InsideInfo
Issue 1, 2014
A is for… Animals, Art and Advocacy!
Kay Hooper sets the tone this issue with her wonderful memories of one of our favourite animal stories. We take a look at ways in which art experiences can be enhanced with tactile and sensory elements to engage children in creative fun. We also include lots of new books and web links, and some important additions to the library to support parents in their quest to advocate for their children to achieve the best outcomes.
Looking forward to seeing you in the library soon,
Best wishes,
Julie, Marijana and Jason.
We asked Kay Hooper, Renwick Centre Practicum Coordinator and highly experienced RIDBC special educator/consultant, “What’s your favourite children’s book?”
My favourite book is Charlotte's Web written by American author E. B. White, and illustrated with charming black and white sketches by Garth Williams. It was published in 1952.
I first read “Charlotte’s Web” in the early sixties when I began my training as a teacher. It was one of the books that I read as part of the study of children’s literature. Each night I would read a chapter to my youngest brother who was then about 8 years old. I am not sure who enjoyed it most as we eagerly followed the unfolding of the story of the life of Wilbur the little pig who was the runt of the litter and was saved by the farmer’s daughter, Fern.
Fern is Wilbur’s constant companion and she falls in love with the little pig, as did we as we nightly read of Wilbur’s latest adventure. Once Wilbur has grown big enough he is transferred to the barn where he begins to befriend other animals, who instruct the still naïve little pig in the ways of life. When he learns that he is likely to end up on the dinner plate, his most important friend turns out to be a spider named Charlotte, who occupies a web in the corner of a doorway above him. Her love for Wilbur, coupled with her ingenuity, will save Wilbur's life as messages begin to appear in her web: “Some Pig”, “Radiant”, “Humble”.
This is a heart-warming story about friendship and loyalty. It certainly captivated me as a young adult and proved to be a popular story for children in my classes once I became a teacher. This delightful story will also engage young readers to read for themselves.
NEW IN THE LIBRARY
A birthday for Ben : a story about hearing issues
by Kate Gaynor, illustrated by Karen Quirke.
Special Stories Publishing, 2009.
RENWICK 823.92 GAYN
I am not a pirate
by Shannon Anderson
Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC, c2013
RENWICK 813.6 ANDE
Little Bear Sees : how children with cortical visual impairment can learn to see by AubriTallent, Andrei Tallent and Fredy Bush
Little Bear Sees Publishing, c 2012.
RENWICK 362.41 TALL
“…a book that provides both information and inspiration. It walks the reader through real family journeys and real family solutions. Parents who read LITTLE BEAR SEES will find a partner in their own experiences…” - Christine Roman-Lantzy, Ph.D
What is CVI – printable PDF file.
Steve Biddulph's raising girls
by Steve Biddulph
HarperCollins, c2013
RENWICK 649.133 BIDD
ADVOCACY
Educational advocacy for students who are deaf and hard of hearing : the Hands and Voices guidebook
by Cheryl DeConde Johnson, Janet DesGeorges, LeeanneSeaver.
Hands & Voices, 2013.
RENWICK Q371.90973 DECO
The parenting journey : raising deaf and hard of hearing children
by Karen Putz.
Barefoot Publications, 2012.
RENWICK 649.1512 PUTZ
The book of choice : support for parenting a child who is deaf or hard of hearing
edited by LeeanneSeaver. Hands & Voices, c2010.
RENWICK 649.152 SEAV
The Passionate Lives of Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
by Karen Putz. Barefoot Publishing, c2013.
RENWICK 362.42 PUTZ
RECOMMENDED READ
The common sense guide to your child's special needs : when to worry, when to wait, what to do
by Louis Pellegrino
Paul H. Brookes Publishing, c2012
RENWICK 371.9 PELL
With reassuring warmth, good humor, and candor, Dr Pellegrino offers practical, research-based guidance on what it means and what to do next when a child struggles with speech and language development, motor skills development social skills, behavioural control and attention, learning and cognitive development.
“Parents of children with diagnosed disabilities, or parents who are just worried about their child’s development, will find this book helpful. It is a good starting point in understanding a child’s needs and where to go following diagnosis. It is very informative, and easy to read.”
AlinaKirievsky, RIDBC Psychologist
BOOKS THAT HELP
Why do I have to? A book for children who find themselves frustrated by everyday rules.
Written by Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, Illustrated by Luisa Montaini-Klovdahl
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2008. ISBN 9781843108917
RENWICK 823.3 LEVE
This is a good little book designed for children who have a hard time understanding why they need to follow rules. Written by Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, who is a clinical psychologist and the founder of ‘The Friends Program’, a group program aimed at young children with Asperger’s Disorder and their families.
In the book, she empathises with children's wish to do things their way, but explains why their way does not work, and then she provides a list of practical suggestions for how to cope with these challenges and avoid feelings of frustration. This book is useful for children who have a hard time dealing with the expectations of daily living, as well as for their parents and the professionals who work with them.
In her book, she covers topics such as: Why do I have to go to school before the show that I am watching is over? And why do I have to wear shoes and a jacket when I go outside? This book is a useful tool to help children to understand, and for the adults who look after them.
The book is illustrated in a simple manner for children, with black and white drawings to summarise the message of the book. The reading level is ideal for children aged 8 and over. In the back, the author includes appendix 1, where children can write down what frustrates them the most about these rules. In appendix 2, she includes a goal chart that can be used by families.
Reviewed by MarijanaMiletic
ART
The sound of colors : a journey of the imagination
by Jimmy Liao ; English text adapted by Sarah L. Thomson
New York; Little, Brown and Company, c2006.
RENWICK 823.3 LIAO
Journey with a young blind girl as she travels daily on the subway and lets her imagination carry her away.
