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Kathleen - Teachers.Net is happy to welcome Grace Vyduna Haskins for the first of three sessions on multi-sensory instruction. Tonight's session will focus upon spelling and handwriting. Grace wil begin with some foundational information, then we will invite people to state their questions (once please) and Grace will address them. Please hold all questions and comments for now. :-)
Kathleen - Grace, would you tell us a bit about yourself?
Kathleen - Grace's Spel-Lang Tree website: http://user.mc.net/~gsh/
Kathleen - Grace is the author of "The Spel-Lang Tree: Roots" a Developmental Sequential Word Study Program for First Grade"
Kathleen - Grace presented recently at the IRA conference in Orlando
Bob R/CA - About the Author Grace Vyduna-Haskins, the author of The Spel-Lang Tree, is a veteran of over 30 years in the classroom. While she has taught at all elementary levels, most of her teaching career was spent at the first grade level.
Bob R/CA - She earned her Ed.D. and M.Ed. from National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois, and her B.A. from Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Illinois. In addition, she has had extensive training in the Orton-Gillingham method of reading instruction which advocates the use of multi-sensory techniques.
Bob R/CA - Her Master's thesis was entitled The Effects of Using a Mullti-Sensory Approach to Teach First Grade Reading. In 1993, she was recognized for Outstanding Scholarship as a Distinguished Finalist for the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award by The International Reading Association for her dissertation, An Historical Investigation of American Reading-Spelling Relationships: 1607-1930.
Bob R/CA - Ms. Haskins homepage is at http://user.mc.net/~gsh/index.html
Bob R/CA - and you can e-mail her at gsh@mc.net
Bob R/CA - Has anyone here worked with this approach in their classrooms?
Anne/K/FL - I have worked with this approach.
Bob R/CA - Hi Anne, we're trying to get started, some trouble with our host's connection.
Bob R/CA - Anne, would you like to discuss your experience?
Anne/K/FL - I design systems that incorporate all the senses.
Anne/K/FL - I use a lot of body movements to cue children to elicit the correct response.
Praline/3rd/ - Would Project Read fall under this approach?
joan/1st/NY - Could you explain that Anne
Bob R/CA - Anne, explain what the term "multisensory instruction" means?
Anne/K/FL - I also engage in tactile experiences to encourage a variety of learning experiences.
Anne/K/FL - Using the children's five senses in the learning process.
Kathleen - Anne, how is that like and unlike learning styles, multiple intelligences
Anne/K/FL - I teach using signals for example if a child can not elicit the correct sound for a letter I use a body movement that triggers the child's memory and the child elcits a response.
Sandy/K/Mo - I don't understand... do you use every sense to teach a skill?
Anne/K/FL - Multiple Intelligences is more abstract and uses more of the child's psyche than his senses.
Nan - What kind of body movement would help you remember a sound?
joan/1st/NY - Is that similar to Pat Cunningham's method of assigning an action for the consonant beginnging sounds like HOP for letter h, and SIT for letter s?
Anne/K/FL - Yes, you use all the child's senses and try to get them involved auditorily, physically, visually, environmentally, and event hrough tasting.
Joy - My name is Joy and I am the daughter of Grace Haskins. At this point in time she is unable to access her server and apologizes for the inconvenience.
Marva/Texas/3rd - Anne, do you recommend sand paper letter shapes on cards?
Anne/K/FL - Yes, Joan that is correct.
Marva/Texas/3rd - Aw, well tell her we will catch her on another night!!!
Nan - How about writing in sand?
Kathleen - Thank you Joy
Lori V. - Anne Do you like the Project Read program since it uses sensory intergration?
Anne/K/FL - Joy, thank you for responding.
Kathleen - Joy, tell your mom not to feel bad, this is not her fault!
Lori V. - Marva Wikki sticks are great and reusable for making textured letters and words!
Kathleen - Joy, tell Grace that Anne is here and she is presenting
Praline/3rd/ - In Projesct Read for example,If I am teaching the sound /m/ , the students say it ,sky write it, trace it in sand ,... write it on their paper..... Is this approach similar?
Nan - What is a Wikki stick?
