SEIT 1:1 Games

Here are a list of educational games that I've found most useful so far:

1 & 2 Thinkfun Zingo (Classic & 1-2-3)
I've used this in my SEIT sessions, either 1:1 or pulling an extra friend in to the session with my student. The whole premise is based on matching, which many special education students love to do and can do easily. The Classic version is great for encouraging vocabulary growth and recognition of common objects. You can also use the chips for categorization and letter search.
The Zingo 1-2-3 is for more advanced counters. It promotes numeral to quantity matching. Tip: If your student has a low frustration tolerance, working on one board might be more useful than playing it in the game setting. That way, you can work on one board together while still using the fun Zingo slider.
Both games promote turn taking. If your student has a hard time taking turns, I've found it useful to have a "marker", using a counting bear, dice, etc to indicate who's turn it is.


3. Travel Guess Who -
Game may be difficult for many preschool special needs students to play by the game rules. However, I've used the pictures and cards to promote descriptive speech, categorization, visual discrimination and fine motor skills. They really love to flip down the pictures.


4. Travel Connect 4 -
This game can be used in 1:1 sessions for patterning, colors, counting. I've pulled in other students to play the game version during 1:1 sessions.


5. Activity Work Book
A new spin on handwriting. Most books will have alphabet and number pages. Many of the themed books will have pages that target toward visual discrimination skills, patterning, and matching.


6. Candyland Bingo
Promotes color and shape recognition and naming. Again, feel free to pull out another child (if it's ok with the classroom teacher) for this game. It works on social skills and special needs kids love playing with their peers in fun structured settings.


7. Colorama
A classic game for shape and color matching and recognition. Hexagon and trapezoid are a bit tricky but they have all the basic colors and shapes.



Like any great SEIT, I've spend my first two paychecks on games and supplies. I'm looking to invest in an iPad next cut down on the load I have to carry around with me on the NYC subway system.I'm always looking for more interesting things to bring to my sessions. If you have any suggestions, feel free to comment!

Speech Activities

I am working with a student with moderate speech delays who does not receive any speech services so I incorporate language and articulation activities into my lessons with him.  This is a great site for anyone who wants to learn more about speech and language activities.

http://www.speechtx.com/

Survived my first month..and a half

Its been a rough start to say the least.  Overwhelming to step into other teachers' classrooms and (in some cases) expected to pull out a child you don't know or have a rapport with.  Advice: Be strong in your stance of getting to know the child in his natural environment, i.e. his classroom setting.  You won't learn much about how the child functions regularly through pull out sessions, although that is what some classroom teachers would prefer.  Don't get me wrong, 1:1 sessions are a must to address some cognitive and conceptual goals but they should not be the only thing SEITs are expected to do.  The overall goal is not to have the child dependent on you for everything, but to have him or her function successfully and independently.

Next post: the importance of buying the right supplies.  I'll make some recommendations of what works wonders and what NOT to waste your hard earned money on.