Goblin Tools

Do you have students that struggle with large projects or to-do lists? Do you sometimes struggle with where to start on a task?

Goblin Tools can compile my brain-dump into a list of tasks or help tame the challenge of large tasks or assignments, especially for our neurodivergent students. This is a free online suite of AI-powered mini-apps designed to conquer chaos and boost productivity.

With Goblin Tools you can break big tasks down into manageable steps with 'Magic To Do" or estimate how long a a task might take with 'Estimator'. Do you need help verifying the tone of someones writing or does your writing need to be more formal?  Check out 'The Judge' or 'Formalizer'.

Goblin Tools helps you get organized and achieve your goals, one bite-sized chunk at a time.

Card Games in the Classroom

 Last week I talked about using board games in the classroom.  They can be used for recess but are also a great way to practice a variety of skills.

You can also use a deck of playing cards to help students show skills they know and have learned related to IEP goal and objectives or state academic standards. Here are 16 Card Games That Will Turn Your Students Into Math Aces  (https://www.weareteachers.com/math-card-games/) and that you can use to test math skills in your classroom.

You can also check out 18 Fifth Grade Math Games for Teaching Fractions, Decimals, and More  (https://www.weareteachers.com/fifth-grade-math-games/) which can be used for teaching and assessment as well.  

Tar Heel Gameplay

Tar Heel Gameplay (https://tarheelgameplay.org/) is a collection of free, easy-to-play, and accessible games. Each game is speech enabled and may be accessed using multiple interfaces, including touch screens and up to 3 switches.

Assignment Calculator

Are you looking for a way to help your students manage his/her time with a big writing project?

The University of Minnesota has created an Assignment Calculator (https://www.lib.umn.edu/services/ac) that helps break down large writing projects into manageable chunks. You can set a timeline for a research paper, speech or lab report.

The timeline provided is broken down into small, daily steps. The timeline of steps can even be added into your Google Calendar to help you stay on track.

9 Ways to Beat Zoom Fatigue

Here is another post, like last week, that is not necessarily a "tech tip".  Although we don't all use Zoom, this article is good practice for all of us that are looking at a computer all day long.

9 Ways to Beat Zoom Fatigue  (https://www.weareteachers.com/ways-to-beat-zoom-fatigue)

20 Quotes From Children's Books Every Adult Should Know

It’s interesting how some of life’s greatest lessons can be found in children’s literature. And chances are that we did not realize this back when we were kids. Sometimes it’s only when we’re older that we learn to fully appreciate and understand the poignant words from our childhood entertainment.

For Spring Break I wanted to share with you:

20 Quotes From Children’s Books Every Adult Should Know (https://tinyurl.com/u55wxyl)

Aided Language Stimulation Explained

Aided Language Stimulation Explained  (https://tinyurl.com/glj7c4u)

Teach a student to use a communication device to generate language by using the communication device as a model.  Watch this PowToon video created by Chris Bugaj to learn a little about the importance of modeling the use of a communication device.

Addressing Disruptive and Noncompliant Behaviors (Part 2)

Addressing Disruptive and Noncompliant Behaviors (Part 2): Behavioral Interventions
(https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/bi2/)

The second in a two-part series, this module describes interventions that can increase initial compliance to teacher requests as well as interventions that can be implemented to decrease disruptive and noncompliant behaviors.

Addressing Disruptive and Noncompliant Behaviors (Part 1)

Addressing Disruptive and Noncompliant Behaviors (Part 1): Understanding the Acting-Out Cycle

(https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/bi1/)

The first in a two-part series, this module discusses problem behavior in terms of the stages of the acting-out cycle and suggests ways to respond to students in the cycle's different phases.

(est. completion time: 1 hour)

IRIS Center: IEPs

IEPs: Developing High-Quality Individualized Education Programs  (https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/iep01/)

This module details the process of developing high-quality individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities. The module discusses the requirements for IEPs as outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) with implications of the Supreme Court's ruling in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District *.

(est. completion time: 3 hours)

IRIS Center: Related Services

Related Services: Common Supports for Students with Disabilities  (https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/rs/)

This module offers a description of related services and an overview of the benefits they provide to students with disabilities in the general education classroom. It highlights five commonly used related services (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology Services, Social Work Services, and Psychological Services) and briefly highlights many of the other related services as identified through IDEA '04.

(est. completion time: 1 hour)

Article: What Teachers Need to Know About Students With ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder)

This does not necessarily fall under AT or UDL but it does contains some great information that I wanted to share.

Oppositional defiant disorder, commonly known as ODD, is a behavioral disorder in which children are—as the name suggests—defiant to the degree that it interferes with their daily lives.



Between 2–16 percent of the population may have ODD, and we’re not entirely sure of the causes.

For more information please read the article written by WeAreTeacher Staff on April 2, 2019:

What Teachers Need to Know About Students With ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) (https://rebrand.ly/e23f1)

The Power of Words

"The Power of Words" is a video that was created by Judy Endow. The video is a few years old so the ratio of individuals with ASD is old, but the message about person first language and actions still holds so very true.

