Featuring: Natalie Doyle, Katie Madigan, & Shonda Ronen This is the third and final episode in a three-part series on inclusion and leadership. This series covered topics such as: getting started in inclusion, maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, and how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur. This third episode will focus on how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur, with insights from professionals in positions o...
Featuring: Natalie Doyle, Katie Madigan, & Shonda Ronen This is the second episode in a three-part series on inclusion and leadership. This series will cover topics such as: getting started in inclusion, maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, and how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur. This second episode will focus on maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, with insights from professionals in positions of leadership in the early childhood field....
Featuring: Natalie Doyle, Katie Madigan, & Shonda Ronen This is the first episode in a three-part series on inclusion and leadership. This series will cover topics such as: getting started in inclusion, maintaining staff-inclusive beliefs, and how to keep the inclusive culture thriving in schools when changes occur. This first episode will focus on getting started in inclusion, with insights from professionals in positions of leadership in the early childhood field. Resour...
Featuring: Kathy Slattery, Megan Carlson, and Nikki Norman In this episode our conversation is on the topic of Selective Mutism. There is a wide range of information in this podcast about Selective Mutism as our guests share stories of their journeys learning about SM as professionals and family members. Below is a list of resources discussed in the podcast and on the topic. Resources
Welcome back to the STAR NET Regions I & III Podcast. I’m Bridget Meis, an Early Childhood Special Education Professional Development Specialist. Joining me today is Kristy Doan from the Illinois State Board of Education. Today, we are going to talk about what the itinerant model looks like when related service providers embed services into the classroom setting and community based settings. Resources: Advancing Preschool Inclusion in Community Based Early Childhoo...
In this podcast, we will speak with Allyssa Harpist, a teacher for students with visual impairments in the Urbana School District 116, and Hong Phangia Dewald, PhD, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, about strategies that can be implemented for children with visual impairments in inclusive early childhood classrooms. Resources: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments ISVI Opening Doors Family Connect Seedlings Perkins School for the Blind Paths to ...
In this episode, we discuss the use of AI in preschool classrooms. We highlight some of the different tools out there, such as Large Language Models (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc) and MagicSchool.ai. We discuss ways to use these tools to support lesson planning, classroom environments, IEP development, BIP development, and writing Social Stories. Take a look at the resources listed below to see examples. Resources Beginning of the Year Lesson Plan with Paraeducator Guide Fire Dril...
In this episode, we will discuss how Tania Swigart, a preschool itinerant teacher from Rantoul City Schools, transitioned into her new role within the district and what her daily interactions are like while pushing into the classroom to support students. Resource Resource Guide for Early Childhood Collaborative Itinerant Teaching Model
In this episode, Deb Shirley, Instructional Coach from Adams Early Childhood Center in Lincoln, Illinois, will discuss with us the ways she engages students by making stories come to life through storytelling, puppets, and role-playing.
Dr. Lindsay Meeker and Dr. Kimberly Coy discussed the inspiration and importance of Dr. Coy's new book, "Mia with Dyslexia", which aims to provide a realistic portrayal of dyslexia and promote inclusivity in classrooms. They also discussed the challenges faced by individuals with dyslexia and other disabilities, the importance of learning in different ways, and the significance of children experiencing a range of emotions. The conversation ended with the announcement of the upcoming release o...
Join us as we meet with Kylie (OT), Alisha (PT), and Sidney (SLP) to discuss navigating different therapeutic solutions for helping children be successful in day-to-day life and in academic settings! This conversation dives through differences parents might see in school therapies versus outpatient therapies and gives concrete examples parents and educators can use to embed individualized supports for children in day to day routines. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
In this episode, we are joined by Stephanie Mader, an Early Childhood Special Education teacher in Rock Island’s School District 41 who works as an itinerant teacher with the local Head Start program. She shares how she builds relationships and collaborates with the Head Start Teachers as well as how the Head Start teachers support her work with the children in their classrooms.
In this episode, we are joined by Jen Mohr a PFA teacher from Rock Island School District 41. Today we are going to talk about Jen’s experience in creating an interactive and engaging writing center in her preschool classroom.
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Kasandra Posey from FAIR Consultancy LLC, about what families should know about the IEP process. She shares tips about what families should do, what to look out for, and how to work with the school district as they navigate the process. Resources: The Parent Guide-English The Parent Guide Spanish Procedural Safeguards-English Procedural Safeguards- Spanish Forms in Other Languages ISBE Special Education Website
In this podcast with the president of Hadley's Haven, Lenore Ashby, we walk through the journey of what it takes to build an inclusive playground in your community. From advocating for true accessibility over just meeting ADA compliance to setting up a 501c3 and navigating grants with a local township and fundraising, Lenore shares the importance of this work and the struggles she faced along the way. She harnessed the strength inside her to create a space where all children can play together...
In this episode, veteran teachers Sherial McKinney and Marc Baxter share some insights into preparing for a new school year. Our discussion covers the weeks leading up to the start of school, preparing the classroom, and getting to know the children and families. Click here for a list of resources you might use for the start of the school year!
In this episode, we talk with Heather Nolan from the Urbana Early Childhood School about teaming and collaboration. Heather takes a unique view on this process, including everyone in the process, making sure that all voices are heard, and having all classroom members, teachers, and paraeducators, take turns in the leader role, classroom support role, and the one-on-one support role in the classroom. Heather also talks about how to get started with this type of teaming and collabor...
In this podcast, we discuss the use of visuals with the whole class in addition to using them as individual supports. Jaz discusses several strategies she uses and the benefits she sees as she provides these supports for everyone. Jaz even shared some examples of the visuals she created, click on the link below to view them. Resource Jasmine Norris' Classroom Visuals
In this episode, we talk with Kelly Russell from the CU Early Prevention Initiative Program in Champaign County. We discuss the importance of Early Intervention, the transition process from Early Intervention to Early Childhood Special Education, extended services, and resources for families. Resources Children and Family Connections of Central Illinois Illinois Early Intervention Clearing House Champaign County home visiting Consortium Crisis Nursery CU Early Bottom...
This podcast is a review of the book study series completed in the Spring of 2024 on Emotionally Responsive Teaching by Travis Wright. Marc Baxter and Sheila Yates review some of the key points from the book and discussions with the group. Some of the key points include: what is "trauma" and how it might have come to mean many things, how the skills children in trauma develop might not serve them well at school, the stress response system, how traditional behavioral approaches mig...
Rhonda Hillyer
thank you for sharing! I have been in trainings that Melissa has taught. Love her!