After viewing the first webinar on AT and Reading, I became interested in learning more about how AT can work in the classroom throughout different subjects so I watched the webinar involving Math (my favorite subject).
My ultimate goal someday would be to teach middle school math. In viewing this webinar, I had a different perspective. I began listening more closely to the information presented so that I could get a more clear picture of how AT devices can be used in the classroom to facilitate learning with Math and some techniques and/or approaches.
The number of ways to use manipulatives is addressed. Its mind boggling all the things I learned that I never knew I could have done with such a simple lesson. A few years back while student teaching Kindergarten in an urban classroom with over 28 students, trying to find neat and creative ways to address the lesson goal was my struggle. Had I read and understood all the ways to use manipulatives, I could have went into the classroom each and everyday with confidence knowing I was fully prepared to take on the math lesson and make it engaging as best I could for all students.
For those teachers trying to accommodate their lesson for students with disabilities, the webinar discussed ways to provide choices and a means to communicate which can be as simple as eye gazing, touch, point, or selecting with sound. The communication board was also mentioned as an important device for a student to use tactile and visual symbols.
Thank you everyone for listening to me blog about AT and the writing process over the course of the past few weeks. Its been a great journey. I look forward to you hearing about my next blog…..stay tuned……...
Shana, I also watched the math webinar about standards based math instruction for students with intellectual disabilities. The most important thing that I gained from the webinar was that IEP goals do not equal curriculum. Goals are what you need to measure. Whereas curriculum is simply a guide for progression of learning.
ReplyDelete