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meeha/ece/tx - Hi! How are you doing, Jacqueline and Tired?
Jacqueline - I'm fine. And you?
meeha/ece/tx - Jacqueline -- I'm doing well ... getting pretty tired ... working on paper for Thursday nite's class.
Jacqueline - What is your paper about?
meeha/ece/tx - Do you teach? I work with special needs preschoolers near Dalla.
Jacqueline - Yes, I teach kindergarten in California.
meeha/ece/tx - I'm looking at parent-school collaboration, specifically in the area of IEP development and special education.
Jacqueline - That sounds interesting...and useful!
meeha/ece/tx - ... that should have read "Dallas" ... "s" and "c" keys are sticking a lot here!
meeha/ece/tx - It has been fascinating! I've developed a couple of surveys I'm using with families now -- kind of fine-tuning my program!
Jacqueline - Do you have any information on developmentally appropriate practice with regards to fine motor in 5-6 year olds?
Jacqueline - meeha- Sounds great!
meeha/ece/tx - Are you looking for activities or definition of?
Jacqueline - I'm looking for information on how a child's hand develops...and what activities are appropriate to help with this development.
Jacqueline - last week, someone wrote that "ossification" needs to happen in child's wrist before they are ready for regular handwriting practice...I am trying to find a source for this info.
meeha/ece/tx - Is there an occupational therapist who works at your building? They will often have good info for you ... ours are more than willing to help!
meeha/ece/tx - Hi, kay! how are you this evening?
Jacqueline - meeha- We don't have an OT, but I think that's what I need to do!
meeha/ece/tx - Kindergarteners pretty much have to practice handwriting in this day-in-age ... check with district sped d epartment -- they'll have someone who can point you in the right direction (or check with univeristy that trains OT ... they'll be happy to share, too!)
Jacqueline - meeha- thanks for a great suggestion!
meeha/ece/tx - The research is broad -- some say one thing while others say different ... each district kind of develops its own philosophy.
Jacqueline - hmmm. I see.
meeha/ece/tx - some things the OT I work with suggests are: short (1.5 - 3 inch pencil -- hard to hold wrong!),
Jacqueline - interesting.
meeha/ece/tx - have child hold a quarter with ring and baby finger of writing hand -- makes only the correct "tripod" fingers available and encourage good pencil grasp
Jacqueline - this is very helpful.
meeha/ece/tx - have kiddos write on vertical surface as much as possible (chalk board, easel) -- strengthens muscles in wrist for good hand position
Jacqueline - what I see the most is the thumb overlapping the index finger...
meeha/ece/tx - Sometimes I just need to remind kiddos to hold the pencil correctly
meeha/ece/tx - I've started putting sandpaper (fairly fine grade) behind paper if kid's writing is really light with pencil -- it increases sensory feed-back and increases pencil's contact with the paper!
Jacqueline - meeha- Do you have a "You can't say you can't play" rule in your preschool -- a la Vivien Paley?
Jacqueline - clever?
meeha/ece/tx - some kiddos use those pink sponge-type hair rollers around the pencil to help with grip, too.
Jacqueline - I meant Clever!
meeha/ece/tx - Jacque -- I'm free-standing in an elementary school ... special education classroom on regular campus. My kiddos pretty much include or don't for developmental (not being mean, just not there yet!) reasons. I've heard of the book and the philosophy, but haven't had opportunity to read it yet.
kathie - any particular topic?
Jacqueline - what would you like to talk about?
meeha/ece/tx - so far fine motor and YCSYCP ... open for any topic you'd like! what group do you wwork with?
kathie - i'm a SEIt
kathie - working with prek and toddlers
meeha/ece/tx - SEIt ???
kathie - special education itinerant teacher
kathie - very popular here in NY
meeha/ece/tx - OOOOOOkay! that was new terminology to me!
Jacqueline - me too!
meeha/ece/tx - I work with your population ... but stay on one campus.
meeha/ece/tx - Hi Crayzo ... welcome!
