10 tips to create a blog

1. Find information how to create a blog 2. look for useful resources related to the blog. For example if it is a educational blog include websites with teaching resources 3. Try to incorporate pictures 4. Try to incorporate videos 5. Be consistent with the information 6. Stay on topic 7. Be on top of things. Post information that is new and useful 8. check out spelling and grammar 9. Try to incorporate power points 10. Be creative

Handouts disabilities

Speech & Language Impairment

Definition •There are many kinds of speech and language disorders that can affect children. In this fact sheet, we’ll talk about four major areas in which these impairments occur. These are the areas of: o Articulation | speech impairments where the child produces sounds incorrectly (e.g., lisp, difficulty articulating certain sounds, such as “l” or “r”); o Fluency | speech impairments where a child’s flow of speech is disrupted by sounds, syllables, and words that are repeated, prolonged, or avoided and where there may be silent blocks or inappropriate inhalation, exhalation, or phonation patterns; o Voice | speech impairments where the child’s voice has an abnormal quality to its pitch, resonance, or loudness; and o Language | language impairments where the child has problems expressing needs, ideas, or information, and/or in understanding what others say. (1) •&νβσπ;Specific words in IDEA o “(11) Speech or language impairment means a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.” [34 CFR §300.8(c)(11] Characteristics •A child's communication is considered delayed when the child is noticeably behind his or her peers in the acquisition of speech and/or language skills. Speech disorders refer to difficulties producing speech sounds or problems with voice quality. Characteristics may include: o interruption in the flow or rhythm of speech such as stuttering (known as dysfluency); o trouble forming sounds (called articulation or phonological disorders); o difficulties with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice; o trouble using some speech sounds, such as saying "see" when they mean "ski." •&νβσπ;A language disorder is an impairment in the ability to understand and/or use words in context, both verbally and nonverbally. Characteristics include: o improper use of words and their meanings; o inability to express ideas; o inappropriate grammatical patterns; o reduced vocabulary and inability to follow directions Strategies •&νβσπ;Patience, patience, patience •&νβσπ;Accepting and accommodating an individual’s speech and individual instruction •&νβσπ;Encourage the student to participate in classroom activities, giving her adequate time to speak. •&νβσπ;Create an environment of acceptance and understanding in the classroom, and encourage peers to accept the student with speech impairment •&νβσπ;Practice and maintain easy and effective communication skills: o model good listening skills, o facilitate participate of all students in discussion and activites •&νβσπ;Speak to the student as you would with any other student. •&νβσπ;Do not interrupt or try to complete her thoughts. Ask her to repeat her message when necessary; do not feign understanding. •&νβσπ;When introducing new vocabulary, help the student practice difficult words. Dividing words into syllables and pronouncing each syllable will improve speech, reading and writing. •&νβσπ;Using many different listening activities will also aid the student in comprehending and determining her own production of sounds. •&νβσπ;Have the student answer “yes” or “no.”

ten tips for using videos in the classroom

1.it is an engaging learning activity 2.it provides a better understanding of the topic 3.Students can use it for a final project 4.There are many topics that can be addressed with a video 5.Students feel more connected because television is part of their lives 6.A video is more motivating than a lecture 7.the video has to be related to the objectives and essential questions of the unit 8.It allows room for different learning strategies such as note-taking, discussion, debates, etc. 9. The design of it allows the incorporation of multiple intelligences 10. if the videos are shown from youtube teachers need to be careful.

Individual video

This video can be used for spanish I in the unit of daily routines: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f3LD0yxIdc

Ten tips for apps

1. The apps needs to be related to the Standards and objectives 2. Necessary equipment in the classroom 3. it is motivating for students 4. it helps students with disabilities 5. it incorporates, depending on the apps, different types of intelligences 6. It makes the class interactive 7. It gives an alternative way to assess students 8. It can be used as a final project 9. it helps teachers to make the class for appealing to students because the use of technology. 10. it is an extra resource if activities are not enough for the class.

accommodations for ELL students

This is a great guideline with a list of accommodations that can be done in the classroom so ELL students can feel more comfortable learning and accomplishing the standard goals. http://www.birdville.k12.tx.us/instruction/ss_web/special_services/images/esl/Instructional%20Accommodations%20and%20Strategies.pdf

Activities for ESL

This website is really awesome. It provides with activities that are translated in foreign languages and English! Also grammar, and vocabulary quizzes!. http://a4esl.org/

A Nation with Multiple Languages

With this title this pdf report starts, telling numbers of immigrants the come to the United states and how this affect/benefit the education system. It gives an overall vision about the current situation here in the U.S and some of the key terms used in ESL. http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/PolicyResearch/ELLResearchBrief.pdf

