Tonight we will share our ideas about curriculum supports - choosing curriculum, making modifications and providing accommodations. We need to teach the standards. How do we do that when working with students on IEPs? What tools do we use? #ATchat
Hey Now #ATchat I will be late to our convo tonight. I am driving to Scranton to keynote the 17th Annual US Conf on disAbility tomorrow at Univ. of Scranton. Hope to be here soon
#atchat Hi everyone, It is Ruth from Don Johnston. Exciting topic! I am excited to participate tonight-it's been too long and I miss all the bright peeps on ATChat.
Q1: Are you involved in choosing curriculum for your students with more complex special needs? If so, what factors do you consider when selecting curriculum? What prepackaged curricula are you using ie, Readtopia, News2You, etc? #ATchat
Ruth, since we are off to a slow start, would you be willing to share a bit about Readtopia as it is one of the best curriculums available for some students. #ATchat
@KarenJan crazy winds and lots of trees down, tornados. Power on and off but I'm lucky. The scenes out of the panhandle/Tallahassee/Pensacola area are heartbreaking. #ATchat reminds you #whatreallymatters ... lurking tonight as I monitor all the crazy.
A1(p2): @n2yinc ( ULS, News, & Symbolstix), @AbleNetInc (EQUALS, MEville to WEville, Focus on STEM), @AttainmentCo (health advocacy, go station for transition skills, teaching to standards math and science) #atchat
#atchat Readtopia creates reading experiences. We build background knowledge with virtual field trips, we honor that students can listen and comprehend above their independent reading level so there are many levels of texts + phonics, vocab +tie into aac core, site words & more,
A-1 in some instances have been involved in making curriculum suggestions. When our team first formed, we found that many referrals had more to do with the need for curriculum that could be scaffolded for a wide variety of students. #ATchat
Q2- Our teachers do the majority of the modifications. I assist with methods to do so when necessary, but am not the person doing the modifications. #atchat
#atchat Readtopia creates reading experiences. We build background knowledge with virtual field trips, we honor that students can listen and comprehend above their independent reading level so there are many levels of texts + phonics, vocab +tie into aac core, site words & more,
A2: I remember a time where all I did was make my own Standards Aligned Units for my multiple disabilities support class. Thank goodness for commercial product now. So much of my life was spent on those unit 'bins' pieced together. #atchat
A2(pt 2): yes, I still modify curriculum. I have Ss for up to 9 years consecutively so I hate to be redundant for the Ss, especially in ELA. I would be offended, so I presume my Ss would be, too. So, we do a lot of lit studies on current texts that I modify. #atchat
A2: I remember a time where all I did was make my own Standards Aligned Units for my multiple disabilities support class. Thank goodness for commercial product now. So much of my life was spent on those unit 'bins' pieced together. #atchat
#atchat Readtopia is Age respectful for students ages 9+ at emerging & early conventional reading). Motivation...Don's experiences. He found for himself that visuals and creating images in your mind are the key to reading for learning.
Q2-Our role is more as problem-solver which includes modifications and accommodations based on each individual’s needs. By student. By standard #ATchat
A2 - I have been more involved with providing supports for scaffolding the curriculum. Some of my favorites are Actively Learn, EdPuzzle, Insert Learning, ReadWorks, CommonLIt and Tarheel Reader, depending on IEP goals. #ATchat
A-2 I don’t personally modify curriculum, but look at tools & resources available in classroom & on network & make suggestions 2 teaching staff re: different ways 2 “use what they’ve got” in new ways, brainstorming 2 integrate themes throughout subjects & scaffolding. #ATchat
A3: core vocabulary and AAC device use is the foundation of my ELA instructional methods. So I look for texts with lots of core vocab to model and also how to take complex words and redefine them using core vocab. #atchat
#atchat I agree. I think as we modified text we used what we had but we lost detailed, videos and rich media. So students often get simple text without real storylines and line drawings. Students love literature- relationships of characters, to read chapter books like their peers
A2: We’re fortunate to have a variety of tools for adapting and modifying, but I always go back to the whole forethought not afterthought thing... #Atchat
A3 I am more often supporting students in accessing the curriculum rather than modifying it. Some of my favorite tools for providing access are Clicker Docs abs Clicker Connect. Struggling writers really benefit from having word banks (with or without pictures) #ATchat
Ruth, that is where Readtopia helps fill in the gaps. Offers rich curriculum with multiplte entry points. Love how you describe it as age respectable. #ATchat
#atchat I agree. I think as we modified text we used what we had but we lost detailed, videos and rich media. So students often get simple text without real storylines and line drawings. Students love literature- relationships of characters, to read chapter books like their peers
#atchat Interesting. I did a correlation of aac core vocabulary to a list we use of top 330 words encountered in reading. There was not as much correlation as I expected. Stepping back made sense because communication is different from reading.
