[blindkid] Geometry for next year

[Bonnie Lucas]

Wow, thanks to all of you for your great suggestions. I'm guessing there
will be some challenges but, of course, everyone has to have a few minor
glitches in life to keep them humble!

-----Original Message-----
From: WILLIAM CUCCO [mailto:carol_castellano at verizon.net] 
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 6:47 AM
To: \(for parents of blind children\)NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Geometry for next year

Hi Bonnie,


Serena took the course without an aide, but the teacher was very motivated
to make it work for her and was very good about making sure she had access
to all the information.  She tutored her when necessary.


One must have--the book in braille!  This has become an issue in NJ, and I
think all over, as the books take so long to create in tactile form due to
all the diagrams and figures.  Serena was able to follow along in class as
the teacher taught each lesson.


One major problem--many times the figures and diagrams in the book were not
drawn well--for ex., sometimes angles that were supposed to be right angles
were all cockeyed.  We did have to go through the drawings each night to
make sure they were usable.  Also, the ones done on thermoform paper could
be difficult to read and the ones done via computer were not as precise. 
So, all had to be checked.


APH's geometry set can be helpful, not for specific homework problems but
for general concepts.  Serena also had the kind of protractor that could
lock.  We also drew things using a coloring screen, a ruler, and a ballpoint
pen.  


Serena used her braillewriter to show her work and to create simple graphs
when possible.  We came up with a way to show the various kinds of graphs
when sections had to be shaded, etc.  We glued down string on raised graph
paper to create the X and Y axes (works better than Wikki Stix.  We made a
whole bunch of them and then Serena used them for homework).  We pressed
down tin foil to create the shaded areas.  This worked well because Serena
could perceive the difference in texture, but could still feel the graph
lines underneath.  I think it aided her understanding.


Hope this helps.  Confession:  I COULDN'T WAIT TILL SOPHOMORE YEAR WAS
OVER--what with geometry and biology!!!


Good luck!

Carol


Carol Castellano

Director of Programs

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

973-377-0976

carol_castellano at verizon.net

www.nopbc.org 


At 08:03 PM 4/19/2011, you wrote:

Hello everyone,


We are getting Aubrie's schedule together for next year. She is expected to

take geometry but I'm just wondering if kids have generally had an aid for

this one or not. I personally was finally given an aid, which helped, I

think. However, if some of your kids have managed to take it without an aid,

I'd like to know what kinds of things you did to make it work. She has had

some aid assistance from time to time in math in the past but since moving

to AK, she has had no one in the classroom for anything. Any suggestions

will be greatly appreciated. Another child in the district was allowed to

skip geometry and they gave us that option. I let them know that this wasn't

an option for Aubrie. 


Thanks,


Bonnie


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