In The Morning…An Original Stop Motion Film By Olivia

“Mom watch this!!!” Olivia giggled.

She propped her iPod up on book so she could see the screen while she danced and sang along with the video.

“Mom watch! I’m dancing…isn’t it the cutest.  It’s so fun!”

“Uuuuuhuuuuuu, that’s nice Olivia,” I answered looking back at my computer screen (note to reader…it was like the bazzillionth time I’d heard /watched the beloved video)

“Mom watch! There just so fun!  Look at me dance just like them!”

“Olivia, how many times have you watched that JibJab?”

“I don’t know?!” she smiled and hit the play button again.

The singing, dancing, watch me momma seemed to go on over and over again.

I sighed secretly inside.  “Really!” I thought, “How many times do I have to listen to this? Do I let it go on? Do I stop it?  She does like the videos? How many times can one human being watch the same video over and over and over again?!”

I took a deep breath and breathed out trying to to summon an idea.  I turned from my computer at the kitchen table and said to her,” Oliviaaaaaaa, sweetieeeeeeeee,” I smiled big “You’ve watched that movie over and over again.  It’s been like a million times!”

“But I like it momma,” she smiled back innocently.

I kept smiling back at her, waiting for an idea, a thought, something I could say to kindly get her to stop watching the clip without letting her know how much it was truly driving me crazy (although I had some small inkling that she did know that already).

“What if instead of watching the clip and coping it,  you made your own clip to watch.  What if you made your own movie!  A movie you could watch, a movie others could watch too!” I encouraged. “I know this art teacher Ms.Fugelsted and she does all kinds of awesome movies and art with her students.  We could go to her website and learn how you can make some of your own!

She smiled back at me with a look of excitement and interest….her creativity, ideas and story gears were already turning.

Before we could dive into ways she was going to create her very own movie it was dinner time and once dinner time over that meant shower time.

Our post dinner and shower routine unexpectedly found Francine, Olivia and me in the toy room.  Francine really wanted the veterinarian Lego set  but she didn’t have the money to buy it….so she decided to use the pieces she already had and we would build it ourselves.  As Francine and I picked through a bucket of legos we picked out just the right pieces to put together her veterinarian hospital.  Olivia sat at the Lego table playing with her barn and two of her Lego friends.

Lego Search

Continue reading “In The Morning…An Original Stop Motion Film By Olivia”

I Predict

A few month back Chris Bugaj shared his TED Talk .  In it he said he had figured out how to predict the future.  He spoke about the tools in the future.  He spoke about tools called a touch screens and word prediction software.  BUT this future that he spoke about was NOW!  The technology that was so innovative for students with special education needs in 1986 and 1987 was now technology that WE all use today.  It is technology that is now enhancing all of our lives.

I finished watching Chris’s TED Talk and I couldn’t help but think…

“What do I think the future of technology in Special Education is going to be?”

“What is my vision for its future of technology in Special Education?”

 The thought mulled around and marinated for days and days.

Then it hit me.

The future of technology for students (…kids, people, adults) with Special Education needs is virtual!  And it is a future that I think if we work hard enough at doesn’t have to be too far off!!!

The power of technology for students with Special Education needs is amazing.  It has the power to enable them to compensate for their weaknesses and even completely overcome them.  It has the power to empower them to be and live in ways that were not possible years ago.  It has the power to enable them to live a life with independence like never before!

Imagine walking into any room and having at your fingertips how to lists, how to videos, social stories, checklists or a voice providing you with information.  Imagine having these tools accessible to a person at anytime.  Imagine a room being interactive, providing resources, information and tools for students. Continue reading “I Predict”