teaching students with mivi to shine kristie smith, m.ed, ctvi
TRANSCRIPT
Teaching Students with MIVI to Shine
KRISTIE SMITH, M.ED, CTVI
Bringing the World to the Child
Toys ‘R Us
Components of Sensory Efficiency
a. Visual function
b. Auditory function
c. Tactile function
d. Gustatory (taste)
e. Olfactory (smell)
f. Proprioceptive
g. Vestibular
The Science Behind Toys and Games
The makers of games, toys, CD’s and DVD’s for children are scientifically proven to assist with brain development
Every toy and game have a specific goal and objective for children to enhance learning along with many activities
Toy makers are actually scientists, educators and parents
VISION
85% of what we learn about the world is visual
Children should be encourage to use what vision they have
Place a dark blanket behind a yellow, red, black or white object to eliminate visual clutter
Encourage distance vision with red rope lights
Check the lighting in the room- the child should not face an open window during instruction… (They will often light gaze and stare into the light as a form of stimulation)
Vocalize and point out a child’s world- explain it to him – Example- “Where does milk come from?” Walk the child to the refrigerator describing your movements.
Discourage “The Magic Genie” theory.
Stimulating Sights from Disney
AUDITORY
A child with disabilities will often depend on his/her source to understand his world through hearing
Children need activities that will help the to “localize” information, discriminate speech from one person or object to the next
Activities: Listen to the birds, record the birds and grant your child an experience with the birds. Discuss and imitate different bird sounds. Search for apps with bird sounds
Record voices of the people who are important in your child’s world and ask, “Whose voice is that?”
Sounds and Overstimulation for Children with Autism
How does a child with autism feel when he/she is interacting with the environment
Listening and Selecting Objects for Children with Autism
TACTILE
Tactile exploration is VERY IMPORTANT for a child who has a visual impairment, autism and who is intellectually delayed
Tactile exploration teaches the child about his world and discriminate characteristics of objects, including temperature, texture, density, volume and shape- pre-requisite for understanding Braille or tactile letters
Teach children with disabilities appropriate touching to benefit correct socializing with others
Tactile awareness activities increase: fine motor development, large motor, pre-writing and language skills
The Benefits of a Tactile System
GUSTATORY AND OLFACTORY
Gustatory (taste) and Olfactory (smell) provide immediate information about the child’s surroundings. “It smells like Grandma’s house”- “It tastes like Grandma’s cookies”
The child learns to distinguish between salty and sweet for food preferences
When a child smells an area, it assists with mobility, spatial awareness and routine
The sense of smell is the only sense that does not chemically process to the brain
The sense of smell is closely related to the memory area of the brain
The sense of taste is the weakest of the five senses
Awesome game- “Follow Your Nose” by FlagHouse
PROPIOCEPTIVE AND VESTIBULAR
Proprioceptive (automatic movement)
Vestibular (purposeful movement)
Children who are kinesthetic need movement to learn
Include many moving activities during instruction such as during language, sing along with the Wiggles music- the child is satisfying their need to move, so they can learn in stress-free state
Movement and dancing encourage mathematical skills, spatial awareness and language
Strategies for Teaching Alertness
Infant massage – increases appetite and will increase or decrease muscle tone
Think about the likes and dislikes of the child- Use those to your advantage
Families and teachers should pair appetites with learning media
Learning media- “How the child learns best”
Different smells will encourage alertness (peppermint, for example, will encourage an alert stage while lavender smells cause the body to relax)
Engaging Sensory Input and Learning
SPARKLE-Helping Students with MIVI Shine by Kristie Smith
The book, SPARKLE, helps families and educators teach across the curriculum with strategies fun for the child and adult!
Example: Language Arts
A. Use stories age appropriate but also use picture books – (I did this with my 8th graders)
Use real objects during a story, so the child will understand the concept of the book
What is Core Vocabulary ?
Reading with Tactile Symbols
Gianna loves to read using Tactile Symbols – she feels empowered and her confidence has increased
My new goal for Gianna: Gianna will recognize Braille letters (a-d) in a 2-3 page Brailled book. She will point out the letters after listening to the story, feeling of a real object pertaining to the story and associate the brailled word with the real object and braille letter (Great for developing skills outside of the classroom and into the world)
Ideas from SPARKLE for Math
Teach children colors through tastes and smells
For example, when teaching the color red, as the student to taste an apple, cinnamon, tomatoes, etc. Teach them red is excitement like a fire truck (Goal: Colors and Shapes)
For the math concept of counting, allow the child to count their favorite items like toy cars, balls, celery sticks, etc.)
Use a cookie sheet and Velcro down coins when teaching money
Place household items around a table like a clock, a Kleenex box, a stick of butter and ask the child to hand you the circle shaped object then the cube shaped object
More Math Ideas….
Sing favorite songs about numbers or make them up. Music increases memory as well as language and concept development
Put sand into paint and allow the child to write the numbers with the textured paint
Playing with Language- SING with Dr. Jean
Playing with Language Through Frog Street Press
Life is Like a Box of Chocolates …
After listening to the color song from Frog Press, allow your students to taste or smell the chocolate while singing the song over and over.
Discuss the textures, the sweet taste and other attributes of the chocolate
Have your students to illustrate a picture of something brown and sing the song again
Enjoy Your Special Child – “The Pearl”
The Pearl by Jamille Smith
It begins as just a grain of sand
Which causes the oyster pain,
She thinks her life is over
Because of the constant strain
Soon the oyster learns a method
Of wrapping the sand with care
She then becomes quite proud
That the little one is there
Continue with, “The Pearl”
The grain of sand begins to grow
And matures into a treasure
Then develops into a shiny pearl
Whose value is without measure!
Enjoy your special child!!!