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Morris County School of Technology

Morris County School of Technology. SEALS – Students Empowered for Advocacy and Leadership Skills “Dare to Dream” Conference – Montclair State University June 1, 2011.

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Morris County School of Technology

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  1. Morris County School of Technology SEALS – Students Empowered for Advocacy and Leadership Skills “Dare to Dream” Conference – Montclair State University June 1, 2011

  2. Think about your last experience at your IEP meeting… • Did it make you feel like you were being stomped on? • …victimized? • …thrown under the bus? ...and downright embarrassed? • Even if it wasn’t that bad…did it feel like they were talking about you like you were invisible?

  3. At MCST this is how we ROCK the HOUSE!  • SEALS Program – piloted in 2009 – 10 with 4 students • 2010 – 11,12 of 50 students out of our program led their own IEP’s • Students lead the meetings so that they get the educational programs they need. • Puts the students in the “driver’s seat of that bus” that we were once thrown under. 

  4. Here’s How We Do It… • First, we learned about IDEIA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act – these are the laws that give us rights in school • IDEIA – gives us special education services (support from special educators, individualized instruction, accommodations & modifications, etc.) • 504 – provides us ACCESS to education (but no services and no $$$) and we will likely use the protections of this law in college

  5. The IEP Document • Next, we studied the parts of our IEP (legal documents) • “Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance” section - the part where teachers report how we are doing • Other parts tell about our dreams for the future, how we are going to transition to adult life, and what our plan is for the next school year.

  6. Got Feedbackfrom Teachers • Emailed our teachers asking for their feedback about our strengths, challenges, needs for instruction, and any tips they had for us • Our case managers get less personal responses than we did! • Teachers took more time with us and told us exactly what they were seeing with examples from class

  7. “Present Levels”Write - Up • Then, we took all the teacher comments and wrote anessay about our performance in classes • We included teacher comments as quotes • Here are examples…

  8. My Academic Strengths • My teacher Ms. B.D. said, “M. is an outstanding student of history and current events! He absorbs the information and understands it well. He is always willing to add to class discussions and has a fun sense of humor.” • Ms. S. said, “You are attentive and always on task.” • Mrs. I. said, “I see your strengths as having great math sense, attempting problems even when not sure of what to do, conducting yourself in a respectful manner at all times, and patience!”

  9. “Great work ethic” (Mrs. G.) • “Willingness to try and participate in each activity” (Mr. P.) • “You express your thoughts in well developed essays with great attention to detail” (Mrs. W.) My academic strengths

  10. My Academic Challenges • “…staying focused is definitely a challenge” (Mrs. S.) • “…seems to be in a daze and unsure of the activities/assignments going on in class” (Mrs. S.) • “…have a hard time taking tests” (Mrs. B.) • “…overwhelmed and frustrated easily” (Mrs. B.)

  11. Created PowerPoint Presentation • Followed an outline where we stated: • Our vision of the future including our career and post-secondary aspirations. • Our strengths and challenges in the classroom • Our proposal for next year’s program • The modifications we need based on our disabilities. • Inviting the IEP Team for input.

  12. My Vision of the Future • To maintain my honor roll status. • To go deeper in to the visual effects criteria. • To get into a four-year college.

  13. M.’s Vision for the Future • I want to have a position in culinary arts with a specialization to be determined. • I want to complete high school and attend college after high school. • I will do my structured learning during senior year in order to gain skills, and have exposure in my field.

  14. Highlights of Student’s Challenges • I tend to…… • Disruptive when I need something • Have sloppy handwriting • Easily frustrated and give up • Am disorganized • Get distracted a lot

  15. My Challenges • “R. sometimes rushes through his assignments so he can get them done in class.” –Mrs. Y., Algebra • “R. would benefit by understanding the importance of self discipline, and by minimizing the use of non technology in the classroom.” –Mr. L., English • “R. can sometimes get distracted by other students, or he can sometimes rush through his work.” –Mrs. B.D., US History

  16. My Proposal For My 2011/12 Program • English Resource IV – allows for one on one teacher help to address my ADHD • Physical Education/ Health • Physics In Class Resource – Need re-teaching of science concepts and need cues for staying on task • Electives (5 credits) • Internship/Career & Technical Education

  17. My Proposal For My 2011/12 Program • English Resource IV – I would benefit from organizational help from my resource teacher. • Chemistry with Resource Support – I would benefit from extra time for assignments, projects and assessments. • Study Skills – I benefit from, and would further benefit from, being able to ask teachers for assistance on certain assignments.

  18. Modifications Needed • 50% Extended Time on Tests • Calculator Usage • Study Guide for Mid-Terms and Finals • One-on-One Clarification of Concepts • Provide Progress Reports on a Bi-Weekly Basis

  19. Modifications Needed • Provide study guides for major tests, including midterms and finals. (it would help me organizationally) • Provide prompts for organizing notebook and materials. • Help break large assignments into manageable chunks. • Give frequent feedback on grades and missing assignments. • Provide 50% extra time on tests. • Require T. to make a time management schedule of mini due dates.

  20. My Plan For The Future • Internship plan for senior year: To work at the Route 53 Grill in Denville • Dream career: to be a Naval Criminal Investigative service (NCIS) field agent • College: 2 years at County College of Morris for criminal justice, then onto a 4-year school for Psychology and Human Behaviors

  21. Parent Reactions to SEALS • “I’m proud that you spoke about what you wanted to get and stood up for yourself!” • “It’s neat to do this instead of having a boring meeting!” • “Good job! I’m so proud of you.” • “…So proud that my son has taken control of what is going to happen to his future!”

  22. Teacher/ Case Manager Reactions to SEALS • Mrs. M.: “ I think that this is a great experience for our students. It teaches them to be proactive and responsible for their own learning and IEP.” • Mr. L.:” I’m really impressed with the fact that the students advocate for themselves. And I think that the students recognize their own needs more than anyone else.” • Mrs. E.: “ I thought it was great to see a student take responsibility for their own education in such a professional way.”

  23. Student Reactionsto SEALS • “It’s fun and now I know what’s going on.” • “I’m glad I took part in it because even though we don’t realize the full aspect of it now, it’s that we only have one life to live and I for one am glad that I’m taking control of how my life is going to be.”

  24. This is how we “rock the house” at MCST…..Questions?

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