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9 iPad Apps for the Special Education Classroom

Innovation is the mark of a good teacher — no matter the class or subject. However, special education teachers often find themselves in need of exciting, innovative techniques for their classrooms. Thanks to technology, those innovations are now often no more than a tap away. The following are just a few of the many iPad apps that special education teachers can integrate into their classrooms for the benefit of those students who just seem to respond better when technology is involved.

iPad Apps for Communication

Ipad Apps for Special Education

Grace is an invaluable tool for teachers with non-verbal students. Specifically designed for students with Autism, Grace provides a series of pictures that allow all students who have difficulty communicating with words to make their thoughts and desires known. The app won the 2010 United Nations World Summit Award Mobile. 

Tap to Talk is an AAG device similarly aimed at non-verbal students. This free program is beneficial because it allows teachers and students to create an efficient, personalized communication system for students with any non-verbal condition.

iCommunicate goes above and beyond the traditional AAG device by allowing teachers to create flash cards and other lessons that they can use with individual students in their classrooms.

iPad Apps for Behavior

First Then Visual Schedules is an excellent product for special education teachers because it helps them mitigate one of the most common triggers — transitions — with easy-to-understand schedules.

Autism Express is a free app that offers ever-present flashcards that can help autistic students understand emotional expression. The device replicates the paper flashcards that so many special education teachers use, making it easier for teachers to access them.

Earn It Stars is a cost-effective app that makes it easy for teachers to keep track of their students’ positive actions and rewards, making paperwork and incentives easier to track.

iPad Apps to Help Develop Motor Skills

Dance Party Zoo is a fun, interactive way to encourage kids to practice gross motor skills by dancing along with zoo animals.

iDress for Weather is an application that teaches students practical dressing skills that can help them become independent. The cartoonish graphics help kids enjoy the app.

iWriteWords helps children learn fine motor skills, handwriting and literacy through entertaining games. It’s a perfect individual seat work activity for the student who struggles with traditional worksheets.


Three Reasons Teachers Should be Teaching Financial Literacy

Despite the recession and financial crisis of recent years, many Americans are still in the dark as to how to manage their finances. Some still have trouble understanding interest, loan terms, and why it’s so vital to pay credit cards on time. So how can we support the future success of young adults and help prevent economic crises? The solution starts with more financial education. Financial sense is necessary to function in society, and yet only 14 states require it as part of their curriculum. The outcome of financial literacy and education can only mean fewer consequences and more gains for young adults.

Financial Literacy Class

Students are more likely to stay out of debt and avoid maxing out credit cards

Without education, a credit card seems like free money. After all, the user can take it and swipe it anywhere for a purchase of up to a certain limit without feeling any instant consequence. All that happens is that there’s a receipt with some numbers on it. Pay off the minimum monthly and nothing bad happens, right? Maybe. As long as the credit card owner pays the minimum, the credit score doesn’t go down. Credit cards in general, however, have huge interest rates that will cause the balance to build and build until even the minimum monthly payment is unaffordable. 

According to US News, 20% of college seniors carry a credit card balance of $7,000 or more. Where did it start? Most likely in high school and then spiraled from there once colleges required textbooks and online access codes. Education on how this problem escalates out of control and the affects of it can prevent students from neglecting this responsibility. One non-profit organization has already begun spearheading this issue in schools and communities around the country. Junior Achievement USA sends over 350,000 volunteers into schools to deliver a curriculum designed to educate students about financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship. Their programs reach elementary through high school students and even offer scholarships for college students.

Students are more likely to understand their college loans and consequences

Despite entrance and exit counseling on loans, many students don’t grasp the process and how it works. For example, FAFSA can help by providing loans with low, fixed interest rates where the interest can be paid off as it accumulates rather than have it be capitalized and added on to the principal balance later. Students might not understand that skipping student loan payments and entering bankruptcy does not release them from eventually paying off the loans anyway. Education needs to happen before loans are taken out so that students know how to responsibly settle loans.  

