#spedchat Archive
#spedchat is a Twitter hashtag used for (1) daily, continuous research and resource sharing on issues related to and effecting students with disabilities, & (2) a scheduled weekly Twitter chat on Tuesday nights from 9:00-10:00 EST.
Tuesday October 4, 2016
Thank u and have a good evening. Make sure to stay for NOW.
Welcome to - Introduce yourself, tell where you are from, & what you do. Don't forget to use the hashtag for each tweet.
Welcome to - Introduce yourself, tell where you are from, & what you do. Don't forget to use the hashtag for each tweet.
Jodi from Indiana. SpEd teacher in alternative HS placement & AT/AAC consultant. Excited to finally make it for a this year! :)
Hi Everyone! Tonya here from Indiana. Thanks for hanging out with us tonight.
We're excited to welcome as a guest co-moderator tonight! Brooke has a lot to contribute to our chat.
Kevin, sped resource teacher from in Navasota, Texas
Jennifer from Ness City, KS 5th-8th Sped Teacher
Welcome back, Kevin! Thanks for joining us.
Hi Jennifer!! Thanks for joining us.
Cecilia from Arcadia, Ca. SPED TOSA and former HS MDD and ATP teacher.
Hi. Kelli from Indiana, Specialist in ASD, Aspergers, SLD, ED, AEM, AT
Hi Cecilia. Thanks for joining us for ! What's a TOSA?
Thanks for joining tonight! Long time, no see! (All my fault!) :)
Howdy to one of 's favorite peeps! Welcome to .
Howdy to one of 's favorite peeps! Welcome to .
Daniel... Dir. here in Indiana.
Hey Daniel! We can use your expertise for tonight's topic!
Thanks! I've missed the ! :) We're up against vice-presidents tonight. No pressure.
Ohhhh..that sounds very fancy! :) and mysterious. Like a sped teacher who fights crime!
Q1: What are visual strategies and supports?
Exactly something like that. :)
It totally fits you. You need a cool outfit for that title.
I can't think of a single reason why this shouldn't happen! :)
A1: Tips and tricks to help students be successful in and out of the classroom.
A1: a visual support turns an obscure body of text into a graphic that can be assimilated more easily to one's prior knowledge
Hello ! Jodie, reading intervention from central Ohio!
Michele from NY. 4/5th self contained. 14 yrs prior middle school coteaching. Adjunct prof.
A1: Visual supports can be classroom setup, routine, prompts, posters, charts, schedule, calendar, anything that visually guides.
A1: Visual daily schedule
I was about to ask what you did the other 1/5 of the time. And then I realized what 4/5th meant. Duh. :)
Welcome Back, Michele! Thanks for joining
A2: Arrows in hotel hallways are the only reason I ever make it to the room I'm supposed to be in.
A2: I use visual supports as reminders of just about everything we do in the classroom, especially time management issues.
Laurie joining from Maple Ridge BC. Hello all.
Nicole, elementary special ed teacher, WV
A1: task icons, checklists for jobs, picture cues
A1) a prompt to help and individual follow a routine
I feel like I haven't seen you FOREVER! Thanks for joining tonight! :)
A2: I also take pictures of complex mechanical things before taking them apart, rather than writing down the steps.
Q3: Why should we use visual supports with students?
I feel like I need to yell your welcome since you're all the way in Canada! HELLO!!!
I KNOW! I've been so busy! And tired!!! Trying to get back into
I can't seem to find Q1 and Q2 in this feed... Help a teacher out please 😉
A1: for my HS students it's organization!
A2) calendar, schedules, planner
Me, too! I think the debate is breaking twitter!
a3) to help them be organized and understand "what's next"
1 was what are visual supports & 2 was how do you use them as an adult?
Thanks I heard you. Thanks for the welcome. Glad to be at
A3: for barriers of language processing
Story of my life! I've been known to "put myself in the map," too! https://t.co/Kfz2F7bmJY
A2: Arrows in hotel hallways are the only reason I ever make it to the room I'm supposed to be in.
A3: Visual supports are critical, especially for non-readers or Ss that struggle with text. They must be taught how to use them.
A3: It's the visual that often "sets in" for our students. Auditory is tough.
Q4: How do you determine what visual supports students need?
all set with visual supports on that topic
Whew...questions are coming fast tonight.
Hi, I'm late to the party, but I'm Sue from Ottawa!
I was at a Dr's office last week w/yellow arrows for the bathroom, red for exam rooms, green for payment/exit...
Supports that help to "even the playing field" & allow Ss 2 maximize their learning should be seen as a "right" not a "privilege"
A2:All the time. Lists, calendars, reminder notes ...
