Student Guide Corner

Is it possible to be an effective educator and not feel empathy for the struggles that many of our students experience? Have you ever put yourself in the shoes of the students who avert their eyes when you are ready to call on someone to read text out loud? Have you ever wondered why some of your students have such a difficult time following the class discussion? I do hope you have. And if you've wondered what to do next, then you must read Melinda Pongrey 's article, "Dyslexia and High School," This article will help you gain some perspective on the challenges facing students with learning disabilities in your classroom. Melinda was allowed to observe what was happening in a high school Literature class as part of her work with a particular high school student. What she found was typical, yet disturbing, as it revealed the use of instructional methods that prevented her student's success. Fortunately, she included numerous alternatives for the following commonpla...

A practical post: I'm often asked for a copy of the "Keyboard Shortcuts" list I've created and hand out at presentations. Courtesy of Scri bd , here's a link so that you can print it out yoursel f and disseminate to your students and colleagues. (Click on the image). There are two copies per sheet. It's best printed on card stock. I hope you find this helpful. I'm also grateful to my Professional Learning Community who came to my rescue via a Twitter shout out. I needed a way to post this so that anyone could access this to copy and print and I got the following responses:

Have you heard the news? Well, it's not really breaking news, considering it was mandated back when IDEA 2004 was passed as federal special education law. I came across this information, written by Skip Stahl , that was posted on the TRLD site (Technology, Reading and Learning Diversity). Skip proposes that education will undergo a profound shift as a result of IDEA 2004 which mandated accessible instructional materials. When materials are presented in print only, they are inherently inaccessible to students with disabilities. State and local educational systems must now provide materials in alternative specialized formats. Here, he describes the impact for educators: Moving beyond the statutory policy and implementation challenges, what does all this mean for the practice of education? It means a profound and fundamental shift in the status quo . Administrators and teachers will need to increasingly incorporate networked and mobile ( cell phones, PDAs, laptops, computers, etc.) t...

"Sticks and stones may break my words but names will never hurt me." I never did believe that childhood refrain. Words can be very damaging and hurtful. You've heard the name calling on the playground. Have you heard the name calling in your school? It's time to promote an accepting environment for all our students including those with intellectual disabilities. Please share this PSA produced by Blueberry Shoes Productions .

There are many conversations in the blogosphere repeatedly emphasizing how the tools are secondary to the pedagogy. Lost in the discussions is the reality that the tools make things possible. The tools allow: 1. Differentiation In the previous century, instructional methods were limited to lectures presented by teachers at the front of the class, or at the blackboard; or worksheets and other paper-based presentations; or textbooks; or watching educational PBS programs as a class. There was no opportunity for differentiation. The belief was one size fits all. We know this doesn't work. We understand that the one-size-fits-all approach ignores the needs of many learners - those with learning challenges, attentional and organizational issues, reading disabilities, physical disabilities and vision issues. Technology allows for multiple methods of presentation and allows students to access the material as often as necessary to facilitate understanding. Technology allows students ...

The Family Center on Technology and Disability , which operates through support from the Office of Special Education (OSEP) in DC, publishes a bi-monthly newsletter devoted to topics of interest to educators and parents. The Family Center is a resource designed to support organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities. We offer a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technologies. Whether you're an organization, a parent, an educator, or an interested friend, we hope you'll find information that supports you in your efforts to bring the highest quality education to children with disabilities. I am honored that this month's newsletter includes a lengthy article about my work and my passion , providing assistive technology to all learners, especially those with high-incidence disabilities. While you are checking out the article, explore the website further for their ...