An Open Letter to My Sons' Special Education Teacher

As summer approaches for families and teachers around the country, this time of year often naturally leads many to reflect. Reflect on the successes. Reflect on the failures. Reflect on the teachers who left an impression. Reflect on the far reaching impact teachers can have upon a child's educational career and their self-esteem.

This open letter, shared on We Are Teachers, not only acknowledges the daily responsibilities associated with teaching, but focuses on the little extras that often go unnoticed yet are what mean the most. So, go ahead, take a moment to do the same for a teacher or professional who has had that lasting impact on your own child. I can promise you that a kind note or words of gratitude at the end of a school year are the perfect reminder what teaching is all about. 

An Open Letter to My Sons' Special Education Teacher

Motivational Monday

Friday "Appy" Hour: A First Look at iOS 11 on the iPad Pro

WWDC 2017 has created quite a buzz as Apple officially announced the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro and iOS 11, set to release in the fall of this year alongside the new iPhone 8 and iPhone 7S. With this latest iOS update comes improvements in the "core technologies" and many improvements for user productivity. Some of these enhancements are among them are new, improved productivity solutions for iPad, but other enhancements coming are:

• Apple Pay will now feature person to person transactions
• Siri will now feature a more natural, human sounding voice and expand the languages translations can be provided in
• Images in the camera app will take up less space and offer more high quality options and special effects
• A redesigned Apple Control Center and iTunes Store
• A drag and drop dock which mirrors the Mac
• Files app provides a file management system 
• Indoor maps to use within venues and public places like malls and airports
• Maps has added new safety measures to limit distractions while driving and provide a more interactive guidance system when utilizing navigation
• Multi-room support for Apple Music and similar to apps like Spotify, users will be able to see what friends are listening to
• The ability to blend virtual reality using ARKit

To learn more about these latest enhancements, click here to read The Verge's article focused on the Apple announcements or watch the video below. 

Source: The Verge

Preview Tonight's #ATchat Questions

eBooks and Audiobooks as Assistive Technology Tools

I am extremely excited that I once again will be co-moderating this week's #ATchat on Twitter with two of the leading experts in assistive technology, Mike Marotta (@mmatp) and Karen Janowski (@karenJan). 

The focus of our discussion will be about considerations for eBooks and Audiobooks as Assistive Technology Tools when screening for and implementing assistive technology. If you're new to the field of AT, this is the perfect forum to ask questions and learn about available resources from many seasoned AT specialists who are always eager to share! A preview of the questions will be posted here tomorrow! Whether you want to lurk, follow along or actively participate, be sure to join us tomorrow night at 8-9pm EST on Twitter using the hashtag #ATchat! Have questions about how to join, click on the email button in the right column or comment below! 

Webinar: SETDA: Digital Instruction Materials: Acquisition Policies for States

Navigating the Digital Shift: Policies and Practices to Support Digital Instructional Materials for Learning Wednesday, June 7, 2017 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm EDT   Presented by: Dr. Tracy Weeks, Executive Director, SETDA Donna Murray, Digital Teaching & Learning Consultant, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Diana Myers McGhee, Director of Technology and Information, Fort Thomas Independent School District, Kentucky; This Edweb will highlight the updates and expansion of the Digital Instructional Materials Acquisition Policies for States (DMAPS), an online database providing details regarding each state’s policies and practices related to the acquisition of digital instructional materials. State data sets have been recently updated and details related to accessibility, purchasing consortia, and statewide management systems have been added. The Fort Thomas Independent School District in Kentucky and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will share how access to digital instructional materials has transformed teaching and learning to support student achievement. Register today.

Motivational Monday