We're taking our cue from all the VP debate and their firing comments at the moderator!
Agreed. Twitter is a bit wonky tonight. I blame the VP debate.
A4: I pretty much teach visula supports to all my students, and then coach them to become independent from them as they can.
Q3 Visuals aid when other modalities can't grasp materials. UDL! Present info in every way you can!
A3: struggling readers and Ss with anxiety benefit from the visual prompt
All of my visual supports for the debate are inappropriate for Twitter. ;)
We were having a visual supports chat in math today & I admitted they help me immensely to visualize place value digits in my head
A3:Visual supports support understanding and independence
A3: visual supports help my students know what to expect. Super useful for rigid thinkers.
A4) visual supports work for all learners! Individual needs determine the level of supports they need.
A5: Great for behavior management because they can make redirection more private, especially if you develop secret signals.
A4:Visual support needed when Ss are can't independent w/out them.We have alarms and Google calendar.Why can't they?
A4: I feel like I would never find my way any where without Google Maps. It's my go to for everything
A5: cuts through the excess to help process, important when there are underlying issues
So true! As adults we naturally rely on visual supports but sometimes see them as an "unfair advantage" for Ss.
Q6: What visual strategies support organizational skills?
A6: colour coding is a great organizational tool for teens. Not obvious to peers but totally works for those who need it.
I agree. Things we use every day to "adult" we keep kids from? Makes no sense to me.
A6: color-coding, calendars, schedules, lists (locker - what to bring to class, bring home; assignments), priority lists, memos
A6: Icons to assist with procedures and provide reminders about where things belong.
A6) color coding, google calendar, so many choices for different visual supports depending on the individual student need
A6: color coding,checklists, planners, master binders, visual schedules (there's an app for all of these)
Schedules!!! So important for not only the adults but for our SS also.
I would not be able to "adult" without any of my visuals
I barely "adult" anyway, but Grownupville would be tragic w/out visual supports!
Q7: How can visual strategies support transitions?
love this comment thread! So much truth here!
A7: Helps provide consistency and reduce anxiety with students. Gives Ss a tool kit to fall back on and use.
Adulting is hard. Grownupville requires visual road signs to navigate!
A7:Make transitions smoother,expected, and less anxious. Ss and Ts are on the same page w/same expectations.
A7: We verbally remind Ss about procedures, visual icons, like used on electronic devices, are great to use just before a change.
A7) visual supports are a tool that students can take with them to the "adult world"
A7: gives a heads up of what's coming next. Some of my Ss just need to know "when"
Me too! My G-Calendar is all color coded and I am working on the G-Drive (thanks, Brooke for the tip)
RT Q8: How can visual strategies support content curriculum?
A8: We are inundated with pictures, it makes sense to use visual supports with content, and let the Ss help create them.
Where do you think social media fits into all of this?
A8: Visuals give steps for solving math, reminders for rules of grammar, mnemonics, cues, & a visual reminder of what said/taught.
Q9: What are your favorite resources for visual supports?
A8: the more ways you can learn something, the better- visual just another way in a multisensory approach - makes learning stick
A8:Visuals support content through reminders, cues, presenting the content in a different way
A9: I like to make my own visual supports WITH students so it means/reminds something specific to each student involved.
A7 - it lessens the stress for what's coming next.
makes it meaningful! Good thinking!
A9: My camera! My Ss often create their own visuals. We will use Prisma to personalize. Google images works too.
It's different when using visuals w/schedules or AAC than visuals for curriculum - Ss need to do content ones.
A9: Ss create own visuals so they hold more meaning and are more functional
a9) student voice and student choice! Let them create their own! If they "Own it" they will "follow it"
I'd love to come visit you in the BC and see what you are doing for Ss with disabilities.
Q10: What’s your takeaway from tonight’s chat? How are you going to implement Visual Supports?
Check out and join our weekly (Tuesdays at 9pm) Best group of folks!
RT A10: My takeaway is get kids involved in helping create own visuals if possible! Ownership makes more meaningful!
A10:My takeaway is we shouldn't have higher expectations of Ss than we do of ourselves
RT Time to wrap up tonight! Thanks for the great dialogue. Continue to use the hashtag as you finish your chats.
A10: My takeaway? Visuals are necessary for everyone. Coaching Ss to use them is a must. Just giving them a visual is not enough.
This is my *mic drop* tweet of the evening. . Thank you!
We will storify this chat and post later tonight so you can catch any missed tweets & check out all the posted links & resources.
See you Tuesday, 10/11, at 9:00 pm EST for the next chat.
You guys rock! Thanks for hanging with us (even during a debate!) Have a great week and see everyone next Tuesday!
