Powerful Inclusive Conference

I love to win things! In April there was a contest to win free entry to Creating the Future Conference at the University of British Columbia in August. I thought I would enter and I won! So last week for three days I attended the conference which was fabulous. It was fantastic to connect and learn with others that have a heart for inclusion. There was so many things I came away from the conference with but one unifying theme was 'Learning is for everyone and therefore the classroom is for everyone!'

Here are some photos that will give you a snapshot of the conference:

In the Education Faculty's courtyard:

'My darkness had been filled with the light of intelligence'

Helen Keller

 

Pat Mirenda speaking about Universal Design for Learning

Andrea Huston (Inclusion Teacher in Vancouver) speaking about friendships and inclusion in schools.

Kathy Bromley (mother and teacher) speaking about her daughter's journey through the school system (A side note: I was privileged to teach her daughter, in New Westminster).

Pat Mirenda on Inclusion in the classroom.

 

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My Kid’s Locker

 

My Kid's Locker is a wonderful new resource that brings you to the most popular apps in the British Columbia's education system! There are many, many, many apps out there which gets my head spinning at times… Which one do I get? Well, look no further! My Kid's Locker is the place to look! It has everything from popular Math apps to Language Arts apps. So why not jump right into… My Kid's Locker!

 

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Hand Holding through Apps and More Apps

I don't know about you but I find the whole App World so overwhelming… I need some handholding sometimes! So here are some apps (with a basic summary) that I have come across I thought I would share:

Nessy's Dyslexia App

– A very simple 'cartoon-based' app to use and easy to navigate through to learn about Dyslexia

– There are tips for parents and teachers that provides all the basic information one needs to support an individual with Dyslexia

– A child friendly quiz which can help you know if you have Dyslexia

-This App would be ideal in developing one's knowledge on Dyslexia in a kid friendly way

IEPS Checklist App

– This American designed app is help families, teachers and other support staff plan as well as implement Individual Educational Programs (IEP) for students with disabilities

– The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) has launched this which ambition is to help individuals be better-informed advocates by making IEP information easier to access

– The IEP app is set up by categories and sub-categories, color-coded and allows space for your notes. It is important to know that the app has American policies references throughout due to PEATC being an American organization

– This App would be ideal in developing knowledge about the 'details' about IEPs

Tricet App

– to strengthen ones spatial awareness and ability to identify differences

– simple images that make the visual appearance of the activities appeasing to the eye

– you can chose the level of difficulty

– This App would be ideal in developing visual awareness

Fun Farms

– to strengthen patterning and sequencing as well as fine motor co-ordination

– cute farm animals make the activity more interactive

– you could do further interaction by getting the child to say the sound of the animal

– This App would be ideal for developing coordination and sequencing

Doodle Buddy

– to strengthen artistic abilities

– various mediums for creating art from various stamps to backgrounds

– you could do further interaction by doing listening skill activities (ie. draw a sun in the center of the page)

– This App would be ideal for boasting child would enjoy being creative or artistic through the medium of an IPad

UPad App

– to record, upload and send visual data

– various 'notepads' to record information

– you could upload homework I child did at home or school and email it to the with your written comments on it

– This App is fantastically 'green' because you use less paper and its the way to share information between school and home

 

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My Fellow Teachers are Steps Towards Brilliant Learning

 

Throughout my pursuits on finding internet resources to help students learn I have discovered some wonderful classroom websites designed by teacher's for their students. Here are a few of the jewels (within time I'll add more) I have come across on my educational hunt:

Mrs.Barwin

Mrs.Woelders

 

 

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Three Articles of a Fascinating Nature

 

The chain of articles that have recently come across my path are all of an interesting nature:

1) An article about curing Autism:

http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/22/new-study-suggests-autism-can-be-outgrown/

2) An article about bully proofing individuals with Autism:

http://www.autismfile.com/living-with-autism/bully-proof-your-child#.UP8rFWQu7V1.twitter

3) An article about the high rates of ADHD diagnoses:

http://healthland.time.com/2013/01/22/adhd-diagnoses-continue-to-climb/

 

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A Teacher of the Strong

I am a Teacher of the Strong.

The one who have endured the pains of needles, endless doctors’ appointments and weeks in the hospital.

The one who still smiles and says, ‘I forgive them’ after being bullied at recess for ‘being different’.

The one who can’t get through the doorway because people are too preoccupied with being somewhere else.

The one who screams and embraces himself because the world is too overstimulating for him.

The one who took years to walk as a child and has never taken that gift for granted!

The one who never could say ‘Mommy’ until he was five and his determination inspired all who heard his trembling voice.

The one who was told he was to die before the age of ten and now is celebrating his sixteenth birthday.

The one who was given cynical stares when she joined the high school dance class but truly taught others how to dance from the heart.

The one who knows the bitterness of chronic pain but daily continues to show deep empathy for others.

I know the true Strong because my vocation is to teach them.

But ironically, they teach me far more than my heart could ever hold.

For they are the Strong that are forgotten by weak.

I am a Teacher of the Strong!

I am a Teacher of Special Needs!

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The Sensory Book

Currently, I’m reading a fantastic book called Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight by Sharon Heller. This book is a great resource for those who suffer from Sensory Defensiveness which can be a debilitating disorder and affects approximately 15% of the population. Time Magazine discusses this important book in a recent article ‘Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast‘. So when you think things might be too loud, too bright, too fast or too tight… Life might be giving you a taste on what a Sensory Defensive Disorder feels like.

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Moving and Not Going Anywhere

I saw this old play pony in a playground the other day. It was a classic little beauty but needed so much tender loving care. Seems like some children I work with need that kind of care too. They are stuck. Not going anywhere.

Well, I came across an Australian educational psychologist blog which I found inspirational and exciting. Maybe the little ponies in our lives might start to move with a little bit of inspiration from our Australian colleague.

http://www.schoolpsychologyblog.com/

 

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There are Patterns in the News

I thought this image was a good representation of what I am going to blog about today. Do you ever have it where there is flood of information that comes to you? Where the news in your life circulate around a specific theme? There somehow is a beautiful arrangement of information surrounding you. Well, recently there has been some insightful writings on Autism surrounding me. Kinda like finding puzzle pieces and then realising they are all falling into their right places. The titles of the articles speak for themselves, hope they are insightful to you. All were jaw-dropping to me…

Autism: Why Some Children Bloom and Overcome Disability

France’s Autism Shame Treatment

New Genetic Link to Autism

 

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Red Flags and Other Colours

As a mom of two little boys I have signed up for the BabyCenter emails which have been informative from teething to eating to socializing. Yesterday, I received the Preschooler Bulletin on ‘9 red flags to watch for; Signs of a Developmental Delay; ADHD: When to get your child evaluated; What exactly is a learning disability?’. All these statements get any parent’s heart beating and then the mind boggling thoughts flood in… Well maybe?

My thoughts are take time if you are concerned about your child. Time to talk to others ranging from other family members to doctors to friends. Start documenting any concerns you have witnessed or worried about. In all the years I have been working with families with individuals with Special Needs I have deeply respected the parents who have taken time to know their child: What works, what doesn’t, what tools are successful, etc the list goes on. As a parent do not fear away from being an advocate for your child… You need to because your child needs you to!

It is worthwhile in checking out the above links. They are easy and a simple read.

 

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