Re: First Impressions from Aubrie's neuropsych eval

[Guest guest]

Michele,

Yea, like the suggestions. I'll try to keep it short and will do as Meg does

and try to go through your info.

These are the basic suggestions:

* Cut a window in an index card to allow one line of print at a time

while reading. Later, can try 2-3 lines showing. Too hard to track

Visually with all the other stuff on the page.

This is great but can be difficult if there's fine motor issues going on.

Using it on a slantboard might help too

* Use enlarged print, declutter desktop, consider Kurzweil program

which reads text and magnifies on screen

Enlarged print and removing clutter-oh I have to say it -- DUH!!!!!

I LOVE Kurzweil. And there's more to it than just reading and magnifying.

So much more..... I learned last year from one of the best SPED teachers there

is who also used to be the towns Technology Specialist. There's so much more

to it! Kurzweil not only can but will change Aubrey's life! So will many

other programs.

* Provide many chances to move. About 10 min attention span in the am

session. But later when tasks were more complex, attention was longer.

Again, DUH! It surprises me that this is often written by " specialists " but

is such a no-brainer!

* Cut down workload. Needs time to do well and process. Speak slowly

and clearly and she will do the same for you.

And look at her when talking to her and expect her to look at the person

she's talking to.

* Handwriting Without Tears - use their paper and technique for larger

and clear writing space.

Great, and get the shapes and blackboards that go with it.

* Spelling - practice words traced in sand or something on a cookie

sheet so she gets practice in large muscles. draw outline of words so she

can memorize the shape of the word. She is learning them as a whole and has

a better memory for the whole.

Yup. But spelling words have to be meaningful to her. And don't expect her

to sound them out, or even know or hear the sounds. Keep going on spelling,

keep it at the independent level but not the frustration level. And in the

end, teach her how to use spell check. Using a computer to spell is the best.

It underlines misspelt words and she can choose the word with the correct

spelling. That's a better way to learn- write, see, say, do...

Also teach her the sign alphabet to have her sign the letters of the words

while spelling them. Once Patty signed her spelling got better. Sensory......

So I did things like enlarge her worksheets, sometimes reducing the workload

or reducing the amount of stuff on one page. I also did some things like

writing in the root word on the blank where she is supposed to fill in the

word with the proper suffix.

Oh dear me, is that what you want her to do? Really?! I don't know but that

would have just turned Patty off and then nothing would have been good. It

would have confused her.

Or when she is asked to rewrite an entire

sentence inserting the correct word in the blank, I rewrote the sentence

leaving only the word in question for her to write.

Yes, yes, yes,... better.

We can manage reducing the number of math problems til she has enough

practice to get it. But how do you guys reduce or modify spelling word

lists? By reducing the number of words, we limiting her total spelling

achievement. I am hoping the dr will help with this, but if you guys have

ideas, please share.

Again, is she using the correct words and order within a sentence. Spelling

is important but when you weigh things is that the focus on writing? What

about planning sentences. In stories does she have beginning middle and end.

Does she understand the concept of what is being asked. Is the SLP working with

her on this? Can she tell the sound difference between ch, sh, th, k, c, s,

t.... Patty couldn't. Again, speech and articulation in combination with

hearing impairements can kill spelling. So can a loud room.

When we get the eval report on Friday, I'll figure out a way to share it

with you guys. I'm sure I'll have questions as we prepare for the IEP

meeting on the following Wed!

And last ---- what are her keyboarding skills?

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

[Guest guest]

On spelling...

words that rely hevily on " sounding out " . Those words should be maby limited

to a couple at a time as they just need to be memorized.

Pick words out that are just " other ways of saying something " like take out

Jubulent if she all ready knows how to spell excited.

I mean if she knows how to spell a different word to mean the same as this

word, is it really necisary to learn the more complicated word? Dunno, just

a thought.

Im more of a victem of creative spelling. I was alowed to learn to spell how

i thought a word should be spelled how i heard it. lol. I spell easy words

wrong but the more complicated words i can spell right cause i just

memorized them.

