Teacher Leader Spotlight
Teachers Rock! That’s why we put the spotlight on them in our 'Teacher Leaders' section. Thanks to their passion for teaching and implementing technology, students get more opportunities to be successful readers, writers and thinkers. Read on to be inspired by their stories and check out our Schools In the News section to explore district-wide initiatives.
Velita Cochran
Velita Cochran, an IRR Teacher at Northwestern Middle School, Fulton County, GA was able to create a school-wide, sustainable ‘writing with technology’ initiative to impact the writing skills of hundreds of students with special needs. How did she do it? With the support and guidance from the district’s administrators and the AT team. Ms. Cochran set out to change the way writing instruction was delivered. She used SOLO to develop a peer-to-peer editing process using a writing rubric on capitalization, usage, punctuation, and spelling. Her student’s liked the collaborative learning approach and using the computer to write papers. Students’ writing skills improved. Evidence showed increases in their vocabulary skills. They exhibited improved ‘background knowledge’ and demonstrated higher writing scores on benchmark tests. Hearing this evidence, more teachers at Fulton wanted to learn how to integrate SOLO to improve students’ skills in English, Science and Social Studies. Summer institutes sprang up for teachers to work together to create electronic assignments and instruction through the assistive technology literacy tool. At the end of the school year, Ms. Cochran and several colleagues were presented with an award and recognized as early classroom adopters who bridged daily instruction through the use of assistive technologies. Watch a video of Shonda Golden, AT specialist for Fulton County talk about this literacy initiative.
Linda Bates
Linda Bates, Certified Special Education Teacher at Pomfret Community School, CT and her students created a winning digital storybook presentation acting out the characters in Don’s book, Building Wings. Learn more about the Building Wings Reader’s Theater, including free lessons and worksheets. Watch a video of Linda and her colleagues sharing the secrets to individual student reading success.
View Winning Video (28:29)
Elizabeth (Betsy) Rohrbaugh
Mrs. Elizabeth (Betsy) Rohrbaugh, AT Specialist for Fulton County Public Schools, GA and her student, Brandon, who has dyslexia and ADD, demonstrate Co:Writer, the assistive technology word prediction tool. See and hear how Brandon uses Co:Writer to overcome writing barriers such as poor spelling and sloppy handwriting.
View Video (2:44)
Barbara Wollak, M.S., CCC-SLP at Highland Park Junior High, MN, Dr. David Koppenhaver, Professor, Language, Reading, and Exceptionalities Department, College of Education, Appalachian State University, NC
e-Mail Buddy Exchange with Students with Autism Breaking Down Traditional Learning Barriers
This unique e-learning program created by Mrs. Barbara Wollak and Dr. David Koppenhaver broke down the typical learning barriers for students with autism and developmental cognitive delays using email, video email, a blog and a supportive word prediction assistive technology tool. Barb’s creative learning approach has served students successfully for the past seven years on many learning fronts; giving students with disabilities new opportunities for reading, writing, and communicating with a real audience.
Read this informative interview with Barb Wollak presented by AbleNet. Barb discusses her successes, strategies and the benefits for students using assistive technologies. Read how she uses the Four Blocks Model and gives credit to the Building Wings Reader’s Theater, as a great reading resource.
Watch Winning Video. On October 1, 2009, Barb won the ATIA (Assistive Technology Industry Association) education video award for her use of Co:Writer, word prediction software to build writing and communications skills to benefit students with autism.
Read Barb's Article and locate AT resources at the FCTD (Family Center on Technology and Disability)
Teachers working with students with autism will be inspired by this article, ‘Teaching Words as Symbols', written with Daniel McNulty, NE Coordinator of the Indiana PATINS program. (Promoting Achievement through Technology and Instruction for all Students.)
Daniel began his career as a behavioral consultant in private practice. He later taught elementary children with autism in a rural K-6 elementary school. This school had few computers and fewer teachers who used, or even believed in, technology. Some teachers told Daniel that his students would never be able to phonetically decode words or recognize letters. Daniel, from his past experience, knew that children with learning disabilities are capable of reading and expressing themselves. He set out to change the teaching landscape for his students and accomplished more than anyone predicted.
Assistive Technology Teacher, Rocky Run Middle School, Fairfax, VA shares the success story of Camp Write On!
Imagine standing in front of a room of 8th graders who
just gave up a week of their summer to strengthen their writing skills.
Not a very excited crowd! As the week at our writing camp progressed,
however, this apathetic group of students changed from not wanting to
write into empowered self-advocates excited about using SOLO and other
assistive technology to improve their writing skills. In Fairfax County
Public Schools we would say "Rock On!"
I am excited to share this case study (PDF, 288 KB) which demonstrates the positive outcomes we produced to improve students' phonics skills using good teaching strategies and Simon S.I.O.
Debbie Brigner, Wayne Trace Payne Elementary School in Payne, Ohio wrote to us about her experience with Don Johnston's autobiography, Building Wings.
Read about Debbie's experience...
Lynda Mattison began her teaching
career in 1974 working for the Atlanta Public Schools as a high school
special education teacher. Unlike some other wonderful teachers, Lynda said she was a reluctant
beginner with lots of doubts about how effective or helpful she could
be.
Educators and parents…please join Don’s Blog and follow us on Twitter for ongoing and thoughtful discussions about the needs and successes of children with disabilities.
