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Post by Jackie on Jun 23, 2009 15:33:53 GMT -5
I have been having back and forth dialogue with Em about Johnny Depp. Looks like soon we can move along from Jack Sparrow to The Mad Hatter...LOL. Anyhow apparently J.Depp is going to be on Letterman this week. I emailed Em but told her I didn't know which night. She watched last night and emailed me it was another actor ("actir"). So I emailed back that I suggested she look up David Letterman Show or CBS Late Show and look at the weeks guest lineup. She must have done that because she emailed me back he was going to be on Thursday (at least I think thats what she said).
I was impressed at her ability to do this and so was Katie. But Emily often turns to cyberspace these days to find out what she needs to know. Like I have said before I wish the school had paid more attention to my suggestions about teaching her more about the computer. She is self taught and doing a pretty good job although she still hunts and pecks on the keyboard.
Some of your kids may already be adept at doing activities like this but I am still impressed when Em forges ahead and discovers things like this for herself. I think we need to encourage our schools to get our kids with DS on the computer as soon as they are able.
Jackie
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Post by alisonzmom on Jun 23, 2009 17:07:46 GMT -5
Jackie,
I couldn't agree with you more.
Alison has been using computers since she was 2 yrs old both at school and at home. She is now able to find the games she likes to play, can get to pbskids.com for those games by herself, and get into the painting part of some program. Me, on the other hand, I'm constantly having to ask Sarah or Caitlin how to do anything more than the internet!
Alison's teachers this year have all commented on her computer skills. Especially her OT because of some of the fine motor skills involved. "Typical" kids are taught so much on computer skills, it makes no sense that so many schools don't use it as both a teaching tool and a valuable skill to teach our kids!
I'm always so impressed when you tell us about Emily's computer skills, think she'd like to take a trip out here to tutor me sometime? LOL
Barb
BTW.... Emily has great taste in men!!! Johnny Depp is definitely yummy!!!!
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Jun 24, 2009 0:01:39 GMT -5
I really should get Brook used to the computer. I don't let her touch mine. Toooo much valuable info on thiis darn black box. Kinda scary that computers are a must now days. I should find her a cheepy one to play learning games and stuff huh? Now that I think of it, there is ALOT of different kinds of skills (gross, fine, eye contact, etc) needed and to learn on this thing. Hmmmm, thx for bringing this outlook to my attention Jackie (((((HUGS))))) Here's a totally out there fact. My office and front desk at the motel is still completely run on pencil and paper. No computers at all. How silly  |
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Post by Myria on Jun 24, 2009 6:40:04 GMT -5
I think that is a great idea! I am going to let Ayden start working on a computer as soon as he is big enough!
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Post by Jackie on Jun 24, 2009 8:58:30 GMT -5
Funny story about computers...I am an artist now cuz of the computer. Back in 2000 I could only email and maybe do a post here on UNO. My kids made fun of me...and Ed was not that understanding about why I wasn't more interested in cyberspace.
So I went up to our community college and tried to enroll in a computer class. Mind you I already have a BS in Occupational Therapy and about 27 extra undergrad hrs. Well they had to process me in like a new student...transcripts and all that...then a friend who is a counselor there said "Why would you just take a boring old computer class? Why not do something fun with it like go into graphic design?" She said..."didn't you like art in HS?" and I said "Nancy I did...but remember...we graduated in 1964!"
Long story short I enrolled in it...and liked it at first but then realized I really was not comfortable enough on the computer with all those 18 yr old computer whizzes...I was still plodding along. I could create beautifully but had no earthly idea how or where to save my work. My 50 yr old brain just didnt want to learn that fast. So about that time I discovered the word 'audit'...and started auditing just the ART part of graphic design and found my lifes calling. ;D
I am sorry now I didnt finish with illustrator and photoshop and other classes but I am now much more comfortable on the PC. Still dont know that much but its enough. My learning however made me aware of how much a computer can aid us in a lot of things we do. Emily has learned to use it to find out all manner of things she needs to know (and probably some she doesn't LOL).
