ORC Lesson Plan

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/developing-understanding-homophones-284.html?tab=2#tabs

I have chosen to concentrate on grades 3 to 5 in the area of ELA.   The lesson I chose works on a very complicated part of the English language, homophones.  Students many often time struggle with the meaning and spelling of these words.  Student will listen/watch a video and be asked to identity the homophones in the video and discuss their meaning.   Each student will be given a list of common homophones.  Then, they will be put into groups to construct and perform a skit that illustrates a homophone.  Their classmates will try to guess that homophone performed.  After the group performances are completed they will create a comic strip of their skit.  They will be required to create a homophone book.

Comic Creator

OH.CC.SL.3.		Speaking and Listening Standards
		Comprehension and Collaboration
SL.3.1.		Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
SL.3.1(a)		Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation and other information known about the topic to explore ideas under discussion.
SL.3.1(b)		Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).
SL.3.1(c)		Ask questions to check understanding of information presented, stay on topic, and link their comments to the remarks of others.
SL.3.1(d)		Explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.

I anticipate using a modified version of this lesson in the future.  I plan on work with small reading intervention groups.  The skits may be too complicated in small groups and create more of an attention problem.  I really like the comic creator site 

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic

Technology serves as a great motivator for many students.  In stead of the skits, I would have them maybe draw pictures of the homophone they are trying to portray on a white board or poster board.  I would extend this activity with supplement material such as crosswords, worksheets or extra reading.

Khan/Koller Review

When I visited Khan Academy, I could envision using it personally as an alternative teaching approach or an extra resource.  The Academy would be great for my future students.  I would use the Academy as supplemental or 'extra practice' material for lessons done in class.  It had a younger feel to it because of the avatars and I think that would really appeal to the younger generation.  The videos were interesting and very well thought out.  I am impressed with the vast knowledge that Salman Khan possesses.   I do believe that technology is getting more and more relied upon in education and consequently life.  It is through online format that material can be presented in a one-on-one. It also allows students to work at their own pace.  Online course material makes education more widespread and accessible.  I am concern of the lack of actual personal contact through online learning.  I fear interpersonal skills being deficit for the future generations.

When I visited the Coursera site I was amazed.  I was most intrigued about the variety of institutions providing courses.  I would be inclined to take courses that were in education (theory and practices).  The Aboriginal Worldviews and Education course really sparked my curiosity. It would be awesome if everything taken would be transferable.  However, I discovered only six course you could get college credit through the ACE.  I searched for accreditation at CSCC and did not see that credit would be given.  I think the courses sound very interesting and challenging.  I would be more inclined to take courses that I would not necessarily have on my schedule in a traditional program just for that fact that it doesn't cost anything.  And, yes, I think the challenges would rely on WHO and WHERE is teaching the course.   I  expect an educational challenge with some institutions because of their standards.  I think we a long way off before MOOC is the 'new normal'.  I think that college is big business and many people benefit and rely on the high cost of tuition and the exclusivity of a university education.

Suler's phenomenon- Invisibility

Ohio DL Schools

When asked to pick a online school in Ohio, I thought this would be a no-brainer.  My son was enrolled at Ohio Virtual Academy for 3 years and it was fabulous.  I chose OHVA because of a friends referral.  But, now looking at their site I cannot justify that decision.  They had so much to offer and the support was awesome but I do not get that feeling from their website.  It is hard to say that I would not chose OHVA now just because we had such a positive experience.

The site that I was most impressed with was Connections Academy.  It was all there!  They seem to answer all the pertinent questions and then some.  They had testimonials along with FAQs that were very helpful and it was a very polished site with pages and pages of useful information.

I was really disappointed in Virtual Community School of Ohio.  They did not provide anything on their site.  You were to 'request information'.  That was a real turn off.

I got the impression from both ECOT and Virtual School House that they were targeting a certain type of student.  ECOT appeared to me to be focused on high school age or near graduation.  They seem to stress college acceptances and graduation.  Virtual School House seemed to me to appeal to African Americans and to Cleveland residents.  Most, if not all, of their pictures were of African Americans and all the school activities were in the Cleveland area.

Assistive Technology for Students with Dyslexia

   Dyslexia is a specific learning disability which is characterized by a difficulty in reading, spelling and writing.  Dyslexia does not affect these individual's cognitive ability.  People with dyslexia have an average to above average intelligence.  This disability does, however, impact the students attention, perception, memory and thought processing abilities.  Some signs of dyslexia is delayed speech, slow learning of new vocabulary and a delay in reading.  Most student can succeed in school with additional assistants such as, tutoring, supplemental instruction or assistive technology.
   Below is an example of what someone with dyslexia might see while reading.  Using assistive technology can minimize the difficulty in decoding what an individual perceives. 

http://dyslexia.mindsay.com/

I have researched two devices to assist student (or adults) with the daunting task of reading.   

The Reading Pen

   The Reading Pen is a portable device that can translate a word or full text by simply scanning it and producing an audio pronunciation.  This device is programmed with language software so it can be in any language.  It also decodes idioms and phrases.  Pretty Cool!   For students that need reading assistance, the Reading Pen provides definitions and pronunciations immediately to help with comprehension and fluency.

vBookz

vBookz is a PDF Voice reader.  It shows the text and while it is reading to you.  It is also available in mobile version.  The interesting thing about the vBookz is that it is specifically designed for dyslexic readers.  They use this text called Dyslexie that addresses the way these students perceive letters and words and makes it easier for them to read.  With this font, every letter appears is unique.  This helps with the rotation, flipping and reversal of letters while reading.  It also bold faces capital letters in the beginning of sentences to avoid sentence confusion or "smashing" together. 

http://vbookz.com/V1/vBookz_Voice_Readers.html

     Dyslexic students of today have more opportunities that ever to achieve full potential.  Research has shown that early intervention is necessary for children with reading disabilities and now there is a greater understanding of how this learning can work, even past childhood.  Past implications of not being able to read meant that the person was not smart and actually was looked at as 'slow' is no longer the case. This is far from the truth.  Many famous dyslexic are looked at as gifted.    Gen. Patton, John Lennon, Alexander Graham Bell just to name a few.  I believe the future is promising for those with specific learning disabilities in general.  The research, education and treatment are abundant and forthcoming, Society has a better understanding and knowledge of the disabilities and difficulties.

Sources:

http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cdynamic%2CTopicalBrief%2C23%2C

http://www.ablongman.com/html/productinfo/friend2e_MLS/0205505317ch05.pdf

http://ldaamerica.org/types-of-learning-disabilities/