Two Kids, One Story About Support for Learning Differences - NCLD
Watch this stop action animation created by Abhay Gulati. The video tells the story of two children, and the life-changuing difference the right support fromparnets can make.
I've had students over the years that I knew had learning differences. A few parents were reluctant to have their children evaluated for fear of the children being "labeled". Sometimes I could get help for these children by describing how they learn in their IEP and the methods that were best for them without listing a label. A good specialist "gotta do what a specialist gotta do!"
To see the video, click the hot link above.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
When to Contact Your Child's Teachers: 3 Signs It's Time to Speak Up - NCLD
At a Glance
afraid of being a bother? Don’t worry! Gone are the days of waiting for a
parent-teacher conference, a PTA meeting or a chance meeting in the
school hallway to touch base with the teacher.
School websites,
social networks, email and texting have made it easier to stay in
contact. And communicating early can sometimes head off bigger problems
and enable you to build a solid relationship with the school.
Here are three situations when it’s wise to reach out: [This article continues at the Learning Disablities site at the link below]
When to Contact Your Child's Teachers: 3 Signs It's Time to Speak Up - NCLD
- Frequent homework issues could be a sign of trouble at school.
- A change in your child’s attitude about school could be another telltale sign.
- Communicating your concerns early can sometimes head off bigger problems.
afraid of being a bother? Don’t worry! Gone are the days of waiting for a
parent-teacher conference, a PTA meeting or a chance meeting in the
school hallway to touch base with the teacher.
School websites,
social networks, email and texting have made it easier to stay in
contact. And communicating early can sometimes head off bigger problems
and enable you to build a solid relationship with the school.
Here are three situations when it’s wise to reach out: [This article continues at the Learning Disablities site at the link below]
When to Contact Your Child's Teachers: 3 Signs It's Time to Speak Up - NCLD
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Philadelphia Salon Hosting Fundraiser For Indonesian Child With Rare Cancer
By Chelsea Karnash of CBS Philly
[Source Link: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/01/29/philadelphia-salon-hosting-fundraiser-for-indonesian-child-with-rare-cancer/]
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A little boy is fighting for his life, and one local salon is trying to help.
Pieter, a two-year-old from Indonesia, is battling a rare form of eye cancer called bilateral sporadic retinoblastoma. The cancer already caused him to lose his left eye shortly after birth; now, the disease has reappeared in his right eye.
Luckily for Pieter, his parents were able to bring him to the United States to undergo treatment at Philadelphia’s Wills Eye Institute. Unfortunately, they had to sell their home in Indonesia and use most of their savings
to pay for that treatment – over $50,000, with almost $25,000 more still needed to finish Pieter’s treatment.
That’s where Laurentius Purnama, owner of Philadelphia’s well-known Laurentius Salon and a native of Indonesia himself, comes in.
Purnama, who met Pieter and his family at the Church St. Thomas Aquinas in South Philadelphia where his son, Jude, goes to Sunday School, was touched by the family’s story and decided he wanted to host an event to help fund the boy’s treatment.
On Sunday, February 9th, Laurentius Salon will be donating the entire day’s proceeds to Pieter’s family so that they can continue his treatment here in Philadelphia. Customers can make an appointment for any service – cut, color, blowouts, manicures and pedicures – and the cost will go towards Pieter’s battle with cancer.
Additionally, Laurentius will host a silent auction for several mint condition designer handbags, including a Louis Vuitton Mary Kate bag and an Yves Saint Laurent Mombasa bag, as well as other great prizes.
For those unable to attend the one-day fundraiser, Laurentius has also set up a kickstarter fund for Pieter and his family.
“No donation is too small, and each and every donation adds one more ray of hope for Pieter,” the page says.
So far, online donors have contributed nearly $13,000, but more is still necessary to ensure Pieter is able to continue receiving treatment.
“If it’s determined on February 5th that Pieter needs additional treatment, or if another retinoblastoma appears,” Purnama writes, “Pieter’s family has no more options.”
To donate to Pieter’s cause online, visit: www.gofundme.com/6c11os. Or, to make an appointment for the Feb. 9th fundraiser at Laurentius Salon, visit: http://laurentiussalon.com/contact-us.
[Source Link: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/01/29/philadelphia-salon-hosting-fundraiser-for-indonesian-child-with-rare-cancer/]
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A little boy is fighting for his life, and one local salon is trying to help.
Pieter, a two-year-old from Indonesia, is battling a rare form of eye cancer called bilateral sporadic retinoblastoma. The cancer already caused him to lose his left eye shortly after birth; now, the disease has reappeared in his right eye.
