[nobe-l] observing behaviors

Sun Oct 28 02:21:53 UTC 2012

Hi, When I taught in the classroom I had my personal reader, and volunteers
read assignments to me. I was teaching second grade. Sometimes for writing
assignments I'd let the kids type it on the computer and I'd save it to a
thumb drive, but they always had to hand right them first.

As for writing on the board I did a few things. During circle activities I
used a magnetic white board that was about 4 ft tall and 3 ft wide, and
since it was magnetic I used magnetic letters for spelling activities, and
hand wrote other things with magnets to keep my place. Sometimes I'd let
kids write on the board if we were brain storming. They would do about
anything for that turn. When I needed to use the large white board that
wasn't magnetic I used sticky notes to hold my place that I sometimes even
Brailled notes on to remember what I wanted to write then. Last I
photocopied on to transparencies so I could just slap it on the projector. I
often Brailled little places on the sheet so I knew where to write kids
answers, or where I wanted to point out certain words.
As for learning to write: I started when I was a kid just learning from the
shapes of letters. I wanted to be able to write properly forming my letters
the correct way so spent some time with a sighted teacher and she taught me
the strokes, and the words to make sure the kids did it the right way. I
practice now and again to make sure I don't lose the skill, and ask friends
what letters need some extra practice and we figure it out. O seems to be
one of the hardest for me along with n because somehow I make it semi like a
tear drop somehow coming in at the bottom sometimes. I rarely ever had a kid
who couldn't read my writing.
It really can all be done, but takes a lot of work. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth
Anderson
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2012 5:59 PM
To: 'National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] observing behaviors

I think it also depends upon the subject you are teaching as well and what
agegroup.  If you haveolder kids, I might require them to send things to you
by email or type them instead of handwriting them.  

-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Anita Adkins
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2012 6:52 AM
To: National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] observing behaviors

Hello again,
While I am not working in a regular public school, I did work with public
kids during my internship. What I did for putting things up on the board,
such as the Geometry figures, was to prepare beforehand using a reader I
hired for during the evening to create exact diagrams, labels for them, etc.

I made ones I cut out so I could elaminate them and use over and over again.

I even created labels for them, which can be in Braille also. I learned how
to write print from my friends when I was a kid and from my cousin, even
though I cannot see it and never used it as a kid for schoolwork. So I can
write numbers and capital letters if only a couple are required, but rather
than doing that, I would prepare it before hand, know what was what by
labeling, and then to use a camera projector in the classroom. I am not
certain of its real name, but it has a way of projecting what you place
under it onto the board. The school will probably already have one since
sighted teachers also use them. So I could feel my cut out line, for
instance, and know I was placing it under the camera's eye. Also, I can use
this sort of camera to connect my laptop to it so that whatever shows up on
my laptop's screen also shows up on a whiteboard or a plain white wall. So I
could write information on the fly if I chose in this way for the students
to see. Also, I was able to find a video for my Science lesson about the
seasons to project on the wall using this same technique of projecting the
picture onto a plain, white wall. The school may provide you with a sighted
assistant for your planning period, but you may also want one you hire
outside of school for nonconfidential work, such as material preparation and
personal needs. I am about to be hired at a school for the blind, and they
are going to provide me with an aid for sighted assistance for a 45 minute
block of time each day. My goal isn't to teach subject-area content, but
rather to teach more blindness skills, which is why I am not working at a
public school. But, do not be discouraged because blind teachers can
effectively teach in a public school setting as I did this during my
assistantship, and I've heard about others who have been successful. Don't
forget you can call the NFB's national office for assistance. There web
address is www.nfb.org. Sorry I don't remember their number off the top of
my head. Don't worry; lots of prep work will make the actual teaching in the
classroom more simple for you. Have a great day. Anita

-----Original Message-----
From: Jasmine Kotsay
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 10:34 PM
To: National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] observing behaviors

hi,
Thank you very much for your
advice! Another question: Do you have an assistant to help you grade
handwritten assignments, and write things up on the board in front of the
class?

Sincerely,
Jasmine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anita Adkins" <aadkins at atlanticbb.net
To: "National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List"
<nobe-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:07:30 -0400
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] observing behaviors

Hello,

First, hello to everyone.  I am Anita, and I left the list for a while
because of email address changes and such, but I am happy to be back.

To answer your concerns about behavior, stay on your feet and walk around
the room.  If you hear a student or two talking, simply walk close to them,
and they will likely calm down.  Experience will really help since the more
you do it, the better you will become.  But, you will get to know your
students, and thus, you will know which students are more likely to act up.
Develop a relationship with your students.  I don't mean to become friends
like their classmates, but show interest in what they do outside of school
and talk to them about it when the time is appropriate.  Also, the other
students can be a wealth of information for you.  Using environmental clues,
like sound, knowledge of what you are teaching and classroom layout as well
as student seating, and so forth will help you accomplish your goal.  It
really isn't as difficult as it sounds.  Start by coming up with procedures
and having the children practice them over and over.  Use positivity when
you can.  For example, praise students who are doing well.  Ignore
misbehavior when you can.  For example, say "Sally and Judy, I love how you
are focused on your work." when you know the third student is not focused as
he should be.  I can understand you want a concrete answer here because I
did, but there is not one.  Know your students and your environment, be
flexible, and use your remaining senses and knowledge of the situation to
help you out.
And, remember that classroom management techniques used by the sighted will
also be helpful for a blind teacher.  For example, set up a positive reward
system, keep students busy, make sure they know what to do if they finish an
assignment early and where to put materials for you and where to find their
next task to begin, even when you are busy, etc.  Again, it isn't as hard as
it sounds.  Go for it! Anita

-----Original Message-----
From: Jasmine Kotsay
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 6:52 PM
To: nobe-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nobe-l] observing behaviors

Hello,
My name is Jasmine, and I am
studying to be a teacher.  One of my main concerns is, how would someone who
was totally blind be able to recognize when students are behaving in a way
they aren't supposed to? Any ideas and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Jasmine

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