Dinner Last Night

Thank you Mrs. White for meeting with us........I know how busy your schedule is so I really appreciate the time you have spent with us. Good food, good coversation makes it the perfect end to a hectic day.

Wednesday Dinner

Yeah it was a lot of fun to eat dinner with Mrs. White and some of the students from class. But i want to thank Mrs. White for giving us the chance to meet with her and talk about our projects, most teachers could careless about their students. But tonight showed some really good characteristics to take time out of her day, to eat and help us. Thank You 

BTC

Today me and Ryan headed to Lexington and went to the BTC and did some fun stuff together. WE first listened to books and made sure all words were in the audio as in the book, made sure they didn't leave a word out. THen we scanned pages of books, which actually took forever. And one of the pages i scanned will always have my hand in it, because she said she would either not bother it or cut it out... But overall it was a good volunteer experience.

The semester is almost over.

Well, I am truely going to miss this class. It was nothing like all of the other ones.. I really feel like I got more out of this one than I did any others. I just wanted to thank Ms. White publically for being there when we needed you and being so understanding of some of our crazy problems. I'm going to miss you! and I'm sure I speak for everyone else as well!

MLU

Does anybody remember how to calculate MLU?
I can't find it!

Pragmatics Sample

So, anyone doing a pragmatics sample know how to do number two, function of language sample? I remember talking about Halliday in class, but I don't know how we are supposed to incorporate him into our sample. Any help would be greatly appreciated, as usual!

Thanks guys!
SED Love!
Mackenzie Whalen

Question??

I receieved the emial that we have to have 8 posts before the end of the semester, but i already have 4 posts done for the month of April, so do i have to do 4 more posts or am i done with blogging? please let me know!

Amber

People with Semantics

I've got two questions! =]

One: Do those of you doing semantics have a lot of utterances that are going under action? I know that everyone is doing a different sample, but I have a lot that are action and I didn't know if that was normal.

Two: This one is for Mrs. White. How do you know that where I put the utterance is right or wrong without seeing the tape. I mean depending on the tape, certain utterances could go in a lot of categories. For example,

Grandma: It's slippers to go with your jammies.

Tyler: Yea Right!

I put this as denial because he uses it like "Yea right, that's not what those are for," but without the video, someone else might think he is agreeing with her. I was just curious as to how that works.

-Kayla

Obama leagalizing weed ???

If you have been watching the news, you will see President Obama, is allowing states to individually harvest marijuana ? I personally do not smoke, but feel this would be a great source of revenue for our state.(Kentucky's # 1 cash crop is already marijuana, why not leagalize it and profit from it.) With the taxes earned from the sell of this product the state could fund more schools, pave more roads and offer more financial aide to those who need it ? I would just like to know what your opinions are on the issue, and how you think it should be dealt with ?

Please Pray For My Mother

If you don't mind at night when you are praying will you please remember my mother, Sherry. She has been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, we were lucky because she caught it so early. However, she is in an immense amount of pain, and her kidneys are starting to fail, and currently she has had a transfusion, and is on dialysis. It's a very stressful time for my family, if you could remember us in your prayers I would be eternally grateful. Thank you, Michael

Question about Semantics

Okay so if you are doing an MLU, how would you count Mr. , Mrs. or Miss ? Im confused anyone have any insight ?

The Weather

I hope everyone is enjoying this Kentucky weather . . . hot and sunny one day, and the next rainy and humid. Gotta Love Kentucky !!

Question for semantics

Does anyone have any idea which semantic phase the word "ouch" would fall under? Any help would be great! Thanks =]

Kayla

Help with pragmatics analysis of project

Hey! I am working on my project and there are a few utterances I am not sure of how to label.... I am going to copy and paste a few and if anyone has any suggestions of what category on the checklist they would fall under.. the advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Krista: You like to wear glitter nail polish?
Camryn: I like you wear glitter too (15)
Krista: Okay, you can paint mine with the glitter
Camryn: Is this glitter? (16)
Krista: Yep.. okay there ya go
Camryn: Ah (17)
Krista: Are you going to paint Rosies with glitter later on?
Camryn: No (18)
Krista: No..why?
Camryn: I want to do my mommies later on (19)

(Camryn is my subject, so I am needing help with the things she said and where to put them on the chart!)

Thanks in advance!

My Handsome Nephew

I just wanted to share a cute video of my nephew. He will be 1 year old on June 7, and he took his first two steps today!

Question regarding finals

Does anyone know if the final will be online like any other test? If so, will it be only available at 6-8 or sometime before that? This may have already been answered but I'm not sure. Thanks.

