Edutopia
Edutopia
Edutopia is dedicated to transforming kindergarten through 12th-grade (K-12) education so all students can thrive in their studies, careers, and adult lives. We are focused on practices and programs that help students acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, skills and beliefs to achieve their full potential.
ACES and Toxic Stress: Frequently Asked Questions-Infographic
This infographic from the Center for the Developing Child at Harvard provides a simple explanation of Adverse Childhood Experiences and the long term effects as well as how to reduce the effects.
Special Needs Inclusion Project (SNIP)
SNIP helps San Francisco out-of-school time programs serving children ages 6-13 create environments that are welcoming and inclusive for ALL children, both with and without disabilities. SNIP does not diagnose children; rather we seek to support programs to ensure that all children are able to participate successfully. We accomplish this through on-site program observation and coaching, individual and group consultation, staff training and interagency collaboration. They have developed high-quality resources that would be beneficial to any after school or out-of-school time program.
Social and Emotional Learning- California Department of Education Resources
The California Department of Education (CDE) is committed to helping educators learn more about SEL and how to make this a part of every child’s school experience. To support this work, CDE has joined the Collaborating States Initiative a group of eight states that share information, best practices, and promising tools and ideas in the interest of building strong Social Emotional Learning in schools across their states. The Collaborating States Initiative is hosted by the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning.
With the support of a group of expert advisors, CDE will develop a plan for the best ways to implement good SEL in California schools. Updates from that work will be posted to this page.
School’s Out California: An Out of School Time Program Guide, California Department of Education (PDF)
Research shows that the time students have outside of the regular school day is critical to academic achievement. Before and after school programs offer a range of opportunities for recreational and academically enriching activities that are developmentally appropriate. The intent of this document is to guide programs as they expand activities to promote the skill development of school-age children. Research-based strategies are offered throughout the guide, and they can be used to support all school-age children in California as they participate in a range of activities—including those that support the development of academic skills, character, and other cognitive and social–emotional capabilities. It includes a section on serving children with special needs.
Beyond School Time
Education Matters is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting students and out-of-school time professionals by providing resources and opportunities for education, empowerment, and career support. We are committed to quality out-of-school time care and a professionalized, sustainable workforce. We are teachers, out-of-school professionals, production professionals and parents who are coming together to transform what is possible for students and teachers in our communities. We focus on Youth Development philosophy in our programs and our annual conference. The partner with CalSac, the California School Age Consortium, to present an annual conference for out-of-school time providers.
- Beyond School Time Conference is September 14-16, 2018 in San Francisco
After School Alliance
Afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families. For every child in a program, two are waiting to get in. We’re working to change that. The Afterschool Alliance grew from public awareness efforts undertaken by the Mott Foundation through an unprecedented, public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Education to expand afterschool programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers afterschool program. The federal government provided grants to local communities for afterschool programs, while the Mott Foundation funded training, evaluation and public awareness activities. The Foundation and the Department’s efforts caught the attention of several outside entities with a shared interest in achieving afterschool for all. These groups came together in September 1999 to create the Afterschool Alliance.
- Guest Blog: Inclusive Out-of-School Time
- Afterschool Supporting Students with Disabilities and Other Special Needs 2014
Find under Research Briefs
eParent.Com
eParent.com is an online multi-media company dedicated to be the ultimate resource for everything related to the special needs community. Providing practical advice, emotional support, current trending news and educational information to empower caregivers and families of children and adults with disabilities and special healthcare needs. As well as to the physicians, allied health care professionals, and educational professionals who are involved in their care and development.
- A Parent’s Guide to Successful Transition to Kindergarten (for kids with disabilities) Nov 2018
This blog provides tips for parents of children with special needs for how to prepare for transition to kindergarten. - Exceptional Blog which provides real help and hope through personal stories;
- It’s Not Selfish: 5 Self-Care Tips for the Caregiver
- Comprehensive Special Needs Resource Directory which links readers to organizations and entities matching their needs, interests and location;
- The Law of the Land in the 6th Circuit Makes Education Better for All
The Sixth Circuit’s opinion affirmed the district court decision finding that the school district violated IDEA when it demanded that a second-grade student with Down syndrome be removed from his general education classroom in his neighborhood school to a segregated special education classroom comprised solely of children with disabilities at another school.
Universal Design for Learning in the Early Childhood Classroom: Teaching Children of all Languages, Cultures and Abilities, Birth – 8 Years (Amazon Link)
This book by Pamela Brillante and Karen Nemeth, published in 2018, focuses on proactively designing PreK through Grade 3 classroom environments, instruction, and assessments that are flexible enough to ensure that teachers can accommodate the needs of all the students in their classrooms. Typically developing students, gifted students, students who are impacted by poverty, children who speak multiple languages or have a home language that is different than the classroom language, and students with identified or potential developmental or learning disabilities are all covered within this highly practical, easy-to-use guide to UDL in the early years. Publication is available from Amazon.com
The Genius of Play
It’s more than play! Through play, kids learn valuable skills they’ll use for a lifetime. The Genius of Play is your one-stop source for play ideas that build on these skills (with little to no prep time), expert advice and insights and the latest research on the value of play.