GREENVILLE, Wis., Jan. 6, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Educators today face the difficult challenge of balancing tight school budgets with the desire to learn new techniques to help students succeed. That juggling act is now easier with the help of a cost-effective online video seminar series from School Specialty (Nasdaq:SCHS) called Bright Ideas that shares proven tools to improve the learning environment, especially for those children who struggle with special needs.
The hour-long "webinars" carry a "10 Ways to ..." theme and are offered by School Specialty Abilitations, the leader in educational therapy solutions, in collaboration with CIAO (Career Improvement & Advancement Opportunities) Seminars. The monthly series was launched in late December with two seminars: 10 Ways to Improve Focus and Attention in the Classroom, and 10 Ways to Reduce Classroom Stress. All of the webinars emphasize practical and down-to-earth educational concepts and techniques that help teachers and parents address many of the top challenges they face in the classroom and at home. Leading the webinars are education experts who share the latest trends and best practices in each topical area, illustrating techniques through video examples and PowerPoint visuals.
"These seminars are designed for classroom teachers, therapists, special-education teachers and parents who are looking for the latest ideas to improve their students' classroom results and confidence," said Peter Savitz, President of School Specialty Abilitations. "One of our primary objectives with this online seminar series was to make sure the sessions were both content rich and emphasized techniques that can be easily and immediately applied to improve student outcomes. Where appropriate, the webinars also outline methods and procedures that may help support Response to Intervention (RTI) practices. In addition to quality content, we wanted the programs to be easy for busy professionals to enroll in and complete. Each webinar is pre-recorded and can be accessed online, at anytime -- during school hours or in the comfort of your own home."
Persons who complete the webinars can also earn Continuing Education or Professional Development units (CEUs or PDUs). Cost for each seminar is a nominal $29.99. All of the webinars will be archived and available for viewing throughout 2009.
The 10 Ways to Improve Focus and Attention in the Classroom program reviews the basics of good sensory integration and how it impacts child development and learning, while providing 10 practical solutions for improving student focus and attention. The session is lead by Cecilia Cruse, MS, OTR/L, a nationally known consultant, author and lecturer with over 20 years experience in pediatrics, serving schools, acute care facilities and outpatient clinics. She has appeared on television programs such as CNN's Health Watch and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, authored several articles for professional periodicals and magazines, and served as a trainer/consultant in several school systems. Ms. Cruse, who also holds a master's degree in education from Georgia State University, is currently the Education Director for School Specialty Abilitations.
The 10 Ways to Reduce Classroom Stress webinar covers the physiologic response to stress, simple breathing and movement exercises for calming teachers and students, aromatherapy principles, the use of color and lighting, and much more. The session is lead by Cecilia Cruse and Kim Saunders, a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Georgia and a National Certified Counselor specializing in stress management and health issues. She has worked as a counselor in university settings as well as in private practice. Through many years of working for corporations and counseling individuals, she offers seminar participants a unique insight into the challenges of coping with stress in both the corporate world and educational environments.
Future webinars include 10 Ways to Improve Classroom Behavior; 10 Ways to Improve Testing; 10 Ways to Implement Response to Intervention (RTI) with Sensory Strategies; 10 Ways to Use Movement for Student Success; and 10 Ways to Improve Listening and Comprehension.
For more information on the webinars and to enroll, visit www.ciaoseminars.com/brightideas, or call 888-909-CIAO (2426)
About School Specialty Abilitations
School Specialty Abilitations offers a wide range of educational solutions for teachers, therapists and parents working with children who learn differently. We offer a variety of products, including some that are developed by an on-staff team of Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists, who create innovative tools that make therapy effective and fun.
About School Specialty, Inc.
School Specialty is a leading education company that provides innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to help educators engage and inspire students of all ages and abilities to learn. The company designs, develops, and provides preK-12 educators with the latest and very best curriculum, supplemental learning resources, and school supplies. Working in collaboration with educators, School Specialty reaches beyond the scope of textbooks to help teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators ensure that every student reaches his or her full potential.
For more information about School Specialty, visit www.schoolspecialty.com.