Mrs. White,
I used a lot of our weekly resources, articles, handouts, and more in a notebook for my CDS class this semester. When I got the notebook back my teacher commented on my resources saying they were great and asked me where I got them from. I mentioned my SED 260 class and she loved it. Thanks for teaching and giving us things that can be used in MULTIPLE courses and areas in our life. :)

Hello everyone,

I want to say that I really enjoyed this class and Ms. White, you a great teacher and I have learned a lot from you. Thanks for your help.

Johnna

Video

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the video we watched the last class. It was probably one of the best ones I've seen so far! It really made me think about what kind of teacher I hope to be and how I can make each students learning experience the best it can be. It was pretty awesome :)

Test

I logged into blackboard it said final was posted, but I can't find it. Is any one else having problems with it?

Shoe box activities

Shoe box activities are a great idea for children with special needs. We use them in a FMD room that I worked it. You can go to youtube and type in shoe box activities and you can get some example on how to make them. There good for elem. age students, it helps with small and fine motor skill.

Web site

This web site is great for ideas for your classroom and ext.

www.sparklebox.co.uk

Manually Coded English

I have never heard of Manually Coded English before now. I was looking at one of the websites that someone posted and read about Manually Coded English and how it is similar to ASL in that it uses a lot of the same signs, but different because it follows the grammar and syntax of spoken English. I have attached a link to a website explaining in more detail about this language, and also a youtube video of girls using Manually Coded English. For those of you who know ASL, when watching the video I noticed, as the description of Manually Coded English states, the signs used follow the words to a tee, unlike ASL. Where ASL has it's own rules, which are different than English rules, the signing is a bit different. I thought this information was very interesting! It's worth reading about and watching the video (skip to the middle if you don't want to watch the entire thing. It will give you a glimpse of what I'm talking about).
Manually Coded English Website
Youtube Video

Informational Website

www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/EHDI/CDROM/building/speech.html

This is a website that has a lot of brief but good information about how children with hearing loss build language skills. It is ment to be a tool for parents but I found it very informative and helpful. I hope you all feel the same!

Language Barriers in Deaf Household

This video gives the perspective of a hearing child growing up with deaf parents and a deaf child growing up in a hearing family who doesn't primarily speak English (2 language barriers in this family).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BETp47JAmMM

Dialects

I found a website that showed the dialect differences between American English, British English, and New Zealand English. I found it interesting to listen to the differences.

You may need to copy paste this link:

http://www.youtube.com/user/JenniferESL

website

I friend recently emailed me this website and I have found it quit useful. If you are going into Deaf Ed, this site is a great resource. You can even look for job postings. I hope it is helpful to you also

www.deafed.net

check it out!

Mrs. White,
As the semester is winding down I just want to say I have enjoyed your class. Despite the fact that I struggle to keep up, I really feel like I have learned more in this class than any other. You are an amazing teacher and an inspiring role model. I love that you are passionate about your work. Thanks for all the effort you have put in this semester; it hasnt gone unnoticed.

Insperations

I am so glad Jena was able to come to class last night. Hearing stories like hers is one reason why I have chosen the major I have, ITP. Listening to student's stories about how their interpreters have made a huge impact on their education is an amazing thing to hear. Growing up with my mother, who is a teacher at KSD and also a certified interpreter is my other inspiration to get into this field. Many of her former students have told me many stories about how my mother helped them in school, either as their teacher or their interpreter. That is something I want to be able to do. I want to make an impact on student's lives. I want to help break down the communication barrier that deaf students have. I only hope I can do half the job my mom has done.

I missed class last night due to an unexpected situation, would someone let me know what I missed I would really appreciate it. I know there was a guest speaker (hate that I misssed that).

Our Guest!

I will say that I have struggled with my major, DHH. I have personal reasons for going into this field and I feel very passionate towards it however, my drive was hindered when I learned how much schooling I had left. I thought well maybe I should just go into middle school education. I had thought about this for about a week and it was an awakening to have such a wonderful guest in the classroom tonight. I seen what a difference a passion can make in teaching. I want to make a difference in these (DHH) children's lives! I was just telling my mother last night that I don't think I have the courage but after tonights class I believe I have the will and the courage I just need the knowledge. My major will remain DHH and look forward to being a major impact on these students and family's lives!