Classroom challenges

this is a great website that explain the challenges that education is facing right now with ELL students. It also gives guidelines to improve the acquisition of English without losing the native language. I highly recommend to explore this website http://www.netc.org/focus/challenges/ell.php

The ESL network

This website is great. It has many links with websites that are useful for ESL instruction such as quizzes, vocabulary, reading passages, etc. http://www.esl.net/esl_resources.html

Semantic Feature Analysis

Semantic presentation from kouro84

Webquest

Webquest from kouro84

Ten tips for web quest 1. Have objectives before designing it 2. Have clear instructions of how to explore the website and answer the questions 3. Make it interesting by posting videos, interactive websites, etc. 4. Create it in a way that students feel that they are in an adventure 5. Have open questions that allow critical thinking 6. The questions have to be related with the standards and objectives 7. Take your time to design a good webquest 8. Have a t least two questions per website 9. Include different activities from Bloom's taxonomy 10.Incorporate different resources.

How do students' development and experiences affect learning?

How can I tell if a student's language difficulties are because English is his second language or because he has a language disability? I chose this question because I went through the same process that many children face in this current educational system: learning a second language. I know it is hard and it is not something that it can be learned in one year, or two, or three. It is a constant process of acquiring new words,etc. I have felt how people have though that I am stupid or slow because I can't speak sometimes. Many kids feel the same way and I love this article because it focuses in sensitiveness and how teachers should be sensitive about this issue. http://serge.ccsso.org/question_6_4.html

What are effective ways to assess what my students are learning?

How should I grade a student who has a disability? I have never been in favor of grading students with numbers. I think is horrible that this system is based on numbers to show how good a student is. But going along with the system this website has a really good point about how grades should be part of the student's progress. http://serge.ccsso.org/question_4_4.html

What instructional methods will help me make sure that all my students learn?

How can I design lessons that meet the needs of all my students? In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges that a teacher faces when she goes into a classroom is to fulfill the students' needs. This is a very useful website with different pages with resources that help the educator to plan and design good lessons. http://serge.ccsso.org/question_2_2.html

Dictionary & Thesaurus

This is a great app for any language class. It has a variety of words that can be very helpful in class. For example in Spanish I can give a word and Students have to look for a translation and the meaning. The students can also work with word maps where they have to apply the meaning of the word into different context.

Garage Band

Although, many Mac computers already come with this app, I think it is very useful to mention it, especially if you are a music teacher. This app is designed to create and record music. It comes with different instruments and sounds but to ensure that works best, it is good to have a keyboard that connects to the computer so it is easy to record a melody. Then in the computer the instruments that are meant to be used can be assigned. It comes with a metronome to guide the recording and to keep the rhythm throughout the melody. Another cool feature is that musical staff can be uploaded to the program, so students can hear the melody and follow the rhythm easily. In my opinion this app is really good and can make a difference in the music class. At the beginning it is tricky to use and requires a lot of practice to get used to it, however, the results are almost as good as a record studio.

Pandora radio

Pandora radio is an excellent app for the Spanish Class. It is easy to use and to look for songs in Spanish. Even though Pandora uses the format of the radio you have the option to listen the song again, to stop or to pause a song so students can listen the song again. The only drawback is that you need Internet connection so if the school is not connected it will be impossible to use, but nowadays most of the schools have Internet.http://www.pandora.com/

links

All the links below can be found in this website: http://mindstepsinc.com/Differentiation/

Differentiation-and-4-type-of-students

This is a good template to have a complete picture of the different students and their learning styles so educators can modify or accommodate strategies to ensure understanding.

Differentiation- Sample English Unit Plan

This is a sample of an English unit plan with differentiation. I was thinking since we learned the Understanding by design template we should add this example to that one to make it more complete.

Differentiated unit planning template

This is a really good template for future classes. It helps you to guide your planning differentiating per students and what is the best way to deliver the information.

Wheelchair

Thanks to the UCAT's, many people are receiving wheelchair that helps to have a better life. I think this has a big impact in people who do not have the resources to buy expensive equipment that sometimes it is necessary for people with disabilities. The UCAT's provides them to people for free.

http://ucat.usor.utah.gov/making-a-difference-with-donated-medical-equipment/

Computer center

This is a really good service because not only they help people with disabilities about softwares and programs they can use, but also teachers who wants to know more about programs that can help students with disabilities in the classroom.

http://ucat.usor.utah.gov/cccd/

Adapted Headsets!