Color : a course in mastering the art of mixing colors
by Betty Edwards
Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, c2004
RENWICK 752 EDWA
Drawing with Children
by Mona Brookes
New York : Putnam, c1996
RENWICK 741.2 BROO
Drawing with Children includes chapters explaining how to reach children with learning problems and how to incorporate drawing into teaching the basic subjects in an integrated school curriculum.
ART LINKS
Coordinated by Art Education for the Blind, Inc., Art Beyond Sight Collaborative is dedicated to making the visual arts play a vital role in the lives of people who are blind and visually impaired.
Remy Closset uses Blender and a CNC machine to create tactile versions of famous paintings so that blind people can enjoy them too.
Perkins art teachers are frequently asked by the public, "How do you teach students who can't see to make art?" The answer, they say, is simple: make the art process a tactile, multi-sensory experience.
How to adapt traditional art projects and curriculum into sensory art.
He makes striking paintings by drawing with fabric paint and, using the raised lines as a guide, filling in with oil paint.
This homemade paint recipe with spices is as much a delight for the nose as the eyes! It’s super easy to make
The combination of yarn, glue, and paint makes it an especially fun and tactile art activity for kids.
NEW ON THE WEB
Hearing Our Way: the magazine for kids and teens with hearing loss
Contemporary Australian children’s poets and their work
Strategies for Keeping Hearing Aids on Young Children » Success For Kids With Hearing Loss
How to Select iPad Apps for Students with Visual Impairments | Paths to Literacy
Directory of braille services and products in Australia | Australian Braille Authority
National Disability Organisations' Clearinghouse
Giving Good Praise to Girls: What Messages Stick | MindShift
Empowering blind and low-vision users of Apple products | AppleVis
Department of Health | Australia's Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines
Tips For Coaches | Aussie Deaf Kids
Cochlear Implant « Cochlear Implant Online
Vision Loss : resources for vision impairment (NSW/ACT GUIDE DOGS)
Just Arrived!
New edition of this classic text on hearing impairment
now available in the library.
Hearing in Children Sixth Edition
by Jerry L. Northern, Marion P. Downs
Plural Publishing, 2014.
ISBN13: 978-1-59756-392-5
RENWICK 618.920978 NORT 2014
The Tactile Artist
Robyn Wallace
Teacher/Consultant VI
Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
361-365 North Rocks Road
North Rocks NSW 2151
AUSTRALIA
Tel: 02 9872 0316
Fax: 02 9873 3870
Email:
Web:
Make your own 'Picture Making Kit'
Make a felt board: glue a piece of felt over hard board.
Make assorted shapes: cut out different shapes from hard board in varying sizes (a retractable blade is helpful). For example squares, rectangles, circles, triangles.
On the back of each cut out shape apply a piece of self-adhesive ‘hook’ Velcro.
Storage folder: Store several felt boards and the shapes in an A4 lever arch folder.
This folder is easy to use and is accessible to both the student and teachers.
The 'Picture Making Kit’ has many uses:
•picture making
•mapping
•maths - fractions, pattern making, angles, exploring 3D shapes and their nets,
•storytelling, illustrating
•exploration of shape attributes
•tessellation
Colouring and Creating Tactile Pictures
Felt boards using self-adhesive hook Velcro “Picture Making”
Easy to make:
•Using hardboard, Masonite, canvas panel stretch and glue felt over the board.
•Using stiff cardboard, create many different shapes that will allow the blind child to create tactile drawings.
•Create maps.
•Stick 3D shapes to the board.
•A folder holding felt boards is a great way to store the many shapes you make and for the child to access easily.
•Use the felt board for measurement, exploring fractions, manipulating cm squares, 2D shapes, 3D shapes, nets and 3D shapes, graphs.
Painting, gluing, colouring:
•Use a glue gun to outline simple drawings.
•The student can use crayons, textured paper, and textured paint to colour inside the glue gun outline.
•Textured paint is great to use: sand, gloss, thick plaster. Just add colour to the different textures.
•Use a separate palate for each colour.
•Use a separate brush for each colour.
Paper tearing/scrunching:
•Provide cut outs or raised lines of different images needed for a lesson – allow the student to glue paper onto the cut out or raised line drawing. The finished artwork can be trimmed and mounted for display.
Tactile materials:
•Use thick paper, hard cardboard as thin paper will not hold the tactile materials well.
•Foam board, mounting board, plastic board.
•Glue gun to outline images - this dries almost immediately.
•Textures pastes to mix with acrylic paint: sand, gloss, plaster paste. These provide texture and are quick drying.
•Double sided tape, sticky tape, masking tape.
•Pasta shells and rice - coloured using food colouring. Great to stick onto art works offers a variety of shapes.
•Sticky dots: using a glue gun place the glue dot on top a round sticker
•Wool, string, twine, ribbon
•Adhesive foam shapes and packets of foam. There is a large range to choose from.
•Cookie dough art. Then varnish finished shape.
•Velcro and felt works well together. Adhesive Velcro hooks can be stuck to the back of the shape and the shape will stick to the felt and removed from the felt board.
•Use different materials: felt, glitter, buttons, fur, plastic, bubble wrap, cotton wool balls, cotton buds, glitter, raised stickers, cardboard tubes, egg cartons, egg shells, seeds, leaves, bark, sand mixed with glue (add paint if a colour is needed).
Keep the craft materials needed for an art lesson in small containers. This allows easy access to the different shapes/materials when the student is creating tactile pictures.
Allow your students to self-express and let them turn something ordinaryinto something extraordinary.
JUST FOR FUN
Games, author extras, and resources based on the award-winning book Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.