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Reflection2: FAT City - How difficult can this be?

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The documentary "F.A.T. City explores the challenges faced by students with learning disabilities. When it was produced, educators lacked today's technological advantages. Yet, the film's insights into cognitive processes, visual and auditory comprehension remain pertinent. In our era, we benefit from the internet and diverse applications tailored to individual learning needs, alongside evolved teaching methodologies. Educators now often employ station based and small group instruction to improve engagement and comprehension. The "F.A.T. City" film remains a valuable tool for educators to deepen their understanding of learning disabilities and to foster a responsive approach to students with such challenges.

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F.A.T. City - The Eye Opener - Audio (Felisha Kendrix)

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F.A.T. City - The Eye Opener - Audio (Felisha Kendrix)

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The documentary "F.A.T. City" was a revelation, altering my perspective on students with learning disabilities. It granted me the empathy to understand the challenges faced by a student learning disabilities among peers without such obstacles. Often, these students might grapple with comprehending a teacher's questions, leaving them unable to respond. The film highlighted instances where teachers, perhaps inadvertently, shamed or ridiculed students, or mistook their silence for a lack of motivation, not realizing they were unable to process the questions. I am grateful for the existence of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which champions inclusive education. This approach equips teachers with a diverse array of educational strategies, ensuring that every student, regardless of their learning challenges, has the chance to thrive in an accommodating academic setting.

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I just finished watching the F.A.T. City Workshop video, and wow, it was eye-opening! One thing that really struck me was how the facilitator emphasized the importance of understanding the experience of students with learning disabilities from their perspective. It made me realize how essential empathy is in creating an inclusive learning environment. Another key takeaway for me was the discussion about the different learning styles and strategies that work best for students with various learning disabilities. It reinforced the idea that as educators, we need to be flexible and adaptable in our teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of our students. Overall, this video has inspired me to continue learning about different learning disabilities and how I can better support all students in my classroom.

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I was a sweet child. A bit of a dreamer at times - a little distracted. But I wanted to do well in school - I suppose every child wants that. But elementary school in the 1980s was pretty rigid. A lot was expected. In third grade we started learning something I had never heard of before - multiplication. The teacher, an older woman with slanted glasses and blue-gray hair, was very intimidating and stern. We were learning to memorize the times tables. I was shy and didn't like to get called on. I would often be thinking about something else than whatever it was the teacher was talking about. She knew this about me and instead of finding a way to reach me, get me to understand what we were learning or why we were learning it, she just humiliated me instead. Every time she called on me it was the 9s. Every time. I had to stand up and stammer and try. I don't remember anyone looking at me except her and I looked down, so scared, knowing I wouldn't be able to get past 9 x 3 or 9 x 4 without stumbling. She would push, hurry, prod, poke. Finally she would chastise me for not being able to carry out the impossible task. Her second step in this teaching method was to send me to the principal's office to write the 9 times tables 100 times. This was a year before Bart Simpson came onto the scene. This went on for a couple of weeks before the school secretary intervened and called my mother to tell her what was going on. I didn't know it was cruel. I didn't know it wasn't fair to me. I didn't know that I was being unjustly punished. All I knew was that I wasn't good at math and I never would be.

It took years for me to get over this trauma. When I started college I had decided to major in business. I had to take some math. Oh God. Not this again. I barely got out of high school with the required algebra! Trig? Calculus? Are you kidding me?? Then walks in the best math teacher/professor I've ever personally known. But then again, what did I have to compare him to? After class one day, he spent about 20 minutes going over some things in trigonometry. That's it - 20 minutes. Something clicked and everything I had struggled with became suddenly accessible to me. I made a B in that class. I then went on to make an A in Calculus too. Something I never thought would be possible.

I'm not learning disabled but I felt that hurt all over again while watching this video. The looks on their faces as he berates them to "answer! Quick!" was hard for me to watch. I could see some realization spreading over each of their faces. How we talk to children is so important. We don't really have any idea how far reaching the hurt or the healing will go. Although I am sad for my little girl self for what she went through in 3rd grade, I am grateful that because of it I have a deep sense of empathy to bring to the classroom. UDL approaches to teaching multiplication would definitely not include rote memorization and calling kids out in class with a side order of humiliation to go with it. Better lessons would be to incorporate more wholistic learning into the lesson - teaching children the relationship of numbers to each other. You could use different manipulatives to help kids explore the concept, having them work in groups and discovering multiples on their own. And you could give them time - time to get the concept and tools to get them there.

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The video was very informative to me. People with disabilities go through so much and I’m glad that the video gave us an insight on people with disabilities.

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F.A.T city really intrigued me because it helped broaden my knowledge about what children with disabilities go through.

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I really liked this video because it shows how hard anxiety can be for some people. What was also fascinating is how she describes that anxiety looks different depending on the person. In addition, it point out the thought process that people with anxiety have. It also shows that instead of living in fear of your anxiety you should embrace it and figure out how to live with it.

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Living With High Functioning Anxiety | Jordan Raskopoulos | TEDxSydney

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The F.A.T city workshop really got to me. I made a poem to describe my after thoughts of being "disabled" for a hour. It really made me look deeper into the personalities of each person. To really understand what it is like. I am a future teacher and I needed that to really see clearer how UDL really make a difference. Its something that no one without a disability can truly understand but its a step closer.

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Written Response….The FAT video was very helpful in helping me understand what is like for children with learning disabilities to attend school and sit in a classroom 5 plus hours a day. Frustration, anxiety and tension were just few of the feelings I experienced when watching the video as I thought of myself as one of the teachers in the training. It was interesting to see how easily teachers can about the daily instruction disregarding children with LD. Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same rather everyone gets what they need.  Andrea Almario

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Written Response….The FAT video was very helpful in helping me understand what is like for children with learning disabilities to attend school and sit in a classroom 5 plus hours a day. Frustration, anxiety and tension were just few of the feelings I experienced when watching the video as I thought of myself as one of the teachers in the training. It was interesting to see how easily teachers can about the daily instruction disregarding children with LD. Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same rather everyone gets what they need.  Andrea Almario

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Fair
Merriam-Webster defines “fair” in no fewer than ten different ways; most relevant to this post are: “6(a) marked by impartiality and honesty : free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism; (b): conforming with the established rules : allowed; 10 sufficient but not ample : adequate.”

Equal
Merriam-Webster defines “equal” in quite a number of ways as well.  Those most relevant to this post are: “(1)(a) : of the same measure, quantity, amount, or number as another (2)(a) : equivalent; (b) : like in quality, nature, or status; (c) like for each member of a group, class, or society; (3) regarding or affecting all objects in the same way : impartial.”

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In the first 5 minutes of the demonstration you could pick up on just how hard it is to have a learning disability and be expected to quickly come up with answers that being thrown at you. It showed how easily a child would want to give up doing the work when they feel anxious or being picked on. 

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After watching FAT City workshop , the presenter put me in the position of a student with LD experience how their thought process works. Putting someone out of their comfort zone will result in children not being able to perform to their fullest potential. 

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With the FAT City video it educates on the struggles of those students. How they feel and what to look for as their 

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This video really opened my eyes to the ways that students with disabilities process language. Demonstrating it in a way that we all can understand what it feels like really opened

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Watching fat city, really opened my eyes to how kids with learning disabilities react and think in the classroom. This was very informative and I seen behaviors before watching this video that I would've either done myself or seen another teacher do towards a student due to lack of understanding. It taught me to display more patience in these situations, rushing students isn't always the best idea when every student is different.

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Discussion Question: After viewing the F.A.T. City workshop video and engaging in some of the in-class activities, what did you see as at least three of the main “take-away” messages? 

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rustration, anxiety, and tension, which are all emotions and feelings that students with disabilities 

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I learned so many different things/ tips and tricks that I wasn't aware of before. Some negative things such as throw away sarcasms directed at the student can stick with the student all day. Or another example was when they were discussing how we use rhetorical questions with adults when we are trying to hurt their feelings  but we use them with kids all the time.  

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i love

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I like this video because it gave more examples that were shown in FAT City as well as other important key points as to why an LD student is struggling . This video emphasizes some of the same key points made in the FAT City video such as the sentence examples and how its like for LD students to read. There was also an example of how it's hard for LD students to follow along in a conversation when a group of kids are telling a joke and everyone thinks it's funny except for the LD student because they're having trouble following along. Other examples include students not following along because they have trouble distinguishing between sounds or are having trouble remembering the order of what was said or even filtering out sounds.

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society that do not really teach teachers empathy. Going through the simulation with the participants I could see how quickly the instructor became frustrated when the participants did not answer quick enough or correctly. I could see the anxiety building in the participants every time the instructor began to speak. I could see the tension growing between the participants and the instructor every time a question was answered wrong or even when he began calling on students. As teachers, we need to get to know our students and learn how to interact with the students that doesn't humiliate them when they're wrong, or give them anxiety when students are being called upon. We should always want to bring the best out of children wit

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Hi Evan- The FAT awakened me to alternative ways of representation that I perhaps would not have thought of when delivering classroom instruction, especially to my students with modality deficit (deaf or blind).  Many of the tips for engagement are beneficial in supporting LD students by allowing the student to feel as if they are investing in their own education.  My greatest takeaways I left out of my discussion was also the dysnomia- phenome of suffering a word-finding problem and how that problem affects LD student’s storage/retrieval of vocabulary. The gift of time- sometimes it’s best to call on the LD student first. Spatial orientation- the analogy of the watch finally made the p/b/d/q concept make sense and tasks- understanding the difference of performing cognitive (1 at a time) and associative (2 or more at a time) undertakings, and the unrealistic impact those expectations have on the LD student. 

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It was eye opening to see how stressful the classroom environment can be, with anxiety and tension or even fear building up in them. I have seen children who can verbalize their thoughts but cannot put them into writing. They often play around to avoid answering questions because don't understand the directions and sometimes struggle with auditory memory. 

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This video really opened
 This video really opened my eyes to the ways that students with disabilities process language. Demonstrating it in a way that we all can understand what it feels like really opened 
📎 Video
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Fat city workshop
Fat city workshop 
FAT City Part 2
FAT City Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYHzJGTA6KM

The link posted above is just a video that talks about the strengths that students with LD may have. With the FAT City video it educates on the struggles of those students. How they feel and what to look for as their weakness. I think it is important to also look at the positive aspects of those with LD.  I think that to look at those with LD in a negative aspect all the time is unfiar and very stigmatizing.

Andrea Stafford
FAT City Part 1
FAT City Part 1
The video was extremely interesting and eye opening. In the first 5 minutes of the demonstration you could pick up on just how hard it is to have a learning disability and be expected to quickly come up with answers that being thrown at you. It showed how easily a child would want to give up doing the work when they feel anxious or being picked on. The example where one woman could not recall a famous cat story because of the pressure that was being placed on her. I liked that the participants were not pretending to be a LD student and was being themselves but got to see just how difficult theses children's learning experiences are

Andrea Stafford
Julian Pendrick Part 2
Julian Pendrick Part 2
So below I've attached a fun little video as a follow-up to my comments about becoming more aware of how my words can affect my students, especially LD students. This teacher begins each day by building up his Special Ed. students, which is an example I'll aspire to. I appreciate his motives, in particular his use of encouragement. Some of his comments are simple praise, but he often cites specific character traits he appreciates about his students, which I imagine makes them feel unique and attended to. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UZ_lWr028o 
Julian Pendrick Part 1
Julian Pendrick Part 1
What struck me most about FAT City was the video's ability to guide me towards new perspectives and greater understanding of LD students. One of my fundamental beliefs as a counselor is that empathy is one of our greatest tools as educators and as humans in general. And one of my greatest challenges is understanding perspectives like those of our LD students; their brains function in some fundamentally different ways than my own. Learning more about how they might perceive different types of sensory and social information will have a huge influence on how I teach and talk with these students. 