Students are more likely to build savings

USA Today recommends that a rainy day fund include rent and living expenses for a minimum of six months, but preferably for two years. With many Americans living paycheck to paycheck and barely scraping by, it’s clear that most people don’t have a rainy day fund, let alone one of that size. It’s important to teach students how to save money. Traditionally, financial experts call it “paying yourself first.” Take a standard percentage from each paycheck earned, stick it in a separate account, and pretend it doesn’t exist. The concept is simple- and it’s something students need to understand and apply for themselves.


Online Masters in Teaching

Earning a Masters in Teaching is a great way for educators to advance their skills and specialize in a subject or area, and for many teachers looking to teach above the elementary school level, a masters in teaching is necessary. Also known as a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, a Masters in Teaching degree opens many opportunities for educators. Many Masters degree programs can also be found online with the same quality of brick and mortar programs.

What is a Masters in Teaching degree?

A Masters in Teaching is usually offered as a Masters in Education degree program, focusing on the enhancement of instructional skills and curricula development. Students enrolled in a Masters in Teaching program will learn to demonstrate:

  • The ability to modify instructional plans and promote alternative strategies in a diverse classroom under specific district standards.
  • Effective  instructional skills in planning, implementing and assessing instruction in diverse classrooms and special needs students.
  • Expertise in new methods of assessment and utilization of tools to evaluate student progress and learning outcomes, aligned with district standards.

Masters in Teaching Degree Concentrations

Many schools will also offer degree concentrations within their Masters in Teaching program. Students can choose from a variety of subjects to specialize in. Many programs will have the following degree concentrations:

  • Reading
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Special Education
  • ESOL

Find a full list of possible teaching degree concentrations here 


Digital Learning Day

February 1, 2012 marked the first ever Digital Learning Day, a day dedicated to exploring, promoting and celebrating innovative teaching and instruction practices that engage students in the digital world around them. This daylong celebration was spearheaded by the Alliance for Excellent Education in recognition of the fast-changing landscape of the social and work milieus students find themselves a part of. But as a whole, education has lagged behind the digital revolution either because of funding or reluctance or some combination of the two.

Digital Learning Day sought to bring awareness to the transformative power of digital learning in the classroom and the amazing potential digital technologies have to engage students in new ways and motivate them to create and collaborate.

The day kicked off with a National Town Hall meeting — accessed online, of course — featuring U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. The town hall profiled teachers using technology to effectively deliver instruction and innovative education projects across the country. Schools around the country used Skype to join the conversation and interact with the speakers.

In addition to town hall, participants in Digital Learning Day including 39 states, 15,000 teachers and more than 2 million students all engaged in some form of digital learning activities and innovation. The activities across the nation showcased some of the best in digital education.

Many schools celebrated by using iPads. Miller Junior High School in Aberdeen, Wash., distributed an iPad to every 7th and 8th grade student. Other schools used the notebooks for science projects, health projects and photography. Schools hosted showcases of digital learning or created videos highlighting best practices. Kindergarteners in Topeka, Kansas used Skype to communicate with other classrooms and learn about how other students learn.

The daylong celebration also generated quite a bit of buzz in the digital world with bloggers commenting on digital education trends, teachers and leaders using Twitter and social media to share information and online articles in publications like eSchool News and the Christian Science Monitor.

What’s clear from the events of the day and the subsequent conversations about digital instruction is that education needs to catch up to the digital revolution in the workplace and the social sphere. Students shouldn’t first hear about the “cloud” or interact with a wiki after graduation. Schools should incorporate digital and technology innovations seamlessly and meaningfully into daily instruction. Plus, digital technologies can grow and enhance the collaborative, creative and critical thinking skills students need to succeed later in life.

 Digital technology is here to stay. If schools truly want to prepare students for the 21st Century, they will need to embrace the ideas from this year’s Digital Learning Day and get ready to showcase their best next year. 


Middle School Doing More Harm Than Good?

Do young, almost-adults need a school of their own? Not according to a new study from Harvard University.

Researchers collected data for all students (more than 450,000) in Florida who attended grades 3 thru 10, from the 2000-2001 academic years to 2008-2009, following students from kindergarten through college. They compared students who attended just one school for K-8 and kids who went to a different school for those “middle’’ years. They found that the middle school students tested worse in both math and English language arts in high school, and were more likely to drop out prior to graduation.

