Disruptive Teaching

Counting down to ATIA! Will I see you there?

ATIA 2024 Attendees - Assistive Technology Industry Association Join your fellow assistive technology practitioners, parents, teachers, manufacturers and more at the biggest gathering of the AT community.

As we are approaching the end of Quarter 1, school can start to feel a little overwhelming for the kids... and the teachers.

This quote can be a great reminder- "You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there."

It always helps us to remember when things get overwhelming, that we all get there from time to time. The bad days seem a bit easier when we stop and remember that tomorrow is a fresh day. And our students always benefit from a fresh start.

Some fun music at the start of the day, meeting the students outside of the door with a smile, or picking up a favorite cup of coffee or donut on the way to work are little ways we can remember to smile and begin with a fresh start.

What is your favorite way to reset and start fresh?

We are super excited to announce that on November 3rd, Cassie will be presenting to Minnesota educators on the topic of executive functioning! 🌟
She will be sharing with educators what executive functioning is, and practices for supporting students through executive dysfunction!



Image description: stock image of four students sitting at desks in a classroom, two students in back and two in front. All students at varying levels of engagement, with workbooks and notebooks spread across desks. One student is writing in her notebook. The student in the back is picking at his hands. The other student in the back is listening to the teacher. The final student is looking around at other students.

Curious about Assistive Technology? 🧐

Let's explore together! 🤗

Assistive Technology is a collection of tools, devices, and software designed to bridge the gap between people with varying abilities and their daily tasks. It's all about fostering inclusion and independence.

From screen readers that narrate content for those with visual impairments, to speech recognition software that converts spoken words into text, Assistive Technology is a game-changer for many.



Image description:
image 1: cream background, Text ‘What is Assistive Technology?’
Image 2: A woman sitting a computer desk using a braille display paired with her computer.

This is a hard question but got us thinking about what tools we use most. Part of our job is learning about new tools and learning how they can work on their own or with other tools to support students. This means it can be easy to feel like we need to use aaallll the things.

But sometimes the simple things are the best.

Our top three list is:

1- Sticky Notes! All different sizes and colors. Lined ones are a favorite, along with the super fun Post-It Extreme which are waterproof!

2- Paperclips! 🖇️ Keeping all of the things together makes organizing the stacks of paper so much easier.

3- Legal Pads! 🗒️ Lined notepads can be used for everything. Lists of to-dos. Lesson planning. Note-taking at meetings.

We are one week out from Closing The Gap 2023! We are so excited to have Cassie presenting on the topic of student behavior with AT implementation. Some students find rapid success with new assistive technology tools, and others may end up feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, embarrassed, or may simply struggle with the routine of using the newly introduced tool. We want to give you the tools to identify student’s behaviors and strategies to better support the students in these scenarios! Join us Oct 11th to learn more in person! Click the following link to register https://www.closingthegap.com/conference/2022-conf-reg-rates/





Image description: Image Cassie Frost M.Ed, Educational Consultant. Text ‘Closing The Gap 2023, Assistive Technology Conference. Presentation Title: AT Implementation in the Classroom: What Behavior can Tell About the Student Experience. DATES: OCT 11th-13th. Location: Minneapolis, MN.’

Hey everyone! We are two weeks away from Closing The Gap 2023! On October 13th Cassie will be presenting on ways to increase engagement and participation for students with switch activated devices. Give Them The Switch with us at in Minneapolis, MN! Register here https://www.closingthegap.com/conference/2022-conf-reg-rates/




Image description: Image Cassie Frost M.Ed, Education Consultant. Text ‘Closing The Gap 2023, Assistive Technology Conference. Presentation Title: GIVE THEM THE SWITCH! Using Switch Activated Devices to Increase Participation and Engagement. DATES: Oct 11th-13th. Location: Minneapolis, MN.’

On October 12th Cassie will be presenting on low and high tech assistive technology to support emotional regulation. Closing the Gap 2023 is taking place in Minneapolis, MN. Bring your device for this hands-on session and come learn how assistive technology can be used to help support students struggling with emotional regulation!