I am no longer a rookie observer :)

I had the opportunity to observe nine deaf and hard of hearing students from the ages of eight to nine doing a hands on activity led by two teachers on a sunny afternoon at Kentucky School for the Deaf. Two of the students wore hearing aids, four students wore cochlear implants, and three students did not have any assistive listening devices. They communicated with each other using mostly total communication and American Sign Language. The teachers used a lot of visual resources such as a huge map of North America with bold labels on it. They also told their students where they were. They all sat in a circle which is common in deaf educational settings. All of the students tried to grab teacher’s attention by violently waving their hands. The teacher allowed students to take turns pointing to where they thought Kentucky was on the map and had them explain why. Most of the students correctly identified where Kentucky was and explained how they knew which most knew based on the state’s shape they saw from somewhere else. This activity lasted 45 minutes as students were able to understand the whole map of United States.

I was told that most of these students entered the school with no language and often times had no communication in their hometown. This school was the only place for them to be exposed to and acquire language. They all have shown tremendous signs of improvement in their communication skills since they first entered school.

Blending what I observed in the classroom and what I learned at Eastern Kentucky University, the students are lagging behind their hearing peers in vocabulary acquisition. For example, they do not understand that United States is a country so the teachers have to go back and explain where Kentucky is on the map, then explain its relationship with other states. Once they understand, they will able to gain the knowledge and understanding of the United States as a country. This is a result of the student’s delay in language acquisition.

I was inspired by the students I observed because most of them arrived at the school without any language, and they are learning quickly to express themselves. Despite this improvement, they still need some work in conducting themselves properly. Once they acquire language, their lives will be easier as long as they keep being exposing to language as much as possible. If it wasn’t for the signing environment that the school for the deaf provides, they would have a difficult time expressing themselves and it could change their emotional and behavioral patterns as they get older. Better late than never, I always say. 

FUN!!!!

Last night was so much fun, not only did we talk about our language project but we also talked about the summer and ourselves!!! I loved it!!! Thank you all for such a wonderful time! Oh and thank you Laura for the ride I appreciated it :)

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!!! HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT SEMESTER :)

Thank you

Thank you all for your prayers this past week. It was a horrible shock and the worst week of my life. I have come to understand that I can do nothing on my own; God is carrying me right now. I still feel overwhelmed with sadness so I still need your prayers.

I'm sorry that Josh and I didn't go out to eat with you all tonight. I just prefer to be alone or just be with him especially now. Its hard for me to be in crowded areas. I truly appreciate the sympathy card and the Cracker Barrel gift card from both the Monday and Wednesday night classes. I'm thankful for you all as classmates this semester.

Please keep me in your prayers. Me and my mom were so close. We talked every day or every other day on the phone and we had so many plans starting with Mother's Day weekend for this summer. It will be so hard to go back there. I want Josh to see his mom though, so please remember me during that time. Thank you.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."-Psalm 34:18

language project

Well on my way to finishinig project. Hope everyone is almost done as well....see you on Wednesday night. Are we doing dinner afterwards? Hope someone will tell me! Thanks!

winding down

Hey Everyone:

This is a post test.....I have been having trouble posting but my oldest son is a computer analyst in Chicago and he was able to fix the problem. Thank goodness we now know the money spent on his education at Wheaton College is paying off! Thanks to you Mikey.

Oh! And, I hope you had a great birthday, Mrs. White!

Pragmatics Analysis, anyone?

Alright, so I'm STILL not so sure what we should be counting for an analysis of pragmatics. The worksheet says to section off all turns, so does that mean we should have 100 turns of the child talking. So, for example the child says:

Play... and all kinds of things. Hey Daddy! That's where my dog's gonna sleep. Right by me. Hey! you can sleep by my dog. Right here.

Alright, so if I count utterances, it was 8 total utterances. But, if we're counting 'turns' like I think she means, than it's 1, and I don't think I have 100 turns in my sample.

Anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Because I've already counted all the utterances and coordinated them with the conversation skills and I think I'm going to have to start all overrrr! :(

for those students who are majoring in special ed deaf/ H/H, based on my observations thanks this course for opening my eyes on many areas!

