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TEACHER1 - What grade do you teach?
Dave MontrealCan - I give workshops and inservice training to elementary teachers about mainstreaming and integrating sight impaired and blind children into the regular classroom environment not sure if you have read my articles in the teachers net Gazette ?
TEACHER1 - I am not sure if I have read any in particular, but do read a lot from Canada on the internet!
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher1 what is your opinion on active participational workshops for teachers I am starting a new kind of workshop this spring and want to prepare active participation exercises for the teachers who attend
TEACHER1 - I have found that getting teachers(especially science teachers) to include sped students is most difficult
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher1 I have first hand experience with that i am visually impaired myself and my own High School Science teacher would not include me fully in his program why is this the case ??
TEACHER1 - I am always willing to learn new things! Being an active part is always more interesting than just reading a pile of information.
Cathie - Hello, I am a third grade teacher with Sp. Ed. students in my class plus a parent of a sp. ed. daughter.
TEACHER1 - I do not know why science teachers are so difficult. I guess its their one way thinking.
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher1 here are some exercises I am working on for new workshops 1 is to have those teachers who attend voluntarily be blindfolded and then take one shoe off they have to throw all of their shoes into a pile and then by touch try to find their own shoe in the pile
Cathie - My daughter is about to make the transition into high school which will be a challenge!
TEACHER1 - Great idea Dave! They would have difficulty just participating!
Cathie - We are not sure of what academic track to put her on which is our challenge!
Dave MontrealCan - Teacher1 the other exercise is to have the teachers actually play the part of intolerent students who have just heard they will be havign a sight impaired child named "Jackie" in their classroom
Cathie - Hi Dana, what do you teach?
Dana - I teach jr high sped, moderate/severe
TEACHER1 - Cathie is she college bound or headed in the direction of a vocation?
Cathie - and sc, what do you teach?
Cathie - Dana, my daughter is in middle school now in a class with moderate/severe
Cathie - I am not sure Teacher1, she is a mixture of skills which makes it hard
Dana - really? What are her strengths?
Dave MontrealCan - I will give the teachers jump ropes and have the setting be in the schoolyard at recess they are talking amoung themselves about not wanting Jackie in their classroom because of the "nerdy glasses" she wears and the fact that she is slower than the rest of them another teacher will play the understanding student and try to reason with the group
Cathie - She reads well, but comprehends lower than she reads. She does well on the computer. Lang. arts is her strength.
Cathie - She is in a self contained class now for math, science, and soc. studies and in a resource for lang. arts. She is in regular classes for electives
Dana - hi MSD
Cathie - Dana, no not really.
Dave MontrealCan - I believe that workshops like these really help teachers ot better understand the needs of sight impaired childrne and also can be fun ot participate in as well
Dana - How is she doing in the elective classes?
Cathie - she does well.
Dana - As far as I know, my students have never been allowed to participate to that extent.
TEACHER1 - Definately they get some real life experience!
Cathie - She has Spina Bifida and in a wheelchair
Dana - But I have some that would probably do okay, with support.
MSDTeacher - I teach students with physical disabilities, Cathie
Dave MontrealCan - MSD Teacher have you ever taught any sight impaired children ??
Cathie - MSDTeacher, she loves all of her teachers!
TEACHER1 - What do you all find to be the most difficult part of being a sped teacher?
MSDTeacher - yes, I have students with visual impairments for 6 years.
Dave MontrealCan - MSD Teacher I am sight impaired myself and was mainstreamed as a child in the regular school system from K through University
MSDTeacher - good for you.
Cathie - I think one of the hardest things is to help them feel a part of a peer group and not feel different than everyone else
Cathie - Hi Terry
Dana - Teacher1, one of my challenges is to find enough time to give the kids what they need
MSDTeacher - I have worked with very high functioning students with visual impairments and very low functioning. Most of my students have multiple impairments
Dave MontrealCan - MSD Teacher would you want ot read some of the articles i have published in the teachers net Gazette I wrote monthly for them
MSDTeacher - I find the biggest problem is para support.
TEACHER1 - I find the paper work and meetings to take away from the time I would like to have teaching!
Dave MontrealCan - sorry for the typos all i am touchtyping here and am sight impaired I only notice the errors afterlol
MSDTeacher - Mking sure that that they are trained and working with the kids properly and doing their job.
Cathie - MSDTeacher, that has been a problem in my daughter's class, they have gone thru 4 para's this year
Dana - no problem, Dave
MSDTeacher - I have been working really hard this year to train my paras adequately to work with my students. Also, collaboration with other teachers is a key too.
Dave MontrealCan - Hello Dana nice to meet you
MSDTeacher - Sorry to hear that Cathie. I train my paras in all areas. I provide them with materials and training to make sure that they are adequately prepared. This is one th ing they really need, espeically with kids with multiple impairments.