And on a more personal note, hearing how simple jokes or sarcastic comments can deeply affect these students shook me a bit, because I'm the type of person to make those off-handed remarks. This video has me taking a step back to reflect on how my reckless words might be affecting the most vulnerable students in the building, so I really appreciate that challenge to my behavior. 
Celena Bezaire Part 2
Celena Bezaire Part 2
I like this video because it gave more examples that were shown in FAT City as well as other important key points as to why an LD student is struggling . This video emphasizes some of the same key points made in the FAT City video such as the sentence examples and how its like for LD students to read. There was also an example of how it's hard for LD students to follow along in a conversation when a group of kids are telling a joke and everyone thinks it's funny except for the LD student because they're having trouble following along. Other examples include students not following along because they have trouble distinguishing between sounds or are having trouble remembering the order of what was said or even filtering out sounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoM5HcfQBwE

Celena Bezaire Part 1
Celena Bezaire Part 1
I thought FAT City was a real eye opener. There were so many good points made that I hope to put to good use in the future. It's upsetting to see some LD students' self esteem has taken a toll due to teacher's words and actions (or lack there of.) I learned so many different things/ tips and tricks that I wasn't aware of before. Some negative things such as throw away sarcasms directed at the student can stick with the student all day. Or another example was when they were discussing how we use rhetorical questions with adults when we are trying to hurt their feelings  but we use them with kids all the time.  The skull head exercise reminded me of an exercise I did in high school sociology where the whole class walked down the hallway and the teacher asked us what we saw (for example she asked what number the locker was that was wide open or what was the room number of Mr. Carters room) and the point of the exercise was to point out that even though we were all at the same place, at the same time, looking in the same area we didn't see the same things. I loved the reading exercise because it was actually showing the struggle some students feel everyday. I liked how it discussed the different types of people whether they're visual or auditory and how a kid can read the directions again and again and it won't make sense until it is actually spoken-then it clicks to them which is important for some kids to have their books on tape. I also thought it was really interesting when talking about how a kid can have hours and hours of lessons about honesty through books and listening to stories all week but how they truly learn morals is by what they see us do not by what we tell them. The cardiac arrest example and giving them CPR is an example I loved! It just made so much sense. These examples make me more aware of what I need to do/ not need to do to have a more effective impact on a LD student. There were examples that even pertained to me that I've dealt with (the example of suddenly becoming interested in your shoes when you don't want to answer a question.)  Some positive things to do are give LD students more time, don't dwell on what they did wrong but instead uplift and encourage them. 
Tiana Gentry #1
Tiana Gentry #1
This video really opened my eyes to the ways that students with disabilities process language. Demonstrating it in a way that we all can understand what it feels like really opened my eyes to what these students have to go through. I know how my job as an instructor plays a huge role in helping the child succeed. All student learn differently so it is important to tailor lesson plans to the individual, not the other way around. 

Maria Guzman, Response #2
Maria Guzman, Response #2
FAT City totally changed the way that I think about what it must be like to have a learning disability. Seeing the people in the video freeze when the moderator applies certain pressures is so telling of how anxiety affects all of us. It can be easy to diminish what people go through who struggle with psychological processes in very particular ways -- but we can all relate to what it feels like to be overwhelmed. Sometimes tasks that seem simple are very complicated. We can all name a movie that features a cat, but the situation can change if those instructions are being shouted at us or if we did not have time to gather our thoughts. As teachers we must always asks how we are creation situations that bring out the best in students or if we are creating situations that stifle them. 
Tylasia Scott 2
Tylasia Scott 2
Even though these children have all kinds of disabilities, the message is the same. Children should not be singled out, embarrassed, or wrongly punished for something that they can not control. Instead of trying to mold students into our "ideal learner", we should embrace them for who they are and mold our teachings to fit the way that they learn best. 
 

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Tylasia Scott 1
Tylasia Scott 1
Watching the F.A.T. city video really showed me another perspective of teaching children with Learning Disabilities.  What I learned was we are a society that do not really teach teachers empathy. Going through the simulation with the participants I could see how quickly the instructor became frustrated when the participants did not answer quick enough or correctly. I could see the anxiety building in the participants every time the instructor began to speak. I could see the tension growing between the participants and the instructor every time a question was answered wrong or even when he began calling on students. As teachers, we need to get to know our students and learn how to interact with the students that doesn't humiliate them when they're wrong, or give them anxiety when students are being called upon. We should always want to bring the best out of children with disabilities and make them comfortable being able to learn wherever they are. 
Sakenna Washington Response # 2
Sakenna Washington Response #  2 
This video I thought was interesting and explained again what to look for, but the biggest thing was the being a teacher the support. Seeing the signs and also helping out where student can get lost between his or her peers and how their minds process information. They're afraid to seek help and as the fat city video explained, students with disabilities  attention would rather avoid attention. 
F.A.T. City Response 2-Maria Anwer
F.A.T. City Response 2-Maria Anwer
Audio reponse  with powerpoint: 
https://www.screencast.com/t/AJkNK0teTZK


response 2
response 2
Derek Baugh Fat City response 2
Derek Baugh Fat City response 2
FAT City - Sakenna Washington ( #1)
FAT City - Sakenna Washington ( #1) 
 The video was extremely interesting. As a teacher I am not sure how my demeanor comes across to students with disabilities and students without. It is interesting to know how students feel and how their brain is processing the information differently.  There are various ways that was shown how students with disabilities are constantly have to battle within their disability to and to battle with grasping the concept taught. One aspect I enjoyed is the speed at which the instructor present the material, as teachers we get so focused on getting out the content because test that are around the corner. The students with disabilities get lost in the midst of the speed and they are still processing yesterday’s assignment. Another important point was the lack of reinforcement, students tend to not want to participate because there is no kind remarks or praises given. Students need the push and the little reinforcement even if it’s small. This video drives home how to better understand a learning disability, how to not be afraid to teach those students and how to help them without coddling the students. 
FAT City-Derek Baugh
FAT City-Derek Baugh
When I first saw the length of the video I thought,"aw man" but then as I began to watch it and see how profound it was I was truly amazed. It is amazing how much we don't know that we don't know. I think everyone that was a part of the workshop had a special interest and truly wanted the best for the children that they serve but had probably never been subjected to it themselves before. It was interesting to see how fast everyone was ready to throw in the towel after just a few minutes. Over I would have to say that I have already recommended the documentary to others and have already began altering my own thought patterns because of it. 
FAT City Response #2-- Hannah Williams
FAT City Response #2-- Hannah Williams 
I think he explain stuff learning disabilities pretty well. 
FAT CITY response #1 Kaley Gonzalez
FAT CITY response #1 Kaley Gonzalez
For this weeks discussion we were requested to watch "FAT City Work shop Under standing Learning Disability." From the start of the video I was just in shock at what LD'S go through on a day to day basis. Even from the beginning when they got to feel "frustration, anxiety, and tension", when he was shouting those questions to them and sometimes they didn't know the answer so everyone laughed. What he said struck a nerve to me that "everyone but carol is laughing" because she's the one who is having anxiety because she doesn't know the answer just like an LD student. Additionally, when he stated that you would forget what you told that student in 5 seconds, but most likely they will not forget for the rest of the day.  Which is completely true, there are things I STILL remember that teachers have told me from years ago, and we need to realize how powerful our words are.  This just reinforces my choice to become a teacher, because I want to be that teacher that will give students confidence to want to come to school and learn new things in a comfortable and free environment
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I found this video when I started researching additional things to better understand what an LD student goes through. I think this perfectly captures what they go through everyday, and how he has to reassure himself that just because he has a LD does not mean that he can not learn, but that he just has to learn in different ways than others. Sometimes students don't have that confidence to keep going though, and thats where I come into play because I have to reassure all my students that they can be successful. 
Kiersten Jones Response 2
Kiersten Jones Response 2
Week 6 Discussion (#2)
Week 6 Discussion (#2)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_vtXw7mD1ufR0gyWW5RMC1vcUU/view?usp=sharing

~Sivi Y. Thomas
FAT city response #2 - Stephanie Toussaint
FAT city response #2 - Stephanie Toussaint 
I want go back and highlight on visual perception, because for a moment I was able to feel some of the anxiety and frustrations the students face with the exercise done in the video. The picture below was shown in the video, and I personally could not make out what the picture was of. For a second I thought it saw a man with a coat, but It was after some time that I could finally begin to see the cow. It was not that there was no effort there, because I even squinted real hard trying to figure out the picture. This revealed to me the effects of difficulties with visual perception.  
With time, strategies, and practice it is something that can become easier. 
Kiersten Jones Response 1
Kiersten Jones Response 1 
This was a very informative way of educating others on how students with disabilities feel and the trials they experience within a school day. It was exactly how the description in the video described: troubling and enlightening. Although there were moments that were laughable,  it was also troubling because there are students who are receiving this type of instruction, with little regard for how they understand and see their work. The adults were even having difficulties keeping up and following the instructions, which indicates how much harder it is for students with learning disabilities. It is important to tailor instruction for these students to ensure they get they best instruction possible. This starts with respecting them and seeing them as a person regardless of their disability. Throughout the video, Lavoie also emphasized the importance of the use of language we use when speaking with or in reference of students with learning disabilities. I am glad to have seen this video and gained further insight into the minds of students with learning disabilities. 
FAT City response #1 - Stephanie Toussaint
FAT City response #1 - Stephanie Toussaint
I found the FAT City video to be very informative and interesting to watch. It shows what it would be like to be learning disabled, and it gave an insight into how students may feel when it comes to dealing with a disability. The video highlights on the daily struggles of a student with a learning disabilities while facing anxiety, tension, and frustration in the classroom. These few things alone can affect the student’s performance in the classroom. Which is why most of the time the students do not have the correct answer, and sometimes teachers will accept that answer, which can result in the student giving up. Students with learning disabilities can have trouble keeping up with the class pace, because it can get tough to process the information. When most students are asked a question, they start to think about the answer; whereas, students with learning disabilities is still thinking about the question. I learned that this is where the student can fall behind, so it is important to come up with a strategy privately to help the student. Asking questions the student will know will help them gain confidence in the classroom, and in the future encourage them to participate more. My biggest take away from the FAT City video is learning the best thing for kids with disabilities is time and patience. Trying new things in the classroom that include different visual aid & written, direction, and time can help all students understand better.

Naomi Thornton City #2
Naomi Thornton City #2
Rondisha Hales Response 2
Rondisha Hales Response 2
I originally wanted to post a video of me interacting with my little brother who has a LD, but that did not work out. SO I began to research LD and teaching ad came across an area I had never really though about. Learning disabilities in higher education. Call me naive, but I never thought about people having LDs in college. I honestly never thought about them going to college. Sad, I know, but I am the product of a culture that looks down on anyone with a disability. I found this Ted Talk from a college student named Lexi Garrity. This video opened my eyes to those with possible learning disabilities that could be sitting with me in class. This video is limited in the fact that tit is more focused on her, but it shed light on the struggles people with LDs face in higher education. 

One thing I love is that Lexi is a pre-health student. When I think of people with LDs in the workforce, I'm not thinking doctors or nurses. So Lexi shows and is proving that it is possible to overcome the difficulties one may face, but only with the help of teachers and those around. I think this ties into the FAT City workshop, when Mr. Lavoie said that the kids with LDs need teachers! Someone that will help and guide them.
FAT City - Anna Squires-Marshall
FAT City - Anna Squires-Marshall 
The F.A.T City work shop video was definitely an eye opener. Reflecting back on my years of being in school I have realized that I was in a poor learning environment. And that if I often found myself struggling with keeping up I as a now adult can only imagine what my old peers could have been going through at the time. After the workshop I have concluded that I don't want to be like the instructor towards any of my future students and I hope to be the teacher that they can turn to if they are having difficulties and would like extra help. 
I am glad that I have been able to watch the video and reflect on thing to implement into my classroom and thing to make sure I keep far away from my instructions.  
For my second response I created infographic on tips that can help you influence learning in students with learning disabilities. https://infograph.venngage.com/p/314790/5-strategies-for-influencing-learners-with-learning-disabilities
Naomi Thornton City #1
Naomi Thornton City #1 
After watching the "FAT City Workshop video, my eyes were really widen by seeing the effects of the daily frustrations of children with learning disabilities. By watching the video I feel better prepared for the being able to understand my future students better. I was also able to receive pointers from the video to benefit my students 
FAT City #2- Samuel Gudger
FAT City #2- Samuel Gudger
Explained in my short power-point is how the effects of dysnomia affect me.  
Rondisha Hales Response 1
Rondisha Hales Response 1
FAT city was so insightful. I am actually a sub for Gwinnett County public schools, and it's incredible to see how so many of these issues still exist in the school system. This video came out almost 30 years ago and it's interesting to see areas that we are still lacking. I am happy that I got the chance to watch this. As Mr. Lavoie was going through the different sections, I felt so bad realizing that I do so many of the things that he said teachers shouldn't do. I would like to try and implement some changes in how I interact with the children that I teach. I want to be more aware of how I respond to the kids. 