I have been attending to various deaf social events mainly to socialize with other deaf individuals from different backgrounds.  Any networking event where deaf people convene, has implications on deaf individuals:  It promotes greater awareness of deaf people from different walks of life and allows for exchange of their struggles and frustrations, which in turn, creates a positive environment where they acknowledge each other’s existence and find common ground which they first thought would only happen in their dreams.  My deaf twin brother and I naturally developed our own sign languages since our parents received information from “well-established” oral-oriented institutions making handsome profits by manipulating hearing parents of a deaf child that to be able to speak orally would elevate our “status” and to prepare us to become “career-oriented” in the real world.  Thus to be able to speak orally means we are not primitive.  I was suddenly very much aware of what it meant to be a minority in a pre-dominantly hearing school and community.   That kind of attitude has become a norm and it has become a subconscious one in each one of us.  There were some events that have had a lasting impact on my personal growth, especially about how to work with deaf and hard of hearing students with ADHD.  These students get distracted easily and have a difficult time learning since they did not receive proper services/resources available which would enable them to thrive in a learning environment regardless of their deafness.  

I will never forget how I felt on the day I missed a lab assignment my high school chemistry teacher assigned me. It was a two-page report on a video I had watched. To my dismay, that video did not contain closed captions, and my interpreter had to translate the video.  I was furious knowing that there are videos that do contain closed captions and my teacher chose one without any and did not show any understanding about my deafness.  This is one example of a wide variety of levels of discrimination I have experienced since I was a young boy.  I finally understand that I must pursue my own path to educate hearing people about how to better accommodate deaf people’s needs for communicative accessibility. 

 

From my experiences working at the camps, schools, and at other events, I have observed a pattern, that is: deaf and hard of hearing students with ADHD are able to learn just like other peers.  From my newly found interest, I’ve become intrigued by them to the point that I would like to focus special attention to that field, providing right services/resources to those deaf kids with ADHD.   Since my childhood, I have detected in myself a certain compassion on innate desire to help other deaf students who are largely disadvantaged and face discrimination unconsciously on a daily basis. 

Every time I had conversations with these kids, I used American Sign Language and it easily transformed into a story, full of facial expressions, 3-D effects, and other special effects came in picture (ASL has this capability).  If I signed plainly, did not incorporate facial expressions, or if movements of my hands were “limited”, these kids would have been more likely to ignore me and go back to their regular routines.  So whenever I expressed ASL artfully, the kids found me very fascinating and their eyes were totally focused on me as my stories unfolded.  They then started to learn on their own and played around with different ways of how to express themselves through sign language.   The result was astonishing, they started to learn some classifiers in which later contributed them to be able to express openly in morphological and grammatical structures.   These kids looked at me as an influential person who understands their sufferings and frustrations.  Some would come to me and say that I’m an inspiring person and without my guidance and wisdom, they would still be in the shadows of this society.  I have to teach them to be proud of themselves and remind them that they are ambassadors to the hearing world.   Through education, they would eventually come to appreciate others without allowing their handicapped status to conquer their “free thinking”.   It has always been important to me to help younger deaf students achieve in their education.  This begins with promoting self-esteem among deaf students as they experience continued obstacles and it is my goal to encourage them to be proud of their deafness and view themselves as valued members of our society.

 

want to understand this, if a kid repeat words such as "and and I do these" or "please please I need that" in and utterance. Do I count these repeated words as single utterance?

Quote

I love the quote, "Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him for life."

It's almost time to start packing up my tackle box. . .

Langauge Project/Thank you

I think I am finally getting this language project, and I think the after class meeting with everyone will just be the cherry on top!!!!

I would have NEVER been able to do it without Dani Wilkerson (if I spell your name wrong I am so so so sorry) She has really helped me out!!

I would also like to thank Mrs. White she also helped me. . . . a little but I plan on asking questions tomorrow!!! LOL

So yep thanks to everyone who helped me!!

Samples of Analysis

Child's Language

Jennifer- No, I am not going. Do you want to play cars?
Nathan- I want red one. 1
Jennifer- You can play with them all.
Nathan- Want the red one. 2
Jennifer- Ok, here it is.
Nathan- vvvvvrrrrrrmmmmmm. You play cars. 3
Jennifer- Ok what do you want me to be?
Nathan- You police car. 4
Jennifer- I am gonna get you.
Nathan- I too fast. 5 You not catch me 6
Jennifer- I’m gonna get you.
Nathan- Fast. 7 Too fast, you never catch me. 8
Jennifer- Nathan, you wanna chase me?
Nathan- I be police. 9 I rest you. 10 Put you in jail. 11
Jennifer- You not catching me. I ‘m getting away. Oh, you caught me.
Nathan- You in jail now.12
Jennifer- Ok. Nathan you want something to eat?

BTC I need help!

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone had a number or name that I could call to volunteer at the BTC. I am wanting to do it this Wednesday and I have called and left a voicemail but they still have not called me back. If anyone can help me or give me a name or number to call so I can volunteer that would be great. Thanks.