Chantelle

[Guest guest]

Chantelle-

Wonderful suggestions! Thank you -- I will bring these up at the IEP

meeting.

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

[Guest guest]

if she can see it clearly, have her do her spelling homework in green pencil

or ink - a trick my mom learned as a special ed teacher, apparently

" research shows " that writing in green helps you remember things - i don't

know if it's the deviation from the " norm " or what, but it supposedly works.

and i'm not blowing smoke for the sake of seeing my own font - i use this

tecnique when taking notes or making flashcard in a fact-intensive class

like psychology or history.

(maybe it's psychosomatic... could be... dunno but it works for me.)

Cole

>

> I thought I'd share my first impressions from Aubrie's eval last week. I

> had brief meetings with two of the evaluators after their time with

> Aubrie.

> I got enough info in those brief encounters to come up with several

> suggestions and thoughts for her teacher! I am so hopeful that the final

> report and consultation will be helpful.

>

>

>

> These are the basic suggestions:

>

> * Cut a window in an index card to allow one line of print at a time

> while reading. Later, can try 2-3 lines showing. Too hard to track

> visually with all the other stuff on the page.

> * Use enlarged print, declutter desktop, consider Kurzweil program

> which reads text and magnifies on screen

> * Provide many chances to move. About 10 min attention span in the

> am

> session. But later when tasks were more complex, attention was longer.

> * Cut down workload. Needs time to do well and process. Speak

> slowly

> and clearly and she will do the same for you.

> * Handwriting Without Tears - use their paper and technique for

> larger

> and clear writing space.

> * Spelling - practice words traced in sand or something on a cookie

> sheet so she gets practice in large muscles. draw outline of words so she

> can memorize the shape of the word. She is learning them as a whole and

> has

> a better memory for the whole.

>

>

>

> So I did things like enlarge her worksheets, sometimes reducing the

> workload

> or reducing the amount of stuff on one page. I also did some things like

> writing in the root word on the blank where she is supposed to fill in the

> word with the proper suffix. Or when she is asked to rewrite an entire

> sentence inserting the correct word in the blank, I rewrote the sentence

> leaving only the word in question for her to write.

>

>

>

> We can manage reducing the number of math problems til she has enough

> practice to get it. But how do you guys reduce or modify spelling word

> lists? By reducing the number of words, we limiting her total spelling

> achievement. I am hoping the dr will help with this, but if you guys have

> ideas, please share.

>

>

>

> When we get the eval report on Friday, I'll figure out a way to share it

> with you guys. I'm sure I'll have questions as we prepare for the IEP

> meeting on the following Wed!

>

>

>

>

>

> Michele W

>

> mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am now rushing out to get some green pens...not for Kennedy, though, for

me!!!

>

> if she can see it clearly, have her do her spelling homework in green

> pencil

> or ink - a trick my mom learned as a special ed teacher, apparently

> " research shows " that writing in green helps you remember things - i don't

> know if it's the deviation from the " norm " or what, but it supposedly

> works.

>

>

> and i'm not blowing smoke for the sake of seeing my own font - i use this

> tecnique when taking notes or making flashcard in a fact-intensive class

> like psychology or history.

>

> (maybe it's psychosomatic... could be... dunno but it works for me.)

> Cole

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am now rushing out to get some green pens...not for Kennedy, though, for

me!!!

>

> if she can see it clearly, have her do her spelling homework in green

> pencil

> or ink - a trick my mom learned as a special ed teacher, apparently

> " research shows " that writing in green helps you remember things - i don't

> know if it's the deviation from the " norm " or what, but it supposedly

> works.

>

>

> and i'm not blowing smoke for the sake of seeing my own font - i use this

> tecnique when taking notes or making flashcard in a fact-intensive class

> like psychology or history.

>

> (maybe it's psychosomatic... could be... dunno but it works for me.)