A4/ using @DiscoveryEd Science Techbook for the first time. Can level reading a bit but nicely laid out and also has text to speech built in #atchat#edtechchat
I love creating adapted book kits with games, puzzles, manipulatives, core vocabulary supports, props and puppets, and so on to provide tangible input to the literacy experience. Paths to Literacy has wonderful ideas on story boxes and so on that can be scaffolded. #ATchat
#atchat I'll try to dig up report but CEC had a report from a state of all alternate assessment students. What % do you think read at 1st-5th grade level?
Paths to Literacy has fantastic ideas, I agree! I’ve started assigning my graduate student assistants to create adapted books for our clinic- we get books & they get some experience adapting materials. #ATchat
A4 just starting to explore it, but Quizbot from @DonJohnstonInc looks like a great tool for making accessible assignments and assessments that can be pushed out in Google Classroom. Easy to customize for specific students. #ATchat
A4: Like @possbeth, I like to help create access by removing barriers. Some barriers may be language (use pics). Text (use TTS) or hands on (use AI, simulation apps). So many more examples, but removing barriers is key. #ATChat
@MsSchwartz_25 and I ran a course in the spring focusing on tech tools to reach all Learners. Some of the ones we discussed were Rewordify, Smithsonian Tween Tribune, Front Row @Newsela, @CommonLit and of course @EpicKidsBooks#atchat
Q5- Read and Write for Google. We scan and then use the app to read materials and edit digitially. We also have a couple of students using Prizmo and ClaroPDF on the iPad. #atchat
We use R & W for Google Chrome, also have claroscan pen app on iOS. Given a minute or 2 warning I can scan with fujiscanner- OCR/upload. Also use Google Keep OCR #ATchat
A5: Love using Office Lens from my phone or an iPad to quickly capture content and convert into variety of formats- including editable Word, PDF, OneNote, immersive reader.#ATchat
I'll tweet our the resource when I'm back in the office. It breaks it out by disability/age but as example: 7th grade/Intell Dis 74% of students could read passages from 1st-5th grade-level. I point this out because I think we often modify too low! #atchat
A5: I don’t think I’ve seen TarHeel Reader mentioned yet. I also like Pictello for quick social stories & how you can download a TarHeel reader story into Pictello. #ATchat
A5: We’re Chromebook so we use a TTS, WP, solution for web. For those pesky PDF’s and scanned documents we use @usekamiapp which works brilliantly with @googleclassroom. #ATChat
A5: An iOS app that we have had great success with using to complete worksheets- dictation, writing or drawing options- is SnapTypePro Very user friendly for elementary students too. #ATchat
We have just started on ela. We are picking the priority standards then will build learning targets. We will use unique and other programs to meet goals. Standards don't start till 3rd grade@rziolkowski @KarenJan#atchat
A5 google docs built-in OCR! Take pic or scan. Right click in google drive. Open as a google doc. And bingo bango now kids can use text2speech and annotate. #Atchat
I mentioned Tarheel Reader earlier. There are a variety of books at different levels which support the curriculum ie, Martin Luther King books for an MLS unit. #ATchat
A6: Putting Students in charge of their tools makes a huge difference. Having students train teachers on tools puts them in charge and builds their mastery to a new level. They become better at picking the right tool for the task. #atchat
A6: Hi @iplante ! I was rushing to get to this chat. I love that u mentioned @Flipgrid and the live captioning is what brings it more adoration for me! #ATchat
In reply to
@iplante, @Flipgrid, @AdobeSpark, @iplante, @Flipgrid
We are having teachers also airdrop images to younger students’ iPads so they don’t miss out on valuable learning time taking images. It’s been a game changer! #atchat
In reply to
@iplante, @ClaroSoftware, @prizmo, @microsofted
