Engaging Learners Using a Multi-sensory Approach

When creating lessons for my students it is critical that I know their interests, and understand their unique learner needs. My students have dual sensory loss issues in both vision and hearing. They also have gross and fine motor challenges as well as medical needs. In order to engage them I customize the curriculum so that they will have optimal opportunities to access and participate.

This curriculum was designed to meet standards across the curriculum in the areas of math, literacy, and science in order to meet the needs required for the MCAS alternative portfolio process. For my students it is important when designing materials that I keep their vision and hearing needs in mind. Bright, bold and contrasting colors work best to attract visual interest. There are items on the boards for the students to explore through touch, sight, and sound and I will soon be making one incorporating smell (stay-tunes for boards 11-15). 

 This board was designed thinking about the interests of my student who loves the slinky and another

student who loves things that move. 

Universal Design Learning (UDL) principles of multiple means of representation are exemplified. 

How many ways can we represent the number 5?

 My student's vision issues (CVI - cortical visual impairment) require bold, 

contrasting color presentations. Many students with CVI are attracted to orange, yellow, and red colors. The Wikki Stix is used to offer a tactile representation of the concept of 3+3.

Recycled bottle caps are used in board number 8 to attract the interest of my student who loves shiny and reflective items. 

Board number 9 was made with bells found at the Dollar Store. My student with a cochlear implant enjoys the sound of the bells.

  

The black background for board number ten is a plastic clipboard folder found at the Dollar Store. The contrasting black and white colors attract my students visual attention. 

The Sensory Trees is a fun project to engage in at 

this time of year. It engages students using all the senses appealing 

to the mode of learning that most attracts the individual student. 

 Recycled materials as well as dollar store finds were used to create the materials. In Massachusetts  a company, Flexcon, https://www.flexcon.com/About-Us/SchoolStock.aspx is a great resource providing teachers free materials for use in their classrooms.  

With the right approach anything is possible! So get creative, have some fun, teach to the interests of your students and they will engage!

Steve Gleason & Pearl Jam Story (FULL ESPN FEATURE HD)

This video has touched me on so many levels both personally and professionally. As a mother, and a wife, it is painful to see that our plan in life can change in an instant and become something so different  and so difficult from the original plan. As a special education teacher, it is amazing to see the potential of eye-gaze equipment. Without this system we would not have the ability to personally know Steve's story and to fully comprehend what a brave and inspirational man he is and what a positive impact the sharing of his legacy will have on the world. Steve is a true inspiration! His sharing of his story through the use of the eye-gaze system should have a global impact on the freeing potential that the eye-gaze system provides for individuals who are otherwise "trapped in their bodies". Steve demonstrates that the eye-gaze system provides an opportunity that could change a person's life from sheer isolation to global socialization capabilities. As a special educator I thank you for sharing your story Steve Gleason! Through your story you teach us all that anything is possible for even our most seemingly trapped learners. Now the quest to make it accessible for all in need....