> Cole

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hmmm green ink? I will try that too!

Chantelle

[Guest guest]

Bonnie-

Thank you!!!

Keyboarding is coming along... more later...

Thanks!

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

[Guest guest]

Bonnie-

Thank you!!!

Keyboarding is coming along... more later...

Thanks!

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

[Guest guest]

Bonnie-

Thank you!!!

Keyboarding is coming along... more later...

Thanks!

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

[Guest guest]

yeah, my only problem is finding it - i can find green ink most of the time

but i have a really hard time finding green pencils, and i MUCH prefer

pencil to ink <sigh>

lol i guess that's what i get for being picky.

>

> Hmmm green ink? I will try that too!

>

>

>

> Chantelle

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Cole

Interesting... I'll see if she likes it!

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

Re: First Impressions from Aubrie's neuropsych eval

if she can see it clearly, have her do her spelling homework in green pencil

or ink - a trick my mom learned as a special ed teacher, apparently

" research shows " that writing in green helps you remember things - i don't

know if it's the deviation from the " norm " or what, but it supposedly works.

[Guest guest]

Cole

Interesting... I'll see if she likes it!

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

Re: First Impressions from Aubrie's neuropsych eval

if she can see it clearly, have her do her spelling homework in green pencil

or ink - a trick my mom learned as a special ed teacher, apparently

" research shows " that writing in green helps you remember things - i don't

know if it's the deviation from the " norm " or what, but it supposedly works.

[Guest guest]

Cole

Interesting... I'll see if she likes it!

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

Re: First Impressions from Aubrie's neuropsych eval

if she can see it clearly, have her do her spelling homework in green pencil

or ink - a trick my mom learned as a special ed teacher, apparently

" research shows " that writing in green helps you remember things - i don't

know if it's the deviation from the " norm " or what, but it supposedly works.

[Guest guest]

Chantelle,

As a teacher, I love your suggestions! You always have something

interesting to say and I enjoy reading your posts! Many thanks! Have

you ever considered going into teaching?

Sharon from West Oz

>Chantelle-

>Wonderful suggestions! Thank you -- I will bring these up at the IEP

>meeting.

>

>Michele W

>mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

>

>

>

>

>CHARGE SYNDROME LISTSERV PHOTO PAGE:

>http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2117043995

>

>Membership of this email support group does not constitute

>membership in the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation; for information about

>the CHARGE Syndrome

>Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter),

>please contact marion@... or visit

>the web site at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

>

>8th International

>CHARGE Syndrome Conference, July, 2007. Information will be

>available at www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

>

[Guest guest]

Chantelle,

As a teacher, I love your suggestions! You always have something

interesting to say and I enjoy reading your posts! Many thanks! Have

you ever considered going into teaching?

Sharon from West Oz

>Chantelle-

>Wonderful suggestions! Thank you -- I will bring these up at the IEP

>meeting.

>

>Michele W

>mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

>

>

>

>

>CHARGE SYNDROME LISTSERV PHOTO PAGE:

>http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2117043995

>

>Membership of this email support group does not constitute

>membership in the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation; for information about

>the CHARGE Syndrome

>Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter),

>please contact marion@... or visit

>the web site at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

>

>8th International

>CHARGE Syndrome Conference, July, 2007. Information will be

>available at www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

>

[Guest guest]

Chantelle,

As a teacher, I love your suggestions! You always have something

interesting to say and I enjoy reading your posts! Many thanks! Have

you ever considered going into teaching?

Sharon from West Oz

>Chantelle-

>Wonderful suggestions! Thank you -- I will bring these up at the IEP

>meeting.

>

>Michele W

>mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

>

>

>

>

>CHARGE SYNDROME LISTSERV PHOTO PAGE:

>http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2117043995

>

>Membership of this email support group does not constitute

>membership in the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation; for information about

>the CHARGE Syndrome

>Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter),

>please contact marion@... or visit

>the web site at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

>

>8th International

>CHARGE Syndrome Conference, July, 2007. Information will be

>available at www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

>

[Guest guest]

Um yah im in early childhood education at mohawk college lol!