Project/wed night

I was absent Wed. and was just wondering if there was vital information that I need to know for my language project, I'm always worried when I miss, that I will miss instructions or tips on how to complete the language project, I have got a great majority of it finished but any tips or suggestions would always be helpful.

Outside class meeting

I am so glad we all decided to go out after class wednesday to work on the projects. I think this will really help us benefit from eachother and to finish our projects with a bang for the end of the year!!

lanugage project

Ok, so I finally started to understand most of the project. If anyone is doing pragmatics and would be willing to explain to me the second part, function of language, on what we need to do for that part that would be awesome. Like do we just need to write a summary of what we think?

Dani Wilkerson

hey

Mrs White.
i really wish you the best of luck on winning that award. Good Luck

Relevation

As I sit here and work on my language project, I am realizing that I have very poor language and communication skills. I always thought that teachers were supposed to provide proper tools to have well educated students with communication skills to match. Thanks to Mrs. White, my eyes have been opened and I realize that these skills are either rusty or nonexistant for me. I'm slowly struggling through the language project, and I just hope that it is up to par!

ouch!!

ok guys
This is just a social message!! I am visiting my Aunt this weekend and she is a big health nut!! SO I decided that I would go to one of her workout classes I mean why not, I know I am not in the best of shape but hey a little workout wouldn't kill me! WRONG!!!!!! OMG my butt hurts lol I went to a class called spinning which is an intense cycling class! So at first all was good, until Resistance was added and then it got hard. . . . duh! Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the work out lol but my knees and my butt did not! Yeah I am going to be sore for a week! lol so here is a TIP never go to a cycling class if you have a big butt, have bad knees, and are out of shape! Wait to get in shape to do that crap! Ok well I thought it was funny and wanted to share it, I really don't mind making fun of myself lol
:) :) :) :)
Peace

Is Anyone Doing Semantics?

Hey guys I was doing my language project and I've completed part A for the most part except for a few utterances I was unsure about labeling a few of them. But for part B it says Lexicon, I was wondering if there was an easy way to do this part or if you had to go through and actually count out each different word. Or is there a function on microsoft word that can do this for you?

Final

Hey guys, I may be the only person wondering this, but does anyone know when our final is in this class, and is it an online final, as well? I've been stressing like crazy and not knowing when our final exam in this class is for sure, is driving me nuts! Thanks for you help!

Language Project

OK I am having trouble with my language project!!!! Nothing too serious it is just that I am still unsure about counting the utterances and the morphemes!! Maybe I am putting too much into this I don't know but I really can't wait for the dinner next week maybe that will really help me get things in gear! Does anyone have any suggestions to help me! I don't know why my mind won't wrap around this!!

Im slowly getting used to my new environment. thanks to those who made me comfortable and feel at home.

Anyone using Pragmatics?

I had a question about it. I was wondering if when filling out the checklist if an utterance could fit into two of the skills if you put it in both or just the one it best fits into.

Dad Update

If I've already posted or shared . . . you already know I've lost my mind this semester.

Dad finished his third round of chemo last week. They removed the pump from his port on Thursday. He arrived home from Cincinnati to his home in Indiana. . . climbed on his John Deer with his ROUND UP! He was told he couldn't lift more than 10 pounds. Therefore he couldn't use the weed eater. So, he decided to kill those suckers with Round Up . . . around the yard he went spraying every weed he could find.

The very NEXT day after chemo and after his weed eating expedition he climbed back on the John Deer and mowed the whole yard - an hour's worth of mowing.

Yesterday back to Cincinnati to check blood levels. All look readings look great and they are going to give him another chemo treatment next week. He continues to respond well.

And I say. . . THANK YOU SED260 students who have prayed for my dad (the weeds don't thank you too much). He is ALIVE and doing well. Virgil has his up days and down days. Even during this week which started with a trip to the ER on Monday we are counting our blessings.

As the semester winds down I'll post here and there a sappy message. This one is to say. . . thank you for praying for my family and me. I'm praying for you as you face the next two weeks. Just as my Dad's out mowing his yard . . . you, too will make it through this challenging time!! I am confident that you can do abundantly more than you ask, think or imagine!!

Grateful to be your teacher!
Mrs. White

?

i am just wondering how do i submit my language project

Language Analysis Project

I was wandering if Mrs. White put any examples of projects up on blackboard. I looked around for them and couldn't find any. For some reason I thought she said in class she was going to. Maybe I heard it wrong. Anyway....I was just wandering.

Watch this!!

