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RAN/TN - Our topic tonight is "Sharing Ideas and Stragies"
PAS - I'm interested in learning about all students and how they learn.
Mar - There is a really good website that talks about that
Mar - I think the name of it is All Kinds of Minds
Susan - here's that website Mar mentioned: http://www.allkindsofminds.org/
RAN/TN - One of the best ideas that i have tried recently is letting my students do their work in color markers or color pencil.
Susan - how did that make a difference Ran?
Mar - that's cool, I should try that, how did it help
RAN/TN - I have a special ed behavior mod class
PAS - Do you think these will recall their work better by using different colors?
RAN/TN - many of my students have problems concentrating and writing in color helped them stay focused andmore readable handwriting
Susan - According to Brain Based learning...color Does make a difference..it helps
PAS - Do the students like using different colors?
RAN/TN - Yes I do
RAN/TN - Most loved it
Sue - I have a studennt homebound-part year last year-again this year last 2 weeks-keeps getting suspended
Susan - What grade level do you teach Ran/Tn
PAS - I would also think using color pencils would be fun and a learning experience.
RAN/TN - 5th -8th
Mar - I think they would like the softer lead most colored pencils have also
Sue - He waS in a hospital in Ohio last summer get medication regulated
RAN/TN - My atistic/aspergers student's handwriting went from "unreadable hen scratching to very readable and organized writing
silver - Colors often do help with memory
RAN/TN - also notice that many of us prefer to chat in color as opposed to black
PAS - The students benefited from the color pencils
silver - I work with learning disabled jr. high kids... anyone else?
Karen - I have even used colors to help S&P and TMR students learn to for letters
PAS - Are they using color pencils for all there classes.
Karen - ...to form letters
RAN/TN - NOt only did they but it made grading their papers much easier also
Sue - Any work with student labeled psychotic or AOL-think what mother said?
RAN/TN - Yes my students are in my class for all subjects
Mar - I work in a non-categorical class primary
silver - I find that my kids go nuts if I don't have some kind of stimulation, especially for the ADD kids...
Sue - At school spec.ed part of his classes
RAN/TN - Silver my students are 5th -8th grade
RAN/TN - What type of stimulation Silver
Karen - I noticed someone made reference to autistic students. I have an autistic student who is in 3rd grade and becoming more and more withdrawn. He fixated on ANYTHING that oves...even his fingers. Any suggestions?
MAR - I am not a SPED teacher, but the teacher in my building asked for help in finding novels for lower level readers that don't look that way.
silver - Gotta go... I can't seem to get my screen to keep updating, so I'll bow out... bye!
Karen - MAR, what level are you talking about?
RAN/TN - Mar tell her to go to http://www.atpub.com/HNB.html
RAN/TN - It is High Noon Books. They are the best and cheapest source i know.
RAN/TN - Anyone else have any ideas or stragies to share with us
Karen - It would help if we know what problems the others were having
RAN/TN - Sky do you have any go ideas or statagies to share
RAN/TN - I agree Karen does anyone have a particular poblem they need possible solutions
RAN/TN - I have a student that is aspergurs syndome that is 8th grade
Karen - Have you ever worked with more severe autistic students?
Karen - I'm new at autisim and feel like I'm losing this one 3rd grader
RAN/TN - No I have not
Karen - He just can't tear himself away from anything that moves
Karen - He gets worse by the week
RAN/TN - but I have attened inservice and done alot of research on it
RAN/TN - Have you tried isolation
Karen - Can you think of anything that has been recommended to help keep these kids focused on the outside world?
Karen - Can you give me specifics?
Karen - My classroom is about 15' by 15', windowless, with 6 students and another adult
Cyn - I am a RR/Consultant Teacher now but have been teaching SpEd for 23 yw
RAN/TN - In the alternative school that I teach each student is seperated by a cubical with side walls high enough that most can barely see over it standing up
Karen - We already have our tiny room divided with cardboard dividers, mostly because of personality conflicts.