It also helped me realize how difficult it is to have a LD and be in the school system, or just around people that don't understand your struggle. I was frustrated as I tried to play along! SO I can only imagine going through this everyday!! 

Aside from gaining insight, I also noticed the language used. My ears cringed a little each time he said a learning disabled child, instead of the child with the LD. All in all, this video and workshop was incredibly insightful and helpful. 
FAT City Response #1- Stephanie Toussaint
FAT City Response #1- Stephanie Toussaint 
 


FAT City - Tymesha Hankerson
FAT City - Tymesha Hankerson
After watching FAT City workshop , the presenter put me in the position of a student with LD experience how their thought process works. Putting someone out of their comfort zone will result in children not being able to perform to their fullest potential. Anxiety has a huge effect on the performance of how a student conduct themselves toward education. I have a personal experience with testing anxiety. 
This video allowed me to view the complications of the students with LD and what to expect and also gave pointers on what to do when that event happens. 

Week 6 Discussion (#1)
Week 6 Discussion (#1)
Rick Lavoie's 70min video, "How Difficult Can This Be? F.A.T. City Workshop" was truly an eye-opener.  As a future educator, I found the information to be amongst some of the best I've received about learning differences (LD) thus far.  Students who learn differently often experience F(rustration).A(nxiety).T(ension)., and Lavoie does a superb job at simulating the same emotions for the adults in their lives.  Although Lavoie's workshop included social workers, psychologists, recreational therapists, general educators, special education teachers, parents, friends, and family of LD children, the tools exhibited during the workshop could support all students in the classroom especially if the steps of Universal Design for Learning are properly implemented.  The workshop awakened me to alternative ways of representation that I perhaps would not have thought of when delivering classroom instruction, especially to my students with modality deficit (deaf or blind).  Many of the tips for engagement are beneficial in supporting LD students by allowing the student to feel as if they are investing in their own education.  My greatest takeaways are:

Dysnomia- phenom of suffering a word-finding problem and how that problem affects LD student’s storage/retrieval of vocabulary
Gift of Time- sometimes it’s best to call on the LD student first
Spatial Orientation- the analogy of the watch finally made the p/b/d/q concept make sense
Tasks- understanding the difference of performing cognitive (1 at a time) and associative (2 or more at a time) undertakings, and the unrealistic impact those expectations have on the LD student
~Sivi Y. Thomas
📎 ObssesedNuker (obssesednuker)
F.A.T. City Response 1- Maria Anwer.
F.A.T. City Response 1- Maria Anwer.
Written response: I found "The F.A.T. City Work Shop" very useful as a future educator. As it allowed me to understand the daily frustrations and experiences of children with learning disabilities. The tips that he provided will help me better prepare to make a classroom friendlier place for my students with LD. The video provides great details about how the traditional methods of teaching can be frustrating for these students, and how the frustration can lead to anxiety and tension that can limit their risk-taking abilities. It was eye opening for me that how minor accommodations and time can help students with learning disability tremendously.I also thought that the video describes clearly, how we should think about fairness differently, as it is not about everyone getting the same thing, but everyone gets what they need to thrive.  
FAT City Response #1 & #2 - Sasha Ashley-Belcher
FAT City Response #1 & #2 - Sasha Ashley-Belcher 
I found the FAT City workshop very interesting to watch. Although many of us know people with learning disabilities and their struggle, we never really understanding how they struggle when it comes to their thought process. This video helped me understand what exactly they struggle with compared to a child the same age without a learning disability. One thing that caught my attention the most is how the instructor told them they do not have to purposely act like children to understand because they activity itself will be difficult enough for them to get the overall feeling/point. By the end of the workshop, it showed the adults why a more empathetic response to kids with learning disabilities is the proper way to always go, by showing them just what type of stress, anxiety, and frustration a child with such a disability feels. 

I  chose this video because I think its important to learn the different types of learning disabilities while also learning how to take care of an teach a child that has in order to best meet their needs inside and outside of the classroom. 
Esther Kang's FAT pt. 2
Esther Kang's FAT pt. 2
I feel like this is a good example of students with disabilities. The little girl and the boy were completely different in how they answered questions, all the way to the body language. Just by this short video of simple questions being asked they had a large difference, so it made me thinking of how much more of a difference it would be in a classroom learning setting. I felt bad because it kind of seemed like the little girl was anxious and unsure how about some questions. But the little boy was very calm and it was more "normal" for him. Also the fact the the girl know she was different and knows her "good and bad day" really hit my heart. It is important to always remember to be considerate and open to people differences and try to understand them the best that you can. I can't help but to think about how hard it is for them to express themselves in a place with other kids.

Esther Kang's FAT- Pt.1
Esther Kang's FAT- Pt.1 
The FAT video gave me a deeper insight about students with disabilities. The fact that adults were challenged, and we placed out of their comfort zone was cool to see. This is because it shows maybe reflect what kind of frustration students with disabilities have. 
Also that everyone has a different way of learning, and to be more open to try new things to help, and of course get familiar with each student needs so you can fully assist them.  
Kenya Blocker Pt 2
Kenya Blocker Pt 2 
I chose those Ted Talk because I think this was such a well-spoken and bright young girl. It also puts a positive spin on learning disabilities such as ADHD, which she has. She stated that even though she is dyslexic, her strength is in art because she can't mess up. I have sat in on numerous IEP meetings and one thing that is always discussed is the child's capabilities, so that it doesn't seem as if they're not trying or they are just lazy and dumb. 
FAT City-Ashley batts
FAT City-Ashley batts 
Watching fat city, really opened my eyes to how kids with learning disabilities react and think in the classroom. This was very informative and I seen behaviors before watching this video that I would've either done myself or seen another teacher do towards a student due to lack of understanding. It taught me to display more patience in these situations, rushing students isn't always the best idea when every student is different.
FAT City - Kenya Blocker
FAT City - Kenya Blocker
I really enjoyed watching FAT City. I work with two Speech Therapists in public schools, so I am constantly interacting with children who have learning disabilities. Most have other deficits but we do have some SLD students. This video made me realize the struggles that they have even though they are seemingly normal children. It was eye opening to see how stressful the classroom environment can be, with anxiety and tension or even fear building up in them. I have seen children who can verbalize their thoughts but cannot put them into writing. They often play around to avoid answering questions because don't understand the directions and sometimes struggle with auditory memory. This chapter and assignment has really helped me to better understand the processes going on in their heads and the struggles they face. 
Khadijah Brooks- FAT City Response 1 & 2
Khadijah Brooks- FAT City Response 1 & 2
The way this instructor taught the lesson made the information relatable to a vast audience. By putting adults in the shoes of those with learning disabilities, they were able to learn the frustration, anxiety, and tension that the student feels. His lesson on perception was also very informative. He demonstrated that everyone perceives things differently and not in the same time frame as everyone else. The class looked at the same black and white picture and all came up with different responses on what was pictured. That is why it is important to have trained teachers that are familiar with a variety of learning styles and accept that every student learns differently. His class is made up of teachers and other health and child care professionals. They're learning hands on the struggles of those that have learning disabilities. This way they can better cognitively appeal to the needs of those they encounter with these various disabilities. 

Response 2- 

The instructor in F.A.T City discussed the various learning disabilities that are encountered. I believe it is important to fully understand all aspects of each different disability. 
Review to the Setup of FAT city-Colin Lewis
Review to the Setup of FAT city-Colin Lewis
Below is a list of the pros and cons that I saw in how the FAT city workshop was set up.
Response to the theory in FAT city-Colin Lewis
Response to the theory in FAT city-Colin Lewis
 
FAT city raises a lot of good points.  The point about sarcasm especially really hit home with me.  While teaching in outside activities, I have fallen into the trap of using sarcasm with a student.  The student was very hurt by it, and started to shut down on me.  Only after I apologized and made it clear I was proud of him did he start to open back up.  The overall message of FAT city appears to be “Your natural reaction to a LD student is probably not the best reaction.”  We seem naturally inclined to blame the student and assume laziness, which in many cases is just not a factor.  When put in context, many of these things seem almost obvious.  Of course telling a student “work harder” when they have no starting point is just going to cause frustration.  What FAT city does though, is provide memorable examples that will hopefully stick in our heads until we need them, popping in just before we say something we regret. 

Fat City Response- Amber Ashley
Fat City Response- Amber Ashley
It was very interesting having the adults take on the role as students. It really highlighted how students with disabilities really learn. I liked that some of the adults did not know how to respond to some of the lessons. Now they see what it's like to be a student with a learning disability. 
Frustration, anxiety, and tension is something we all experience. However, it sucks to experience that in the learning environment.  All students should be able to learn at their own pace and teachers should understand that some students need a slower pace in the classroom. 
As said in the video, students with learning disabilities take longer to process the question first and then the answer. So teachers have to recognize this when asking for volunteers to answer the question. 
I completely agree that education should be fair. All students should be able to get what they need.
DeJa Bennafield-Fikes
DeJa Bennafield-Fikes
The Fat City video was very interesting and enlightening. I liked how he made people think outside of their normal thought process and view it from a different point of view. I'm surrounded in my family by people with disabilities. Learning from them I think I've obtained a new type of patience that I plan to bring to my classroom. Patience is always key when dealing with a student having a Learning Disability. You cant just yell and scream at them your going to get the opposite reaction of what you wanted and nothing is going to go how you want.

Response 2-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxo5cpzP3zs

FAT City #1- Samuel Gudger
FAT City #1- Samuel Gudger 
the entirety of the video was lighthearted entertainment crossed with real insights into the hardships of children with learning disabilities. If the view inst distracted by the late eighty's fashion and hair styles, you enter a classroom that is focused on ways in which children with learning disabilities comprehend their daily lives. I learned so much about the way, as an educator, that i can make an impact on my student. My favorite segment was when the classroom was attempting to read a passage in the guise of a child with dyslexia. i enjoyed it because i was doing the exact same thing the people were doing in the video; spending all my time cracking the code, but at the same time not comprehending what happened. As dated as this instruction video is, the information presented in it is incredibly valuable for the modern day educator. 

Response 1& 2- Lamarra Finley
Response 1& 2- Lamarra Finley
This video was nothing that I expected it to be.  Initially I assumed that it would be a lecture type video about children with learning disabilities, but it was so much more. I truly believe he did a great job by showing those room full of people what a day in the life of a child with learning disabilities is really like. All those different individuals could experience firsthand what these children go through. Now that they have a better understanding on what these children’s daily life is like, they all know how to play their role and what they can do to assist them in making things a bit easier. I myself learned so much about these children and about how I should help them. I was completely unaware of how fast paced a class seems to be moving to a child with a learning disability. As mentioned in the video, when asked a question, the child must process both the question and an answer while class is still moving along. Being a current Pre-k teacher, this makes me think of current students in my class that may be dealing with this. This video has shown me that there are ways to allow them to get to the same resolution as my other students.  Also, it was interesting to see hear about how hard it can be for them to read and decode things such as b, d, p and q. I think these letters already confuse children without disabilities so to see how children with learning disabilities view this when reading puts things in a much different perspective. All in all, I was overly impressed with this FAT city video and will ensure to adapt within my current and future classrooms. 

