a free weekly webinar series with Dr Caroline Musselwhite, CCC-SLP and Maureen Nevers, CCC-SLP. We have been walking Angelman families through how to evaluate if they have a robust AAC system, how to think about and plan for aided language stimulation, and how to create opportunities to model and use specific targeted words. The content is targeted at Angelman syndrome families but is applicable to any population with complex communication needs and significant disabilities.
Emotional intelligence ( EI) or emotional quotient ( EQ) is the capacity of individuals to recognize their own, and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior.
Carol Dweck researches "growth mindset" - the idea that we can grow our brain's capacity to learn and to solve problems. In this talk, she describes two ways to think about a problem that's slightly too hard for you to solve. Are you not smart enough to solve it … or have you just not solved it yet? A great introduction to this influential field.
Looking for games and activities to do with your students to help them learn to use their communication systems more effectively and engage in social interactions? CALL Scotland to the rescue! Their website provides a wealth of free downloadable games and activities designed to provide fun communication opportunities.
"Below, you'll be able to download a short but constructive and fun communication activity for a youngster who uses AAC.
The activities aim to help a student to learn and practise - in other words, use! - his or her communication aid to enjoy interactions with others and build up useful social and communicative experiences.
To benefit, you first need to ensure that the Talker is always out of its bag, charged up, and on the table/wheelchair mount ready for daily use. That done, even a 5 minute 'gap' can be turned into a useful communication game.
The activities are taken from CALL's 'Keep Talking' book, which was inspired by the teacher who, on one of CALL Scotland's visits, said with some desperation 'I know I'm not doing enough. Somehow, my brain goes all fuzzy - I just can't think of any communication games...'."
"The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create. Based on Talks given by riveting speakers on the world-renowned TED stage, each show is centered on a common theme - such as the source of happiness, crowd-sourcing innovation, power shifts, or inexplicable connections. The TED Radio Hour is hosted by Guy Raz, and is a co-production of NPR & TED. Follow the show @TEDRadioHour."
Teachers say geocaching can be a powerful learning tool that involves critical thinking, hands-on learning and active engagement. Over the past few years, geocaching has become more commonly used in the world of education. Now Geocaching.com offers more help to teachers who incorporate geocaching in the classroom.
This past weekend, our department chair received an email from a local high school English teacher who asked, in short, should they be teaching students how to do a "traditional" research paper - including the use of 3×5 note cards - because some of his colleagues are strong supporters of it and others consider it "archaic."
He wanted to hear a response from a college professor about how best to prepare students for the kinds of research that they would be doing in composition courses that they would be taking after high school. Below, I have copied and pasted the response that I offered him via email. And, now I ask you… What do you think - is it time to move away from "traditional" research paper writing processes?
Caroline Musselwhite's blog is a companion to the website, www.aacintervention.com At this site, my friends and I will be sharing quick posts, minitips, and think outlouds! Please visit frequently, as this site will change rapidly!
There is a rapidly growing body of research that demonstrates the positive effects of augmentative and alternative communication
(AAC) intervention on the communication of children and adults with complex communication needs. Despite the positive impact
of many AAC interventions, however, many individuals with complex communication needs continue to experience serious challenges
participating in educational, vocational, healthcare, and community environments. In this paper, we apply the framework
proposed by the International Classifi cation of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to illustrate the need to re-think AAC
intervention to improve outcomes for individuals with complex communication needs, and to foster a new generation of intervention
research that will provide a solid foundation for improved services. Specifi cally, the paper emphasizes the need to take a
more holistic view of communication intervention and highlights the following key principles to guide AAC intervention and
research: (a) build on the individual ' s strengths and focus on the integration of skills to maximize communication, (b) focus on
the individual ' s participation in real-world contexts, (c) address psychosocial factors as well as skills, and (d) attend to extrinsic
environmental factors as well as intrinsic factors related to the individual who requires AAC.
Students engage in solving a mystery by using problem solving and critical thinking skills. In one or two class periods, students can check out the clues, determine a research strategy, conduct research, and submit their solution to the History Mystery. Perfect for grades 4 through 8.
Howard Gardner's work around multiple intelligences has had a profound impact on thinking and practice in education - especially in the United States. Here we explore the theory of multiple intelligences; why it has found a ready audience amongst educatio