Proudly serving Eastern Montana and beyond
Each one Reach one
CSPD events will be hosted on the OPI website. OPI will also be handling evaluations and renewal units. Thank you
Here is the link to the OPI training calendar.
REGISTER HERE https://sites.google.com/opiconnect.org/cspdtrainingcalendar/statewide-events
Teaching and Learning Fra:ctions through Discovery and Reasoning
Dori Phillips Miles City Sleep Inn January 9, Friday 8:30-3:30
Please watch for updates since this is a winter event.
This event is targeted to grades 3-6, Title, Special Education, and all interested in learning more on Teaching and Learning Fractions through Discovery And Reasoning.
Are you ready to re-learn fractions? In this hand-on, highly interactive workshop, you will learn how to understand and teach fractions in a whole new way! Fractions are numbers. We can count fractions just like we count numbers. We need fractions to help us represent amounts between whole numbers. Students must understand benchmark fractions, numerators, denominators, the importance of the “whole” and then use these skills to reason and explain their understanding. We will look at student misconceptions in all areas of fractions and learn how to correct this. The skills included are also helpful for older students who still do not understand fractions and how to work with them.
Skills covered include: equal parts, unit fractions, benchmark fractions, what is a “whole”, fractions of a set, equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, use number lines to understand fractions, comparing and ordering fractions, adding and subtracting fractions, and multiplying and dividing fractions.
Learning Targets:
Learners will practice activities to teach fractions using examples and counter examples.
Learners will practice skills to help students understand fractions at a deeper level.
Learners will use words and phrases to help students understand their own knowledge of fractions.
Participants will have a full day of “make and take” activities. Plan to put your computers away and be a learner yourself!
Materials to bring: markers or colored pencils, scissors, glue stick!
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The training calendar for registration and session information
https://sites.google.com/opiconnect.org/cspdtrainingcalendar/statewide-events
I want to share some exciting news. The Institute for Neurodiversity at Montana State University Billings’ (MSUB) Montana Center for Inclusive Education (MCIE) is launching virtual support groups for neurodiverse individuals, their families and caregivers starting in November. Our hope is that you will share this information within your organization and beyond. We would like to get this information out to as many people as we can.
There will be two virtual support groups meeting each month. The Youth and Young Adult (ages 14 to 27) will meet the first Monday of each month from 6:00 to 7:00PM starting November 3. The Support Systems Group (parents, siblings, guardians, etc.) will meet on the third Monday of every month from 6:00 to 7:00PM starting November 17. I have attached the flyers for each of the support groups. There is a QR code on each flyer for people to register for the support groups.
Each month’s sessions revolve around topics to get discussions started. Here are each group’s sessions:
Student Group
Week 4: Life Skills
Week 5: Employment and Career
Week 6: Safety
Week 7: Wrap up: Experience, what we learned
Caregiver Group
Week 1: Get to know – Introductions – Emotional support/struggles
:Week 2: Behavior Management
Week 3: Communication skills
Week 4: Self-help skills
Week 5: School and community services and resources
Week 6: Practical guidance
Week 7: Wrap up: Experience, what we learned
The facilitators for the group are Kelsey Osmond and Dwight Welch. Kelsey is a licensed mental health counselor at MSUB Student Health Services and has a private mental health practice for the Billings area. Dwight Welch is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ and the MSUB United Campus Ministries chaplain. He is the sponsor of the MSUB Autism Club and speaks often of his experience as an individual on the Autism Spectrum. Both are excited to begin this adventure of building a virtual neurodiverse community in Eastern Montana.
If you have questions about the support groups or what to learn more, please contact either Kelsey (kelsey.osmond@msubillings.edu) or Dwight (dwight.welch@msubillings.edu). They would love to answer any questions.
I do hope that you will share this information throughout your organization. We are excited to kick this off in November. If there are any questions you might have for me, please contact me at the information below. Thank you for helping us in this endeavor.
John Keener
Interim Director
Montana Center for Inclusive Education
Montana State University Billings
john.keener@msubillings.edu
406-657-1743
The Montana Autism Education Project (MAEP) is a statewide initiative housed within the Special Education Professional Development Unit at the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Launched in 2010, the MAEP was created in response to a growing number of technical assistance and training requests from schools supporting students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Since that time, the MAEP has expanded its scope to address the evolving needs of educators working with students across a range of developmental and behavioral profiles. Today, the project offers comprehensive services including individual and classroom consultations, coaching and capacity building programs, professional development opportunities, conference scholarships, and a virtual library with resources, research, and field tools for educators. The MAEP remains committed to building educator capacity, promoting inclusive practices, and enhancing outcomes for all students.
All trainings provided by MAEP are free to Montana Public School Educators and Service Providers.
For more information, please contact Katie Mattingley at katie.mattingley@mt.gov.
MYT Conference
November 12-14
Copper King Convention Center
Butte , Montana
Free Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
Families of children and young adults with disabilities across Montana have access to free, confidential support through the Montana Empowerment Center, the state’s federally funded Parent Training and Information Center.
Our mission is to empower, encourage, and educate families so they can make informed choices and advocate effectively for their children ages 0-26,” said Heidi Gibson, Executive Director at the Montana Empowerment Center.
In addition to in-person workshops, the Center also offers webinars and a wide range of parent-friendly resources on its website.
Empower Hour webinars 11:30am-12:30pm (with Q&A at the end):
● Oct 9: Alternatives to Guardianship with Theresa & Isaac Baldry, Rural Institute
● Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-montana-empowerment-center-70215974153