Diversified Learners Committee - Professional Development

The Diversified Learners Committee is growing in membership to develop regional leadership teams to promote and execute initiatives and goals to better serve our students and their families. Please watch for the DL Committee sessions at Teacher Excellence Day, Friday, October 3rd at both Bishop Blanchet High School, Seattle and Bellarmine Prep, Tacoma.

If your school is interested in garnering more of a national perspective to better serve students with special needs, you may want to consider the following opportunities:

Teaching Exceptional Learning Conference - TLEC through NCEA
Date: Thursday, February 12, 2015 to Saturday, February 14, 2015
Austin, Texas
This event is sponsored by both the NCEA Elementary and Secondary Schools Departments as an annual gathering of school leaders and teachers from across the country. Teachers and administrators learn from experts in the field and each other. TELC provides opportunities for participants to network and share their own best practices. Topics that are covered at TELC include differentiated instruction in both the elementary and secondary classrooms, working with gifted and talented students, autism, beginning a program for exceptional learners in an elementary school, beginning a program for exceptional learners in a secondary school, meeting the needs of exceptional learners in the secondary classroom, assistive technology, and communication disorders, among others. Sessions are held for both secondary and elementary teachers and administrators. For additional information and registration:
http://www.ncea.org/events/teaching-...ing-conference

April 7 - 9, 2015 NCEA 2015 Convention and Expo
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida
Registration and Housing for NCEA 2015 will open in mid-September!
For initial information, please visit: http://www.ncea.org/convention/convention-and-expo

Finally, the DL Committee is working to develop stronger connections with Special Olympics of Washington. If you are interested in reviewing curriculum lessons and resources to promote empathy and diversity, consider the new K-12 Get Into It Curriculum at https://www.getintoit.specialolympics.org/

Just set up a username and password to tap the free resources available to our teachers.
Special Olympics Get Into It consists of online resources that include lessons, activities, videos, athlete stories and supplemental materials. At the core of Get Into It are age-appropriate lessons designed to be taught in the context of class periods. Activities with ties to service learning are completed in a classroom or community setting, as part of a club, an afterschool activity or a community based event and include involvement with local Special Olympics Programs whenever possible.

Thank you for your commitment to serve all students in our care.