Special Education Today newsletter 3(4)

Where am I? What am I doing?

Hello, dear readers. This is to be an abbreviated newsletter for Special Education Today, because I’m traveling and, for my body, it is quite late, so I shall not have much time to write the newsletter. Keep those expectations low, perhaps lower than you keep them when you usually begin reading one of these missives.

If you can name the patch of water shown in the accompanying photo, you will know where I am. I admit that there are not many good clues in the photo, so it’s a daunting challenge.

Table of Contents

During the week of 17 July 2023 I published only five pieces on SET. Of course, one of those was the newsletter for that week…so, starting with it, here is a list of the contents for the week:

• Special Education Today Newsletter 3(3).

• A case of and for higher education for individuals with disabilities: What is Josh Hansen’s story?

• The boys in the backyard: Are these guys just buckin’ around?

• Special shout out: What do certain subscribers have in common?

• Friday photos #30-11: Is this one a bit different?

Yow! It really is a mixed bag! Well, I hope readers find something of interest and value there. Happy reviewing.

Comments

Later this week, I shall be talking about science in education. I plan to explain that a lot of the talk about the science of x (let x = reading, spelling, arithmetic, writing, reasoning, etc.) is pretty interesting, but not terrifically useful. The science of x may indicate that students need to learn certain things (e.g., segmenting and blending of spoken language), but (a) we already knew that those were essential component skills; (b) the skills revealed by the science often may be necessary, but they’re not sufficient; and (c) that science is rarely telling us how to bring students to mastery of the longer-term goals (e.g., “really comprehending what one reads”).

That statement about my planned activity provides a pretty big hint about the identity of that patch of water shown at the head of this newsletter. I’ll be speaking this week at the national conference of the National Institute for Direct Instruction. In the past, NIFDI has made available videos of some talks; if I don’t embarrass them too much, perhaps this one will be available, too. It may take a little while for the technical folks to render the video and post it, but in the mean time readers can review those talks that are already available. There are some dandies!

Don’t watch the videos and drive! Wear your seatbelts. Watch out for others. And, of course, teach your children well.

JohnL

John Wills Lloyd, Ph.D.

https://www.SpecialEducationToday.com/

Looking north across the McKenzie River in central Oregon.