Welcome to #ATchat. Tonight’s topic is AT Supports for Writing. We will discuss tools and strategies to support all writers. I will be flying solo tonight-looking forward to another exciting conversation.
Hi #ATchat It looks like tonight's topic is one of my favs! I am Kelli from Indiana, Teacher/Specialist of Autism, Specific Learning Disabilities, Chrome Accessibility, Accessible Ed Materials & Assistive Tech Integration.
Q1: Let’s try something different tonight! Check out this Padlet so we can brainstorm in two areas.
1. What are some of the characteristics of struggling writers?
2. What are some writing tasks assigned to different grade levels?
PADLET: https://t.co/kdk59b0yys#Atchat
#atchat HI everyone...One of my favorite topics too! My start to my career was as an OT. For those of you who don't know me, I'm President of Don Johnston. Great to be back from the holidays!
This almost feels like we are all holding our breath underwater working on Padlet and about to come up for air! Love the different shift @mmatp as you man this #ATchat solo!
Great point from Q1: Characteristics of struggling writers: "Also, when writing problems are identified, there is confusion whether it is let her formation, hand writing, literacy, communication, etc." #ATchat
Great point from Q1: Characteristics of struggling writers: "Also, when writing problems are identified, there is confusion whether it is let her formation, hand writing, literacy, communication, etc." #ATchat
I am presenting a session at #atia19 called iPad vs Chromebook: The 10 Round Main Event. We will have 10 edu tasks, complete them on each device, audience will determine a winner! Have an idea for a task? Leave it on the @flipgridhttps://t.co/SxgZDcCpOO#ATchat
Q3: Do you use writing checklists ot visual supports to promote writing success? Low or High Tech? Share your successes / struggles with this strategy #ATchat
It’s not the child, as we know. What is it about the task, method, etc? What are the barriers? Are there choices? Options? Is writing (curriculum) flexible or inflexible? #atchat
Ah yes. This is why I am advocate for relationship building to help navigate to the CORE of what is really going on with the Ss. Defiance is present for a reason, its our job to help find the "why" and then teach them the "how." #Atchat
A2: Completely in love with the features of grammerly & it now makes predictions in my most needy areas! Works with TTS and when I’m typing. Plus gives me weekly reports to grow from! #atchat
After 16 years of working with students with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities and often finding it is an academic or motor deficit that is being masked by the behaviors, this response makes me so happy! "defiance is present for a reason!" Thank you! #atchat
A3: Digital graphic organizers for our writers to use the speech-to-text accommodations can be a GAME CHANGER. I love this free resource...ALL fillable PDFs https://t.co/AhcYvqPXVk#Atchat
Q3: Do you use writing checklists ot visual supports to promote writing success? Low or High Tech? Share your successes / struggles with this strategy #ATchat
Q3- I was a huge fan of the add-on "Keywords" for Google Docs- Used it to create outlines for students that they could open up and use for writing. Unfortunately, there is a current glitch with it and it is no longer working. :-( #atchat
Q3: Do you use writing checklists ot visual supports to promote writing success? Low or High Tech? Share your successes / struggles with this strategy #ATchat
Oh I can't wait to check these out! Struggling a lot with having district-wide access to speech to text regarding the thought that now that the student can use that, they should be able to write well... without being taught fundamentals of writing! #atchat
I can't wait to share this with my OT friend. I told here about the chat today and this was her question! Thx Kelli-I will give you credit of course :) #ATchat
Q3: Do you use writing checklists ot visual supports to promote writing success? Low or High Tech? Share your successes / struggles with this strategy #ATchat
When possible, I have my students create their own writing checklist. Sometimes they are put into a PowerPoint with dictation,a mini book, or a foldable, so they also become a graphic organizer. #ATchat
Q3: I’ve been using lots of writing frames to support Ss to develop connective tissue/muscle memory in writing. For 5 minutes they FREE write USING a concept map we’ve constructed the day prior & when I post my anchor chart Ss r allowed to use my frame verbatim if needed. #atchat
#atchat I agree too. Here's the thing...with all the standards, our students really need to master 3 graphic organizers. I can tell you that my daughter has survived college by having had lots of practice and strategies built on this.
