Photos of my Early Steps Reading Kit

I no longer really use this blog (except for assignments like this one). My "real" website that I am currently at work on--and am much more pleased with--is Peeling to the Core. It will eventually include information from all my Westminster education classes and be a little less haphazard than this :). Anyway, as promised by this post's title, here are some pictures of my Early Steps reading kit.

A shot from the top of my kit with my pencils and sharpie bundle missing in action (on my couch). I also keep my manuscript alphabet example handy on top of the envelopes, so my students can have a model to support them as needed--most frequently for letter reversals.

The Olive Garden container that holds my timer, vis-a-vis makers, extra blank notecards and other various and asundry supplies.

Age-Appropriate Book Options

Older struggling readers should not be repeatedly subjected to the exploits of Dick and Jane and their contemporary counterparts simply beccause their reading abilities remain at an emergent level. Respecting a student's chronological age is equally important as addressing their reading level. Publishers like High Noon Books helps teachers meet both goals by providing high-interest books that are also accessible.

Art Access/VSA

Art plays an important role in my life, offering me the chance for self-expression and creative freedom. Art Access, Utah's chapter of VSA (initially called Very Special Artists), helps artists with disabilities experience that same joy. Their website is rich in listing upcoming events that explore the intersection of differing abilities and artistic creation as well as workshops and programs geared to specific demographics. Teachers should investigate their integrated arts resources while parents might research Kindred Spirits, a program for children "whose chronological and/or cognitive age is 5 to 13."

Options for Apps

Apple's iPad has revolutionized education, and Kauri Sue Hamilton School has taken full advantage of the apps available. Their website includes a helpful PDF telling parents what apps are currently in use at their school. The apps are sorted into categories, which makes it easy to find apps appropriate to individual learners' needs.

Utah Center for Assistive Technology

Earlier this semester, my special education class took a field trip to the Utah Center for Assistive Technology (UCAT). I was impressed not only by their hospitality, but also by the range of assitive, adaptive, and accomodative services they provide. We were able to see multiple ways to increase quality of life via communication devices such as peck systems--both physical and on an iPad--adapted mouses and keyboards, and a puff device. UCAT is a useful resource for both school districts and individuals with disabilities.

TouchMath

TouchMath is a program that kinesthetically teaches learners numbers. While it was designed for the general education population, it is particulary helpful for some children in special education who benefit from a tactile connection to the numbers. The TouchMath website offers more information about their products and the consistent touching patterns they employ.

Writing Evaluation Reports in Special Education

After conducting a battery of assessments, especially on triennial re-evaluations for SPED services, it is essential that the special educator can compose an accessible report explaining to the parents and future instructors the testing results. Fortunately, several template reports exist online to scaffold beginning teachers new to educational report writing. The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) has also produced a PowerPoint entitled "Writing a Comprehensive Report in Special Education" to guide teachers through each step of the process. I find the ppt. more beneficial than the samples, because the samples do not always conform with the recommended length of three to five pages.

Sample report for Jane, a student with behavioral difficulties
Evaluation report for Caitlin