For further reading:


Christian Education

Christian educators can have a faith-based education as they work toward a master of education degree, and their time studying with a Lutheran college can be more than just an enhancement of their career path. Their faith-based studies can be a way for them to experience Christian education in a way that helps them understand how to embrace and express their Christian values and spiritual lives more effectively in the classroom.

Moreover, earning a master’s degree from a Lutheran university can help Christians in education better develop their ability to bring the values of their faith into their workplace, whether that is a public or a private Christian school. As educators know, words must be backed up by action. In fact, Jesus explained this to his disciples many times, always urging them to show love for one another. Studying at a Lutheran college for graduate school can help teachers and others in education to reaffirm what is inherently important about their faith and apply what they learn from the Bible to their workplace environment.

While most Christian educators know that they need to put their faith into practice, understanding how to do that isn’t something taught in most schools of education, or at church. To learn how to be a practicing Christian in an educational setting, teachers and administrators need to learn from people who have studied the practice of Christian education. That is why an online master in education from a Lutheran university is such a transformative experience. Not only does the master’s degree help those in education to be better teachers and administrators, it also helps them to become the spiritual person at work they want to be.

At a Lutheran university, each lesson in the master of education program begins with a Bible verse. Starting each session with Scripture sets a tone for the class, and also encourages students to think about how what they are studying relates to the life of the spirit. The education offered at a Lutheran college is not just the factual information from the textbooks, or the lectures attended. Much of what students in the master’s degree program learn takes place in the relationships they have with other students and with their instructors. This model of spiritual-infused educational environment through ongoing relationships is something master’s students will take with them throughout their education career.

Perhaps the best thing about studying at a Lutheran college is the other students. Most students in the master of education program are experienced educators who have tackled the difficulties and the joys of the education field. The shared experiences make for lively class discussions, as well as for opportunities to explore together (both inside and outside of class) what it means to be a Christian in education.

Christian educators are at the crossroads of our society, and right now have the opportunity to influence both the generation in charge of our society (the parents), and the generation of the future (the children). However, without a chance to think through how they can apply their spiritual lives to their work in education, Christian educators may miss this opportunity to be a spiritual force in today’s culture. By taking the time to complete a master of education degree in a faith-based environment, Christians in education are ensuring that they will be prepared to better fulfill their mission and vocation.

Furthermore, Christian educators have a chance to influence the environment of the school in which they work. Not only do they set an example of moral and ethical conduct for other educators, they also can influence the tone of the faculty workroom, meetings and conversations by what they say and don’t say. Through their experiences in the environment of a Christian education atmosphere, Christian educators can learn how to better be the light of Jesus in their school environment. They can learn through via their classes, their instructors and from fellow master’s students many practical ways to show their faith at school.

Studying for a master’s degree takes time and effort. Christian educators can make the most of that effort by choosing to complete their master of education with other Christians. By choosing to study at a Lutheran college with other Christian educators, a teacher or administrator can be assured that they will get the support they need. Not only will the other students be able to support the Christian educator in their quest to find ways to express their spiritual life in the classroom, but they will have instructors who can demonstrate for them how that is done.

As a graduate with a master degree in education from a Lutheran college, an educator can be assured they will have the tools to help them know how to treat both parents and students in a way which is consistent with the Bible and the teaching of Jesus. They will have the skills to be the person they want to be inside the classroom and out. By studying at a Lutheran college, Christian educators will be prepared to help families with whom they interact. These long-term interactions with families create strong bonds and precious connections which allow the Christian in education to share their faith in the classroom and in the community. Christians in education can be assured that their time and effort to achieve their online master of education degree from a Lutheran university will help them not only in their career as educators, but also in their spiritual lives.


The Secrets of Online Learning Success

Learning in an online learning environment can pose challenges to students who are used to the traditional, on-ground classroom. If you’re embarking on an online program of study, arm yourself with the tools and know-how to ensure your success in the virtual classroom and beyond. Set yourself up to be a successful e-learner.

