I See Squares

The Standards of Learning tests (SOLs) are upon us and teachers are panicking. All kinds of student concerns that have been nagging teachers during the year are now surfacing and reaching critical mass. As dutiful OTs working in the schools we know that students are only permitted specific accommodations/modifications on the SOLs, and that the student must be using those accommodations throughout the year in order to use them for the testing. If you're like me, you're already thinking about what to do differently next year.

Stick this link in your "To Think About" file for Fall 2010--it might come in real handy if you help middle and high school math teachers who have students who demonstrate difficulty with graphing. The graph paper can be sized according to the student's needs.

http://mathbits.com/MathBits/StudentResources/GraphPaper/GraphPaper.htm

Thanks to Janice Johnson, teacher for students with visual impairments, who gave me this great website.

New York, New York

Well, my search for a June/July/August job is over---I'm moving to New York for the summer! Read this fascinating article about the demand for pediatric OTs in NY.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/fashion/25Therapy.html?pagewanted=1

There's a Pot of Gold In Those Pages

Donna Deprato was putting away her holiday props last week and I remembered how thrilled I was back in December when she showed me her "enhanced" story books. She adds a little surprise under each flap of the story book so the preschooler can lift up the flap and "grab onto" a part of the story. These little add-ons work great as page-fluffers, too.

Start looking for shamrocks and slap 'em on your St. Patty's Day books for little ones who need to get involved with reading.

Tape Marks the Spot

Painter's tape is the best--it comes in the prettiest colors, it's cheap and it doesn't crumple up as easily as regular masking tape.

If you have students who seem to pay little attention to the cutting line, warm up their eyes and attention spans by placing little bits of painter's tape along the perimeter of the shape to be cut. Oops, that piece of tape is on the line, we better move it over a little so we can cut on the line. Hmmm, the student's pinch is looking a little better, too.

When the student starts cutting they have already tuned into to the fact that there really is a line, and squeezing the scissors feels different if they accidentally begin cutting through the tape. Ta-da! A great circle!

Fidget Toys

Here's a video of a preschool student who has decreased opportunities for active sensory exploration and active arm movement. She seems to like her new fidget toys, which don't fall off her laptray and hide just outside her reach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ixdBl0mPmA

Using Microsoft Paint and a Touch Window With the Computer

Well, I finally made a video and uploaded it to YouTube! Lauren, my right-hand tech guru, led me through the steps and here it is--have fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL0kt_CQDX0

Link to YouTube video on developing hand skills

My creative friend, Lauren Swedenborg, just created this video on activities to develop hand skills. What a way to use her snow days here in Virginia! Enjoy this first of many videos to come.

URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT_Rfpw-AIc