Field Trip

Here are the directions for getting to the Bluegrass Technology Center

Eastern Kentucky University Aviation
521 Lancaster Avenue # 245
Richmond, KY 40475-3102
(859) 622-1014
   
    1. Head northwest toward Kit Carson Dr    
   
    2. Turn left at Kit Carson Dr    
   

  3. Take the 1st right onto Lancaster Ave    
   
  4. Turn left at Eastern Bypass    
   
  5. Turn right to merge onto I-75 N    
   
6. Take exit 99 for US-25 N/US-421 N    
   
 7. Turn left at US-25 N/US-421 N/Old Richmond Rd    
   
8. Turn left at Richmond Rd    
   
9. Turn left to merge onto KY-4 S/E New Circle Rd    
   
10. Take exit 19 for US-27/Nicholasville Rd toward Nicholasville/Lexington    
   
11. Turn right at US-27 N/Nicholasville Rd    
   
2. Turn left at Southland Dr

Destination will be on the right
   
It's BEHIND Marika's restaurant
   
409 Southland Dr
Lexington, KY 40503

Test 3

I have reviewed the material which would typically be on Test 3.  Much of this relates to the chapter on Learning Disabilities and Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities as well as chapter 15, Assistive Adaptive Technology.  LD & EBD content was to be covered the night we let out class early with handouts.  Chapter 15 will be addressed this week during the field trip. It is not fair to "assess" you on any of this material at this point.  It is not reasonable to create a test for just the other chapters and leave out this material or wait and put it only on the Final.

To pull together in a cohesive way all of the information from the chapters in this section I would like to change Test 3 into a Review/Reflection of the Field Trip experience. Therefore Test 3 will NOT be available online prior to Thursday.  It will be made available to you that evening.  You will be able to take notes on the questions while you work in your groups/activities.  You will then have until April 16th to complete this reflection which will actually be an assessment of your ability to synthesize the material in the chapters we have addressed and the test would cover. 

Feel free to comment here with questions or email.

Speech therapy session

This video shows a speech therapy session with a boy named Justin.  It will let you know how speech therapy sessions are conducted with a specific individual.  Of course they will be different from one person to the next, but it shows a therapy session with a child that needs speech therapy.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=communication+disorders&aq=f

Are they having a true converstation?

Many of you may have seen this video. However, I thought it was really cute and provides food for thought. Are the twins using their own language and having an in depth conversation?

Watch the video and tell me what are your thoughts.

You will probably need to copy paste the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBprSA-b_eM

Misunderstood Minds

My SED 104 class visited a website to better understand children with learning disabilities and children with AD/HD.  It is a website on PBS that created a way to understand what it is like to have a learning disability.  You actually interact by trying to read a passage with the way a child with a learning disability reads a passage, and listen to teacher as well.  It helps you realize how hard it is to learn with a certain condition.  Google misunderstood minds and you will find the website.

Aspergers

Seeing tonight's video on Aspergers Syndrome was very informational.  I've always heard of Aspergers but never really understood it.  The 16 year old with Aspergers put everything into perspective, and I understand it so much more! Having this syndrome must be very difficult for anyone, especially teenagers who are not understood by others.  Being perceived as "normal" but having a disability must be very difficult.  I'm glad I saw the video and understand Aspergers more.

The Secrets of Autism

 This is a good article I found in Time Magazine about Autism.

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020506/scautism.html

observations

I was doing one of my observations for another class in a Kindergarten classroom, and I witnessed the most precious thing! There was a little girl with mild down syndrome. Whenever the teacher asked a questions she would always be the first to raise her hand, but she hardly ever answered the question, she would just be quiet. I think she just liked being called on. Anyways, the teacher decided to play "around the world" with flashcards. The first couple of times, this little girl was lost because she would say anything. However, the last round, she said the word first! Then she was first again and again! she ended up going 'around the world'!! it was so exciting! the Teacher even got teary eyed, because when she won the whole class started chearing and giving her hugs! you could tell she was so excited and happy!! Moments like these are when I know I am in the right Degree of special education!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JmA2ClUvUY

This is awesome. I don't think anyone has posted this video yet.

I have found a great web site to help children learn sounds and letter. Go to You Tube and type "letter Q or what letter of the week song." This is a rap song and the children loves to sing aloud and really catch on to the letter sound and the letter. This is great and I love it.

Someone. Give me some advice!

