Inclusive Middle School Choir Singing: "Count On Me" Song

YouTube Video by Rene Boyles 
3-20-14 Middle school choir pop concert

This is Sarah singing in her Middle School Choir Pop Concert. Look for her in the second row from the front row, and third row from the top row in front of the totally awesome boy with red hair. The student that stands out and makes this video a perfect example of why INCLUSION is good for ALL!

I came across this little video on YouTube and was so moved by what I saw and felt in my heart while watching it. I was moved to tears watching it! This video is perfect to share with everyone on my Blog dedicated to highlighting Positive Inclusion Practices, Inclusion Training Resources, Positive Stories and great Video's pertaining to Inclusion: Down syndrome Inclusion  

This video was recorded by her sister, Rene Boyles and uploaded to YouTube.

It's great to see a Middle School doing such a wonderful job of Including ALL Students that LOVE MUSIC!

Music connects us!

Song: COUNT ON ME by John Jacobson's Music Express ~ Volume 12 ~ Got Music

BRUNO MARS LYRICS
"Count On Me"

[Verse 1:]
Oh uh-huh
If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea
I'll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see
I'll be the light to guide you

Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

[Chorus:]
You can count on me like 1, 2, 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2
You'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Ooooooh, oooohhh yeah, yeah

[Verse 2:]
If you're tossin' and you're turnin'
And you just can't fall asleep
I'll sing a song beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Every day I will remind you

Oooh
Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

[Chorus:]
You can count on me like 1, 2, 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2
You'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Ooooooh, oooohhh yeah, yeah

You'll always have my shoulder when you cry
I'll never let go, never say goodbye
You know...

[Chorus:]
You can count on me like 1, 2, 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2
You'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Ooooooh, oooohhh

You can count on me 'cause I can count on you

What is Inclusion?

What is Inclusion?
It's much like the Shore Line, the Ebb & Flow of the Water Crashing in and then goes back again. Much like my emotions when it comes to day-to-day wanting 'inclusion' as you and I all know how basically simple it can be...but it's not. Sometimes the water comes crashing harder and sometimes it's a little 'lapping' at the shore during flat water. I love inclusion and I know what it looks like. Inclusion is natural, as it should be, because it's about people being together. Inclusion is about different people learning together alongside one another. Sometimes the most simplest thing can change so much!! Pick your battles and enjoy the small baby steps. Celebrate the small stuff.

Here's an article written in 2012 on the importance of Inclusion. The big picture is that times HAVE CHANGED!!
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120314/ARCHIVES/303149960

JUST LIKE YOU ~ Cool Short Video

THANK YOU Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City!! 
This is a PERFECTLY BEAUTIFUL short video especially for October being Down syndrome Awareness Month!! 

AMENDING an ANNUAL IEP without holding an IEP meeting

When the IEP Team Meets ~ click to read great www.NICHCY.ORG resource about IEP meetings.


Great info on AMENDING an Annual IEP without holding an IEP meeting! 

New Provisions in IDEA 2004: Amending the IEP Without Meeting

(4) Agreement. (i) In making changes to a child’s IEP after the annual IEP Team meeting for a school year, the parent of a child with a disability and the public agency may agree not to convene an IEP Team meeting for the purposes of making those changes, and instead may develop a written document to amend or modify the child’s current IEP.

(ii) If changes are made to the child’s IEP in accordance with paragraph (a)(4)(i) of this section, the public agency must ensure that the child’s IEP Team is informed of those changes.

(5) Consolidation of IEP Team meetings. To the extent possible, the public agency must encourage the consolidation of reevaluation meetings for the child and other IEP Team meetings for the child.

(6) Amendments. Changes to the IEP may be made either by the entire IEP Team at an IEP Team meeting, or as provided in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, by amending the IEP rather than by redrafting the entire IEP. Upon request, a parent must be provided with a revised copy of the IEP with the amendments incorporated. [§300.324(a)(4)-(6)]

http://nichcy.org/schoolage/iep/meetings#nomeeting 
*Click above link to read entire article and reference resource.

Down Syndrome children need 'faster inclusion' - The National

Down Syndrome children need 'faster inclusion' - The National

Great article and time for this to happen everywhere....now!

Down Syndrome Basketball Player Inspires Tennessee Team

Coach said....."it has the been the best decision he has made all season!!"....

Down Syndrome Basketball Player Inspires Tennessee Team: David Andrews plays for his freshman basketball team at Germantown High School outside of Memphis. He wears the number 40. He leads the pregame chant. He swishes threes. And he has Down syndrome. “Down syndrome people come in wide spectrum of disability,” said Andrews’ father,...

