Minecraft & Reading

Just a quick post this morning, I wanted to share this really interesting article about how a Mother used the game Minecraft to help her child with Asperger's learn to read.  Very informative, and a great way to use games to teach!

How Minecraft taught my 9-year old with Asperger's to read and write

Patrick

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Advice for working with paraprofessionals

Whether you refer to them as paraprofessionals, instructional assistants, or just assistants, training and working with them on a regular basis can be one of the most difficult part of being a special education teacher.  I can't think of another profession where a person fresh out of college is expected to manage, train, and evaluate 1-5 adults (who are usually older than them) while teaching in a classroom.  I know the first few years of my career I really had to work on how I related to my instructional assistants.  So here's some of my thoughts on working with them.

1.  Treat them like a teacher - many instructional assistants in my area are certified teachers who are unable to find a teaching position, so treat them like they are a teacher.  Let them know that you appreciate their training, their ideas, and their experience and use it to your advantage.

2.  Treat them with respect - a special education classroom cannot be run by one person!  As a teacher I need help, I know this, they know this, treat them with respect.

3.  Give them responsibility - let them run groups, give them a specific activity to be in charge of, somehow let them know that you trust their judgement.  While you may need to oversee or evaluate what they are doing, by giving that responsibility you are inviting them to be a part of the classroom, part of a team.

4.  Back them up - managing behavior in the classroom can be a difficult task, sometimes we make mistakes.  I always support the decisions that my instructional assistants make in the moment, then we can go back later and process if there needs to be a different response.  Students need to see the instructional assistants as leaders too!  Yes, the response may not be what you would have done, but you can always work on it when the students are gone.

5.  Listen - instructional assistants have questions and ideas.  Usually they want to get better at their job and want help with that.  I feel it's my job as a teacher to listen and help them.  Many times they don't mind doing it the way you've laid out, but they want to understand the why so they can get better.  The flip side of that is that many times assistants have great ideas!  They may have a fresh perspective and it never hurts to have different ideas when dealing with students.

6.  Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty - what I mean is don't ask you assistants to do something you wouldn't do.  I can't expect my instructional assistants to change diapers, if I'm unwilling to do the same. I want them to understand that while my job is important, their is too, I'm more than willing to do what they do.

This is my advice, what other suggestions would you give to someone just starting to work with instructional assistants?


Patrick

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Cooperative Learning

So last Thursday was a day many teachers love, and loathe...a half day.  This day's agenda included students in the morning, and a presenter in the afternoon.  Quite unusually we had no idea who the presenter was, or what we would be hearing...so I had thought the worst, I was pleasantly surprised!  The agenda for the session was Cooperative Learning and I was worried that none of the content would apply to my students.  I listened intently as we learned about structures for - think, pair, share; RoundRobin & RoundTable; and numbered.... While all these structures would be very useful in general education classroom, I cannot see a way to use them effectively with students with more significant cognitive disabilities.

As the session continued I was very impressed by our speaker and the way she used us to demonstrate how to work cooperatively (as compared to listening to a lecture for 2 hours about 21st Century Skills, but I'm not getting into that one!).  She then started talking about some techniques for 2 students to use - one called Match Mine, the other Same/Different.

Same/Different is a structure where students look at sets of pictures and are asked to find similarities and differences between the sets of pictures.  A divider is placed up between the students so they cannot see each others boards so are forced to use language to identify the similarities and differences.  I can imagine a BINGO type board with lets say 9 squares, 6 of them have mammals.  Now we have 2 of these boards, some of the mammals would be the same, some different, and in different places.  The task of the students is to determine what animals are on the board & where they are located...the opportunity for language development is spectacular!  I can especially see using this with AAC users to help them increase their understanding of their devices. One of these sets of boards might look like this:

Match Mine is a similar concept: 2 students, a divider, and one student tells the other how to match what they have.  I can see this during a math lesson on time, or maybe have a student give a amount of coins and have the other student create the same.  Again this would be a great way to use language for students!

I hope I have some time to try these this week and if I do I'm sure I'll be sharing here!

Patrick

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Being an Elementary School Teacher

Teaching is a very interesting and rewarding calling. That being said, it's not for everyone. If you're looking for more information about teaching and what it might entail, then this book is for you. This book was recommended to me by one of the editors of citytowninfo.com. You can get your copy here: Being an Elementary School Teacher

I've had a chance to check out the book (it's free), and find that it offer's several interesting perspectives on teaching in an elementary school. There are 25 stories from all different kinds of teachers - special education, PE, music, etc... I found the it very thoughtful and useful information. It talks about the rewards, as well as the difficulties of teaching. I found it was very truthful and didn't hold back on what is hard about teaching. If you know someone who is considering teaching and might want some insight into the career, please share this with them. Or maybe you just need something to remind you why you still teach, or just want some inspiring stories. Whatever your reason, please check it out.