Okay, this is a completely random question! A lot of times when I'm working with students one on one they tend to get off topic really easily and ask off-the-wall questions, or want to tell stories about their weekends. I'm never really sure if I should allow them to finish what they are saying, or just kindof ignore it and say "let's focus on this right now." I think it would be easier to make a decision if I were the teacher, but I dunno. I just always wonder how I should react in these situations when the teacher has me set aside with students to get a specific task done. Hopefully this makes some sense! :)

This observation warmed my heart :)

During the last observation that I did for my SED 104 class, I went back home and sat in on a seventh grade social studies class. Within the class was a student with autism and ADHD. He was so precious! I could have watched him all day. This student was constantly humming and appeared to be directing his own band in his mind during class as he rocked back in forth in his seat. Although some may have viewed this behavior as distracting, all of the students around him seemed unaware or just use to this behavior. Every once and awhile he would chime into class, sometimes it was relevant to what was be discussed, and sometimes not. However he seemed confident is his speech and seemed to have well developed language skills. Yet someone in class mentioned how they knew someone with autism who did not speak at all. It seems crazy to me how this disorder manifests itself in totally different ways. However some characteristics of autism are always prevalent, like being overly sensitive. For example the student I observed once called out, "Mr. Utz, someone is stealing my sounds!". He seemed quite upset about this, but luckily he was calmed by the reassurance of the teacher saying "Those are all your sounds, you don't need to worry about anyone stealing them from you...we can even have them Patton if you want" (haha :)). Autism is a really fascinating disorder that effects so many students in today's classrooms, but as long as we find out how to keep them calm and feeling safe, its amazing to think of what they can accomplish!

After being in class Thursday night and discussing Autism, I came home and looked at some videos about Autism on YouTube and found one that was very interesting to me......It video is "In My Language".

I was unable to attend class last night 3/24/11. Could anyone fill me in on what I missed?

Thanks

Sarah Stokes

Website for Itinerate Teachers of the DHH

In our DHH Teacher Cadre today, we visited several resource sites that many of us teachers use. This was given to us by the coordinator and I found it really cool.
It address what Itinerate teachers may do and gives some awesome resource links. Since most DHH teachers are itinerate in the district, I found this to be a knowledgable website about some of the things that are involved in being this type of teacher. Check it out!


http://www.theitinerantconnection.com/itinerantservices.htm

Class Cancelled - 3/17

Due to unforseen circumstances I need to cancel class tonight, March 3/17. 

There is a revised schedule on Blackboard.  We will discuss this in class next week. 

I hope you will enjoy the weather tonight and be able to use this additional extra time in a relaxing or productive way.

"Welcome to Holland"

I heard about this poem and really makes you think about the child you are expecting to give birth to and have a child that is born with a disability...that is what the poem is about:



Welcome to Holland

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Misunderstood Minds Website Link

This is such a cool website! In my SED 104 class we were encouraged to visit this site for extra credit, but trust me you may end up playing around on it for awhile. There are short exercises where you can experience what it is like to have a learning disability. It was really interesting to go into the section on the website where you can see what it is like for students whom have trouble paying attention in class.
Check it out!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/

English to ASL Dictionary

I was not aware that there was a sign language dictionay. I came across this on the internet, most of you that have ASL classes probably knew about this, but I had no idea. I have pasted the link. I found it to be interesting.

http://www.lifeprint.com/dictionary.htm



"A living language evolves to meet the ever changing needs of the people who use it. Lexicography, (the making of dictionaries), is like painting sunsets. By the time the paint dries the subject has changed. American Sign Language is constantly adapting to the needs of Deaf people, our families, and our associates.As time goes on, this dictionary will become more sophisticated and include advanced features. For now, it serves its purpose of providing a quick and easy reference. Not all words are there (yet) but I add more and more as time goes on."
Dr. Bill Vicars

Due Dates

I know there has been some confusion on due dates due to changes in schedules and typos.  I want to clarify when ALL of your work for this course is due for the rest of the semester.

• Test 2:                       Due by midnight, Friday, March 4th.

•  Reading Response:      Per class -  Friday, March 4th - will accept late work 

• Observation Report:   Due by midnight, Thursday, March 24th

•  Test 3:                      Due by class time, Thursday, April 7th 

• Transcripts of Language Projects can be used in class as a part of the activities.  This is NOT a drop dead due date.  However, if you do have it completed it is an excellent time to bring it and receive help and feedback with it. - Thursday, April 7th.  It does not have to be the entire transcript.

