Handwriting Without Tears Website

Two of the Occupational Therapists (OT's) in our district suggested that I include information about this excellent website.  If you would like more info about this K-4 program, please contact the OT in your building.

Handwriting without Tears

 Handwriting without Tears Curriculum

Handwriting fluency is fundamental to learning because children think and write at the same time. When we teach children to write, we also teach them how to express themselves. If they struggle to form their letters, their ability to express themselves will suffer. Children who don’t master handwriting may be slow, sloppy, or illegible writers.  HWT focuses on fun and achievement to optimize children’s curiosity and joy of learning throughout school. The goal of this curriculum is to help students learn proper handwriting habits and then apply those habits naturally and automatically to all writing experiences that they’ll take throughout elementary school, high school, and beyond.  The HWT curriculum starts when children enter kindergarten. By playing, singing and building letters, they develop important skills they need to print words, sentences, paragraphs, and eventually transition to cursive.

                                                   Three Parts of HWT

Kindergarten

         Readiness and writing lessons teach body awareness, cooperation, taking turns, listening, crayon grip drawing, building, letter and number recognition, capital letter and number formation.

Printing

 

     Children learn to print using hands-on materials and developmentally appropriate activities. Fine motor work gained from the writing readiness program prepares students for pencil and paper success.

Cursive

HWT’s simple cursive style helps children make the transition from print. Using the same multisensory techniques, the cursive program begins in 3rd grade when children have better developed hand-eye coordination.

Two additional parts of HWT  are A+ Worksheet Maker and Digital tools.....

Here's the link.    Handwriting without Tears A+ Worksheet Maker

     The Handwriting Without Tears® A+ Worksheet Maker is a free and easy to use classroom resource that enables educators to integrate the unique HWT font and double lines into other classroom activities.  Create worksheets for grades K-4, in both print and cursive, for additional handwriting practice and use in other lessons, including expository writing, spelling, and vocabulary.

Some features of the Worksheet Maker are the following:

• Are well-designed for the needs of different grade levels and subjects.
• Can be created for both printing and cursive.
• Eliminate clutter to enable students to focus on the content of their writing.
• Feature grade-level appropriate lines and adequate spacing.
• Are designed for the needs of all children.

Digital Teaching Tools

You can get a free 2-week trial of Digital tools.

Here's the link.   Digital Tools

HWT's  Digital Teaching Tools  are for interactive whiteboards. This technology helps to expand multisensory teaching options. It’s another  way for you to demonstrate for your students and to teach to different learning styles.  You can model the steps for writing letters in print and cursive on an interactive whiteboard or on a computer. Children follow along by using big arm movements or by finger tracing the steps.

 

Digital Teaching:

• Print and cursive letter formations
• Number formations
• Animated features
• Signature HWT illustrations
• Child-friendly terminology
• Easy interface
• IWB-ready
• Spanish characters

Thanks for stopping by and thanks to OT's for recommending this website.

Working with SOLO

Are you just getting started with SOLO? Or, do you need a refresher? The following links are all on the Don Johnston website.
I have just tried to put them together so that you can get to them easily and will not have to jump around the website quite so much.  Also, you may be able to get a better feel for what is included in SOLO by looking down through the topics or titles of the Show-Me-How Video Tutorials.

What is SOLO?

It's a literacy suite of  assistive technology accommodations, including a text reader, graphic organizer, talking word processor, and word prediction for students who struggle with reading and writing.
Here are some links for the Don Johnston Solo website that will help you get started.