FAT City: Tennessee Tharpe, Response 1 & 2
FAT City: Tennessee Tharpe, Response 1 & 2
Response #1:
Fat City was interesting to me in multiple ways because it helped me better understand what children with disabilities go through. When he went around the table and asked them first what the animal was and then asked them to name a show with a cat and I saw how people froze it hit home a little, because I have a nephew with ADHD and he often has that blank stare when he truly is just confused or you ask him something too fast without a clear explanation especially when you come off so abrupt and forceful to him. I also like the fact that he made it clear that it bothers students when you tell the something in a condescending way and how it can remain with them through the day. I never thought of it that way. Like he said it can stay with you for no more than 5 minutes, but it can stay with that student all day. I could literally talk about this video all day because he has so many good points he is making. From how kids learn, perceive things you do, how they process info, etc.
Response #2:
I found a short video on youtube that I really liked to explain what FAT City talks about. 
FAT City Response 1-Camille Andrews
FAT City Response 1-Camille Andrews 
 The video was very interesting and informing.  I have been in the shoes of most of the adults in the beginning of the video. I have noticed that sometimes the teacher really don’t understand that the way they certain things stick to students. You never really see how a student feels when the teacher replies back to the student with a sarcasm response and the rest of the class begin to laugh. Also by watching this video allowed me to see that students with learning disabilities do not process the same as the rest of their peers. Students with learning disabilities need a few more minutes to process things and also more time to do work. I understand you should not change the whole lesson for the student but instead accommodate to the student’s learning disability. The classroom I am doing my practicum in I notice a few of the students have learning disabilities. I constantly have to ask the student to do their work or repeat the question from the worksheet to the students. I noticed the students either cannot read or just do work at the time that was given. I learned to be patient with the student and also work hands on with the student. Watching this video allowed me to reconsider the things I would say when replying back to the students. I would also recommend that all teachers should at least watch this video at the beginning of each school year. 

FAT City Response 2 -Camille Andrews
FAT City Response 2 -Camille Andrews
I picked this video because the video broadcast several disabilities and how the parent/ teacher find a way to accommodate to the student needs. Also the parent/teacher never got mad with the child or made a smart remark to the child because they could not do the task or read the task. 
Angelica Bruschi--FAT City Second Response
Angelica Bruschi--FAT City Second Response
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPEDFz9iBcY&feature=youtu.be
Link to the video I made.
Response 1 & 2 -- Shamar Barkley
Response 1 & 2 -- Shamar Barkley
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It showcased the daily struggles that exist within the mind of child with a learning disability. It put the participants in the shoes of a child. A workshop like this develops empathy and a sense of moral. Often times, we won't fully understand an individual's predicament in life, unless we go through it ourselves. This simulation does exactly that. Two overarching themes that I got from this video is 1) Give students time, and 2) Give direct instruction. As educators, we have to realize that the student with a learning disability needs additional instruction or a different method of delivery material in order to do well in school. The cognitive functions of a child with an LD will be slower, therefore knowing how to maneuver a classroom in a way that minimizes embarrassment is key. I liked the example he gave of telling the class "Give me five causes of the civil ear" and while the students are thinking, he goes and erases the white board. Then he comes back and tells the student with a LD to only provide one answer and to call on them first. The student will then most likely feel encouraged to volunteer more in class. In addition, giving direct instruction is also vital to a student's success. Personally, I remember struggling with only hearing directions once and being stuck when it time to work on the task by yourself because I just couldn't comprehend it by hearing it just one time. Although this may not be on the same scale or type of struggle a student with a LD will go through, I understand the importance of giving clear, concise and direct instructions. Accommodating for a student with a LD is fair and should be practiced throughout all schools to ensure success for all students.
Vaidehi Shah Response - 2
Vaidehi Shah Response - 2 
Angelica Bruschi--FAT City First Response
Angelica Bruschi--FAT City First Response
FAT City Response #1 & 2 - Kelsey Seelye
FAT City Response #1 & 2 - Kelsey Seelye
Response #1:
This video was very interesting to watch. I really began to start enjoying it when he began talking about the difference between a distracted student versus a student with no attention span. He noted how a distracted student notices everything, while one with zero attention span is listening to nothing. It was interesting to me, because I am diagnosed with ADD and I have always referred to myself as having no attention span, but when he described a distracted student I realized that I take in everything around me and therefore it remains hard for me to pay attention to the main focus of the classroom since there is so much going on in that room at once. I also really enjoyed how he talked about positive reinforcement in the classroom. If we are not constantly recognizing someone's well doing, but only commenting on the negative things and "blaming the victim" this only discourages a student, LD or not. We have to uplift students especially one's with LD's or we will only make them second guess and doubt themselves even more. This video was great and so informational and talks about so many aspects of having a LD from the way they perceive, process, learn. 

Response #2:
This is a short video that I watched after watching FAT City. I thought it really helped break it down and explain it very well in such a short amount of time.
FAT City Response #1-- Hannah Williams
FAT City Response #1-- Hannah Williams
I thought the video was a great way to demonstrate what it feels like to be a student with a learning disability. I also thought it was interesting how they had people from different careers paths. They even had an engineer in the room. The
man that was doing the demonstration did a great job of coming up with examples that showed the different difficulties children with learning disabilities face and included the variety of ways learning disabilities can manifest themselves in the classroom. Showing the variety of symptoms of learning disabilities can be especially helpful for educators and people who work in education because they see students everyday, and they may think a student is lazy or they are not focusing on their school work, but they are just having difficulties with the way the information is presented. If six to ten percent of students have learning disabilities, there are probable quite a few of students that teachers label as "bad" because they do not know what a learning disability looks like in a student. This video is important because if teachers, parents, and other educators know what a learning disability looks like less students will be overlooked.  

FAT City: Sharidan Coleman Response 1 & 2
FAT City: Sharidan Coleman Response 1 & 2
The Fat City video was not only informative but it was extremely enlightening. I knew students with learning disabilities needed a little for guidance and attention but I did not completely realize how they may process things differently. It reminded me that as an educator, I must exercise patience and remember to encourage the student. It is not their fault, and they are trying! The child just needs a little more support. The video also touched upon why educators should not use sarcasm in the classroom. We must consider the child's feelings and only use positive reinforcement to ensure the student is not discouraged. Many times students with a LD will have a lower self-esteem, so they may be sensitive to certain remarks. One comment can hurt or embarrass a child and cause them to "shut down" or no longer have a desire to participate in classroom activities. We want each student to enjoy learning, so let's uplift them in each and every way possible!

Response 2: Below is a TedTalk video I discovered on youtube. Dr. Torrie Dunlap uses her personal experiences to remind us how we may offend or marginalize a student even if we had good intentions. We must remember to take the child's feelings into account and always give the student an option. We should not exclude or limit the student! They are able and they can learn with help from the community and great educators!
FAT City: Haley Deshotels Responses 1 and 2
FAT City: Haley Deshotels Responses 1 and 2
Response 1: This video was truly eye opening for me regarding actually conceptualizing how SLDs affect students in the classroom. I've ready plenty of literature on how to work with students with SLDs and have some life experience, but never have I been able to put myself in my students' shoes. In particular the part about not knowing what they did wrong was truly eye opening. Probably 100 times a week I have to ask a child why they did something wrong, and I almost always get "I don't know." I'm definitely going to make more of an effort to be more understanding of the fact that they genuinely might not know, and instead work with them to explain what went wrong and how it can be done correctly in the future. I was also shocked by how drastic the visual motor coordination disabilities can be. It's amazing how someone's perception can be that different from reality, and I probably never would have realized the severity of those issues had I not seen for myself (not necessarily out of wanting to undermine the problem, but by sheer ignorance of what it's like). In general, this video makes me rethink how I perceive some of the issues outside of just learning that affect students with SLDs, and it makes me want to make more of an effort to be more receptive in the future. I will also be sending this workshop to a handful of people I work with who I think would appreciate the new perspective, as we regularly talk about how to modify instruction for students with SLDs during planning period

Response 2: I found this video that I think is a fantastic resource in addition to FAT City. It gives ideas on how to modify your instruction to better fit the needs of students with disabilities. I think her best advice was to set up a learning environment that limits distractions. Something as simple as the layout of a room can either help the student focus or give them endless distractions to attune to instead of the instruction going on.
FAT City: Vivian Adams, Response 1 & 2
FAT City: Vivian Adams, Response 1 & 2
This video included many different people including school counselors and parents of students with specific learning disabilities. It provided first hand experience about how a student with a learning disability experiences school compared to a student in the regular classroom. Through this exercise, I learned how incredibly fast SLD can fall behind and how easily teachers can just let them fall through the cracks. The exercise that stood out most to me was the abstract picture of the cow. After the instructor put the template over the picture, the cow was easily seen but to a SLD, it could take many times as long to see the abstract picture of the cow, whereas their peers can make that association in a matter of seconds. This just goes to show that students with learning disabilities are not lazy and “aren’t putting in enough effort” it is that they need help and it is our job as educators to aid them, not hinder them with anxiety. 

Below is my second response to FAT City. 
response 2 Thia Green
response 2  Thia Green
We should never blame the victim, never say the child is not motivated and that is why he or she is not learning. The demonstration showed how difficult it is to function in a classroom if you have a learning disability. While growing up in school I have heard students have difficulty reading aloud and sounded much like the adults did in the F.A.T. video I found out later that the student had a learning disability. You can see why something like reading can be so difficult, much less comprehension.  Everyone attending or working in schools should go through a similar experiment to understand what it is like 
FAT City-Shehryar Valliani Response 1&2
FAT City-Shehryar Valliani  Response 1&2
Response 1
This video brought various different people from all walks of life to place them in a setting that provided a taste for how a student with disability endures struggles in their everyday lives. Key point in this video that were brought to my attention was that anxiety plays a major role in how a response to a question is given. Teachers side comments in which they may mean no harm could hurt a students feelings. In this matter students will begin to lack self esteem and cause them to not participate in class activities. This video allows us as future educators to pause and look at the faces of the students who will enter our classrooms, in order to better provide them with an education they deserve. In the end of this video it proved that we all struggle when placed in a demoting environment, and thrive when given motivation and encouragement.

 Response 2
In the video I have posted below is a great look into learning disability through a college students perspective. Normally we think of a learning disability to occur and cured at a younger age, however this may not always be the case. People with learning disabilities may have it for the length of their lifetime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSz_zjiS3E8
Clarke Davis- FAT City Response 2
Clarke Davis- FAT City Response 2
FAT City Response 1- Clarke Davis
FAT City Response 1- Clarke Davis
From watching FAT City and relating it back to the reading and past discussion questions everything began to make sense how a student with a specific learning disorder could be lost in the cracks. There were many times in the video where I related to many of the topics or characteristics of students with SLD. Although I am almost sure I do not have a SLD it makes me feel certain that many children who do have a SLD are not getting the proper instruction and intervention they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. One example of something that really stood out to me in the video was when Dr. Lavoie showed the paragraph containing mathematical logic or reasoning. The only participant who understood it was the participant who had a background in math. It was just proven that he was no brighter or more intelligent than the other participants but because of is math background he was able to understand. This demonstrates to me that students will need a firm background in basic skills in order to succeed in the classroom and if they have issues building those basic skills, intervention may be neccessary.
Video response
Video response
by: Thia Green
Abigail Benito Response 2
Abigail Benito Response 2
Throughout the video, the various methods by which a learning disorder could be demonstrated in an individual were addressed. I created a power point presentation highlighting the disorders addressed in the video and their various signs. I broke down the types into categories and added some guide questions as to how to identify these difficulties within the classroom.  

