I am writing to you after attending the NASP 2012 Annual Convention in Philadelphia. This year, approximately 5,000 of our colleagues came together to hear latest research and news in the field, network with each other, and enjoy this historic city. Whether you were at the convention or were unable to attend this year, you can review the handouts for many of the convention sessions at www.nasponline.org/conventions/2012/schedule.aspx#tab5. 

ISPA Spring Workshop

Matching Literacy Instructional Strategies to Student's Needs

When: Friday, March 23, 2012 9:00am-3:00pm (Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.)

Where: Heartland AEA 11 – Johnston Office

Presenter: Wendy Robinson, Regional Director Heartland AEA

Wendy Robinson started her career as a speech/language pathologist. She has served in a variety of service delivery models for several years. Based on her experiences, teaching background, and knowledge from experts in the field, Wendy has spent the last 10 years, co-authoring and training Response to Intervention modules in the areas of consensus building, infrastructure development, and implementation to more than 80 school-based teams interested in implementing Response to Intervention. Wendy has presented at the state and national level in the areas of early literacy, reading strategies, math strategies, and response to intervention and developing system level support to improve outcomes for all students.

This workshop will provide a decision-making framework based on reading assessment data to match instructional strategies to student needs. Both the framework and strategies will be modeled using student case studies. Concrete ways to intensify instruction (beyond smaller group size and more instructional time) will be modeled. A troubleshooting guide for targeted and intensive interventions will be provided. The session will be interactive with participants practicing strategies and problem-solving student needs.

This workshop is FREE for current ISPA members. Registration for the workshop is located on the ISPA website: www.iowaschoolpsych.com

• It is $50 to register for the workshop and to become a member of ISPA. You can become a member here. After you become a member, you will have to log in and register for the event at the bottom of the page, here.
• If you're a non-psych educator and would still like to attend the workshop without joining ISPA, you can sign up at the here.
• Future webinars and workshops will be free if you become a member.
• Registration starts at 8:30 with morning refreshments provided by ISPA.
• Lunch will be on your own.
• The workshop will conclude by 3:30 to allow for travel.

Happy New Year! I wanted to start the year off right by sharing with you the latest NASP resources.

I am pleased to invite you to attend a webinar, a $30 value offered at no cost to NASP members, on January 24 from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm EST. The webinar, Understanding Privilege in America, will explore the concept of privilege from a class, race, and gender perspective and how it can be a key aspect of transformation as one works towards being cross culturally competent. The live format will let you ask your questions directly to Dr. Antoinette Miranda. Plus, you'll get 1 hour of documented NASP- and APA-approved CPD for attending. This webinar, a $30 value, is free to NASP members, but you must register at www.nasponline.org/profdevel/online-learning.aspx in order to attend.

I am pleased to share the latest updates from NASP with you.

Last month, NASP hosted a Congressional briefing, 'Safe, Supportive Conditions for Learning: Making Connections for Student Success,' as part of National School Psychology Awareness Week. The briefing focused on how schools can improve academic achievement by creating conditions for learning that emphasize safety and student support as integral to school success. Visit www.nasponline.org/advocacy/news/2011/November/Congressional-Briefing.aspx for more information.