Co-Writer 6

Co-Writer 6 Product Demonstration-5-min. video

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)

Co-Writer 6 tutorials -getting started

     This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
          How to use Co:Writer when you are not sure how to spell a word
          How to get Co:Writer to predict more words
          How to display the word bank
          How to activate a topic dictionary
          How to find the topic dictionary you created
          How to add words to your personal dictionary
          How to change the main dictionary
          How to change settings and activate a user
          How to use the refresh button

CoWriterTrain-in-30-PDF Document.  Step-by-step training. 20 pages

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)

Co-Writer 6 Tutorials-Advanced

 This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
        How to change the voice you use and rate of speech
        How to change text size and colors
        How to have Co:Writer repeat the sentence you just wrote
        How to type numbers in your sentence
        How to turn off  Predict Ahead for test taking
        How to use abbreviation expansion
        How to use the Co:Writer talk window
        How to use Co:Writer with Dragon Naturally Speaking

CoWriter Quick Card-PDF Document. 2 pages

Read Outloud

Read Outloud Product Demonstration-5-min. video

 

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)

Read: Outloud 6 tutorials-getting started

 This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
How to add a note to your outline
How to add new topics and adjust text in your outline
How to rearrange your outline
How to use a premade outline template
How to use electronic bookmarking with your outline
How to capture key ideas for your outline
How to change eText styles in a NIMAS file
How to change the PDF viewing size
How to change voice settings


Read:OutLoud 6 Train-in-30 Tutorial-PDF Document.  Step-by-step training. 20 pages

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)

Read: Outloud 6 Tutorials-Advanced

 This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
        How to change the toolbar
        How to read word by word
        How to turn on auditory cues

Read Outloud Quick Card-PDF Document. 2 pages

Draft Builder

DraftBuilder Product Demonstration-5-min. video

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)

DraftBuilder 6 Tutorials-getting started

 This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
        How to add green subtopics
        How to add yellow and red subtopics
        How to reorganize your outline
        How to create a note
        How to create a draft
        How to check your spelling using the Spelling Checker
       How check the meaning of a word using the Talking Dictionary
       How to access outline templates

DraftBuilder 6 Train-in-30 Tutorial-PDF Document.  Step-by-step training. 20 pages

DraftBuilder QuickCard-PDF Document. 2 pages

Write:Outloud

Write Outloud Product Demonstration-5-min. video

Show-Me-How Video Tutorials  (about a minute)

Write:Outloud 6 tutorials-getting started

 This link takes you to a series of very short videos on the following topics:
        How to listen to text with the Speak button
        How to check your spelling using the Spelling checker
        How to add more sentences to your document
        How to use the Homonym Checker
        How to use Write:OutLoud in Test Mode
        How to Check the Meaning of a word using the Talking Dictionary
        How to use the Mark for Deletion Button
        How to add a picture to your document

WriteOutLoud 6 Train-in-30 Tutorial-PDF Document. Step-by-step training. 20 pages


WriteOutLoud QuickCard-PDF Document. 2 pages

Document Cameras

The most exciting aspect of using document cameras in the classroom is the extra dimension that it acan add to your presentation. In addition to showing notes and written materials to your classroom with your document camera, you can display three-dimensional objects . There are a few document cameras in the district.  I would love to hear from people that are using them and how they are using them.
Here are just a few examples of how document cameras might be used in the classroom:

• In science classes, students could watch the teacher dissecting a frog that is displayed so that all of the class could easily see. Or, the teacher could show the difference between beetles and butterflies in a very realistic way.
• In geometry classes, teachers could use the document camera to add a 3D twist to the complicated world of pyramids, cones and cylinders.
• In geology classes, teachers could show up-close and personal different types and textures of rocks.
• In art classes, students could watch and see more clearly techniques on molding clay or making perfect brush strokes.

Here's a feature checklist and comparison chart for several document cameras:

Here are some links to more information about document cameras:

• 50 ways to use a document camera 
• Document Cameras 
• Springfield 
•  Scholastic
• AV Tech comparison 

And finally,
Here's a video called Document Cameras 101-A Complete Guide:

Thanks for stopping by!

Everyday Technology-Able Data

                



There's lots of good stuff in this website!
Have you visited this very interesting and helpful website?   AbleData provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment.  It's a great resource for anyone  working with individuals with disabilities.  It can help to provide you with the most current assistive technology trends and application information.    AbleData is a database of assistive technology  in which products are classified by each product's intended function or any special features it possesses. The products are classified in 20 areas listed below. Clicking on a topic will link you to a list of the major categories within that topic.  You can then see the list of specific product types in that category. Just point and click.  To search for a certain word or phrase, type it in the "Search" box at the top of the page or click on the "Advanced Search" link to the right of that box.

