Class 9 Reflections

Tonight's class was very interesting and interactive!  Like my students, I enjoy learning by doing, and I learned a lot about AAC - Augmentative and Alternative Communication - by diving in and conducting online research.  Equally helpful was having a partner to act as a sounding board, as we worked through the activity together.  Please see my prior post, "Augmentative and Alternative Communication" for a summary of the information we located, discussed, and summarized.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

1.      Communication is the imparting or exchanging of information or news.  It is the activity of conveying information through the exchange of ideas, feelings, intentions, attitudes, expectations, perceptions or commands, as by speech, gestures, writings, behaviour and possibly by other means such as electromagnetic, chemical or physical phenomena.  It is the meaningful exchange of information between two or more participants that might or might not be living creatures.

2.       20+ ways we communicate:

a.       Speech

b.      Posture

c.       Tone of voice

d.      Body language

e.       Facial expressions

f.        Text/writing

g.       Sign language

h.      Braille

i.         Vocal sounds

j.         Music

k.       Clothing

l.         Hair style

m.    Technology

n.      Slang

o.      Acronyms

p.      Drawing

q.      Touch

r.       Eye contact

s.       Hearing

t.        Reading skills

u.      Understanding language

v.       Speech synthesis

3.      What is AAC?  Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an umbrella term that encompasses the communication methods used to supplement or replace speech or writing for those with impairments in the production or comprehension of spoken or written language.  AAC can be a permanent addition to a person’s communication or a temporary aid.

4.      Who is a typical user of AAC?  There is no “typical user” of AAC, however, AAC is often used by those with a wide range of speech and language impairments, including congenital impairments such as cerebral palsy, intellectual impairment, and autism, and acquired conditions such as ALS or Parkinson’s disease. 

5.      What are 3 criteria for effective communication?

a.       Communication partner

b.      Common language

c.    Joint attention

6.      10 different types of AAC:

a.       PECS – Picture Exchange Communication System

b.      Interactive Language Board

c.       Braille

d.      TechSpeak (AMDI)

e.       Proloquo2go

f.        iPad

g.       American Sign Language

h.      Gestures/Pointing/Hands

i.         Dynavox

j.         Single Message Device

7.      Please check out the following video clip.  It is an excellent example of how AAC can change lives!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyGr7_B2Nrk&feature=kp  

Class 8 Reflections

The Writing Process

A few more layers above the reading process - which is already a pretty complex process!

Task Analysis: You need to write a letter to the school board to convince them to purchase iPads for your school.  Consider all the steps required to complete the task.

Hmm.. Need to have had rich general experiences, know what iPads are, motivation to convince board, attention... picking up pencil - find the tool needed, locate - vision, get up and get it - fine motor, pick it up - reach, visual motor planning... proprioception - hand eye coordination.... At this point, the point had been made!

The task of writing a letter to the school board and the discussion that followed was very effective in demonstrating the complexity of the writing process.  We need to have and integrate a lot of prior knowledge and experiences to complete what (many/most) would consider to be a fairly simple task.  However, when you have any one piece of the puzzle missing - the task becomes a much different request.  If you have more pieces missing, it might seem down right impossible!  The graphic below demonstrates just how complex the process is.  Although it is not very clearly visible, what is highly visible is the complexity of the image!

A Complex Skill: Writing Task Analysis

Since having this discussion, I have started to look differently at those students who seem to have difficulty getting started when the task at hand involves writing.  Although I still want to fall back on motivation as one explanation, even if this is the case, it is likely a learned defense mechanism developed over the previous 5 years in school!  It has reminded me of the need to demonstrate more empathy for these students, and the necessity of determining what the block might be, and how we can overcome it!

Class 7 Reflections

Apple: Life on iPad

iPads truly have charged on to the technology playing field and taken over the game, so to speak!  My mind has truly been opened to the idea of iPads in the classroom, and the tremendous impact they can have on our students, and any learner.  I have stated it before, and I'm sure I will again, but I still find it incredible that this technology has changed the face of education in the 4 short years since its release on the market.  Although technology has always changed quickly, typically, education has not been able to keep up.  It is wonderful to see technology being used to truly benefit our students, and even more wonderful to see it happening at a pace I consider admirable given the history of change in education - even if the change (read: equity and teacher education) is not as quick as we might like!  

Reading remediation involves teaching students how to read, while compensatory strategies allow learners alternate access to the information.  There were many interesting apps shared in class this evening that can enhance the learner's access to information.  The following apps stood out to me, and would be useful in many, if not all, classrooms:

1. "Scribd" - Netflix for books - need I say more?  Incredible option for students who need higher level text for comprehension, but who require larger text (adjust view) or voice over (listen to text).  Awesome!
2. "Signed Stories" - Stories that are read aloud and also have video of a person signing it in ASL.  Yet another example of how we can create more independence for students - how exciting that a learner with a hearing impairment has options other than braille as a means of accessing information.  Super!

Please check out my post on "Reading Remediation: Improving the reading of our students" for useful websites, software and apps for reading remediation in the classroom.

Reading Remediation: Improving the reading of our students

Websites:

1. Raz Kids (www.raz-kids.com)

"Raz-Kids delivers hundreds of interactive, leveled eBooks spanning 27 levels.

