Special Education Today newsletter 3(35)
Anyone tired of this project yet?
Here we go again! It’s the 35th issue of the third volume of the Special Education Today newsletter and it appeared 26 February 2024. If this was a rollercoaster, would it be at the crest of a hill, about to plunge downward at great speed or in a low trough, starting the gain height very slowly?
Well…whichever or other. It is what it is and that’s all that it is (after Popeye the Salesman). For folks familiar with the ride, this newsletter may be comforting in its familiarity or boring in its mundaneness. Right…same old same old.
But please remember, the February sale on paid subscriptions will continue for a few more days. And, that the sale is for paid subscriptions should not deter folks from signing up for the free subscriptions at the same price as always: $0.00.
This week’s eye-candy consists of two photos. The first is a photo I took during a recent walk. The view is downstream along Rock Creek. The confluence of Rock Creek and Moore’s Creek is almost visible in the far stretch of the creek.
The second photo is a view from our porch toward Moores Creek with morning sunlight sparkling on the creek’s surface. At this point, the creek is probably 10-12 m. wide. One can also see the trail that runs beside (and sometimes a little through) our backyard. There is a steep bank, perhaps 2 m high just beyond the trail. The location for the first photo is about 80-100 m. to the right.
I’m happy to report that I’ve been out on that trail several times recently, marking recovery from The Illness. Yay!
Table of contents
It was a busy week last week, at least to the extent that the number of posts indicates business. I posted 10 separate stories, counting last week’s newsletter. Here’s a catalog of them.
Special Education Today newsletter 3(34): Does anyone want to know what was published last week? OK...don't answer that!
Fred's 18 Feb FI: Want to see what's new in ABA literature?
Genetics, disabilities, and early identification: Will polygenic risk predict ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other disorders?
Sharon Vaughn talked about reading comprehension again: Isn't that great...but why does she say teaching comprehension isn't such a good idea?
Trisomies in children who died 1000s of years ago: What must their worlds have been like?
Woman with quadriplegia sued for trespassing: Why isn't she complying with a "get out of here" order?
Multisensory ≠ VAK: Is there something missing from multi-sensory instruction?
Another case of LEA v Parents: Is this one special or "nothing to see here?"
Loving our kids --> open science: What in the world do you mean?
Let's talk camp for kids who use AAC: Do you know about the upcoming seminar USSAAC?
If you missed any of these (possible and understandable), you may want to read them soon. In a few days they’ll slip into the paid-subscribers-only section. (The newsletter remain on the public side in perpetuity, provided I remember to update the settings.) Also, please remember that one doesn’t have to wait for these newsletters to learn about posts newly published on the Web but not sent via email; just go directly to Special Education Today and see what’s new.
Status updates
Welcome to the five new free subscribers from this past week: AJ, Trynia K., Waystone, Mr. M., and Marcus G. Thanks for signing up for SET! And a special thanks to MM and Laura N. for upgrading. Y’all’s contributions to the commonwealth is greatly appreciated.
Flashes of the electrons to Dan H., Adelaide D, Tina C., Laura N., and Clay K. for dropping comments this month. Thanks for stirring the pot…and keep those spoons going! Most posts seen in the last week: Betsy T., Adelaide D., and Rebecca, B. All-time clickers of link: Susan de L., Dan H., Adelaide, D., KRob., KWit., SLaun, and KMill. All y’all rock!
If any of y’all use social media, I’d appreciate you dropping links to the news letter or individual posts that you think your read would find interesting. I’m still sometimes posting on Xitter, but I’m concerned about that medium’s content; I’m wary of having SET content show up next to some porn or fascist tweets. (Speaking of which, does anyone have similar concerns about Substack?)
Comments & notes
This section will be brief this week. I considered writing about comments that besmirch special education and special educators, that denigrate and belittle our little sub-discipline, that speak badly of and run down the endeavor of special education…and I found myself starting to rant and write words that I didn’t think I would be proud of using. So I dropped it…waiting for a time when I don’t feel so wound. up about “special education isn’t special,” “ special education is just an endless pile of paperwork,” and “special education is broken.”
I won’t encourage readers of SET to wait patiently for me to publish thoughtful notes on this topic. Instead, please drop your own in the comments (or send them to me via back channels if you worry about public attribution or don’t want to punish them yourself for some other reason). Just don’t hold your breath….
In the meantime, please remember to take care of yourself and others, drive carefully. wear your seatbelts, and make dang sure you teach your children well.
JohnL
John Wills Lloyd, Ph.D., UVA Professor Emeritus, Founder & Editor, https://www.SpecialEducationToday.com/
I always enjoy the photos you include! Anytime I get to see beautiful scenery from Virginia, my day is made better!
There are and I can see some from my office windows but I love that Virginia scenery!