New Category : Opinion

Classroom tips for teachers of children with hearing loss

Classroom tips for teachers of children with hearing loss

Tue, Sep 5th 2017, 01:12 PM

Most students with hearing loss can perform successfully in a classroom environment with other hearing students if appropriate strategies and sufficient support to ensure they can flourish is available. It will take a team effort from all those involved; parents, teachers, school administrators, speech language pathologist, and audiologist to ensure the child's success, however, it can be done. Some factors to take into consideration when preparing to teach a child with a hearing loss include teacher cooperation, daily use of hearing aids by the child if recommended, access to other assistive technological devices, the student's linguistic and academic levels, and availability of a trained support aide.
Although the above suggestions would be ideal, in some cases it is just not possible for a teacher to have all the above. Yet, he/she may still end up with a child who has a hearing loss. In such cases, a teacher can implement some basic strategies that will aid the hearing-impaired student in getting the information they need. Teaching children with hearing impairments can be challenging for a teacher in a regular classroom, however, with the recommendations and accommodations below, it can be done with some success.
Audiological recommendations: Hearing aids if needed, and personal classroom assistive listening technology.
Educational recommendations: Ensure that the child has preferential seating in the classroom, sits away from windows and doors, and sits in a position where the teacher's face can be easily seen.
Educational accommodations: The teacher or speaker should always face the child when speaking to him/her.
When speaking directly to the child, speak within six feet of the child.
Don't speak while facing away from the child, example, while writing on the board, while walking around the classroom. This is particularly important when doing any form of dictation, spelling, classroom discussions, or any other type of oral class work.
Use facial expressions and body language to highlight points as needed but do not over-exaggerate non-verbal clues.
For older children, give handouts or notes prior to lessons so that the student does not have to write while trying to listen.
Pre-teach specialized vocabulary and write assigned readings and any homework or project details on the board or give as a handout.
Post schedules so they are easily seen and adjust changes as needed.
Assign a class buddy who is good at note taking to share notes and assist with any information the student may have missed.
Repeat instructions as needed to ensure the student understood the instructions.
Have the student repeat the instructions given to ensure they were not misunderstood.
Reduce background noise as much as possible
Keep the classroom door closed; seat the student away from things that make noise like, fans, air conditioner, projectors, etc; do one of the following to reduce the scraping noise in the classroom as students move around in their chairs -- install carpet on the floor, put tennis balls on the bottom legs of each chair; and put electrical tape on the bottom of each chair leg.
Help the student engage with the rest of the class.
By pointing to students and saying their names as you call on them to effectively direct attention to who is speaking; and allowing the students to sit in a large circle whenever possible so that the student can clearly see each person as they speak.
Consider classroom hearing assistance technology.
With classroom hearing assistive technology, the teacher wears a microphone that is linked to several speakers set up at various points within the classroom. As he/she speaks, his/her voice is elevated via the speakers so that the child can hear no matter where the teacher is located within the classroom. Classroom hearing assistive technology is a very good option for the classroom because studies have shown it benefits not only the child with a hearing loss, but all students in the classroom showed significant academic improvement.
These recommendations and accommodations can go a long way in helping a child with hearing loss be more successful in his/her educational environment. If you are a teacher who has questions or concerns regarding how to better assist a child in your classroom who has hearing loss, or, if you wish to learn more about classroom accommodations, teaching strategies, or specialized equipment for hearing impaired children, or, if you are a school principal and would like a presentation to your staff on, tips to teaching a child with hearing loss, please contact an audiologist.

o For further information on any hearing-related disorder, please contact Dr. Deborah Nubirth, doctor of audiology, in New Providence at Comprehensive Family Medical Clinic, Poinciana Drive at 356-2276 or 677-6627 or 351-7902 in Grand Bahama; or email dnubirth@yahoo.com.

