Quick Reference Links:
New!! Educator Feedback Reports * From the Director

We're now using Google Docs and Google Calendar to utilize document sharing and collaboration. This new system will allow RCs and their families to have 24 hour, secure and collaborative access to the Learning Plan, Weekly Journal, Resource Inventory, and Funding Summary. This not only reduces unnecessary paperwork, but provides a platform for the consensus group (the Parent, Learner, and RC) to communicate more freely with each other. Funding Summaries now automatically total various amounts, and the latest information is always available to each person in the group instantly. Highly Qualified Consultants can also offer helpful suggestions at any time, while Learners can also add photos, links, sites of interest, and other feedback within the Weekly Journal or the Learning Plan.

As a part of the system, each RC, HQ, and staff person also has their own Start Page to conveniently access their Google Docs, various Google Calendars, and their e-mails. Every employee of the Delta VISION HCP has a new e-mail address for anyone to use that's easy for everyone to remember. If you know your Resource Consultant's name, you know their e-mail address. It's simply their first initial plus their last name followed by @deltavision2.com

For example, Jeff Clemens' e-mail address is jclemens@deltavision2.com

This new system also makes it easier for everyone to keep up with a flexible calendar of events for the program. Click on the "Calendar" link at left to see our new interactive link to our Google Calendar. At any time, you can know what event is happening and when for the program. Below are a couple of links that you can use to set up or log-in to your own Google Account using your own e-mail address. If you have questions, please contact our staff or your Resource Consultant.

The Google Start Page for RCs, HQs & Staff:
http://partnerpage.google.com/deltavision2.com

Google Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Documents, etc (click on the links at the top of the Google Home Page to specify which one):
http://www.google.com/

We hope you enjoy the new system as much as we do!

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Many times, we are asked the following question by parents, "How can we know more about a certain Educator and get feedback from their classes?" For over a year now, Elaine, (our industrious Educator Coordinator) has been compiling Educator Feedback Reports from students and parents who have taken classes from various Educators. After an Educator's class was completed by a Learner, the family was asked questions such as,

"Did the class satisfy your purpose for taking the class?"

"What was the teaching style of the Educator?"

"Would you take another class from this Educator?"

and a host of other questions. After the school year, all of the reports were compiled into a single overall generic report for each Educator and class, and are now posted here and available for you to review. If you would like to see the details of a specific report, please contact Elaine at the office. Click on the "Educators" link at the upper left of this page to see the reports.

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What is worth fighting for? That is a question that is posed by many on a daily basis but let’s narrow the scope of this question to just the education of your child. By choosing the DVHCP for your child’s education, you have chosen to work hard to provide the best education for your child. The work that you face is unique to each child. It may change on a daily basis, and sometimes it seems like it changes minute by minute. The question you must answer each time is, “Is my child’s education worth it?” I believe that everyone working for the DVHCP joins you in a resounding, “Yes!” As a parent of two Learners in the program, I have firsthand knowledge of the difficulties that can and will arise. As the Director of the DVHCP, I also know the support and resources that the DVHCP can provide to you.

Conflict between being the parent and being the educator – This one is difficult because when you get frustrated in one role, the other invariably suffers too. As a parent, I know that I can’t be objective when it comes to my children. I either expect too much or too little of them. Your Resource Consultant has the advantage of seeing things from an objective point of view. RCs can help you by providing objective feedback about the success of the chosen path and suggesting alternative methods and materials that will potentially meet the Learner’s individual needs.

Unmotivated Learner – Do you remember how you felt as a child? The farthest you could anticipate into the future was your next birthday and how old you would be. Sometimes it is difficult for Learners to comprehend how their educational choices today may affect their tomorrows. Children seem to get immune to the constant parental advice regarding their future. The Resource Consultant can be an added voice reinforcing the importance of a good education, especially for younger children who look forward to their interaction with their RC. In addition, the Guidance Specialist can be a resource for all high school Learners. By listening to the Learner’s goals, he can help create and illustrate the necessary path that must be followed in order to reach their goal after high school. Talking to other supportive adults, which can also include the graduation committee, Learners hear a common message about the importance of education.

Lack of knowledge to teach a subject – There are very few people who have the expertise to teach all subjects for all grades. There is no shame in this, just reality. We all have strengths and weaknesses. It is easy to get comfortable with a certain method or textbook; therefore, as the educator you choose to use it for your child. We forget that it doesn’t matter how comfortable you are with material. What matters is whether the material meets the needs of your child. If your child struggles with the choice, a different approach should be considered. Recognizing your own limits, opens up the possibility and opportunity to find an expert in the subject who will not only teach your child the subject well, but also instill a love for a subject that just might turn out to be your child’s strength or passion. There are many great classes and educators available in the Educator Catalog. There are also many untapped educators within the community just waiting to be asked to help a child.

Your child would not be in the DVHCP if you were unconcerned about his education. I encourage you to work hard for your child, and I assure you that you are not alone in your quest. Seeking support is not a weakness, it is a step toward surrounding your child with the best advocates, educators, materials, and opportunities so that they can succeed in both the present and the future. Now that is worth the fight.

--Caryn Braddy