I think schools now understand this need and try it more in terms of people with special needs. When Em was in HS most of the teachers were still afraid of computers still and only the computer teacher had a computer. We have come a long way in just a few years.
Jackie
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Post by kg91207 on Jun 26, 2009 12:02:16 GMT -5
I will keep in mind to push the school to teach Kaelyn computers-she is SO fascinated with ours, and loves to sit on our laps while we surf the web. Every once in awhile I will open a blank word document and let her "type"-she loves to do that after she sees me typing! She is even trying to say computer!! It comes out almost like "puter", so we've been pushing that! She's so into electronics and music, just like her mommy, daddy, and uncle, so I want to expand on that!
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Post by CC on Jun 26, 2009 19:50:00 GMT -5
Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, have you seen this  Christopher was on the computer in EI using the touch screen then once in preschool they started the mouse and keyboard... since then the computer has always been part of his programs. At this time Chris uses the computer for his games he really has no interest in email or anything like that. Maybe one day CC ~ |
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Post by Jackie on Jun 27, 2009 8:02:36 GMT -5
cool pic CC...I am as excited as Em about seeing the movie.
Jackie
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Post by Tammy on Jun 27, 2009 8:19:57 GMT -5
Lewis is a WHIZ on the computer... always has been...
He had seen other people in the house use it and obviously thought he could do the same...
The first time I found him "Playing" on the computer was when he was 3...
He had put a cd into the drive, used the mouse, clicked the appropriate buttons and started a game of "Timon and Pumbaa" version of frogger... and wasnt doing too badly at it either !!
Since then it has been something he just knows.
I guess the computer is both visual and hands on which makes it easier for him... and probably a lot of other kids too.
His favourite thing now is to "Google" his own name and to get onto You-Tube (which we do NOT even have bookmarked) and find Wiggles videos...
I am still not sure how he does it... but he does...
While I was down in the city with him last week, we took his laptop so he could play games, but he was majorly peeved that he couldnt find "WWW"... he constantly asked me for "WWW" which made me step back too... I dont even know HOW he knows this??
Sheesh... Kids...
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Post by Jackie on Jun 27, 2009 9:09:55 GMT -5
Wow...thats cool Tammy. Makes a good case for some how to books for kids with DS on the computer , doesn't it.
Jackie
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Post by kellyds on Jun 29, 2009 21:03:43 GMT -5
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Post by Jackie on Jun 30, 2009 9:08:34 GMT -5
this is so cool...I sent it to Katie...I am wondering if it might be good for Emily. I couldn't figure out the price. I will have to go back and study it more in depth. I think this would be a good tutorial for students who are not homeschooled as well.
Thanks and hope everyone looks at it.
Jackie
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Post by kellyds on Jun 30, 2009 10:24:16 GMT -5
A lot of people use it as a supplement to public or private school, or as extra practice during the summer. It's $19.95 per month, and there's no obligation to continue for any specific amount of time. If you cancel during the first two weeks, your money is refunded. Here are some demos that your child can try. Look under Pre-K - 1st and try the "Measurement and Phonics" exercises. Then, look under 2nd to 3rd and check out the science lesson called "Basic Needs of Animals". (The questions that are asked "for fun" while the game is loading might be too challenging and can be skipped without affecting the grade.) The great thing is, you can have your child skip lessons and only choose the ones that are appropriate for them. They can even do lessons from other grade levels. www.time4learning.com/demos.htmThe only thing about using the lower level lessons with older people is that they are VERY cartoon-y and silly. Some older kids or adults might find it insulting to work with "baby" lessons, but if they enjoy watching cartoons, they'll probably enjoy the lessons. The kindergarten level is where most people with DS need to begin. The math works with sorting things from small to large, one-digit addition, etc. The first grade math program is a whole lot harder. To fit into the first grade math program, a student needs to be pretty comfortable with numbers from one to one hundred. Joshie works best on the computer if I put him in big, clunky headphones! That might be because he needs hearing aids, which he'll be fitted for in August. I've also worked on teaching him, "ONE finger only!" for a couple of years, since he had a tendency to want to pound on the keyboard. He understands "ONE finger" now. ;D I'll be getting him a touchscreen before the year is up, though. |
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