Project MORE Conference

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend of ASO:

Information on the upcoming Project MORE Conference.

"Project MORE (Mentoring in Ohio for Reading Excellence) a volunteer reading mentoring project designed for students with disabilities, demonstrates statistically significant reading results. The Project was developed in response to Ohio Governor Bob Taft's 1999 initiative, Ohio Reads. The Ohio Reads initiative was created to improve literacy for all students using volunteers. State legislators wanted to ensure that students with disabilities would have access to reading mentoring services, hence Project MORE was established. The primary goal was to demonstrate that students with disabilities could improve their reading skills specifically using structured reading mentoring programs. The Project originated in NW Ohio and West Cental Ohio as a collaborative effort between he Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) and Putnam County, NW Ohio, Erie-Huron-Ottawa and Wood County ESCs. The Project was made possible through Ohio legislative funding since 1999."

This is a great project that could be replicated in school districts throughout Ohio. FYI - please share. Contact information follows my signature and the agenda.

Sincerely,

Barbara C. YavorcikPresidentAutism Society of Ohio701 S. Main St.Akron, OH 44311(330) 376-0211fax: (330) 376-1226email: askASO@...home: byavorcik@...web: www.autismohio.org Please note: This is provided for information purposes only. The ASO does not endorse or recommend any providers, methodologies or services. Providing this information should not be construed as an endorsement by the ASO, either explicit or impiled.

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Project MORE Conference Agenda

“Sustaining Reading Mentoring into the Futureâ€

Olscamp Hall, Bowling Green State University

May 8, 2006

8:00-9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00-10:15 Opening Session

Ø “Welcoming Remarksâ€

Dr. Josue Cruz, Dean, College of Education & Human Development, BGSU

Ø “How We Got to Where We Are Todayâ€

Ms. Margaret Burley, Executive Director, Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities

Ø “Project MORE is Effective, Affordable, Replicable, Sustainable (EARS)â€

Dr. Rich , Independent Evaluator, Center for Evaluation Services, BGSU

Ø “First Rural Project MORE Schoolâ€

Mr. Ron Bash & Ms. Pam Wilhelm, First Project MORE School Superintendent & Title I Coordinator, Leipsic

Ø “First Urban School Partnershipâ€

Ms. a Woods, Executive Director of Special Education, Cleveland Municipal School District

Ø “Taking Project MORE to Scale in Ohioâ€

Office for Exceptional Children, ODE

10:15-10:30 Break

10:30-11:30 Breakout Sessions

1. Project MORE Model HOSTS School: “Changing the Face of Special Education†Leipsic serves 70+ children (Title I & children with disabilities) through their Title I program. Ms. Pam Wilhelm, Leipsic;

2. Turning Lemons into Lemonade: “Challenges and Opportunities†This session will address issues and concerns that all Project MORE schools face. Panel Discussion (Administrators, Coordinators, Mentors)

3. Project MORE and OISM (Ohio’s Integrated Systems Model): “Is This a Good Fit?†Two schools use Project MORE as their targeted reading intervention and DIBELS as their progress monitoring tool. Ms. Michele DiMuzio, NEOSERRC OISM lead, Ms. Kathy Carlile, Principal and Ms. Gardner, Reading-tutors Coordinator, EJ Blott Elementary, Youngstown; Barb Kenney, Reading-tutors Coordinator, Woodside Elementary, Youngstown

11:30-1:00 Luncheon/Recognition

Ø Lunch 11:30-12:15

Ø Dr. Jan Osborn, Putnam County ESC Supt and Project MORE Asst. Dir.

