October 16th

I. Assistive Technology
A. Assistive Tech. doesn't have to be the latest and greatest. Your mandated to be adequate.
Has to be research based. It was ruled in the courts that all you have to do is provide just
what is necessary
II. Student Environment The Tasks The Tools
What are there special needs and special abilities? The SETT framework is almost like an
SST for Special Needs kiddos. You need to think about - be very specific in terms of the
physical environment when planning
- Materials and the equipment that all students have access to.
a. Things that students have access to on a daily basis
b. What about the attitude? Need to think about the people who are going to be responsible
for your student in their classroom. Are they willing to change and to accommodate your students.
- You can divide personnel into 4 quadrants - Lower Left - Unwilling,
Able but unwilling - those are the ones you go to administrators; Willing and Able -
B. Tasks
1.What are the expectations for kids their age in those environments. What's everyone else
doing in the environment.
C. Tools -
What do you need to consider , what different kinds of strategies need to be considered and
tried?
D. How can the student try out a proposed intervention system in the environment that they
are to be. If you are going to try out a SETT scope you have to do the intervention (the
practice) in the environment where the intervention will take place.
- IF going to try it out could but this in the IEP (extended trial period to determine the
advocacy of this intervention. Can say will meet in four months, etc. whatever you need
and reassess the intervention). You can come back and revisit. Nothing is carved in stone.
III. Class Assignment
A. Review - If you are finding something for a particular age or grade level, how frequently
do you look at it before they do it?

B. Tonight being asked to look at interventions based on curriculum
- How do you help students determine what's factual and what's not when using websites?
a. Model critical thinking - teaching students not taking things at face value.
b. How to find verification of information
c. Provide a checklist - could be a picture checklist.
d. Limit what students find on the internet.

C. Oral Language/Speaking
a. Looked at stuff they were most familiar with. If you're going to collaborate with others
- you're going to use the things that you are the most familiar with.

D. Math
a. Found the most useable both for teachers and students - EdHelper.com - for resources
and worksheets.

Useful websites:
- National Library of Virtual Manipulatives ttp://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html
1. All divided by k-2, 3-5
- A plus math
- Texasat.net
- RAFT - over aross by the County Office of Ed.
- Can actually get refurbished computers for $50.
- If it is a district policy that you can't bring computers into the classroom that were
personally owned

E. Language Arts
- http://www.internet4classrooms.com/
- http://www.makeyourowncomics.com/
- PVC - u joint pipe for kids to be able to read aloud to themselves. Whisper Phone
- Make your own low tech tools - laminate from the laminator machine (from the
beginning)- can do a three hole punch and put it in front of the binder.
- Glue stick - can glue to make into a post-it-note. hole punch and put it in the front.
- Magnifying
- Can do text to speech on a Mac OS 10 for free (can find and download)
- PC can do Read Naturally can get that for free (can find and download)
- PDF Aloud

*** Alphasmarts - no longer exist =( Have a new one called Neo's

Converting tapes to cd - download amadeus - but is on Mac OS

F. Science
1. High Tech - usda.gov, national weather service, Scope on a rope, google earth, google lit trips Rainforestmaps

2. Low tech - kidsperation
- tape recorders
- listening to radios
- recipes
- kitchen supplies

Interesting websites
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/ (math website - all great online activities)
http://www.rainforestmaths.com/ (have to make sure you have the right flash players for your
kids to be able to do these activities).
http://www.schooltr.com/
http://www.iloveschools.com/ (similar to donors choose)
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html
** For students who have difficulties moving a mouse - eye/mouse coordination if you want them to do something - giving them a game - such as Bejeweled - gives them a big target and helps them practice.

** For kids who are learning how to type - using two fingers to type - can get programs such as write out loud program or use text to speech. If you have kids with visual problems what can you do to modify the keyboard? Can use stickers. Most of the time - if you have a yellow background and blue lettering can put on the keyboard makes it easier to type.

On screen keyboards - within the microsoft operating system - you can get an onscreen keyboard and all students have to do is use their mouse to create type for them.

- Sticky keys - will not type more than once if students are holding keys down over and over again.
- Next time it will be based on disability. Completely different paradigm.

Reflection:
How do you think, how can you as a teacher - for some with limited tech in the classroom, how can you provide the right tech support for students in your classroom?

I think that I can provide the right kind of tech support by looking at what resources I have at my disposal such as low tech/no tech supports such as slant binders, pencil grips etc. I would also consult with the OT that we have on campus if I need assistance trying to provide support a student. I currently support my students by constantly assessing my classroom teaching practice as well as assessing how well students are understanding what is taught in class and modify, modify, modify anything and everything.

* Sharon, when I posted my assignment for this week, I noticed that my worksheet ended up on two pages instead of one. I had added a few things to the lesson plan and had not realized until after the fact that the worksheet ended up on two pages instead of on one. Oops!