Trou - Thanks RAN/TN - I need suggestions to help a student who is interested in many things in one moment. Tough to focus for long on one thing.
RAN/TN - Maybe Karen give him something to play with in one hand like a rubber or nurf ball and see if it frees up his other hand to do his work
RAN/TN - Trou Have you tried playing classical music in your room while students are doing independent work
RAN/TN - It does wonders helping my adhd and sed students stay focused
Trou - I have not tried that, but it sounds good. Indeed I have used music as a "meditative" aid in various settings. Thanks.
RAN/TN - Keep the music at a level that is between barely being able to hear and destract able level
RAN/TN - One day my principal and I were standing by my door. I looked over my shoulder and noitied one of my students had stopped working on his math. As I was walking over to him i notice that the Music CD had ended.
Trou - Interesting!
RAN/TN - Instead of going over to him to tell him to get back to work, I simply went to my jam box restared the CD. When the music started again the student went right back to work without me having to say a word to him
Trou - Makes sense. During prayer (this is a religion-based school) he is quite comfortable and channeled. Perhaps the rhythm or chanting or something. I will try the background music.
RAN/TN - My principal looked a little surpised at how well it worked
RAN/TN - I am having a problem getting my students interested in reading for pleasure.
Trou - Sometimes very simple things assuage very large issues. But I give you credit for thinking to do the simple thing.
RAN/TN - Thanks
Trou - Can you give them some "relaxation time," during which they may read in books they have brought/or are available in the room? And, you might sit with a book of your own.
RAN/TN - I selected to read to them Molby Dick
RAN/TN - I have given them opportunities to check out books from my classroom libary to read during freetime
RAN/TN - but they don't seem interested
Trou - I say this because, as a lifetime reading addict (yup, since childhood) I am deeply aware now of how much value it was just seeing my parents choosing to read for pleasure. They did not force us to do so, but we saw it as one of the things which clearly brought pleasure!
RAN/TN - I teach a special ed Behavior class there is little relaxation time for me to do that
RAN/TN - I wish there was\
RAN/TN - I am trying to set aside some time for me or my EA to read to them each day in hopes that this will help motivate them to do some independent reading
Trou - Perhaps you could "set up" a situation. I once asked if anyone had heard of Ishmael. (I teach Bible, religious thought & prayer) Well, right away, someone raised a hand and said, "Yes, it is one of the first three words in Moby Dick"! All the others wanted to know how she knew that, and as a result some others have taken to reading for pleasure. Now, if you could "accidentally" reference something that one student is reading.....!
RAN/TN - I like that idea
RAN/TN - Hi DJ
Trou - Me too. In my case, it was pure coincidence, or perhaps a power greater than mine. But I never thought of it as a technique until you asked that question!
RAN/TN - My teaching always comes from a power greater than me.
DJ - Hello. I also teach a class of students with emotional disabilities.
RAN/TN - It is the only way that I can get throught each day
DJ - I teach a self-contained class in a day treatment and residential facility. I teach a primary class: kindergarten to third grade, twelve students.
Trou - Behaviour issues or data intake problems or both?
RAN/TN - I teach a self contained Special ed behavior class at an alternative school--5th-8th grade
DJ - Both. Lots of behavior problems. Kids are victims of severe abuse and neglect. Most also have learning disabilities, speech/language problems etc.
RAN/TN - We will have a guest who will be discussing "Functional Behaviorial Analysis" nest month May 4th
RAN/TN - Sounds a lot like my class DJ
DJ - They say all behavior has meaning. Sometimes it is so hard to figure out what the meaning is, and why the pros outweigh the cons.
RAN/TN - What are some of the stragies that work for you DJ
DJ - So many of my students have failed in school. I try my best to make them feel successful, while still challenging them to stretch themselves. Nothing works all the time.
RAN/TN - Well it is getting late and we have gone beyond our alotted time. I want to thank everyone for coming toinght I hope you will join us again next month
Trou - Thanks RAN/TN. I'll try the music. You try the reading "trick."
