Adapting for Impairments in the Classroom

In every teacher's career they will, at some point, have to adapt their classroom for children with impairments whether it may be severe or not.  There are some general adaptations that will help these students like arranging the classroom desks in a manner that will be beneficial, or providing an Individualized Education Plan to help organize what the student can do and needs to work on.  With today's technology there are many computerized programs and activities that can adapt to children with different impairments or disabilities.  I think it is important for teacher's to learn about some adaptations that are currently available, so that they are able to make the students with impairments as comfortable and mentally able as they can be.  Some aids are of higher cost, but these students need them because it can allow a student to feel and do their best in the classroom.

Related Site:  http://atrc.utoronto.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=94

Image From:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesclay/3509154283/
 

ACTIVboards in Classrooms

I have been fulfilling my level one field experience at Irving Elementary School in Waterloo, Iowa, where I have, for the first time, used an ACTIVboard in a classroom.  This experience for me was rather neat because I got to interact with the students while teaching the lesson as well.  I feel that this board is much more interactive for kids than just writing down information on a regular white board.  As well as being interactive, the kids get really excited about using the board as well.  They become so excited that they pay more attention incase there is any chance they will be able to go up and answer a question.  The teacher's lesson became more interesting and interactive for all of the students when they got to be involved in using the board.  I felt that this was an amazing way to integrate technology in the classroom, not only to get the kids involved, but also to benefit the teacher's lessons as well.

Related Site: http://www.techlearning.com/article/13910
Image From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosipaw/4316117083/