Abigail Benito Response 1
Abigail Benito Response 1
I felt that this video demonstrated some very important perspectives that many professionals in the education system can benefit from. Sometimes it is extremely easy to get caught up in the myth of the ideal classroom and become frustrated when students do not seem to comply to this narrative. I thought that the video stressed the importance of treating each child according to each child’s learning abilities rather than holding a “one size fits all” expectation over them. I was encouraged by the emphasis on treating children with mutual respect and eliminating derogatory language from the classroom. Our goals as educators should be to find each child’s best road to success, a process which can only be done first by understanding how that child learns, reacts, and interprets information. I found the F.A.T City workshop to be very refreshing response to learning disability perception and the unintentional patterns educators fall into when addressing and interacting with students. 

Response 2: Hannah Lomax
Response 2: Hannah Lomax 
My second response to F.A.T. City video. Personal take away.
Response 1: Hannah Lomax
Response 1: Hannah Lomax
Elexis Cummings Response #2
Elexis Cummings Response #2 
These are some of my main thoughts when watching the F.A.T. City video in a nutshell. There were many main features that stuck out to me but these were my main thoughts. 
Elexis Cummings Response 1&2
Elexis Cummings Response 1&2

I appreciate the F.A.T. City video, because it showed exactly how our students are feeling in the classroom. The teacher was very assertive with how harsh and intense a student's day could be and the obstacles they experience. Also showing us the influence of how we as teachers set the tone of the classroom and how our disabled students are treated and feel. As a teacher we already cause unintentional anxiety by walking in the room so the negative tactics that were shown in this video have to be considered when teaching. Overall the video is very helpful to parents and teachers, even students when it comes down to understanding others with learning disabilities. After watching this video I searched for more individuals and groups that educate and found this video. I hope this inspires awareness about students with learning disabilities and knowing that they are capable too.

Lizeth Matzir - Response #2
Lizeth Matzir - Response #2
These are a couple of strategies that I got from the video to effectively teach children with learning disabilities. The strategies address the difficulties that students go through in their school experience. 
Post #2 Aja Snipes
Post #2 Aja Snipes 
The fat city video was very informative. I think that the video helped a lot of people in the video, I really feel like the people that were in the video learned a lot. i honestly don't think people are really aware of how deep it is for the student with LD. Even parents of the children didn't realize how intense it really was. The video opened a lot of eyes to some very common mistakes that teachers make just out of pure second nature. This video opened my eyes to so many different things. It even gave me more ideas and ways to structure and teach my class. This video shows extensively what the student has to go through. This was a very important study that i think needs to be done more often and also include some students so they can really see what the students with LD go through. 
Aja Snipes FAT City post #
Aja Snipes FAT City post #
F.A.T. City Response #1 & #2 - Lisa Martinez
F.A.T. City Response #1 & #2 - Lisa Martinez
I thought this was a great workshop video. It was a good way to see how we can put ourselves in the view of what it's like to be a student with a learning disability. I think that for those of us working in the field of special education there needs to be updated videos/or even actual workshops with current research to help us stay in tune in how to care for our students in the classroom. I don't have a disability, but I could very much relate to the anxiety and frustration of having to answer questions in class because getting called on was something I didn't like. However, this puts things more in perspective because the feelings and anxieties are probably much worse for students who do have a learning disability. The key is to learn to be an effective teacher by taking the time to figure out how our students learn and help them accordingly. 

Response #2 - I found this video on youtube in a different language, but with English subtitles about a boy who was treated exactly how was discussed in the F.A.T. video - his teacher and peers yelled at him for not understanding certain things, and called him names. However another adult noticed him in a more positive way and helps him to learn in a different way - in a way that is needed for this boy. 
Lizeth Matzir - Response #1
Lizeth Matzir - Response #1
I learned so much with the F.A.T City workshop video. The workshop allowed for people to have a view and feel of what a child with learning disabilities goes though, not just in school, but also throughout life. The way Richard Lavoie presented examples and concepts also helped me gain an understanding and insight of how I might be able to effectively help and teach a child with learning disabilities. Children go through. Many people believe children lack motivation or are just lazy, but there are many other factors that truly affect the way they learn and perform. Anxiety is a key factor especially with the pace that teachers go. Children with learning disabilities learn and process things at different rates, so teachers should allow them more time for them to think. They have difficulties reading and decoding. They try so hard to decode the letters and words they’re reading that may prevent them from actually comprehending the content. There are teachers that rush students which not only gives them anxiety, but frustrates them. They may try so hard to figure out the answer, but get frustrated because they don’t understand it. In the end, they may be inclined to answer “I don’t know” as an easy way out. As teachers, we need to provide a student with the correct modifications in order for them to succeed. They learn differently, but they still have the potential and as teachers we can help guide them. 

FAT city - Vaidehi Shah
FAT city - Vaidehi Shah 
Response/Post  - 1 
The FAT city workshop provides insights into the difficulties that a child with learning disability faces in a school. It was an exercise that was performed with a variety of people including teachers, parents, etc. Through a simulation, it gives people who do not have a learning disability the experience or instances that a child with disability experiences throughout their lifetime. Their language processing load is twice the amount of a normal child. F.A.T stands for frustration, anxiety, and tension and these are the emotions that haunt children with a disability in a school. An educator’s role is to ease the feeling of frustration, anxiety, and tension and make school enjoyable and comfortable for those that are having difficulty. I also learned that giving recognition is very important, and teachers should not criticize when a student gets a wrong answer and question their effort. Everyone has different ways and pace of learning so, the progress of every student shouldn’t be measured using the same spectrum. 

FAT City Response #2 Kimberly Diaz Perez
FAT City Response #2 Kimberly Diaz Perez
This diagram demonstrates the key concepts that I picked out of the video. I think it is very important to think about the student first and then everything else that comes along. The diagram highlights a few solutions to some struggles that students with learning disabilities face daily.
FAT City Response #1 Kimberly Diaz Perez
FAT City Response #1 Kimberly Diaz Perez
I found the FAT city video to be very helpful and enlightening. Having a diverse audience go through this type of exercise is a great idea to start creating awareness and understanding of what it is to be a student with learning disabilities. I spent six years of elementary/middle school in a school for individuals with disabilities including learning and physical disabilities. I am very aware of the struggles of the kids with learning disabilities. There is a difference between hearing about situations about learning disabilities and being in a situation involving a student with a learning disability. The FAT city video captured this by offering insight to the audience about actual situations involving teachers and students.  One of the most helpful concepts about the video was about establishing the difference of language processing. It does take a little bit longer for an LD student to process the question. However, that does not mean we should brush it off and think the student does not know the answer. Giving a little bit of extra time or warning to the student that the teacher will ask a question to him/her can give the student more time to prepare for what is to come in the class. Another concept I was not aware of was the concept of using sarcasm when talking to the students. Students remember moments like that for a long time, so it was cool that he acknowledged the concept that we have to be more sensitive and attentive with every student, especially with students with learning disabilities. Overall, I enjoyed watching the video as well as the reaction from every individual participating in the activity. I think there should be programs dedicated to bringing training or activities like this to school personnel and students in the classroom. Also, teachers should know that not every student will learn or answer questions the same way. I think the FAT city video will make individuals be fairer and think about how they treat other people.
F.A.T. City Response #2 Rob Morton
F.A.T. City Response #2 Rob Morton
As I was looking for more information on what it is like to have a learning disability, and how we as teachers should teach them I stumbled across this video.  Scott Sonnon tells his story and how as he was growing up teachers kept forcing their ideas of how things should be learned onto Scott.  His mind worked differently and his learning style was different than the traditional style that was taught in the classroom.  It serves as a reminder that we as teachers should try to learn from our students and understand their learning style, and to not shame or put pressure on the students to be exactly like we think they should.
Fat City: Tiffany Haugabook
Fat City: Tiffany Haugabook 
Response 1 and 2

Fat City should be a video that all teachers should be required to watch. Special Education and children with LD’s is growing rapidly and teachers are forced to become more diverse in their teaching strategies. Fat City provided me the tools I need to be empathetic toward SLD.  The workshop highlighted minor accommodations that teachers have to consider. Just because a student has a LD doesn’t mean that the student is lazy and incompetent. Its our job as educators to provide them with the extra attention and direct instruction so that they can complete the task given. I was very enlightened on his definition of being easily distracted. ITs not that the student isn’t able to focus, but the student is focused on many things at once. The teacher job is to steer that individuals focus to the right direction. Bribing and motivating students may not be beneficial. If the student can’t do it, then they can’t do it. Or if the student don’t know the answer to the question that may not mean he/she wasn’t listening. I realize learning how the brain operates is important. Most LD operate from the right side (creativity) vs left side (logic). While the other students are processing the answers the SLD is still processing and breaking down the question.

Response 2.
A video of me prompting my son on what he just read. He is a 
4th grader, 3rd grade comprehension level, 5th grade lexile reading level, 7th grade vocabulary, in the independent learning group in Math, and was nominated to test for Gifted. He can read fast, but he has a hard time comprehending and telling us what he read. I have to prompt him to help him comprehend his readings. (I had to reduce the size of the video because of limited MB.) He read a 8 page chapter in 15 minutes, but hesitates when I asked him questions about details. Look at his body language, he can’t sit still (Anxiety), and how long it takes him to process my question and to remember. Luckily he has a good teacher this year where she knows his weakness and strengths. We were able to come up with strategies, Such as visualizing the story. So when you see him squelch his eyes thats what he’s doing. As his mother I don’t rush him or pressure him. 
F.A.T. City Response #1 Rob Morton
F.A.T. City Response #1 Rob Morton
I thought this video was very interesting in showing what it is like to have a learning disability.  I enjoyed the practical advice on how to work with students that have disabilities.  I noticed that many of the techniques he mentioned I used already, just from picking up on what was successful for other teachers.  This was reassuring to me because it means that educators are progressing in their ability to teach students with learning disabilities effectively.
F.A.T City response #1- Olivia Abie
F.A.T City response #1- Olivia Abie
I think this video was very helpful. The simulation throughout video really helped me to understand the frustration, anxiety and tension that children with learning disabilities experience on a daily basis in the classroom or even at home.  Certain things I learned is that it is important to keep a steady pace because they have difficulty processing language. Also how important it is to give recognition and feedback. When kids don’t know an answer it’s crucial not to blame the students for not trying hard enough and assume that the child is not motivated. It’s not that they’re not motivated but it’s about perception. Teacher needs to give direct instruction and not expect all students to learn the same way. This workshop changed my perspective on how to teach kids with learning disabilities and to understand how they process and perceive things. My goal as a teacher is to strive for a classroom free of frustration, anxiety and tension.