=] I liked it!! http://www.bluefoot.tv/videos/video/75

Bloggers

I just wanted to get on here really quick and ask all of you to keep me in your prayers. I am a freshman this year at Eastern and before arriving to attend school here i became very sick all summer. I was in and out of the hospital for my stomach. I got on medication and was fine for the most part for a couple of months, but within these last 2 weeks my conditions are coming back and my stomach is going back to it's old ways. If it gets any worse within the next week or so I am going to have to go into immediate surgery. I am very tired all day, i have sharp stomach pains, and i become very sick often. It is not a fun thing to have and i would just like to ask everyone to keep me in your prayers. Thank you!!

Mrs. White

I just wanted to thank you for meeting with me the other night. I feel much less stressed and much more caught up. Also, I wanted to let you know, that I am praying for your husband's full recovery. (I know pneumonia sucks) :] If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask. And I'm sure that holds true for everyone else as well.
See you next week! And I can't wait for our SED260 dinner date. :]

Catie

BTC

I am going to the BTC tomorrow at around 3, and I have one extra seat in my truck if anyone wants to go.
If you're interested call or text me at 502-594-5893.

Project

so i do not know about anyone els but i had of lot of fun doing the language project

Mrs.White

Mrs. White,

I was just wondering how your husband was doing. I hope that he is feeling a lot better. Just wanted to let you that your family have been in my thoughts.

Dani Wilkerson

Hali,

I meant to ask you last night... How did your doctor appointment go?

what to expect

I hear good things from everyone else so hopefully my test will turn out equally as good.. I'm ready for the semester to be over, which seems to cause me to have to work harder to get things finished. Hopefully tomorrow nights class will boost me back into gear.

I love feedback!!!!!! =]

Just a shout out to Mrs. White for giving me such great feedback on my test. I don't mean "great" as in she just told me that my answers were right (because that wasn't exactly the case lol), but that she gave me other suggestions in addition to what I put to make my answers stronger and helped me to look at the ones that I got wrong from a different point of view. You're really detailed and it's awesome for someone to take time to tell me how I can do better. Thanks again!! It really helps me out!! =]

Oh and I'm really excited about dinner next week!!! Yay for a SED 260 dinner date!!! =]

Crystal Corum

It is with great sadness that I share this message. I received an email this morning letting me know that Crystal received news that her mom tragically died last night or this morning. She has obviously left to go home.

Only those of you who have experienced the loss of a parent understand the incredible shock and grief Crystal if feeling right now. I want to ask each of us to take some time today to lift her family and her up in your thoughts and prayers.

Life can be very challenging and overwhelming at times. This is when you pause, take some time to find your support system and lean into where you gain your source of strength. We know Crystal finds her strength in the Lord. He will give her a strength, a peace and a comfort that only He can give. Yet, He will also use those of us that make ourselves available. We can reach out to one another during these times to encourage and help. I am wholly confident you will rise up again just as you have for me and one another all through the semester.

I look forward to seeing you tonight.
Mrs. White

Daily Dozen

As we near the end of the semester with many assignments, projects and tests coming due. . . I encourage you to consider these tips for each day. See if there aren't at least a few you can do each day.

• Take one day at a time.
• Pray
• Eat right.
• Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
• Talk less; listen more.
• Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
• Find time to be alone, jot down thoughts and inspirations.
• Spend time with someone you love.
• Laugh, find at least a few minutes to relax and have fun.
• Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
• Go to bed on time and get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
• Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

Tonight as I go to bed I will once again remember how grateful I am that I have had the opportunity to teach each of you and learn from each of you this semester. You are a blessing in my life!

Postings for May

Mrs. White,

You may have already told us but will we need to write four postings for May? I remember talking about it some at the begining of the semester but I didn't remember hearing anymore about it :)

Hands Alive

Just wondering if anyone else was working with Hands Alive tomorrow...

I will be there from 12ish to 3 working with the boat races!

Hi Everyone

I got 2 day sick leave from my doctor and my online assignment is due on the second day of my sick leave. Should I do my assingment during sick leave or I should I email the professor the sick leave form.

BTC

Yesterday before class I went to the BTC and help out Debbie and April. I really enjoyed working with them, it was fun to listen to all the other things they do and how they help out so many different people. I had a good time and I cant wait to go back again.

The Power of Teamwork

You HAVE TO watch this video!!

http://soonereyo.blip.tv/#1826380

Opinions on Test 3!! Let's hear them!

