Vocabulary Selections

A. Kindergarten, Story Time

I would choose words that are age and reading level appropriate.  These would most likely coincide with a small reading or book about story time.  I would choose words like: book, dog, cat, fish, run, walk, and so on.  These words would directly relate to the story chosen.
http://www.storyplace.org/preschool/other.asp

B. 4th & 5th Grade, Nature Hike

I would choose words that are age and reading level appropriate.  These would most likely coincide with a small reading or book about nature and hikes. Words like crust, erosion, fossil, metamorphic rock, atmosphere, cave, climate, and so on.  These words would relate to things we would see on a nature hike.
http://www.spellingcity.com/fourth-grade-science-vocabulary.html

C. High School, at the mall

I would choose words that are age and reading level appropriate.  These would most likely coincide with a small reading or book about the mall.  Some words would be alteration, accentuate, analogy, eschew, insatiable, coherent, emulate and so on.  These words would be words used when communicating in the mall.

Augmentative Communication Integrated into IEP

Augmentative communication evaluations should be included in the IEP for all students who have trouble with communications.  These should be outlined and monitored.  There are fundamental opportunities for students to use the augmentative communication in the classroom.  It should be integrated for easier use and acceptance by the student.  The IEP should have goals that are aligned with the rest of the student's components and elected outcomes.  Everything must be stated in clear terms across the environments involved in the student's education.  There should be lists of services and the related personnel as well.

Strategies to overcome "Learned Helplessness"

Effective communication skills are necessary to augmentative communication in the classroom and daily classroom routines.  There needs to be communication and availability to see it in a school for all to excel.  "Learned helplessness"are those who have in a way learned that pretending to be "helplessness" or complacent is the best way to work with their disability.  There must be certain strategies in place to overcome this.  There should be a daily expectation of communication through activities.  A daily report that briefly describes the occurrences of the day and how to fix them.  There should be choices in communication as well as powerful phrases to help them express themselves.  There are steps to overcome this "learned helplessness", but these changes should be done slowly.

Interactive Sites for Education

I used google.com and looked up "educational websites for math".  I found a website called Interactive Sites for Education.
The website when opened up showed a multitude of math concepts, skills, and logic ideas.  It looked similar to the previously mentioned Math Playground website.  The Interactive Sites for Education however link many websites with knowledge rich games.  The web designers did not only promote their own games.  This website has teaching tools, typing games, and other content area games based on skill.  Students can use one website to assist with all their classes.  I can see myself using this website.  It would not necessarily be for math since I do not teach mathematics.  It may be my new favorite website for my classes.  It can help for all ages.

Math Playground

The Math Playground is a website full of games for students of all ages.  It has games for almost every level of math.  The games are separated based on type of math such as pre-calculus, algebra, and etc.  There are also games based on skills within a type of math like proportions and ratios.  It is free website available to the public.  The games have a variety of themes and this should allow for the engagement of students.  Not all students learn the same way or even have interests in the same topics or games.  The website looks as though it could appeal to all students.
The website even goes on to show math iPad applications that can be used for students who want to practice more.  It is interesting to see that a website with games on it would also promote games on another technology.  I will use these with my niece who is currently in kindergarten learning some of the basics.  She would love these games and they would help her learn the basics.

Low to mid tech for students with disabilities

Students with disabilities do not understand math or other topics in the same way or process as students without disabilities.  There is assistive technology for all content areas, but they differ based on skills and levels.  There are oversized calculators for students with visual impairments.  The numbers are bigger and easier to see.  The pads are bigger as well for those with those with physical impairments.  There are number flash cards, coin counters, and applications as well that can be used.  Below are examples of some of the assistive technology for math.  These could be used in groups or in one on one math practices.  I can see using these in my classroom if I taught younger students.

Educational Apps teach math concepts, skills, and problem solving...

There are a multitude of applications, websites and resources that are available for students learning math.  Math is not just one skill.  It is a mixture of difficult layers of concepts with skills and problem solving.  It is difficult for some students to understand the problems and how they work.  Sometimes it is best with visuals or even hands on activities.

 1.  Virtual Pencil Algebra/ Arithmetic:  It seems that this application would be useful in a variety of levels of math.  Each can explain a different aspect of the problems.  There are equations, symbols, decimals, whole numbers, and etc.  When this application is combined with screen reading software, the applications can help students with disabilities and those who may need more help in understanding the relationships.

2. Math Talk / Scientific notebook:  The application will assist with all levels of math.  It helps more when used with Dragon Natural Speaking.  The application can be used even in college level courses.  This would be useful for all age groups.