[Pibe-division] Is this the way to teach akindergartenerBraille?

Mon Mar 9 14:21:30 UTC 2009

We do have a few exercises where our little ones use crayons to mark answers but we have them do it non-visually. Since our little kids cant fit into sleepshades (blindfolds) we will find cute little sunshades in the $1 bin and color or paint them to block out vision. Little ones who do have usable vision are usually a hard sell when it comes to non-visual learning but the sunshades help but if it is going to be a fight I don't worry about it. (Braille should be fun not fighting!) At times after the lesson is over I will let the student practice reading a page or two without the glasses, because this is how they will do it in the reg classroom. Often the child with usable vision will use his/her vision; it is not encouraged but instead of chastising the use of vision I will point out how well they do when they don't try to see it. Most of these students are praised for seeing all day, it is hard not to be the big bad wolf when you focus on discouraging vision. Rather, ask the teacher to praise non-visual techniques, "You did that so fast and you didn't even need to look!"
Kristen J. Sims, MEd NCLB
Teacher of Blind Students

----- Original Message -----
From: Brandy with Discovery Toys <branlw at sbcglobal.net>
To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
Cc:
Date: Sunday, March 8 2009 11:11 AM
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Is this the way to teach akindergartenerBraille?
Hi, Then no This is not acceptable. Bran
"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams." 
Jeremy Irons

Brandy Wojcik
Discovery Toys Group Manager and Educational Consultant

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----- Original Message ----- 
From:Carrie Gilmer
To:'Professionals in Blindness Education Division List'
Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 11:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Is this the way to teach akindergartenerBraille?

Dear Eric, Sally and Brandy,
This is not/was not an exercise to learn to mark answers. This was an exercise to learn the alphabet in the first place. He had to find all the B’s, first by touch, then—by LOOKING and marking with a pencil. He is not through even half way of the alphabet yet. I am asking if this early is it typical to learn answer marking and also if it is typical to do it visually—this had not tactile component to the circling.

I understand fully the importance of the ability to mark answers and to do it non-visually.

Thanks,

Carrie Gilmer, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
NFBNationalCenter: 410-659-9314
Home Phone: 763-784-8590
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
www.nfb.org/nopbc

From: pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brandy with Discovery Toys
Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 9:27 PM
To:Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Is this the way to teach akindergartenerBraille?

Hi, When I was little we would put the paper on a fome board and they had us put thumb tacks in the letter that we were supposed to be finding. We also sometimes circled it on one of those boards so we could feel the imprint. It is common for kids who take tests to need the skill of circling. I did this often growing up and then my test would be translated. Hope this helps. Bran

"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams." 
Jeremy Irons

Brandy Wojcik
Discovery Toys Group Manager and Educational Consultant

Shop online any time!
www.playtoachieve.com
(512) 231-8697

Let me know if I can help with any of the following:
* Starting your own Discovery Toys business 
* Best buy bundles allow you to shop at a discount year round
* How you can earn toys for free
* Gift baskets for all ages
* Gift certificates
* Office setups and much more 

----- Original Message ----- 

From:Andy & Sally Thomas

To:Professionals in Blindness Education Division List

Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 2:57 PM

Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Is this the way to teach akindergartenerBraille?

My son has used sticky dots to mark things.  When he used a crayon or marker, he wanted to mark things so well he obscured what he was marking and there was no way to move the mark to make a correction.  I guess this isn't a problem as much in kindergarten as it is later when kids are more worried about the correct answer.

Sally Thomas

----- Original Message ----- 

From:DrV

To:Professionals in Blindness Education Division List

Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 12:46 AM

Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] Is this the way to teach a kindergartenerBraille?

A few more thoughts. 
My 1st grade son Petras (no functional vision) uses a crayon to circle or mark numbers on his math homework & classwork - I think that is perfectly fine & natural.

My older son (also no functional vision) transitioned to a pen (which he could feel) once it was no longer age appropriate to be using a crayon.

My wife modifies his Lithuanian Saturday school worksheets & we have Petras similarly find letters or letter combinations with his fingers & then he mark them off with a crayon (which he can feel) - this can all be done tactilely without then looking at the letter; his sighted classmates also circle print letters or letter combos with a crayon or pencil or pen -> Petras is performing a similar task.

The marking actually seems reasonable to me & has functional utility for a child to independently complete homework & classwork.

I am interested in hearing about alternatives.

I am less enthusiastic about connecting the lines - this seems less functional.  Seems to me the objective would help decide how appropriate that is.

As to the point avoiding feeling for the braille, Petras could write his letters in English & Lithuanian long before he could recognize the dot combinations. For the longest time he was not particularly interested in feeling the specifics of what he actually wrote. It was really just a little after he turned 7 that he really began to try to more intently figure out what each dot combo represented. He has made wonderful progress this year. My eldest son know all the letters tactilely by 2 1/2. Every kid is a little different.

Best wishes,

Eric V 

On Thu, Mar 5, 2009 at 2:49 PM, Carrie Gilmer <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com> wrote:
All lines were directed to be drawn and circled by the student. Picture of it taken by mother is attached.

Six years old, albinism, 20/160-200 measured with correction. Please everyone comment.

Carrie Gilmer, President

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

A Division of the National Federation of the Blind

NFBNationalCenter: 410-659-9314

Home Phone: 763-784-8590

carrie.gilmer at gmail.com

www.nfb.org/nopbc

I'm attaching a Braille sheet that came home today. I get these many times a week. Is it strange that Brian is instructed to circle and draw lines? It appears that he is being directed to approach Braille visually. 

Please tell me if this is normal or acceptable for teaching a low-vision child Braille. Please tell me if this is so far out of the norm that I should be very concerned. 

Thank you!

:) Carolynn

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