A weekly half hour chat focused on improving access to education for PK-12 students through the use of Accessible Educational Materials (AEM), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and Assistive Technology (AT).
Happy to be joining #PatinsIcam this evening. I am Kelli a Specialist of ASD, SLD, Chrome Accessibility, AEM & AT Integration. Important topic tonight...
Good Evening All, Julie's here (Orthopedic Access to Curriculum and AAC, AT Team Development). Lover of lake living and of accessible technology. #patinsicam
A1: any break leads to an opportunity for unstructured time. Some students like this freedom but others thrive when given a set schedule and task. #PatinsIcam
For some students, school means guaranteed meals and a safe place. Heading home for the holidays can lead to extra anxiety for some students #PatinsIcam
Schedules are out of whack, anxiety over holiday performances, being away from safe classrooms and friends, traveling and it's so dang dark outside! #PatinsIcam
A1: Many Ss feel a lot of anxiety before break due to leaving the daily routines of what they know, consistency, where they eat, stay warm. I remember having a lot of heightened behaviors due to that feeling. #patinsicam
Q3: Learning goes beyond the 4 walls of the classroom. What are some ways Ts can continue learning/sharing experiences during a holiday break?
#PatinsIcam
A2: ask how they are feeling and what are their concerns over break. I had a student who was anxious about talking with unfamiliar family members during parties so we brainstormed convo topics, questions and ways he could get his "me time" if he was overwhelmed #PatinsIcam
A2: Ts can assist Ss to have accommodations at home over break, like access to audiobooks, etc. Backchannels set up for the Ss to share and communicate over break #PatinsIcam
A2: send journals or little visual reminders of strategies they use in the classroom to use at home. Help families prepare kids for transition to and from break. #PatinsIcam
A1: Even BEFORE the break even takes place, schedules at school can be very different than "typical," which can make focusing on content the days before break very difficult for some Ss with and without disabilities. I used to despise the days before a break as a kid! #PatinsIcam
Students with #autism will benefit from visual schedules showing how long break will be, dates, & visuals to guide understanding of what break really means & that consistency will come back. So teaching flexibility #PatinsIcam
A3: find holiday resources and programs at the library! Learned my local library has bird watching backpacks to check out and I just checked out some color blindness correcting glasses to try on a family member. So cool #PatinsIcam
Q3: Learning goes beyond the 4 walls of the classroom. What are some ways Ts can continue learning/sharing experiences during a holiday break?
#PatinsIcam
A2: Ts can alleviate anxiety by letting Ss know they can reach out if needed over break and by providing families with community resource options #PatinsIcam
Once over summer break I had a ss throw a rock through my window. It was hard to convince the rest of my family that it was a reaction to a situation where he missed having me there. #PatinsIcam
Students with #autism will benefit from visual schedules showing how long break will be, dates, & visuals to guide understanding of what break really means & that consistency will come back. So teaching flexibility #PatinsIcam
A4: ease back into the routine, make sure to talk about schedules and what is expected again, modeling what we are wanting them to do. Monkey See, Monkey Do still exists #PatinsIcam
Q5: Engaging students after a break is difficult for even the most creative teacher. What are some strategies you use when re-engaging kids who have been on break? #PatinsIcam
A2: send journals or little visual reminders of strategies they use in the classroom to use at home. Help families prepare kids for transition to and from break. #PatinsIcam
Well it was supposed to be an advent calendar of beverages, but Aldi was out. But almost always two types of calendars, a lite tech one with a count down and my digital one. It's referenced several times a day! #PatinsIcam
A4: NOT focusing on WHAT they did over break...but how glad u are to see them again and take time to ask the most overlooked question in my book "Are u ok?" We will know to ask that as we have spent time on relationship building w our Ss. #PatinsIcam
A1: Even BEFORE the break even takes place, schedules at school can be very different than "typical," which can make focusing on content the days before break very difficult for some Ss with and without disabilities. I used to despise the days before a break as a kid! #PatinsIcam
Exactly! It just makes the time seem either more dire or more worthless. It emphasizes the time out of school which may or may not be a positive. #PatinsIcam
A5: a little more yoga/brain gym and a lot more reminders of routines and expectations. Also a good time to revise any classroom rules since they now have a whole semester under their belt #PatinsIcam
Q6: Part of engaging students is allowing them to share experiences. What are some ways Ss can express their experiences after holiday break that allow for multiple means of expression? #PatinsIcam
Consistency is always a cure for anxiety. A ss job is to find the line in the sand. It is too much work and stress for everyone if it keeps moving. #PatinsIcam
A5: Again, not focusing on WHAT a Ss did over break. Some Ss will completely disengage from that question/writing prompt, etc. Allow for time TO transition and reacquainted. I remember having fear of forgetting friend's names! It happens! #PatinsIcam
A6: one of the classrooms I worked with had developed a community of shared writing, and when we came back in January we focused on future goals and plans, it felt fresh and hopeful and reflected on all we worked on the previous semester #PatinsIcam
Q6: Part of engaging students is allowing them to share experiences. What are some ways Ss can express their experiences after holiday break that allow for multiple means of expression? #PatinsIcam
A6: Focus on this opportunity to be truly STUDENT centered in this regard. Just ASK them how or if or what they would like to share. #PatinsIcam Options are endless but I understand some Ss do need options: pictures, video, audio, Flipgrid, iMovie trailer, writing, acting, etc.
A6: allow the way they share to be private, either via a journal, drawing/painting, or 1:1 convo with a chosen listener. Allow the Ss to choose if they wish to share their break activities. #PatinsIcam
A7: Well, you can always begin the transition back with conversations, writing prompts of "What did u miss about not being at school?" I NOW challenge a T to do that....ha ha The responses may be priceless #PatinsIcam
A7:. We can create a classroom environment from day 1 that celebrates diversity and variability so that anytime someone shares their unique experience, it's valued and the" norm" #PatinsIcam
A8: I'll be updating my Google Calendar for all of the times I've signed up to moderate. . . then find lots of opportunities for music/singing #PatinsIcam
A8: I always like to say "not checking work email" but I'm going to be honest and say that I will, but not as much, and I've got a stack of board games that need to be played with friends and family. #PatinsIcam