•  Language Project:      Thursday, April 21st 

• Final Exam:               Thursday, May 5th 
  (Will open prior to this and be a comprehensive online Final Exam)

Book and Video tonight

Dr. White,

The book and video that you showed us tonight was great. That is a really motivating story for a teacher. If all teachers read that book and watched that video, i believe that their would be a huge boost in teachers' caring and productivity in the classroom. Really touching story.

disability vs delay

Last week, we talked about how a lot of children are put in special education classes just because of a delay, when really they do not have a disability. We talked how parents take the word 'disability' very seriuosly and sometimes personally. I wanted to share my story with an experience my mom had when I was younger. I have a older brother. Before I could really talk I would grunt noises all the time and somehow my brother knew exactly what I was saying or wanting everytime. So my grunting continued. Once I was four and in pre-school my parents began to realize I was not at my correct level I should of been with my language. After a couple of doctor visits the nurse told my mom that I had Second Child Syndrome. My mom felt terrible and blamed in all on herself. Soon enough thought (after the nurse felt bad) THe nurse explained there is really no such thing it just means I was delayed because my brother spoke for me. So teachers remember using the word 'diability' is not a joking matter!

A funny Semantic example

I was teaching preschool the other day. One of the kids was drinking milk from their cereal bowl. The way the child had his bowl turned milk was going to run out of it. I told the child to turn his bowl a different way before his milk run everywhere. The little boy sitting beside him looked at me very seriously and said "milk don't have legs, it can't run." After I got my composure back together from laughing, I smiled at him and said you are right milk don't have legs and it can't run. I just didn't want your friend to spill his milk.

This class had made me more aware of my communication with others especially kids.

Darn those multiple meaning words (run). LOL

Have you ever had something like this happen before?

Child vs Adult learners

We as teachers of children are taught to adapt our teaching to the learning styles of our students so we may reach them effectively at their level. This ensures the success of all students regardless if the child has learning difficulties, learning disabilities, or not. What happens when that child grows up and goes to college. They are now considered an adult learner. What are your thoughts on adult learners? Do teachers of adult learners need to continue adapting to help ensure the adult learning or does the adult learner need to change the way they learn to ensure their own successful learning? Can adult learners just change the way they learn? If so does that mean children are able to change the way they learn?

I had a good view of semantics today in class.  My SED 104 teacher described a problem with semantics very well.  A child can describe everything they did at Disney Land but when it comes to describing the event on paper they struggle.  This can be identified with a learning disability.

"Working with Justin"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2f5mrDXbMg

Any thoughts?

I never really thought about it....

Last Thursday in class, we began to talk about delays. Being a special education major, I was always concerned with those students whom either qualified for general education or whom qualified for special education. How many times are those with delays overlooked? How many students who just needed a little extra help or for something to be explained in a different way have we let fall through the cracks? I never really thought about it until now.

Hmmmmmm

"Communication works for those who work at it."

-John Powell



I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this quote. From one standpoint I can agree, but from another I think it's a little unfair.
I dunno, I thought it was odd.

Twin Talk!

I know some of us enjoyed the video of the little babies "talking" together. So after looking on Youtube, I found this video of two adorable twin boys. I couldn't figure out the hyperlink so just copy & paste the link to watch! :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgRH4yDbYKM

Sign Language

I have a niece that teaches her children to use sign language instead of actually talking; they do not have any kind of disoreders, but yet she makes them sign what they are wanting or more of something. I understand wanting them to learn, but her son is almost three and he signs more than he talks. They are not around anyone that needs to be signed to. I was wanting to see if I could get a little input and thoughts on this!

MLU

I was looking at websites to better my understanding. I ran across this website and liked it. It shows you examples and how they found the answer. It also shows what not to count just like our grammatical morphemes and counting morphemes worksheets. It just gave me a little more of an understanding and breaks it down a little more.
http://www.speech-therapy-information-and-resources.com/mean-length-of-utterance.html

Class Topics

I am really enjoying what we are talking about in class. The topics we have discussed, and the videos we have watched have opened my eyes to new things. Growing up, I never had trouble reading or writing. I always caught on to new topics fairly easily. I never understood why it was so hard for Johnny to read out loud in class when I was in 2nd grade. After I got older, of course I learned that everyone learned on different levels, but I never really understood why. But after the past couple weeks I have learned a lot and how I could help someone who may be struggling. Thank you for making me aware. :)

Waiting for Superman

So I'm not sure if any of you are familiar with the documentary titled "Waiting for Superman" but it came out this past fall in select theatres and I really wanted to see it! It wasn't playing anthwere in the area but it just came out on DVD and I've finally been able to watch it. AMAZING EYE OPENER!!!

