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May 2024
The SLP Scoop
The SLP Scoop is a monthly speech-language pathology newsletter from ESC Region 11 that features timely updates, professional development opportunities, and resources.
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National Speech-Language Hearing Month
Celebrate your work!
Not only is it the last month of the school year, but it is also National Speech Language Hearing Month. May is a time to celebrate! I hope you are showered with appreciation and are able to take advantage of all of the discounts offered by vendors. May is also a time to advocate for the impact our profession makes in the lives of children and their parents. ASHA has tons of resources that can be used for this purpose. (click here) I wish that I could come to all of your schools and shower you in confetti!
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2023-2024 Statewide SLP Webinar Series
Are you a school-based SLP looking for professional development? The 2023-24 Statewide SLP Webinar Series is for you!
This series was developed through the thoughtful collaboration of the state's education service centers and hosts respected presenters delivering high-level content around topics related to school-based speech-language pathology. The webinars are held from 9:00 a.m. to noon CST, and 2.5 TSHA CEUs are provided.
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Signing Exact English (SEE) Skillshop
June 17-20, 2024 • 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Location: Virtual
Register Here
This four-day workshop for adult learners is designed to meet the needs of beginning as well as advanced users of Signing Exact English. Participants will improve their expressive and receptive signing skills, sign vocabulary, visual features of sign language, and song and storytelling techniques. All skill levels will be addressed through intensive work in level-matched small groups. Recent research findings on the effectiveness of signing Exact English will also be presented. SEE skillshops are designed for teachers, interpreters, SLPs, audiologists, aides, parents, and others interested in learning SEE and to improve the skills of those already using SEE.
Before beginning instruction, each participant is interviewed to determine their knowledge and skill level in Signing Exact English. Each participant is then assigned to an appropriate skill level group from Beginning to Advanced/Interpreter Level. Instruction in each level is tailored to the needs of the participants. Instruction includes lectures, hands-on practice, and a review of the principles of SEE.
The course is constantly updated so that attendees attending for multiple years continue to improve their SEE skills with new material tailored to meet each individual skill level.
Each instructor will include a discussion throughout the workshop on the Ethics of Using SEE.
1.6 ASHA CEUs offered
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3 Asynchronous Social Thinking Webinars!
We are offering three separate asynchronous webinars this summer! Not only will you get amazing training and ASHA CEUs, but you will also get the curriculum that is discussed in the session! After registration (Starting June 1), Participants will receive an email from Social Thinking with instructions on how to access the course. You will have 90 days from the day you receive the email to access the course.
This online on-demand, course delves into crucial aspects of building social competencies in preschool and early elementary-age students (ages 4-7). Explore how flexible thinking, social language, self-regulation, and social and emotional development are vital for developing collaborative interactions in group settings, both on the playground and in the classroom. Gain insights from a research perspective on the impact of executive functioning, social attention, and social problem-solving through the lens of our award-winning We Thinkers! curriculum series. Walk away with practical strategies and examples to seamlessly integrate social learning concepts into your existing teaching methods.
Participants will receive the We Thinkers! Vol 1 & 2 Curriculum for free upon course completion.
This course explores how research on early social competencies can translate into best practices in the classroom through implementing our award-winning We Thinkers! curricula; Social Thinking Vocabulary concepts that have been adapted for social learners ages 4-7; Concepts such as the role of play and working as part of a group in the development of self-regulation, social problem solving, and executive functioning
0.55 ASHA CEUs offered through Social Thinking
The same social thinking abilities required to relate effectively to others are also essential for success in academics. In this online and on-demand course, we explore how to get set up for social connection and academic success throughout the year and beyond. We’ll focus on practical strategies and ideas for school wide implementation, building a bridge between environments and people.
Participants will receive Visual supports for 10 Key Social Thinking Vocabulary Concepts for free at the completion of the course.
0.35 ASHA CEUs offered through Social Thinking
This Online On-Demand course is a crash course in how to use the brand new Superflex curriculum bundle with fidelity. Learn how to empower your students to activate their superpowers of flexibility, self-awareness, executive functions, self-regulation, and more. This curriculum provides a structured teaching approach with 25 evidence-informed, interactive quests (lessons), and a step-by-step guide for how to introduce each lesson, and ideas for what to say and do. Core tips for each lesson will be covered.
Participants will receive the NEW Superflex Series Dynamic Duo Basic Bundle for free upon completion of the course.
