Real Teachers-Real Strategies 9: Open Your Eyes Through These Hearts

 Teaching Tips, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Mar 062012
 

Our next exciting teaching idea comes from Jackie of Piedmont, SC, a Special Education Teacher who works with special needs students. She has developed a unique emotional “outlet” for her students to express themselves. It is such a great success students and parents alike ask if Jackie will hold the event each year!

The Project: Poetry Slam.

An annual poetry slam is held for special needs students in my self-contained classes. We spend a whole month (April-National Poetry Month) creating original works of poetry. The students range from severe learning disabilities to emotional/behavioral issues. We have a poetry slam, held in a “coffeehouse” atmosphere. There is not a dry eye in the house once these kids reach the podium and deliver their poems filled with love, fear, acceptance, and inspiration. Self confidence triumphs!

Learning Objectives:

The learning experiences through this Poetry Slam are endless. Their reading fluency and comprehension skills increase but more importantly, self confidence soars. These students do not always have an “outlet” for their emotions. Having them create works of poetry without the worry of the mechanics of writing instills a sense of freedom. Their true feelings of self worth and importance comes shining through their poems. People look forward to their poems each and every year!

I look forward to this Poetry Slam and the month of April every year. Everyone who attends this rewarding experience ask if I am doing it the next school year. To see these students who struggle in so many areas of their lives come alive through their writing makes me cry tears of joy. Poetry month ends up being very therapeutic for the students and everyone involved. I am so glad this experience happens every year.

Materials Needed:

Every year I borrow the props for the poetry slam. This proves to very time consuming. We also ask for donations for the refreshments after the slam. I would love to purchase a stool, podium, poetry books, floor lamp and video camera to capture each and every moment. I could purchase dvds so each student could have the event to take home to enjoy for years to come. Having video equipment and the props will help this annual event come alive!

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 Brought to you by We Are Teachers partnership with PCI Education’s Teacher Grant Asks: http://www.weareteachers.com/ideas/partnerask/teachingidea?app=17055&grantId=75

 

Real Teachers-Real Strategies 4: Conflict Resolution Skills

 Teaching Tips  2 Responses »
Jan 242012
 

Our next post is from Lisa from Suffolk, VA, a middle school/high school Special Education teacher. Her strategy is to teach conflict resolution skills with differentiated instruction so each student can learn the skill according to how they learn best.

Her strategy: a Conflict Resolution Menu.

“The students have been learning a unit on how to deal appropriately with conflict. Proper problem solving skills and techniques to all types of possible conflicts they may come across. Since all students learn differently, I created a unit assessment that was Differentiated Instructional (DI) focused. This menu has 3 appetizer activites, 3 entree activities, and 3 dessert activities to choose from. Each student may choose the activities they feel most comfortable doing to demonstrate mastery.”

Learning Objectives:

“The students will demonstrate their knowledge on conflict resolution and problem solving techniques that they can carry with them into adulthood. These skills will help them handle peer conflicts, issues with teachers, and even frustration that may occur from academics. Being able to properly identify a conflict and the appropriate way to handle that conflict is a skill that will help them be successful in school as well as in life.”

Materials:

Conflict resolution lesson, art supplies, conflict resolution menu, problem solving scale, PowerPoint (student choice)

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This post is brought to you by We Are Teachers partnership with PCI Education’s Grant Asks: http://www.weareteachers.com/ideas/partnerask/teachingidea?app= 17846&grantId=75

 

Real Teachers-Real Strategies 2: A Radio Broadcast

 Special Education Classroom, Teaching Tips  No Responses »
Jan 162012
 

Our second post in this series is from Matthew in Carteret, NJ. He teaches 7th and 8th graders.

His idea: Fireside Chats.

Students learning about the Great Depression had the opportunity to step into the shoes of President Roosevelt and create their own fireside chat radio broadcast based on the events of the 1930′s. Students learn the material in the classroom and then record an audio broadcast using the software program Audacity. The tasks involved are research, writing a script, and performing the broadcast. The project has different modalities so that each student in the group can shine in his/her own way.

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to understand the impact that the events of the Great Depression had on America. They will also be able to relate the information they have learned to today’s economy. Students will enhance their research, writing and technology skills throughout the process of the project.

As well, this project was a collaboration between the students’ social studies and language arts classes. It took place in a variety of settings in our 8th grade. Both in-class support students and self-contained students had the opportunity to create their own group broadcast. The students learned tangible skills while also learning the important characteristics of teamwork.

Materials:

Audacity, an opensource audio recording program. Microsoft word, to type the script. Microphones to record the broadcast. EBSCO and Grollier online for research.

