Figure 1 Subtraction using the Cranmer Abacus
Shannon is 10 years old and is currently attending her local primary school and transitioning to intermediate for 2013.
She participates in Practical Maths mornings which are planned by the BLENNZ Wellington team at least once a term, to provide concentrated sessions for braille learners on practical aspects of the New Zealand Maths Curriculum.
Topics covered include abacus skills, practical geometry, reading and creating diagrams and graphs. In figure 1 Shannon is doing subtraction using the Cranmer Abacus. Continue Reading →
Figure 1 Eddie touching a towel before his swim time
Eddie is a 16 year old student with low vision, Cortical Vision Impairment and complex needs. He is enrolled with the Correspondence School of New Zealand.
Eddie’s learning involves community activities and experiences. Travel to and from these activities have often resulted in Eddie being upset and unsettled.
Jo Mather his Resource Teacher of Vision talks about how real objects with verbal prompts/signs have helped to settle him. In figure 1 Eddie is touching a towel before his swim time. Continue Reading →
Jacob is a 4 year old who attends his local kindergarten. He has limited vision and a profound hearing impairment and explores his world through the tactile system.
Jacob is learning how to access literacy through tactile collage pictures and braille.
Here his Resource Teacher of Vision, Leanne Stubbing talks about how she supports him in his learning. Continue Reading →
Figure 1 Nevaeh is pointing to a cat in the book
Nevaeh is a 3 year old girl with a history of bilateral congenital nasolachrymal duct obstruction, nystagmus, and refractive error. She also has Down Syndrome.
Nevaeh is learning how to communicate within a bilingual setting at her local Kohanga Reo. She is beginning to use the Makaton sign system, gestures and some speech to support the development of her communication skills (figure 1) in English and Maori.
Gina Robinson, BLENNZ Resource Teacher Vision describes how she has introduced Nevaeh to signing as a communication tool which gives meaning to her language. Continue Reading →