F.A.T City Response #2

FAT Reflection - Gregory McKenna
FAT Reflection - Gregory McKenna
A video demonstrating teachers and students with disabilities working together to improve the student's learning experience. I found it mildly interesting and believe I could use some of the ideas expressed in the video.
Jonathan Kochik, Response #2
Jonathan Kochik, Response #2
F.A.T. City stands for frustration, anxiety, and tension, which are all emotions and feelings that students with disabilities go through on a daily basis. Now it is our jobs as educators to diminish these feelings as much as possible but as the video showed us, not all teachers do this. If anything they escalate situations that should have otherwise not had as much light shed on them. Let's look back at an example that was given in the F.A.T. City video. The consultant showed a picture to the "class" and asked them to write down a what they thought would be a very suitable title for the picture. He then asked if anyone thought that their title was good enough to be shared with class and a student with a learning disability raised their hand. Now, upon reading the title the teacher got furious and tore the students' paper up in front of the class, consequently embarrassing the student. This is a perfect example of what I previously stated about educators escalating situations. The video opened my eyes to a lot of situations that I previously wouldn't have thought of. I think watching this "simulation" will help me to better understand how to proceed in teaching the same material to all of my students, whether they have a disability or not. And it also gave me many suggestions of how I can change up my teaching strategies to better modify my lessons for these students.
Jonathan Kochik, Response #1
Jonathan Kochik, Response #1
This is a short video of multiple students with learning disabilities giving advice to their teachers. As we all know, not all students learn the same way or use the same resources when learning material and it is up to us, as the teachers, to understand the student's needs. I love this clip because it really sheds light on the fact that these students want to learn the same material as their fellow peers, however, they simply just have to learn it their own way.
Maria Guzman Response #1
Maria Guzman Response #1
FAT city Response 2 Ji Mun
FAT city Response 2 Ji Mun
This is a short video of special education teacher, Meg Randall, who taught students with learning disability. One of the best ways to teaching students in a good environment is work as a whole. We don't want students to feel left behind and stress out due to the feeling that they're different from others. Therefore, teachers need to find a way where all students are incorporate. Throughout the video, Meg Randall will tell her experience of teaching the technique that incorporates all kinds of learners. 
FAT city Response 1 Ji Mun
FAT city Response 1 Ji Mun
From FAT city, F.A.T stands for Frustration, Anxiety, and Tension. Throughout the video, I learned that students with the disability are not different from others. For me, when I was taking a Spanish class, it really frustrated me that I can't-do well on writing and quizzes. Because you have to speak ONLY Spanish in that class, I was always nervous on called out to answer the questions from textbook and even to have a conversation with professor and other students. As of result, I decided to drop the course. By looking at how frustrating learning is for students with the disability, I felt that it is not a shame for students with the disability to feel that they’re different from other students. I then think back that Mr. Lavoie is very inspiring because he took an extra time with Stephanie who couldn't answer the question during the class. If my Spanish professor helped me on one on one like him, I would’ve finished my Spanish course. In future, if I am teaching students with the disability, I would help them learn best like giving examples by objects or video instead of just saying it. Giving them an EXTRA, EXTRA time on anything so that students not feel anxiety or tension and become more comfortable. Furthermore, giving them more opportunities, making a discussion, and help a student with one on one so that they can be more active and less stress out. 

Video Response #2 -Denna Warrayat
Video Response #2       -Denna Warrayat 
This is a video on what it is like to have a learning disability. The description says, "Nonverbal Learning Disability is a complicated and poorly understood social and spatial learning disability. People with NVLD struggle with a range of conditions but specifically have difficulty with social skills and spatial concepts."
It provides two prompts that will put you in the perspective of a student with a learning disability and I think it's important to get a better understanding on what they see/perceive. This example is just like one of the examples shown in the FAT City video!
Written Response #1 -Denna Warrayat
Written Response #1 -Denna Warrayat    
The FAT City workshop was very enlightening to me as a future educator because it taught me how I should approach students with learning disabilities. It was very hard to keep up/recognize and process a lot of the activities that were shown. For example, the picture of the cow was hard to perceive, until it was further explained. It gave me a perspective on how students with a learning disability feel in a classroom. It is my job to help them feel supported and the main idea from the video was to give children TIME. The video also emphasized many things that we should not do as teachers. A couple of things I took away from the video are not to ask questions fast and repeatedly, students who see their teacher accepting “i don’t know” answers will say i don’t know, sarcasm and little remarks will be forgotten by educator but be kept with the student forever, students look away from the thing that gives anxiety but teachers insist to look at them when they are speaking or yelling at them which is unacceptable, LD kids process things slower, a student with LD processes question (2x slower), other class processes answers,
talk to the student, move closer to the student and ask questions they know how to answer so that they are still participating and volunteering like everyone else, don't bribe or take things away, DON'T blame children and say “they aren’t trying hard enough” and say it is a motivational problem. Remember some kids cannot write and listen at the same time and that kids need direct instruction. I learned that students with learning disabilities should focus on what they can do and make it better, and just learn in a different way and to be fair (as described in the video) to everyone's needs. The video was very educational/informational and helps me become prepared to teach students with learning disabilities.
 

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This video really opened my eyes to the ways that students with disabilities process language. Demonstrating it in a way that we all can understand what it feels like really opened 

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WHAT ARE LEARNING DISABILITIES? LDs affect how a person processes information taken in through the senses. LDs specifically refer to a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to obtain, remember, recall, understand, organize or use information that is presented to them. WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYHzJGTA6KM

The link posted above is just a video that talks about the strengths that students with LD may have. With the FAT City video it educates on the struggles of those students. How they feel and what to look for as their weakness. I think it is important to also look at the positive aspects of those with LD.  I think that to look at those with LD in a negative aspect all the time is unfiar and very stigmatizing.

Andrea Stafford

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The video was extremely interesting and eye opening. In the first 5 minutes of the demonstration you could pick up on just how hard it is to have a learning disability and be expected to quickly come up with answers that being thrown at you. It showed how easily a child would want to give up doing the work when they feel anxious or being picked on. The example where one woman could not recall a famous cat story because of the pressure that was being placed on her. I liked that the participants were not pretending to be a LD student and was being themselves but got to see just how difficult theses children's learning experiences are

Andrea Stafford

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So below I've attached a fun little video as a follow-up to my comments about becoming more aware of how my words can affect my students, especially LD students. This teacher begins each day by building up his Special Ed. students, which is an example I'll aspire to. I appreciate his motives, in particular his use of encouragement. Some of his comments are simple praise, but he often cites specific character traits he appreciates about his students, which I imagine makes them feel unique and attended to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UZ_lWr028o

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What struck me most about FAT City was the video's ability to guide me towards new perspectives and greater understanding of LD students. One of my fundamental beliefs as a counselor is that empathy is one of our greatest tools as educators and as humans in general. And one of my greatest challenges is understanding perspectives like those of our LD students; their brains function in some fundamentally different ways than my own. Learning more about how they might perceive different types of sensory and social information will have a huge influence on how I teach and talk with these students.

And on a more personal note, hearing how simple jokes or sarcastic comments can deeply affect these students shook me a bit, because I'm the type of person to make those off-handed remarks. This video has me taking a step back to reflect on how my reckless words might be affecting the most vulnerable students in the building, so I really appreciate that challenge to my behavior.

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I like this video because it gave more examples that were shown in FAT City as well as other important key points as to why an LD student is struggling . This video emphasizes some of the same key points made in the FAT City video such as the sentence examples and how its like for LD students to read. There was also an example of how it's hard for LD students to follow along in a conversation when a group of kids are telling a joke and everyone thinks it's funny except for the LD student because they're having trouble following along. Other examples include students not following along because they have trouble distinguishing between sounds or are having trouble remembering the order of what was said or even filtering out sounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoM5HcfQBwE

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WHAT ARE LEARNING DISABILITIES? LDs affect how a person processes information taken in through the senses. LDs specifically refer to a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to obtain, remember, recall, understand, organize or use information that is presented to them. WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF LEARNING DISABILITIES?

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I thought FAT City was a real eye opener. There were so many good points made that I hope to put to good use in the future. It's upsetting to see some LD students' self esteem has taken a toll due to teacher's words and actions (or lack there of.) I learned so many different things/ tips and tricks that I wasn't aware of before. Some negative things such as throw away sarcasms directed at the student can stick with the student all day. Or another example was when they were discussing how we use rhetorical questions with adults when we are trying to hurt their feelings  but we use them with kids all the time.  The skull head exercise reminded me of an exercise I did in high school sociology where the whole class walked down the hallway and the teacher asked us what we saw (for example she asked what number the locker was that was wide open or what was the room number of Mr. Carters room) and the point of the exercise was to point out that even though we were all at the same place, at the same time, looking in the same area we didn't see the same things. I loved the reading exercise because it was actually showing the struggle some students feel everyday. I liked how it discussed the different types of people whether they're visual or auditory and how a kid can read the directions again and again and it won't make sense until it is actually spoken-then it clicks to them which is important for some kids to have their books on tape. I also thought it was really interesting when talking about how a kid can have hours and hours of lessons about honesty through books and listening to stories all week but how they truly learn morals is by what they see us do not by what we tell them. The cardiac arrest example and giving them CPR is an example I loved! It just made so much sense. These examples make me more aware of what I need to do/ not need to do to have a more effective impact on a LD student. There were examples that even pertained to me that I've dealt with (the example of suddenly becoming interested in your shoes when you don't want to answer a question.)  Some positive things to do are give LD students more time, don't dwell on what they did wrong but instead uplift and encourage them.

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This video really opened my eyes to the ways that students with disabilities process language. Demonstrating it in a way that we all can understand what it feels like really opened my eyes to what these students have to go through. I know how my job as an instructor plays a huge role in helping the child succeed. All student learn differently so it is important to tailor lesson plans to the individual, not the other way around.

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FAT City totally changed the way that I think about what it must be like to have a learning disability. Seeing the people in the video freeze when the moderator applies certain pressures is so telling of how anxiety affects all of us. It can be easy to diminish what people go through who struggle with psychological processes in very particular ways -- but we can all relate to what it feels like to be overwhelmed. Sometimes tasks that seem simple are very complicated. We can all name a movie that features a cat, but the situation can change if those instructions are being shouted at us or if we did not have time to gather our thoughts. As teachers we must always asks how we are creation situations that bring out the best in students or if we are creating situations that stifle them.

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Hi Evan- The FAT awakened me to alternative ways of representation that I perhaps would not have thought of when delivering classroom instruction, especially to my students with modality deficit (deaf or blind).  Many of the tips for engagement are beneficial in supporting LD students by allowing the student to feel as if they are investing in their own education.  My greatest takeaways I left out of my discussion was also the dysnomia- phenome of suffering a word-finding problem and how that problem affects LD student’s storage/retrieval of vocabulary. The gift of time- sometimes it’s best to call on the LD student first. Spatial orientation- the analogy of the watch finally made the p/b/d/q concept make sense and tasks- understanding the difference of performing cognitive (1 at a time) and associative (2 or more at a time) undertakings, and the unrealistic impact those expectations have on the LD student. 

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Even though these children have all kinds of disabilities, the message is the same. Children should not be singled out, embarrassed, or wrongly punished for something that they can not control. Instead of trying to mold students into our "ideal learner", we should embrace them for who they are and mold our teachings to fit the way that they learn best.

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Dear Teacher: Heartfelt Advice for Teachers from Students

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Watching the F.A.T. city video really showed me another perspective of teaching children with Learning Disabilities.  What I learned was we are a society that do not really teach teachers empathy. Going through the simulation with the participants I could see how quickly the instructor became frustrated when the participants did not answer quick enough or correctly. I could see the anxiety building in the participants every time the instructor began to speak. I could see the tension growing between the participants and the instructor every time a question was answered wrong or even when he began calling on students. As teachers, we need to get to know our students and learn how to interact with the students that doesn't humiliate them when they're wrong, or give them anxiety when students are being called upon. We should always want to bring the best out of children with disabilities and make them comfortable being able to learn wherever they are.

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This video I thought was interesting and explained again what to look for, but the biggest thing was the being a teacher the support. Seeing the signs and also helping out where student can get lost between his or her peers and how their minds process information. They're afraid to seek help and as the fat city video explained, students with disabilities attention would rather avoid attention.

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Notice some signs of Learning Disability - YouTube

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Audio reponse with powerpoint:
https://www.screencast.com/t/AJkNK0teTZK

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The video was extremely interesting. As a teacher I am not sure how my demeanor comes across to students with disabilities and students without. It is interesting to know how students feel and how their brain is processing the information differently.  There are various ways that was shown how students with disabilities are constantly have to battle within their disability to and to battle with grasping the concept taught. One aspect I enjoyed is the speed at which the instructor present the material, as teachers we get so focused on getting out the content because test that are around the corner. The students with disabilities get lost in the midst of the speed and they are still processing yesterday’s assignment. Another important point was the lack of reinforcement, students tend to not want to participate because there is no kind remarks or praises given. Students need the push and the little reinforcement even if it’s small. This video drives home how to better understand a learning disability, how to not be afraid to teach those students and how to help them without coddling the students.

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When I first saw the length of the video I thought,"aw man" but then as I began to watch it and see how profound it was I was truly amazed. It is amazing how much we don't know that we don't know. I think everyone that was a part of the workshop had a special interest and truly wanted the best for the children that they serve but had probably never been subjected to it themselves before. It was interesting to see how fast everyone was ready to throw in the towel after just a few minutes. Over I would have to say that I have already recommended the documentary to others and have already began altering my own thought patterns because of it.

