The iTaalk Autism Foundation is happy to announce The iTaalk Top 30
                                       
    Visit itaalk.org for more information about interactive technology.
                                                 

                                         

The iTaalk Autism Foundation's mission is to train and educate families, educators and service providers on the basic uses of the interactive technological products (e.g. iPad, iPod, Android) for individuals with developmental disabilities.



                            
    

        

Kindergarten

PBS Kids: Weather Transformer

http://pbskids.org/catinthehat/games/
weather-transformer.html
Join the Cat in the Hat and his friends. Drag and drop them into the yard and then click one of the weather buttons to change the weather. See what happens!

Grade 1

Wonderville: Forces of Wonder

 
http://www.wonderville.ca/asset/forces-of-wonder
"Witness the wonder of physical forces and challenge the might and power of the world's strongest man, the amazing Stronginsky!"

  

Grade 2

Discover! Simulations - Describing Matter

 

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmsc/
activities/simulations/gr1/unite.html

texListen and learn about why things sink or float. In part 2, you can click on objects to see if they sink or float in water.

Grade 3

Discover! Simulation - Organization of LivingThings

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmsc/
activities/simulations/gr4/unita.html
How do bats use sound to find insects and avoid objects in the dark? In part two, you will learn how bats use echolocation to hunt and navigate around obstacles; after the demonstration, you will use echolocation to help the bat feed and steer through the air.

Grade 4

Wonderville: Medieval Levers

 

http://www.wonderville.ca/asset/medieval-levers
This Wonderville interactive helps you learn all about the medieval lever. How did people use levers during medieval battles?

Grade 5

BBC: Reversible and Irreversible Changes

 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/
science/materials/reversible_irreversible_changes/
play.shtml
Explore what happens as you change materials in this interactive activity.

Grade 6

The Interactive Universe

http://www.history.com/shows/the-universe/interactives/interactive-universe
Enjoy this virtual journey through space as you explore the planets in our galaxy, as well as distant galaxies, asteroids and dying stars.

Welcome to the Sensory Garden

        
   


Sensory World has a garden to explore and activities for spring, summer, fall and winter. This site has awesome activities and is based in the UK, so there is a British accent. http://www.sensoryworld.org/sensory-garden-entry.html

Language Arts Online Interactives

Kindergarten

Letterella

http://www.tvokids.com/games/letterella
Meet all the letters of the alphabet!
Have fun listening as Letterella sings and pronounces each letter.

Grade 1

Pounce! (Between the Lions)

http://pbskids.org/lions/games/pounce.html
To play, click or "pounce" on the word that matches the sound!

Grade 2

SpellingCity - Unscramble ACTION words

http://www.spellingcity.com/unscramble-letters
-to-form-words.html?listId=3829210

Drag and drop the letters into place to make an ACTION word.
There are ten words to complete.
If you get the word wrong, you get a second chance, with hints.

Grade 3

Howjsay.com

http://www.howjsay.com/
Not sure how to pronounce a word?
Type it into the text box, and click to hear it pronounced.

Grade 4

Hana's Suitcase

 

http://www.hanassuitcase.ca/
Learn more about Hana Brady, a young victim of the Holocaust,
on this beautifully designed sight. Visit the image gallery and hear a
question and answer session about Hana.

Grade 5

The Emperor's New Clothes

 
http://lightupyourbrain.com/stories/audio-story-the-emperors-new-clothes/
Click on the "READ TO ME" button to read along as you listen to the the story,
"The Emperor's New Clothes", by Hans Christian Anderson.

Grade 6

Allies and Aliens: A Mission in Critical Thinking

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/
special_initiatives/games/allies_aliens/flash/Start.html
This online activity tests students ability to recognize bias,
prejudice and hate propaganda on the Internet and in other media.

Learning Sites of Interest:

Intervention Central~Reading Comprehension and Fluency:

http://www.interventioncentral.org/index.php/academic-resources

Keyboarding Skills and much more: 

http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/keyboarding_games.html

Brain Training Games:

http://www.eduqna.com/Special-Education/202-Special-Education-6.html

Keyboarding for everyone, regardless of limitations:

http://www.special-education-soft.com/

The World in Your Hands: An Orientation Film for the Disabled Students Programs:

 http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=354691986162309305#

Working Together: Computers and People with Learning Disabilities:

 Http://www.Washington.edu/doit/Brochures/Technology/atpwld.HTML

  

      

http://www.writeabookireland.com/writing/process.asp

The Writing Process:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RekF7Z_cHs

Inspire Young Writers:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/teachwriting/

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March 5, 2011   Welcome to Anger Stop
Animated characters explain how they feel about anger.

This site explores the many feelings and scenarios that children/teens
face with anger today. There is so much to this site, so explore!!

Anger Stop explores how anger builds and offers scenarios to choices
about dealing with anger. Dependance Depot explores how to respond
when offered drugs. Depression Alley explores sad feelings and how to feel better.
Worryville explores anxious feelings and how to be calm.
 
Click on t-bone who loves to make Monkey angry. How does Monkey handle this?
Click on Dr. Hyde who examines how the body changes when you are angry.
Click on Sgt. Steer who loves to fight. How can Monkey stay out of a fight? Help him stay calm.
On the Map click on the castle to find:
                    ~the Music Hall to explore music and feelings.
                    ~the Magic Lab to create a crystal world.
                    ~the Health Hut to learn about your heart, brain and neurons.
Check out:  Feeling Face Maker
                  E.Motion Reviews (refers to childrens movies to explain emotions)
 There is a place for Grown Ups!