Jacqueline - so kathie, you go from school to school?
kathie - rather than puttnig young children in center based classrooms they send a SEITout to work in the child's setting...daycare, home, prek,etc
Jacqueline - or house to house?
kathie - yes...i'm all over
meeha/ece/tx - How many campuses, how many kiddos do you serve?
kathie - i do evaluations in between too
kathie - right now, i have 4 cases
kathie - each one has different needs
kathie - it adds up to about 12 hours of direct service
meeha/ece/tx - so, would this be part-time or full-time
Jacqueline - If there was one thing you'd like to tell the parents of young children, what would it be?
kathie - that's a hard one...b/c there are so many things but...
kathie - i tell my parents that their one and only goal for their child is to let them know that they are loved
kathie - if the child knows that, they will be happy
Jacqueline - I agree, Kathie.
kathie - and that's what i want for my own children...to know that they are loved and valued
meeha/ece/tx - The one thing I tell them again and again and again ... READ to your child ... every chance you get! There is precious little else they can to to impact future learning potential ...
kathie - what would be yours
Jacqueline - That's the other one I feel strongly about.
meeha/ece/tx - Of course, that comes after I know the family ... and the security and nature of the home setting ...
kathie - make those memories and connections
Jacqueline - I think mine would be a plea to each parent to accept and value his/her parent rather than trying to fix them or turn them into someone else.
meeha/ece/tx - The other thing I try to get them to remember to do is to treasure each and every moment they gather with their children ... they are too quickly gone!
Jacqueline - oops *child* not parent
Jacqueline - to follow the child's lead, to truly listen to them,
Jacqueline - I think attunement/attachment are key!
meeha/ece/tx - Jacqueline ... that would be a GREAT question to post on the main chatboard ... to get a discussion started!
Val - If only every parent would follow this great advice
Jacqueline - Val- I truly think it would have the power to change the world!
kathie - too often parents are looking for a label and not paying attention to
kathie - what their child needs now
Jacqueline - Hubby just got home- dinner time. I'll try to check back later.
meeha/ece/tx - Nice talking with you Jacque!
Val - I truly believe that too! Children are our future
kathie - i'm looking for any ideas that would help increase/improve auditory processing
meeha/ece/tx - kathie -- that is tough to work on ... I've got a couple of kiddos I'm working on related skills with. Do you use a combination of cues -- verbal, picture, signs/gestures?
kathie - i tend to "tap it out" with the child starting at the shoulder and going down to the hand
kathie - when i can, i use visuals too
kathie - occasionally i use sign - depending on the child
meeha/ece/tx - I use lots of signs, VERY familiar objects and places or people when addressing processing directly.
kathie - any ideas to increase memory?
kathie - they're so abstract...especially for little ones
Jessica - kathie, do you have a student wtih auditory processing problems? I do and I'm new to this. I'm wondering if this boy has more though (ADD perhaps)!?!?
meeha/ece/tx - repetition, repetition, repetition ... if the child learns by seeing use picture cues ... if by doing, then add action ... lots of kiddos learn really well using music.
kathie - most of the kids i work with have some kind of processing problem...
kathie - sometimes there can be ADD
Jessica - Our school will be creating a K/1 multiage classroom next year. Does anyone have experience with this? We are interested in ideas as to using the 4 Block and Building Blocks approach
kathie - but ruling out the processing would probably be the first step
kathie - since ADD generally leads to meds
kathie - and if it's really processing, the meds will not improve the situation
meeha/ece/tx - 99.9% of the students I work with have speech/language impairments ... we just immerse them in language and run for the gold!
kathie - i used to teach montessori which is basically multiage
Jessica - Yes, I know and I hate how ADD and meds is overused, but this little boy, although diagnosed by his speech patholigist as have APD, I wonder if it's more!?!?!
Jessica - Did you use 4 Block Kathie? Probably not in Montessori
kathie - that's my general tactic too, but looking for any tricks that might help
meeha/ece/tx - Jessica, it may be more ... but lots of ADD can be addressed behaviorally.
kathie - if it's APD, it will take quite a bit of time to improve his sequencing first, and then his rate
meeha/ece/tx - Do you use a picture schedule to let your kiddos know what to expect next?
kathie - often these kids miss parts of a message
Jessica - I need to learn more about it!
kathie - it helps to break down the direction to one or two words
Jessica - I need to go . . . nice chatting wtih you all (although it was BRIEF
kathie - then increase as they improve accuracy and rate
meeha/ece/tx - Jessica, I spend a lot of time researching conditions ... google.com and aj.com are good starting places!
kathie - didn't use 4 blocks but many elements are the same
Jessica - Thanks meeha!