I just love this little piece of technology I think it would be great for my subjects (Spanish and Music)
http://ucat.usor.utah.gov/adapted-headset/

This section talks about the accommodations or modifications we have to do in order to meet the students needs. 

The Short Story on Supplementary Aids and Services

Supplementary aids and services are often critical elements in supporting the education of children with disabilities in regular classes and their participation in a range of another school activities. IDEA’s definition of this term (at §300.42)reads:

Supplementary aids and services means aids, services, and other supports that are provided in regular education classes, other education-related settings, and in extracurricular and nonacademic settings, to enable children with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate …

Speaking practically, supplementary aids and services can be accommodations and modifications to the curriculum under study or the manner in which that content is presented or a child’s progress is measured. But that’s not all they are or can be. Supplementary aids and services can also include direct services and supports to the child, as well as support and training for staff who work with that child. That’s why determining what supplementary aids and services are appropriate for a particular child must be done on an individual basis.

IDEA's Exact Words

I think this section is self explanatory about how IDEA works.

IDEA’s Exact Words

Again, let’s start with IDEA’s full requirement for identifying the supplementary aids and services a child will need and specifying them in his or her IEP. This appears at §300.320(a)(4) and stipulates that each child’s IEP must contain:

(4) A statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services, based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable, to be provided to the child, or on behalf of the child, and a statement of the program modifications or supports for school personnel that will be provided to enable the child—

(i) To advance appropriately toward attaining the annual goals;

(ii) To be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and to participate in extracurricular and other nonacademic activities; and

(iii) To be educated and participate with other children with disabilities and nondisabled children in the activities described in this section… [§300.320(a)(4)]

We’ve bolded the part of IDEA’s regulation that specifically mentions supplementary aids and services, because it’s important to see the context in which this term is used. It is that context, and IDEA’s own definition of supplementary aids and services, that will guide how a child’s IEP team considers what services the child needs and the detail with which the team specifies them in the IEP.

Is Co-Teaching Effective?

I really liked this article because it is related to the chapter we read for this class, chapter 3 from the book. According to the book there are 6 major co-teaching approaches. This article is more specific and gives a more detailed idea about co-teaching and if is fictive or not.

http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=7504

How Do Secondary Students Feel about Co-teaching?

I think it is very important that we know what our students think or feel about the strategies we are doing in the class. This is a very good article that shows how they feel about having another teaching in the classroom. There are many responses about it.

http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=8635&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm

Addressing Bumps in the Collaboration Road

This article is really good in terms of what to do when there is a problem with communication and collaboration. I think it's useful because not only can help with the communication between parents and teachers, but also in the school and any environment that have large group of people.

http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=11277&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm

10 tips for power point

This website explains more in detail the ten tips that are posted below.

Source: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/10-tips-for-more-effective-powerpoint-presentations.html

1. Write a script

2. One thing at a time, please.

3. No paragraphs.

4. Pay attention to design.

5. Use images sparingly

6. Think outside the screen.

7. Have a hook.

8. Ask questions.

9. Modulate, modulate, modulate.

10. Break the rules.

Utah Parent Center

This is a very useful website with information that can be used to educate parents, students, and teachers to help the best our students with exceptionalities!

http://www.utahparentcenter.org/publications/handbooks/

I found this great article about questions and answers on Special Education and Homelessness

Special Education and Homelessness

How to use prezi in our classroom?

Top 10 tips for Prezi

• Project for students
• Summary of a unit
• Trivia game
• Engaging and interactive activities
• For absents students, it can be a visual aid and summary of the class
• To present big ideas to small ideas
• It gives a better image of different perspectives, topics, etc
• Students with disabilities, specially students who suffer from deafness can be benefit from this type of presentation
• It is fun and easy to create
• It can be used to integrate concepts that are related to other subjects and how they are related to our topic.

Axel!

This is Axel, my dog! He is a good example of the implementation of Behaviorism and positive reinforcement. He knows lots of tricks and he is very obedient. 

Here is a prezi presentation that can be done for Spanish III

Prezi presentation for Spanish III

Hello friends!

So I'm here again and learning how to blog. I'm not a person who likes to share and write stuff but since is for educational purposes I want to try it.
If you have the power to change the current educational system what would you change and why? I was thinking that the money used right now for education is not being well spent... we still have too many students per classroom and educators have not enough resources to meet everyone's needs. What can we do? They say that we need to be able to get results with what we have, but it is hard and having an assistant in each classroom can be a good help.

Question!!!

Are you willing to work with other teachers in order to integrate other subjects or topics in your content area to make it more approachable to every student in the classroom??

Have you been outside the country? If not, Where would you like to go?

Mis amigos!

Holaaaaa :)