Judy Endow, MSW is an author and international speaker on a variety of autism-related topics, is part of the Wisconsin DPI Statewide Autism Training Team and a board member of both the Autism Society of America, Wisconsin Chapter and the Autism National Committee. In addition, Judy is a member of the Autistic Global Initiative (AGI), a program of the Autism Research Institute that is self-run by a committee of autistic adults working in the autism fields. AGI is devoted to raising awareness on adults with autism and building bridges between all constituents in our autism community. Judy maintains a private practice in Madison, Wisconsin, providing consultation for families, school districts and other agencies. Besides having autism herself, Judy is the parent of three now grown sons, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. In her spare time Judy enjoys expressing her thoughts and ideas by creating one-of-a-kind hand-built pottery sculptures and painting with acrylics. Please visit www.judyendow.com for more information on Judy.

The video is just over 12 minutes long and worth the watch and reminder. Please take the time and watch:

The Power of Words (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6HY6gX3eEs)

Executive Function Skills at Work (and School)

The Center on Technology and Disability (https://www.ctdinstitute.org/)(CTD) has a wonderful library of family and student supports that include both low and high tech options.  They have paired with the PACER Center (https://www.pacer.org/), Champions for Children with Disabilities, to create a quick guide of Executive Functioning tools and strategies to help at work (and at school).
According to the description on the website:
"This step-by-step guide provides an overview of tools and strategies for executive function skills used in the work place such as time management, motivation, following directions, organizing work space and information, remembering appointments and tasks, and focus and attention."
Click on the link on the right of the screen (see image below) for the PDF download to see what this guide has to offer.

A Teacher's View of Assistive Technology

The Center on Technology and Disability 

In this video, teachers of students with a variety of learning needs and challenges discuss ways in which assistive technology can help. The teachers in the video provide examples of low-tech and high-tech tools that can be easily integrated into a classroom environment.

A Teacher's View of Assistive Technology 
(https://www.ctdinstitute.org/library/2018-06-07/teachers-view-assistive-technology)

Included in the the above link is an  option to watch the video in Spanish.

Introduction to Assistive Technology with Chris Bugaj

The Center on Technology and Disability (https://www.ctdinstitute.org) is a great Assistive Technology resource.  Chris Bugaj is an Assistive Technology Expert, author, as well as host and producer of the ATTipsCast (https://attipscast.com/). Together the CTD and Chris Bugaj have crated a short, 5 minute video overview defining Assistive Technology Devices, Assistive Technology Services and Assistive Technology Consideration.

To watch this video, please click the link below to be redirected to the CTD website.

Introduction to Assistive Technology with Chris Bugaj
(https://www.ctdinstitute.org/library/2017-10-05/intro-assistive-technology-video)

Epidemic Sound

When creating presentations for class or work it is fun to add sound to enhance your presentation. 

In my Blog post from May 15, 2018 I shared a link to some Free Sound Effects (https://at-udl.blogspot.com/2018/05/free-sound-effects.html) provided by BBC (http://www.bbc.com/). 

Sound effects are great but sometimes we want a song or a portion of a song. Check out Free Copyrighted Songs at Epidemic Sound 

(https://www.epidemicsound.com/).  This site has tracks recorded by independent musicians and that are made available for the general public to use. Now you most likely will not find a song by your favorite artist or a group in main stream music right now but, you might be able to locate something in the same or similar style.

Check out Epidemic Sound 

(https://www.epidemicsound.com/) and see what you can find for yourself.

SchoolHabits.com

Most students (and some adults) need reminders on how to do different school tasks.  I was never taught how to annotate a text or how to properly study for an exam.  

SchoolHabits.com is a great website that has habits and hacks to help you get through school.  This site contains tons of video tutorials that can be found on the SchoolHabits channel.
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCif2xthZcmDp2NxvG56Gdlg).  Each video covers a different hack or habit and most mention ways to use them for a variety of learners.  

I like the "How to annotate while reading" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Mz4nwciWc) video and "How to take notes in a lecture class" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yx_R2kh16c) video also.  Check out these and some of the others that might help you or your students!

The Iris Center: Secondary Transition

Secondary Transition: Student-Centered Transition Planning
(https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/tran-scp/)

This Module will help users to better understand the benefits of student-centered transition planning, identify ways to involve students in collecting assessment information and developing goals, and be able to prepare students to actively participate in their own IEP meetings (est. completion time: 2 hours).


Secondary Transition: Helping Students with Disabilities Plan for Post-High School Settings
(https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/tran/)

This Module focuses on the transition process from high school to post-secondary settings. Among other topics, it discusses IEP planning, engaging students in the process so as to become better advocates for their own needs, and the importance of outside agencies such as vocational rehabilitation (est. completion time: 1 hour).

The Iris Center: Accommodations

Accommodations: Instructional and Testing Supports for Students with Disabilities
(https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/acc/)

This Module provides an overview of accommodations for students with disabilities (est. completion time: 1 hour).