 ABLEDATA's mission is to provide objective information on assistive products. They do not sell  assistive products. Products

The Products Page

The Products page is the most important part of this site.  Users can search for assistive technology resources that can help students based on a particular need.  This site provides 20 broad categories like daily living, walking, communication, or mobility.  After selecting a major category, sub categories appear with various assistive technology options.  The options are links to learn more information about the assistive technology.  For example, if you have a student who is having difficulty moving around the room.  You can select mobility as the main category and then see a variety of options like carts, manual wheel chairs, scooters, powered wheel chairs, sport wheel chairs, and accessories.  When you select a link, there will be a brief synopsis of the assistive technology device, the approximate cost, and vendors for the specific product.  This information can then be used to make suggestions to the IEP team, administrators, or even the parents.

Aids for Daily Living

Products to aid in activities of daily living.
Major Categories: Bathing, Carrying, Child Care, Clothing, Dispenser Aids, Dressing, Drinking, Feeding, Grooming/Hygiene, Handle Padding, Health Care, Holding, Reaching, Time, Smoking, Toileting, Transfer.

Blind and Low Vision

Products for people with visual disabilities.

Major Categories: Computers, Educational Aids, Health Care, Information Storage, Kitchen Aids, Labeling, Magnification, Office Equipment, Orientation and Mobility, Reading, Recreation, Sensors, Telephones, Time, Tools, Travel, Typing, Writing (Braille).

Communication

Products to help people with disabilities related to speech, writing and other methods of communication.

Major Categories: Alternative and Augmentative Communication, Headwands, Mouthsticks, Signal Systems, Telephones, Typing, Writing.

Computers

Products to allow people with disabilities to use desktop and laptop computers and other kinds of information technology.
Major Categories: Software, Hardware, Computer Accessories.

Controls

Products that provide people with disabilities with the ability to start, stop or adjust electric or electronic devices.
Major Categories: Environmental Controls, Control Switches.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Products for people with hearing disabilities.

Major Categories: Amplification, Driving, Hearing Aids, Recreational Electronics, Sign Language, Signal Switches, Speech Training, Telephones, Time.

DeafBlind

Products for people who are both deaf and blind.

Education

Products to provide people with disabilities with access to educational materials and instruction in school and in other learning environments.
Major Categories: Classroom, Instructional Materials.

Environmental Adaptations

Products that make the built environment more accessible.
Major Categories: Indoor Environment, Furniture, Outdoor Environment, Vertical Accessibility, Houses, Specialities, Lighting, Signs.

Housekeeping

Products to that assist in cooking, cleaning, and other household activities as well as adapted appliances.
Major Categories: Food Preparation, Housekeeping General, Cleaning, Ironing, Laundry, Shopping.

Orthotics

Braces and other products to support or supplement joints or limbs.
Major categories: Head and Neck, Lower Extremity, Torso, Upper Extremity.

Prosthetics

Products for amputees.
Major categories: Lower Extremity, Upper Extremity.

Recreation

Products to assist people with disabilities with their leisure and athletic activities.
Major Categories: Crafts, Electronics, Gardening, Music, Photography, Sewing, Sports, Toys.

Safety and Security

Products to protect health and home.
Major Categories: Alarm and Security Systems, Child Proof Devices, Electric Cords, Lights, Locks.

Seating

Products that assist people to sit comfortably and safely.
Major Categories: Seating Systems, Cushions, Therapeutic Seats.

Therapeutic Aids

Products that assist in treatment for health problems and therapy and training for certain disabilities.
Major Categories: Ambulation Training, Biofeedback, Evaluation, Exercise, Fine and Gross Motor Skills, Perceptual Motor, Positioning, Pressure/Massage Modality Equipment, Respiratory Aids, Rolls, Sensory Integration, Stimulators, Therapy Furnishings, Thermal/Water Modality Equipment, Traction.

