pathways information newsletter and conf

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Attached is our newsletter and information about a grant writing course we

are having. Don't forget to register for the conference on Nov 17th!

Melinda Jennis, President

Pathways for Exceptional Children

4 Cherokee Ct.

Montville, NJ 07045

(973) 334-9240

Conference Schedule

8:30am-9:00am: Welcome

Registration

9:00am-9:45am:

Becoming Leaders for Social Change

Speakers: Lead Mentors, Pathways for Exceptional Children

9:45am-10:45am:

The Time is Now

Speaker: Melinda Jennis,

President, Pathways for Exceptional Children

10:45am-11:45am:

Auditory Perception: What We Do with What We Hear

Speaker: Chilton, M.A., CCC-SLP,

Co-founder, KidTherapy

11:45am-12:30pm: LUNCH

12:30pm-1:00pm:

Employment and the Future of Children with Disabilities

Speaker: Robles, J.D.,

Deputy Director, NJ Division of Disabilities

1:00pm-2:00pm: Class Sessions

1) Building Effective After-School Programs ...... Cafeteria

Speakers: Debi Jarvie,

Kindergarten Teacher

Melinda Jennis,

President

Lead Mentors

2) Using Technology to Help Children Read............ Library

Speaker: Lee Brodsky,

President, The Carey Group, LLC

3) Inspiring Children with Special Needs.......... Auditorium

Speakers: Robles, J.D.,

Deputy Director, NJ Division of Disabilities Amy Bertelsen-Robles, MSW

2:00pm-3:00pm:

Becoming a Catalyst for Change

Speaker: Gruwell,

President, Freedom Writers Foundation

3:00pm-4:00pm: Conclusion

Book Signing and Reception with Gruwell

To learn more about the Freedom Writers, please visit:

www.freedomwritersfoundation.org. For more information

on Gruwell, please visit www.apbspeakers.com.

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY/STATE/ZIP

HOME PHONE

CELL PHONE

EMAIL ADDRESS

ORGANIZATION AND/OR SCHOOL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION:

Pathways will provide a light lunch consisting of assorted

sandwiches, salad, chips, and beverage at a cost of $5.00

per person, if registered by November 14, 2007.

Registration Fee for Conference:

? Conference Full Day*

9:00am-4:00pm ($65.00 ): $______________

? Gruwell Class Section Only*

2:00pm-4:00pm ($35.00): $______________

? Add Lunch ($5.00): $______________

Conference Total Enclosed: $______________

Full Day Registrants Only:

Check which class you will be attending at 1:00pm session:

? Building Effective After-School Programs

? Using Technology to Help Children Read

? Inspiring Children with Special Needs

Please make checks payable to Pathways for Exceptional

Children. Seating is limited, so please register early. In order

to reserve lunch, registration must be received no later than

November 14, 2007. Please mail registrations to:

Pathways Conference, 4 Cherokee Ct., Montville NJ, 07045

For questions, please email mvtpec@....

*Pathways is a registered Professional Development Provider

with the NJ Department of Education.Teachers attending this

conference will earn NJ Professional Development hours:

? Conference Full Day: 5.25 hours

? Gruwell Class Section Only: 1.0 hours

Visit Pathways at www.montvillepec.org

Becoming a Catalyst

for Change

Gruwell,

President, Freedom Writers Foundation

Nothing could have prepared for her

first day of teaching at High School

in Long Beach, California. A recent college

graduate, she began teaching in room 203, only to find that

many of her students had been written off as " unteachable. "

They were teenagers living in a racially divided urban community,

hardened by gang violence, juvenile detention, and drugs.

will share how she got her students to rethink rigid beliefs about

themselves and others, to reconsider daily decisions, and rechart

their futures. She will discuss how she helped them shatter

stereotypes to become critical thinkers, aspiring college students,

and citizens for change. 's success as an educator and catalyst

for social change received national acclaim through the movie

Freedom Writers,

starring Swank as .This Paramount

Pictures 2007 film is based on the Freedom Writers Diary, a #1

New York Times

bestseller that chronicled 's journey with her

students. 's class and reception from 2:00pm-4:00pm can

be registered for separately or as part of the full-day conference.

Conference Registration Form

Pathways Mission Statement

Pathways for Exceptional Children is an organization whose

goal is to support the educational, emotional, and social

welfare of children with special needs and their families.

