Using a Palm Pilot in class?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2005
Using a Palm Pilot in class?
5
Fri, 03-24-2006 - 11:33am
Chase's school has ok'd the use of a palm pilot in class. I think Renee mentioned that her ds uses an alphasmart but for the life of me I couldn't find one. The palm pilot has word processing software and comes with a keyboard that folds up so it's portable. Does anyone have any experience in how best to introduce this into his classroom routine? Do any of your kids take spelling tests on them or do daily work? Chase's handwriting is not improving and the teacher is starting to mark words wrong when they're really just illegible. Thanks, Vicky
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 03-24-2006 - 3:59pm

Alpha smart isn't a palmpilot. It is a special education assistive tech device. You would access it through school most likely if he qualified for assistive tech.

If his handwriting is that bad I would request an assistive tech assessment and ask them to use that. An alphasmart is a keyboard with a mini-screen on it that kids can take with them to type, do notes, etc. Then it plugs into a computer and you upload the info and print from the computer. Most classrooms have computers as well to do this with.

Mike does alot of regular written work still. The alphasmart is more for longer written assignments like paragraphs, book reports, etc. If kids really have a rough time I am sure they can do spelling tests and the like on one but it may be a pain to go and constantly have to set it up to print, etc.

Also, computer access is good too. Cait used to have a special program on the computer at school to help her learn how to write projects, etc. Too bad only her 4th grade teacher was good about using it. She is still supposed to have it but I am NOT going there right now.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2005
Fri, 03-24-2006 - 6:19pm

Renee,

The palm pilot does all of those things too. I had no idea that they did until I did some research on it. Chase goes to a catholic school and our archdiocese doesn't have the funds for much of anything special needs. Next year he will have to write much more doing definitions and book reports but his handwriting is so poor that I can barely read it so I know the teachers are having problems with it. He drops his pencil repeatedly. The OT is working on this but the progress is slow. Thanks, Vicky

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Sat, 03-25-2006 - 6:36am

If your son needs an alpha smart the school is supposed to provide it! Also he should be getting OT for the handwriting issue. Even if they feel its never going to improve then they need to be working with him on learning to type. And there should be accomidations and modifications in his IEP for such things like not counting off for penmanship. (sorry if the other ladies have suggested these-I haven't read responses yet). This is one of my son's biggest struggles in school. If you need more specifics let me know.

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 03-25-2006 - 9:00am

The palm pilot sounds cool.

Perhaps another idea is to contact the local district. Often they will provide some services as well as consulting for kids in private schools. He could possibly still qualify for services it just may not be to the extent he would get in public school. It varies state to state. But an AT (assistive tech) person maybe able to make recomendations as to what is the best way to go about it for your son.

As far as palm pilot, that sounds like a great idea. What grade level is he? I believe younger so he is likely not real proficient at keyboarding yet. If so I would have him start practicing. Use the palmpilot for reports, essays, and such.

Still use writing for spelling tests and worksheets. Perhaps get handwriting without tears to help teach him writing. Even if his handwriting is messy there will still be things in life he has to write so it will help. Things like job applications or any application.

As he gets older he could start using it to take notes as well for class and maybe even spelling tests. You will know as you go.

Last, if he is not a great typer yet get "Type to Learn" program. It is a program used often by schools to teach kids to type and it is a good one. I bought one privately and it wasn't much.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2005
Sat, 03-25-2006 - 12:29pm


Renee, Chase is currently being evaluated in the public school system so I'm hoping to recieve some help with the cost when the eval is complete. He's in 2nd grade and already loves to get on Microsoft Word and type stories or ideas so he has some experience with keyboarding but I think I'll look into that software program. I think you're right about the spelling tests and daily classwork. I actually have Handwriting Without Tears but can't get him interested in it but I am using it with my 3yo ds and he likes it. I spoke with the teacher he'll have next year and she's very excited about him using the palm pilot...I just hope he let's me play with it too! Vicky