Having Fun with Math- Spicing it up for Reluctant Learners!

Note: This is from another session attended at the Alaska Special Ed. Conference 2015 

John Eller shared  his enthusiasm for teaching math with the room at high speed! We had a blast, it was probably the fastest moving session I attended.

He jumped started the session with a ukulele solo of "We're gonna do some math!

( I now want to learn how to play one!)

He moved right into the Magic Circle:

 He asked someone to pick a number 1-31.

He would flip the circles and asked if the number was there and guess their number after

a few questions.

I have to be honest here....I don't know exactly how to do this, but I'm planning on making my own circles and figuring it out!

The slide above has the list of numbers that each circle contains. I'll bet there are some number gurus here that understand how to do it and why it works!

Here's a riddle......

Using dice.......

John recommended teaching students how to use a calculator. When they get to middle and high school, they need to know how to work one.

How do you collect data using games?

Student math journals.

Teacher checklist of skills

He also showed us some books written by Greg Tang.

This session has already changed the way I teach math, I love the math program we are using, but I am adding some spice to it! The kid response is........

It was a great session!

Try some of these ideas and let me know how they go!


Paula

2015 Special Education Conference: Linda Hodgdon, Visual Strategies Part 1

Our keynote speaker on the first day of the conference was Linda Hodgdon.
Her presentation..........

 Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed, CCC-SLP is known as a pioneer in developing the use of visual strategies to support communication for students with Autism. She is an author, a speaker and a consultant.

 





The first point that Ms. Hodgdon made was that our way of using visuals has made some big changes. We have come from using pictures on paper and cardboard to using Facebook, Twitter, and ipads.

 

The key word is "spectrum", visual strategies are different for each individual, there is a wide range of intellectual and skill levels within the spectrum. We need to consider the learning styles, social needs, visual tools available and what kind of social participation is wanted.

 

Communication is not just about speech...it directs where we are going, what to do when we get there and much more. Visuals are not a better or worse way to communicate, but simply a DIFFERENT way to communicate.

 

 

 

The majority of Autistic people are visual learners. As a matter of fact, MOST of us are visual learners.

She recommended a book by John Medina titled Brain Rules. It's not about Autism, it's about all of us.

 

We learn and remember best through pictures, when information is presented orally, 10% is remembered. When it is presented visually, we remember 65%. We pay lots of attention to colors, shapes and movement. (think about the educational apps)

 

Beware of the assumption

 "He understands everything I say".

 

Think about the ways we communicate while verbally directing:

• routine language
• gestures
• communication supports
• learned routines
• environmental cues

Ask yourself:

What kind of communication partner are you?

 

speech, sign, pointing, gestures, body language, pictures, written language...

The typically developing child processes 20 words per minute, by the time they are in high school they might be able to process 145 words per minute. Many teachers and parents deliver information at 150-160 words per minute!

Think about Mr. Rogers and how he talked to his audience!

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes we don't communicate as well as we think we do!

SLOW DOWN

 annnnd........

Video is huge.

 

Video is visual, predictable, and the same things happen! We have them readily available in our phones and they are easily edited. Video modeling can help with.....

• social communication and interaction
• functional skills
• behavior
• academics
• play skills

But there are pit falls....what are they learning from TV shows, video games?    Violence.

 

Technology is NOT magic. Don't forget to identify the purpose!



You can sign up for her free newsletter at this website.

 

I attended another session with Ms. Hodgdon titled "Time, Travel and Transition:  Overcoming Daily Challenges with Visual Strategies" and will share that information later this week.

 

 

Later,

 

 

Paula

Five for Friday...Happy Valentines Day 2015

This has been an eventful week, lots to talk about! Today I'm going to give the short version, but I want to share more in depth later.

Check out the Linky Party at Doodle Bugs Teaching, it is a great teacher resource.

First of all, I went to the Alaska Special Ed. Conference!!! It was so, so, so.....awesome! (sorry I cannot come up with the right words) There was so much information that MEANT something to me (and many others I'm sure) that I am still sorting it all out. I plan on sharing more later, but there is sorting to do, I took lots of notes!

This is the cloth bag they gave us so we could keep the wonderful stuff together!

We stayed at the beautiful Hilton Hotel in Anchorage....

We were walking distance to all kinds of interesting places in Anchorage.

This place was almost hidden, just a little place, and very good!

The snow is almost gone, so sad. I am sorry for all of you on the east coast who are getting hit so hard and also...a little jealous!

We returned to our classrooms just in time for....Valentine's Day. One of my student's has this wonderful Aunt, she brought these houses for the kids to decorate. We were going to make gingerbread houses before Christmas, but that didn't happen, instead the kids decorated Valentine houses. Ha! I couldn't find any candy hearts in a store between my house and our school, that is why you won't actually see any hearts on our Valentine Houses. The funny thing is...not one kid asked about that!

The behind the scenes crew! We had lots of adults come and help us...the occupational therapist, teacher assistants or paraprofessionals as they are now titled.

The houses were ordered from The Candy Cottage.

I'm pretty sure she purchased us the party pack which I noticed is out of stock at the moment.

Our plan: Next week we are taking pictures of each student with their house and have them begin to work on a story about it. I'm reading them some books that center around houses:

Valentine's Day.

my husband is awesome!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Paula