About Pathways' Conference:

Getting to the Heart of Teaching

This conference is for everyone who wants to be a catalyst for

change in their communities and schools. It is designed to

inspire and challenge people to work collectively toward helping

and teaching all children to aspire to their fullest potential,

not only in academic settings, but throughout their lives.The

speakers who will be presenting are true leaders committed to

reform; people who have challenged old paradigms. Some have

helped to create innovative programs while others have worked

to design new technologies or more effective curriculums,

therapies and teaching strategies. Pathways has invited them

to share what they have learned and help inspire everyone

to get to the heart of excellence and teaching children today

to create brighter futures for the generations to come.

Our Special Guest Speaker

Employment and the Future

of Children with Disabilities

Robles, J.D.,

Deputy Director, NJ Division of Disabilities

At the age of 16, experienced an accident

that left him a quadriplegic. Since that time

in 1983, has overcome many challenges. Originally from

Newark, became the first person in his family to go to

college and graduated in 1993 from Rutgers Law School. He

has been an advocate for the disabled for 17 years and has

been appointed as chairperson of numerous New Jersey state

committees and panels, including the Governor's Conference on

Employment of People with Disabilities. will speak about

employment prospects for children with disabilities, and reform

that is needed in order to prepare them for future success.

Becoming Leaders for Social Change

Lead Mentors,

Pathways for Exceptional Children

Change for the future begins with our children today. The

Lead Mentors are young adults who volunteer their time as

teachers and companions to children with special needs. They

have become agents of social change and will talk about the

project they are working on this year.

The Time is Now

Melinda Jennis,

President, Pathways for Exceptional Children

When teaching becomes more about test scores

than actual learning, the need for educational

reform is evident. Our youth needs to become

more focused on tolerance of diversity and giving back to

their communities.We all

need to question why children with

disabilities have been looking at a 70% unemployment rate

for years, while billions are spent on educating them.Through

Pathways, Melinda has worked toward educational reform and

getting children more involved in volunteerism and making

a difference. She will discuss the need for reform and how it

will happen when we all concentrate on getting back to the

heart of teaching and putting the focus back on our children,

schools and communities.

Auditory Perception:

What We Do with What We Hear

Chilton, M.A., CCC-SLP

has provided pediatric speech and

language therapy services in a wide variety of

settings for over 20 years. She is co-founder of

KidTherapy, a comprehensive pediatric private practice offering

OT, ST, PT, sensory integration, and social facilitation services in

clinics that operate out of Chester and sville, NJ.

will be discussing how hearing is a function of the ear, and

listening is a function of the brain. She will discuss what happens

when the efficiency and precision of receiving auditory

information breaks down and influences a child's ability to communicate

and learn as it applies to language and phonological

processing, reading and spelling, and remembering information.

Getting to the

Heart of Teaching

A Pathways Conference

Gruwell

Special Guest Speaker

November 17, 2007

9:00am-4:00pm

Montville Twp. High School

100 Horseneck Rd.

Montville, NJ 07045

Keynote Speakers

DiClasses*

1) Building Effective After-School Programs

Pathways has initiated two new programs this year-

Magic of Reading, an intensive early intervention reading

program for children ages 4-7 who have been classified

or identified as needing extra assistance, and Learning

Through Lifefor children ages 8-21, which combines

academics such as reading, writing and math with life

skills.The successes of both programs will be shared.

2) Using Technology to Help Children Read

Aequus Technologies (www.aequustechnologies.com) will

show AspireReader4, a software they developed that

reads DAISY III formatted books, rich text documents

and accessible web sites. It offers new capabilities through

the use of technology that can help children with varied

disabilities gain additional access to reading materials.

DAISY III has a large library of books available online.

3) Inspiring Children with Special Needs

Robles and his wife, Amy Bertelsen-Robles, will

be conducting a class on resources available to people

with disabilities in the state of New Jersey, and accessing

services. and Amy are examples of people who

have overcome much, and in the process, helped and

inspired others.They have a wealth of information to share

with those whose lives have been affected by disability.

Pathways is a

Professional

Development

Provider

Grant Writing Class

The Fine Art of

Competitive

Grant Writing

Date: Saturday, December 8, 2007

Time: 9:30am-12:30pm

Location: Montville Township Public Library

Pio Costa Auditorium

90 Horseneck Rd., Montville, NJ 07045

Presenter: Melinda Jennis, President of Pathways

Fee: Pathways members: $20, nonmembers: $30

Payment (by cash or check) can be made the day of the class.

You have a great idea for a program, but where do you start? You'll need

funding for your materials,

facilities, coaches and instructors.You'll need to market it and make sure

it will be a successful

program with the potential to grow and sustain itself. Can you do it?

