Integrated
Technology Services
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ITS
TechTalk - May/June 2002
Theme of the Month: Balanced Literacy |
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ITS
Staff News |
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by
Bill Reeder |
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ITS
is pleased to announce the birth of
Jared Martin Cohen on April 23, 2002,
to ITS West Potomac staff member, Sandy
Cohen. Mother and Jared are doing great
and Sandy is planning to return to
ITS next year in a part-time capacity. |
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Ashley
Evans, also one of our ITS West Potomac
staff, has announced that she is expecting
the birth of her second child in November,
2002. |
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Summer
Assistive Technology Classes |
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by
Cheryl Temple |
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This
summer, ITS will be offering 13 different
assistive technology classes which will
appear in the Summer Academy Course catalog.
Please contact the Office of Staff Development
after the catalog is distributed if you
are interested in participating in any
of these classes.
Class: Creating
Emerging Literacy Activities Using
Technology
When: Week of June 24 - June 28
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
Class: Adapted Access
When: Week of June 24 - June 28
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center
Time: 4:30 - 7:30
Class: Using Kidspiration to Support the Curriculum for Students
with Special Needs
When: Week of July 8 - July 12
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center, Mac Lab
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
Class: Using Kidspiration to Support the Curriculum for Students
with Special Needs
When: Week of July 8 - July 12
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center, Mac Lab
Time: 1:00 - 4:00
Class: Multimedia Projects to Support the Curriculum for Students
with Special Needs
When: Week of July 8 - July 12
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center, Win Lab
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
Class: Using
Inspiration to Support the Curriculum
for Students with Special Needs
When: Week of July 8 - July 12
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center, Win Lab
Time: 1:00 - 4:00
Class: Using BuildAbility to Support the Curriculum for Students
with Special Needs
When: Week of July 15 - July 19
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center, Mac Lab
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
Class: Using Inspiration to Support the Curriculum for Students
with Special Needs
When: Week of July 15 - July 19
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center, Win Lab
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
Class: Using IntelliTalk II to Support the Curriculum for Students
with Special Needs
When: Week of July 15 - July 19
Where: ITS, West Potomac High School
Time: 1:00 - 4:00
Class: Creating a Visual Classroom to Foster Communication
When: Week of July 22 - July 26
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
Class: Assistive Technology: Introduction
When: Week of July 29 - August 2
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center, Mac Lab
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
Class: Using IntelliMathics to Support the Curriculum for Students
with Special Needs
When: Week of July 29 - August 2
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center, Mac Lab
Time: 1:00 - 4:00
Class: Technology for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students
When: Week of July 29 - August 2
Where: ITS, Dunn Loring Center, Win Lab
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
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Upcoming
On-line Forums
Closing
the Gap Forums
The
Talking Laser PC6 and Its Role
in Assistive Technology
June 17 - 24, 2002
Moderated by: Debbie Pillar, Sidney Minnick, Rebecca Reagan, and
Andrew Kramer
IntelliTools
for learning
June
24 -July 1, 2002
Moderated by: Karen Erickson, Suzanne Feit, Arjan Khalsa, Laurel
Hamilton, Rita Mars, and Lucinda Ray
For
more information: http://www.closingthegap.com/cgi-bin/forums/ultimatebb.cgi
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Assistive
Technology Certificates
Congratulations to
our newest recipients:
Norma
Colyer, Marshall Assessment Center
Polly
Monica, Virginia Run ES
Kay
Smith, Twain MS
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Will
Your Computer Be Legal? |
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by
Jim Phifer |
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Do
you have software on your computer that
belongs to ITS? If so, at the end of
the school year you must remove the software
from your computer's hard drive. When
ITS provides a software title on loan
to you, it is for a specific period of
time (never longer than the end of the
school year). Once that time period is
over, the software must be removed or
you will be breaking copyright laws and/or
licensing agreements. As educators, we
must set the example for our students.
If the software was packaged, repackage
it, making sure to include all pieces
(disks, manuals, overlays, etc.) and
return it to ITS. Software can be sent
through the PONY (appropriately packaged)
to: |
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Integrated Technology Services
Software Return Dept.
