Lesson Activity ToolKit- Notebook 10 April 16, 2008
Posted by anne marie in SMART Board, Special Education, Websites.Tags: education, Interactive, Notebook 10, SMARTBoard, Special Education
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I spent some time today exploring some of the Notebook 10 Lesson Activity Toolkit and am loving it! Mostly because there are games and activities that allow images to be imported– a HUGE plus for my students who need images/symbols to supplement lessons. I received an email from SMART Exchange with a link to a subforum on their site with some some great Tips and Tricks for the LAT including a Quick Reference Guide and video tutorials. I found it to be very helpful- especially the videos. I’m giving it an A!! 
Notebook 10 April 15, 2008
Posted by anne marie in SMART Board, Special Education, Websites.Tags: education, Notebook 10, SMARTBoard, Special Education
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GREAT news- SMART Technologies released Notebook Version 10 today-YEAH! 
Sorry- had to stop for a short happy dance!!! Anyway, if you want to download this latest version here’s a link to Notebook 10. Have fun exploring all of the GREAT new features!
Voice Thread April 14, 2008
Posted by anne marie in Down Syndrome, SMART Board, Special Education, Websites.Tags: ELA, Language, Special Education, Speech Therapy, Voice Thread
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I learned about this fun, very motivating site from Christine Southard’s Blog- thanks Christine! Voice Thread is an online media album that can hold essentially any type of media allowing you to share them with anyone. Voice Thread allows group conversations to be collected and shared in one place from anywhere in the world. There is also Ed.Voice Thread specifically designed for K-12 students and educators. There is a $10 one time activation fee if you want to use it in your classroom.
I have been using Voice Thread with my students since last week with some very impressive success. My students are enjoying the recording feature – as they say “listen to me in the computer”– not to mention that they love seeing their pictures on the SMART Board! We started a history unit on the American Revolution- specifically George Washington- and they have been eagerly recording their thoughts and what they have learned about our first President. If you want to see a great example of Voice Thread being incorporated into a classroom check out Christine’s Blog–she shares a Voice Thread she created with her students.
Best Buddies April 13, 2008
Posted by anne marie in Autism, Down Syndrome, Special Education.Tags: Autism, Best Buddies, Down Syndrome, Special Education
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Our school chapter of Best Buddies is planning a Red Sox excursion to Fenway Park so I thought I’d take the opportunity to write about this unique and worthwhile organization. In case you haven’t heard about Best Buddies, it was founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver. “Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally. It is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.” There is also a component called e-Buddies. e-Buddies is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one e-mail friendships.” In the classroom this can be a motivating way to address objectives that typically are not student “favorites” such as reading and writing skills, not to mention developing social and computer skills by making technology fun! Another AWESOME feature is, thanks to a partnership between Best Buddies, America Online, (AOL) and Intellitools, you can access special IntelliKeys Overlays designed to make it easier for persons with disabilities to use AOL.
Andrew Lawson– an inspiration! April 13, 2008
Posted by anne marie in Down Syndrome, Special Education.Tags: Boston Globe article, Down Syndrome, Special Education, Special needs
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Happy Sunday morning! Well I watched the Lifetime movie last night- “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” and I have to admit I was disappointed. It wasn’t near as good as the book. Last night as I was watching the movie a friend of mine sent me a link to an article that had been written by Monique Walker of the Boston Globe in February 2008- “Late Game Heroics for Lawson”. 
The article is about a young man who is a member of the Norwell High School (MA) basketball team. A young man with great courage, determination, acceptance, is an inspiration to many and, oh yeah, by the way, he also has Down Syndrome. Sounds just like our Darren! If you want to add a smile to your face this morning take a minute to read the article and view a video of Andrew.
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter April 11, 2008
Posted by anne marie in Books, Special Education.Tags: Down Syndrome, Lifetime Movie, Special Education, Special needs
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This book by Kim Edwards is on my list of top 5 favorite books. Perhaps it’s in part due to the fact that my first job in Special Ed was at a State Institution. Many of the people who lived there had been placed there at birth. I remember often thinking “what if” alot– what if Sarah had grown up in a home, what if Johnny had had the opportunity to go to a public school, what if Timmy didn’t have to share a bedroom with 50 other people, what if they had early intervention, what if they could make choices about their lives, what if… This book, in many ways, addressed many of my “what if” questions and reaffirmed my belief that one person can make a difference in the life of someone who lives with a disability. This book also struck home because we have opened our home and our hearts to a young man with Down Syndrome and it has been the most rewarding journey.
Now back to the reason for this post– The Lifetime Channel has turned this wonderful book into a movie which will air tomorrow night, April 12th at 9PM. An excerpt- ”The birth of a child should be the happiest moment in a couple’s life. But when a doctor’s wife has twins, one of whom has Down syndrome, this physician makes the difficult decision to send one of his babies away. An attending nurse discovers his plan and intervenes, putting into motion events that will haunt the doc, his wife and his son for the next 20 years.”
So read the book, watch the movie…. and have your Kleenex ready.
Andy and His Yellow Frisbee April 10, 2008
Posted by anne marie in Autism, Special Education.Tags: Autism, Special Education
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This book by Mary Thompson introduces young readers to Autism. The main character of this book is Andy, a boy with Autism who is fascinated with objects in motion. He spins things around him- coins, dinner plates, and at school, his yellow frisbee. This book brought back memories for me, as Andy and his spinning abilities reminded me of a young man I had in school when I first started teaching.
Whiteboard Room ROCKS! April 9, 2008
Posted by anne marie in SMART Board, Special Education, Websites.Tags: SMARTBoard, Special Education, Special needs, Website, Whiteboard
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Charlie Danger from the Better Living Through Technology website shared another site with me today and believe me after exploring The Whiteboard Room site I feel like it is Christmas morning and I got to open the largest gift under the Christmas tree!! This is a definite take a look and stay a while website for all Special Education Teachers using a SMART Board in the classroom. Enjoy and THANK YOU, Charlie for sharing!
First Signs. April 6, 2008
Posted by anne marie in Autism, Special Education, Websites.Tags: Autism, Special Education, Special needs
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Today I want to share a website that is filled with a plethera of information and resources about the importance of early diagnosis and intervention when a child presents with signs of a developmental disorder. In their own words, “First Signs, Inc. is a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating parents and pediatric professionals about the early warning signs of autism and other developmental disorders.” The information First Signs provides is both extensive and worthwhile.
Better Living Through Technology April 5, 2008
Posted by anne marie in Autism, Special Education, Websites.Tags: Special Education, Website
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A friend of mine who attened the CEC Conference in Boston this week passed along this dynamite website that is written with Special Educational Needs in mind and is overflowing with resources and ideas–
Better Living Through Technology. This is a “non-commercial web site designed to promote the use of technology to help people with a range of disablities.” Definitely worth exploring.