Access to Technology

Students in online classes know that before any course begins, preparation is key. In addition to Internet access and a reliable computer, be sure to have the right software programs installed on your machine. You’ll need to be able to download word processing documents and other important course materials. You’ll likely need to access messenger applications and platforms. Additionally, be sure that you are familiar with and become proficient in operating all of the required programs successfully for frequent use.

Online Skill and Savvy

Those who choose online learning as their method for study also feel comfortable communicating online via e-mail, instant messaging programs, social media platforms, online forums, and more, while also being adept at navigating through the Internet’s infinite pathways to information. All of these skills allow students in online programs to effectively participate in class discussions with peers and instructors.

Drive & Motivation

In a traditional classroom setting, students who lack focus and drive end up lagging behind. An online learning environment requires just as much—arguably more—persistence and dedication to a strong work ethic. While students in online classes are afforded the flexibility and time they need to complete their coursework in a self-paced manner, this also means that focus and concentration are vital to the online learning student’s success. The lure of Facebook and online shopping are ever-present online, so online learning students must be motivated and disciplined.

Prepared & Willing To Ask For Help
The successful online learning student is willing to ask for help. Arm yourself with contact numbers of your program’s tech support team, and don’t be afraid to ask your fellow students in your online classes for help. Chances are, they’ve stumbled upon a similar issue, and can shed insight on how to fix it.

Armed with this arsenal of tools and tips, you can be a successful online learning student! It all comes down to focus, dedication, discipline, and online savvy.


3 Reasons to Consider Pursuing an Online M.Ed.

As many teachers attempt to juggle their busy schedules, a growing number are discovering a successful alternative to a more traditional course of graduate school. Many are finding that obtaining an online Master’s degree in Education or an online M.Ed. is a viable option in advancing their careers and balancing their family lives. In exploring graduate school programs, be sure to consider the following advantages of choosing an online Master’s degree in Education.

  1. Flexibility – Obtaining an online M.Ed. means you can take classes where—and when—it’s most convenient. If you’ve got Internet access and a computer, attending class and completing coursework for your online Master’s degree in Education is just a click away. Whether you’re wrapping up the day in your own classroom, or feeding the kids dinner, getting your online Master’s degree in Education is a matter of logging on during the times that work best for you.
  2. Student-Centered Learning – An online Master’s degree in Education program emphasizes student-centered teaching methods. This means that you’ll go at your own pace, build a course of study that fulfills your own learning objectives, and be part of a program that is focused on your needs. You won’t feel the pressure of program that requires completion within the confines of a rigid schedule.
  3. Technology – As the digital age transforms the way we work, play, and communicate, it also revolutionizes the way students learn.  Getting your online M.Ed. will help you reap the incredible benefits of being a student in the 21st century. Technologies, in its many forms, helps bridge and enhance the learning experience through rich discussions with classmates that might live across the globe. Going tech will also ensure that you keep breast with the very latest in learning tools and teaching methods.

 

Working professionals seeking better career opportunities should consider getting an online M.Ed. Flexibility, student-centered learning, and technology make online programs ideal for teachers who want to get ahead in their careers and maintain a healthy work/life balance. Talk to an Enrollment Specialist to explore your options in obtaining an online Master’s degree in Education.


The Best Reasons to Become an Educational Leader

Part of the American Dream is the idea that as our careers progress, we move up the ladder of leadership gaining responsibility and prestige along the way. Earning a master’s degree in Educational Leadership is a great way for teachers to advance in the realm of education. Here are the best — and worst — reasons to earn a master’s degree as a way to move ahead as an educational leader.

The Best Reasons to Become an Educational Leader

1. To make a difference

Teaching in a classroom makes a difference and impacts the lives of thousands of students over a single teacher’s career. Attending graduate school for a master’s degree in Educational Leadership can help teachers move into positions such as department chair, curriculum specialists or administrative positions with the opportunity to affect perhaps tens of thousands of students. When it comes to making a difference for education, graduate school can increase the reach of your influence.

2. A fresh perspective

After awhile, you may begin to feel burned out on your classroom experience but know you still have a passion for education. A master’s degree and a new career track in Educational Leadership can bring a fresh perspective to your life as an educator and renew your commitment to excellence in education.

