Here you have the second year’s 14th issue of the newsletter for Special Education Today. This issue has the usual: a few house-keeping notes, some thanks to readers, a listing of recent posts, and a little bit of gratuitous (BS?) commentary.

Subscribers

The list of free subscribers includes about 450 addresses. Some of you will remember when there were only about 150 subscribers.

Of those subscribers, fewer than 25 are paying for thier subscriptions. Many of you will remember when there were no paying subscribers!

Those who have paid subscriptions (thank you! and special thanks to founding members...cough, M., cough, cough G.) are helping carry the publication of SET for folks who can’t otherwise afford the subscription (even though it’s fewer than US$75 per year). That includes subscribers from “third-world countries” and poorly paying local education agencies. Thanks for sustaining SET!

If you got an email notice about this issue of the SET newsletter, you’ve most likely already subscribed. But, maybe not. The data I get indicate that some folks are coming to SET from links other than those associated with their own personal e-mail addresses. They are guests! Well, if you’re new to SET, please sign up for a free subscription, at the least.

Also, regardless of your connection to SET, please use the “share” button embedded in this newsletter to let others who may not be subscribers know about the community. Also, note that I usually put a share button on individual posts, so readers can help disseminate specific content, too.

Thanks!

I’ve gotten myself in some sort of a bind here. Over the previous ~60 weeks, I’ve often recognized readers who have commented, liked, and passed along references to SET (e.g., via Twitter). Well, it’s becoming difficult to keep up with these acknowledgements.

It’s a great problem to have. Y’all are doing just what I’d hoped...liking, commenting, sharing. But, if I was to have to document all those interactions every week, it would quickly become onerous. So, I expect that the shout-outs feature of the newsletter will take a nap.

Still, this week let me mention long-time supporters Michael G., Tina C., Ed M., Joel M., Clay K, Dan H., Lysandra C., Jane B., Nate S., Michael K., & others whom I’ve not listed here. Savvy readers will recognize some of those abbreviated names as people with substantial—and deserved—reputations in disabilities and special ed. It is wonderful to know not only that SET has readers of your and their substantial accomplishments, but also that you care enough to interact with the posts on SET. Thank you!

Current Contents

This past week, had you been a regular visitor to the SET Web site , you would have found six recent articles about various topics in the magazine. I sent e-mail about three of those articles (is that too many messages?). If you only read the e-mail, you missed three articles. To get something approximating full benefit of your subscription (free or paid!), please visit regularly!

Here’s the full listing of all six articles since the last newsletter:

• Please consider this “neurocognitive approach” to reading instruction—Is this an illustration of a scientific approach to reading? https://www.specialeducationtoday.com/p/please-consider-this-neurocognitive

• Florida Center for Reading Research at 20!: How much good can a few smart, caring people do? https://www.specialeducationtoday.com/p/florida-center-for-reading-research

• Assessing decoding competence: What can one learn from this DLD Teaching Tutorial? https://www.specialeducationtoday.com/p/assessing-decoding-competence

• New York city’s change in literacy instruction: Will it make a difference? https://www.specialeducationtoday.com/p/new-york-citys-change-in-literacy

• More on literacy in the popular press: Do you think prominent discussion of issues will help improve outcomes? https://www.specialeducationtoday.com/p/more-on-literacy-in-the-popular-press

• Greg Ashman on pseuds, poseurs, quacks, charlatans: Are some educational innovators like “Professor” Hill, The Music Man? https://www.specialeducationtoday.com/p/greg-ashman-on-pseuds-poseurs-quacks

Meanwhile, I am planning additional features for the magazine. It’ll take a while for me to get them completed; this is just a one-pony show, you know! But write to me and let me know what you do and do not like to see on SET!

Personal commentary

I sometimes see things that I find interesting during my walk-arounds. Last week I included a photo of people overlooking the New River in the US New River Gorge National Park. This week, I want to go back to that park and use another image from that trip.

Soon after I took the photo of people looking over a brink to the gorge, my pals and I all walked a wonderful (WONDERFUL!) easy trail. Along the way, I spotted a pair of spider webs; although many of you know how difficult it is to get photos of spider webs (lighting!), I got this photo.

Well, it got me to thinking about analogies. I thought, uhm, what if I was a spider who could weave a wonderful web? And what if that web would be attractive to people who gave a damn about kids with disabilities and special education? What if that Web could communicate to others concerned about kids’ disabilities?

Could I capture some folks? Would it be a web that didn’t lead to the deaths of the captured, but to an opportunity for the captured to discuss their hopes for kids with disabilities? Their concerns about teaching kids with disabilities? Current news about special education today?

Should I change my name to “Charlotte?”

I hope everyone is safe and happy. Please take care of yourselves and remember to take care of each other. And (especially) to teach your children well.

JohnL

John Wills Lloyd, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, UVA School of Ed & HD

Co-editor, Exceptional Children

Editor, https://www.SpecialEducationToday.com/