Transportation

Products to enable people with disabilities to drive or ride in cars, vans, trucks and buses.
Major Categories: Mass Transit Vehicles and Facilities, Vehicles, Vehicle Accessories.

Walking

Products to aid people with disabilities who are able to walk or stand with assistance.
Major Categories: Canes, Crutches, Standing, Walkers.

Wheeled Mobility

Products and accessories that enable people with mobility disabilities to move freely indoors and outdoors.
Major Categories: Wheelchairs (Manual, Sport, and Powered), Wheelchair Alternatives (Scooters), Wheelchair Accessories, Carts, Transporters, Stretchers.

Workplace

Products to aid people with disabilities at work.
Major Categories: Agricultural Equipment, Office Equipment, Tools, Vocational Assessment, Vocational Training, Work Stations.

The Products page also has a classified section where users can post either re-sales of assistive technology or want ads for needed assistive technology.  All of the process is screened through AbleData.

The Resources Page

The Resources page includes information such as information centers, conferences and companies that can help users to learn more about assistive technology.   This information can provide teachers with a wealth of resources for various disabilities, services, technology, professional development, and other resources. 

The Library Page

 The library contains three sections:  publications, literature and news.

Publications

 The Publications page includes fact sheets and consumer guides about the various products that they provide information for on their products page.  This page also contains links with recent articles written from the National Institute for Rehabilitation Engineering. 

The Literature Page

The Literature Page includes a search box and list to find recent articles, books, and publications about assistive technology.  I found this information very useful to learn more about the current trends of assistive technology. 

The News you can Use Page

The News You Can Use page is very similar to a blog about assistive technology.  Posts are made every few weeks including links to various resources, surveys, conferences, or other hot topics about disabilities and assistive technology.

My AbleData Account

You can create a free account with AbleData and then be able to save information about devices that you would like to look back at in the future or share with others.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you find this post helpful.





Special Toys for Kids with Special Needs

Here are some ideas to keep in mind when looking for toys for kids with special needs.

Look for toys that:

• Talk or produce sounds    Toys that talk or imitate real life noises attract children's attention, help them understand cause and effect, and teach them to use auditory senses effectively as they grow.
• Have bright colors, high contrast and emit light
  Toys with simple contrasting patterns of lines and shapes that are brightly colored or light up during play stimulate children to use their vision to its best potential.
• Feature a variety of interesting surfaces and textures  Toys that have dials, switches, buttons and other surfaces that are fun to touch and operate encourage children to use their fingers and hands to explore. Textures introduce children to the way everyday objects feel. Interesting, flexible or rubbery surfaces make dolls, rattles and balls easy to play with and appealing.
• Stimulate thinking and creativity:    Puzzles, railroads, blocks and other building toys help children discover how parts make up the whole and stimulate their imagination to plan and build. Toy letters and numbers marked in Braille, as well as phonics toys introduce children to the wonders of learning through reading. That sense of wonder is also experienced as they play with craft kits and art supplies, which help enhance creativity.
• Encourage movement and exploration:  Climbing and riding toys, athletic equipment and other action toys engage children in movement and exploration. Physical activity promotes the growth of strong muscles for walking, running and sports; toy rattles, hand puppets and musical toys enhance the development of fine motor and hand skills, and facilitate graceful and easy movement.
• Promote cooperation, sharing and social growth:  Games and role playing activities engage children in play with their friends, family and teachers. Games that encourage cooperation and sharing build the foundation of friendship and relationships with others.
• Develop awareness of people, places and things:  Dolls, stuffed animals, puppets, vehicles and play towns introduce the sights and sounds of daily living, acquaint children with the jobs that people do at home and at work, and stimulate creative role play

Some links to information about toys for children with special needs....

Ropard Toys

Ropard.org is a website for  retinopathy of prematurity and related diseases.  This section is devoted to providing examples of toys which are appropriate for visually impaired children in 4 different categories.  They could be appropriate as well for children with other special needs.

