In this issue:

Accessible Materials Made Right (AMMR)

Assistive Technology (AT)

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Including Building Blocks to Autonomous Communication and Comprehensive Literacy for Autonomous Communication

Many parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, and ancillary staff often read books to students.  Rather than reading to students, shared reading puts the emphasis on the interaction and engagement that occurs when we read books with students. Tar Heel Shared Reader provides free access to professional development modules, coaching information, materials, and technology that support the implementation of shared reading for students with significant disabilities. If you're contemplating how to share this information with others, check out the facilitated modules as they offer all of the handouts, activities, videos, and slides that you will need to share this content with others.

Delta Math

The winter screening cycle continues through February 28, 2022. Many schools screen up in February to measure each student’s readiness for the next grade level. “Screening up” data is used to identify students who may benefit from additional tier 1 support. Then, “screening up” in May can measure the impact of tier 1 intervention and inform planning for students who may benefit from additional support during the summer and/or fall. For students receiving tier 3 support, use the readiness screener for the same grade level of the tier 3 screener they completed during the fall and winter to screen up to accelerate their learning closer to their current grade level.
 
The Standard Summary report can be generated to display the percent of students not meeting benchmark for each readiness standard. When large percentages of students need additional tier 1 support, targeted intervention can be provided to the whole group during warm-ups or integrated within core instruction. The Intervention Group report can be used to display students who would benefit from targeted tier 1 support during centers or other times when students can receive targeted support.
 
If you have questions about using Delta Math Response to Intervention (RtI) program data to identify unfinished learning and provide targeted support, please contact Mike Klavon at mklavon@oaisd.org.

Foundations of Math

Engaging students in productive mathematical conversation is a key component of a quality math experience. If your students require AAC, be sure these tools are available to students at all times. Mathematical conversation does not need to be limited to the math block. It can occur at any time and include conversation around a wide variety of topics. Consider using pattern prompts, picture prompts, and examples of incorrect solutions to get students talking! If students struggle to communicate or organize their thinking, consider adding in sentence stems to set them up for success.    
 
Along with a good prompt, structure the experience to include individual think time as well as an opportunity to talk with a peer. Finally, provide opportunities for students to hear the thinking of others. Learning to appreciate a different perspective or solution not only builds the mathematical skills of our students but serves as an opportunity for students to listen and seek to understand another point of view or idea. 

Perspective

*Perspective is written by David Shachar-Hill. David is a Michigan State University graduate in the area of social science. Prior to that, he attended Okemos Public Schools. So far he has lived in six cities. Even though he is an adult, he still enjoys building Legos in his spare time.

Established practices sometimes must be set aside to make room for new ideas and approaches. Kopp (2021) defines such creative destruction as “the dismantling of long-standing practices in order to make way for innovation.” Destruction that’s forced on us doesn’t feel creative, but it becomes a creative force when we are able to take the opportunity to do things in innovative ways. Thanks to the creativity of teachers and parents, the COVID pandemic is proving to be such a force.
 
The changes brought on by COVID-19 have been unwanted and uncomfortable for many people because K-12 education has remained largely unchanged for over a century. However, these changes have arguably made schooling more agile and competitive. In contrast, colleges and universities have been utilizing the internet for over a decade prior to COVID-19, changing and adapting all along to hybrid and online classes as technological innovation allowed. These different learning institutions had less of a brutal awakening than traditional public schools when the pandemic hit. I graduated from Michigan State University (MSU) in September of 2019, six months before the COVID-19 pandemic forced MSU and all other universities online. If I were still at MSU in 2020, this would not have been a big deal for me because I, and all other students, were already established with online platforms.
 
Many of us learned how much can be learned online beyond the teacher posting assigned readings or homework. Earlier this year, I took a self-paced course online to earn certification to sell insurance. As well as reading the rules and regulations online, I took regular quizzes to monitor my progress and tests on each area to ensure mastery before tackling the next topic. I found that going through the training at my own pace was helpful and less stressful. As someone for whom keeping up at school at times created a lot of pressure over the years, this new experience was refreshing. It opened my eyes to new, lower pressure, and more accessible ways of learning.
 
Self paced learning existed before the pandemic, even before the internet. But when COVID disrupted conventional in-person education, online teaching and learning created more opportunities for people to learn at their own pace, while also having access to synchronous learning if they chose. Having experienced the benefits of this modality, I believe some parents and learners will want this option to remain available beyond the pandemic.
 
 There is much truth in the old saying: “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Lending Library Update

Lending Library Helpful Info

Have you purchased a Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display (PODD) book from Alt+Shift or are you borrowing one from the Lending Library? Alt+Shift uses Revlar paper to create PODD books. Revlar paper can be cleaned and sanitized. Follow the REVLAR cleaning guide to get the best life out of your PODD book

Resource

Linking literacy and math is a great way to maximize instructional time and make connections to our world! Visit The Best Children’s Books for Early Math Learning and 10 Living Books for Middle School Math for some suggestions!