Letter #8...from Camilo

Dear Mariah,
What I've learned from you is going to stay with me. Especially all the respect I've learned to show. It has been a pleasure helping you. 
Have a good summer!

Delaware cheerleaders embrace special teammate | 6abc.com

Del. cheerleaders embrace special teammate | 6abc.com

Now this is what I'm talking about! This IS inclusion....at it's finest!

Thank you!

Turnover proves ultimate act of sportsmanship GRINNELL, Kansas

Turnover proves ultimate act of sportsmanship

"Coach said when we were in the huddle, just give him a chance to shoot," said Brown. "So I let him have a shot and he threw it up and he shot it, and he made it."

Writing an Inclusive Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

Writing an Inclusive Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
IEP goals should allow for participation in and access to the general education curriculum while focusing on the student’s individual needs. All students can be educated within the context of the general education setting with appropriate supports. As educators and families recognize the benefits of inclusive schooling, they can begin to work together to make inclusive placements a reality. Where a child is educated is one of the most important educational decisions a team can make. It is essential that teams work together to purposefully create successful IEPs so that students with disabilities have full access to general education curriculum alongside their peers without disabilities.

1. While participating in 12th grade biology, Sophie will be able to name and describe four big ideas from each unit of study, with 80% accuracy for each unit.
2. While working in cooperative groups with 2-4 peers without disabilities, Noah will successfully take turns 4 out of 5 times.
3. When signing up for centers, signing out to use the restroom, and writing her name on her paper, Jamie will legibly write her name 4 out of every 5 opportunities.

PEAK’s Parent Advisors are available to help families, teachers, and other professionals brainstorm creative ideas and strategies to help develop IEPs that will support students to be successful in inclusive educational placements. 


Contact a PEAK Parent Advisor by email at 
parentadvisor@peakparent.org 
or by phone 719.531.9400 or 800.284.0251.


Read this entire AWESOME article!! Click here ~ http://speakout.peakparent.org/index.php/current-newsletter/writing-an-inclusive-iep

Inclusive Schools Week Dec.5-9, 2011

11th Annual Inclusive Schools Week Dec.5-9, 201

http://inclusiveschools.org/files/116/

11th annual Inclusive Schools Week is Dec. 5-9, 2011!

Inclusive Schools Week is an annual international event celebrated the first week in December. It is a time when schools and communities can begin or continue the journey toward providing a quality education to all children regardless of differences in ability, gender, ethnicity, language and health status. The Inclusive Schools Network offers Activities and Resources for Schools, Classrooms, and Families. Get your kit today!

She LIKES doing Math!

This is Mariah doing her 5th Grade Level Math the other day.....she enjoys doing Math today more than ever before!


Now that she is bringing home her 5th Grade Level "Go Math" textbook everyday in her backpack - I am now able to see what she does in Math with her General Ed classmates without Down syndrome.... actual work done while in Math class today. Mariah is now coming home with Math classwork completed! Her classmates are more involved with being positive peer role models helping her do just what they are doing. This is progress in the right direction......finally!! It had been such a struggle to see what she was actually "doing in class". I wanted to see the same as her classmates classwork being done, group presentation work. Her teacher communicates in emails back & forth alot with me, he gives me little updates or snippets of her day, which makes it easy for Mariah & I to have conversations about her day easier. It's a new school year with newly updated IEP goals written in to help support her IEP goals that are now to be INFUSED & INCLUDED INTO HER GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM CLASSWORK.


My daughter is EXCITED to do some of her Math Homework now! This is her 2nd year in the 5th Grade and it is proving to be one of her BEST ACADEMIC YEARS so far!


Mariah is a student with Down syndrome (13 years old) and her desire to do well in school is motivating to her this year, because she knows she needs to well in Math if she wants to one day have a job as a Vet Tech and go to college.


Mariah loves school and all her teachers this year! Her mom is loving all the nice academic progress she sees Mariah doing so far this year!


