Thanks to my father, I always knew the dangers of the internet. While growing up my dad worked for a company that created programs to block inappropriate sites found on the internet. He watched everything I did while on the internet. As a young teenager, I thought this was clearly an invasion of my privacy. He had access to all of my IM conversations and often at dinner he would ask about my best friends new crush. I could not believe my dad for doing such a thing. If a certain name was brought up in an IM conversation, the entire conversation was email to my dad. If someone swore while talking to me, again, the conversation was sent to my dad. Only now can I see that he was only trying to keep me sade. He is an avid anti-myspace father. He knows the dangers that can be found in such a cyber community. He once showed me how I, through friends, could be linked to porn sites. I was shocked and never again logged onto myspace. I am so thankful for the cautious skills he taught me throughout my childhood as well as for the programs he kept on our home computer. I can honestly say that never in my life have I come accross any inappropriate sites while on the internet.
i-Safe reminded me of all the things that can easily happen through the internet. It is a great resource that can really save a lot of students from the harm and pain all over the internet. It is easy for parents to access and provides all the material that a parent needs to teach their children to be safe and smart. It's easy and all begins with a visit to i-Safe!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
General Conference
What an amazing weekend General Conference is.
All of the sudden everything said applies to my life and teaching special spirits. Saturday Afternoon Elder Wirthlin spoke. He talked about picking ourselves up because no one is hidden from grief and sadness. He told us of how his mom would always say, "Come what may and love it." An attitude we must adopt in our field. So many twist and turns our thrown our way. Just when we have our hands full, another student might be sent to our classroom. As soon as we have one behavior under control, boom, another one appears. He says that the only way we can do this is through his 4 steps. He said that we must learn to laugh, seek the eternal, understand the principle of compensation, and put our trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. What really touched me in his talk was his sweet story about his grandson who has autism. The love he felt for his grandson really hit me. He could not express how much of a joy this young boy had brought into their lives. He told of how they are getting him to participate in sports. He is playing baseball and eventually figured, why should I have to run for the ball? The ball is hit and flies past his young grandson. Instead of running for it he pulls a spare ball out of his back pocket. haha I say that is a genious boy :)
Elder Wirthlin also spok of the generosity and compassion a child with a disability can bring to the lives of all around them. I have always had a fear that I would have a child with a disability. It is one thing to work with them at school and then send them home to their parents, and another to care for them constantly. I figured that I love them so much, it is likely Heavenly Father will send me my own. I can't lie and say that that thought did not scare me, because it did. Then I took my CPSE 400 class and bawled through our first lesson. Eventually parents came in and told us about their special child and one lady mentioned how all of her other children have grown from her son. She said that her children have developed special hearts that are compassionate and softened to those who are different. It touched me so deeply that I have decided whether or not I have a child with a disability, my children will work closely with those who do. They will learn to see people for who they are rather than what they look like.
How I love this Church and having it by my side as I study to become a teacher of the sweetest, most special spirits on the earth.
All of the sudden everything said applies to my life and teaching special spirits. Saturday Afternoon Elder Wirthlin spoke. He talked about picking ourselves up because no one is hidden from grief and sadness. He told us of how his mom would always say, "Come what may and love it." An attitude we must adopt in our field. So many twist and turns our thrown our way. Just when we have our hands full, another student might be sent to our classroom. As soon as we have one behavior under control, boom, another one appears. He says that the only way we can do this is through his 4 steps. He said that we must learn to laugh, seek the eternal, understand the principle of compensation, and put our trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. What really touched me in his talk was his sweet story about his grandson who has autism. The love he felt for his grandson really hit me. He could not express how much of a joy this young boy had brought into their lives. He told of how they are getting him to participate in sports. He is playing baseball and eventually figured, why should I have to run for the ball? The ball is hit and flies past his young grandson. Instead of running for it he pulls a spare ball out of his back pocket. haha I say that is a genious boy :)
Elder Wirthlin also spok of the generosity and compassion a child with a disability can bring to the lives of all around them. I have always had a fear that I would have a child with a disability. It is one thing to work with them at school and then send them home to their parents, and another to care for them constantly. I figured that I love them so much, it is likely Heavenly Father will send me my own. I can't lie and say that that thought did not scare me, because it did. Then I took my CPSE 400 class and bawled through our first lesson. Eventually parents came in and told us about their special child and one lady mentioned how all of her other children have grown from her son. She said that her children have developed special hearts that are compassionate and softened to those who are different. It touched me so deeply that I have decided whether or not I have a child with a disability, my children will work closely with those who do. They will learn to see people for who they are rather than what they look like.
