Special Education Learning Community

3^rd Tuesday of each month, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM  October  –  May

REGISTER HERE

January 21, 2025 @ 3:30-4:30 PM

Featuring Shara Blair, AIMS/Infinite Campus

These meetings are one-hour sessions held the third Tuesday of the Month from 3:30-4:30. There will be a short 10-20 minute presentation on a topic followed by a discussion around that topic.  The purpose of these meetings is to provide technical assistance and support for Special Education teachers as well as help build a network for teachers throughout Montana.

For more information, go to the Special Education Learning Community website and learn about future monthly topics.

Get Ready for New Digital Accessibility Regulations for States and School Districts

States and school districts are on a tight deadline to meet digital accessibility requirements under the new Title II rule of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Digital educational materials, apps, and other web content are required to meet minimum accessibility standards in April of 2026 or 2027, depending on population size. This means the materials that your state, district, or school chooses in this year’s adoption cycle will need to meet those standards.   

The National Center on Accessible Digital Educational Materials & Instruction (NCADEMI or “N-cademy”) is hosting a free two-part webinar series to help administrators and educators understand the regulations and how to start preparing.

Webinar Part 1

Date: December 3, 2024, 2:00-2:45 p.m. ET followed by a coaching session on December 5, 2024, 2:00-2:45 p.m. ET 

Join this webinar to learn about the new requirements, the timeline for compliance, and actions you can take now. Come to a coaching session later in the week for help with getting started. 

Brain Science Around Trauma and Trauma-Informed Practices

Tuesday Virtual Series December 3, 2024 - February 25, 2025 | 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Presented by:  Katie Kinder & Josh Varner

Participants will explore the brain science behind development, how trauma and toxic stress can impact that development, and learn strategies for helping students navigate these impacts. Participants will leave with a better understanding of emotional regulation and the classroom strategies that work to assist students in navigating their stress response systems. These strategies support all students.

12/3 Be Their Hero: Trauma Informed care Part #1

Two out of every three students in the United States are impacted by a traumatic event.  When students experience trauma or an extremely stressful situation, it's normal and natural for them to have a hard time coping afterward.  I'm passionate about teaching educators how to support individuals impacted by trauma.  I specialize in inspiring teachers so that they can support these students and be the hero in their life journey.  

12/10 Be Their Hero: Trauma Informed care Part #2                   

Magic of Words

Presenter: Carrie Cole

MTSS - Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3

Virtual | Tuesdays January 14, 2025 to February 25, 2025 | 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Academic vocabulary is one of the best predictors of scholastic achievement and overall reading comprehension, yet educators face the challenge of profound differences in vocabulary knowledge among the students they teach. By focusing on vocabulary strategies with the highest effect sizes for increasing student achievement, educators can boost learning for ALL students through simply rethinking how vocabulary is presented in the classroom, without a lot of additional prep time. This training will focus on easy-to-plan, high-impact strategies that can be used to strengthen vocabulary instruction and student learning in any content area or academic discipline. Educators will walk away armed with strategies to increase student vocabulary size and learning of course content—a win-win for students and teachers alike!

Session 1: Academic Language and the Importance of Productive Language Opportunities (Jan. 14, 2025)

Session 2: Word Selection and Explicit Teaching of Specific Words (Jan. 21, 2025)

Session 3: Word Learning Strategies to Prompt Independent Word Learning (Jan. 28, 2025)

Session 4: Using Morphology to Build and Expand Word Networks (Feb. 4, 2025)

Session 5: Fostering Word Consciousness to Deepen Word Learning (Feb. 18, 2025)

Session 6: Effective Lesson Planning for Vocabulary Instruction (Feb. 25, 2025)

Making It All Add Up

January 15, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Havre Best Western Inn & Suites

Presented by:  Stephanie Lester

Join us for a comprehensive 6-hour training designed specifically for PK-2nd grade teachers, focusing on building and reinforcing foundational math skills in young learners. This two-part session, "Making It All Add Up!," will equip educators with the knowledge, strategies, and hands-on resources needed to ensure every child develops a strong mathematical foundation.

Part 1: Developing Children’s Number Sense

Part 2: Math EVERY Day for EVERY Child!

Participants will learn about inclusionary practices that ensure all students, regardless of their learning needs, have access to meaningful math experiences. The session will also cover developmentally appropriate strategies for knowledge and skill acquisition, making math accessible and engaging for every child.

In addition to classroom strategies, this session will present ideas for strengthening home-to-school connections, offering practical games and activities that can be easily shared with families to reinforce math skills at home. Teachers will also explore intervention strategies to support students who may need extra help mastering key concepts.

As a hands-on component, participants will have the opportunity to create make it/take it math activities. These ready-to-use resources will focus on the foundational skills discussed during the training, providing teachers with practical materials they can implement immediately in their classrooms.