and I am a sophomore. My hometown is Pike County, Ky and I love it just as much as I hate it. I am taking 18 hours this semester and I pretty stressed about it, but im sure everything will be ok. I cant wait to get to know everyone! See you Wed..

Just wondering...What's your best experience?

I love hearing stories about other people's experiences in the education field. Hearing about someone's successful experience of helping a child touches my heart, and makes me look forward to helping students in my own classroom someday. Since I've started the education program, I have done some hours of field experience like many of you. So my question is...What has been your best/most memorable experience working with students so far since you've been a part of the education program?

Here's mine: Last spring, I was doing some field experience in an elementary classroom. The teacher asked me to work with a girl named Cassie. She hadn't been referred to special education, but she was in the bottom percentage in her class and especially had difficulty in reading and spelling. Each day, Cassie and I would go to the lunchroom and I would help her with her spelling words. I would have her spell them verbally to me, use the words in a sentence, and so on. Each day, I could see Cassie improving, and I enjoyed getting to help her. That Thursday, the class was taking their practice spelling test. Any student who made 100% on Thursday did not have to take the real exam again Friday, plus they got a treat. The teacher told me that Cassie had not received a 100% yet the entire year. That Thursday though, she did! I was so proud of Cassie and so happy for her success. The teacher called Cassie back to her desk and she took a treat from the basket along with the other few students who made 100%. The smile on Cassie's face melted my heart. I was so touched I could have cried! After class, the teacher told me she wished Cassie could have my one-on-one help all the time, and I wished I could always be there to help her to. This experience meant so much to me, and I hope to be able to help children like Cassie my entire teaching career.

Hi from Shawnetha

Wow, I think I have finally got signed on here! Sorry for the late introduction. My name is Shawnetha Smith. I am 20 years old and I have just started my junior year here at EKU. I live in Rockcastle County, specifically in Mt. Vernon. I commute here all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and on Wednesday night for this class. My major is Special Education LBD and Elementary Education. I can't wait to teach! Here are some things about me...I am engaged to a wonderful guy I have been dating for six years this September. I enjoy spending my extra time with him, my family, and my many pets. My favorite things to do are go to the movies, watch TV (I love Grey's Anatomy, The Young and the Restless, and Two and a Half Men!), and play Guitar Hero. It's the only X-Box 360 game I know how to play :-) I am very excited to be in this class with you all. I think it will be a class that will really help me learn more about the students I will teach one day. I look forward to getting to know everyone and learning from one another.

Great idea Tarah!!

I like Tarah's idea of everyone sharing their story about why they want to be in this field. So here is mine.
I've always loved children and actually have wanted to be a teacher since I was tiny. I always thought that I would enjoy working with the little ones, just sounds fun right? While taking classes toward my degree, I decided to change my major to nursing. I graduated from nursing school three and a half years ago and have worked as a nurse since then. I have done all of this with no regrets!! I believe that everything you do in life only better prepares you for what lies ahead. During those three years I seemed to have really been drawn to my patients with special needs. My heart goes out to them and being a nurse I have the "wanting to help people" blood. This made me think about how close I was to finishing my education degree and how I could combine my knowledge and love of both jobs and be a special ed. teacher. It was a great idea I thought, but I didn't know if I could really afford to do it. Then I told myself, if you don't do it know, you'll never have the chance to do it again. I kept telling myself, where there is a will, there is a way. So here I am and I am so glad that I finally listened to myself and took the chance to fulfill my dream as a child. Only now with a little different perspective ---thanks to my experiences.