[blindkid] Using Sleep Shades in Chapter andStateAffiliate-Sponsored Braille Classes

[Merry-Noel Chamberlain]

Mary,
Depending on the participants, I've have started the class without sleep shades then moved to sleep shades after I've introduced the first ten letters.
Merry-Noel Chamberlain

From: Mary Donahue <braille at satx.rr.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 3:59 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Using Sleep Shades in Chapter andStateAffiliate-Sponsored Braille Classes

Thanks, Heather. I will keep that in mind.

Mary Donahue

----- Original Message ----- From: "Heather Field" <missheather at comcast.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 9:35 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Using Sleep Shades in Chapter andStateAffiliate-Sponsored Braille Classes


> Hello Mary,
> I always use sleep shades when teaching braille to persons with some residual vision. As you are running the class then you are the one who can choose methods. You may want to make a brief explanation as to why you use sleep shades before asking students to put them on. I always explain that there brain is currently using vision as a primary information mode. This diverts precious brain resources away from other sensory input. when one is working with a tactile code of reading and writing it is a brand new experience for the brain. So, we want as many brain resources available as possible to focus and learn. We put sleep shades on to let the brain retrain its focus and divert resources, create new pathways and, in line with latest brain research, retrain the brain to be able to focus primarily on tactile input.
> 
> It's extremely unlikely that you'll get any argument with this research based rationale.
> 
> Warmest regards,
> Heather Field
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Mary Donahue
> Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 7:57 PM
> To: napub at nfbnet.org
> Cc: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children) ; rehab at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [blindkid] Using Sleep Shades in Chapter and StateAffiliate-Sponsored Braille Classes
> 
> sHello everyone,
> 
>    Our chapter in San Antonio will be starting a Braille class this coming
> Saturday in which I will be the lead instructor, and several members will be
> assisting me. Lately, a question came up whether to use sleep shades. I've
> studied both _The _McDuffy _Reader and _The _Slate _Book. I agree with both
> Jennifer Dunnam and Sharon Monthei that using sleep shades is a must. Our
> president, however, seems to think that we should not make the students wear
> sleep shades unless students continuously bend down to look at the Braille.
> The class planning committee met by telephone conference earlier, and all of
> us on the call agreed we should use sleep shades. (Our president was absent,
> and definitely in the minority.)So far, those four students who are coming
> on Saturday have some or total vision.
> 
>    My question is do any of you know of chapters or state affiliates who
> have sponsored Braille classes, and have the students worn sleep shades?
> Please let me know as soon as possible before this coming Saturday so I can
> forward your responses to the other committee members.
> 
>    Thank you in advance.
> 
> Mary Donahue, a nervous aspiring Braille teacher
> 
> "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch."
> Garrison Keillor
> 
> 
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