Heads Up
 (learning to look, listen, and feel;  unable to sit)

CREEPER CRAWLER  
(Able to sit but not stand; gets into 4 point; reaches and grasps)

Independent Explorer (Runs, jumps, draws, feeds self)

Playworks

This website has 4 sections--early toys, manipulatives, special needs, and other toys. 

Special Needs Toys are separated into seven sub-categories to facilitate finding toys that address specific special needs and situations. Special Needs Toys enhance child development, allowing children with diverse abilities to experience a variety of sensory feedback and stimulation. Distraction Toys also provide relief from stress and enhance a child's ability to cope. Distraction Distraction Toys enable children to turn their attention away from stressful situations and immerse themselves in play. These toys invite children of all ages to escape and explore, enabling them to cope. Meteor Storm is our most popular distraction toy. To activate a countinuously changing light display, a child must press and hold down the button. Letting go turns off the light. The child must focus on the act of play itself. Now available in two sizes. The larger globe of the original prevents young children from sticking the light in their mouths while the mini, with its breakaway cord, can be worn around the neck for instant gratification. Light Up Light Toys provide visual feedback and stimulation to both low vision and sighted children. Although lighting up is the primary function of these toys, all provide multi- sensory experiences. Meteor Storm, with its press and hold switch, engages the sense of touch and invites children to experiment with on/off and to track the continuously changing color patterns of the spinning globe. This spinning causes the globe to vibrate, stimulating "feel" when the child places his hand on the globe, enabling blind children to enjoy Meteor Storm too. Sound Sound Toys offer auditory feedback, enhance language and motor skills, develop spatial intelligence and understanding of cause and effect. Sound Peg Puzzles are Sound Toys that provide varied visual, tactile, and auditory experiences and enhance motor and language skills. Fitting each puzzle piece in its proper place enhances motor development and rewards success with the appropriate sound. The pieces and their sounds enhance communication skills as the child identifies each piece and mimics the sound. Sharing the experience with an adult or older child provides further opportunity to hone cognitive and language skills, as the two engage in conversation about the puzzle and its components. Sound & Light Sound & Light Toys offer both auditory and visual feedback. Although producing sound and light is the primary function of these toys, each requires the child to perform a task to elicit these responses, re-enforcing understanding of cause and effect and refining motor skills. Both Baby Buzz'r and the newer Busy Bee Baby Buzz'r are multi-sensory toys that not only light-up and sound off but also vibrate and provide phthalate-free teethable textured surfaces. Blinking lights, music, and vibration activate individually by easy on/easy off push buttons, allowing the child to experiment and figure out what happens when he presses the buttons. Eventually he will discover that he can control the functions, choosing a favorite, then adding another and another as he explores possibilities. The visual, auditory, and vibratory responses are gentle, and the vibrations cycle on and off to keep the child engaged. Texture Texture ToysTexture Toys provide oppportunities to use touch to explore similarities and differences and to learn words to describe these characterisitics. Developing tactile discrimination skills enriches sighted children and lays the foundation for blind children to learn braille. Tangles features  a series of 90 degree curves interconnected to pivot 180 degrees at each joint. Playworks offers a variety of Tangles with texture, from the hard plastic Original with Texture to the Tangle Therapy with its soft, pliable coating and distinctive raised nodes. Their low impact motion relieves stress, strengthens finger muscles, and restores motion to joints. Teachers who use Tangles as a reward for children with autism report improved behavior: an increased calm and ability to cope with stressors that usually send them "over the edge" as well as increases in skill acquisition. Tangles invite manipulation and reward play with improved concentration and spatial relations and problem solving skills. Communications Children learn through play. Communications Toys enable children to develop cognitive and language skills, and foster creativity, planning and problem-solving. Quality play builds confidence and re-enforces a child's desire to explore and learn. Being able to communicate well enhances the play experience. The better a child is able to express his thoughts and feelings, the more likely he is to get along well with others. Acquiring social skills and becoming effective communicators are essential components of successful human development. Emotional intelligence leads to more effective communications. The game Eggspressions helps children identify their feelings and develop problem solving skills while having fun. By sharing their feelings and working together, children figure out a happy solution to a challenge. Oral motor skills are essential for eating and speech. Tooting, humming, whistling, and blowing toys exercise facial and oral muscles and encourage deep breathing and controlled blowing. Facial and oral massagers provide oral stimulation. Their low-intensity vibration calms and organizes sensory input. Jigglers arecontinuously "on" chewable oral facial massagers. They turn on and off with a twist and come in two  styles: a purple elephant and a green alligator. Multi-Purpose The versatility of Multi-Purpose Toys enhances motor development skills, language development skills and cognitive development.  Bilibo is one such toy. Its unique shape and bright colors arouse curiosity and encourage experimentation. Children sit in and on, rock and spin, stand on top of, and hop and jump from one to another. One Bilibo can cradle a doll; a row of them can become a train or anything else a creative mind can imagine. Special needs preschoolers can experiment with gravity in a safe way.

