Every student has his/her own special needs. Some of those needs need to be addressed farther and with great care. Having resources available for teachers, parents, and students with these special needs help make the learning process easier and can break down boundaries that are getting in the way of learning. This page is looking at 5 special needs some students have. Each need has two different resources to help educators, parents, and students be more successful throughout the learning processes. Many of these resources have products that help beyond the classroom and into the everyday routines.
Cognitive Development
AbleNet.com - Ablenet.com is focused on helping students with disabilities gain the education they need through different technology forms. One of the programs that is found through this organization is their math curriculum. It is a K-12 curriculum that does not focus on age, only skill readiness. All lessons are given in three different formats to help students with mild, moderate, and severe cognitive disabilities. The program is standards based so students will be working on the state standards, common core material that their peers are working on as well.
Sunburst Digital -Provides digital solutions for many different needs and learning styles. It provides several different programs, and uses many different partners to help each student meet the standards in math, language, science, social studies, and technology. The reason this site is helpful for students with cognitive development delays is it helps find the learning style of the individual. Once this is determined, students can go at their own pace in the style that works best for them.
Physical Disabilities
Texas Instruments -Using graphing calculators is a regular occurrence in the math classroom. However, with physical disabilities, it may be hard to push all the little buttons, and hold the device in the users hands. Texas Instruments have provided a presentations link which puts the graphing calculator onto the computer screen. I use this on my smartboard to show calculator procedures to the class. However, for students with physical disabilities having the calculator on the computer screen allows the use of only a mouse to work the device. It is also a great way to store process/steps in solving problems so the teacher can see if the student understands the concepts that are being taught.
Intellitools -There are several different tools available for physical disabilities made by this producer. However, the one that seemed the more useful for my current student is intellikeys. This is a keyboard device that is touch sensitive. The surface changes and makes different keyboards, based on the needs of the user. This allows keyboard keys to be larger, and can change based on the needs at the moment. There is even the ability to create new surfaces to meet all needs using the keyboard. The tool would be great for students who have a hard time writing. By pushing the larger buttons on the keyboard, students have the ability to type what would normally be written by hand.
Sensory Disabilities
VisionCue -This company specializes in blind and low vision technology users. They sell several different products to make it easier to see moniters, phones, books, etc for people who have low visual ability. Another product they sell is a braille display. This device will allow a blind user to read what is displayed on the screen through braille. This device would be great for a blind student in math. The curriculum we use has on-line books so the student could use a computer and braille device to help with math class, or any other class.
FrontRow -This organization has studied the importance of sound for all students. They have several different produces available made specifically for classroom use. Making the classroom the best learning environment for every student who enters. Having a microphone allows the teacher to be heard by all students, and those who are hard of hearing without having to constantly raise his/her voice for everyone to hear. this gives the teacher more energy throughout the day and also the security knowing all students should have heard what was spoken. The philosophy this organization has is great for the hearing impaired students along with all students, making the audio part of learning available to all.
At-Risk Students
BrainPop -This site is full of fun, bright colors, and movements throughout all the pages. It covers several different subject matters and has animated videos to keep students interest and to make learning more fun. Since the site is so different from a classroom setting, it is more appealing to at-risk students. There is a lot going on visually on each webpage to draw students into learning, and reviewing what is being taught in the classroom.
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives -This site has several interactive activities and games to help students understand concepts, get involved in what is being taught in the math classroom and see how math works visually. This site is great for at-risk students since it is so interactive. Students will see how concepts work and fit together. They get to manipulate and interact with the concepts that are being taught in the classroom.
Gifted and Talented
Summer Institute for the Gifted -This site has several different resources for students who need more challenge. There are games, interactive activities, several links to other resources for students to work at and challenge themselves with. Being gifted and being challenged can be a struggle for the teacher to come up with new more difficult ideas to keep the gifted learning new things. With this resource, students can challenge themselves and look into several different topics that attracts their attention.
Promising Mathematics Students -This website, created by Northern Kentucky University, has several different resources for students, parents and teachers. There are games, activities, summer programs and even competitions for students who are ready for a real challenge. Several links to other resources to help challenge students to use math in applied ways. This site is a great resource for any math teacher, parent or student who has a gifted student. Students can challenge themselves at school and on their own time using this site.