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The grace of the present moment

The grace of the present moment

Thu, Aug 31st 2017, 10:28 AM

A dear friend who is a priest recounts this modern parable. He travelled to the Cistercian monastery Mount Saint Bernard in rural Leicestershire, England, to meet a 93-year-old, who was 73 years a monk. The two settled in to share a pot of tea.
The younger priest inquired of the nonagenarian: "Father, what is the secret of life?"
Without hesitation the older man replied: "The grace of the present moment. For example, the only thing I have to do right now is to enjoy tea with you, nothing else."
There was nothing surprising about the contemplative's answer; wisdom found in many spiritual traditions. What was life-giving for the friend was to find the grace of the present moment exemplified in someone who spent a lifetime practicing such wisdom.
The two clerics spent the afternoon enjoying tea. But the greater enjoyment was each other's company, unencumbered by the rush of time. Almost 40 years later my friend remembers the afternoon as a singular experience. It is a living memory.
Such experiences are a stark contrast to a common occurrence of a group of people, typically younger, sitting together at a restaurant table, mesmerized by their cell phones and mobile devices, furiously sending messages, texts and email, while often ignoring their fellow-guests and friends.
Musing on the advice offered him by the monk, the now older priest notes how we so often have experiences yet fail to grasp the meaning of such experiences because we are often paralyzed by past grievances and hurts we are unable to heal.
The famed Japanese tea ceremony, which is an ancient tradition, captures the grace of the present moment.
"The Japanese tea ceremony is called Chanoyu, Sado or simply Ocha in Japanese. It is a choreographic ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea, called Matcha, together with traditional Japanese sweets to balance with the bitter taste of the tea. Preparing tea in this ceremony means pouring all one's attention into the predefined movements," according to japanese-tea-ceremony.net.
"The whole process is not about drinking tea, but is about aesthetics, preparing a bowl of tea from one's heart. The host of the ceremony always considers the guests with every movement and gesture."

Roommate
During sophomore year in college this columnist was fortunate to have a new roommate, Robert, who came from a large family in rural Pennsylvania. Some years before college Robert was diagnosed with leukemia, but he never gave a second thought as to whether he would attend college.
Much of his freshman and sophomore years were spent in an out of hospital, sometimes for experimental treatment, leaving him exhausted, shed of energy and hair.
Because of his cancer and limited time, Robert lived exuberantly when he was pain-free. He relished food, eating a bowl of ice cream with zeal. He played his guitar with relish, though his singing voice was not as melodious as he imagined, which brought great laughter to his friends.
Robert loved music. His laughter was punctuated by a mordant wit. He was a keen observer of others.
Robert died the summer before junior year. He was 20. Through terrible circumstance and necessity Robert willed himself to dwell in the grace of the present moment, despite his fears.
The sometimes fanciful and prolific English writer Malcolm Muggeridge titled his memoir, "Chronicles of Wasted Time". The title is somewhat ironic given the packed life Muggeridge lived and his numerous accomplishments.
His wasted time included many adventures and dear friendships with the famous and the unknown. He wrote a biography of Mother Theresa.
Still, the title of Muggeridge's autobiography recalls the time we are all prone to waste, dwelling in the past or dreading the future, as the present often escapes our attention and enjoyment.
Insatiable anxiety is an enemy of the present moment as is the endless re-litigation of regrets, mistakes and disappointment. Why does it so often seem to take a lifetime to begin to learn how to enjoy the present?

Ambivalence
Author Cherie Carter-Scott writes: "Ambivalence is like carbon monoxide - undetectable yet deadly." Ambivalence robs us of the present, and of life.
A friend was asked some years ago about the sudden death of his father. His response: "My father died of ambivalence. Like many Bahamians he did not attend to his health."
He alternated between wanting to live and what Max Ehrmann describes in the poem "Desiderata" as the "sham, drudgery and broken dreams" of life.
It is easy to remain ambivalent, often paralyzed by the seeming futility and boredom of much of life, all of which robs us of potential, of health, of happiness.
Ambivalence is often like remaining on a train track as a locomotive barrels toward us, uncertain and incapable of summoning the will to move. Life is full of such ruts and habits of immobility.
Thankfully, Ehrmann offers this counsel for life from "Desiderata".

"Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself ...
"With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy."

The older we grow the more scars we accumulate. The internal and external physical scars we bear are reminders of birthing, accidents of all sorts and recurring health challenges.
We bear also other scars such as betrayal, bitter disappointment, divorce, the loss of loved ones, all manner of addiction and other wounds, some of our own making, others forced on us by the vagaries and seasons of life.
Much of life is spent trying to heal wounds, not allowing these wounds to rob us of the potential for change or joy.

Trapped
Picking at our wounds in self-pity keeps us trapped in the past and often incapable of seizing the grace of the present moment to give new direction and renewed hope to our lives.
Human as we are, it is difficult to find the motivation and will to move beyond the ruts in which we become comfortable, though often unfulfilled or unhappy.
The Latin term "Solvitur ambulando" may be translated as "It is solved by walking". It is a theme often used by monastic orders to help others to realize change and new life by taking the simple step of walking.
It is an admonition to walk in order to begin the process of renewing one's physical, emotional or spiritual health. We all know that walking has numerous physical and psychological benefits, adding years to life.
Yet, we often seem incapable of getting up and remaining on the path, often requiring a crisis to motivate change.
Many suffering with depression and other diseases become healthier through walking. Writers, artists and poets have all spoken of the creative benefits of walking.
Walking is also a metaphor for making change in one's life through initial first and small steps, which may grow into new habits of the heart and mind. The grace of the present moment is always charged with the potential for change and new life. The proverbial first step is within reach.
The great German novelist and poet Goethe offers an antidote to ambivalence and the sloth of old and poor habits: "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.
"All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."

* * *
In Memoriam: Fellow columnist Larry Smith died suddenly this week. Larry was an exceptional and meticulous writer and researcher, who was passionate about the environment and our national heritage, among the many other subjects he wrote about with intelligence and insight. Condolences to his family and friends.
His weekly column, and his considerable contribution to our understanding of ourselves as Bahamians, will be missed. His body of work will be treasured by current and future generations.

o frontporchguardian@gmail.com.

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Tue, Aug 29th 2017, 10:48 AM

I guess that we've all heard the phrase which is the title of this article, travel is education. But you know, the more I think about it, the more I realize the absolute truth contained in it. I guess that I have been extremely fortunate in being able to combine work with a whole lot of travel, which has allowed me to visit many different parts of the world.
Of course when I was young I lived in both Ireland, the land of my birth and England, where my folks lived for a period of time in my youth. Then when I started to work as a professional musician, I worked all over the British Isles playing at different venues preforming mainly at U.S. Air Force bases. I also did a few summer seasons in Jersey in The Channel Islands between England and France, and in The Isle of Man between England and Ireland. I also traveled to Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland in Europe.
As one travels you learn so much about other people, their culture and customs -- it's like a living geography lesson. Eventually I left the U.K. and immigrated to Canada where I lived for a short time before traveling to The Bahamas where I settled.
Then I got into the motivational business, which has given me the opportunity to travel all over the Caribbean, Central and South America, to the U.S., the Pacific, Far East and Australia. Believe me, this international travel has been a wonderful education for me and broadened my outlook on life.
Yes my friend, there's no doubt about it, as today's simple three-word title puts it, travel is education. Yes it is! So please make a resolution to travel as much as you can to foreign lands as it will, believe me, broaden your perspective on life as you view other cultures and customs firsthand which will assist you no end as you travel the road of life.

o Think about it!
Visit my website at: www.dpaulreilly.com.
Listen to "Time to Think" the radio program on STAR 106.5 FM at 8:55 a.m. & 6:20 p.m.

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