Here's another good resource when looking for toys for children with special needs.

Toys R Us Guide for Differently Abled Kids

Toys"R"Us, Inc.  publishes the annual Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, an easy-to-use resource featuring specially selected toys that encourage play for children with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities.


 And finally, I had to include the elephant just for fun.
Elefun  The Butterfly Catchin' Game. Play the butterfly catching game with an elephant full of fun! The motorized elephant blows colorful butterflies into the air. Practice catching skills with the handy butterfly net,

Happy New Year and thank you for stopping by.

Music for Students with Special Needs

Why Music?

• Research supports connections between speech and singing, rhythm and motor behavior, memory for song, and memory for academic material.  
• We also know that music enhances mood, attention, and behavior to optimize students' ability to learn and interact.
• Gross motor skills such as mobility, agility, and coordination can be improved with rhythmic movement.
• Rhythmic movement can also help with breathing patterns and muscular relaxation.
• Music can be a vehicle for inclusion.
• Music can provide distraction from pain, discomfort, and anxiety.
• Music is processed in a different part of the brain than speech and language.  So, a child may be able to learn something presented with music that he or she might not otherwise learn.

Here are a few links to resources related to music, students with special needs and technology

Full Pitcher

Very nice British website which provides a unique range of free online music resources.  They also have a blog which you might like to follow.   Full Pitcher Blog

Music for Everyone

Inclusion is a group of 7 people from Campbell River, British Columbia who play music to promote awareness that people are more alike than different.  Four of the members have developmental disabilities.  Their motto is "We all have gifts".  They're terrific!

National Arts and Disability Center

The center's mission is to promote the full inclusion of audiences and artists with disabilities into all facets of the arts community. The NADC is a leading consultant in the arts and disability community, and the only center of its kind. Their information is aimed at artists with disabilities, arts organizations, museums, arts administrators, disability organizations and agencies, performing arts organizations, art centers, universities, arts educators, and students. The NADC is a project of the University of California, at Los Angeles, Tarjan Center.

Traquitanas Musicais This is a very interesting website.  Traquitanas Musicais are electronic musical instruments designed for people with and without disabilities. The idea is to allow anyone, including the disabled, to play, discover sounds and have fun. Electronic instruments allow for more flexibility in terms of physical properties, like shape and size, than acoustic instruments do. This opens the possibility of creating instruments based solely on human body characteristics, leaving designers with no reasons not to include persons with disabilities. Traquitanas Musicais is a project by multimedia artists Eiko DoEspiritosanto and Rivaldo DoEspiritosanto. Their sculpture-like instruments are in fact MIDI controllers connected to a microprocessor and a synthesizer. Since it is impossible to create one single instrument that works well for everyone, the artists experiment with different designs, building diverse instruments to meet diverse needs.   Below is a diagram of an accessible musical instrument. 

Classics for Kids

This websites features a different classical composer every month.  It also has a section that allows students to make their own radio show.

Sing Up

Sing Up is an awesome website.  Its mission is to help kids find their voice.  Features include a Song Bank, Teaching section with tutorials and lesson plans, and Voice Box which provides warm-up activities to help kids find their "groove".

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything.  It is the essence of order and lends to all that is good and just and beautiful. -- Plato

Thank you for stopping by!