Chantelle

>

> Chantelle,

> As a teacher, I love your suggestions! You always have something

> interesting to say and I enjoy reading your posts! Many thanks! Have

> you ever considered going into teaching?

> Sharon from West Oz

>

> >Chantelle-

> >Wonderful suggestions! Thank you -- I will bring these up at the IEP

> >meeting.

> >

> >Michele W

> >mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >CHARGE SYNDROME LISTSERV PHOTO PAGE:

> >http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2117043995

> >

> >Membership of this email support group does not constitute

> >membership in the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation; for information about

> >the CHARGE Syndrome

> >Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter),

> >please contact marion@... or visit

> >the web site at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

> >

> >8th International

> >CHARGE Syndrome Conference, July, 2007. Information will be

> >available at www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

> >

[Guest guest]

Um yah im in early childhood education at mohawk college lol!

Chantelle

>

> Chantelle,

> As a teacher, I love your suggestions! You always have something

> interesting to say and I enjoy reading your posts! Many thanks! Have

> you ever considered going into teaching?

> Sharon from West Oz

>

> >Chantelle-

> >Wonderful suggestions! Thank you -- I will bring these up at the IEP

> >meeting.

> >

> >Michele W

> >mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >CHARGE SYNDROME LISTSERV PHOTO PAGE:

> >http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2117043995

> >

> >Membership of this email support group does not constitute

> >membership in the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation; for information about

> >the CHARGE Syndrome

> >Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter),

> >please contact marion@... or visit

> >the web site at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

> >

> >8th International

> >CHARGE Syndrome Conference, July, 2007. Information will be

> >available at www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

> >

[Guest guest]

Um yah im in early childhood education at mohawk college lol!

Chantelle

>

> Chantelle,

> As a teacher, I love your suggestions! You always have something

> interesting to say and I enjoy reading your posts! Many thanks! Have

> you ever considered going into teaching?

> Sharon from West Oz

>

> >Chantelle-

> >Wonderful suggestions! Thank you -- I will bring these up at the IEP

> >meeting.

> >

> >Michele W

> >mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >CHARGE SYNDROME LISTSERV PHOTO PAGE:

> >http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2117043995

> >

> >Membership of this email support group does not constitute

> >membership in the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation; for information about

> >the CHARGE Syndrome

> >Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter),

> >please contact marion@... or visit

> >the web site at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

> >

> >8th International

> >CHARGE Syndrome Conference, July, 2007. Information will be

> >available at www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

> >

[Guest guest]

Sounds like some great suggestions. I will have to try and remember

them when Eva is older.

I hope they help for her.

Hugs,

Crystal and Eva

>

> I thought I'd share my first impressions from Aubrie's eval last

week. I

> had brief meetings with two of the evaluators after their time

with Aubrie.

> I got enough info in those brief encounters to come up with several

> suggestions and thoughts for her teacher! I am so hopeful that

the final

> report and consultation will be helpful.

>

>

>

> These are the basic suggestions:

>

> * Cut a window in an index card to allow one line of print at

a time

> while reading. Later, can try 2-3 lines showing. Too hard to

track

> visually with all the other stuff on the page.

> * Use enlarged print, declutter desktop, consider Kurzweil

program

> which reads text and magnifies on screen

> * Provide many chances to move. About 10 min attention span

in the am

> session. But later when tasks were more complex, attention was

longer.

> * Cut down workload. Needs time to do well and process.

Speak slowly

> and clearly and she will do the same for you.

> * Handwriting Without Tears - use their paper and technique

for larger

> and clear writing space.

> * Spelling - practice words traced in sand or something on a

cookie

> sheet so she gets practice in large muscles. draw outline of words

so she

> can memorize the shape of the word. She is learning them as a

whole and has

> a better memory for the whole.

