Final Assignment due 5/25/09

I'm having a little trouble inserting the link. Try this:

http://sites.google.com/site/dblengsudl/final-assignment

OK, It's ready, Follow the link below to take you to a website where this document is attached:

Final Assignment due 5/25/09

The final assignment is actually in another site that I created for that purpose. Follow the link below:

It is not ready yet

Session 10

I created a Powerpoint presentation on the comparison between Differentiated Instruction and UDL. I was unable to figure out how to post it to this site, as required. Therefore, I created a new Google site and posted it there. This is the URL for that site:

http://sites.google.com/site/dblengsudl/

The Powerpoint is an attachment at the bottom of the first post on that site. I hope you enjoy it.

Session 7 Assignment

Title: Sensory Diet Strategies to Help Students Self-Regulate Movement During Discussions
Author: Diane Blengs, M.S.,OTR/L
Subject: Literacy
Grade Level: 2
State Standard: Mass. General Standard 1: Discussion – Students will follow agreed-upon rules for informal and formal discussions in small and large groups.

Lesson Overview: Typically, when second-grade students are participating in a classroom- or small-group discussion, they tend to be impulsive and have a great deal of difficulty waiting their turn to speak. Many of them are unable to contain themselves in their seats as they become excited while interacting in the oral exchanges of information. Students need instruction regarding not just the topic being discussed, but the social rules of discourse. In addition, students with disabilities, such as ADHD and sensory processing disorders, require further instruction in self regulation. The use of a Sensory Diet is helpful in teaching students to exercise self-control. The purpose of this lesson is to teach students to identify their activity level, and learn to use Sensory Diet strategies to help them achieve the proper activity level to allow them to successfully participate in a discussion.

Lesson Element: Only one element of this lesson will be used for this session activity. This session activity will focus on "movement," and the the Sensory Diet strategies that will help students regulate self control of movement during discussions.

Goal: Students will learn ways they can control their body movement in class so that they can successfully participate in a classroom- or small-group discussion.
Objectives:
1. Students will define the following rules for discussion: raise your hand to speak, wait till you are called on to speak, stay in your seat, respect others' time to talk
1. Students will describe their activity level as being, "too low," "too high," or "just right" to participate in a group discussion
2. Students will process the information in the book, "How I Control My Body in Class," using the built-in agents for improved comprehension.
3. Students will identify which Sensory Diet activities described in the book they think will help them self-regulate
4. Students will try out the Sensory Diet activities they chose
5. Students will follow the rules for participating in a classroom or small-group discussion using the Sensory Diet strategies that work for them

Materials: Teacher-created book, "How I Control My Body in Class"
Agents in "How I Control my Body in Class" follow the UDL Guidelines
1. Pedro - Principle One: Alternate forms of representation - Knowledge Networks
2. Hali - Principle Two: Alternate forms of action and expression - Strategic Networks
3. Monty - Principle Three: Multiple means of engagement - Affective Networks

Here is the link for the material used in the Lesson Element for the Session 7 Assignment

http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view.php?op=view&book=13922&page=1

My Personal Goal

I have always viewed curriculum as limiting. It limits students abilities and imaginations. I recently viewed a very interesting speech about education by Shimon Peres, the current President of Israel and former Prime Minister. It is a magnificent speech and it reflects many of my beliefs about education and the curriculum. It is fairly long, but well worth watching. Here is the link:
http://corpvideofs.adpcorp.com/video/jw/peres_400kb.wmv
In terms of my view of learners, I share similar beliefs with Charles Murray, author of Real Education: Four Simple Truths for Bringing America’s Schools Back to Reality.” In this book he talks about the unrealistic goal of teachers being able to make every student capable of graduating from a four-year college, considering the bell, and how that simple truth is being ignored in NCLB. I share his belief that we are doing some of our students a misjustice by not letting them pursue their natural talents and use their individual skills by making them adhere to a ridgid curriculum.
In terms of how I view my role as an educator, I have been unable to separate out my role as an OT from my role as a teacher. I feel compelled to treat (teach) the whole person. There are times when a handwriting lesson must be suspended to address an episode of depression stemming from PTSD because I feel a student can’t learn when they are preoccupied with serious issues that they consider more important than the goal of their current lesson.
However, since beginning this course (actually since beginning the first UDL course) my thinking has shifted. I wouldn’t say my beliefs have shifted, but I have become more optimistic that I can find ways to reach many more of my students through UDL. Taking all of this into consideration I would say that my goal for this course is that I will implement what I am learning into my practice by training my thinking to always applying UDL when writing my goals, and planning the materials, methods, and assessments for my students, and advocating for my students by sharing this information with the classroom and special education teachers of my students.

Finally

Hi Diane, Finally figured out what I was doing wrong. I guess I not only had to go to the link, but I also had to accept the invitation to post. Silly me. We are all learning here! I have used blogger, but I normally use WordPress, so I'm not that familiar with the ins and outs of this one.

This is really nice. My blog has the same color scheme. Did you enjoy creating this? Is this your first one?

Yvonne

Good for you!

This seems easy to access and post to. Was it? Maybe I should consider this instead of the Google Site.

This is a test post to see if I can post a comment. I went to "new post" at the top right hand corner of the screen to get this window.