How I love this Church and having it by my side as I study to become a teacher of the sweetest, most special spirits on the earth.
Monday, October 6, 2008
UAAACT
On Wednesday Tina Dyches took our CPSE 463 class on a field trip!! That's right, a bunch of college girls studying special education, on a field trip. We went to the Rehabilitation Service
Center in Salt Lake to view all of their augmentative and assistive communication devices.
Wow - I actually got some hands on time with the Tango! No more of that online emulator thing. It was a little bit bigger than I was expecting but we can deal with that. I mean, it definitely was not huge, just not gameboy small. It was everything I thought it would be plus some. It was fun to use and had us all entertained for a good amount of time.
The UAAACT is going to be a great resource for all of us who decide to stay in Utah and teach.
Center in Salt Lake to view all of their augmentative and assistive communication devices.
Wow - I actually got some hands on time with the Tango! No more of that online emulator thing. It was a little bit bigger than I was expecting but we can deal with that. I mean, it definitely was not huge, just not gameboy small. It was everything I thought it would be plus some. It was fun to use and had us all entertained for a good amount of time.
The UAAACT is going to be a great resource for all of us who decide to stay in Utah and teach.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Class is going to start here in a little bit and I have some down time so I figured I should describe my fabulous day at work today.
Work has been really hard the last week or so. The kids just can't seem to get into the routine and all of us in the classroom seem to have our hands full. I said a little prayer on my way to work and I know that it really helped today. I was able to work one on one with each of the students. This is really rare, especially since I am an aide and only there for four hours. I was just overwhelmed with the sweet spirits inside this bodies that don't allow them to share with me everything they know. I had sweet experiences with each of my students just today. I could see them smiling at me, telling me it was alright. Yesterday in our CPSE 410 class Michelle had said something about how one of her students had said she was mean. I would never want the students I work with to think that way of me and today I tried extra hard to smile and get quality time with them.
It paid off. I can't stop seeing each of their smiles when I close my eyes. The teacher I work with, Susan, also made a few comments on how well so and so was working with me today. I have finally found a way to communicate with them. Susan also said that the teacher I had worked with last year came and talked to her about how well I helped the class on Friday while Susan was at a training meeting. She said that she had been very impressed with my ability to work with the students. Now, I am not one to brag but this just brings me so much happiness. I have found recently that I am getting down on myself because classes are a lot tougher than I had thought they would be and I am struggling to stay on top of things. But when I am at work - I know what I am doing. I can test the students, I can teach them, I can communicate with them. That is how I know that I really am learning and I have the lucky opportunity of instantly applying my new knowledge.
Work has been really hard the last week or so. The kids just can't seem to get into the routine and all of us in the classroom seem to have our hands full. I said a little prayer on my way to work and I know that it really helped today. I was able to work one on one with each of the students. This is really rare, especially since I am an aide and only there for four hours. I was just overwhelmed with the sweet spirits inside this bodies that don't allow them to share with me everything they know. I had sweet experiences with each of my students just today. I could see them smiling at me, telling me it was alright. Yesterday in our CPSE 410 class Michelle had said something about how one of her students had said she was mean. I would never want the students I work with to think that way of me and today I tried extra hard to smile and get quality time with them.