I just submitted my test and I'm actually pretty excited about. I did really awesome on the first one and not the best on the second one, but I feel pretty good about this one. I had a lot of genuine things to says about the questions. A lot of the stuff came from my head and not stuff that I had to look up in the book to get ideas from. Now I just hope that what was in my head was the right stuff!! =] I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Shout out to Mrs. White for helping me again with question 8!! Sorry that I interrupted the Wednesday night class, but I was glad I could assist you with your cell volume problem!! =]

On a side note, I just wanted to tell everyone to keep their heads up during these last few weeks of class. I wrote on here the other day about how stressed I was and I've heard a lot of others saying the same thing. We can do it!!!!! I was texting my Dad today (Yes, he texts!! He's pretty much the coolest guy ever!! =]) about this 500 level SED class I've got to take this summer and how I was nervous about it when I am only a sophomore and that I didn't think I was ready for it. His response was "You've got to take it!! There's no time like the present!!" He is exactly right! And guess what guys, it applies here too. There is no time like the present . . . to learn about kids with language and speech disabilities, to finish up a great semester, to get awesome grades, to rock this SED 260 class, to learn how to be the absolute best special education teachers that we can be!!! So hang in there! We're almost done and we've did a wonderful job thus far!! =]

Okay, that was my inspirational speech for the semester!!! =] Have a great rest of the week everyone!! And smile . . . it always makes you feel better!!!

Remember . . . there is no time like the present!!! =]

Test

Alright, well I just submitted my test. I'm not confident and I don't feel very good about my answers. This semester has been hectic and crazy with all my classes. Each week is like a finals week for me and I think its finally catching up with me. I feel rundown and wore out. On Monday we talked about ways to keep from stressing out around this time. I know strategies to keep from stressing but as of right now...they're not working.

I'm a Christian so I'm reminded of a verse that directly relates to this situation. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."-Matthew 6:33-34. Also " Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."-Philippians 4:6-7.

These verses were included in the Bible to remind us not to stress and to remind us of where our focus should be. I needed that reminder, so I'm glad I typed this post. I'm not "magically" ok, but once I get my focus back, I'll be going in that direction. I don't know if anybody else if feeling frustrated with schoolwork, but I hope God will use these verses to speak to you as well.

Wed. Class

Tonight was my favorite night class i've had this semester ha... I don't think i zoned out any!

BTC

I am going to the BTC today around 1. If anyone would like to join me let me know.

Jack's IEP

Jack's IEP was a huge success...IMHO!! Of course NOTHING in life is "perfect"...BUT we've come a long way in meeting Jack's needs!! All the teachers and therapist focused on Jack's STRENGTHS which is why I believe this meeting was a success compared to those in the past...(he had a different special ed teacher that really had no expectations in K) Any who...here is what Jack will be working on next year;

Increase vocabulary in the general curriculum - signs, pictures and printed words

Sequencing - using science, reading, social studies other gen ed curriculm concepts

Reading program - Edmark (this is a sight reading program)

Written Expression- spelling using familar sight words Jack will spell words using letter tiles...picture cue given.

Sentence structure. Using word tiles (familar words) Jack will create a sentence using Capitalization and punctuation.

Handwriting without tears program for letter form etc.

Math - We are moving to adding 1 more. ie.. 1+1=2, 2+1=3 etc.,

Speech goals - articulation - final consonants, syllabication (I think that is the right word) multisyllable words

Language - Increasing vocabulary - sight words, pictures and signs as well as functional phrases


Jack will be doing 1st grade again next year. His day will look something like this:

8:00-8:30 General Ed classroom Morning routine...word wall review, calendar time
8:30-10:30 Special Class to work on specific reading, spelling and math goals
10:30 - 3:00 General Ed Classroom for Lunch, Recess, specials (music, art, PE), social studies and science, closure....The special ed teacher will modify the classroom work incorporating his goals. All field trips, assemblies, class plays etc...will be with gen ed class regardless of timing...(this was important to me) He will continue to have an aide during instructional time...not during specials (gym, art, music, library)....Aide will shadow him during recess and lunch time...for safety (recess) and helping him requests food choices in the cafeteria.

We have the school psychologist observing Jack over the next few weeks to help come up with a behavior plan for Jack.

This is kind of a vague over view...if you have questions PLEASE ask...suggestions...PLEASE give them! HA!!

Please Pray for me and my family.

I usually would not ask for prayers like this but i have a very important doctors appointment tomorrow! I am a little worried about it, i believe everything happens for a reason and i am strong enough to fight anything that comes my way but my family on the other hand are having a harder time. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor this summer which causes me to have seizures, loose my eye sight at times, and i have horrible headaches. So the past year has been nothing but ups and downs and new ajustments. Luckily medicine takes care of most symptons as of now but as everyone knows with most medicine comes new symptons haha. My appointment tomorrow is about surgery :-( Yuck. So if everyone could just say a little prayer in hopes that it has not grown my family and I would be soooooo greatful.

