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Dave MontrealCan - Hi 404 welcome
Number404 - Hi Dave. I saw you sitting here by yourself and decided to keep you company.
Dave MontrealCan - Thanks I hope we get a descent turn out here
Number404 - Nothing like booting yourself. I had too many windows open, and I closed one more than I should have.
Dave MontrealCan - I was checking my local school board websites tonight I am encouraged that many schools are now online with their own individual web pages
Number404 - I figure that when people really come in to ask questions, I will just lurk.
Number404 - Dave, that is neat!
Dave MontrealCan - 404 they have everything about their schools including their monthly newsletter and a word from the Principal exc.
Number404 - I have a website, but it is not very serious. Google finds it, however.
Number404 - My sister in law used to do the website where she used to teach. I don't know about the one she is at now.
Dave MontrealCan - 404 what grade does she teach??
Number404 - My site is actually at 2 locations and has two front doors.
Number404 - She is doing high school English now.
Number404 - She is hoping that a library position will open up. That is what she likes best.
Dave MontrealCan - 404 did she ever teach elementary??
Number404 - I don't think she is qualified for elementary.
Number404 - She was a computer specialist at a middle school but not as a permanent position.
Number404 - She stepped in for someone, since she has good puter skills.
Number404 - She is back teaching English and finishing a library masters.
Number404 - Hi Becky!!
Dave MontrealCan - 404 I wanted to mention that many schools here in Montreal now have programs to respect diversity and many also have uniform requirements in the public system now and they demand respect on school property I am in favour of that
Number404 - I was just keeping Dave company until he had other people to stay on topic with.
Becky - Hi
Number404 - That sounds good.
Becky - What's the topic tonight?
Dave MontrealCan - Hello Becky welcome to the session
Number404 - Becky, are you here for Dave's workshop?
Becky - Is this the workshop about sight impaired students?
Number404 - Becky, welcome!!!
Dave MontrealCan - Becky integration and mainstreaming of sight impaired and blind children into the regular classroom environment
Number404 - Becky, you are in the right place!
Becky - I had a student about 10 years ago who was legally blind. I got him into some support services for the blind and he graduated from high school this year. He is off to college now.
Number404 - Becky, you can ask Dave any questions you have.
Dave MontrealCan - Becky what grade do you teach??
Becky - He was a neat experience.
Becky - I teach second grade
Dave MontrealCan - Becky I am so pleased to hear you say that I went through the regular school system as well
Becky - Our biggest concern was safety. Lots of modifications, like darker lines on the paper etc. I think he went on to have his own laptop.
Dave MontrealCan - Becky I was very grateful for the support I got most of the time from my teachers
Becky - Are you visually impaired?
Dave MontrealCan - Becky when I was in elementary school in the 70's it was very new to have a sight impaired child mainstreamed at that time
Becky - I believe in meeting student's needs whatever they are.
Dave MontrealCan - yes Becky I am
Becky - Mainstreaming enriches the lives of everyone in the classroom.
Dave MontrealCan - Becky what state are you located in??
Becky - Maine
Dave MontrealCan - Becky I am in Montreal Canada here
Becky - I had a multihandicapped student...wheelchair...no language...little fine motor skills...etc. He taught me a lot more than I taught him.
Dave MontrealCan - Becky I have a special story I would like to share later on in this workshop I hope you will enjoy
Becky - I love Montreal!
Dave MontrealCan - Becky my former 4th grade teacher made such a difference for me and I will share with you soon why she was so special to me
Number404 - I am still here but lurking.
Becky - How do you type?
Dave MontrealCan - 404 chime in any time you want to\
Becky - Do you read Braille?
Becky - I had a friend who was blind. She was so independent. She made her daughter's wedding gown.
Dave MontrealCan - Becky I learned to touch-type when I was 12 years old at the Montreal Association for the Blind I have some sight but I learned touch-typing skills
Becky - She told me a story about making blueberry muffins only to discover that she had used peas instead of blueberries.
Dave MontrealCan - Becky I do not read Braille since I have enough sight to read large print
Number404 - server just hung up on me!
Dave MontrealCan - Oh yeah lol lol lol Becky been there done that I put powered milk in a cup poured hot water sugar and then real milk in once thinking I had made a coffee lol lol lol I soon dumped it in the sink
Becky - I have to go now.
Number404 - That would be VERY sweet milk!
Becky - bye
Number404 - Bye Becky.
Dave MontrealCan - Becky thanks for coming do you want my email??
Dave MontrealCan - 404 do most of your schools in your area have web pages??
Number404 - Dave, I think they now do.
Number404 - Hi vern!
Dave MontrealCan - Hello Vern
Dave MontrealCan - Is that Vern here in Montreal??
Dave MontrealCan - Juvie welcome to my session
Juvie - Hi, Dave. Have a question for you.
Dave MontrealCan - Juvie go ahead
Juvie - Many, many of my students (who come and go rapidly) come to detention without their glasses. I cannot put everyone up front and it is becoming a real problem. some see very poorly
Dave MontrealCan - Juvie how old are these children??
Juvie - I do have one whiteboard on wheels, but I have to limit movement for security reasons so I cannot have them move up front. Dave they are 10-18
Kevin - Hi everyone!
Dave MontrealCan - Hi Kevin welcome to my session
Juvie - Hi, Kevin!
Number404 - hi juvie and Kevin!
Kevin - What's the topic?
Dave MontrealCan - Juvie I think you should try to talk to them they sound old enough that they should be responsible for bringing their glasses and adaptive aids to class and if they do not wish to I guess unfortunately I hate to say it it is their loss
vern - This is my first time in a chat room. I'm not quite sure of what I am doing
Kevin - Dave, what is your position?