Dunn Loring Center
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ITS
has several software titles for which
we have limited district licenses (can
be installed on a specific number of
computers). These include Boardmaker,
Co:Writer, Write:OutLoud and PixWriter.
If ITS has installed one of these titles
on your computer, all you need to do
is remove it from your hard drive.
Since no software package was loaned,
no software package needs to be returned.
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If
you need help removing the software,
please contact your school-based technology
specialist (SBTS) or the ITS staff
member who serves your school. |
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Increase
Your Tech Vocabulary |
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by
Jim Phifer |
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This
year in every TechTalk I asked you to
guess the meaning of a computer- or Internet-related
term and gave you some links to help
you find the definition online. |
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Here's
the answer to last month's: |
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What
does "HTTP" stand for?
The
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
is the set of rules for exchanging
files on the World Wide Web. You
will see "http:" at the
beginning of most web addresses,
signifying that the web page follows
HTTP rules (protocols). |
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The
basis for most web use is "hypertext".
You might think hypertext is text that
is especially for speed readers, but
actually it is text that is specially
formatted to allow various types of
linking between multimedia files and
text documents. The term "hypertext" was
coined almost 40 years ago by author
and visionary Ted Nelson.
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Here
are some of Ted Nelson's statements
from his book, Computer Lib (1974).
Remember that this was before the Web,
before Windows, before Bill Gates left
Harvard, before the first Apple. Read
these statements for yourself. Do you
think he was a visionary? |
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- It
makes sense to own your own computer.
- Using
a computer should always be easier
than not using a computer.
- Whatever
chance remains for the survival of
anything good may be in the preservation
and availability of information,
the only commodity that will be cheaper
and more convenient.
- Not
the nature of machines, but the nature
of ideas is what matters.
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Next
time I click on a hypertext link, I'll
think of Ted. If you want to find out
more, you can visit Ted's website (http://ted.hyperland.com).
It won't be what you think. You can also
visit a site devoted to Ted's vision
(http://www.xanadu.com).
It won't be what you think, either. Have
fun and have a great summer.
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Chatterbox
Fun Fair
by
Rita Mars |
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ITS
and its community partners sponsored
the "First" Chatterbox Fun
Fair, a one day event for preschool
through second grade students (and
their families) who use picture boards
or augmentative devices with speech
output to help them to communicate.
The fun fair was held at Kings Glen
Elementary School on Saturday, May
4th from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. Games, food,
entertainment, and prizes were provided.
Special events included a helicopter
landing, motorcycle maneuvers, K-9
dog team, vehicles from the police
and fire department, and child fingerprinting
by the Sheriff's Department. Performances
included a fire safety puppet show,
Biggo the Clown show, a dance workshop
and dances by the DanceAbilities troupe,
which specializes in therapeutic dance
for children with special needs. The
fair provided a chance for children
to meet with other children who use
devices or picture boards, a chance
for parents to meet and talk with other
parents, and a chance for parents to
see some of the devices used in the
school system. Check out the Chatterbox
website for more information and to
view photos of the event:
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/DSSSE/its/Chatterbox |
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IntelliTools
Reading: Balanced Literacy
by
Sandy Morrissette |
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IntelliTools
Reading: Balanced Literacy by IntelliTools
is a nine unit, yearlong program of supplementary
literacy instruction at the first grade
skill level. Balanced Literacy provides
a balanced approached to literacy instruction
for beginning readers. It is a multimedia
program that integrates guided reading,
structured writing, and word study (phonics)
activities. |
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Each
of the nine Balanced Literacy units is
designed to correspond to a month-long
teaching schedule. Every unit is comprised
of a sequence of daily lessons. Each
lesson contains one to six activities
designed to support and supplement the
language arts curriculum. The activities
in each unit feature easily identifiable,
animated animal characters and colorful,
fully illustrated environments. |
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Each
unit uses a different animal theme to
reinforce guided reading comprehension,
phonics instruction and writing. An Anchor
Book introduces structured language,
sight vocabulary, onsets and/or rimes
taught in that unit. Animated songs introduce
each new onset and rime. Onset and rime “books” further
increase phonemic awareness. More than
300 computer-based phonics activities
develop decoding skills. Pattern “books” reinforce
sight words and common phrases. |
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Teachers can set up Classes, Groups and Student Folders using the
Class Management Screen. The program automatically monitors students’ progress
as they work through each unit and manages the lesson sequence
for students. It also automatically keeps a record of each student’s
progress by recording his/her responses to the review questions.
