Assignment 8

The literacy strategies for teaching students with moderate to severe disabilities that caught my interest were: incidental teaching, Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), augmentative and alternative communications (AAC), whole language approaches, involving parents, and incorporating technology. I believe all of these strategies, except for AAC, may be used for all students including general education students. I imagine they could provide support for students who are at various literacy levels. I work with students who are emotionally disturbed as well as intellectually disabled and all read and write at different levels. Although none of my students have a disability which requires them to use AAC, I certainly support the use of such devices/means of communication. I've seen AAC in action as there is a deaf/hard of hearing class in the school I work at and they use ASL interpreters for the students, which I highly support. 

I often use incidental teaching and whole language in my lessons. For instance, I may start a discussion about video games and their affects on youth based on my students' interest in them and because we're conducting a literary unit on Ender's Game (incidental teaching). We read often and take turns reading in my class, I encourage students to read (we have DEAR every day), I talk about books I love and information I've learned from reading, and I support connections students might make between their own experiences and books they're reading or interested in (whole language approach). For one student in particular, I also incorporate phonics instruction into his lessons as much as possible because he is in 9th grade at a 1st grade reading level (example: sound-symbol relationships, vowels, and consonants). I involve parents as much as possible by keeping in communication with them via phone and e-mail. I work at a treatment center, so there is not always much involvement from parents, but I occasionally meet them if they come to IEP meetings. I also incorporate technology, when possible, through math and literacy programs like E2020, Compass Learning, and MyLexia.

I'd like to learn more about PECS. Although I do not teach non-verbal students at this time, it sounds like an effective system for encouraging and supporting children to communicate. 

No questions/concerns at this time.