Absolutely! Pathways currently

runs over 35 quality programs on efficiently low budgets, all funded

independently through

grants, donations and/or sponsors. This class will teach you how to access

and do searches for

grant opportunities. It details how to write grants through understanding

the use of strategies,

research and outreach to grantors that will ultimately cultivate winning

grants and produce outcomes.

We will also discuss the utilization of fundraising, ranging from small

school district projects

to large-scale events. Handouts will be provided for each person attending.

Refreshments will

be served. Pathways is a registered Professional Development Provider with

the NJ Department of

Education. Educators attending this class will earn 3.0 Professional

Development hours. For

additional information, please contact Tracey Hanna or visit our website at

www.montvillepec.org.

Seating is limited. Please RSVP to Tracey Hanna: 201-401-9746 or

email: tracey.hanna@....

© 2007 Pathways for Exceptional Children

Next Steps The Monthly Publication from Pathways for Exceptional Children

November/December 2007

Pathways is now into the second sixweek

session of this dynamic new

program. The " MAGIC " comes from

" direct instruction " - the single

most important technique in the

instruction of early reading. Every

class begins with a brief and informal

assessment of each child's current

reading skills. Within the small

group, smaller groups are created.

Struggling learners receive uninterrupted

time on task, utilizing the

lessons and hands-on activities

designed by seasoned

teachers and trained mentors.

Explicit practice in

the reading strategies

is enhanced by immediate feedback

from our teachers.The lessons move

from strengths to new techniques for

identification of words and sentences.

What is missing from our classes?

Downtime, worksheets, and independent

work.The time is strictly spent on

reading, expanding vocabulary with

word cards, building sentences by

modeling, strengthening reading

strategies, and expanding the repertoire

of strategies that the participants

utilize. During a recent class,

children could be seen building sentences

under the direction of a

teacher with picture and word

cards, writing questions and

answers modeled to a

presented

book with vocabulary by constructing

statements with cards and with the

teacher, building words by listing

word families, and substituting

beginning and ending sounds to

create new words. The common

thread - a simple rule recited

frequently with visual cues:

" When you come upon a big word

that you don't know, look inside for

the parts you already know. "

All this during one class!!! The

" Magic " is the creation of a positive

experience fostering a non-threatening,

100% engaged class session.

Six-week sessions are planned

throughout the school year at the

Montville Township Public Library.

Consecutive forty-five minute classes

will run twice weekly. A parent training

piece will thread throughout the

session, teaching parents how to

continue to support their child's reading

at home. Children ages 4-7 are

more than welcome to sign up for the

classes. Children do not have to be

classified as needing special education

to attend. The program is designed to

provide struggling readers with early

intensive intervention to help them

become successful and motivated

readers. If you would like more information

about this program or to sign

up, visit www.montvillepec.org.

-Debi Jarvie, Director,

Pathways Magic of Reading Program

Pathways, Montville Township Recreation Department and Public Library are

partners in the

" Magic of Reading " after-school program.

Nothing could have prepared for her first day of teaching at

High School in Long Beach, California. A recent college

graduate, she began teaching in room 203, only to find that

many of her students had been written off as " unteachable. "

They were teenagers living in a racially divided urban community,

hardened by gang violence, juvenile detention, and drugs.

got her students to rethink rigid beliefs about themselves and

others, to reconsider daily decisions, and rechart their futures.

She will discuss how she helped them shatter stereotypes to

become critical thinkers, aspiring college students, and citizens for

change. 's success as an educator and catalyst for social change

received national acclaim through the movie Freedom Writers,

starring Swank as .This Paramount Pictures 2007 film

is based on the Freedom Writers Diary, a #1 New York Times

bestseller that chronicled 's journey. For more details about

this conference or to register, visit www.montvillepec.org.

Getting to the Heart of Teaching

November 17, 2007 | 9:00am-4:00pm | Montville Twp. High School | 100

Horseneck Rd. | Montville, NJ

Pathways'

Conference

Featuring

Gruwell

Recreation Programs:

PATHWAYS " MAGIC OF READING " PROGRAM

This program helps to develop phonologic awareness, phonetics, fluency,

vocabulary, and comprehension reading skills. Ongoing sessions run for

six weeks with 45-minute classes meeting twice

a week. Children may enter at the start of any

session. Mentors attend the classes and act as

reading buddies. Parent trainings are conducted

by the teachers to help parents select appropriate

books for their children and encourage

reading at home. Your child does not have to

be classified in special education for this program. It provides extra early

intervention for any child age 4-7 who is struggling with reading to help

them become a successful and motivated reader. Next session dates: Tues/

Thurs., Nov. 27, 29, Dec. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, & Jan. 3, 8, 10, 15, 2008.

