by

Donna Swindle & Kenny Hodges

Karen M. Siegel Academy (KMSA)

Polk County School Board

Thoughts on Change“It is not so much that we’re afraid of change

Or so in love with the old ways

But it’s that place in-between that we fear

It’s like being between trapezes’

It’s like Linus when his blanket is in the dryer.

There is nothing to hold on to.”by Marilyn Ferguson

PresenterDonna Swindle

• Principal• Six years as principal at

Karen M. Siegel Academy• Master’s Degree in Special

Education• Over 25 years experience

as a teacher and administrator

PresenterKenny Hodges

• Reading Academic Intervention Facilitator

• Master’s Degree in Elementary Education

• Adjunct Instructor• Doctoral Candidate

Karen M. Siegel AcademyPolk County School District

We establish a safe secure environment to serve the unique needs of students with complex disabilities and their families. Those entrusted to us will be provided with a personalized life enriching curriculum that includes skills for functional living and an improved quality of life. Our graduates will confidently and actively participate as valued members of their community.

Essential Questions• How has the curriculum and instruction for

students with significant cognitive disabilities evolved?

• What did the Professional Learning Community at Karen M. Siegel Academy work on?

• How can a lesson plan template be used to write detailed lesson plans which are based on the Florida Sunshine State Standard Access Points?

History of the Education of the Mentally Handicapped

History of the Education of the Mentally Handicapped

"There are only two things wrong with most special education for the mentally handicapped;

it isn't special, and it isn't education." by Alice Metzner

Traditional Focus of ESE Instructional Efforts

Work on Individual Education Plan (IEP) Goals and Objectives in the following domains:

• Curriculum & Learning

• Independent Functioning

• Social/Emotional

• Health

• Communication

Strong Evidence Based Research Teaching Strategies

• Mass trial training

• Sight word recognition with systematic prompting in mass trial format

• Task Analysis with systematic prompting

• Time delay with errorless learning

“Staff development is at the heart of what principals should be doing in their roles of

leaders of instructors.”-- Phillip C. Schlechty

KMSA Professional Learning Community Structure

There are four learning communities within our school. They are:

• Elementary Grade Teachers

• Middle School Teachers

• High School Teachers

• Adult Program/Vocational Teachers

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision.  The ability to direct individual

accomplishment toward organizational objectives.  It is the fuel that allows common people to attain

uncommon results.”  ~Andrew Carnegie

“By exercising control over curriculum content and ensuring that the

schoolwork provided is engaging, the teacher

increases the probability that each child will learn what he or she needs to

learn.”-- Phillip C. Schlechty

What novel are we reading?

by Johann Wyss

Students in grades 6 – 12 will participate in listening to their teacher read The Swiss Family Robinson. During the reading period, students will attend to the reading of short passes from the book each day. In addition, students will:identify new vocabulary words while using various visual and augmentative strategies;recognize the setting of the story;respond to simple questions related to the selected passage;practice their communication skills using their speech, visual strategies, augmentative, and assistive technology; andparticipate in a summarizing strategy of each day’s passage.

At home, you may want to talk with your child about book elements such as the setting, characters, and main idea. If available, you might also enjoy watching the movie which is based on this book with your child.If you have any questions regarding the reading of this novel, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher. Thank you for your help and support of our instructional efforts! Our parent’s are simply the best!

Karen M. Siegel Academy935 Evenhouse Rd

Lake Alfred, FL 33850Phone: (863) 965-5566

Lesson Plan Project OverviewThe lesson plan project consisted of:• Development of an Academic Calendar for each grade

level• Agreement on a lesson plan template• Creation of detailed lesson plans in PLCs that contained:

• Lesson Objectives• Sunshine State Standard Access Points• Learning Focused Strategies (LFS) • Augmentative Communication Strategies• Educational Technology • Assessments• Hands-On Activities

Academic Calendar for Reading

Augmentative Communication

Sample Assessment

Resource Availability

The lesson plan template can be found by going to the following website:

http://schools.polk-fl.net/kmsa/(look for Teacher Resources Section)

Do you have any questions?