>

>

>

> So I did things like enlarge her worksheets, sometimes reducing

the workload

> or reducing the amount of stuff on one page. I also did some

things like

> writing in the root word on the blank where she is supposed to

fill in the

> word with the proper suffix. Or when she is asked to rewrite an

entire

> sentence inserting the correct word in the blank, I rewrote the

sentence

> leaving only the word in question for her to write.

>

>

>

> We can manage reducing the number of math problems til she has

enough

> practice to get it. But how do you guys reduce or modify spelling

word

> lists? By reducing the number of words, we limiting her total

spelling

> achievement. I am hoping the dr will help with this, but if you

guys have

> ideas, please share.

>

>

>

> When we get the eval report on Friday, I'll figure out a way to

share it

> with you guys. I'm sure I'll have questions as we prepare for the

IEP

> meeting on the following Wed!

>

>

>

>

>

> Michele W

>

> mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kim-

Thanks for the info and for keeping us in mind. I will send the report.

Turns out we don't get it on Fri. That will be just a consult -- going

through the testing results in detail. Then she writes up the report -- so

it'll be another week or so.

I hired an advocate yesterday to attend the next IEP meetings with me. It's

time that things simply get done right -- right now. I can't keep going

along making some progress each time. The tortoise and hare theory doesn't

work with that cuz I've got to get all the progress made in time for her

education!! My stomach is in knots just thinking about it.

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

[Guest guest]

Kim-

Thanks for the info and for keeping us in mind. I will send the report.

Turns out we don't get it on Fri. That will be just a consult -- going

through the testing results in detail. Then she writes up the report -- so

it'll be another week or so.

I hired an advocate yesterday to attend the next IEP meetings with me. It's

time that things simply get done right -- right now. I can't keep going

along making some progress each time. The tortoise and hare theory doesn't

work with that cuz I've got to get all the progress made in time for her

education!! My stomach is in knots just thinking about it.

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

[Guest guest]

Kim-

Thanks for the info and for keeping us in mind. I will send the report.

Turns out we don't get it on Fri. That will be just a consult -- going

through the testing results in detail. Then she writes up the report -- so

it'll be another week or so.

I hired an advocate yesterday to attend the next IEP meetings with me. It's

time that things simply get done right -- right now. I can't keep going

along making some progress each time. The tortoise and hare theory doesn't

work with that cuz I've got to get all the progress made in time for her

education!! My stomach is in knots just thinking about it.

Michele W

mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

[Guest guest]

Michele,

great idea on hiring an advocate!! A good 'outside " advocate and you will be a

dynamic team for little Miss.

pam

> ----------

> From: CHARGE on behalf of Michele Westmaas

> Reply To: CHARGE

> Sent: Wednesday, May 3, 2006 11:58 AM

> To: CHARGE

> Subject: RE: First Impressions from Aubrie's neuropsych eval

>

> Kim-

> Thanks for the info and for keeping us in mind. I will send the report.

> Turns out we don't get it on Fri. That will be just a consult -- going

> through the testing results in detail. Then she writes up the report -- so

> it'll be another week or so.

>

> I hired an advocate yesterday to attend the next IEP meetings with me. It's

> time that things simply get done right -- right now. I can't keep going

> along making some progress each time. The tortoise and hare theory doesn't

> work with that cuz I've got to get all the progress made in time for her

> education!! My stomach is in knots just thinking about it.

>

> Michele W

> mom to Aubrie 8 yrs CHARGE, 14 yrs and wife to DJ

>

>

>

>

> CHARGE SYNDROME LISTSERV PHOTO PAGE:

> http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2117043995

>

> Membership of this email support group does not constitute membership in the

CHARGE Syndrome Foundation; for information about the CHARGE Syndrome

> Foundation or to become a member (and get the newsletter),

> please contact marion@... or visit

> the web site at http://www.chargesyndrome.org

>

> 8th International

> CHARGE Syndrome Conference, July, 2007. Information will be available at

www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-.

>