1. Exploring the Potential of Pen Pals Planting the Seeds of Inclusion Conference Jeanne E. Danneker Hailey Klein Allison Persick March 7, 2015 UW Oshkosh

2. The Pen Pal Project How & why the project got started Collaboration Organization and implementation Student Letter Examples Confidentiality Potential student growth

3. Self-Determination “acting as the primary causal agent in one’s life free to make choices and decisions about one’s quality of life free from undue influence or interference” (Wehmeyer 1992, p.302) Pen Pal Potential

4. Component Skills Wehmeyer, 1994 Choice making Goal setting & attainment Positive attributions of efficacy and outcome expectancy Decision making Self-observation, evaluation & reinforcement Self-awareness Problem solving Internal locus of control Self-knowledge

5. Other Potential Areas of Growth Language Arts Written language Social communication skills Reading

6. Initial and Current Student Observations Self-determination – Student’s increase self awareness Basic IEP knowledge Written Language and Reading Skills Social Communication Skills – asking and responding to questions – social relationships

7. Input and Plans of Expansion Student responses and input Teacher candidate responses and input What we’ve learned – year one – year two Plans of Expansion – refine the process

8. Contact Information Hailey Klein: hklein@isd2899.k12.mn.us hklein@isd2899.k12.mn.us Jeanne Danneker: jedanneker@winona.edu jedanneker@winona.edu