Special Education Today newsletter 4(33)
How about a little drivel with your recap for the week?
Hey now! Welcome to the current edition of the Special Education Today newsletter. This is the 1193rd post for the history of SET, and it includes a recap of the goings on for the week ending 9 February 2025. experienced readers will likely be able to predict the structure: A photo, some updates, a list of recent posts, and maybe (if you’re unlucky) a little editorial.
Photo
My long-enduring partner sent me this photo of a blossom on a miniature rose. The bush is (currently) potted and sitting on our dining table. I suspect the bush will find its way into the ground somewhere in the yard.
It’s a lovely image to ponder, especially as we approach Valentine’s Day. So, ponder this question: Have you gotten cards to give to your entire class of kids for this year’s celebration? If you’re not ready, please consider this a reminder!
There will be many more blooms coming soon for those of us in the northern hemisphere as those you folks in the southern hemisphere see blooms beginning to fade. Some early daffodils have poked up, even with the snow and ice recently.
Updates
Ten or so people added themselves to the subscriber list for SET recently. Here is a flash of the electrons to those folks: Debbie T. (did I get you list week?), Macro E., Noreen P., Tara D, Alison H., Influence K., Yellow H., Robin F., Ask I., Adrienne, and Tino….and a special woohoo for Michele M. who upgraded to paid status! Y’all are part of a growing and diverse community. Welcome!
I’m not sure where they each call “home,” but it is apparent that there are folks from many lands who subscribe to SET. The following map shows the distribution of subscribers by country. One of my fondest hopes is that SET can become an Earth-wide community of people concerned about special education and kids with disabilities.
Also, I want to acknowledge those who made comments this past week. My lid is tipped to Jane B., Paul C., Laura McK., and Tom Z Thanks to all of you for adding to, correcting, or complimenting posts. Very valuable!
List of posts
There were seven new posts on SET durning the just-passed week.1 Here is the cutomary listing of them, beginning with newsletter for the 3 February 2025.
Special Education Today newsletter 4(32): How about a recap of news and info for the week ending 2 February 2025?
Spread the Word day is coming!: Will you be ready to help?
M. Stein interviewed about Project Follow Through: Do you want a good introduction or a brush-up on this important quasi-experiment?
Shooting at Campus Risbergska, Örebro, Sweden: What happened? Who was injured or killed?
Teachers are not widgets: What did I say in 2009 about a report challenging views of teacher accountability?
Special education teacher as superhero: Might you want to see a TV show with such a protagonist?
Each of these posts was read about 500-600 or more times—even the goofy one about the 1980s TV show!
Notes & comment
The editorial content is a little different for this issue. I’m not subjecting you, dear readers, to more of my personal opinion. Instead I describe a few forthcoming topics.
I spent time with the executive director of Bennett’s Village in preparation for a forthcoming post. Long-time subscribers will remember that I’ve had posts about this local effort to establish an accessible play space previously: Accessible playgrounds… 7 September 2021) and Bennett’s Village…13 September 2024). The first phase of the play space is a treehouse one can roll right into and enjoy lots of special features. Here’s a photo that I hope will pique your interest (check the woodwork at the top right—I’ll have a detail of that sort of work later). Stay tuned…there’s more to come.
US News published an extensive report that ranked schools. What’s the best school in the US? In Virginia? Oh! Okay…? Should we bow in homage like many seem to do with the “best college” rankings? I don’t think we should, because the analysis omits lots of important ideas.2 I’m working on this one.
A couple of eminent cognitive psychologists—including my friend and colleague whose initials stand for Dan Willingham—wrote an article about understanding and managing serious misbehavior. It’s a little surprising that good scholars overlooked 100s of studies. Mandy Rispoli and I are preparing a post about what they got right and what we recommend readers also consider.
There is a shipload of other content coming, too. Spread the Word Day? International Down Syndrome Day? International Women’s Day?
Don’t touch that dial…or better yet: Put SET on speed dial.
Meanwhile, please take care of yourselves and each other. Prevent your pals3 from playing on the freeway. Help folks buckle up. And make sure to teach your students well.
Love,
JohnL
John Wills Lloyd, Ph.D.
Founder and Editor, Special Education Today
SET should not be confused with a product that uses the same name and is published by the Council for Exceptional Children. SET predated CEC’s publication by decades. Despite my appreciation for CEC, this product is not designed to promote that organization nor should the views expressed here be considered to represent the views or policies of that organization.
Footnote
I’m only counting full-on posts that were published on the Web page at SpecialEducationToday.com. As some of you know, I also drop “notes,” If one logs into the Web site and pokes around a bit, she’ll likely find a link to the notes.
What does the analysis omit, you might wonder. Well, if one of your guesses is “special education,”—ding-ding-ding…Winner! But that’s not the only omission.
Also (even though I hope you have none), prevent your enemies from making that mistake. I mean, they’re people, too, and the big idea about special education is to take care of people, each and every one and one at a time.