Technology Tuesday

 

                                                       


Technology Tuesday...

As a special education teacher, technology is crucial in a variety of aspects in my classroom! 

I use a variety of technology in my classroom: iPads, iPods, switches, standers, walkers, ELMOs, projectors, etc! You name it, I have used it...but for here, I am going to focus on Assistive and Augmentative Communication (AAC). These include buttons, switches and other devices that can work on assisting communication for students that have difficulty with communication. Some examples:

These are all samples of the GoTalk Systems. They are a great introduction for students to use assistive technology. They can start anywhere in the spectrum (4, 9, 20, 32) with a variety of boards. You can make the templates for each one using Boardmaker-allowing you to personalize each page for an individual child.

As students continue to progress, or require more exact, or if they can spell, students can use programs like ProLoQuo, which uses your iPad or iPod to run ProLoQuo. An added bonus to PLQ is that if students are able, they can type words or sentences to speak! AWESOME!

Thank you for letting me speak towards a different type of technology! 

Must Have Monday (or Tuesday)

Here we go again...

What Must I have in my classroom?? This is hard...but here it goes...

Some of MY go to items...

1) File Folders: I use them for everything. I have file folder activities for my students to complete during independent time. I have file folders for student data and completed work. I have file folders with lesson plans. and worksheets for my students to complete. I use them all the time.

2) Sharpies: I use sharpies all the time. I love to give my kids colors. My personal favorite is black, but I will use any color I can get my hands on.

3) Stickers: My kids love to get stickers. I use stars, monsters (to go with the theme of my room), good job stickers, anything. My kids will get stickers for working hard, listening, lining up, anything. Sometimes they go directly on their hand, sometimes on a piece of paper...

                                                   

4) Page Protectors: Because I teach a moderate-severe special education class, we work on the same skills over and over. My page protectors save a few trees....I especially use them for things like writing their name and tracing or writing their letters and numbers. This way, they can practice over and over...if I want a sample to keep and put in their files, I just pull one out of their page protector and print out a new one...Something I have learned about page protectors is that quality matters...you have to get the smooth finish ones-dry erase markers work better and erase better. This year, I have upgraded to these...They are usually used to display student work, but I like the durability of them!

                                                            

5)Boardmaker: Boardmaker is a program that is used to make icons (pictures). I use them for my schedule, I use them to provide directions for students during work stations, I use them to help students make choices. I also use them for communication...

                                                      

These are probably my MOST absolute needed items in my classroom! I think what is also interesting is that this list changes based on the year and my students...some years I NEED to have a trampoline or other stress reliever for my students...some years paints and other arts and crafts are a must. This year, although I may use those, they are not a MUST!

Off-Track!

Sorry I have been out of action. I went off track...being on C-track, I start the year for 1 month, but then go off track for 1 month, before doing a 3-month on, 1 month off schedule. It is nice to give the kids a break...but before I went on vacation, we worked hard on setting the schedule, learning about each other, teaching new routines and getting some work done. Overall, I think the kids did pretty well.

Now...for one of my new activities that I tried out. I think the kids did pretty well. I got the initial idea from PINTEREST (don't all great ideas come from there these days?) We might try to make these little monsters later in the year...because the LOVED being able to blow the paint around the paper.

   

 This is the picture from pinterest. I really liked the splatter paint idea...but I put my own spin on it...

We made fish. 

In one of my previous posts, I talked about using pocket chart poems to lead my students in a variety of activities. We focus on tracking text, answering questions, identifying sight words, etc. It also makes for some fun art activities.

Here is the poem that I used...

"Five Little Fishies

Five little fishies swimming in the pool

First one said, 'The pool is cool.'

Second one said, 'The pool is deep.'

Third one said, 'I want to sleep.'

Fourth one said, 'Let's dive and dip.'

Fifth one said, 'I spy a ship.'

Fisherman's boat comes. Line goes ker-splash.

Away the five little fishies dash."

Here are the steps that I used to have my kids make their own little fish.

First, I taught the kids to blow their paint threw a straw. They loved this part. This actually works on strengthening the jaw muscles, which encourage speech and eating. 

Then, I traced the fish outline around their fish, making sure to keep as much of the color as I could in the fish. I also cut them out to make the cute fish. I added googly eyes to each fish. 

We also had an opportunity to talk about mixing colors. I only gave them blue, yellow and red paint. They got to mix as much as they could. 

Overall, I think the fish look GREAT! When I go back into my classroom, I might try to take a picture of all of the fish. They are currently on the wall right now. 

Up next, our last project that we completed before we went on vacation.