VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC)

Welcome to TTAC at JMU

Virginia Department of Education’s TTACs provide professional development and support designed to assist schools in addressing accountability and improvement goals for students with disabilities.

Resource Highlight

Accessibility and Inclusion Lab

HLP Virtual Series

The Newsletter

What's New?

Region 5 TTAC

I'm Determined

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Past Issues

High Achievers, High Anxiety? April 2023

Developmentally Appropriate Behavior Expectations: A Framework for Listening Closely to What Children’s Behaviors Tell Us, March 2023
Teaching Schwa: The Most Common Vowel Sound in the English Language, February 2023

One Size Does Not Fit All, December 2022

Magnifying Morphological Awareness in Reading Instruction, November 2022

Foundations of Teaching High-Leverage Practices HLPs), October 2022 

Student Participation in IEP Meetings: Strategies to Increase Student Involvement, September 2022

Grow from SOLO collaborative Instructional Leadership, May 2022

What’s My Line? Elevating Sentence Writing through Structured Literacy ,  March 2022

Embedding Sensory Connections into Everyday Routines, February 2022

Compassionate Family Engagement, December 2021 

Vocabulary: The Solution to Math Success, November 2021 

New Social-Emotional Standards to Guide the New School Year, October 2021

Hold on Tight: Accelerate Math Learning, September 2021

When We Know Better, We Do Better: What the Science of Reading Is Telling Us, May 2021 

Effective School Administrators = Successful Students and Schools, April 2021

HLPs in Action: From Lift off to Locating the Landing Zone: Families and Educators as Co-Pilots, March 2021 

HLPs in Action: Building a Strong Sensory Foundation to Create a Supportive Learning Environment, February 2021

School to Work Transition: If it’s Broke, Fix it, December 2020

Teacher Mentoring in Challenging Times, November 2020

HLPs in Action: Literacy Legislation Meets High Leverage Practices, October 2020 

HLPs in Action: Student Involvement in IEP Goal Development, September 2020 

Upcoming Events

ONGOING

Region 5 Virtual Administrators' Group

The TTAC at JMU is offering an email group to administrators who are responsible for leading special education efforts and improving inclusive practices. A newsletter (no more than 1 per month) and an open line of communication to TTAC coordinators and each other are included. If interested in participating, email

Regions 4 and 5 Communities of Leaders in Autism (CoLA)

In collaboration with the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence (VCU-ACE), this CoLA supports autism specialist in Regions 4 and  5. This network of autism specialists meets face-to-face for professional learning in the fall and spring and monthly for “Coffee Chats.” It also provides remote discussions for networking and virtual resource sharing on topics relevant to stakeholders. For more information, email Lorna Frizzelle at frizzelm@jmu.edu.   

Inclusive Placement Opportunities for Preschoolers (IPOP)

IPOP supports increasing access and the quality of inclusive practices for preschoolers through technical assistance and support at the division level. If you would like more information on how to apply for IPOP or more information on increasing inclusive practices in Early Childhood contact Meg Druga (drugamk@jmu.edu).

Virginia Essentialized Standards of Learning (VESOL) Community of Practice

Join this community of practice focused on learning, sharing, and networking with educators who are interested in instructional practices that relate to the Virginia Essentialized Standards of Learning (VESOL). Four to five 1-hour long virtual meetings per year, access to a shared resources/activities folder. Contact Jesse Rodriguez (rodri3jm@jmu.edu) or Lorna Frizzelle (frizzelm@jmu.edu) to join.

Region 5 Transition Community of Practice

Your TTAC at JMU in collaboration with the Center on Transition Innovations (CTI) offers resources and professional learning opportunities around secondary transition planning and services via a community of practice. Contact Jill Shifflett (shiffljm@jmu.edu) for more information.

Region 5 Co-Teaching Network

The Region 5 Co-Teaching Network is designed to connect co-teachers to resources, events, and each other. The network is open to all co-teachers in region 5 schools. Email Jill Shifflett (shiffljm@jmu.edu) to join.

Region 5 Orton-Gillingham Community of Practice

This CoP supports educators who participate in the VDOE’s Multi-sensory Structured Literacy / Orton-Gillingham training. The CoP meets twice a year to explore and share literacy practices and resources related to structured literacy and the OG approach. Contact Jen MacRae (macraejm@jmu.edu) for more information.

Region 5 Dyslexia Advisor Community of Practice

This CoP supports division-level Dyslexia Advisors. The CoP meets twice a year to explore and share resources to best meet the needs of students with dyslexia. Contact Jen MacRae (macraejm@jmu.edu) for more information.

TTAC Online Training

What is new on Online Training? Click to discover topics in assistive technology, literacy, High Leverage Practices (HLPs), co-teaching, and supporting military families.

Online Training

VDOE’s Professional Learning Program

VDOE’s Professional Learning Program empowers educators to explore new instructional practices and the flexibility to achieve more—all at their own pace. Virtual Virginia offers online professional learning opportunities for all Virginia public school educators at no cost. https://vdoelearning.catalog.instructure.com/ 

Location

Region 5 TTAC

James Madison University

Memorial Hall 7350

395 South High Street

Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Contact

P: 1 (540) 568-6746

F: 1 (540) 568-6726

E: region_5_ttac@jmu.edu