Teaching Students with MIVI to Shine

KRISTIE SMITH, M.ED, CTVI

Bringing the World to the Child

Toys ‘R Us

Components of Sensory Efficiency

a. Visual function

b. Auditory function

c. Tactile function

d. Gustatory (taste)

e. Olfactory (smell)

f. Proprioceptive

g. Vestibular

The Science Behind Toys and Games

The makers of games, toys, CD’s and DVD’s for children are scientifically proven to assist with brain development

Every toy and game have a specific goal and objective for children to enhance learning along with many activities

Toy makers are actually scientists, educators and parents

VISION

85% of what we learn about the world is visual

Children should be encourage to use what vision they have

Place a dark blanket behind a yellow, red, black or white object to eliminate visual clutter

Encourage distance vision with red rope lights

Check the lighting in the room- the child should not face an open window during instruction… (They will often light gaze and stare into the light as a form of stimulation)

Vocalize and point out a child’s world- explain it to him – Example- “Where does milk come from?” Walk the child to the refrigerator describing your movements.

Discourage “The Magic Genie” theory.

Stimulating Sights from Disney

AUDITORY

A child with disabilities will often depend on his/her source to understand his world through hearing

Children need activities that will help the to “localize” information, discriminate speech from one person or object to the next

Activities: Listen to the birds, record the birds and grant your child an experience with the birds. Discuss and imitate different bird sounds. Search for apps with bird sounds

Record voices of the people who are important in your child’s world and ask, “Whose voice is that?”

Sounds and Overstimulation for Children with Autism

How does a child with autism feel when he/she is interacting with the environment

Listening and Selecting Objects for Children with Autism

TACTILE

Tactile exploration is VERY IMPORTANT for a child who has a visual impairment, autism and who is intellectually delayed

Tactile exploration teaches the child about his world and discriminate characteristics of objects, including temperature, texture, density, volume and shape- pre-requisite for understanding Braille or tactile letters

Teach children with disabilities appropriate touching to benefit correct socializing with others

Tactile awareness activities increase: fine motor development, large motor, pre-writing and language skills

The Benefits of a Tactile System

GUSTATORY AND OLFACTORY

Gustatory (taste) and Olfactory (smell) provide immediate information about the child’s surroundings. “It smells like Grandma’s house”- “It tastes like Grandma’s cookies”

The child learns to distinguish between salty and sweet for food preferences

When a child smells an area, it assists with mobility, spatial awareness and routine

The sense of smell is the only sense that does not chemically process to the brain

The sense of smell is closely related to the memory area of the brain

The sense of taste is the weakest of the five senses

Awesome game- “Follow Your Nose” by FlagHouse

PROPIOCEPTIVE AND VESTIBULAR

Proprioceptive (automatic movement)

Vestibular (purposeful movement)

Children who are kinesthetic need movement to learn

Include many moving activities during instruction such as during language, sing along with the Wiggles music- the child is satisfying their need to move, so they can learn in stress-free state

Movement and dancing encourage mathematical skills, spatial awareness and language

Strategies for Teaching Alertness

Infant massage – increases appetite and will increase or decrease muscle tone

Think about the likes and dislikes of the child- Use those to your advantage

Families and teachers should pair appetites with learning media

Learning media- “How the child learns best”

Different smells will encourage alertness (peppermint, for example, will encourage an alert stage while lavender smells cause the body to relax)

Engaging Sensory Input and Learning

SPARKLE-Helping Students with MIVI Shine by Kristie Smith

The book, SPARKLE, helps families and educators teach across the curriculum with strategies fun for the child and adult!

Example: Language Arts

A. Use stories age appropriate but also use picture books – (I did this with my 8th graders)

Use real objects during a story, so the child will understand the concept of the book

What is Core Vocabulary ?

Reading with Tactile Symbols

Gianna loves to read using Tactile Symbols – she feels empowered and her confidence has increased

My new goal for Gianna: Gianna will recognize Braille letters (a-d) in a 2-3 page Brailled book. She will point out the letters after listening to the story, feeling of a real object pertaining to the story and associate the brailled word with the real object and braille letter (Great for developing skills outside of the classroom and into the world)

Ideas from SPARKLE for Math

Teach children colors through tastes and smells

For example, when teaching the color red, as the student to taste an apple, cinnamon, tomatoes, etc. Teach them red is excitement like a fire truck (Goal: Colors and Shapes)

For the math concept of counting, allow the child to count their favorite items like toy cars, balls, celery sticks, etc.)

Use a cookie sheet and Velcro down coins when teaching money

Place household items around a table like a clock, a Kleenex box, a stick of butter and ask the child to hand you the circle shaped object then the cube shaped object

More Math Ideas….

Sing favorite songs about numbers or make them up. Music increases memory as well as language and concept development

Put sand into paint and allow the child to write the numbers with the textured paint

Playing with Language- SING with Dr. Jean

Playing with Language Through Frog Street Press

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates …

After listening to the color song from Frog Press, allow your students to taste or smell the chocolate while singing the song over and over.

Discuss the textures, the sweet taste and other attributes of the chocolate

Have your students to illustrate a picture of something brown and sing the song again

Enjoy Your Special Child – “The Pearl”

The Pearl by Jamille Smith

It begins as just a grain of sand

Which causes the oyster pain,

She thinks her life is over

Because of the constant strain

Soon the oyster learns a method

Of wrapping the sand with care

She then becomes quite proud

That the little one is there

Continue with, “The Pearl”

The grain of sand begins to grow

And matures into a treasure

Then develops into a shiny pearl

Whose value is without measure!

Enjoy your special child!!!