Dana - Nice to meet you, Dave.
Cathie - yes, MSD, It has been hard on my daughter, she's get used to one and she would leave!
Dave MontrealCan - Dana what grade do you teach??
TEACHER1 - I feel fortunate not to need a para therefor do not have to deal with the additional work.
Dana - Dave, I teach junior high students with moderate/severe disabilities
MSDTeacher - It is hard to keep qualified staff with kids with physical impairments. I try to train my paras in proper lifting and handling techniques, as well.
Dave MontrealCan - Dana what has your experience been with science teachers i had a terrible experience in High School my Science teacher would not agree to adapt anything even when the itinerant teachers advised him to do so
MSDTeacher - Unfortunately paras not told what the job is really like. When we were hiring the 2nd one in my room, I told the interviewees that they were expected to help with bathrooming, feeding and positiioning and handling. My principal told them the same thing.
Cathie - I better go, thanks for advice!
MSDTeacher - Dave, I absolutely love SAVI/SELPH(Science Activities for the Visually Impaired and Science Enrichment Activities for the Physically Handicapped). Are you familiar with those curriculums?
Dana - Dave, only the resource students are placed in the regular science class.
TEACHER1 - Our science teacher thinks that modification is choosing 5 questions to grade on a test. I want to ask him how he likes his house and job!
Dana - However, a couple of the science teachers have included my class or shared resources with me from time to time.
Dave MontrealCan - MSDTeacher no I am not familiar with that ccurriculm
MSDTeacher - They are adapted for kids with VI and OI needs. For example braille or large print labels. Physically accessible science tools.
MSDTeacher - They have various modules on different topics.
Dana - sounds like a neat program!
Doodles - Anyone out there working with ED kids at the Intermediate level?
MSDTeacher - I supported a lower functioning totally blind( braille reader) in a science class
MSDTeacher - One thing you need to consider is their lack of incidential learning expereinces
TEACHER1 - I work with k-12 students moderate needs!
MSDTeacher - this is the same for kids with visual impairments, as well as physical impairments
Dana - I work with junior high students with moderate/severe needs
MSDTeacher - This young lady did not know that corn and wheat were somethign that a farmer also did. She thought all a farmer did work with animals.
Dave MontrealCan - Please read my articles in the teachers net Gazette monthly I am sure you will find them interesting and informative
Doodles - I work in an integrated 5th grade class as the sped teacher. We have 24 kids 11 with IEPS mainly due to LD or ED and 14 reg ed who are not typical at all. I am in my first job and losing my mind!
TEACHER1 - I know the feeling Doodles
MSDTeacher - Hence the song old mcdonald had a farm.
Dave MontrealCan - Doodles sorry ot hear that are you a new teacher??
MSDTeacher - Doodles, do you have a mentor teacher?
Doodles - My CSE chairperson wants them in resource room and they are bottoming out in integrated!
TEACHER1 - Find someone who can answer all the pesky quesions you have the first year!
Doodles - My mentor teacher says they all belong in self contained but the district won't go for the expense!
MSDTeacher - Does she have any suggestions?
TEACHER1 - Is that a reqirement on the IEP?
Doodles - She just basically says to hang in there and that everyone gets years like this!
Dave MontrealCan - I have also self published a new mannual called "Integration A Rewarding Experience" resource mannual for the classroom teacher
MSDTeacher - Doodles, what are the students LD needs?
Dave MontrealCan - for more information on the mannual please email me at: melanson@teachers.net
MSDTeacher - And what types of modifications are you using?
TEACHER1 - MSDTeacher, What state do you teach in?
Doodles - My LD students have 2 dyslexia, 3 dysgraphia, 2 nonreaders, so they get scriibng, extended time, quiet loction teacher proximity etc
MSDTeacher - Doodles, do you use any type of assistive technology?
gina - is anyone is a preschool teacher and knows ideas of small group time stuff
MSDTeacher - I used to teach preschool.
MSDTeacher - What about some fine motor activities.
Dave MontrealCan - Gina i can help with programs modified for a sight impaired child in preschool
MSDTeacher - Actually, Dave it has been my experience at the preschool level there are many things that preschoolers do that would be very appropiate for kids with OI and VI needs.
Dana - hi JPM
MSDTeacher - Especially in literacy.
Doodles - I sent my students to keyboarding 3 times a week, use books on tape which I read myself, tape recorder. Our district has VERY little and when I bug them re voice activated software I get its too expensive, doesn't work etc
MSDTeacher - Your system should be able to qualify for books on tape from reacordings for the blind or library of congress.