To quickly summarize it gives a lot of facts and statistics about American Public Schools and their studnets, and to put it lightly how we are failing them... We as a developed nation are one of the lowest performing, but highest in confidence... Something to think about considering if you were to ask many students and educators where we fall among the ranking in education throught the owrld they would tell you that we are number one. Unfortunately, we are far from it.

The documentary explains why we aren't successful as successful as we need to be, how we can become more successful, and what is holding us back from doing so given we ahve the information we need to achieve at hand. This DVD has got me thinking so much I can hardly sleep and I've just got to share it with someone, who better than a group of aspiring educators? If you get the opportunity to watchi it, even if it means buying it, I promise it's worth it and it could very possibly change your thinking on our current education system.

Each child is living the only life he has-

The only one he will ever have.

The least we can do is not diminish it.

-Bill Page

Website

I really like this site and thought some of you may enjoy it.

http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
Information for Educators and Student Activities NIDCD's Noisy Planet Campaign—Protecting Kids' Hearing Classroom Activities—News, games, videos, and education campaigns WISE EARS!®—A public education campaign to prevent noise-induced hearing loss Healthy Hearing 2010—Work with others to promote healthy hearing habits

hey guys!I wont be able to make it to class tonight, Feb. 17. Can someone please inform me whatt we do tonight? thanks!

Universal Language???

McDonald's knows how to sell french fries!!!  Check out the video!

Helpful websites

Here is some great websites to help within a classroom!

http://kellyskindergarten.com/

http://drjean.org/

Is anyone else having trouble opening the test on Blackboard today? I have saved the test into a Word doc. and only have a few more questions left to answer. But when I signed onto Blackboard this morning to look at the test and to submit it, I could not find the it again?

Viewing Videos for the Test

If you are having difficulty viewing the videos for the test use this link!

Trouble opening a link

I was looking in the weekly resources at week 2 I clicked on semantic word meaning vocabulary and it said there was an error and it wouldn't open it up. Is there a problem with this link or my computer?

Correlation

I am currently in a COM 100 class and we were talking about nonverbals and how you can say so much without saying anything. It is crazy to me how much we communicate without saying a word. We were talking about communication struggles between men and women, and how women communicate 70 % of what they want to say through nonverbal action. Men use verbal communication for about 70% of what they want to say. For example, when a women says," Im fine." a man is supposed to be able to interpret her nonverbal actions to find out if she really is. However, a man will usually not try to interpret her actions because when he says he is fine, he means it. I just find it funny sometimes how it works out this way. Anyone else agree?

Awesome website!

Hey guys! I just got out of one of my education classes and she gave us this website. www.aimsweb.com If you click on support and training, there are a ton of links to videos on how students are assessed with language skills and pronunciation of words and letters. THere are also other videos concerning math skills. I thought it was a very interesting sight! My professor also said there are a lot of teachers that use the information from this website in their classrooms! enjoy!

I belivied this poem applied to all types of children. I think it's s good statement for teachers and parents to follow!

Children Live What They Learn

When children live with criticism,
They learn to condemn.
When children live with hostility,
They learn to fight
When children live with ridicule,
They learn to be shy.
When children live with tolerance.
They learn to be patient.
When children live with encouragement,
They learn confidence.
When children live with security,
They learn to have faith.
When children live with fairness,
They learn justice.
When children live with praise,
They learn to appreciate.
When children live with approval.
They learn to like themselves.
When children live with acceptance
And friendship,
They learn to find Love in the world.
When children live withSiara Spurlock got a new phone number from www.textPlus.com. Text them at 6614509509

Famous people with communication disorders

http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/speech-famous.shtml


Here is a link to a website that shows a list of famous people with communication disorders. This could be a great motivating tool to use in the classroom for students with communication disorders.

