Update on Book Report stuff
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Update on Book Report stuff
| Fri, 11-02-2007 - 8:28pm |
So many of you responded to my post from last week, and I was able to come and read everything, but didn't have a chance to reply.

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Evelyn,
hmmm. I wish Renee's DH was here to write one of his zingers about homework. ;)
I'm sorry the school doesn't get it.
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
zinger or not, it didn't work. Some folks are just dense. Homework is the bain of my existance, even in Mike's non-public school.
Aren't Aspies supposed to be the ones rigid about change? Seems it is the rest of society.
As a teacher I understand the concept of homework is to practice skills learned in school. The children should be able to do them independently or with a minimal of help from parents (ya know, explain a question here or remind them of that there). That's it. End of story. Practice.
And it should NOT take up a students entire dang day. Yes they need to learn independent study skills so as they get older they continue to learn. Learning research and reporting skills are vital but really, the teacher should be doing the first ones in school to help guide the student how to do it. Then it should be on an interest area of the child until they are good at it. And baby steps.
This sort of thing with SN kids should be done with their special ed teacher in school with support. Not at home with the parents. Not that the parents can't do it, but the special ed teachers can get the kids when they are fresh and they typically have more resources at their disposal.
Mike has had objectives on his IEP for the past 3 years for researching adn writing reports. The majority was always done in school and what ever I did at home the teacher and I discussed first if it was something that was going to be successful for mike.
OK, enough of my rant.
It just isn't an educational experience to MAKE a kid do a report just cause that is what the class is doing. Grrrrr
Renee
Renee,
Feel free to rant anytime.
Janet,
Just wanted to pop in here and give you a suggestion for when your son forgets what to write down and can't recall it.
Ya know on the thought of tape recorders and such it isn't a bad idea but it doesn't work for some kids. That old have to then listen and write down. It can be frustrating for some. But you are on the right track.
Eventually schools will get the idea that technology is really going to be the means by which kids with disabilities are included and accommodated in society.
Dragon Speaking Naturally. If you have the means (Or a supportive AT guy - HA HA) I highly recomend it. It is a software program which converts speech to typing and you can get it at staples, etc. It runs about $100. There are many of these and mostly they have been a pain in the tush in the past but they are finally getting good enough that they are actually useful. This one is one of the best speech recognition ones on the market.
IF you can get the support of an assistive tech dude there is a software suite called SOLO (by Don Johnston?) That has CoWriter, DraftBuilder, Write OutLoud and one other program. These are software programs built specifically to help kids with special needs complete writing assignments.
FINALLY there is my old favorite again, Inspiration. A GREAT GREAT program where you make a graphic map and it converts this map into an outline. You fill in the outline to write your paper. You can toggle between the outline and the graphic organizer (map) You can even use pictures on the map, make notes, etc. It is an educational program that is used for general education kids as well as special education kids.
Renee
Thanks Lainie!
Hi Janet,
Well I have to say the tape recorder did not work for Chris, but we certainly tried.
Just a few ideas ladies you might want to throw at your teachers as far as book reports for kids. Victor's reading teacher really bugged me with these at first, then I realized, she came up with these ideas because they are more fun than writing a paper on the book.
Grrrr!
Evelyn, I hate it when there is something "out there" as infuriating as the suggestion that a child whose disability prevents him from meeting certain standards be punished for it. And the punishment is to take something away that helps the child function at his highest level. It makes it so hard to have a conversation with the school without spewing.
Don't they get that the only point in incentives is to tease out what is behavior and what is not? Once that is known...well, you know where I'm going with this. I'm sure you've had this chain of thoughts a billion times.
I am out of suggestions except perhaps going Attwood all the way and getting David excused from homework. If David is very emotionally mature, he could
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