0.2 ASHA CEUs offered through Social Thinking
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Project TEDD: Training Educators and Evaluators in Dual Diagnosis (Series of 6)
Location: Virtual
This is a Texas Tech initiative to address a state need for educators and evaluators who specialize in teaching and evaluating students who have a dual diagnosis of an Intellectual Developmental Disorder and a mental health condition. Developmental disabilities are severe, chronic disabilities that occur before the age of 22, such as autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injury, and epilepsy. This series will assist educators in gaining knowledge in the areas of identification, referral, assessment, behavior, and academic best practices. They will also receive advanced training in collaboration and communication, crisis intervention, and working with families. New knowledge will enable educators to make meaningful changes in their LEAs and support collaboration with agencies outside of school settings serving individuals with dual diagnosis.
0.15 ASHA CEUs offered for each session
- Identification and Referral: June 18, 2024 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
- Screening and Assessment June 20, 2024 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.| Register Here
- Behavior Supports: July 8, 2024 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
- Academic Supports: July 9, 2024 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
- Crisis Intervention: July 16, 2024 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
- Working with Families: July 18, 2024 • 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register Here
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 All Systems Go Conference
June 25-27, 2024 • 8:30-3:30 Location: ESC Region 11
Join us for this three day conference. Our objective is to provide resources, support, and services that enable general and special education teachers and support staff to create an inclusive learning environment that allows learners to thrive rather than just survive. We will have a wide variety of sessions to choose from with various topics and strands. We will also have amazing keynote speakers, so you do not want to miss it!
- Day 1 Keynote: Eric Sheninger
- Day 2 Keynote: Dr. Wes Dotson and panel discussion
- Day 3 Keynote: Howie Hua
ASHA CEUs will be offered each day for sessions related to the practice of Speech-Language Pathology
Register for all three days -$60
Join Us for Aligned! 2024
July 29-30, 2024
Register here
Join education professionals from across the state for this exciting virtual conference as we explore child find, evaluation, and admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) support topics. The Aligned! 2023: From Child Find to IEP Implementation conference provides expertise, best practices, and networking supports to assist public school district and charter schools.
Sessions
Conference sessions will cover a variety of topics, including information from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and related network projects, evaluation of deaf and hard of hearing students, independent education evaluation, properly constituted ARD committees, and standards-based IEP process (writing present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP) and drafting goals).
As a result of this conference, the participant will be able to:
- Identify effective child find practices
- Identify comprehensive and integrated evaluation processes
- Develop appropriately ambitious individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities and provision of free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the Least restrictive environment (LRE)
TSHA Credits
Up to 12 TSHA credit hours will be available for all attendees who participate in the live, synchronous sessions. Recorded, asynchronous sessions will be available for 30 calendar days following the conference. CPE credit hours are not available for recorded, asynchronous sessions. The session costs are fully funded through state and/or federal grants.
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Standards-Based Individualized Education Program (IEP) Process: Training for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)
July 22, 2024 • noon - 3:00 p.m. Location: Virtual Register Here
To ensure increased achievement and access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities, an individualized education program (IEP) process, called "Standards-Based IEP," has been recommended as a best practice for achieving academic goals. This session focuses on learning more about the standards-based IEP process from the perspective of the school-based speech-language pathologist (SLP). This session is aligned with the child find and IEP content and development component(s) of the TEA-required self-assessment. As a result of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
- Develop present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP) that connect to the full and individual evaluation (FIE).
- Draft measurable annual academic goals and short-term objectives/benchmarks that are aligned to state academic grade-level content standards.
- Draft measurable functional goals and short-term objectives/benchmarks that support access to the general education curriculum.
- Identify methods to measure and report student progress on goals and short-term objectives/benchmarks.
0.3 ASHA CEUs offered
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 The SpedTex Website is live! It was created to provide resources to both parents and educators who work with children in special education. It can be a great resource for you, so spend some time looking through it:
https://www.spedtex.org
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 Texas SPED Support is a website that was created to provide technical assistance and to support the needs of the state. There are resources and learning opportunities available here:
https://spedsupport.tea.texas.gov/
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Please share this newsletter with your friends and co-workers so that everyone can be in the know. If you have any questions about the professional development opportunities outlined, please contact me or a staff member at ESC Region 11.
Best,
Laura
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ESC Region 11
Special Programs
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