3/12/2020
Topic:
Students with Disabilities
Timothy Trese
|
This year our school became a hub for the visually impaired. Most of the students have some vision and can be served with preferential seating and enlarged print. We do have one student who is totally blind who has a dedicated assistant. He is young and has not yet mastered Braille. He is also an English Language learner so his understanding of lyrics is hampered. He has informed us that he does not like singing. I still have him sing solfege syllables with his classmates. We have begun to teach him the keyboard concept with a glockenspiel. The biggest problem is that he still does not know all his letters. I have approached his vision teacher and her knowledge of music is very limited. So this is definitely a work in progress. |
3/31/2020
Topic:
Tools and Strategies
Timothy Trese
|
One technology I have used was with a visually impaired student. She tried just sitting very close to my computer screen since she could not accurately view the Apple TV. This allowed her to see the material but it made it a challenge for me to access my keyboard. We asked our VI teacher for an idea and she suggested this amazing magnifying camera. The student stills needs to sit in front, but she can now aim the camera at the screen and it magnifies the image so that she can read the words for a song we are singing. |
3/31/2020
Topic:
Assessment of Learning
Timothy Trese
|
We had a second grade student who had a visual processing disorder. She was not always able to distinguish words if they were repeated in a column or line. The assessment that her peers were taking consisted of circling a word choice concerning a specific percussion instrument. They were to circle either wood, metal, or membrane for the material making the sound. They decided if the instrument was hit, shaken, or scraped. And finally if it was pitched or not. She was unable to perform the task on paper. I gave the assessment orally and she knew every single answer. I reported this to her ESE teacher who concurred with the accommodation. |