How to include a deaf student in an IT music session.

I like to show my students with learning difficulties (Milestone 8 - Entry 1) how to access music on the computer . They can take these skills and use them at home .This year I had to think about how I could do this as I had a deaf student in the group.

The class started by listening to a CD using the Windows Media Player.

They loaded the CD

Identified the Windows Media icon

Learnt how to plug in the headphones

Used the volume control

My deaf student joined in (the communicator had the headphones!) and used an enhanced audio CD.I chose

Nizlopi : The JCB Song Video animation.

While the others continued to listen to their CD she then viewed

Torn by Natalie Imbruglio

which I had saved on my memory stick.This is a signed performance by David Armand at an Amnesty International event. Its good fun and includes BSL and a few made up signs, not suitable for all students as some of them are a little crude. Judge for yourself by viewing it on You Tube or through handlinger.blogspot.com

If you like it you can buy the Amnesty International DVD - Secret Policeman's Ball Amnesty 2006 .I've seen it for sale new and used on on Amazon .

My students then went on to explore music on the Internet and we looked at You Tube but you might have your own favourites.My deaf student watched videos performed by Bengee143:

I will survive

NightFever

My heart will go on

Viewing music on the Internet has many pitfalls, so make sure you try out all your ideas in the classroom first and have some standby music from another source. Two problems to look out for are:

1.Buffering - the video freezes and will only play intermittently.

2. You Tube can appear in skeleton form only,the second time you use it. Apparently it does this to encourage you to sign up.

Good luck and don't forget to check if your computers have sound cards!

5 fun activities to do with the interactive whiteboard pen

I use the interactive whiteboard with my students with learning difficulties. I've listed 5 activities which you can do with your group.
Line rider .
Draw a course for the sledge and its intrepid rider click here
View examples on You Tube or Vimeo . These two examples have music.You will need to check your college doesn't block these sites.

Wild card
Create swirly/flowing lines by moving the pen or the mouse.5 different patterns with dark or light backgrounds to choose from accompanied by calming music click here

Don't Click
Just move the pen or mouse. Try The Experiments samples 1-4 in the Explore section. Best for students who have good skills with the pen as you need to move the pen without tapping the board to simulate the mouse
The site asks you to select items without clicking and lets you know when you have clicked rather than hovered.

Priory Woods
Visit this school site . Loads to choose from . Try the switch/touch screen videos in the Resource section. under Cause and Effect .Its best to download on to a memory stick or network space as they take ages to load. My favourite is Banana Phone but the students all prefer Abba!

Sensory World
Visit the Sensory room .Create an underwater scene
( touch the sea icon) complete with mermaid, fish, wafting seaweed, soothing music and wonderful colours click here

5 Online Activities for Teaching 2 digit Addition

5 Online Activities for Teaching 2 digit Addition. Entry2

These numeracy activities are all self checking allowing the student to work independently.

I work with adults and young people with learning difficulties

• submarinenopad2
  This is a game for two students . Students take it in turn to add 10 to a two digit number . The winning player will have torpedoed their opponent's submarine.The game has sound .
  
  
• 100 Hunt Plus
  
  This is another game from ictgames.com This game is for one player and is self checking. It uses a 100 number grid to practise adding 10 to a given number.
  
  
• Exercise 1: two digit sums.
  18 self checking addition sums set out in a traditional format.

• 9 more self checking additions sums from Centre for Innovation in Mathematics project. Exercise 1 has a mix of 1 and 2 digit additions.
  
  
• Ambleside addition machine

This game has three levels starting with 1 digit addition and progressing to 2 digit addition using numbers over 100