[nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring

Mon Mar 12 16:28:57 UTC 2012

I think that it is from National Braille Press. You could probably find it 
by googling Touch the Stars. I know that whoever makes the series is no 
longer making the first book, but they should still be making the second 
book, which is better anyway.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 6:15 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring

> Nicole,
> Where do you get touch the stars?
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Nicole B. Torcolini at Home
> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 10:37 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>
> I would definitely recommend trying to get a copy of Touch the Stars II.
> It's tactile diagrams will be easier to understand both because they are
> explained well and because they were made knowing that they were for the
> blind.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 7:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>
>
>> Chris,
>> Geometry and astronomy are interesting. Geometry has some real world 
>> problem solving applications.
>> I didn't like it but somehow got through it. I'm not an abstract thinker.
>> I remember how you compare shapes and figure out the missing angle number 
>> and things like that. The problem solving and critical thinking skills 
>> carry over to other subjects though.
>>
>> For astronomy, well I did not take that in high school; Virginia doesn't 
>> require that; we take different sciences.
>>
>> But I suggest getting tactile diagrams of the stars and galaxies. I think 
>> NASA or National braille press has some books. One is called Touch the 
>> stars.
>> I think if your vi teacher explains diagrams and what the lines represent 
>> and labels them, it will make more sense.
>> Some concepts though are better illustrated in a 3 d thing; so you could 
>> make a model for those situations.
>>
>> Ashley
>>
>> -----Original Message----- 
>> From: Chris Nusbaum
>> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 8:17 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>>
>> Oh good; I'm not the only one who doesn't get anything out of
>> tactile graphics, especially the 1st or 2nd time I look at them!
>> I really don't like tactile graphics, and try to avoid them if
>> possible.  But we're doing geometry in math and astronomy in
>> science, both of which are very visual units which require a lot
>> of tactile graphics.  However, I might get a break from the
>> constant
>> diagrams in science, as we're switching to geology to get ready
>> for our state standardized test, the Maryland School Assessment
>> (MSA.)
>>
>> Chris
>> Chris Nusbaum
>> Email and Google Talk/Keychat (on the BrailleNote) ID:
>> dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
>> Skype: christpher.nusbaum3 or search for Chris Nusbaum
>>
>> "The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight.  The
>> real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of education that
>> exists.  If a blind person has the proper training and
>> opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a mere physical
>> nuisance."
>> -- Kenneth Jernigan
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Date sent: Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:55:35 -0700
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>>
>> Hi Vejas,
>> I'm not very good spatially either, and I usually didn't get much
>> out
>> of tactile diagrams.  I do think attempting to understand tactile
>> diagrams is a good way to try to improve your spatial skills.
>> But if
>> you don't find them useful for learning the concepts, then see if
>> you
>> can get verbal descriptions instead.  I also found in my
>> experience
>> that knowing what things look like (like the shape of cells etc.)
>> is
>> not super-important for understanding the functional concepts you
>> are
>> learning about.
>> You could talk to your guidance counselor to find out if there is
>> any
>> free tutoring available at your school.  I'm sure you are not the
>> only
>> student having difficulty following science concepts.  If your
>> school
>> has an honor society for seniors, some of their members might be
>> available to tutor you for free or for a small fee if your
>> parents are
>> willing and able to pay them.  I tutored a few chem students when
>> I was
>> in high school.
>> A good tutor (sighted or blind) should be able to figure out how
>> to
>> best explain the ideas to you.
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 3/8/12, vejas <brlsurfer at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I'm just not very good spacially.  Also some of the diagrams
>> have
>> lots of abbreviations and I find myself looking at the key a
>> lot,
>> so it's tricky to study the diagram when you're not sure what it
>> stands for.
>> But next science chapter, I'm going to pay lots more attention
>> to
>> the diagrams.
>> Vejas
>>
>>
>>  ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Nicole B.  Torcolini at Home" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> Date sent: Wed, 7 Mar 2012 21:52:15 -0800
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>>
>> Some diagrams can help and others don't.  If a diagram is too
>> cluttered, then
>> it is no good.  Can you explain more about why diagrams don't
>> help you?
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "vejas" <brlsurfer at gmail.com
>> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2012 9:14 PM
>> Subject: [nabs-l] a question about science and tutoring
>>
>>
>>  Hi,
>>  I'm having some trouble in science.  It's biology and genetics.
>> My
>>  teacher is OK, I guess.
>>  Does it help you to look at diagrams? Usually it doesn't help
>> me, so I
>>  don't bother to look at them because when I have, they have not
>> helped.
>>  Have diagrams ever helped you, because my science teachers
>> loves
>> the way
>>  diagrams explain stuff? Have you ever needed tutoring? How was
>> a
>> sighter
>>  person able to help you, because it's sometimes hard to explain
>> stuff you
>>  need? I have a test tomorrow.
>>  Thanks for any input.
>>  Vejas
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
>>  nabs-l mailing list
>>  nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>  http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>>  To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>> info for
>>  nabs-l:
>>
>>
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/ntorcolini%40
>> wavecable.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>> info
>> for nabs-l:
>>
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/brlsurfer%40g
>> mail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
>> info for
>> nabs-l:
>>
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/arielle71%40g
>> mail.com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>> for nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dotkid.nusbau
>> m%40gmail.com
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/ntorcolini%40wavecable.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/ntorcolini%40wavecable.com 