Janet Swim Reed NH Certification General Special Education Elementary Education I received my B.A. in Psychology and Special Education from Russell Sage College in May, 1981. Immediately after college I taught in resource rooms at the middle and high school level providing academic support as well as direct instruction. An opening in a middle school regular education classroom gave me an opportunity to teach large classes. Recognizing that “at risk” and identified students required direct instruction that was difficult to provide in the large setting, I returned to teach in a special education self-contained classroom. Relocating to New Hampshire I was employed by Regional Services and Education Center, Inc. with educationally disadvantaged students in the Title 1 program. After tutoring for one year I took on the job of Director of Title 1 services for SAU 39, 40 & 41. In this position I developed the grant, trained and supervised up to 18 Title 1 Tutors. These Tutors provided reading and math instruction to approximately 400 students. I also consulted with local communities in the development of their reading program and delivery of special services. I continued my professional growth with course work at Rivier College in the areas of Educational Disabilities and Reading Specialist. I have also received extensive training in The Lindamood-Bell Auditory Discrimination in Depth and Visualizing and Verbalizing programs as well as the Project Read strands. I have attended many workshops and conferences looking for more effective ways to teach students with disabilities. I have spent time researching and learning about students with ADHD due to a desire to better understand this disability. Over the years I have continued to reaffirm my belief that students with learning disabilities can learn and deserve the same quality of instruction that all other students receive. However, many skills and strategies must be directly taught including social skills. Unfortunately I have seen students create systems for themselves that gets others to do their work. The RSEC Academy allowed me an opportunity to provide students with a setting that would provide them the direct instruction they needed and allow them to become independent learners.