Comments for Susan Fitzell - Educational Consultant and Speaker

Comment on Special Education Case Management by Kathy wright

Kathy wright — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:05:26 +0000

Good for you for researching this topic. As a consultant, I often work with teachers on case management. While there are no legal requirements for case management, it is essential in order to meet compliance of federal and state laws. More important, case management is the key to student success. Many teachers view case management as “paperwork” when in fact the required paperwork should be only a small part of the case manager’s responsibilities. The number one priority of a case manager is building relationships with parents and students. Knowing a student’s strengths, needs, interests, etc. enables the case manager to lead the student to success after leaving school. TRANSITION PLANNING! Transition transcends all. Forget the required age for transition, it really begins the moment the case manager meets .

You are correct in stating that there is little information to be found. I have created several Powerpoint presentations, handouts, and other materials. I initiated case management in a large high school in 1991. The district adopted the model I created and continues to utilize it. I’d be happy to speak with anyone needing more information.

Comment on Please Help Me With My Homework – Spanish Translation by Susan Fitzell

Susan Fitzell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:36:59 +0000

Well, I’m obviously not paying enough attention to my blogs. I do remember reading Anne’s, however, didn’t know that two more great comments came in. Thank you.

Comment on Special Education Case Management by Susan Fitzell

Susan Fitzell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:34:26 +0000

This is a late thank you, Traci and Dr. Wilber, but a sincere thank you just the same. I’m still looking for solutions so hopefully, someone will come along and provide some great insights.

Comment on Tips to Improve Reading Comprehension by Susan Fitzell

Susan Fitzell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:29:12 +0000

Lisa,
Thank you SO much for your kind words!

Comment on The Pros and Cons of Team Teaching by Susan Fitzell

Susan Fitzell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:26:59 +0000

Wow Carol! I’m impressed at the efforts you are making to plan together! Kudos to you! There are only two other options that I can offer that may help. Hopefully, some others comment and share their solutions.

Many co-teach pairs are telling me that they are planning “in the cloud” using tools like “Google Documents”, “Edmodo” http://www.edmodo.com/, “Planbookedu” http://planbookedu.com/ and Dropox.com. I use both Google Documents and Drobox and find them excellent for working on projects, plans, and PowerPoints with my manager who is 2000 miles away and often on a very different schedule. We recently co-taught a session at the Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference and we did all our planning with Dropbox.

The other option is to use an Acceleration Center a couple times a week for a small chunk of the class. Because you and your co-teacher create it ahead of time, (I recommend a time when school is not in session) it does not require on-going planning. This option provides a little reprieve during those weeks when work is overwhelming. Here are some links with information about Fitzell Acceleration Centers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nek4p3Fol0A, and http://responsetointerventiononline.com/2011/11/using-fitzell-acceleration-centers-as-an-rti-strategy/. Hopefully, these links come through. I don’t know how to put them in correctly in a comment field.

Anyone else have ideas for planning time?

Susan Fitzell

Comment on Does Co-teaching Work? by Susan Fitzell

Susan Fitzell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:16:00 +0000

Robin,
If 8/10 students in the class have I.E.P.’s then it’s not “Inclusion”. However, if there are two teachers in the room and both of you are “teaching, collaborating, and working well together to provide quality differentiated instruction to all your students, then you are co-teaching. I admire your efforts to make the best out of your situation. As far as fun ideas? This blog is filled with them depending on what you are looking for. Also, if you go to http://www.asksusanfitzell.com and click on “Free Resources” or “Technology Solutions” and you’ll find links to lots of cool stuff.

Susan Fitzell

Comment on Does Co-teaching Work? by Susan Fitzell

Susan Fitzell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:11:29 +0000

Sharon,
Co-teaching isn’t about location, schedule or numbers. Co-teaching is about two teachers actively “teaching” together, sharing the responsibility for students, collaborating to provide meaningful learning for all youth in the classroom. That said, there are models for co-teaching that work, models that can work if teachers work hard to overcome the obstacles and challenges and models that are destined for failure.

Inclusion is the umbrella that co-teaching sits under. If 50% of your students are on an I.E.P., your challenge is greater. In all honesty, I don’t have enough information to make intelligent comments on your situation. Are you elementary? Are you teaching a class of youth where 50% are on an I.E.P. and the other 50% are At-Risk and not responding to instruction?

I sense frustration in your questions. Feel free to email me privately and I’d be happy to help you troubleshoot and problem solve.

Susan Fitzell

Comment on Does Co-teaching Work? by Robin

Robin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:46:21 +0000

I have been co teaching with different teachers for the past 7 years. I am currently co teaching Algebra with a teacher who works very well with me and the learning support students. Unfortunately, the 8/10 students in the class have IEPs. I don’t think that is true co teaching. I am also getting a little burned out with the whole co-teaching thing. any suggestions for fun ideas.

Comment on The Pros and Cons of Team Teaching by Carol Chapman Allen

Carol Chapman Allen — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:27:52 +0000

Time,
How do we find the TIME to plan when everyone is doing more for less? I teach my 3 classes then co teach 4 other classes. I need time to plan with my co-teachers
I walk with one teacher during her 15 minute lunch duty, stop in when I have a conference (which is not often due to ARD meetings and other Sp Ed obligations ) stay after school for shared planning time (when other meetings do not interfere) come early before class and even meet during lunch, when I am not doing tutorials with students or other meetings. There seems to a shortage of time, all around — any ideas? And I have very small classes, nothing the load like my co – teachers have.
Oh and we text and email ideas and lesson plans.

Comment on Does Co-teaching Work? by Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:50:05 +0000

This is really a question: Is it “co-teaching” when the regular classroom teacher has four different special ed teachers come in for one hour each throughout the day? And, is it really “co-teaching” when 11 out of 22 students are in special ed.?