It paid off. I can't stop seeing each of their smiles when I close my eyes. The teacher I work with, Susan, also made a few comments on how well so and so was working with me today. I have finally found a way to communicate with them. Susan also said that the teacher I had worked with last year came and talked to her about how well I helped the class on Friday while Susan was at a training meeting. She said that she had been very impressed with my ability to work with the students. Now, I am not one to brag but this just brings me so much happiness. I have found recently that I am getting down on myself because classes are a lot tougher than I had thought they would be and I am struggling to stay on top of things. But when I am at work - I know what I am doing. I can test the students, I can teach them, I can communicate with them. That is how I know that I really am learning and I have the lucky opportunity of instantly applying my new knowledge.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Tango!
This is quite possible the most amazing thing ever - and I have raved about it in so many of my classes. Tango is a fabulous communication device. It is innovative, simple, and geared towards kids. I have explored the emulator and I have seen the many uses it has. Students can make talking photo albums and share stories in class - even allowing them to participate in sharing time. It allows for complete interaction. The device asks questions like, "Guess what friends I played with?" then, "List my friends and I'll tell you which ones." This allows for the student to have a two-sided conversation, engaging the listener with questions. It also comes with so many voice options. Voices can be whispered, repeated, whinny, and even shouted.
My favorite about this device though, is that it actually looks cool. What kid wouldn't want to be playing with it! It is not like a palm pilot or some PDA device. It actually looks like a cool little gameboy and any kid would love to tote that around at school.
I am still in awe at the simplicity yet amazing communicative power this device holds.
My favorite about this device though, is that it actually looks cool. What kid wouldn't want to be playing with it! It is not like a palm pilot or some PDA device. It actually looks like a cool little gameboy and any kid would love to tote that around at school.
I am still in awe at the simplicity yet amazing communicative power this device holds.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Voice Thread
VoiceThread is amazing. It makes e-mail seem old fashion. Watching it I automatically thought of how it could keep me connected with my family while they are living back at home and I am at school. Watching the thread on the dragon reminded me of something my brother would have done and how much fun my family and I would have had with it.
Now using it in the classroom - students could have so much fun. There is so much to explore and the children can upload pictures from vacations and with the help of parents, narrate the the trip. It is also a great way to do show and tell. Pictures can put up pictures of pets, siblings, or a favorite toy/activity. It is also a way for parents and teacher to keep in constant communication. They can post activities and discuss scores and concerns.
Now using it in the classroom - students could have so much fun. There is so much to explore and the children can upload pictures from vacations and with the help of parents, narrate the the trip. It is also a great way to do show and tell. Pictures can put up pictures of pets, siblings, or a favorite toy/activity. It is also a way for parents and teacher to keep in constant communication. They can post activities and discuss scores and concerns.
Josh's Story
I watched Josh's story right after class last Tuesday and got lost watching related videos.
Josh's story is amazing. He had such improvement over such a small amount of time. He not only improved in educational skills but he was apparently much more social after the help of the bookworm. His teacher had such patience and saw the impact this technology was having on her student. She learned how to incorporate it into the classroom and allowed him to read to other students. She drew the tool into the classroom. It was such an inspirational story.
While I was watching Josh's story I saw a link for a video on Savant Autism. I was completely enthralled and enjoyed the section where they talked with Kim Peek. At one point he said, "You don't have to be handicapped to be different because everybody's different." Such a profound and true statement.
Josh's story is amazing. He had such improvement over such a small amount of time. He not only improved in educational skills but he was apparently much more social after the help of the bookworm. His teacher had such patience and saw the impact this technology was having on her student. She learned how to incorporate it into the classroom and allowed him to read to other students. She drew the tool into the classroom. It was such an inspirational story.
While I was watching Josh's story I saw a link for a video on Savant Autism. I was completely enthralled and enjoyed the section where they talked with Kim Peek. At one point he said, "You don't have to be handicapped to be different because everybody's different." Such a profound and true statement.
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