Luckily for Pieter, his parents were able to bring him to the United States to undergo treatment at Philadelphia’s Wills Eye Institute. Unfortunately, they had to sell their home in Indonesia and use most of their savings
to pay for that treatment – over $50,000, with almost $25,000 more still needed to finish Pieter’s treatment.That’s where Laurentius Purnama, owner of Philadelphia’s well-known Laurentius Salon and a native of Indonesia himself, comes in.
Purnama, who met Pieter and his family at the Church St. Thomas Aquinas in South Philadelphia where his son, Jude, goes to Sunday School, was touched by the family’s story and decided he wanted to host an event to help fund
the boy’s treatment.On Sunday, February 9th, Laurentius Salon will be donating the entire day’s proceeds to Pieter’s family so that they can continue his treatment here in Philadelphia. Customers can make an appointment for any service – cut, color, blowouts, manicures and pedicures – and the cost will go towards Pieter’s battle with cancer.
Additionally, Laurentius will host a silent auction for several mint condition designer handbags, including a Louis Vuitton Mary Kate bag and an Yves Saint Laurent Mombasa bag, as well as other great prizes.
For those unable to attend the one-day fundraiser, Laurentius has also set up a kickstarter fund for Pieter and his family.
“No donation is too small, and each and every donation adds one more ray of hope for Pieter,” the page says.
So far, online donors have contributed nearly $13,000, but more is still necessary to ensure Pieter is able to continue receiving treatment.
“If it’s determined on February 5th that Pieter needs additional treatment, or if another retinoblastoma appears,” Purnama writes, “Pieter’s family has no more options.”
To donate to Pieter’s cause online, visit: www.gofundme.com/6c11os. Or, to make an appointment for the Feb. 9th fundraiser at Laurentius Salon, visit: http://laurentiussalon.com/contact-us.
Monday, January 27, 2014
National Certification in Literary Braille
Thanks to Eric Guillory for forwarding this:
If
you have not yet taken the NCLB test, or if you need to recertify, we
have a great opportunity for you to take it in Baton Rouge immediately
prior to the NFB of Louisiana State Convention. Please see the details
below, and spread the information far and
wide. A flyer is attached.
Distinguish
yourself among teachers of the blind and visually impaired! Don't miss
this unique opportunity to take this nationally-recognized exam!
The National Certification in Literary Braille (NCLB) test will be administered by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) immediately prior to the
NFB of Louisiana State Convention on Friday, March 14, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 4728 Constitution Avenue, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Deadline for Registration is March 4
Please go to our website, www.nbpcb.org/nclb,
for more information and to register for this important test. If you
have any questions or wish to inquire about future testing possibilities
in your area,
please contact us at braille@nbpcb.org.
Thanks!
Laura Bostick, MAEd, NCLB
Instructor, Professional Development
and Research Institute on Blindness
Louisiana
Tech University
318-257-4554
P.O. Box 3158
Ruston, LA 71272
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Growning Up Fisher
There's a new TV show coming up next month after the Olympics about a boy who feels he is being replaced by his blind dad's new guide dog. Here's a blurb about it. Below that is a link to a preview.
It's not every family that's brought closer together by divorce, but then again, the Fishers aren't exactly typical. Take Mel Fisher (J.K. Simmons, "The Closer," "Law & Order"), for example. Whether it's chopping down trees, showing his daughter how to drive or playing football with his son, he's never let the fact that he's blind slow him down.
Then there's Joyce Fisher (Jenna Elfman, "1600 Penn," "Dharma and Greg"), possibly the only mom in Pasadena to smoke a pipe. For her, divorce is like a second coming of age, a chance to be the teen she never was. Just ask '80s-obsessed teenage daughter Katie (Ava Deluca-Verley, "Southland"), whose clothes Joyce is always borrowing (that is, when she's not tagging along with Katie to the mall).
At the center of all this is Henry (Eli Baker), the Fisher's 11-year-old son. Having always been his dad's eyes, ears and wingman, Henry's less than thrilled when Mel shows up with Elvis, a guide dog... which is also how Henry learns about the pending divorce. Awkward. While reluctant of the changes this "big ball of fur" would bring, it's through the adult Henry's voice-over (Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development") that we find out his parent's split would "allow all of us to finally discover... who we needed to be."