Choose one of two consecutive time slots: 3:15-4:00pm or 4:00-4:45pm.

Located at Montville Township Public Library Pio Costa conference room,

90 Horseneck Road. Pathways members: $150, nonmembers: $170.

SWIMMING CLASSES

Kim Swim Pool Academy offers a Parent and Child Class, which introduces

and reinforces basic swimming skills for children ages 3-8. You will

have the opportunity to swim with your child in a warm pool. There are

8 lessons: Sundays, Nov. 11, 18, 25, Dec. 2, 9, 16, Jan. 6 & 13, 2008

at 1:00-1:30pm. Jan. 20, 2008 is the only built-in miss day for this

cycle. Kim Swim is on Route 46 West in Denville, behind Ritchie's Music.

Pathways members: $85, nonmembers: $90 for the eight-week program.

LIFE SKILLS DONUT TRIP

Be prepared to get messy!!! Children ages 6 and up will experience baking

donuts and muffins at a real donut shop. We will meet on Monday, Nov.

19 from 4:30-6:00pm at Donut Dugout, 6 Route 46 West, Pine Brook

Plaza in Pine Brook, NJ. Pathways members: free, nonmembers: $10.

LIFE SKILLS OUTING: MOVIE AND LUNCH

Join us for a private screening of Bee Movie(PG) at Clearview Cinemas

in Kinnelon. We will spend the morning watching this fun movie for all

ages. The children will learn to purchase their own popcorn and drinks.

After the movie, we will board the bus (at approximately 12:00pm) to

Fuddruckers on Route 23 for lunch. A fixed-price lunch per child will

include a kids meal (hamburger, hot dog or grilled cheese with fries),

drink,

ice cream cake, $2 in tokens for games, and 2 rides on the carousel. Adult

lunch includes choice of salad, burgers, or sandwiches, and a drink. For

children ages 3 and up. Parents/caregivers must accompany all children.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 3. Bus will depart at 9:00am from the Montville

Municipal Building, 195 Changebridge Road, and return at approximately

2:30pm. Movie is free. Lunch: $10.95 per child, $8.99 per adult.

TREATS FOR TOTS

Children ages 5 and up will help prepare holiday treats for the children

of Newton Street School in Newark, NJ, with the combined efforts of the

residents from The Chelsea. This project will provide wrapped goodies for

approximately 500 less fortunate kids. We need your help!!! Certificates

of community service will be given to all children that participate. Date:

Saturday, Dec. 1 starting at 2:30pm at The Chelsea at Montville, 165

Changebridge Road, Montville. This program is free. We are asking for

donations of Quaker Granola bars and toilet paper or paper towel rolls.

Please contact Annette at 973-335-6789 if you are able to donate.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY

Share the joy of the holiday season at this annual event sponsored by

the Montville Township Recreation Department and Kiwanis Club. Dinner

is provided and Santa makes a special visit to deliver gifts to all the

kids. Date: Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Senior House,

350 Route 202 in Montville.There is no charge for this event. Please

refer to our website and the registration flyer coming in November for

important details regarding gifts for the children and how to register.

What a child needs to be exceptional.

New leaders of social change:

The Lead Mentor program is up and running! Lead Mentors go through a

rigorous

application process to be accepted into the program.This year, we have 10

leaders- Kayne, Becky Bianco, Sara Probber, Eddie Messick, Allegra

Stout, Maranda Bretts, Bernstein, Sutton, Jennis, and

Bianco. Pathways congratulates these mentors for their hard work and

devotion

to children with special needs, and for being selected to serve as student

leaders

for our organization. They have chosen a " social change " project to do this

year

that will involve anti-bullying and getting the word out about mentoring

across

the state of NJ. The Lead Mentors will be speaking at our November 17th

Conference

about being activists for change, and have some exciting things to share.

For the latest news and information about Pathways for Exceptional Children,

visit www.montvillepec.org

Home Run Derby:

The Home Run Derby was a great success

again this year. Pathways and the Montville

Baseball & Softball Association worked

together to organize this event and show that

there are many ways to

hit a baseball and have fun.We would like to express

our sincere appreciation to all the volunteers and the

many baseball players that came out to mentor. Special

thanks to GlaxoKline Consumer Healthcare, located

in Parsippany, NJ, for their generous sponsorship of

the Home Run Derby where everyone, regardless of

their ability level, can take part in the action and win!!

These programs are run under the authority of the Montville Twp. Recreation

Dept.

© 2007 Pathways for Exceptional Children