3. To become an instructional leader

A master’s degree in Educational Leadership turns teachers of students into teachers of teachers. This master’s degree prepares you to become professional facilitator of school culture, including professional development and system-wide innovation. If you’re ready to lead, then this master’s degree will give you the tools to lead successfully.

The Worst Reasons to Become and Educational Leader

1. To make money

Yes, department chairs, specialists and principals usually make more money than teachers. However, your bottom line shouldn’t be your top reason for going to graduate school. Educational leaders work longer hours, have more responsibility and therefore assume more liability if something goes wrong. If you’re not ready for the increased workload or consequences, then a master’s degree in Educational Leadership might not be the best choice.

2. You’re sick of teaching

Turning to graduate school when you’re feeling burned out on a career can renew your commitment to teaching. However, if you feel sick and tired of the classroom, how do you know you won’t have the same feelings about educational leadership? A master’s degree in Educational Leadership often puts you back into the classroom helping teachers, coaching students or planning curriculum.

3. Your principal told you to

It’s great to have cheerleaders in our lives, but the desire to lead needs to come from within. Embarking on a master’s degree in Educational Leadership will only become a positive experience if you made the decision for yourself. Perhaps you have been told you would make a great leader but until you believe you would make a great leader, you won’t be a successful leader.

If you’re ready to make the leap to leadership, start your master’s degree in Educational Leadership today.


Succeed At Earning Your Master’s Degree!

Those pursuing a Master in Education degree already know that it can be a juggling act, working and completing coursework. For students who have decided that a Master in Education program is best for their career path, but who also want to spend quality time with family and put in the needed hours and attention at work, it can be a struggle to find the time to finish class work, too. But it can be done, and done well. A Master in Education student can fit their education into the mix, with just a few tips:

Organize
Though this is something most of us tell our students to do before tackling their assignments, many of us forget to do so themselves. If you organize your assignments by due date, it may help you grasp just how much time is left to complete each assignment, and break down your class schedule into more manageable pieces. As a Master in Education student, you may also consider putting your to-do list for the classroom you teach on the same schedule as the assignments for the classes you are taking. This way, your own education will be woven into your life, instead of something keeping you from it. The psychological effect from this can really help keep a person motivated.

Multitask
As a Master in Education student, with a full-time job teaching, you have your work cut out for you! Needless to say, if you have a family, too, you may find it even harder to find time to complete assignments. But you can find time to do coursework almost everywhere if you look carefully.  A lunch break may sound like a terrible time to catch-up on assignments, but it is actually an ideal time! Studies have shown that having a healthy snack while studying can improve your focus and memory, helping you focus on your Master in Education coursework to get the most out of your study time. So this not only saves time, but it can save you from needing to review the material later.

And, though papers can seem like the most time consuming part of earning a Master in Education degree, essays and reports can be the easiest to find time to finish. As a Master in Education student, you can begin making an outline while your students are completing their own assignments, or any other down time. You can even find the introductory sentence to the paragraphs opening each new section. By the time the paper is actually being typed, the work will already be halfway done.

Treat Yourself
Working toward a Master in Education degree can really add to your workload, education, so you should reward your hard work! Every finished assignment can mean the reward of anything that suits you, from a latté to a nice meal or a starting a new book. Setting yourself a pleasant atmosphere before starting a studying session can be very helpful, whether turning on music or sitting down in a certain favorite study spot. The important thing is to look for ways to make your own goal of a Master in Education degree pleasing both now and in the future.

Speak Up!
Very few people pursue a Master in Education without sometimes asking for support. Everyone is surrounded by people who can help take the burden off of the small, daily tasks – and help you stay focused on finishing that project. If you have trouble understanding an assignment, ask your instructors, and peers. Don’t be afraid to speak up, and get the help you need.

This is the part that intimidates many students studying for their master’s degree: Sometimes, new students may be concerned that their instructors will get annoyed by too many questions, or are afraid to admit that they’re having trouble finishing an assignment. But, the worst thing you can do is leave your instructor out of the loop. Your instructors know the coursework is challenging; they have resources they can share with you. They want you to succeed – give them the chance to help you on your way!