Twin Babies video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7mOzWQSnaQ


Hopefully this link works!! This video is super cute!! Babies can communicate!!!

Test 1 - Now Posted

Test 1 is now posted in Blackboard.  Feel free to post questions here.  Obviously we won't be posting "answers" to questions on the blog.  However, we can post ideas relative to the questions.

The test is due, must be submitted by next SATURDAY, at midnight.

I Am the Child

I enjoyed this poem, so I thought I would share it....

I am the child who cannot talk. You often pity me, I see it in your eyes. You wonder how much I am aware of — I see that as well. I am aware of much — whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me. I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater, for I cannot express myself or my needs as you do.
You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times. I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated. I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, sharing my needs, or comments about the world about me. I do not give you rewards as defined by the world’s standards — great strides in development that you can credit yourself; I do not give you understanding as you know it.
What I give you is so much more valuable — I give you instead opportunities. Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine; the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities; the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible. I drive you further than you would ever go on your own, working harder, seeking answers to your many questions with no answers. I am the child who cannot talk.
I am the child who cannot walk. The world seems to pass me by. You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children. There is much you take for granted. I want the toys on the shelf, I need to go to the bathroom, oh I’ve dropped my fork again. I am dependant on you in these ways. My gift to you is to make you more aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself. Sometimes people appear not to notice me; I always notice them. I feel not so much envy as desire, desire to stand upright, to put one foot in front of the other, to be independent. I give you awareness. I am the child who cannot walk.
I am the child who is mentally impaired. I don’t learn easily, if you judge me by the world’s measuring stick, what I do know is infinite joy in simple things. I am not burdened as you are with the strifes and conflicts of a more complicated life. My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love. I give you the gift of simplicity. I am the child who is mentally impaired.
I am the disabled child. I am your teacher. If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life. I will give you and teach you unconditional love. I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you. I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted. I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams. I teach you giving. Most of all I teach you hope and faith. I am the disabled child.

Author unknown

Importance of language

http://elsawyllie.blogspot.com/2009/02/importance-of-language.html

Found an interesting article about the importance of language that I thought I would share with the class.

Quote

"Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about."

 -Benjamin Lee Whorf

importance of body language video

http://www.ehow.com/video_4438812_read-body-language.html?cp=1&wa_vrid=31f45e13-79dc-4ae1-b506-0234729bb9af&pid=1&wa_vlsrc=continuous

Interesting article about Phonemes

"Making Friends with Phonemes"

http://www.auburn.edu/~murraba/phon.html  CLICK HERE

Mother jailed for sendin children to a better school district.

Mother jailed for sending her children to a better school district. The link to the story from ABC news on Good Morning America is below.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/mom-jailed-for-sending-kids-to-better-school-12766049

When I saw this, I just shook my head. Every day I go to the school I work at and see bright, wonderful children that work hard for their teachers who in turn are bright, wonderful people that work hard to teach the students. This is my 2nd year working in this elementary. In this district, there are 4 elementary schools. The school that I work in, from the public opinion that I have heard, is not the best school in the county. The best school in the county is across town. Now I also worked in that elementary school for 4 years. I know the teachers there and many students. The teachers work hard, the students work hard, but there is not any difference in how much work is being done from either school. I know that parents do send their children to other school because it is considered a “better” school and quite frankly, it is bursting at the seams making class sizes increase. It has even brought debate over whether the district should re-examine districting for the 4 schools. This is what I think. Parents want the best education for the students. If every teacher, every principal, every school board member, every superintendent, and every parent is for this concept, then it shouldn’t matter what school the child is supposed to attend because that school is giving the best education available and that child will be successful. It takes the village to raise a child, so why doesn’t the village also help educate the child and quit trying to blame who hasn’t done their part when apparently it is everyone equally responsible.

Resource Classrooms

I am having a hard time understanding why my niece of the age of 13 and in eighth grade is to stay solely in the middle schools recourse classrooms. My niece is severely hearing impaired and I know that this is a huge disadvantage for her and I know that she is always going to need a lot of help. However, is this honestly the best way to do it? My niece is at a very hard age right now i.e, getting ready to transition into high school, puberty, among many other teenage "things". She has to wear her hearing aids at all times and also usually has to read lips because her hearing loss is in fact so profound. I am so scared of her being ridiculed and made fun of from her peers but does it really help her chances of being successful with making friends and keeping them if she is not aloud to interact in the regular classroom? Mrs. White do you believe that this is the best way for her to learn even though she is still not exactly on the eighth grade level?

