Teaching All Students Wiki

I realize that I have not done a great job of posting recently, getting used to have in a baby, school and many other factors have gotten in the way!  That being said, I have a ton of great posts that I'm getting ready so if you can hang in there a little longer I'll be putting them up soon.

While you are waiting it occurred to me tonight that I never specifically posted about my wiki that I have - http://teachntech.wikispaces.com.  I keep this wiki as a backup to some of the presentations that I've done over the years.  I've posted instructions on using Boardmaker, Google Docs for Communication and lots of info on various iOS apps.  Feel free to check it out!

Patrick


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Filefolderheaven.com

FileFolderHeaven.com is a site that I've seen before, but never posted about.  Natalie (creator and owner) recently contacted me and shared it again so I decided to check it out more.  The site is pretty simple and she describes it like this:

Our printable file folder games and preschool activities offer students a fun way to practice basic pre-academic and academic skills. These file folder games provide students many opportunities to practice a wide variety of classroom skills at their level. Special Education teachers, preschool teachers, general education teachers and parents enjoy using file folder games and preschool printables because they are inexpensive learning tools, simple to assemble, and easy to store.

I really like the premise of the site, simple easy to use tools that are easy to create and utilize.  As the name suggests all the materials are available for download and printing to put in file folders and create activities.  They also have a section of Interactive books available for download.  FileFolderHeaven also has a section of free downloads.  One section that I especially liked where the Word Family Books.  Each book comes with a book & several games to play with the book.  It seems like a great way to support reading!

If you are interested in checking out FileFolderHeaven.com, please also check out their Facebook Page - FileFolderHeaven Facebook or follow them on Twitter - @FFHeaven.

Patrick


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#ATIA2010 - Favorite Products

This will be a short post, just wanted to share some of my favorite products from the Vendor Hall.

Satalight - SMART Board on height & tilt adjustable stand.  You can access with any type of touch - fingertip, fist, and can take a hit (don't ask them to demonstrate, it's quite impressive!) It's downside is that it does use a projector and can create shadows.  Can include a switch interface, laptop arm, and speakers. - Satalight.

Tap-it - another SMART Board solution also on a height & tilt adjustable stand.  It is LCD screen, that accepts touch input.  It is able to distinguish between intended and unintended touch - so a student could lean on the board with one hand and still access the activity with another. One drawback is that you have to use an isolated finger to access. - Tap-it

News-2-You - a great weekly, current events newspaper modified with symbols.  Very accessible, text-to-speech version available online, with tons of extension activities - News-2-You

Aimee Solutions - amazing sets of curricular, theme based materials.  This year started selling sets of computer activites based on Life Skills adapted using SymbolStix. - Aimee Solutions

Conceptua Math - I'll be posting more about this website later, but it is my pick for the best product of ATIA.  Check out more here - Conceptua Math

Patrick


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Phonemic Awareness Materials

For several years I've been using materials developed by Michael Heggerty for Phonemic Awareness. The activity is designed to be completed in 10-15 min, and covers all Phonemic Awareness areas, such as name first sounds, last sounds, medial sounds, blending sounds, chopping sounds, adding sounds, dropping sounds, and repeating sentences. While Phonemic Awareness is inherently a verbal activity, I've found that it can be modified for all learners.

First I created a set of materials that give visual directions on what to do during each part of the activity. You can download it here and here (2 slightly different versions), at BoardmakerShare. Just make sure to sign in after you click the link.

I use the materials on a daily basis with all my learners. The students really love this activity, it's fast pace, repetitiveness, and actions allow student interaction at many levels. The visuals allow students to give answers to questions, first sounds for example, by pointing to the sound if they can't verbalize. Also since the materials were made with Boardmaker you can enlarge them for use with students who use eye gaze. I use motions with blending, showing the the 2 parts with each hand, then smashing the hands together to demonstrate the blending concept. Other such actions can be used for chopping, first sounds, and last sounds.

While you are unlikely to notice students understanding this concepts right away, if you stick with it you will see improvement. I have no empirical evidence to support this, but anecdotal evidence suggests that it helps students with verbalization, attention, as well as the Phonemic Awareness skills. Please feel free to use and pass along the materials.

Patrick

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Classroom Writers

I was listening to the A.T.Tipscast recently and Chris talked about his experiences at the Naren Conference. One idea that he really touched on was, and I quote:

"Let's put students to work doing the jobs that schools need done"

I thought that was a great quote, because I have always felt this was a great way to incorporate authentic activities into students school days. Whether it be heavy work by cutting out letters on the Elison Machine, or cleaning the room at the end of the day. I've also started having my kids write stories for me. I like to use Caroline Musselwhites Stories in a New York Minute to supplement my science and social science lessons.

