About FOUNDATIONS of Education
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Welcome to our Fourth Edition of FOUNDATIONS of Education. The purpose of our quarterly newsletter is to provide resources to educators, introduce the best learning techniques for people with Down syndrome, and provide training and workshops for school personnel. Our goal is for educators to be equipped and knowledgeable on best practices for a successful classroom! |
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Click here to learn more about FOUNDATIONS of Education. |
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Join the National Down Syndrome Congress for a one-day conference designed for educators working to enhance outcomes for their students with Down syndrome, autism, and other unique abilies.
When : Friday, July 21 from 7:30 am- 3pm
Where: JW Orlando Orlando Grande Lakes
Includes: materials, breakfast, lunch and certificate for CEU's submission.
Practical in nature, this conference will engage participants in identifying and implementing strategies applicable to K-12 classrooms. Discussions will provide strategies for educators to enhance instruction through effective reading interventions, differentiated and universally designed curriculum, technology, and behavioral practices. Attendees will leave equipped with ideas, tips, strategies, tools, and solutions that they can implement in the classroom.
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Use code: EdConDSFF23 to receive $50 off.
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MAGIC Night of Inclusion was a HUGE success!
Congratulations to all of our nominees!
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*Pictured left to right: Jessica Lindsey (nominee Volusia County), Parvin Giraldo (nominee Orange County), Rachelle Kmetz (DSPIE and nominee Orange County), Diana Pozo (nominee Osceola County), Dennis Thomas (nominee Orange County), Ethan Mankoff (nominee Orange County), Jennifer Maloney (nominee Lake County), Nichole Comeaux (DSPIE Orange County), Suzanne Tozer (nominee Orange County), Martha Meran (nominee Orange County), Cheryl Bishop (DSPIE Lake County), Christine Parsons (DSPIE Toni Jennings Institute- UCF). |
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On Thursday, March 23 we hosted our very first MAGIC Night of Inclusion. Along with over 300 members, we were joined by 12 nominees for Inclusion Champion of the Year and 5 Down Syndrome Specialists from varying counties. It was a night to celebrate inclusion in the classroom and show gratitude for teachers who go above and beyond to support inclusion in their classroom. |
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What does inclusion mean to you? Answered by a few of our nominee's
- "Inclusion is for all my students to have the same opportunities within their learning environment. Our school is great for that because our ESE department makes sure they attend all trips & activities as well as engage in the general education classrooms to increase their social skills."
- "Inclusion means understanding the vital roles that our individuals, whom are different; play in our society and schools. Inclusion is making sure no one feels left out!"
- "Involving everyone no matter their differences"
- "Providing an equal opportunity to be successful."
- "Opportunities for everyone, education and information shared with the community about disabilities. Teachers including and allowing all children every opportunity for lifelong experiences, awareness, happiness and growth of our kiddos!"
- "It is our end goal in education for all children."
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Winner of Inclusion Champion of The Year 2023 |
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A special congratulations to Melissa Horning for being our first ever Inclusion Champion Of The Year!
Melissa is the Media Specialist at Pershing K-8 in Orange County. She is also the News Crew teacher for Middle School. Congratulations, Mrs. Horning! We are so grateful for all that you do to support inclusion.
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The Choiceworks Calendar is a powerful picture-based learning tool that helps children learn what is happening day-to-day, week-to-week, and month-to-month throughout each year.
Choiceworks Calendar teaches the abstract concept of time in a structured visual format which helps children organize their lives as well as understand sequence and time. Choiceworks Calendar is the first app of its kind to provide a full-featured calendar designed with both the child and caregiver in mind.
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Over 25 years ago, Time Timer® inventor Jan Rogers’ youngest child struggled to make transitions from one daily routine to another. Whether it was time to get ready for school, or for homework, practice or bed, her young daughter often felt frustrated and anxious because of her inability to grasp the concept of elapsed time.
Motivated to solve this universal problem, Jan created the Time Timer®—an innovative, simple time management tool designed to “show” the passage of time through the use of a patented red disk. As time elapses, the red disk disappears—making common routines at work, school or home stress-free and enjoyable.
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Inclusion practices vary across school communities. What makes a meaningful and effective learning environment? What makes an effectives environment for all learners? Let’s discuss successful inclusive practices together.
Monday, May 22, 2023 from 3:15-4:15pm
About the Presenter:
Dr. Solandy Forte is the Executive Director and Founder of Solstice Behavioral Health & Consulting. She is a licensed clinical social worker and a doctoral-level board certified behavior analyst licensed in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Solandy has over twenty years of experience in the field of autism, receiving her doctoral degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Endicott College under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Dorsey and Dr. Mary Jane Weiss. She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Saint Joseph, Endicott College and Southern Connecticut State University.
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Do You Know About Executive Functioning? |
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Executive functioning skills are mediated or controlled by an area of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex.
It refers to a collection of higher-order skills or brain processes considered our behavior’s foundation and necessary for learning.
If a child has difficulty with their executive functions, this will also translate into any task that requires planning, organizing, and executing tasks.
These functions are involved in a wide range of skill areas.
There are eight components of executive functioning that support our learning and behavior.
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Opportunities available with The FOUNDATION |
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Do you know someone with Down syndrome who wants to learn about how to communicate about strengths and areas of need?
The FOUNDATION'S Self Advocacy Success Camps are filled with great lessons and so much fun! We talk about our future and focus on setting up goals to become independent! We practice interviewing for jobs and so much more!
Come join the fun this summer!
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June 26-30 (14-17 years old): |
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Did you know that The FOUNDATION offers scholarships?
- IEP Scholarships
- ABA Scholarships
- Community Scholarships
- Educational Scholarships
- Speech Therapy Scholarships
- Driving Scholarships
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How can we help YOU?
Click here to let us know how we can help YOU in your classroom. |
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We can work TOGETHER to help your students reach their maximum POTENTIAL by giving them OPPORTUNITIES to achieve all the SUCCESS in the world!
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Do you have a success story to share with us?
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Are you an educator that is looking for support with a student with Down syndrome?
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Let's get social!
Follow us on social media for more information and to stay up-to-date on our upcoming events.
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