Resource:
Doering, Aaron H., Roblyer, M.D., (2012). Educational technology into teaching sixth edition. Boston. Pearson Education Inc.
Cognitive Development
AbleNet.com - Ablenet.com is focused on helping students with disabilities gain the education they need through different technology forms. One of the programs that is found through this organization is their math curriculum. It is a K-12 curriculum that does not focus on age, only skill readiness. All lessons are given in three different formats to help students with mild, moderate, and severe cognitive disabilities. The program is standards based so students will be working on the state standards, common core material that their peers are working on as well.
Sunburst Digital -Provides digital solutions for many different needs and learning styles. It provides several different programs, and uses many different partners to help each student meet the standards in math, language, science, social studies, and technology. The reason this site is helpful for students with cognitive development delays is it helps find the learning style of the individual. Once this is determined, students can go at their own pace in the style that works best for them.
Physical Disabilities
Texas Instruments -Using graphing calculators is a regular occurrence in the math classroom. However, with physical disabilities, it may be hard to push all the little buttons, and hold the device in the users hands. Texas Instruments have provided a presentations link which puts the graphing calculator onto the computer screen. I use this on my smartboard to show calculator procedures to the class. However, for students with physical disabilities having the calculator on the computer screen allows the use of only a mouse to work the device. It is also a great way to store process/steps in solving problems so the teacher can see if the student understands the concepts that are being taught.
Intellitools -There are several different tools available for physical disabilities made by this producer. However, the one that seemed the more useful for my current student is intellikeys. This is a keyboard device that is touch sensitive. The surface changes and makes different keyboards, based on the needs of the user. This allows keyboard keys to be larger, and can change based on the needs at the moment. There is even the ability to create new surfaces to meet all needs using the keyboard. The tool would be great for students who have a hard time writing. By pushing the larger buttons on the keyboard, students have the ability to type what would normally be written by hand.
Sensory Disabilities
VisionCue -This company specializes in blind and low vision technology users. They sell several different products to make it easier to see moniters, phones, books, etc for people who have low visual ability. Another product they sell is a braille display. This device will allow a blind user to read what is displayed on the screen through braille. This device would be great for a blind student in math. The curriculum we use has on-line books so the student could use a computer and braille device to help with math class, or any other class.
FrontRow -This organization has studied the importance of sound for all students. They have several different produces available made specifically for classroom use. Making the classroom the best learning environment for every student who enters. Having a microphone allows the teacher to be heard by all students, and those who are hard of hearing without having to constantly raise his/her voice for everyone to hear. this gives the teacher more energy throughout the day and also the security knowing all students should have heard what was spoken. The philosophy this organization has is great for the hearing impaired students along with all students, making the audio part of learning available to all.
At-Risk Students
BrainPop -This site is full of fun, bright colors, and movements throughout all the pages. It covers several different subject matters and has animated videos to keep students interest and to make learning more fun. Since the site is so different from a classroom setting, it is more appealing to at-risk students. There is a lot going on visually on each webpage to draw students into learning, and reviewing what is being taught in the classroom.
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives -This site has several interactive activities and games to help students understand concepts, get involved in what is being taught in the math classroom and see how math works visually. This site is great for at-risk students since it is so interactive. Students will see how concepts work and fit together. They get to manipulate and interact with the concepts that are being taught in the classroom.
Gifted and Talented
Summer Institute for the Gifted -This site has several different resources for students who need more challenge. There are games, interactive activities, several links to other resources for students to work at and challenge themselves with. Being gifted and being challenged can be a struggle for the teacher to come up with new more difficult ideas to keep the gifted learning new things. With this resource, students can challenge themselves and look into several different topics that attracts their attention.
Promising Mathematics Students -This website, created by Northern Kentucky University, has several different resources for students, parents and teachers. There are games, activities, summer programs and even competitions for students who are ready for a real challenge. Several links to other resources to help challenge students to use math in applied ways. This site is a great resource for any math teacher, parent or student who has a gifted student. Students can challenge themselves at school and on their own time using this site.
Resource:
Doering, Aaron H., Roblyer, M.D., (2012). Educational technology into teaching sixth edition. Boston. Pearson Education Inc.