[nobe-l] working with younger kids

Tue Feb 22 23:08:49 UTC 2011

Ashley,

When I started, I was legally blind and now I'm totally blind.  I had no
peripheral vision, mostly central vision.

I used the white boards for the kids to write whole sentences and the truth
is I modeled the letters first on the white boards, then they wrote after
me.  I also have many books that I made with a computer friend of mine,
where the children could practice writing on a dotted font.  The most
essential thing in kindergarten is that the children love to write.  I've
seen too many teachers browbeat the kids about their penmanship when that's
not the most important thing for a 5-year-old.  The most important thing is
to communicate thoughts and ideas onto the paper.  I also asked my children
to tell me what they wrote.  You can use a hand-held tape recorder.
And that's so necessary because it's really what the child thinks they wrote
that's crucial.  I did have some sighted help to look at papers, but I think
that you can find teenagers from the local high schools who need community
service hours to help you out with things like this.

For songs I really like Dr. Jean Feldman and Jack Hartmann.  They have
several CD's out which tell you in a song how to make the letter.  The
children learn which letters go up to the top line, which go to the middle
dotted line, and which letters have a tail.  Air writing is very useful.
You just have to remember, if you're facing the kids, to make the letter the
correct way.

Sharon

On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 6:38 PM, <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Sharon,
> I'm impressed; as I've observed this list over the years, its evident that
> more teachers work with teenagers or college students.
> In fact there is a blind English professor at George Mason university
> nearby.
> That is  great you love kids and made it work. Did you have a reader or
> aide assist you in correcting the student's papers?
> In my state, VA, writing and other language arts activities are stressed.
> They write their names and simple things.  Visual activities to facilitate
> fine motor strength and concentration are also given such as coloring
> various things and coloring with certain colors.
> Kindergarten is much more academic than when I was in school; I am a young
> adult and went in the 90s.
> So did they form letters out of playdough or were you doing it for
> demonstration?
> You mentioned white boards. Did you write the letters on a whiteboard?
> Were the songs ones you made up or taken from records?
> I know most teachers incorporate songs to teach rhymes and concepts as
> well.
> I've thought about helping as an aide as well in a kindergarten or first
> grade.
> But was not sure how I'd tackle these challenges either; same questions as
> Heather.
> I could not see to correct papers or see how kids are writing.
> I have central vision and can only see when its written with a dark pen or
> 20/20 pen.
>
> Heather, I hope you get the job.
> Ashley
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Sharon Dudley
> Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 6:00 PM
> To: National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nobe-l] working with younger kids
>
> Heather:  I taught kindergarten for over 13 years and now I teach pre-k.
> I did a lot of songs with the kids, where you make printed letters in the
> air.  I also used Play Doh, sand, whiteboards, and there are many toys too.
> With one of them, the children can use a magnetic wand on a track and they
> are tracing the letter.  Writing is such a small part of teaching
> kindergarten.  I'm really shocked that was the main point that the
> interviewer focused on.  For my state, actual writing only takes up about 5
> minutes per day.  Write back if you have any more questions.
>
> Sharon Dudley
>
> On Sat, Feb 19, 2011 at 2:39 PM, Heather <kd5cbl at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hello, I applied to work with kindergarten kids part time as I complete my
>> certification.  The person I was talking to said I would not be a good fit
>> because I cant teach hand writing skills or correct their papers because I
>> am blind.  So I am asking if there are teachers who have to deal with this
>> issue.  And how do they teach hand writing to sighted kids.  Heather
>>
>>
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