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I think he explain stuff learning disabilities pretty well.

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The National Center for Learning Disabilities

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Learning Disabilities, What Are the Different Types?

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Learning disabilities expert Dr. Sheldon Horowitz explains the different types of learning disabilities and their impact on people with LD. To read more about learning disabilities, please visit http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities

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For this weeks discussion we were requested to watch "FAT City Work shop Under standing Learning Disability." From the start of the video I was just in shock at what LD'S go through on a day to day basis. Even from the beginning when they got to feel "frustration, anxiety, and tension", when he was shouting those questions to them and sometimes they didn't know the answer so everyone laughed. What he said struck a nerve to me that "everyone but carol is laughing" because she's the one who is having anxiety because she doesn't know the answer just like an LD student. Additionally, when he stated that you would forget what you told that student in 5 seconds, but most likely they will not forget for the rest of the day.  Which is completely true, there are things I STILL remember that teachers have told me from years ago, and we need to realize how powerful our words are.  This just reinforces my choice to become a teacher, because I want to be that teacher that will give students confidence to want to come to school and learn new things in a comfortable and free environment
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I found this video when I started researching additional things to better understand what an LD student goes through. I think this perfectly captures what they go through everyday, and how he has to reassure himself that just because he has a LD does not mean that he can not learn, but that he just has to learn in different ways than others. Sometimes students don't have that confidence to keep going though, and thats where I come into play because I have to reassure all my students that they can be successful.

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MY LIFE WITH Learning Disabilities (Differences)

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National Center for Learning Disabilities

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This is the story of aditi, 7 yr old girl who is having a hard time at school and finds out that she has a learning disability. She goes on to dispel all the myths of learning disabilities and has a positive message to share with everyone.

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_vtXw7mD1ufR0gyWW5RMC1vcUU/view?usp=sharing

~Sivi Y. Thomas

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FAT city response #2 - Stephanie Toussaint 

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FAT city response #2 - Stephanie Toussaint 

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I want go back and highlight on visual perception, because for a moment I was able to feel some of the anxiety and frustrations the students face with the exercise done in the video. The picture below was shown in the video, and I personally could not make out what the picture was of. For a second I thought it saw a man with a coat, but It was after some time that I could finally begin to see the cow. It was not that there was no effort there, because I even squinted real hard trying to figure out the picture. This revealed to me the effects of difficulties with visual perception.

With time, strategies, and practice it is something that can become easier.

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This was a very informative way of educating others on how students with disabilities feel and the trials they experience within a school day. It was exactly how the description in the video described: troubling and enlightening. Although there were moments that were laughable,  it was also troubling because there are students who are receiving this type of instruction, with little regard for how they understand and see their work. The adults were even having difficulties keeping up and following the instructions, which indicates how much harder it is for students with learning disabilities. It is important to tailor instruction for these students to ensure they get they best instruction possible. This starts with respecting them and seeing them as a person regardless of their disability. Throughout the video, Lavoie also emphasized the importance of the use of language we use when speaking with or in reference of students with learning disabilities. I am glad to have seen this video and gained further insight into the minds of students with learning disabilities.

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FAT City response #1 - Stephanie Toussaint

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FAT City response #1 - Stephanie Toussaint

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I found the FAT City video to be very informative and interesting to watch. It shows what it would be like to be learning disabled, and it gave an insight into how students may feel when it comes to dealing with a disability. The video highlights on the daily struggles of a student with a learning disabilities while facing anxiety, tension, and frustration in the classroom. These few things alone can affect the student’s performance in the classroom. Which is why most of the time the students do not have the correct answer, and sometimes teachers will accept that answer, which can result in the student giving up. Students with learning disabilities can have trouble keeping up with the class pace, because it can get tough to process the information. When most students are asked a question, they start to think about the answer; whereas, students with learning disabilities is still thinking about the question. I learned that this is where the student can fall behind, so it is important to come up with a strategy privately to help the student. Asking questions the student will know will help them gain confidence in the classroom, and in the future encourage them to participate more. My biggest take away from the FAT City video is learning the best thing for kids with disabilities is time and patience. Trying new things in the classroom that include different visual aid & written, direction, and time can help all students understand better.

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Shedding Light on Learning Disabilities: Sophie Ghauri at TEDxYouth@ISASDuchesneAcademy

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I originally wanted to post a video of me interacting with my little brother who has a LD, but that did not work out. SO I began to research LD and teaching ad came across an area I had never really though about. Learning disabilities in higher education. Call me naive, but I never thought about people having LDs in college. I honestly never thought about them going to college. Sad, I know, but I am the product of a culture that looks down on anyone with a disability. I found this Ted Talk from a college student named Lexi Garrity. This video opened my eyes to those with possible learning disabilities that could be sitting with me in class. This video is limited in the fact that tit is more focused on her, but it shed light on the struggles people with LDs face in higher education.

One thing I love is that Lexi is a pre-health student. When I think of people with LDs in the workforce, I'm not thinking doctors or nurses. So Lexi shows and is proving that it is possible to overcome the difficulties one may face, but only with the help of teachers and those around. I think this ties into the FAT City workshop, when Mr. Lavoie said that the kids with LDs need teachers! Someone that will help and guide them.

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Learning Disability in Higher Education... | Lexie Garrity | TEDxVanderbiltUniversity

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The F.A.T City work shop video was definitely an eye opener. Reflecting back on my years of being in school I have realized that I was in a poor learning environment. And that if I often found myself struggling with keeping up I as a now adult can only imagine what my old peers could have been going through at the time. After the workshop I have concluded that I don't want to be like the instructor towards any of my future students and I hope to be the teacher that they can turn to if they are having difficulties and would like extra help.
I am glad that I have been able to watch the video and reflect on thing to implement into my classroom and thing to make sure I keep far away from my instructions.
For my second response I created infographic on tips that can help you influence learning in students with learning disabilities. https://infograph.venngage.com/p/314790/5-strategies-for-influencing-learners-with-learning-disabilities

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5 Strategies for Influencing Learners with Learning Disabilities.

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For Influencing Learners with Learning Disabilities Encourage your students and yourself to be the best that they can be. Then Praise your ...

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After watching the "FAT City Workshop video, my eyes were really widen by seeing the effects of the daily frustrations of children with learning disabilities. By watching the video I feel better prepared for the being able to understand my future students better. I was also able to receive pointers from the video to benefit my students

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Explained in my short power-point is how the effects of dysnomia affect me.

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FAT city was so insightful. I am actually a sub for Gwinnett County public schools, and it's incredible to see how so many of these issues still exist in the school system. This video came out almost 30 years ago and it's interesting to see areas that we are still lacking. I am happy that I got the chance to watch this. As Mr. Lavoie was going through the different sections, I felt so bad realizing that I do so many of the things that he said teachers shouldn't do. I would like to try and implement some changes in how I interact with the children that I teach. I want to be more aware of how I respond to the kids.

It also helped me realize how difficult it is to have a LD and be in the school system, or just around people that don't understand your struggle. I was frustrated as I tried to play along! SO I can only imagine going through this everyday!!

Aside from gaining insight, I also noticed the language used. My ears cringed a little each time he said a learning disabled child, instead of the child with the LD. All in all, this video and workshop was incredibly insightful and helpful.

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FAT City Response #1- Stephanie Toussaint 

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FAT City Response #1- Stephanie Toussaint 

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After watching FAT City workshop , the presenter put me in the position of a student with LD experience how their thought process works. Putting someone out of their comfort zone will result in children not being able to perform to their fullest potential. Anxiety has a huge effect on the performance of how a student conduct themselves toward education. I have a personal experience with testing anxiety.
This video allowed me to view the complications of the students with LD and what to expect and also gave pointers on what to do when that event happens.

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F.A.T. City Reflection Risk Taking Definition: the action of taking risk Students with a disability are not fond of surprises, pop quizzes for example can make students nervous and possibly flop the quiz.

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Rick Lavoie's 70min video, "How Difficult Can This Be? F.A.T. City Workshop" was truly an eye-opener.  As a future educator, I found the information to be amongst some of the best I've received about learning differences (LD) thus far.  Students who learn differently often experience F(rustration).A(nxiety).T(ension)., and Lavoie does a superb job at simulating the same emotions for the adults in their lives.  Although Lavoie's workshop included social workers, psychologists, recreational therapists, general educators, special education teachers, parents, friends, and family of LD children, the tools exhibited during the workshop could support all students in the classroom especially if the steps of Universal Design for Learning are properly implemented.  The workshop awakened me to alternative ways of representation that I perhaps would not have thought of when delivering classroom instruction, especially to my students with modality deficit (deaf or blind).  Many of the tips for engagement are beneficial in supporting LD students by allowing the student to feel as if they are investing in their own education.  My greatest takeaways are:

Dysnomia- phenom of suffering a word-finding problem and how that problem affects LD student’s storage/retrieval of vocabulary

Gift of Time- sometimes it’s best to call on the LD student first

Spatial Orientation- the analogy of the watch finally made the p/b/d/q concept make sense

Tasks- understanding the difference of performing cognitive (1 at a time) and associative (2 or more at a time) undertakings, and the unrealistic impact those expectations have on the LD student

~Sivi Y. Thomas

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See all the wonderful things ObssesedNuker has made

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Written response: I found "The F.A.T. City Work Shop" very useful as a future educator. As it allowed me to understand the daily frustrations and experiences of children with learning disabilities. The tips that he provided will help me better prepare to make a classroom friendlier place for my students with LD. The video provides great details about how the traditional methods of teaching can be frustrating for these students, and how the frustration can lead to anxiety and tension that can limit their risk-taking abilities. It was eye opening for me that how minor accommodations and time can help students with learning disability tremendously.I also thought that the video describes clearly, how we should think about fairness differently, as it is not about everyone getting the same thing, but everyone gets what they need to thrive.

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FAT City Response #1 & #2 - Sasha Ashley-Belcher 

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FAT City Response #1 & #2 - Sasha Ashley-Belcher 

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I found the FAT City workshop very interesting to watch. Although many of us know people with learning disabilities and their struggle, we never really understanding how they struggle when it comes to their thought process. This video helped me understand what exactly they struggle with compared to a child the same age without a learning disability. One thing that caught my attention the most is how the instructor told them they do not have to purposely act like children to understand because they activity itself will be difficult enough for them to get the overall feeling/point. By the end of the workshop, it showed the adults why a more empathetic response to kids with learning disabilities is the proper way to always go, by showing them just what type of stress, anxiety, and frustration a child with such a disability feels.

I  chose this video because I think its important to learn the different types of learning disabilities while also learning how to take care of an teach a child that has in order to best meet their needs inside and outside of the classroom.

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Listen to BayCare Clinic neuropsychologist, Melissa Marquart-Carlson, PHD, talk about learning disorders. https://www.baycare.net/doctor-or-provider/melissa-marquart-carlson-phd/ ➨Visit BayCare Clinic: http://baycare.clinic/1TE23VU ➨Check out our YouTube Playlists: http://baycare.clinic/2wdJ7ub ➨Like BayCare Clinic on Facebook: http://baycare.clinic/2g4hDvR ➨Follow BayCare Clinic on Twitter: http://baycare.clinic/2uMlLvp ➨Connect with BayCare Clinic on LinkedIn: http://baycare.clinic/2wjxUri ➨Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: http://baycare.clinic/2vGO7pQ

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I feel like this is a good example of students with disabilities. The little girl and the boy were completely different in how they answered questions, all the way to the body language. Just by this short video of simple questions being asked they had a large difference, so it made me thinking of how much more of a difference it would be in a classroom learning setting. I felt bad because it kind of seemed like the little girl was anxious and unsure how about some questions. But the little boy was very calm and it was more "normal" for him. Also the fact the the girl know she was different and knows her "good and bad day" really hit my heart. It is important to always remember to be considerate and open to people differences and try to understand them the best that you can. I can't help but to think about how hard it is for them to express themselves in a place with other kids.