Anne/K/FL - Writing in sand in a sensory approach too, Nan. Probably you use this approach in your classroom and are not aware that you are following these guidelines.
Dani - Do any of you use the Orton-Gillingham method?
Lori V. - Nan It is a flexible stick covered in wax you can even use it in books etc to circle letters and words it leaves no marks!
joan/1st/NY - Anne, could you give an example of a lesson?
Anne/K/FL - Lor, I like any programs that works for you and that you feel is meeting your needs as a teacher.
Nan - Where do you find them?
Lori V. - Dani I am certified in OG but I switched to Project Read
Praline/3rd/ - I teach Project Read too.
Bob R/CA - If Grace is unable to come tonight we can try to reschedule again
Anne/K/FL - Lori, why did you switch?
Dani - I am certified OG, too. Is Project Read better? If so what do you like about it?
nat - You can find wikki sticks in any school supply store or Staples
Lori V. - Nan Teacher stores, Crystal Springs you can order them..even those Super Halmark stores have them,..craft stores too!
Lori V. - Anne I really thought the Project read was geared more towards the younger kids more mutli sensory etc...
Anne/K/FL - Kat, I'll lead this discussion if you want.
Lori V. - Dani I just felt project read wasn't as dry as OG does that make sense?
Marva/Texas/3rd - I don't like Project Read because of things like "Bonnie Kline" stories, and the fact that they encourage the program up through the grades. It should not be a program that kids stay in forever.
Bob R/CA - Anne, that would be great if you would
Dani - Complete! OG can become very boring.
Kathleen - Anne, thank you, that is wonderful
Lori V. - Maarva I use Project read on ly when kids are not reading by the end of OCt to catch them up
Anne/K/FL - My centers are set up to include activiies that are multi-sensory. The children may choose from many activities that have been modeled.
Dani - Anne- Can you give us some examples of your centers?
joan/1st/NY - Anne could you explain what one of you lessons might be like?
Nan - Is what you're talking about possible with a small classroom, 25 children, and no aide?
Lori V. - Nan I did literacy centers with 32 no help...LOL
Lori V. - Nan What grade?
Anne/K/FL - Joan, I teach with a lot of drama and visuals. I teach using a multi apprach using puppets, songs, dance, and games.
Nan - First/what I call over-privileged children
Kathleen - Anne, "Mrs. Alphabet": http://www.mrsalphabet.com
Nan - (private school)
Anne/K/FL - I invent my own games. I use bullseyes, races, blindfolds, masks, flashlights, music, instruments, puppet theaters, costumes, and many other props to teach.
joan/1st/NY - Anne, sounds wonderful!
Nan - Don't all good teachers use a multi-sensory approach, though perhaps not a particular program?
Anne/K/FL - Yes, Nan you are probably all using these techniques in your classroom.
Kathleen - Anne, is multi-sensory instruction a new fad?
Nan - Marva, I don't know how to answer private messages. My update and all that stuff disappears.
Anne/K/FL - I take a basic game like Bingo and make it exciting and challenging.
Marva/Texas/3rd - That's okay, Nan. :-)
Anne/K/FL - No, Kathleen that's how I was taught to teach 31 years ago.
Praline/3rd/LA - In the lower elementary I don't think all children will learn unless you use a multi -sensory approach.
Lori V. - Praline I agree...I use whatever works...
Anne/K/FL - Yes, Praline you need to cover all the senses to be assured ao hitting all the learnign styles.
Nan - I'm for whatever works, too. Lori, I would lkke that
Anne/K/FL - How many of you do cooking project to reinforce a lesson? That experience is multi sensory.
Kathleen - Anne, isn't that how early childhodd ed began, with sensory experiences? But we got away from it and the results are obvious
Lori V. - I think a lot of times the problem is that schools adopt specifc programs school wide and expect teachers to use it across the board.
Dani - Where can I find Project Read?
nat/k/ma - I started teaching 28 years ago and we have come a long way, too bad!!!!!!
Praline/3rd/LA - Learning styles are not quite the same as multi- sensory, are they?