Q4- outline notes, audio note options such as Echo Pens and Sonocent, students being provided with notes so they can just listen during the class. #atchat
A-4 When notes are available digitally, teaching students to highlight important aspects and using specialized software, collecting the highlights for reference #ATchat
In my experience, a mismatch between processing speed and motor system efficiency almost always creates behaviors/stress of some type in bright kids I.e quick processing/slow motor #atchat
I agree....#atchat. My daughter has shown me how note taking becomes even more important in college. Digital notes are critical, recordings that synch with notes are also important.
AT maker day was a blast. My favorite memory from last year was watching a High School girl talk to a middle school girl about coding! So cool to see girls excited about coding!
In reply to
@JudithSchoonov1, @mmatp, @edcampAccessInt
They have definitely come along way but it’s also another tool that we have to have parent permission to record every student in the class where the student is using it. Anyone else in the same boat as me? #ATchat
A5: We can provide a graphic organizer or mind map to brainstorm ideas. Offer options as to what tool(s) work for the individual. Offer choices as to how we are writing. Allow the process to be messy in order to learn and improve. #AtChat
#atchat Being totally transparent that this is a Co:Writer thing but I am Super Excited about our new translation features in Co:Writer. Imagine being a 2nd language learner and knowing a word but not being able to spell or translate it...not a problem anymore with #CoWriter!
A5:Great question. Often times at the end their ideas end up being ours 4 them due 2 so much prompting. Use of tons of visuals, falling back 2 Ss' experiences, keeping Ss current with events, activities,clubs, peer https://t.co/IOq7qvf9k0 interactions help generate ideas #Atchat
It pops up as an issue every once in a while. I teach at a college and one of my students asked if she could use it in class. I said OF COURSE! She explained that 2 other profs said no. Concern about their int. property #ATchat
#atchat Here is an idea... I once heard of a district where the teacher recorded all their lessons and posted this. It helped students who needed note taking but also helped students who were out sick for the day!
I work with a teacher doing this for transcribing lectures for one student with Voice Typing in G Docs. She has now started sharing it with everyone. Move from AT >> UDL! #ATchat
I used to regularly record portions of my lessons and flip them to QR codes to copy on the corners of paper activities- helped students when they needed to review information to complete tasks. #atchat
A5: I agree...I think we forget that this can and needs to be explicitly taught! #atchat In First Author we do MANY MANY lessons on planning and generating ideas. We teach the students ideas on where to find topics and a lot more. Bottomline...We need good writing instruction!
We JUST had this brought up by a T at a recent training.That was their concern.I think the thought process of that was use of topic dictionaries & THINKING it was pulling word 4 word in the prediction.I didn't have a chance to dive into the convo but will be a great convo #Atchat
#atchat I love using wp with graphic organizers, as they help the kids with attention/EF issues stay on their line of thought. Sometime the WP does impair the fluidity of the thought process for some kids because of the working memory load.
A6: Speech-to-text for sure! It is a SKILL that needs to be taught...let's keep that in mind. It's not a tool that u can say "go forth & write" but allows Ss to write fluidly in most cases #ATchat
Q7: Using speech to text is often suggested for struggling writers but frequently abandoned. What causes Ss to abandon this type of writing solution & how can we reduce abandonment? #ATchat
A7: Whenever I discuss speech to text as a writing support, I refer back to this slide from @kellyfonner The Process of Writing with Voice: Think>Compose>Talk>Read>Check>Edit>Repeat
So many skills needed beyond the ability to talk! #ATchat
Q7: Using speech to text is often suggested for struggling writers but frequently abandoned. What causes Ss to abandon this type of writing solution & how can we reduce abandonment? #ATchat
A7- I think students abandon this type of writing because of the stigma attached to writing 'differently' and no instruction/practice in how to arrange thoughts and edit written work that has been input orally. #atchat
A7: I assume this has a lot to do with logistics. I'll never forget seeing a picture of a student sitting in the HALLWAY because she used speech reco for note taking. #atchat
They stop doing it because we make it about work before we show them the power of their writing voice in this way. My students write about any and everything they want to before I dare ask them to write for a school assignment. #ATchat
Also, have everyone do it. So often the student who requires speech to text feels stigmatized. It should be modeled by the teachers, and taught to all students. Then let them choose! #ATchat
Also, start early. Are used to believe that sixth grade or later was the best time when students could think of more abstractly, and compose in their heads. Now I think all students should see the power of their words in print. #ATchat
Instead of a Resource, I want to reach out for help. I have a T asking if there is any sort of gamified program for writing- She has a student who responds exceedingly well to gamified learning- such as ALEKs Math, Read 180, Read Live, etc. Any ideas? #atchat