Image descriptions:
Image 1: Purple background. Text “CTG2023- Low and High Tech Assistive Technology to Support Emotional Regulation.”
Image 2: Dark purple background. Text “Join Us Oct 12th! Cassie will be presenting at Closing The Gap 2023! From 9:30am-12:00pm.”
Image 3: Purple background. Text “ Description. This presentation is a hands-on session to learn how assistive technology can be fused to help support students who struggle with emotional regulation.”
Image 4: Dark purple background. Text “What will you leave with? Participants will leave with the ability to identify low-tech and high tech tools that can support emotional regulation. Also participants will leave with the ability to identify some causes of emotional dysregulation.”
Image 5: Blue/green background. Text “Closing The Gap 2023: Assistive Technology Conference. Presentation Title: Low and High Tech Assistive Technology to Support Emotional Regulation. Image of woman. “Cassie Frost, M.Ed. Education Consultant.” Text “Dates Oct 11th-13th, Location: Minneapolis, MN”

On October 11th, Cassie will be presenting at the assistive technology conference, Closing the Gap 2023 in Minneapolis, MN. This session will be on “AT Implementation In the Classroom: What behavior Can Tell About the Student Experience”. This presentation will provide participants with techniques to identify students struggling with their assistive technology and how to avoid increasing unwanted behavior when implementing assistive technology supports in the classroom! If this topic interests click the link to register! https://www.closingthegap.com/conference/2022-conf-reg-rates/
Or check out more events on our website!
https://www.disruptive-teaching.com/events

We are honored and excited to announce that Cassie will be presenting at the 2023 Closing the Gap conference! Mark your calendars for this 3 day event. Cassie will have three different presentations planned for this event. Stay tuned in for more Information! Follow this link to register for the conference https://www.closingthegap.com/conference/2022-conf-reg-rates/

This summer, we're adding new adaptive kayaks to several of Wisconsin's state parks and forests!

Adaptive kayaks feature a seat with a raised back and side supports, hand braces for individuals with limited grip and outriggers near the back of the kayak for more stability in the water.

These new kayaks are tandem models with two seats, one standard seat and one adaptive seat and can be used individually or with a partner.

The new adaptive kayak at Mirror Lake State Park is ready for rental, with the rest coming very soon at these properties:

– Copper Falls State Park
– Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit (Ottawa Lake)
– Lake Kegonsa State
– Lake Wissota State Park
– Mirror Lake State Park (pictured here)
– Yellowstone Lake State Park

Contact the properties for rental information and learn more about accessibility in Wisconsin’s state parks: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/OpenOutdoors

A brilliantly simple way of explaining a concept.

People often use the word “regulated” as if it is the “intellectual-sounding” synonym for the word “calm”. People also often use the word “dysregulated” as if it is the intellectual-sounding synonym for the word “angry” or “crying” or “tantruming” or whatever else word they might want to use.

Regulated means your energy levels match the task.
Dysregulated means your energy levels do not match the task.

A child laughing hysterically and kicking and squealing and playfighting is not regulated to go to sleep.
A child laughing hysterically and running enthusiastically through an open field outside is perfectly regulated to play outside in a big open field.

Sometimes helping a child regulate means putting them into an environment where their level of energy matches the environment. Sometimes helping a child regulate means helping their body get its needs met so that their energy can match the task that’s up next.

[Image description:
A cartoon drawing of a child running through a field with a yellow kite. Handwritten text next to them reads: REGULATED means your energy levels match the task. It does not mean ‘calm’.
The image is by Neurowild. End description.]

Coming soon! If you are attending come join me to save our Ed Tech in this Escape Room style learning experience.

😎 After a short briefing about accessibility, you will work with your table to solve puzzles about and using iOS accessibility features. 😎

This is an interactive session that will have you laughing and learning.

😎 You will have one hour to save us from a future of paper and pencils forever!

Attendance is limited. Pre-register to save your spot!
https://conference.iste.org/2023/program/search/detail_session.php?id=116506196

Can't wait!
https://milc-inc.org/2023/05/22/adapted-kayak-event-2023/

Just another reason I love Lesson Pix!

Don't forget - LessonPix has templates to customize games for student objectives.
Love the game Zingo? Print perfectly sized symbols on sticker paper and place on one side of Zingo tiles. (Under the template: adapted board games).
Make custom bingo cards to use with the game.
Color code backgrounds to use with different boards.
Learn more: https://lessonpix.com/articles/4/256/Adapted%20Board%20Games

If you missed this session in person, you are in luck! There is still time to register for the virtual session happening next Tuesday, 4/25 from 1:00-3:00pm cst.

https://cecconvention.org/2023-virtual-convention-workshops

Can't wait to talk about ways to make data collection easier! Closing the Gap is going to be amazing this year!

Morning affirmations for teachers!

Am so lucky to know this wonderful young lady. She plays on the Panther Rugby team with my daughter and absolutely crushes it on the field and off! Consider following her as she grows her page and shares her experiences as a deaf female high school rugby player on a hearing team.

That Deaf rugby girl My journey as the only (as far as I know!) DEAF female high school rugby player here in the U.S. pla

Important reminder. 😥
📷 Scott Spencer