Being an Elementary School Teacher

Patrick

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Exceptional Paradise

I've started reading a great blog about teaching students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities. Since I'm a teacher of these students, I have a vested interest in some of the topics. She has a great post about her rules for working with assistants here. The insights she share really struck a note with me, because it is the same chord I try and strike with my assistants. She really gets it right. This and other quick easy tips make it a great blog to read!

Patrick

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons: Shashchatter

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Experience...

So I've been lazy lately. I've fallen behind on blog posts, I've not planned for next year, I've done only a little for preparing my presentation for ATIA Chicago, and I have no excuse. But that got me thinking about other summer's I've had.

As I've stated before this will be my 10th year of teaching coming up. I've taught many different students, from Kindergarten all the way up to 8th grade, as well as many different disabilities, and every summer I spent a lot of time preparing for the next year! I've created materials, I've colored folders, I've made tons and tons of pictures on Boardmaker, and I've done it all summer. Every summer, except this one... I remember back to my first classroom, and I think of coming home every night getting materials ready for the next day. Struggling to have lesson plans done each week, and and setting up my classroom. I must have changed the room around about 10 times that year (and I was teaching kids with autism so I'm not sure that was the best idea), and literally spent every spare moment getting ready for the next lesson.

So what's different? I'm not exactly sure, I just feel comfortable and ready for next year without having to spend too much time getting ready. That's not to say I'm not learning a ton this summer and getting ready to try all sorts of new stuff next year, but I'm not stressed and feeling overwhelmed. Maybe it has to do with mastering behavior management skills, or not having to learn a new curriculum, but it's a different feeling this summer. And it took me almost 10 years to get here!

So, that got me thinking, are we doing new teachers a disservice by dropping them into a classroom with such little training? What about students, are we holding them back? What are your thoughts?

Patrick

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons: Vikingg



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Reflections on a new year...

So today is the last day of the school year.  By the time most of you are reading this my students will be coming for the last hour of the 2008-2009 school year.  This year has been quite different for me, in many, many ways.  This was the year that I started writing this blog, it was also the year that I really started paying attention to social media, and started managing my PLN.

This was a year, where I started at a new school district. It was frightening, and I wasn't sure I had made the right decision.  Now I know, it was the right move for me.  I moved from a district where I constantly felt like I was not good enough, to a district which has treated me like a king.  I am so glad to have found this district, and can't believe the overwhelming support I've been given.

This was the year I discovered what true inclusion and acceptance was like.   It started with a simple thing, I don't take attendance.  That may seem like a little thing, but what it really and truly means is that my students homerooms are theirs, and they come to me to work, but socially have a connection not truly possible any other way.   I have difficult students and all my colleagues made an effort to help and include the students in every part of the day.   Taking it upon themselves to treat them as they would any other child that was in their classroom.

This was a year, with little drama, trouble or strife.  My kids were great, the administration worked with me, and I had wonderful instructional assistants who listened and supported my decisions (even if they disagreed from time to time).

This was a year, and in just 3 short months, I'll be back here again.  Starting all over, and planning for another great year. I can't wait!

Patrick

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Managing Your Workload

Sue Waters of the Sue Waters Blog has asked for some help.  She is currently investigating the top 5 tools that we use to manage our workload.  Please take a moment and fill out this survey to help her.

Patrick

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Personal Learning Network - Twitter UPDATE

Since my first post (Personal Learning Network - Twitter), I've come across a few more great sites on how to use Twitter. The first is a great look at what Twitter is (a way to explain it to your friends):

Micro-blogging - Using Twitter
Advice for teachers new to Twitter
Top 5 Twitter Tips

If you decide to sign up for Twitter, make sure you head to the Twitter4teachers Wiki and add your name. This is a great place to look up others who are in your field and check them out to see if you'd like to follow them.

Patrick

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LIfe Skills

Here's a great website for teaching Everyday Life Skills - GCFLearnfree.org. The lessons are video based and allow the students to make mistakes, and it will gently correct them. The lessons are geared toward older students. They include:

Everyday Life - cooking, grill safety, maps, work, money, etc...

Math & Money - basic lessons on math

Computer Training - internet, basic computer use, Microsoft Office, etc...

Online Classes - Free classes for all users

Living with HIV - interactive and printable workbooks about HIV

The Everyday life section is very usable and is great for kids who learn with pictures, and like to explore a little. The website requires registration.

Teaching All Learners

One blog that I have come across recently, is Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs. It is written by another special education teacher, Kate Ahern, from Massachusetts. I have not gotten through all the posts, but there is so much information. This blog touches on so many different aspects of teaching children and is a great resource for all educators and parents.