Ø Ms. Sue Westendorf, State Board President, live video connection via Ohio State School for the Deaf

Ø Dr. Tave Zelman, Superintendent of Public Instruction, live video connection via Ohio State School for the Deaf

Ø Recognition Ceremony

o 2nd District Senator Randy Gardner

o 75th District Representative/Candidate for Senate, Jim Hoops

o Ms. Margaret Burley, Executive Director, Ohio Coalition for the Education with Disabilities

1:00-1:40 Breakout Sessions

1. Urban Reading Mentoring Model- “We Can Do It and So Can You†Learn how Cleveland Municipal School District started with a vision of serving children with disabilities in 15 schools with plans to expand to all CMSD schools. Ms. a Woods, Executive Director for Special Education, CMSD

2. Reading-tutors Model Schools: “Speech Pathologist’s Role in Literacy†Ms. Peggy , Project MORE Coordinator, Coventry Local, Akron; “School- wide Approach to Reading Mentoring, Ms. Kay Mathias, Elmwood; and “Reading Mentoring for Children with Emotional Disturbance†Ms. Jill Kovnesky, Independence Education Center, Defiance

3. “The Power of Repeated Reading and How Project MORE Research Can

Improve Your Reading Mentoring Program†This session will focus on

repeated reading, fluency, and using data to monitor student outcomes, Dr. Rich , Dr. Stacey Rychener, Center for Evaluation Services, BGSU

1:40-1:50 Break

1:50-2:30 Breakout Sessions

1. “ Mentoring Partnerships-Unique Places to Find Mentors†Ms. Diane Neal, Assistant Professor, Bluffton University; Dr. Belinda Rhoads, Project MORE Coordinator, Wood County Educational Service Center, Bowling Green

2. “Project MORE Offers Hope to Parents†This session will show how to involve parents as partners in teaching children how to read. Ms. Margaret Burley, Executive Director, Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities; Ms. Angie , Project MORE Family Liaison Coordinator, Cleveland Municipal School District

3. “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Written Words: Learn the relationship between children’s illustrations and literacy. Dr. Jerry Mallett, Director Mazza Museum, University of Findlay

2:30-3:00 Closing

Ø Where do we go from here? – 2006 and Beyond…

Dr. Jan Osborn, Putnam County ESC Supt. and Project MORE Asst. Dir.

Professional Development Contact Hours will be available at the conclusion of the Conference

Luncheon Buffet includes three pasta selections (vegetarian option), Salad, Bread, and Beverage

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Project MORE Contributors

Vision and Inspiration for Project MORE- Margaret Burley, Executive Director, Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities

Educational Service Center Consortium

NwOESC - Wilhelm, Superintendent; Judy Stuckey, Project MORE Coordinator

WCESC - Doug Garman, Superintendent; Belinda Rhoads, Project MORE Coordinator

Putnam ESC - Jan Osborn, Superintendent; Amy Freeman, Project MORE Director

Independent Evaluators: Center for Evaluation Services, BGSU

Dr. Rich , Dr. , Dr. Stacey Rychener, Ms. Kandy Current

College/University Partnerships

Ø Bluffton University, Bluffton

Ø Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green

Ø Ohio Northern University, Ada

Ø Ohio State University, Lima

Ø Akron University, Akron

Ø Defiance College, Defiance

Ø University of Findlay, Findlay

Ø Youngstown State University, Youngstown

Project MORE Conference Registration – May 8, 2006Olscamp Hall, Bowling Green State University Name: _________________________ Organization: _______________________ Address: _______________________ City:______________________________ Phone: ___________________Email: ___________________________________ Please register me for the following Breakout Sessions. Professional Development

Contact Hours will be available at the conclusion of the conference 10:45-11:45 (Circle Only One) Project MORE Model HOSTS School Turning Lemons into Lemonade Project MORE & OISM 1:00-1:40 (Circle Only One) Urban Reading Mentoring Reading-tutors Model Schools The Power of Repeated Reading and How Project MORE Research Can Improve

Your Reading Mentoring Program 1:50-2:30 (Circle Only One) Mentor Partnerships-Unique Places to Find Mentors Project MORE Offers Hope to Parents A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Return to Amy Freeman by April 19,2006.FAX: 419.523.6126

Email: afreeman@... Please note if special accommodations are required:__________________________________