The half-hour comedy is executive produced by DJ Nash ("Up All Night," "Guys with Kids"), Bateman and Jim Garavente. The pilot episode is directed by David Schwimmer ("Little Britain," "Run Fat Boy Run"). "Growing Up Fisher" is a production of Universal Television and Aggregate Films.
http://www.nbc.com/growing-up-fisher/
It's not every family that's brought closer together by divorce, but then again, the Fishers aren't exactly typical. Take Mel Fisher (J.K. Simmons, "The Closer," "Law & Order"), for example. Whether it's chopping down trees, showing his daughter how to drive or playing football with his son, he's never let the fact that he's blind slow him down.
Then there's Joyce Fisher (Jenna Elfman, "1600 Penn," "Dharma and Greg"), possibly the only mom in Pasadena to smoke a pipe. For her, divorce is like a second coming of age, a chance to be the teen she never was. Just ask '80s-obsessed teenage daughter Katie (Ava Deluca-Verley, "Southland"), whose clothes Joyce is always borrowing (that is, when she's not tagging along with Katie to the mall).
At the center of all this is Henry (Eli Baker), the Fisher's 11-year-old son. Having always been his dad's eyes, ears and wingman, Henry's less than thrilled when Mel shows up with Elvis, a guide dog... which is also how Henry learns about the pending divorce. Awkward. While reluctant of the changes this "big ball of fur" would bring, it's through the adult Henry's voice-over (Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development") that we find out his parent's split would "allow all of us to finally discover... who we needed to be."
The half-hour comedy is executive produced by DJ Nash ("Up All Night," "Guys with Kids"), Bateman and Jim Garavente. The pilot episode is directed by David Schwimmer ("Little Britain," "Run Fat Boy Run"). "Growing Up Fisher" is a production of Universal Television and Aggregate Films.
http://www.nbc.com/growing-up-fisher/
Monday, January 6, 2014
Free Audio Books Monday: Famous People in History, Northanger Abbey, and The Call of the Wild
Sent from my Samsung smartphone on AT&T
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Louis Braille
Somewhere among my "teacher stuff" I have a book about Louis Braille. I think it was published by The American Prinitng House for the Blnd but I can't remember.
At any rate here's another version from the AFB on their web site for kids called "Braille Bug." I like this version as well. Happy Birthday Louis Braille!
[ Source Link: http://braillebug.afb.org/louis_braille_bio.asp ]
Six dots. Six bumps. Six bumps in different
patterns, like constellations, spreading out over the page. What are they?
Numbers, letters, words. Who made this code? None other than Louis Braille, a
French 12-year-old, who was also blind. And his work changed the world of
reading and writing, forever.
At any rate here's another version from the AFB on their web site for kids called "Braille Bug." I like this version as well. Happy Birthday Louis Braille!
[ Source Link: http://braillebug.afb.org/louis_braille_bio.asp ]
Louis Braille (1809-1852)
 |
|
|
Louis was from a small town called
Coupvray, near Paris—he was born on January 4 in 1809. Louis became blind by accident, when he was 3 years old. Deep in his
Dad's harness workshop, Louis tried to be like his Dad, but it went very
wrong; he grabbed an awl, a sharp tool for making holes, and the tool slid
and hurt his eye. The wound got infected, and the infection spread, and soon,
Louis was blind in both eyes.
|
 |
|
|
|
All of a sudden, Louis needed a
new way to learn. He stayed at his old school for two more years, but he
couldn't learn everything just by listening. Things were looking up when
Louis got a scholarship to the Royal Institution for Blind Youth in Paris,
when he was 10. But even there, most of the teachers just talked at the
students. The library had 14 huge books with raised letters that were very
hard to read. Louis was impatient.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Then in 1821, a former soldier
named Charles Barbier visited the school. Barbier shared his invention called
"night writing," a code of 12 raised dots that let soldiers share
top-secret information on the battlefield without even having to speak. Unfortunately,
the code was too hard for the soldiers, but not for 12-year-old Louis!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louis trimmed Barbier's 12 dots
into 6, ironed out the system by the time he was 15, then published the
first-ever braille book in 1829. But did he stop there? No way! In 1837, he
added symbols for math and music. But since the public was skeptical, blind
students had to study braille on their own. Even at the Royal Institution,
where Louis taught after he graduated, braille wasn't taught until after his
death. Braille began to spread worldwide in 1868, when a group of British
men, now known as the Royal National Institute for the Blind, took up the
cause.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Now practically every country in
the world uses braille. Braille books have double-sided pages, which
saves a lot of space. Braille signs help blind people get around in public
spaces. And, most important, blind people can communicate independently,
without needing print.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louis proved that if you have the
motivation, you can do incredible things.
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)