• 400+ eBooks and open-book eQuizzes, with new books added every month, even in Spanish!
• Corresponding eQuizzes test comprehension, providing teachers with skill reports for data-driven instruction
• Online running records let teachers digitally assess each student, saving valuable classroom time
• The motivational "Raz Rocket" gets students excited about reading and strengthens the school-to-home connection
• A winner of numerous awards, including CODiE and EDDIE Awards and a Teachers’ Choice Award for the Classroom"

The following video is a mini-tutorial on both the website and app version of Raz-Kids.

2. StarFall (www.starfall.com)

"Starfall.com opened in September of 2002 as a free public service to teach children to read with phonics. Our systematic phonics approach, in conjunction with phonemic awareness practice, is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, special education, homeschool, and English language development (ELD, ELL, ESL). Starfall is an educational alternative to other entertainment choices for children."

3. FastForWord (www.scilearn.com)

"Neuroscience research has shown that with the right input, the brain can change and reconfigure itself throughout life, proving that student potential is endless. Fast ForWord is an online reading intervention that uses the principles of neuroplasticity – the ability of the brain to rewire and improve – to treat the underlying cause of language and reading difficulties, once and for all."

4. Reading Assistant (www.scilearn.com)

"Every educator knows that students benefit from extra reading practice, especially when it is combined with immediate feedback and support from a teacher. With Reading Assistant students receive individualized reading coaching every time they use the software, making the most of each instructional minute."

5. Compass Learning Odyssey Reading/Language Arts (www.compasslearning.com)

"CompassLearning’s Odyssey Reading provides a research-based literacy program that interweaves listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking skills with a sound phonics-based program. Odyssey Reading provides curriculum based on the essential components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics instruction, vocabulary and background knowledge, text comprehension strategies and building reading fluency. Odyssey Reading/Language Arts meets the standards of national organizations such as the International Reading Association, the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, as well as the qualifications for Reading First and Early Reading First funding."

For more information click here.

Software:

1. Accelerated Reader (http://www.renaissance.com/products/accelerated-reader)

"At its heart, AR is simple. Students read a book, take an AR Quiz, and get immediate feedback. Kids get excited and motivated when they see their progress. And teachers can easily monitor and manage students' independent reading practice."

2. STAR Reading (http://www.renaissance.com/products/star-assessments/star-reading)

"STAR Reading includes new skills-based test items and new in-depth reports for screening, instructional planning, progress monitoring, and standards benchmarking. Educators have immediate access to skill-specific, actionable data to target instruction and practice, select students for intervention, and predict state-test performance. STAR is also the first to report Student Growth Percentile, a widely accepted growth measurement."

3. Lexia Learning Systems (www.lexialearning.com)

"Lexia is a computer-based assessment for reading remediation. It uses a framework of Assessment – 

Instruction – Practice – Reassessment to help struggling readers. Lexia Learning Systems software supports every step in the learning cycle, making each one quicker and more effective by letting the computer take on the repetitive tasks of generating assessment reports, providing correct speech examples, guiding the student through each exercise and correcting student work in real time. The teacher is left to focus on the essential tasks of instruction and management of the learning process. 

• Lexia’s assessment software identifies students’ reading strengths and weaknesses in detail, providing 

reports teachers can use to focus instruction on just the skills that need it. 

• Lexia’s reading skills development software provides interactive exercises for students to learn from and tracks their progress to automatically provide just the material that they are ready for and to report on their progress to teachers."

4. Essential Learning System (www.ceilearning.com)

"ELS capitalizes on the brain’s ability to develop more fluid pathways for automatic recognition, retention, comprehension, and application of information … pathways that are frequently underdeveloped in students with learning challenges. Our approach focuses on mastery, positive reinforcement and motivation, resulting in significant gains in grade-level equivalencies, test scores, self-esteem and overall performance."

Click here to read research supporting why ELS works!

5. Classroom Suite: Classroom Suite Reading Tutor (phonemic awareness, phonics, and sight word vocabulary development) (http://www.intellitools.com/classroom-suite-reading-tutor.html)

Classroom Suite is a unique software intervention tool developed upon the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) that combines two educational paradigms—systematic, explicit instruction and flexible creativity tools. Teachers have control over specific learning objectives, allowing differentiated instruction for individuals or groups to help students in grades PreK-5 achieve mastery in reading, writing, and mathematics. Reading activities to build phonemic awareness,phonics, and sight word vocabulary developmentClassroom Suite ReadingTutor covers reading concepts such as letter name identification; all major letter sounds in the initial, medial, and final positions; and rime sounds through phonemic awareness and phonics activities.

NOTE: For more information, please open this PDF link and scroll to page 55 of the document. It outlines some of the above software programs and websites, as well as several different ones.

http://www.leg.state.nv.us/division/fiscal/lebeape/lerp2005.pdf

Apps:

1. Phonics: Fun on Farm (Currently $1.99)

2. Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read (Free, or Classroom Edition - $19.99)

3. Starfall Learn to Read ($2.99)

4. Sight Words Montessori Learning Games for Everyday Reading ($2.99)

5. Montessori Learn to Read with Phonics Digraphs ($2.99)

6. Grasshopper Family of Apps (Free - $5.99)