Monday Night's class

I really enjoyed our class on Monday. It may be because I am pursuing deaf education and I truly enjoy learning more about these topics. For me, it was the most interesting and fun class of the semester!!

Mon Night Storms

I wasn't in class Monday night because I am terrified of storms. I know to most people that is not a good excuse but I have panic attacks and everything. So getting out in them is out of the question. I drove through the one on Friday until I was almost to Winchester and my Dad called telling me that there was a tornado so I had to turn around and sit and the Loves exit McDonald's for 2 hours until it pasted my home town. That was not fun!

Anyway...

If anyone would fill me in on what I missed I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Katie

Language Project - Due Date - Postponed One Week

Ok. . . Happy Birthday...Happy Easter...Thank You, Amanda for the potato salad...Thank You, girls for going out to Starbucks with me last week . . .

The Language Project due date has been postponed. It is now due on Wednesday, April 29th by midnight for BOTH CLASSES!!!

Do not keep procrastinating, however...keep forging ahead!

Mrs. White

Yes, this did change . . . No, it won't change again! :)

Second Grader

I figured I would share this with you all, I have been volunteering as a tutor at a elem school in Richmond this semester. In the second grade classroom that I have been in, I have watched this one little boy struggle throughout the whole year. He is almost all the time in gen ed classrooms, when he probably should not be. He is quickly falling way behind the rest of the class with no one to help keep him motivated to work. While the other kids are reading stories, he is playing with blocks. I don't know what all the do in intervention when he is in there, but watching him in the gen ed classroom saddens me like no other. Two weeks ago the kids took testing, and I watched as the little boy sat and cried over the fact that he couldn't even read the questions. What kills me is that no one was allowed to help him on the test, and he was told to try. He just looked and filled in circles. I don't know why it got to me so much that day, but I left the elem school calling my mom right away crying cause I felt like this little boy is just not getting the attention and help he deserves. I know I cant change the world, but I just wish that each child with any disability no matter the level of trouble they have, would get all the help and more than is necessary in seeing them succeed.

Question 8 on the test

I know this probably sounds stupid and I'm probably the only one who doesn't get this, but can anyone clarify what the second half of question 8 is asking? I get the first part. The part that I don't really understand is "Describe a way a teacher can model this act and have children use it naturally in the classroom." I'm not asking for answers, just a different way of asking the question. Thanks everyone!!

-Kayla

Is this semester over yet????

Hey guys,

Please send me happy thoughts this week. I have about 27264643334 things to do and no time to do them. It's getting down to crunch time in all of my classes and it's really starting to stress me out. The worst part of all is that instead of focusing in and working harder like I always do when I have a lot of work to get done, I just want to be outside in the sunshine and it's harder to make myself do the work. This language project is really getting me worried too because I just don't know when I'm going to do it. Between class, two jobs, and going out of state this weekend, I am running out of time!! I'm sure I'll get everything done; I'm just beginning to frazzle!!! Blahhh!!!! Hope everyone else out there is hanging on!!

Kayla

Hello, everyone! Just wanted to tell everyone Happy Easter! Be careful travelling, and I'll see you all in class Monday! :)

Communication Technology

Hey everybody! I had a question on my mind the night we talked about intellectual disabilities and autism. I know there is a lot of technology out there that helps people with these kinds of disabilities to communicate. I was wondering if using these kinds of technologies helps these students to become more vocal and to rely less on the technology they use or if the often become more dependent on them. I understand that they would be very necessary when it comes to needing to communicate so I can certainly see why they are used. However, do people who use this kind of technology still work on using voice to communicate if they are capable? Just a thought.

Test 3

Does anyone know if one of the things we used at the BGTC was a communication symwritter. It seems right and I looked it up and it was on their website. Just wanted to make sure it was one of the things that we used while we were there.

Test 2 results

I just saw my test results from Test 2. I done much better on this one! YAY! I love the way Mrs. White gives us feedback on every single question. No matter if they are right or wrong. I have never had a teacher do this before and it defiantly helps. So hopefully I will do even better on Test 3. Good luck to everyone!

