Writing Prompt 4

So far this week has been like a roller coaster! We started out on Monday with a really tough day. The kids were really keyed up and had a really hard time focusing throughout the day. The usual behavior plan that I use was not working for my students and I knew that I needed to switch things up. On the plus side, the class did our first science experiment together. The students got in groups of three and were given a glass coke bottle, a cup of ice, and a coin. The students were to hold the glass in the cup and cool the top of the bottle and then place the coin on top of the bottle. They then put their hands around the bottle and the bottle heated up and caused the coin to pop off of the top. The students loved it and had a great time doing a hands on activity. I was really impressed with their ability to understand how heat caused the reaction after seeing it happen. I had my visually impaired student hold the bottle to create the heat so that she could participate actively in the experiment. I have also continued to take her out of the class for an hour each day to help her work on her braille. We continue to practice feeling and memorizing letters as well as typing them on the machine. We also use manipulatives for her to feel and then decipher what each object is. We then spell each word out by sounding it out and then type it on the machine. For example, I had an Easter egg for out first object. Dayanara felt the object, decided it was an egg, and then we sounded the word out and typed it on the machine. Dr. C brought a few braille books from home as well as some games that we are just beginning to use. I am also continuing to try and differentiate my lessons so that she can participate as much as possible. I continue to write out workbook pages for her in large bold print so that she can read and also help her write her own responses. We have been working on sounding out words when I spell them for her. She is very strong in Spanish so sometimes it is easier for me to spell words in Spanish for her or to use Spanish words just to get her to practice sounding out words that I spell. During math we use manipulatives such as cotton balls to help count and add and foam stickers to practice her shapes. I try to call Dayanara to the board to help underline and identify words as well to keep her engaged in each lesson. She is continuing to show progress and I am excited to see where the next week takes us. Unfortunately she is in Cayo visiting her Grandmother for the rest of the week but we will continue our work when she returns.