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This post is brought to you by We Are Teachers partnership with PCI Education’s Teacher Grant Asks:  http://www.weareteachers.com/ideas/partnerask/teachingidea?app=16996&grantId=75

 

Real Teachers Share Real Teaching Techniques That Work

 Special Education Classroom, Teaching Tips  No Responses »
Dec 132011
 

PCI Education collaborated with We Are Teachers offering a microgrant to teachers by asking, “Have you ever taught a lesson that really resonated with a special needs student?”

PCI had fabulous responses to our question and we are excited to share with you real ideas from real teachers that work! These teaching techniques will be posted weekly as “Real Teachers-Real Strategies.” Subscribe now to receive these ideas in your inbox for teaching students with special needs.

Our first post is from Cathy in Irving, Texas.

Her strategy: Re-read and Chart It!  

 I have students re-read the first few pages of a book and we time how many words read in a minute (with the number read listed on the sides of the page.) We subtract any words missed and then chart it on a graph that they keep track of. They do this every day and their wcpm grows and the chart goes up. They are excited to come in and do this activity all on their own each day. When they read their wcpm reading goal, we start on the next page of the book.

Learning Objectives:

Success and independence in reading!

Materials:

Leveled readers, timer, folder, chart/graph paper and a colored pencil to chart with.

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We Are Teachers in partnership with PCI Education’s Teacher Grant Asks: http://www.weareteachers.com/ideas/partnerask/teachingidea?app=16857&grantId=75

 

Using a Nintendo DS with your special education students

 Special Education Classroom, Teaching Tips  No Responses »
Apr 072010
 

By Janie Holt

Have you ever considered using a Nintendo DS with your special education students to individualize instruction in your classroom? I hadn’t until I attended a presentation at the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA)

The presenter was Christina Carrion, a kindergarten teacher from Garland, Texas. Ms. Carrion successfully uses the Pictochat feature of the DS to ability group her students.

Pictochat has four different chat rooms in which to place students. The students in each chat room can be working on different tasks at the same time. The DS allows for the interconnectivity of group members within a 50 feet radius. That means that students within one ability group do not have to sit in the same area or around the same table. Nor is the teacher bound by his or her location to the group.

Light Bulb Reaction

Ok, she got my attention! Being able to interface with any student, from anywhere in the classroom is HUGE! My mind was reeling with the possibilities:

–providing instant feedback for each student

­­–direct reteach without the need for other group members to wait

–an invisible vehicle that allows each student to respond at his or her own pace

–the timely delivery of lesson extensions for teachable moments

Lesson Ideas

But what kinds of lessons can be used with a Nintendo DS? Ms. Carrion has a plethora of ideas to share. She uses the DS technology for:

–handwriting practice

–small group assessment

–skill intervention

–note taking

–WebQuests

–collaboration on projects

–writing summaries

–and MORE!

Go check it out yourself at her website:

https://gblog.garlandisd.net/users/cmcarrio/weblog/2b8e6/Yo_Ho__Yo_Ho_a_DSing_We_Will_Go_.html

DS is not just for gaming anymore. If you’re using any of these ideas in your classroom, please post your ideas here.

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Janie Holt

Janie Hohlt

Janie Hohlt is a technology content director and product development specialist for PCI Education.  Hohlt has authored several other educational print and software programs for PCI, including the Basic Writing Series.  During her 20 years as a classroom educator, Hohlt taught at every grade level from kindergarten through sixth grade. She received the Superintendent’s Award four times while serving in a large urban school district in San Antonio, Texas.

In Your Shoes

 PCI Company Culture, Special Education Classroom, Special Education Resource, Teaching Tips  No Responses »
Mar 222010
 

by Leslie Buteyn

A customer called me this week to ask a few questions about some of our products. After we discussed several different titles, she told me how much money she had to spend and asked what I would buy if I were her. What a great question, and I was thrilled to answer it! I loved the opportunity to put myself in the shoes of a middle school language arts teacher working with a group of students reading significantly below grade level; those are the very shoes I wore before I came to work at PCI!

One of the things that I love about working in PCI’s product development group is that our content team is comprised of educators. We have all spent time working in the classroom, and we know what it’s like to be in your shoes. That knowledge and experience drives the development of our products. I hope that you can see and feel that each time you use a PCI product in your classroom.

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Leslie Buteyn

Leslie Buteyn is tasked with developing products from the idea phase to the marketplace and is responsible for managing the development of many of PCI Education’s bestselling products. She has developed products for students from preschool age to adult in all subject areas.

Prior to her career at PCI, Buteyn was a middle school language arts and reading teacher in San Antonio. She holds a Bachelor’s in English and a Master’s in Teaching. Both degrees were earned at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.