Anne/K/FL - Yes, Maria Montessori developed materials that are still popular today . She was the Mother of Multi-Sensory materials.
Kathleen - Good early childhood educators (actually shouldn't be just early childhood) naturally and intuitively teach with a multi-sensory approach
Lori V. - Dani I am not on my computer at home I can email you some stuff Sunday
SarahW/2/TX - Lori--and then the schools only buy 1/3 of the components of a program!
Anne/K/FL - Praline, they are integrated but not the same.
Dani - Thank you Lori!
Lori V. - Sarah True enough...LOL
Kathleen - Now, many people are skipping the foundational activities (experiential, sensory) and wondering why what they do isn't producing results
Lori V. - Nan I have some centers that I use in my first grade that I could email you
Anne/K/FL - Yes, Lori and teachers have better ways to implement sometimes than the programs their deemed to use.
Praline/3rd/LA - How true Sarah!!!!!!!!!
Beverly/k/Ga - What type of cooking activities do you do?
Lori V. - Kath I agree it seems that some systems throw the baby out with the bath water....
Lori V. - Anne I agree!
Praline/3rd/LA - Dani http://www.projectread.com
nat/k/ma - In Mass, the authoritative figures who never worked in a classroom want teachers to produce student products of writing samples throughout the year, no time for multi-sensory. We read and children respond to our stories by drawing and writing.
Dani - Thank you Praline!
Anne/K/FL - I like activities where the children indivually cook like a one serving cooking activity. We have a stove and refrigerator in our class.
joan/1st/NY - Lori, could you email me the materials too?
Lori V. - nat Where in MA are you?
Gumbo/K/La - Lori-----at least your district can afford the bathwater!!(and has a tub to put it in!) ;-)
Sandy/K/Mo - we make bread, dinosaur bones, applesauce, things like that
Anne/K/FL - Nat, do you teach 1/2 days?
Praline/3rd/LA - LOL Gumbo!!!!!!!!!
nat/k/ma - I have half a classroom. No stove, refrigerator, or anything near our class to cook with, just 25 children with one teacher.
Kathleen - Anne, can you recommned some publications that have recipes for individual servings such as youdescribe?
Lori V. - Gumbo I don't know about the bath water thing I work in the inner city
Nan - We have no cooking facilities either.
Marva/Texas/3rd - So you guys like Project Read? I think it's okay for 1-2,
Anne/K/FL - Yes, Sandy that's great you incorporate your themes with the cooking projects.
Lori V. - JOan Sure IM me your email! Nan it is on the way!
Nan - We don't even have a sink in the room.
nat/k/ma - No I teach kindergarten. No more fun just student products to send to first grade teachers. Everything we do in every area of the curriculum, the kids have to have a writing response. Hey where is the fun?
Nan - Thanks, Lori.
nat/k/ma - We have to go downstairs to the bathroom. Do you think we are able to paint in our classroom?
Praline/3rd/LA - nat ,can they write already by K?
Sandy/K/Mo - Nan I have a ref. but the toaster oven is mine from home.. and use bathroom water :-)
Nan - hEY, nAT, WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE. Our K teachers seem intent on turning out kids who can already read and add and subtract to 10. What's left for us poor first grade teachers?
Praline/3rd/LA - Nat ,where in MA are you?
Anne/K/FL - Yes, Nat in Florida we are now mandated to document several times a year for lettr recognition, phonics, math, writing saples, word lists, etc.
Kathleen - Mary, hi, Grace was unable to connect so Anne has taken over for us...
Dani - I was just hired to teach in a new district. My classroom is beautiful. I have electrical sockets everywhere!
Marva/Texas/3rd - If school is not fun, then it's pointless. The end result of school must be to produce life long learners. Who do you want me to write a letter to?
Lori V. - Praline I Ma we have new curriculum frameworks and the head of education is a sexiest pig...joys of teaching
Beverly/k/Ga - Can you recommend materials for cooking activites that you could do with a hot plate or small toaster oven. I also do not have a stove or refrigerator (and no aide ) but I do think cooking experiences are great.
Marva/Texas/3rd - Grin Dani
Nan - We'd like to get well balanced confident children. First grade is not as structured as k. at our school.
