Special Education Today newsletter 3(40)
Did you miss anything the week of 25 March?
Another week…another issue of the Special Education Today Newsletter, this being the fortieth issue of the third volume. Welcome. Welcome.
You likely know the outline, so there’s little need to bother you, dear readers, with an advance organizer.
Oh, and, if you’re wondering: I know it’s the 1th of April, but I’m not playing any jokes on y’all, dear readers. Sorry I’m not contributing to the frivolity, but I hope you have fun with April Fool’s Day!
Light house keeping
Here is a heartfelt thanks to Jane B., Nancy C.-W., Tina C., Dan H., Jim K., Michael K., Linda L., Mary Anne L., Joel M., Vicki, W., and (particularly) Mike G. and Li-Yu H. These special people have been around SET pretty much from the start and, what is more, contribute to keeping the operation afloat. I receive correspondence or text messages from one or more of them every week, and I appreciate their observations, advice, and support.
Double flashes of the electrons to readers who took the time to drop comments recently. I see you, Luann D., Dan H., and Brenda L. One time soon, mayhaps your comments will inspire others to engage with you in discussion of ideas. When such discussions become common on SET, one of my fondest hopes for this endeavor will have come true.
Thanks, too, to the same group of folks (Luann D., Dan H., and Brenda L.) as well as to Adelaide D., Pei Ho, Marcus H., Clay K., and Larry M. for dropping likes recently.
Also, a hearty hello to Bee J. (or maybe Beebe W.?) on your new subscriptions to SET. It’s great to have the perspective of someone who reads Mind the Gap and Filling the Pail slipping over here to SET.
There were only about 2800 reads of posts last week. I guess I didn’t put up many compelling posts. Sigh.
Finally, I note that this is the 901st post1 since SET re-emerged in its current form. Other than me, these folks have read the most posts all time: Joel M., Dan H., Rebecca B., and Adelaide D. I am greatly flattered that people of their acumen and accomplishment are reading these pages.
List of posts
Special Education Today newsletter 3(39): What was happening last week?
Sorting—part 1: Doesn't separating coins provide a lesson?
Defining DI (again): What if we use crowd-source methods to learn what the world means by "DI?"
Natalie Wexler examined whether Lucy Calkins provided explicit, direct instruction: Would you guess that Units of Study qualify as "di?"
Trisomy 18 in the news: A NYT article illustrates concerns about this disabling condition
School shootings increased in 2017-'22: Could we please stop these events from happening?
The FI is getting longer: What did "Fred" post this week?
NIFDI News for March ‘24: What’s the latest from this a valuable group?
If you’re “of a mind” to keep current with SET posts without depending on this newsletter to see what’s new, please remember that you an go to SpecialEducationToday.com and see the most recent posts. Usually new posts appear overnight (here in the eastern US), so if you visit at about 9 or 10 AM eastern time, you should see whatever has been posted in the last 24 hours (whether posts were published via e-mail or not). But, come on by any time!
Commentary
My neighbor and friend, Lorraine Williams passed away 12 March 2024. As explained in her obituary and a news report of her passing, she had enormous influence on Charlottesville. For example, she and her family were among those who helped (some say “demanded”) Charlottesville schools to integrate; they also led efforts to ensure that affordable housing and employment services for people in the neighborhood.
As another friend, former Charlottesville City Councilor Dede Smith noted, Mrs. Williams “reshaped Charlottesville for the better.” The Charlottesville Daily Progress published a portfolio of photos of Mrs. and Mr. Williams by Andrew Shurtleff. The poses are on their front porch, where they often entertained friends and neighbors.
Although I only got to know her later in her life, I knew a considerate, kind, and patient person. For all of her achievements, one that will stick with me strongly is her influence as a teacher. I have spoken with many neighbors and fellow C’ville residents who knew Mrs. Williams. Lots of them remember her as a teacher:
“Oh, yes. I remember her!”
“Of she was strict, but not mean.”
“She was the one you went to see if you needed to talk to someone about something.”
“One time I was doing something, and she caught me and she said, ‘Don’t you let me see you doing that. If I do, I’m going to tell your mother…and she would’ve.”
“Mrs. Williams? She was the one who got computers for our school. It was the first school in all of central Virginia that got computers. And she showed us how to use them, too.”
“Oh, yeah. I learned stuff from her I’m still using. And it wasn’t just the business stuff, or whatever.”
May all of the educators who read SET have similar influences on their students.
And, may you all remember to stay safe, take care of each other (and others, too), and teach your students well.
JohnL
John Wills Lloyd, Ph.D.
SET editor and founder
I'm sorry about the loss of your friend and neighbor but I love to hear stories of how teachers have influenced their students, schools, and communities. It sounds like she made quite an impact on those she touched.