Jessica - okay, thanks Kathie
kathie - gl with your kid
meeha/ece/tx - remember to check the archives in a day or two ... http://www.teachers.net/archive
Jessica - meeha, what do you put on those searches?
meeha/ece/tx - have a great evening, Jessica!
meeha/ece/tx - auditory processing or CAPD (central auditory processing disorder)
meeha/ece/tx - I look at lots of different topic, though ... angelman's syndrome, autism, aspergers, ...........
meeha/ece/tx - I look at lots of different topic, though ... angelman's syndrome, autism, aspergers, ...........
meeha/ece/tx - Hi, JMG!
meeha/ece/tx - sorry for the stutter!
kathie - i've found some good info through TEACCH
JMGUNC - hi
meeha/ece/tx - TEACCH has a great site!
meeha/ece/tx - kathie -- have you used nursery rhymes with your children who have auditory processing issues?
kathie - yes...with felt piece or actual items
meeha/ece/tx - manipulating figure like "Jack jumps OVER the candlestick" or "the dish ran away with the spoon" kinds of things ...
kathie - i generally will repeat the same activity until they have mastered it,
kathie - then tweak it a bit
kathie - and add a new skills
kathie - different vocab, etc
meeha/ece/tx - that is one of the things I do, too! teach-learn-tweak-learn-tweak- ...
kathie - gotta love that cylce
meeha/ece/tx - my kids love music almost as much as do I ... so we do a lot of singing ... and I can change a song at the drop of a hat (or pen or ...), so we learn a lot by song.
JMGUNC - I make songs up all the time.....if I can't find one
meeha/ece/tx - abolutely, JM ... my assistants just roll their eyes and go along for the ride *grin*
JMGUNC - same here
JMGUNC - the other teachers call me the singing teacher - they say I sing everything
meeha/ece/tx - ... and then my "nonverbal students" start singing directions to other children in the classroom -- we don't know if we should laugh or cry some days!
JMGUNC - I heard something profound the other day---something about laughing
JMGUNC - my friend said kids laugh about 600 times a day and as we age, the average adult alughs 16 times in a day
meeha/ece/tx - what did you hear, JM?
meeha/ece/tx - in a day? those sound like high numbers to me ... but kiddos do laugh more, don't they?
JMGUNC - I guess we all need a little more laughter - b\pobably another reason I like to be around kids
kathie - i guess we need to laugh more
JMGUNC - I could use it
JMGUNC - I certainly smile more while at school
meeha/ece/tx - I would say that I do, too!
JMGUNC - I'll check in sooner next week..... gotta go . We have Grandparents visiting tomorrow
kathie - see ya
JMGUNC - I am planning Mrs. Spider's Tea party and actually tea and cookies
meeha/ece/tx - Last night I called a parent to let them know how their three year old helped a new ... very frightened three year old on his first day in my classroom ... he just took him everywhere he went!
meeha/ece/tx - Have a great day tomorrow, JM ... hope to see you soon!
meeha/ece/tx - vvvvvvvSounds like fun!
JMGUNC - take care! thanks for the wlecome
meeha/ece/tx - kathie -- it was nice chatting with you -- do you stop in often?
kathie - sorry to leave but i have an early day tomorrow
kathie - this is only my second time
meeha/ece/tx - take care, have a wonderful week!
kathie - the other time, it wasn't really in my area
meeha/ece/tx - come back soon ... and often ... and be sure to check out the chat boards and the main chat room ... t.net is the friendliest site on the web!
kathie - i appreciate the ideas
kathie - i enjoy it a lot
kathie - probably the best resource on the web
kathie - have a great week
meeha/ece/tx - http://www.teachers.net/archive has a lot of past meetings transcripts -- you may find more info there ... and on the sped chatboard (and i think a sp. therapy board???) where auditory processing info might also be requested!
meeha/ece/tx - good night.
meeha/ece/tx -
kathie - the sp ed board has had so many things about neg. behavior and behavior modificationo
kathie - but i'll check out the speech board,...thx
kathie - bye
meeha/ece/tx - if you ask other questions you'll probably get other reponses!
kathie - i'll check it out again