Marva/Texas/3rd - erm to whom do you wish me to write a letter?
nat/k/ma - Anne, there is a bit of readiness in your class. They are not interested in that in Ma.
Kathleen - Anne, do those requirements mean that we have to give up a multi-sensory appraoch?
Sandy/K/Mo - Kdg. is the foundation for all the years coming up.. Kdg should be fun
Anne/K/FL - We have full day kindergartens.
Gumbo/K/La - Beverly----mailbox always has good, simple cooking recipes in their "kdn Kafe" section each issue...
Nan - We don't have many developmentally appropriate activities in our K. classes. They have BOOKS/
nat/k/ma - We have full day kindergarten in Boston
Anne/K/FL - No, Kathleen I document and still teach using multi sensory approach. I have high stats and I have a lot of fun!
Nan - Its a sad situation.
Kathleen - So, guys, don't give up what you know must be done, find a way to incorporate it
Sandy/K/Mo - I agree Anne.. we have lots of fun and still meet requirements
Nan - Does The Mailbox have a website?
nat/k/ma - all the money was spent on books for primary classrooms including kindergarten. No classroom money for readiness material.
Anne/K/FL - When you use a multi sensory approach you are providing variety and tappin into all the resources that a child has.
Praline/3rd/LA - When I had 1st grade , I bought paint,we used recycled pudding cups to put the paint and a bucket of water to put the cups in when we were done.
joan/1st/NY - In Buffalo, we had to give TerraNova standardized test to 1st graders IT WAS AWFUL Developmentally inappropriate
Nan - Nat, MA and AL sound a lot alike.
Kathleen - www.themailbox.com
Nan - We use buckets when we paint, too.
Anne/K/FL - I do a lot of dramatics. Creative dramatics uses the whole body and the children love to act out parts.
Nan - Thanks Kathleen, that was simple.
Sandy/K/Mo - used the pudding cups for the hidden shape game too
Dani - I had to give standardized tests to my 1st graders this past year. They did not perform well. I felt so bad for them. They were very nervous. Then I wondered: Did I do something wrong? Could I have prepared them better?
Nan - Lean Cruisine containers are good.
Mary K&1 - egg cartons are good for paint cups
nat/k/ma - Who empties your buckets?
Kathleen :-/ - You can make your own materials, create your own puppets
Beverly/k/Ga - Okay, Sandy, I'll bite what is the hidden shape game/
joan/1st/NY - I don't think these tests measure what the children can really do
Praline/3rd/LA - Then I came up in the world. I bought small paint dishes from Reprint for 20 cents a piece. The kids were thrilled.
Dani - I Joan- I don't think so, either.
Nan - Hubby's home. I've got to go help proof tomorrows newspaper. I enjoyed this conference. It was more serious than the chat room. Bye.
Kathleen :-/ - Let's brainstorm some positive strategies for teaching in a multi-sensory way..Anne--
nat/k/ma - First and Second grades are exempt from standardized testing? Does anyone still use the Metropolitan Readiness Test?
Praline/3rd/LA - nat,I emptied the bucket after the kids left.
Sandy/K/Mo - cut out and laminate small shapes. put these in the pudding container and all of it in a sock. Use a spinner and they have to reach in and find the shape and hold it up
Beverly/k/Ga - Let me vent on this testing subject-Tests show what a child cannot do-not what they can do.
Nan - We use Otis Lennon School Ability and the Stanford.
Anne/K/FL - No, Nat our school did away with that test about 4 years ago.
Dani - Has anyone had the class use glitter glue to write their letters. When it dries, it feels really cool.
nat/k/ma - Joan--Why?
joan/1st/NY - I just know that our principal will want the test scores up next year, even though that means less REAL teaching with multisensory lessons and skills and drills practice for the tests!!!
Anne/K/FL - Yes, Dani that's cool and you can also color glue and use that too.
Beverly/k/Ga - I use the Metropolitan with my kindergartners.