This little video clip was taken at first without Mariah knowing I was recording her doing her homework, until I asked her if she liked Math...and she said, "yes" ..and it's the way she says yes that is so cute. I asked her if Math was hard for her...she says, "No, it's easy!"  ~ Oh my I love this girl!! ~


It's BASICALLY SIMPLE ~ or as Mariah will say.... "SEE, IT'S EASY!" If you had a whole Apple Pie sitting on the table in front of you, you wouldn't have to eat the entire pie to know that you LIKED Apple Pie and wanted to have more of it! You would know you LIKED it just by eating a slice of that Apple Pie! You would  know you LIKED it and WANTED MORE even with just a BITE of the PIE...even a TINY BITE OF THE PIE! It doesn't take eating the WHOLE PIE to know you LIKE IT & WANT MORE OF IT! ~   Point being, Inclusion is that same way.....providing a SLICE or a TINY BITE OF THE PIE (lessons) is what should be practiced in ALL our Classrooms today. That is what ACCOMODATIONS are all about....it LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD for ALL Students. 


Mariah has Accomodations, she doesn't have to do pages and pages of Math that some of the other students may have to do....she just needs to do a PORTION....a small portion even. On some days depending the assignment she will do more or less depending on the new concept being taught. 


Today....she LIKES Math!


My daughter is now being provided more of that  Apple Pie (Grade Level Math) which is about her being provided a PORTION of the Pie (Math Lesson). Small bites of (Lesson) what she CAN DO! Let's give students what THEY NEED...in small portions and build from there. 


Mariah ROCKS in doing her Math this year and is actually doing 5th Grade Level Basic ALGEBRA!!


I am soooo PROUD of her!!

Letter #6 ....from Alanah

Dear Mariah, 
What I learned from having you in my class is that just because you're a little bit different doesn't mean you should be treated differently. Even though you have down syndrome you're just like everyone else inside no matter what anyone says or thinks. 


In the beginning of the year I was trying to avoid you but I was wrong and rude and now I realize what a good person you are. 


I wish I could see you next year.


Your Friend,
Alanah G.


Stephen Foster Elementary
Mr. Jeffrery Allagood's 5th Grade Class 2010-2011

Aniah ~ Breaking down STEREOTYPES 4 Kids w/Down syndrome!!! YEAH ANIAH!!!

Aniah ~ Breaking down STEREOTYPES 4 Kids w/Down syndrome!!! YEAH ANIAH!!!

http://childrensdiagnostic.org/2011/10/4-year-old-breaks-down-stereotypes-for-kids-with-down-syndrome/


Aniah is Mariah's 'little sister'!!! 


You go Little Princess....you let the whole world know how it really is today!!


Congratulations Jeannette...it's a beautiful story as you both are!

Letter #5 ....from Patrick

Dear Mariah,
I learned that people with Down syndrome aren't different from us. Don't judge people by what they look like. Also you need to treat people with disabilities nice! I also learned that you need to be friendly to people with Down syndrome. You need to help them with things.


Your friend,
Patrick


5th Grade 2010-2011
Stephen Foster Elementary
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Letter #4 ....from Todd S.

Dear Mariah,  
I learned from you that you're a friend but you're more than that. You are a Special Friend! You're fun, nice and full of energy. You are the best friend a person can ever have!


You make me feel like I can accomplish any goal because you inspire me. 


You are the most improved in this class. You can make a difference. So keep on trying your best and you will have a great year. 


You can do so many things like play soccer, kickball and basketball. 


You're the Best Friend ever!


From,
Todd S.


June 9th, 2011

Letter #3 ....from Devin

Dear Mariah,
With you in my class I have learned a lot like not to be mean to people with disabilities. Over the years, I have seen people get made fun of because they have disabilities and it even hurts me. 


So bye Mariah, I will miss you. 
I also learned to help people with disabilities. 
I will never forget you.
Nobody else will either.


From, 
Devin


June 9th, 2011
Mr. Jeffrey Allagood's 5th Grade Homeroom Class

Letter #2 ....from Edward

Dear Mariah,


What I learned from having Mariah in my class is that she is creative. She is very smart and intelligent. 


She taught me how to be helpful. She taught me that I can help anyone.


I learned from Mariah that anyone can do the same thing as others as long as you try!

Letter #1 from Lissette M.

What I learned from having Mariah in my class was that even though someone is different you treat them the way you want to be treated. 


At first I couldn't quite understand what Mariah was going through. 


Mariah has been such an inspiration to me. I hope in the future I'll see her again. Till then good luck Mariah!


Your Friend,


Lissette M.
June 1st, 2011

Crews Lake Middle's initiatives in special education working - St. Petersburg Times

Crews Lake Middle's initiatives in special education working - St. Petersburg Times ~ direct link

Crews Lake Middle's initiatives in special education working

By Jeffrey S. Solochek, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Thursday, September 8, 2011

*click highlighted link above for complete article 


This looks like something we all should keep an eye on how 'they are doing it'....looks good!!