The report record lists questions and right and wrong answers.
Stars indicate correct answers, checks show wrong answers. Teachers
can see how many tries it took a student to solve each review
question. These records help teachers assess student mastery
of the topic and focus on areas needing continuing support. These
records are also very useful in teacher-parent conferences. The
progress reports may be previewed and/or printed. |
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Balanced Literacy is completely accessible to children with special
needs, including physical or learning disabilities and developmental
delays. It supports various access devices including a mouse,
a keyboard, IntelliKeys, and switches.
IntelliTools
Reading: Balanced Literacy includes:
- 9
full-color original story books
(Anchor books)
- 100+
electronic books
- Comprehensive
Teacher’s Guide with daily
lesson plans and a host of extension
activities
- Balanced
Literacy CD (Mac/Win dual platform)
with over 500 activities
- 46
colorful, durable overlays
- Demo
Version of IntelliTalk II (printing/saving
disabled)
- Bonus!
Writing Resource CD with 58 extension
activities using IntelliTalk II
and 1,000+ graphics from the program
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Learn
more about IntelliTools Reading: Balanced
Literacy and download Balanced Literacy
Program Highlights at the IntelliTools
web site http://www.intellitools.com. |
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Balanced
Literacy Pilot Project |
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by
Lisa Givens |
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Several elementary teachers of students with special needs participated
in a pilot project this year that focused on implementing
the Balanced Literacy program as a supplemental reading program
in their classrooms. Teachers from LD, ED, PD, MR, NCE, MOD/SD,
AUT and Preschool programs participated. These teachers met
with ITS staff three times during the year to discuss how
they were using the program.
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Most
teachers found that the program easily
coordinated with their primary reading
programs. They reported that with
some students they saw a great deal
of improvement in their understanding
of sound/letter relationships and
comprehension after using Balanced
Literacy. Teachers especially liked
the binder of materials and the colorful
books that are included with the
program. Many teachers also created
their own extension activities to
provide students with additional
practice with the skills taught in
Balanced Literacy.
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ITS
Teacher Feature
Karen
Wiltraut
Hayfield
ES
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A
Special Place to Learn
My
students have a special place to
learn at Hayfield Elementary School.
Based on the inclusion model, all
students receive services in the
general education classroom. I provide
special education services to students
with mental retardation in what we
call the "Learning Lab."
Our
Learning Lab services students in
grades three through six. The students'
reading abilities range from the
preprimer level to second grade.
Individualized and small group instruction
is provided in the areas of reading,
language arts, and math. Since students
flow through the lab throughout the
day, one challenge is to maximize
individual instruction in the limited
time we have together.
Balanced
Literacy is a new reading supplement
to the instruction I provide. The
students find navigating through
the program quite easy and feel empowered
because they can be successful without
any assistance. I quickly realized
how motivating this program was for
my students. When using this program,
students can develop reading fluency,
explore sounds, and develop writing
skills.
Students
willingly engage in this program
because the reading material is set
to catchy songs and the illustrations
are captivating. Even the most hesitant
child engages in song. Combined with
highlighted text, the tunes reinforce
the reading of words and stimulates
auditory processing, making it easier
for the student to understand the
connection between letter/sound relationships.
Writing templates which correlate
and reinforce each lesson are also
included in this program.
Supplemental
activities are plenty and easy to
incorporate into daily instruction.
Many of the extension activities
can be incorporated into Speech and
Occupational Therapy time. Additionally,
parents are thrilled when activities
are sent home to extend learning
for the day.
The
most rewarding aspect of this program
is witnessing the individual progress
in the children---how they make connections
and transfer this knowledge into
other reading materials and into
other aspects of their learning.