Mary K&1 - colored Elmer's is good to use to write names and letters also
Anne/K/FL - Joan, all of us are feeling the pressure of scores. So what can we do to help each other with this problem?
nat/k/ma - I use the Metropolitan Readiness Test with my kids
Kathleen :-/ - Let's focus on how to teach with a multi-sensory approch, we'll have other sessions on the obstacles
Anne/K/FL - If we share enough techniques and successes that would be beneficial.
Kathleen :-/ - Each year my students do as well or better on assessments than students whose programs are more letter-of-the-week or worksheet oriented
Mary K&1 - have you fine folks discussed the feeling box? Things are put in a box that is then closed with only a hole with the top of a sock fastened around it like a sleeve. The kids reach in an hold something. Them have to identify it before they pull it out, the kids have great fun with this
Anne/K/FL - Yes, Dani you can have kids spell using shaving cream.
Sandy/K/Mo - Mary that's like my hidden shape game
Anne/K/FL - Mary, I love the feely box. Children are so intrigued.
Kathleen - Anne, should the kids verbalize while tracing in tactile activities?
Dani - I did that last year. It makes the classroom smell soooo good. We did it every Friday after we cleaned out our desks and before we had our spelling test (required).
Praline/3rd/LA - When I had 1st grade , the kids used to love to try to cross the "river" without falling in.I used blue paper for the river and brown paper for the stones .I wrote the words on the stones.
Kathleen - Dani, smell..another sense :-)
Anne/K/FL - I use ziploc bags and print letters over ketchup, mustard, etc.
joan/1st/NY - I have been learning a lot of wonderful things from these chats and hopefully I can apply them in the classroom!
Dani - We would practice our sight words using scrabble tiles.
Beverly/k/Ga - Anne, run the ketchup mustard thing by me again. I don't get it.
SarahW/2/TX - the shaving cream always makes the room smell good!
Anne/K/FL - Bev, If you put ketchup in a ziploc bag then spread the ketchup around the child can print on the outside of the bag.
Beverly/k/Ga - Okay, thanks-I get it now!
SarahW/2/TX - Anne-- never thought of Ketchup!
Praline/3rd/LA - With the shaving cream you have to be careful they don't rub their eyes.
Kathleen. - Anne, for planning, does webbing help?
Sandy*k*Mo - when we read a story.. they make puppets and work in pairs.. they either take the story farther or make a totally new one with the same charaters this is using multisensory isn't it
joan/1st/NY - I also went to a cover this month and I saw a teacher who takes screening (sheets cut in sqaures) then she lays white drawing paper on top of the screening and when the children print a word or letter and lift the paper it an embossed or raised effect
Dani - We use playdough to practice our spelling words. We would practice handwriting in sand. WE would also practice new words by writing on a piece of paper placed over a cross-stich plastic thing (i am sorry if this doesn't make sense) in crayon. The kids could then trace over the crayon and feel the bumps in their word.
Anne/K/FL - Sarah, I use pudding, mayo, and a number of unusual but fun foods.
SarahW/2/TX - Anne-- I have heard of using color hair gel--could be pretty
Kathleen. - webbing...to be sure that you are incorporating all of the senses in a theme, activity, lesson?
SarahW/2/TX - that was "colored" gel--not hair dye LOL!
Dani - joan- That is exactly what I meant!!
SarahW/2/TX - That is a good idea Kat. Sometimes I find I have left something out for a few lessons.
Dani - My screening was plastic. I found it at the craft store
Praline/3rd/LA - I would think that would help not leave any sense out.
SarahW/2/TX - Why do I keep thinking about colored rice?? Does someone use dry colored rice for something?
Dani - I teach Kindergarten. I found a great book called Teaching the Alphabet Through All Five Senses.
joan/1st/NY - Yes Dani, and the children had to use a crayon not a pencil. Then they could rub or feel the letters - very tactile
Dani - I don't use colored rice because we have mice. I use colored sand or salt instead.
SarahW/2/TX - Dani--is that so they can write their letters or words in a tray with the sand (or whatever?)
Dani - I have them practice their letters or sometimes their numbers.
Dani - Sarah- It is fun if you add some glitter to the sand tray. They love it!
SarahW/2/TX - Dani-- did that once--had to face the custodian after school. I need better managment!:-)