MSDTeacher - remind them it is the law
TEACHER1 - Gina what do you teach/
Dave MontrealCan - MSDTeach I used the services for the Recording for the Blind and the CNIB Toronto many times as a student
MSDTeacher - Assistive technology is covered under Idea. sounds like your students would benefit from Write Out Loud, and Math Pad amongst other programs.
Doodles - How much is Write out loud?
MSDTeacher - I am not certain.
MSDTeacher - here is the address: http://www.donjohnston.com
Dave MontrealCan - Jpm I really liked your article in the Gazette it was very good
TEACHER1 - Gina what grades do you teach?
gina - preschool
MSDTeacher - they have some great programs that would be good for your students, Start to finish books, draft builder, maybe co:writer.
Doodles - Thank you for the info! Where can I get the info on the integrated classroom that was listed earlier?
TEACHER1 - What type of disabilities do your students have, if any?
MSDTeacher - actually I worked with a student who is LD who would benefit from Co:Writer and Write Out Loud. Also there is some info on CO: Writer and Write OutLoud in the Jan/Feb Ed of Teaching Exceptional Children-- show it to your administrators.
MSDTeacher - Gina, what ages are your students?
gina - 2-3-4
MSDTeacher - Do you have centers?
MSDTeacher - When I taught early childhood-- I did a lot with literacy, arts and crafts activities and broke them into groups.
MSDTeacher - and used centers.
gina - yes
MSDTeacher - I would do a lot with teaching them about books and have them experiment with them.
MSDTeacher - Dave, that would be very appropriate for a visually impaired student because they need to learn that you read left to right and to turn pages in the book.
MSDTeacher - could do a lot with prebraille skills in that.
gina - do you know of any sites that you can get just small group time
Dave MontrealCan - I think inclusion is very important a sight impaired child needs ot know that they matter and are an equal participant in all classroom activities or at least as much as possibly can be done anyhow
MSDTeacher - no I dont sorry. Perhaps check the naeyc site, they may have some ideas.
MSDTeacher - Last year I taught a student who was fully included in a 2nd grade class.
MSDTeacher - visually impaired.
Dave MontrealCan - MSDTeacher were the other children sensitive to their needs
MSDTeacher - oh yes.
MSDTeacher - and so was her teacher. She would arrnage activities to get her to use her CCTV more and include the other students.
Dave MontrealCan - MSDTeacher that is so nice to hear when i was in school in the 70's this was not the case
MSDTeacher - she is very bright from a good home.
MSDTeacher - I am sure she will go to college.
Dave MontrealCan - MSDTeacher the workshops I do now with teachers actually sensitize and help the regular classroom teacher to understand a sight impaired child's needs
MSDTeacher - mom was very involved. Actually, I think she wanted to learn Zoomtext and all that good stuff.
MSDTeacher - you have to.
MSDTeacher - This girl was learning keyboarding and zoomtext in 2nd grade.
Dave MontrealCan - MSDTeacher I have a friend who uses Jaws for Windows with his system he is totally blind and is now learning web page desighning
MSDTeacher - I have former students who use JAWS.
MSDTeacher - my feeling with this student that if she learned ZT and books on tape by the time she was in middle school she would not need much vision support.
Dave MontrealCan - MSDTeacher may I share a touchign story with you ??
MSDTeacher - shoot.
Dave MontrealCan - MSDTeacher several yrs ago I won Dinner for 2 from a local radio station a $100 gift certificate to the Crystal Palace Restaurant when they asked the question who was the teacher who made the most difference in your life who was there and who cared I called and told my story about Kathy Inniss my former 4th grade teacher I won the certificate and I took her to dinner it was my wya of saying thank you to her for being such a wonderful teacher
MSDTeacher - that is so sweet
Dave MontrealCan - MSDTeacher we went out to dinner on a Saturday night she got all dressed up and she smiled the entire evening it meant a lot to her i have also dedicated the resource mannual i just came out wiht to her as well with a special dedication page
MSDTeacher - that is nice.
Dave MontrealCan - MSDTeacher teachers need ot know that they matter and that they are making a difference
MSDTeacher - yes, we do.
Dave MontrealCan - and i never forget to tell the teachers i work with that every time i get the opportunity
MSDTeacher - it is hard teaching special ed and if you are n ot appreciated or do not feel appreciated that makes it hard.
MSDTeacher - I think some parents are in such deep denial that they do not say thank you or know how to say thank you. But, I understand.
Dave MontrealCan - Kathy Inniss was a regular 4th grade teacher and believe it or not she has never taught another sight impaired child again since she had me
Dave MontrealCan - I am a regular contributor here in teachers net and enjoy it veyr much
MSDTeacher - Good Night. Nice chatting with you.
Dave MontrealCan - take care MSDTeach nice to meet you
