March 2013

Monday, March 4, 2013, Brittany Ammons created the posts Purchasing Apps, Mute Girl Finds Her Voice, and Downloading Apps on her blog Autism 4 Life.

Jeannie Bolstridge divided her blogs for Learning Socially to contain nonprofit work and ReadDogs as a mostly photoblog to show therapy dog work.

On the 2nd Saturday of the month, March 9, our nonprofit held its monthly meeting at the Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Georgia. The meeting began at 11:00 AM and ended at 1:00 PM in Conference Room 2 by the Cafeteria. Jeannie Bolstridge, Kimberly Duckworth, Brittany Ammons, Moe Tucker, Mary Ann Purvis, Melinda Phillips, and Danielle Sellers attended the meeting.

Brittany Ammons uploaded the video she created called App Guide: Count-A-Licious Toddler onto YouTube.

Jeannie Bolstridge continues her Skype meetings with the Georgia Tech students to build the Social Prompter app and continued to meet one-on-one twice weekly with a child with Autism.

Think “outside the box” like your kid

Following a child-initiated interest is the fastest “ticket to success” that I know for teaching a child anything.  During the most surprising fun activities, a child can be “slipped”  customized learning material  almost unknowingly IF initially time is taken to watch and see what is important to them. Here are some helpful techniques that I work into a plan of getting a child’s attention:

• Work with them initially one-on-one. Working side by side and encouraging them builds trust and confidence. A little investment of your time with them to get the “brain moving” helps to set our young creative thinkers on the right path.  After a while, you can leave them with a project for a short time knowing they are “on a roll”.  This tip applies to a spelling word list or setting the table for dinner.  Having pets that you both care for together is another great opportunity to work together and talk about their interests.
• If a specific skill needs to be addressed and the child’s interest or cooperation is just “not there”, move outside of the immediate work challenge to find interests that indirectly relate to the task at hand.  For example, take a fresh air walk around a track or building or pick some flowers (or weeds) to put in a vase.  Going outside really works with some kids to clear the mind. Take the time to discuss topics that arise from this time and that may include the skill/subject that needs mastering.  Then show how the need to learn what needs to be learned will bring the child to the expertise of being able to follow through on their “real” interests.
•  Example: Dr Ben Epstein learned his math, and used it to go on to more exciting, creative projects, like putting microphones on the belly of a cockroach to help find people lost in earthquakes or tsunamis.

Now THAT’S thinking outside the box, isn’t it !

http://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Cockroaches-equipped-as-wireless-networks-3675973.php