Post by blackcrowheart on Jan 17, 2006 21:43:38 GMT -5
Specialized education
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph
BLOOMINGTON - Alyssa Stirn, 11, can sound out and spell the word
"electricity." That's something she couldn't do before getting special
help. She is one of the students benefiting from a new program at Life
Crossings Academy in Bloomington targeted at children with dyslexia.
It's one of several local examples of schools - particularly those in
rural areas or that are private - finding a niche to serve their own
students and attract new ones.
At Blooming Grove Academy, for instance, about 33 percent of the
students are of Indian descent. In Tazewell County, kids with autism can
stay close to home at Delavan Elementary, which now offers a program.
The schools are reflective of larger trends, said Deborah Curtis,
interim dean of the College of Education at Illinois State University.
"These are changes we are seeing across the board," she said,
acknowledging the university, known for its education program, knows its
students need a background in special education and diversity in
language and culture.
They've also found the need for teachers with bilingual skills and those
who can teach English as a second language, Curtis said.
Life Crossings Academy
"Solutions," a program to help students with dyslexia reach their
potential, is part of the school's mission to focus on the talents of
individuals.
"We focus on what they do well," said Lyn Mounce, director of Life
Crossings Academy, Bloomington. "We're on a talent search with each
student."
Solutions is based on 25 years of research and includes techniques to
help students with dyslexia become successful. About 20 percent of the
American population has dyslexia. At Life Crossings the number is
slightly higher, with about one-quarter of its 24 students in the
Solutions program.
Life Crossings, formerly known as McLean County Christian School,
educates second to 12th grade students. It was established 12 years ago.
Vonda Stirn, whose daughter has dyslexia, said coping with dyslexia can
lower a student's self confidence.
"I don't want them to be bruised any more than they already are," said
Stirn, the school's dyslexia testing and tutoring specialist.
Six students are enrolled in Solutions and the school plans to make it
available to both adults and children in the community.
Blooming Grove Academy
The number of McLean County residents from India has grown from less
than 1,300 in 2000 to about 4,400 today, according to the McLean County
India Association, and several of those families send their kids to
Blooming Grove Academy.
One class of 11 3-year-olds, for example, has 10 Indian students.
Director Peg Hayden said the class formed based on when students
registered.
The school has an ethnic mix and class sizes are kept small.
"This year the Indian population has increased significantly" while the
Asian population has gone down a little, Hayden said. Hispanic and
biracial also are part of the 153-child school that serves those age 3
to eighth grade.
During classroom meetings, everyone sits on the floor to talk things
out.
"Some students really thrive in this setting," Hayden said.
Delavan, Unit 5
Already one out-of-district student takes advantage of an autism program
started at Delavan schools this fall to serve two in-district students.
Delavan, which has had 700 students in the late 1970s and 1980s,
experienced a significant decline in enrollment and has room for more
students, said Superintendent Mary Parker.
In Normal-based Unit 5 during the last three years, the number of
students diagnosed with autism has gone from 23 to about 90, reflecting
a national trend.
Unit 5 special education director Chuck Hartseil, said some parents move
to Normal to take advantage of its established program.
People with autism have problems with social interaction and
communicating, and they tend to repeat behaviors.
Across the country in the 1980s, only 1 in 1,000 people had autism but
"that has grown to one in 166," said Jacquie Mace, president of the
Autism Society of McLean County.
Illinois State University is home for the Autism Spectrum Institute,
which recognizes the growth of numbers of people with autism and the
needs for education to address this, noted Curtis, the ISU dean.
"It's not surprising that a district like Delavan would provide such a
service to meet its students needs," she said.
The district receives a lot of support from the Tazewell-Mason County's
special education team, said Parker.
Staff development is essential to make this kind of a program work,
Parker said.
"It also demands a high degree of parental involvement."
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph
BLOOMINGTON - Alyssa Stirn, 11, can sound out and spell the word
"electricity." That's something she couldn't do before getting special
help. She is one of the students benefiting from a new program at Life
Crossings Academy in Bloomington targeted at children with dyslexia.
It's one of several local examples of schools - particularly those in
rural areas or that are private - finding a niche to serve their own
students and attract new ones.
At Blooming Grove Academy, for instance, about 33 percent of the
students are of Indian descent. In Tazewell County, kids with autism can
stay close to home at Delavan Elementary, which now offers a program.
The schools are reflective of larger trends, said Deborah Curtis,
interim dean of the College of Education at Illinois State University.
"These are changes we are seeing across the board," she said,
acknowledging the university, known for its education program, knows its
students need a background in special education and diversity in
language and culture.
They've also found the need for teachers with bilingual skills and those
who can teach English as a second language, Curtis said.
Life Crossings Academy
"Solutions," a program to help students with dyslexia reach their
potential, is part of the school's mission to focus on the talents of
individuals.
"We focus on what they do well," said Lyn Mounce, director of Life
Crossings Academy, Bloomington. "We're on a talent search with each
student."
Solutions is based on 25 years of research and includes techniques to
help students with dyslexia become successful. About 20 percent of the
American population has dyslexia. At Life Crossings the number is
slightly higher, with about one-quarter of its 24 students in the
Solutions program.
Life Crossings, formerly known as McLean County Christian School,
educates second to 12th grade students. It was established 12 years ago.
Vonda Stirn, whose daughter has dyslexia, said coping with dyslexia can
lower a student's self confidence.
"I don't want them to be bruised any more than they already are," said
Stirn, the school's dyslexia testing and tutoring specialist.
Six students are enrolled in Solutions and the school plans to make it
available to both adults and children in the community.
Blooming Grove Academy
The number of McLean County residents from India has grown from less
than 1,300 in 2000 to about 4,400 today, according to the McLean County
India Association, and several of those families send their kids to
Blooming Grove Academy.
One class of 11 3-year-olds, for example, has 10 Indian students.
Director Peg Hayden said the class formed based on when students
registered.
The school has an ethnic mix and class sizes are kept small.
"This year the Indian population has increased significantly" while the
Asian population has gone down a little, Hayden said. Hispanic and
biracial also are part of the 153-child school that serves those age 3
to eighth grade.
During classroom meetings, everyone sits on the floor to talk things
out.
"Some students really thrive in this setting," Hayden said.
Delavan, Unit 5
Already one out-of-district student takes advantage of an autism program
started at Delavan schools this fall to serve two in-district students.
Delavan, which has had 700 students in the late 1970s and 1980s,
experienced a significant decline in enrollment and has room for more
students, said Superintendent Mary Parker.
In Normal-based Unit 5 during the last three years, the number of
students diagnosed with autism has gone from 23 to about 90, reflecting
a national trend.
Unit 5 special education director Chuck Hartseil, said some parents move
to Normal to take advantage of its established program.
People with autism have problems with social interaction and
communicating, and they tend to repeat behaviors.
Across the country in the 1980s, only 1 in 1,000 people had autism but
"that has grown to one in 166," said Jacquie Mace, president of the
Autism Society of McLean County.
Illinois State University is home for the Autism Spectrum Institute,
which recognizes the growth of numbers of people with autism and the
needs for education to address this, noted Curtis, the ISU dean.
"It's not surprising that a district like Delavan would provide such a
service to meet its students needs," she said.
The district receives a lot of support from the Tazewell-Mason County's
special education team, said Parker.
Staff development is essential to make this kind of a program work,
Parker said.
"It also demands a high degree of parental involvement."