In my techapalooza lessons, the learners are the investigators. They work in groups and then demonstrate the tool(s) and how they can be used. They become the experts for other learners to go to. Powerful! #atchat
Yes, even w/regards to AAC kids get choices around communication supports- sometimes you have the voice words, sometimes a sign or gestures will work, sometimes you need the device- it’s all great & respected. #ATchat
You can take a basic worksheet and turn it into a 21sr century interactive sheet. Takes some time on the teachers’ end to set up but it is really incredible what it can do #atchat
In reply to
@hillarygfphdatp, @alysstets, @AttainmentCo
I have to take off early. Been chatting from the hospital waiting room. My father in law was having heart surgery. Got the great news that he is out and all is well! I have to go celebrate. I’ll read back later! #atchat
You can take a basic worksheet and turn it into a 21sr century interactive sheet. Takes some time on the teachers’ end to set up but it is really incredible what it can do #atchat
In reply to
@hillarygfphdatp, @alysstets, @AttainmentCo
I couldn’t agree more Ruth! I just had a conversation with a teacher today about calling her students the “Techsperts” and utilizing their knowledge of the technology to support newer users. #atchat
A7: Lack of high expectations for students, which can create the unnecessary barrier to student learning, dignity of risk and opportunities to fail. All important experiences & skills for Ss to acquire. #ATchat
#atchat A7: Obstacles are plenty..lack of tech, teacher comfort with tech, learned helplessness, bad habits of just spelling words. Solution is simple..let students lead with appropriate tools. Empower them to accommodate as they need. Don't lower the rigor-presume competence!
#atchat A7: Obstacles are plenty..lack of tech, teacher comfort with tech, learned helplessness, bad habits of just spelling words. Solution is simple..let students lead with appropriate tools. Empower them to accommodate as they need. Don't lower the rigor-presume competence!
A7: Lots of teacher training, data, share resources, successes & failures. Often times the failures are the highlight to overcome obstacles in supporting staff. #ATchat
As the sun sets on another #Atchat, May this photo of tonight’s sunset bring you all a little bit of happiness, peace, and calm (Especially for those in FL). Grateful for you all!
A7: The biggest obstacles for me are obtaining the tools available for all students to truly create a UDL environment and the time to provide support to those who are less comfortable using the tech. #atchat
A7: In my view, the emphasis on placement w/out explicit schoolwide culture, guidelines and expectations for specialized instruction and specialized materials is the biggest barrier to meaningful inclusion. #ATchat
A7: Just Do It...be BOLD...tackle every opportunity and tell them you’re also scared and sometimes you have no clue if this thing will work...but you’re not giving up until SOMETHING does! #atchat
As the sun sets on another #Atchat, May this photo of tonight’s sunset bring you all a little bit of happiness, peace, and calm (Especially for those in FL). Grateful for you all!
Well said @rziolkowski#ATchat Growth mindset set...we will always get the same outcomes if we are inflexible in our teaching. I mentioned to a T today that the only inflexibility we need for our Ss is inflexibility of CONSISTENCY. #ATchat
I haven’t had a student that needed in class yet but @MSFTEnable Seeing AI powerful and free! Students with low vision can use scanner app and pdf app or Good Notes to write on doc. Scanning can happen right from notes app too. #ATChat
#atchat Too bad it has to be free. Start to Finish books are age respectful & have critical supports for ELs Supports for Vocab, Anaphora Resolution & Lexical Inferences. Yes these are big words but they are why writing materials for success can make a difference!
A7 Until schools start practicing UDL, AT and other accommodations will remain for “those kids” or be “cheating”. Remove the stigma. What’s good for one can almost alway benefit all. #Atchat
