# data[].attributes.body
It's going fantastic!  I am so thankful for these chrome books!  It has truly changed the entire atmosphere in our classroom.  Instead of feeling stressed or anxious about writing, my students jump right into each task.  Having user-friendly tools that are always functioning well has provided my students with such a strong sense of empowerment.  This is interesting to me because each student uses their chrome book in a unique way, however; it seems to have the same large impact on each one.  Every student accesses the learning goals and success criteria in our Google Classroom and then use their device in a individualized manner in order to meet their goals.  Some prefer to exclusively voice-type, while others type and use word-predicting software.  Most use the read to me option to aid revising and editing and can switch the voice speed of the reader to best suit their needs.  Some like to listen to 10 words per minute and others at a rate of 75. If you walked into our class you might think the students are all doing the same thing but the reality is that each student uses it very differently.  I really like this because it's evidence that the learning and strategies that make for 'good writing' are still the foundation for the work the student produces and the chrome books simply 'level the playing field' for my students.  I particularly enjoy the voice note feature so I can provide very clear feedback and direction to each student that is easily accessible to them.

As a teacher the impact on my professional practise has been huge! I am barely writing my day plans out in a pencil and paper format any longer; I've found that redundant as time goes on. I've planned lessons on my iPhone while waiting at the hair salon! Embedding links and making doc's all from my SMART phone that link back directly into my Google classroom, where students access simply by logging in.

Overall it is going very well.  I am excited to go to the board office this Friday to participate in a Google Read and Write PD session.    I hoping to dig even deeper into the functions and capabilities of what that software has to offer my students with LD's.
Sincerely,
Melissa Michaud

# data[].attributes.body
-presentation on function and value of Chromebooks for our learners with LDs

# data[].attributes.body
The thing that amazes me most is the level of engagement created by having ready access to Chromebooks. They’re not clunky, old, unfriendly tools. One device for each student means not having to negotiate who gets tech today. Students have the tech at  their fingertips when they need it. Voice Typing works like a charm. That said, Chromebooks are tools, not teachers or models of good writing.  A student may utilize voice typing to produce an amazing research project, but it’s effective instruction that is the keystone to knowing how to gather and organize information and ideas for a piece that includes a strong introduction, fact filled body, and a conclusion that wraps things up and leaves the reader satisfied. My students were all busy during writers’ workshop today. One student was under a table with notebook and stickies beside her and Chromebook in her lap. Another was in a corner behind our standing desk, voice typing and consulting his notes. One fella had his touque pulled over top of his headphones and was busy  voice typing away. Yet another was listening to his piece using Google Read to help edit for clarity of expression. The list goes on… Students feel empowered as many of them have never written lengthy, quality pieces that approach grade level, with such independence. Thanks for the Chromebooks,Ange.

# data[].attributes.body
-Q&A about ATLAS (docs)
-video & slideshow Q&A highlights (slides)

# data[].attributes.body
- co-learning of features  (classroom, docs, slides, screencastify)
-team support to co-plan/teach
-share lessons, resources, and LD Learning Series materials

# data[].attributes.body
-writing templates (classroom & docs)
-assessment tools (docs)

# data[].attributes.body
The scalability of sharing expanded in a rather unforeseen way this year. By virtue of offering an LD Learning Series after school, we as the LD Support Program Team, have the opportunity to share our experiences of using Chromebooks as inclusive supports for all learners, but especially for those with learning disabilities. Participants in the first offering of the Series include Educational Assistants, Elementary and Secondary Teachers, SSTs, and Administrators. There’s a lot of potential for sharing to be pretty far reaching given the diversity of this group. It’s worth noting that the Series will be offered again in the spring to accommodate everyone who was interested but who were placed on a wait list.  All of these folks will have the chance to learn about how the use of Chromebooks is embedded into LD Program instruction; particularly in the area of writing. They will see how Chromebooks, in tandem with specific, explicit, and modelled instruction allow students to fully participate and express their true potential in writing. To me that’s exciting and will hopefully inspire others to follow suit! I’m looking forward Google Classroom training March 2nd to learn more and thus have more to share.

Having Chromebooks readily available for each student in the L.D Program has been a catalyst for sharing. Not just between the other LD Program Teachers and myself, but also with Jessi Lalonde, as well as the Grade Five and Six Teachers here at Lord Strathcona. I owe a debt of gratitude to Liz Raven, who launched me on the path to becoming proficient at using Google Classroom. Liz, Melissa Sinclair and I meet, and/or chat quite frequently, if informally about this or that tool, or tip for using Classroom more effectively, or for different purposes. To date learning with colleagues by chatting, sharing work samples with Jodi Conod and Melissa Michaud, digesting, and trying out a one or two new things at a time has had the largest impact on my capacity to really leveredge what Chromebooks have to offer my students.

# data[].attributes.body
Student-led conferences, phone calls, notices home, general sharing at home from students. Able to demonstrate to parents what a difference the Chrome Books are making for our students. In particular how Google Read and Write has greatly benefited each student directly.

# data[].attributes.body
I began a classroom Twitter Account where I post 'cool' things our class is doing a few times a week.  These tweets often have to do with the inclusive technology we have and in particular the Chrome Books.  Parents follow us as do other colleagues and professionals.

# data[].attributes.body
I used the Screencastify tool to share actual footage of my one student reading (along with video of text they were reading) with their classroom teacher.  This greatly benefited our collaboration as we planned for his reintroduction back into his regular class.  Using Google Classroom and the different Chrome extensions really simplified the sharing and collaborating between us. This was just one example! I'm excited to continue using the Chrome Books and the various extensions as an avenue for meaningful collaboration in the future.

# data[].attributes.body
L.D Research

Kids with LD are as smart or even smarter than their peers. Did you know kids with LD have to process information slower.You cannot tell if kids have LD from their appearance. Have you ever wondered how people get LD?  Read on to find out more about LD.

An LD Is a life-long problem, with the brain and it cannot be fixed. People with LD have problems reading writing and spelling.Did you know 1 of 7 people have LD.Read on to find out different types of LD.

Different types of LD.There are lots of different types of LD like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and kids, with these usually have trouble with memory.Dyslexia means It's  harder to read if you have it. Dysgraphia affects your writing. Dyscalculia means you cannot do math as a fishin't. Sometimes kids forget things if they have memory problems. Read on to find out why LD makes School work harder.

Sometimes you mite have to read a question. If you have to do math and you have dyscalculia you might get it wrong.

Read on to find out how people with LD are different from people without LD.Because people with LD’s brains are wired differently. When people with LD read they only use a small percentage of their brain. The use a part at the front  left called the brocca’s area. People without LD use four parts of ther brains. They use more of the back left of their brain.

Read on for some fascinating facts.

Did you know albertinstein had LD.

Some people go on to be famous even if they have LD.

The person writing this has LD. Yes this is the end of our story but what do you think of LD kids now? LD kids brains might be wired differently but they are smarter than you think.

# data[].attributes.body
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11j7i1tet9-fBnjg2I-BwFuZJNU1O6kg8/view?usp=sharing