Videos

This 52-minute video features a session at the 2016 PBIS Implementer's Forum. State wide and school wide implementation are addressed and RENEW is defined as a tier 3 intervention. The process of RENEW is briefly described and then three youth share their experience and outcomes relative to the RENEW process.

Using screening data, LEA’s can assess the “health” of core instruction (Tier 1) relative to the needs of students and mobilize powerful methodologies for enhancing core instruction for all students. This session provides practitioners with a hands on approach for analyzing screening data to inform Tier 1 and accelerate the reading and math growth of all students using robust class-wide interventions.

This presentation will focus on the practical management of behaviorally disordered/emotionally disturbed students. These students are frequently referred to as "tough kids" because they exhibit strong behavioral excesses such as arguing, noncompliance, and aggression while at the same time they possess significant behavioral deficits in self-management (rule-governed behavior), social skills, and academic abilities. This presentation will review what causes "tough kid" behavior, how to practically assess it, and strategies to remediate it. An emphasis will be placed on proactive strategies and positive behavior management interventions, such as Mystery Motivators, the "Sure I Will" program, the "Yes and No" classroom management program, reward spinners, a whole-school positive discipline program (Principal's 200 Club), and several more. Strategies to decrease the behavioral excesses of noncompliance and arguing will include differential attention, "What If" charts, effective classroom rule design, precision requests, and a variety of practical reductive classroom interventions. In addition, information will also be presented on how to get other people, such as parents and other educators, to follow through with and implement these techniques. There will also be an introduction of two new programs, the Tough Kid Bully Blockers program and the Superheroes Social Skills Program for High-Functioning Autistic Children. All the strategies to be presented will be research-validated interventions that can be efficiently implemented in classrooms at low cost.

Training and Consultation (TaC) services support LEAs by providing professional development, technical assistance, and consultation regarding Pennsylvania's special education initiatives. PaTTAN's Training and Consultation to Implement Computer Science (TACTICS) team is a voluntary program for TaC who want to grow their capacity as leaders in Pennsylvania's computer science (CSinPA) education initiatives. Joining PaTTANpod to discuss how TaC support CSinPA are Tom Esposito from Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 and Lauren Walker from Chester County Intermediate Unit. Tom Esposito, Special Education Consultant with Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 Tom Esposito is a Special Education Consultant with Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 and a member of the TaC (Training and Consultation) Team, BrainSTEPS Team, and Deaf-Blind Resource Team. He provides technical assistance to the IU and school districts in the areas of Assistive Technology, STEM, Crisis Intervention, Inclusive Practices and has over 30 years of experience in special education as a paraprofessional, teacher, parent, and administrator. Lauren Walker, Training and Consultation Specialist, Chester County Intermediate Unit #24 Lauren Walker is a dedicated educator with extensive experience in special education. She worked as a special education teacher for the Chester County Intermediate Unit for 10 years, where she provided support to students within a variety of classrooms, including Autistic Support, Emotional Support, and Life Skills Support. During her tenure, she developed a reputation for being a compassionate and effective teacher who truly cared about her students’ well-being. After a decade of teaching, Lauren decided to take her skills and expertise to the next level by transitioning to Training and Consultation. She now works with other educators and schools to provide guidance and support in meeting the unique needs of students with disabilities. Lauren’s passion for education and her unwavering commitment to helping others make her an invaluable resource in the field of special education.

PaTTAN educational consultant, Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims interviews Dr. Bernard Harris in a special bonus episode of PaTTANpod, following his opening keynote at the Pennsylvania Computer Science for All Summit.

Transition Discoveries is a project intended to provide tools and resources geared towards improving transition practices

With all the hype about technology, Kathryn Helland from Temple University’s Institute on Disabilities talks about how we can harness technology to assist with transition into adulthood.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is fast becoming a hot topic in the field of education. TBI is now considered a "developing disease." Following TBI, many students return to school without appropriate educational supports in place. Over time, students may exhibit more intensive learning needs that can be connected back to their earlier brain injury. Regardless if the TBI is classified as mild (concussion), moderate or severe in nature, students may exhibit moderate/severe functional needs in school that impact the ability to learn new information. Information about the differences between students who sustain TBI versus other disability categories, the importance of early identification & screening, and a plethora of specific educational strategies will be discussed. A BrainSTEPS student will also share his personal journey.

Hear from Nicole Tucker-Smith about the tier 1 approach of Universal Design for Learning. UDL is essential for some, beneficial for all.