Thanks! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Pragmatics

Can you think of a time when something funny, embarrassing, or serious happened to you regarding one of these pragmatic skills?

Phonemes

How does this video extend your thinking about phonemes?

Form/Syntax - Classroom Connection

How do these activities for the classroom connect to our discussion on morphemes in class?  In what ways does seeing these activities clarify or extend your understanding of how morphemes are taught in schools?  What questions do you still have?

Lack of Communication

Over the weekend I saw first hand how important communication can be, and how the lack of communication can have negative effects. My Grandfather was admitted into the hospital Friday morning around 9:00 am. No one called to inform me that he was in the hospital until almost 4:00 pm. Thankfully, it was nothing too serious and he is now back at home. However, the situation could have easily been worse and potentially caused tension between family members.

life-threatening disease

So, during class the other night, after we did the prefix and suffix exercise, Mrs. White gave a brief lecture on literacy and its importance today. Though this was not a huge part of her lesson, it kind of stuck with me because I'm also in ELE 445 this semester (Foundation of Reading/Language Arts) and during the first chapter there was a section on why reading was so important.

The paragraph states:
"the inability to read has been listed recently as a national health risk. The National Institutes of Health, an agency of the federal government, has recently registered reading disability or the inability to read on the nation's list of "life-threatening diseases" because of the devestating and far-reaching effects that reading failure has upon the quality of our citizens' lives."

Before either of these classes, I never would have thought illiteracy was considered a life-threatening disease.. But now, I guess it really is true. But then again, I dunno.

Is this surprising to anyone else?!
What do you guys think?

Class lastnight had such a close relationship with the Linguistics class I'm taking in ITP with KP (Karen Petronio) and might I say that the complexity of the English language, and even into the developement to signs through Stokoe's system is remarkable and really amazing from my perspective as a student. I apologize for the run-on sentence :))

Will we have any visitors this semester? Maybe a workshop class with a teacher of children with communication disabilities, a speech pathologist, a pannel of different people with experience etc. Might be an interesting idea for the end of the semester...#Imjustsayin

Mrs. White!
How bout a SIMCOM class for the ITP student that never hears English by a professor anymore! You did in the last class and I think it'd be refreshing!

Mrs. White, random question. This is my second class that I have with the privilege of you being my teacher :)) I noticed that you ALWAYS have a McCafe cup. Do you get the coffee before class or do you just keep the cup and refill it or what? I know its silly but I always wonder to myself and to be honest its a distraction lol. Clarification would be appreciated!

On my way home...

After class last night I drove back home to Ohio for the weekend. On the way there I got cut off and honked my horn at the car in front of me. I stopped and thought, man that was just communication. I did not have to say anything, sign anything, give a certain look or even make eye contact. The car in front of me knew I was honking at him and why I was honking. Who knew we communicated that much...

-Ashley O

SNOW DAY!

EKU has cancelled classes for this evening!!  Enjoy your "Snow Day!"  I will post some links and discussion questions here on the blog this week relative to the topics we will discuss next week.  We'll have A LOT to learn!!  We will hit the ground running next week to ensure we lay the groundwork for syntax, semantics and pragmatics - the three BIG IDEAS we'll address this semester.

New Post

Feel free to add a NEW POST with your own topic, question, idea, etc. relative to this semester.  You can do that once you sign in by click on the NEW POST link in the top right hand corner.

I look forward to seeing how creative and inquisitive you are with your posts and comments to one another!

Mrs. White

Welcome to the Class Blog

Welcome to our Class Blog! It will be used in a variety of ways to extend course content.  It is open to YOU to find creative ways to use it to solidify and extend your own learning!!!  

Topics discussed in class will be discussed and explored here through your interaction and sharing with one another.  Questions relative to class material and assignments are welcome here.  Information relative to tests will be posted here such as sample questions and model answers.  

Posting to the blog - either your own initial posts, responding to others or a combination of the two is a REQUIRED part of the course and a part of your overall grade.  You are required to post each month of the semester and it is most beneficial to you and your peers if you take time to do this at least once weekly.

Get started by posting a brief introduction of yourself!  Please include your major, years at EKU and home town/state.  You may include other information about you, your family, future goals, etc.