Rolling Right Along Construction Kit from APH

Here is a book that I created with the Rolling Right Along Construction Kit from APH. I used the Textured Paper to create the shapes. Students roll the ball as you read. If you create your own, remember to add a repeated line for an assisted communication device. I added braille over the large print for students to explore.


The last two pages contain a variety of shapes and textures that can be removed and explored.

Work Tasks

My caseload includes students with many disabilities. I made some work tasks for students with Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) and autistic characteristics. I focused on bright colors. Duct tape is available in many colors now. I found it at Target and Home Depot. I covered cardboard boxes with the bright tape, then added accents to the other components.

I included a switch that says, "I'm finished." The task on the right has an auditory component. The eggs are filled with fish tank gravel. Different "fillers" could be used to create different sounds. I found that with the water task, lighter "coins" floated to the bottom of the tube more slowly. I found some St. Patrick's Day Coins that floated nicely. The picture above shows poker chips which sink more quickly.

Halloween Activities

Here are some of the activities that I used with my students this month. After reading the book, we played a game. I didn't have a spinner so I used a picture cube. Students took turns rolling the cube. If they rolled something they didn't need, they lost their turn. The first one to complete their pumpkin face was the winner. The pumpkins are sparkly foam. I used Boardmaker pictures for the cube. I used foam circles for the eyes, seasonal pom poms for the nose and a foam mouth. The yellow tray made a great background for my students with visual impairments. Each student started by making a choice of pumpkin color.

The other activity pictured here is a sorting activity. Students had to decide if the gourd was bumpy or smooth. It is difficult to see here, but the augmentative communication devices has a bumpy texture on the button for bumpy.

Bright colors and textures not only help my students with visual impairments, but also add interest for all students.

New Position

This year I will be a teacher of the Visually Impaired. I am really excited about this new opportunity. I will be an itinerant teacher. This is new to me, so I will be learning a new kind of organization.

AT Blog Carnival

Are you searching for new ways to incorporate Assistive Technology into your classroom? Then check out Patrick Black's Blog Teaching All Students. He is hosting an AT Blog Carnival.

Math Game

Here is one of the math games I use to teach counting, one to one correspondence, addition, and subtraction. Students use their switch to spin. I color code the ends so that I can remember which switch to plug in for each child. I found that it is easier for each student to have a switch rather than pass one switch around. I use two 10 frames. Each space has a Velcro dot and each cube has Velcro. The spinner can be programmed with numbers to match IEP goals. I have found the game useful for teaching students to count on for addition. The first person to 20 wins.

Climb for Water Recipe - News-2-You

We usually "cook" the recipe from the newspaper each week on Thursday. Today we did the Mountain Mix recipe. I like "trail mix" recipes because they encourage choice making and communicating wants.

I gave each student a zipper baggie. Then, instead of pouring all of the ingredients into a bowl, I put them in separate containers. I programmed a switch to say "I want that." Each child was asked if they wanted the ingredient in their baggie. They activated the switch if they wanted the ingredient in their mix. The students enjoyed deciding which ingredients they wanted. I do have some students who don't eat much by mouth, so we send the bags home to share with their siblings, grandparents, etc.