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Featured
TOPS Teacher
Bonnie
Lindberg
Graham
Road ES
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After
twelve years as a Fairfax County teacher
for students with learning disabilities
in grades 2 through 6, I began a transformation
in becoming the teacher in a noncategorical
class for four kindergarten and two fifth
grade students. My involvement in the
TOPS program made this transformation
survivable. Sharing sessions with other
TOPS teachers provided me with ideas
to try with my students. It also gave
me the chance to share my successes with
others as well as reassured me that trial
and error is normal behavior for teachers
in "noncat" classes, and a
chance to share my successes with others.
The yearlong exploration/evaluation of
the new software, Balanced Literacy,
supplied me with material and additional
ideas to try with my students.
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The
new computer program, Balanced Literacy,
was introduced to my class early in the
year. We soon learned that my students
did not have the attention spans, mouse
skills, phonemic awareness, or understanding
of English verbal directions to work
independently. However, by working with
them on the program, I learned much about
what they could do and what I needed
to teach them. The understanding of onsets
and rimes for decoding was far beyond
them, but the song stories were so appealing
that Balanced Literacy could be a "choice
break" for completing other work.
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We
based our sequence of letter study
on the order used in the program. Two
of my students are beginning to demonstrate
some understanding of "first", "sound", "first
sound", and "same".
Many of them can find the matching
pictures and matching picture/word
cards with help to select the card
they want. We tried using IntelliKeys,
but the challenge of matching what
was on the screen to what was on the
board under their hands created extra
frustration. Having the children point
to the actual computer screen with
an adult to move the mouse to that
location so the child could "click" their
choice has proven most successful.
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My
students still have no idea how to follow
the sentence patterns, even with help.
In TOPS sharing sessions, many of us
had concerns about the design of the
program which allowed the students to
simply click and move forward, or like
many of mine, click back to the story
songs they love. As TOPS teachers, we
were able to have our suggestions forwarded
to the publisher. Balanced Literacy has
many good qualities and I hope to be
included in a pilot group to try an updated
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The
hardware proved to be just as helpful
as the software. The Mavica digital
camera was an invaluable tool as
I worked with my ten-year old fifth
grade student to complete her Alternate
Assessment portfolio. She has good
articulation skills in Spanish and
English, but very poor language processing
and cognitive skills. She loves looking
at and talking about pictures, having
her picture taken and taking pictures.
By having the digital camera handy
in the classroom and taking it with
us to her 5th grade class, we improved
her popularity among her peers and
gathered data for her portfolio.
Individual pictures were printed
on pages we called "photo journal" pages.
I then wrote her comments and explanations
on the page to create her entries.
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Graham
Road has an extremely diverse population.
Classroom teachers, special education
teachers, ESOL teachers, and many others
work together to provide appropriate
differentiated instruction to meet the
needs of all children in our population.
The support given me through the TOPS
program this year filtered through me
to benefit my students. Another important
part of being a TOPS teacher is sharing
with other teachers at Graham Road. Next
year I look forward to expanding my sharing
role, "for the good of the school!" as
our principal says. |
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Featured
ITS Staff Member
Gail
Holloman
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Gail
grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi, along
the golden Gulf Coast. As a result,
she loves the beach, cooking and eating.
Gulf shrimp, fried catfish, Jambalaya
and Gumbo are some of her favorite
dishes.
Gail
graduated from Southern University
with a Bachelor's degree in Business
Management. In 1984 Gail moved to
the Northern Virginia area where
she worked as a Corporate Banker
for First American Bank of Virginia.
Gail's interest in technology was
sparked during this time when banks
were going online. Once she and her
husband started a family, Gail retired
from corporate life. She decided
to make her dream of teaching come
true. She received a Master's degree
in Education from Marymount University
in 1994. Gail taught elementary age
students with a variety of abilities
at Dogwood ES and Hunt Valley ES.
During those years, she had an excellent
opportunity to explore and infuse
a variety of technologies in the
classroom. As a TOPS Teacher for
ITS, Gail taught inservices and workshops,
participated in curriculum development
and provided technology support for
summer school. She joined the ITS
team in January of 2000. Gail is
a case manager with 10 schools. She
loves working directly with teachers
and students, making presentations,
and teaching inservices and workshops.
Gail
has been married for 20 years and
has a 13-year-old daughter. She loves
traveling, trains, biking, gardening,
decorating, sewing, reading and of
course eating!
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