Usually I will place pictures in a Powerpoint template, then have the students identify the subject, and, depending on what kind of book (noun, verb, adjective, preposition), finish the sentence. I will print out pictures of the items from Boardmaker and let them create the sentences. Most of the books that the students write are something they can read themselves, so have an advantage of being a great addition to the classroom. Recently we've also been using Tar Heel Reader to write these books (then I don't have to record the audio!). Here are some examples of some of the books the kids have written!

Ocean - Preposition (this was one of our first, the kids picked the noun & where the animal was)

Transportation - Noun (entirely student written)

Farm Animal - Verb (again entirely student written)

These are just a few examples of student work that can be created. As part of the Desert Animal Project we also wrote books about the desert that fell into this type of story too. You can read them here at Tar Heel Reader

How Do They Move?

Thanks to Chris for suggesting this post! I'd love to hear stories of how everyone has made their students or children "work" to help out!

Patrick

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons: M.Bob

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A.T.TipsCast - Communication Bridges I use

I've slowly been going back through the podcasts from A.T.Tipscast and came across a very interesting one. A.T.TipsCast Episode #13 is all about Communication Bridges.  Chris explains that Communication Bridges are what you use to help students communicate what they have done during the day to their parents.  They can also be used to share what students do at home with the teacher. In listening to this episode I realized that I've been using something very similar.  My students fill in their Journal each afternoon to take home, as a way to share what they did with their parents.  Each evening the students fill out a Last Night I... sheet so they can share with the class what they did.  For my students it is a great way to connect with their same age peers, as they share it during a time in their general education classroom.

Here are the pages I use for my students journal:
Page 01
Page 02
Page 03

I've found them a very powerful tool for students to take charge of reporting their learning.  Parents love having the information and are more than willing to fill out the Last Night I... page!  I customize the pictures for each student by inquiring with each parent about activities they do on a regular basis.  Please take a look at the forms (they are in Boardmaker format), feel free to use & change to fit your needs.

Patrick

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Word Walls - for students with disabilities

I've mentioned before that I'm pretty much a geek (and yes I'm OK with it!), so my blog definitely takes a more technological edge, but AT does not have to be high-tech. There are many examples of low-tech ways to increase student participation, and interest. One such way that I use in my classroom is the Word Wall.

Word Walls are a great low-tech way to increase literacy and sight word recognition for all students. I've found that students with disabilities actually enjoy many of the activities associated with working with word walls. The action of spelling words in different ways, the games you can play and the thrill of "reading" a book for possibly the first time.

Creating a word wall for students with disabilities does require some work. Just like any word wall you need to prepare the words. I prefer to print out the words, cut around them, and paste onto construction paper. I like the way it highlights the different parts of the words, but you can create them any way you would like.













I also include a picture from Boardmaker on each of the words. Many of the words you can't find in Boardmaker, so I found the closest idea. Here's a Boardmaker file of the words that I use in my word wall lessons: Word Wall Words & Word Wall Words 01. The words are based off the ReadingA-Z websites high frequency word books.

There is one final modification that I do to make sure students have an opportunity to show understanding. In creating pictures that represent the words, it's easy to see what students know and understand. I can show students the word if they pick the correct picture it shows they can "read" the word. It allows students to read a sentence by picking the correct pictures. I've even created folders for students to store their learned words.

Here are some links to lesson ideas for creating activities for word wall. And it is very easy to find activities on Google.

Word Wall Ideas

More Word Wall Ideas

Please feel free to share any of your word wall ideas in the comments!

Patrick

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Communication 4 All

While looking through my unread links on my Diigo toolbar, I came across a very interesting site, Communication 4 All. As the site says:

Hi, and welcome to Communication 4 All.
My name is Bev Evans and I set up this site because I struggled to find the
classroom resources I needed to support inclusion.
There have been changes to the site recently! I no longer have a catalogue: everything available is already on the site. Just email me if you have any requests for the site

There are so many resources on this site. The game section features math, color, and matching board games. The early years section has thematic units on many different topics. Other sections include literacy (many materials for Jolly Phonics), numeracy, science, & singing. The materials are available mostly in .pdf format, and some in powerpoint format. Check it out here.

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FileFolderHeaven.com

File Folder Heaven was recommended to me by a teacher I met at a recent workshop. There are many books of file folder activities, and these are pretty much the same thing. One nice feature is that the files are already colored (unlike the stack of 150 pages in my classroom uncolored at this time!), and are conveniently in a word document format. There are several free file folders, but the majority are available for purchase. The price is quite reasonable 10 - 11 file folder games for $3.50.