Link:  http://www.cyke.com/anger.swf 

March 5, 2011

http://www.cyke.com/anger.swf

March 4, 2011    Word Prediction in Communication
Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs
This is an awesome resource with many forms of Assistive Technology.
Everything is here from special need scissors, shoes to program software.
There is a link of  resources for Program Support Assistants also known as the 'ParaProfessional.'
Check out the ipod App Round Up...

http://teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com/2009/07/options-for-writing-with-word.html

Other Word Prediction Programs:
Classroom Suite by Intellitools ... has word prediction with picture symbols supports and can be used with the Intellitools keyboard which can be a standard keyboard with enlarged keys or can be used with overlays to match whatever software you are using.

Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamically Pro ... has word prediction only with 'Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamicall Pro.' This program is known for being "the ultimate in symbol resources." As well add-on software is avaliable for every area of the curriculm and things that are just fun like coloring books and games.

Also see: 

Typ-O HD TTS Word Prediction App

Sites for Writing Children's Stories

 Also see:   TextSpeak TS-04
 http://www.textspeak.com/talktype.htm

Another App for the iPod Touch or iPhone is Look2Learn which aids in communication needs of early development for example a young student whose cognitive skills exceeds his/ her expressive communication, students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, students who have short or long-term communication challenges due to medical needs, as well as others who have a speech and language disorder.
The latest App is Stories2Learn an App designed to create social preparedness stories that can be downloaded from iTunes.  http://www.look2learn.com/look2learn/Home.html
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Classroom Spelling and Vocabulary Games

Classroom Spelling and Vocabulary Games
This is not the homework assigned but rather online technology I thought were quite relavent to writing prediction. Worth checking out!!

These interactive, online technologies provide the ultimate learning tool. It is used by thousands of classrooms around the world, BigIQkids supports existing curriculums or can generate customized, grade appropriate lessons from a database of over 40,000 words.

The spelling program includes spoken words and sentences plus spelling rules, definitions, antonyms & synonyms.

                    


http://www.bigiqkids.com/SpellingTest/FreeSpellingProgram.html

The vocabulary program includes language arts, science, math & social studies versions.

                


http://www.bigiqkids.com/VocabularyProgram/FreeVocabulary.html

Video: Assessments for Learning Challenges.
       This is a series of videos from "Reading Rockets"

In this video students are observed for reading fluency, phonological awareness, comprehension, and decoding ability for reading and writing. This video also strongly suggests PD days to help teachers identify any signs of difficulties (theory and practice). Classroom support is vital to successfully help struggling students in reading and writing. Intervention needs to be done early and as soon as a challenge presents itself. Early years are the most strategic time to begin. Students struggling with reading and writing can have a high emotional and motivational impact on the student and often many withdrawl.

Video Link: http://www.readingrockets.org/podcasts/intervention 

Document Review Response

Learning Disabilities in Basic Writing Skills: Disabilities in basic writing such as Dysgraphia affect the students ability to write words with correct spelling, appropriate word choice, and basic mechanics such as letter formation, grammar, and punctuation. Students with Learning Disabilities in basic writing may not understand the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent and often cannot distinguish the correct written word from the incorrect word. It seems that once a student is identified with trouble gripping the pencil and is unable to form letters or numbers that are ledgable on paper it should be assesed by a specialist.

 

Recently a teacher introduced an angled wooden desktop ledger to a student along with a shorter pencil (Hand Writing Without Tears pencil). The student was very awkward with his grip of a regular length pencil and he has poor posture when sitting. His letters and numbers are scribblings. He needed to be shown how to position his chair in closer to his desk and I showed him by example to relax his shoulders, by rolling to loosen them. The teacher had asked him to try holding his pencil in the "traditonal grip" to see if it would be more comfortable for him. With the new pencil grip and the angled desktop ledger when he prints his name his letters are taking on a better form. This works very well for a primary student. I very much believe keyboarding at an early age especially for children identified with writing disablilities is a skill to acquire.  There are many user friendly typing activities and sites available.

 

Please see the video on this link:

http://www.keyboardclassroom.com/page/show/home

 

More from this site:

http://www.keyboardclassroom.com/page/show/resources

 

 

This is an interactive 'writing help site' that includes downloads to save for off-line use.
It has  text organizers to assist students with the writing process

Writing text types covered include reports, procedures, explanations, expositions (persuasion, point of view), discussions, narratives, recounts, descriptions, responses (inc. reviews), letters, invitations, news articles and emails.

   Link: http://www.writingfun.com/

   Link: http://www.writingfun.com/writingfun2010.html
                
          

     My very first Blog !!

I had to put in a few resources I found helpful to me.
Here is a great article to check out ... very informative.

 

 Cyber Students Taught the Value of Social Skills

Virtual schools are adding social skills to the curricula to satisfy parents and students who worry about potential isolation in the online world. (Education Week)

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/01/12/15edtech_socialization.h30.html?tkn=XTLFmEk5ecE5PctuwxPr9i3njmek%2FeHJOVan&cmp=clp-edweek

Free Book
I have ordered this free book for myself and it is full of great info on Assistive Technology.
"Family Information Guide to Assistive Technology & Transition Planning"
Individuals may order one free copy of the guide. Additional print copies are available for $10. To request print copies, visit http://www.fctd.info/show/order_guides