Dave MontrealCan - Hello Vern you are doing just fine welcome
Juvie - Dave, this is juvenile detention. If they do not have their glasses when arrested they do not get them. I am looking for things I can do to make them more successful without the glasses. Cannot use magnifying glass either.
Juvie - It may be that there is nothing I really can do. I do lots of things on tape
Dave MontrealCan - Kevin I am a consultant I give workshops and inservice training to elementary teachers about mainstreaming and integrating sight impaired and blind children into the regular classroom environment
vern - Is this a chat room about Building Blocks?
Number404 - vern, new messages come in on top. This room is for scheduled meetings. The one going on now is about mainstreaming blind and partially sighted students into a regular classroom.
Kevin - cool
Number404 - vern, it is only building blocks if that is scheduled.
Number404 - vern, room 1 here is the general chatroom.
vern - Thanks Number404--I understand
Dave MontrealCan - Juvie it is a shame in a way that more cannot be done some of these students may have more problems than just visual impairment
Juvie - Dave do you know if there is such a thing as glasses that would just magnify for them?
Number404 - Juvie, can you use a magnifier if it is not glass?
Dave MontrealCan - Juvie in what sense it depends on their individual eye problem I would say
Juvie - Number, I never thought of that. I cannot give them glass that could be hit against and object and then shatter, but if it weren't glass may I could
Juvie - Dave, we know very little about their impairments. Only what they tell us. Some get sooo frustrated.
Dave MontrealCan - Juvie here is a thought
Number404 - Juvie, I have a thing I got from the Red Cross that is a little freznel lens. It is about the size of a small comb, and it is a fairly flexible plastic. It can magnify anything it is set on top of.
Juvie - Dave, I think 404's idea is something I will check out. I will ask our manager tomorrow! You guys are helpful!
Number404 - Juvie, this thing bends. I just tried seeing if I could break it easily.
Juvie - Son needs computer now, but I appreciate the ideas and will do some follow up tomorrow! Thanks so much!
Dave MontrealCan - Juvie and this is an idea that has already started in Montreal police stations locally here are becoming sensitized to disabilities we have a gentleman here Captain Michel Leconte who is captain of a local police station he is very sensitive to the needs of all people have met with him and he has trained his officers to spot any kind of difficulties when interacting with the public
Juvie - Dave, we appreciate your being here to help us!! Night!
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani welcome to my session
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani what grade do you teach??
Number404 - Hi Tiffany!
Tiffani - I teach second
Number404 - Tiffany is probably having the kind of problems I had before.
Tiffani - I am visually impaired
Tiffani - This is my first time in a chat, so I was having trouble
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani where are you located and do you teach regular elementary school??
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani I am visually impaired too welcome
Tiffani - I am in Northern CAlif. And yes I teach regular public school
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani you are doing very well
Tiffani - Dave, what is the extent of your disability
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani I went through the regular school system from K through University
Number404 - hi aeropagus.
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani I have just under 10% vision in my left eye and totally blind in the right eye
Tiffani - Me too. Very hard, not being able to see the board and all. Not to mention the small print in books., but mananged to muddle through
Tiffani - I have incomplete acromatopsia, meaning I have deficiant rods and cone function
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani good for you that you were able to become a teacher i am proud of you
Number404 - Hi jan!
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani I have recently come out with a book called "Integration A Rewarding Experience" a resource mannual for the classroom teacher
Tiffani - Thanks Dave. I love what I do. The kids are so forgiving they understand and I think it helps them be kind to others with disabilities
Tiffani - Dave, Whats the book about
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani please stay for a little while if you can would like to exchange emails with you
jan - Dave and Tiffani -- I am so impressed. Thank you for showing us it can be done.
Number404 - I had a geometry teacher in high school with low vision. He said that he just had to draw large, and that we had to be prepared to put any homework problem on the board large for the class to see. He had an aid when needed.
Dave MontrealCan - Tiffani the book talks about my experiences in school as a child and I offer solutions to the problems I faced in the classroom and how these situations could have been avoided
Tiffani - I do have to go for a bit, need to help the kids with homework, will try to log on again before the end.
jan - I am just learning to teach with a sight disability and I have found it hard!!
Dave MontrealCan - Jan hello what grade do you teach ??\
jan - I teach 3/4th.
jan - I find the teacher's manuals so tiny now.
Dave MontrealCan - Jan regular public school??
jan - A wonderful public magnet school where we try to help all.
Dave MontrealCan - Jan where are you located??
jan - Do you use voice on your computer?
Dave MontrealCan - Jan no I have very strong reading glasses that help me see the regular computer screen
jan - I can't even imagine!! I keep thinking I should learn how to use the voice adaptation before I need it.
jan - Central Illinois
Dave MontrealCan - Jan do you teahc fully sighted students as well
jan - I don't teach any students with significant sight problems I don't think. Of course one never knows.
Number404 - I am trying to find juvie magnifiers like mine.
Dave MontrealCan - Jan well I am proud of you for becomming a teacher
jan - Thank you so much for your efforts. I know how how it is to write a book!!
jan - hard
Dave MontrealCan - It is 10 pm and I would like to thank teachers net for allowing me to give this session
Dave MontrealCan - Jan the book is called "Integration A Rewarding Experience"
Number404 - I came back to say goodnight. One of the pages froze my computer.
Dave MontrealCan - well it is 10 pm i think i will close here night all thanks for attending my session
Number404 - I am heading to room I.