There is also a interactive book section. The books are also in word format, and are interactive in the "off-line" sense, they have movable words and such to use in the classroom. The books are themed and come bundled with several themed file folder games. The interactive book bundles are $5.00 a piece.

So check out File Folder Heaven, and get some cheap pre-made visual activities!

Patrick

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Aimee Solutions

So for my first post back, after my computer mishap (still not fixed on a loaner machine), I decided to talk about a great site run by some friends of mine. I'll start off by saying that I have worked with these ladies in the past, but would recommend this site to anyone who deals with students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Aimee Solutions is run by 3 women in Lake County, IL. They create materials for students using many different mediums. All the Language Solutions have a Boardmaker book, a interactive book using Intellitools Classroom Suite, language development and fun activities (songs, BINGO, etc...), and some have a writing component. The Language Solution kits are available on CD, and also fully put together.

In addition to Language Solution Kits they have PVC kits for easels, and switch holders. They also do trainings on how to create materials, find bargains at dollar stores, and student created art! Take a look at these ladies and all they do. They are a great resource.

Patrick

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Adapted Learning.com

I've been a member of the Yahoo Group for Boardmaker for quite a while now.  One of the limitations is that there is very limited space to store files for others to download.  Usually we fill it up in about a month, and then have to clear it out.   Frustrating some because they never get the chance to download the files. Things are changing...

Adaptedlearning.com is a site created by Mayer-Johnson.  This site will be a site to share materials, much like the Intellitools Activity Exchange.  There are other features including Groups - so teachers can upload stuff just for their class, discussion forums, news & views.  This new site is going to quite a place for sharing Boardmaker boards as well as information, and answering questions.

Adaptedlearning.com is not yet active, but you can register for free right now so that on November 18 you will have access.  I have been working hard (thanks Mayer-Johnson for this opportunity) to upload files so that on day one there will be lots for you to see and download.  Head over today to get signed up.

Patrick

1000 Books

An important milestone was reached today at Tar Heel Reader, 1000 books!!! The community has created these books and they are a great resource for anyone looking for accessible books. Take a look at book 1000 here:

1000 books

If you would like more information on the Tar Heel Reader please visit this post in my blog:

Tar Heel Reader

If you wish to register to write book please send me a message through my profile, or leave a comment and I will provide you with the registration code.

Patrick

News-2-You

I was reading a post recently about News-2-You and thought it would be something interesting to post about too. News-2-You is a newspaper designed for students with disabilities. It started several years ago as just a once weekly format, and has expanded greatly. It is still published once a week but now comes in 4 levels (simplified, regular, higher and advanced). This newspaper is published with pictures (like symbolate) above the words. It usually has 2-3 articles, some jokes, a recipe, and worksheets to supplement it. There is a spanish edition, all the pictures used are downloadable, and also includes activities for Cliker 5 and Classroom Suite.

Here's a link to the specific items you membership includes:
News-2-You What You get

One feature that many people I've talked to like is Joey's Locker. The activities available in this area relate to state standards, and are great to use with alternate assessments.

There is a membership fee for this site. You can check out the prices for yourself at News-2-You. There are discounts for schools and multiple licenses so talk to your school about them.

I hope everyone is staying dry, here in the Midwest we're getting the last of Ike, but I can't even imagine what is happening down in Texas and Louisiana. My heart goes out to all affected, and we will be thinking of you as you recover!


Patrick

Accessible Book Collection

The Accessible Book Collection is a website for acquiring digital text. The books available in several different formats - Clicker 5, Classroom Suite, & Boardmaker Plus format. The majority of the books are in XHTML, which can be used with text readers, & text readers in web browsers. Many of the books in this collection are geared toward older students - a quick browse shows a listing for Twighlight & Harry Potter.

The Accessible Book Collection is not free (sorry, can't have it all!). It has a small subscription fee of $50 per year, there are discounts for multiple subscriptions (such as for a school). They are adding books everyday, so check out what they have.


Accessible Books Collection

Patrick

What makes a great accessible book?

So what does make a GREAT accessible book? This list from SET-BC helps us answer that question:

1. Consistent in appearance.
2. Graphics are aligned.
3. Text is true to original; clear and large enough to read easily.
4. Sound recording is clear and has no background noise.
5. Sound recording is activated automatically.
6. Books open quickly.
7. Books open as a PowerPoint Player.

Here's a link to the original document, it includes how-to's on how to accomplish these steps:
Accessible Books


Patrick