*Sigh*

It is 12:43 am and I just registered for all my classes, I am exhausted BUT I got myself all worked up trying to get all the classes I needed! GREAT now I won't be able to sleep for another hour or so!!! So I figured I get on here and just rant or talk, whatever!
So I have been going to the Bluegrass Tech center for about 2-3 weeks now and planing on continuing this little volunteer fun!! I have gotten pretty close to Debbie and especially April they are both super awesome I love being around them they crack me up!!!! I have been working on filing books in alphabetical order, and making up questions and answers for I don't know how many books, I think Berenstein bears are huge cause they sure do have a whole lot of them lol :)
Ummmmm what else IDK guess I will try to sleep now!! They really need to make these registrations at 12:00 noon instead of 12:00 midnight this is killer on my brain!!!!! lol well good-night or good-morning what ever PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey guys!! My Mom emailed me this website to watch today. I thought I would share it with you all because I liked it so much. It made me cry . . . If you know me, you know it doesn't take a lot. Anyway, my Dad is/has been a basketball coach for the past 25 years and with an uncle with cerebral palsy and a cousin with CMV, these stories always hit close to home and touch my heart!! Let me know what you think! It kind of inspired me!! =]

http://www.cbssports.com/video/player/play/mayhem_south/_5_kza4_mAuDGlVRjz7PJ2dwar0LC9TE

-Kayla

Question to anyone about diagnosis.

About a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with Aspberger's Syndrome and since then things have gotten a lot better. I was wondering if a diagnosis has helped anyone with learning how to cope with their disorder. My mom and I have personal problems with my dad because us and my neuropsychologist believe he has it too but he refuses to get help. He does the same things I do to a worse extent. Has this ever happened to any of you?

Bluegrass Tech Center

Hello this is Eric Paycheck and went to do volunteer work at the Bluegrass Tech Center and i loved it. i helped make Questions for 8 different Berenstine Bears books. i plan on going back to do more work there. If you havent volunteerd yet its a lot of fun and you can earn valuable points towards a good end semester grade!

Thanks
Eric Paycheck

Volunteering at the BTC

Hello, everyone!

Mrs. White asked me to post on the blog about my experience volunteering at the Bluegrass Technology Center... To begin, I must say, if you could not attend our feild trip there, you could definitely put in your volunteer hours and get a better understanding of what is asked on the test this week. Secondly, the BTC does sooo much for the community and they really work so hard at what they do, so a few hours out of our busy schedules to give back to them would be a wonderful thing for all of us to do. If you're nervous about the type of things you'll be doing... don't be. Of all the students, I may be the one who has had the least exposure to special education students, so I was terrified of what they would ask me to do. But in the end, all I had to do was "data grab" from children's books and enter them into a database. And, Ms. Sharon will show you exactly how to do your job before you begin. So guys, pleaseeee take this opportunity to give back to the BTC for all of their hard work.

Thanks, everyone! :)

Test 3

Hey I was wandering if anyone else can access test 3. I went in and tried to look at it and it wasn't unders the test links like the others. Thought maybe I might have missed something.

Welcome to Dawn to the Blog

Dawn has agreed to blog and answer any questions you might have! Feel free to comment here for start a new post! I appreciate Dawn coming and bringing Jack to class. It helps all of us understand much better the special gifts and abilities children with intellectual and developmental delays bring to the classroom.

The specific examples of Jack's work with semantics and sight word cards was a great connection for us. The video of Jack reading demonstrated that reading IS a realistic expectation for children with intellectual delays. Another REAL WORLD connection was the idea of speech acts and how Jack has grown developmentally this year in this area. So many ways we could learn from Jack and our understanding of children is greater because of our time with him!

Thanks, Jack! Thanks, Dawn!

lang sample

Hey.. I'm sure someone has probaby asked this question already but I couldn't find it, I was wondering if the transcription that is dues wed. needed to have the utterances already counted or if that was something we would do later. Also I was wondering how many pages everyone else had of the language sample, I record A LOT and was trying to figure out when to stop.(I know every one will differ but I thought this might give me an idea) Thanks.

Observation Report

Hey Guys,

I was just wondering if anyone has received a grade for their observation reports that we turned in a few classes ago. I haven't got a grade for it yet, and I didn't know if I was the only one. Have a great week!!! =]

Kayla

SCEC meeting

Hey fellow classmates! This post is strictly to inform you that SCEC is having a meeting on April 7 at 5:00pm in the Jaggers room of Powell. SCEC stands for Special Council for Exceptional Children (the Special Ed club).

During this meeting, we will be holding a discussion board for parents of children who have Down Syndrome and voting for next year's officers. There will be food. So please come! I am hoping to be voted President and get a lot of things going next semester, so I'd like all the support that is out there.

Thank you!

Looking for SED260 text book

Does anyone know where I can get an SED260 text book. Do I have to special order it or is there a bookstore that carries it? Or does anyone have an extra one for sell? Let me know if there is anything I need to do. Thanks.