On 6/21/09, OP wrote:
> Thank you all that responded. Apparently she is getting a talking
> calculator, a full geometry kit... and some other hands on things to
> use in class. I am going to have a work day this summer to learn
> about all these things. I am so afraid that I would be able to help
> her succeed. I have an issue with my kids not doing well!!!! She is
> newly blind as of September of last year, (asthma attack) so she is
> just learning braille and is on grade 1. Her goal is to
> learn/practice both grade 1 and get her into grade 2... so this is
> another reason why she has a full time aide... she is learning the
> basics of being blind as well as going to school and trying to be a
> normal teenage girl...
>

It sounds like it will be a challenging year for your student as well
as for you, probably frustrating at times, but with lots of learning
opportunities for both of you. It's very good that she'll have a full-
time aide, and that you'll be learning about her "tools" this summer.
Expect that geometry will take her more time than other students - the
information that other students can see visually with a quick glance,
she'll have to obtain tactually. Add to that the fact that she's
unaccustomed to using her hands to gain information, and just
beginning Braille... I believe there are something like 30 Braille
symbols that are unique to geometry alone. It would not be at all
unusual for her to remain in high school longer than four years,
especially given that she's newly blind, and she very likely won't
reach mastery in all parts of a traditional high school curriculum
right now - but that's because she's got a lot of other learning added
to it. Keep your expecations high and know that she's got a steep
learning curve ahead of her. Rest assured, she'll be learning a LOT
this year! :-)

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