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The FAT video gave me a deeper insight about students with disabilities. The fact that adults were challenged, and we placed out of their comfort zone was cool to see. This is because it shows maybe reflect what kind of frustration students with disabilities have.
Also that everyone has a different way of learning, and to be more open to try new things to help, and of course get familiar with each student needs so you can fully assist them.

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I chose those Ted Talk because I think this was such a well-spoken and bright young girl. It also puts a positive spin on learning disabilities such as ADHD, which she has. She stated that even though she is dyslexic, her strength is in art because she can't mess up. I have sat in on numerous IEP meetings and one thing that is always discussed is the child's capabilities, so that it doesn't seem as if they're not trying or they are just lazy and dumb.

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Shedding Light on Learning Disabilities: Sophie Ghauri at TEDxYouth@ISASDuchesneAcademy

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Watching fat city, really opened my eyes to how kids with learning disabilities react and think in the classroom. This was very informative and I seen behaviors before watching this video that I would've either done myself or seen another teacher do towards a student due to lack of understanding. It taught me to display more patience in these situations, rushing students isn't always the best idea when every student is different.

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I really enjoyed watching FAT City. I work with two Speech Therapists in public schools, so I am constantly interacting with children who have learning disabilities. Most have other deficits but we do have some SLD students. This video made me realize the struggles that they have even though they are seemingly normal children. It was eye opening to see how stressful the classroom environment can be, with anxiety and tension or even fear building up in them. I have seen children who can verbalize their thoughts but cannot put them into writing. They often play around to avoid answering questions because don't understand the directions and sometimes struggle with auditory memory. This chapter and assignment has really helped me to better understand the processes going on in their heads and the struggles they face.

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Khadijah Brooks- FAT City Response 1 & 2

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Khadijah Brooks- FAT City Response 1 & 2

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The way this instructor taught the lesson made the information relatable to a vast audience. By putting adults in the shoes of those with learning disabilities, they were able to learn the frustration, anxiety, and tension that the student feels. His lesson on perception was also very informative. He demonstrated that everyone perceives things differently and not in the same time frame as everyone else. The class looked at the same black and white picture and all came up with different responses on what was pictured. That is why it is important to have trained teachers that are familiar with a variety of learning styles and accept that every student learns differently. His class is made up of teachers and other health and child care professionals. They're learning hands on the struggles of those that have learning disabilities. This way they can better cognitively appeal to the needs of those they encounter with these various disabilities.

Response 2-

The instructor in F.A.T City discussed the various learning disabilities that are encountered. I believe it is important to fully understand all aspects of each different disability.

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National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)

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Learning Disabilities, What Are the Different Types?

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Review to the Setup of FAT city-Colin Lewis

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Review to the Setup of FAT city-Colin Lewis

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Below is a list of the pros and cons that I saw in how the FAT city workshop was set up.

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Response to the theory in FAT city-Colin Lewis

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Response to the theory in FAT city-Colin Lewis

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FAT city raises a lot of good points.  The point about sarcasm especially really hit home with me.  While teaching in outside activities, I have fallen into the trap of using sarcasm with a student.  The student was very hurt by it, and started to shut down on me.  Only after I apologized and made it clear I was proud of him did he start to open back up.  The overall message of FAT city appears to be “Your natural reaction to a LD student is probably not the best reaction.”  We seem naturally inclined to blame the student and assume laziness, which in many cases is just not a factor.  When put in context, many of these things seem almost obvious.  Of course telling a student “work harder” when they have no starting point is just going to cause frustration.  What FAT city does though, is provide memorable examples that will hopefully stick in our heads until we need them, popping in just before we say something we regret.

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It was very interesting having the adults take on the role as students. It really highlighted how students with disabilities really learn. I liked that some of the adults did not know how to respond to some of the lessons. Now they see what it's like to be a student with a learning disability.
Frustration, anxiety, and tension is something we all experience. However, it sucks to experience that in the learning environment.  All students should be able to learn at their own pace and teachers should understand that some students need a slower pace in the classroom.
As said in the video, students with learning disabilities take longer to process the question first and then the answer. So teachers have to recognize this when asking for volunteers to answer the question.
I completely agree that education should be fair. All students should be able to get what they need.

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The Fat City video was very interesting and enlightening. I liked how he made people think outside of their normal thought process and view it from a different point of view. I'm surrounded in my family by people with disabilities. Learning from them I think I've obtained a new type of patience that I plan to bring to my classroom. Patience is always key when dealing with a student having a Learning Disability. You cant just yell and scream at them your going to get the opposite reaction of what you wanted and nothing is going to go how you want.

Response 2-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxo5cpzP3zs

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the entirety of the video was lighthearted entertainment crossed with real insights into the hardships of children with learning disabilities. If the view inst distracted by the late eighty's fashion and hair styles, you enter a classroom that is focused on ways in which children with learning disabilities comprehend their daily lives. I learned so much about the way, as an educator, that i can make an impact on my student. My favorite segment was when the classroom was attempting to read a passage in the guise of a child with dyslexia. i enjoyed it because i was doing the exact same thing the people were doing in the video; spending all my time cracking the code, but at the same time not comprehending what happened. As dated as this instruction video is, the information presented in it is incredibly valuable for the modern day educator.

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This video was nothing that I expected it to be.  Initially I assumed that it would be a lecture type video about children with learning disabilities, but it was so much more. I truly believe he did a great job by showing those room full of people what a day in the life of a child with learning disabilities is really like. All those different individuals could experience firsthand what these children go through. Now that they have a better understanding on what these children’s daily life is like, they all know how to play their role and what they can do to assist them in making things a bit easier. I myself learned so much about these children and about how I should help them. I was completely unaware of how fast paced a class seems to be moving to a child with a learning disability. As mentioned in the video, when asked a question, the child must process both the question and an answer while class is still moving along. Being a current Pre-k teacher, this makes me think of current students in my class that may be dealing with this. This video has shown me that there are ways to allow them to get to the same resolution as my other students.  Also, it was interesting to see hear about how hard it can be for them to read and decode things such as b, d, p and q. I think these letters already confuse children without disabilities so to see how children with learning disabilities view this when reading puts things in a much different perspective. All in all, I was overly impressed with this FAT city video and will ensure to adapt within my current and future classrooms.

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What Is It Like to Have a Learning Disability?

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FAT City: Tennessee Tharpe, Response 1 & 2

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FAT City: Tennessee Tharpe, Response 1 & 2

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Response #1:
Fat City was interesting to me in multiple ways because it helped me better understand what children with disabilities go through. When he went around the table and asked them first what the animal was and then asked them to name a show with a cat and I saw how people froze it hit home a little, because I have a nephew with ADHD and he often has that blank stare when he truly is just confused or you ask him something too fast without a clear explanation especially when you come off so abrupt and forceful to him. I also like the fact that he made it clear that it bothers students when you tell the something in a condescending way and how it can remain with them through the day. I never thought of it that way. Like he said it can stay with you for no more than 5 minutes, but it can stay with that student all day. I could literally talk about this video all day because he has so many good points he is making. From how kids learn, perceive things you do, how they process info, etc.
Response #2:
I found a short video on youtube that I really liked to explain what FAT City talks about.

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The video was very interesting and informing.  I have been in the shoes of most of the adults in the beginning of the video. I have noticed that sometimes the teacher really don’t understand that the way they certain things stick to students. You never really see how a student feels when the teacher replies back to the student with a sarcasm response and the rest of the class begin to laugh. Also by watching this video allowed me to see that students with learning disabilities do not process the same as the rest of their peers. Students with learning disabilities need a few more minutes to process things and also more time to do work. I understand you should not change the whole lesson for the student but instead accommodate to the student’s learning disability. The classroom I am doing my practicum in I notice a few of the students have learning disabilities. I constantly have to ask the student to do their work or repeat the question from the worksheet to the students. I noticed the students either cannot read or just do work at the time that was given. I learned to be patient with the student and also work hands on with the student. Watching this video allowed me to reconsider the things I would say when replying back to the students. I would also recommend that all teachers should at least watch this video at the beginning of each school year.

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I picked this video because the video broadcast several disabilities and how the parent/ teacher find a way to accommodate to the student needs. Also the parent/teacher never got mad with the child or made a smart remark to the child because they could not do the task or read the task.

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Produce a 5-10 minute video that will help teachers/students be more sympathetic to students with learning disabilities.

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Angelica Bruschi--FAT City Second Response

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Angelica Bruschi--FAT City Second Response

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPEDFz9iBcY&feature=youtu.be
Link to the video I made.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this video. It showcased the daily struggles that exist within the mind of child with a learning disability. It put the participants in the shoes of a child. A workshop like this develops empathy and a sense of moral. Often times, we won't fully understand an individual's predicament in life, unless we go through it ourselves. This simulation does exactly that. Two overarching themes that I got from this video is 1) Give students time, and 2) Give direct instruction. As educators, we have to realize that the student with a learning disability needs additional instruction or a different method of delivery material in order to do well in school. The cognitive functions of a child with an LD will be slower, therefore knowing how to maneuver a classroom in a way that minimizes embarrassment is key. I liked the example he gave of telling the class "Give me five causes of the civil ear" and while the students are thinking, he goes and erases the white board. Then he comes back and tells the student with a LD to only provide one answer and to call on them first. The student will then most likely feel encouraged to volunteer more in class. In addition, giving direct instruction is also vital to a student's success. Personally, I remember struggling with only hearing directions once and being stuck when it time to work on the task by yourself because I just couldn't comprehend it by hearing it just one time. Although this may not be on the same scale or type of struggle a student with a LD will go through, I understand the importance of giving clear, concise and direct instructions. Accommodating for a student with a LD is fair and should be practiced throughout all schools to ensure success for all students.

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Engaging Students With Learning Differences Early On

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Angelica Bruschi--FAT City First Response

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Angelica Bruschi--FAT City First Response

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FAT City Response #1 & 2 - Kelsey Seelye

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FAT City Response #1 & 2 - Kelsey Seelye

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Response #1:
This video was very interesting to watch. I really began to start enjoying it when he began talking about the difference between a distracted student versus a student with no attention span. He noted how a distracted student notices everything, while one with zero attention span is listening to nothing. It was interesting to me, because I am diagnosed with ADD and I have always referred to myself as having no attention span, but when he described a distracted student I realized that I take in everything around me and therefore it remains hard for me to pay attention to the main focus of the classroom since there is so much going on in that room at once. I also really enjoyed how he talked about positive reinforcement in the classroom. If we are not constantly recognizing someone's well doing, but only commenting on the negative things and "blaming the victim" this only discourages a student, LD or not. We have to uplift students especially one's with LD's or we will only make them second guess and doubt themselves even more. This video was great and so informational and talks about so many aspects of having a LD from the way they perceive, process, learn.

Response #2:
This is a short video that I watched after watching FAT City. I thought it really helped break it down and explain it very well in such a short amount of time.

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This video is about Rick Lavoie's video, "How Difficult Can This Be? The F.A.T. City Workshop"

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I thought the video was a great way to demonstrate what it feels like to be a student with a learning disability. I also thought it was interesting how they had people from different careers paths. They even had an engineer in the room. The
man that was doing the demonstration did a great job of coming up with examples that showed the different difficulties children with learning disabilities face and included the variety of ways learning disabilities can manifest themselves in the classroom. Showing the variety of symptoms of learning disabilities can be especially helpful for educators and people who work in education because they see students everyday, and they may think a student is lazy or they are not focusing on their school work, but they are just having difficulties with the way the information is presented. If six to ten percent of students have learning disabilities, there are probable quite a few of students that teachers label as "bad" because they do not know what a learning disability looks like in a student. This video is important because if teachers, parents, and other educators know what a learning disability looks like less students will be overlooked.

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FAT City: Sharidan Coleman Response 1 & 2

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FAT City: Sharidan Coleman Response 1 & 2

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The Fat City video was not only informative but it was extremely enlightening. I knew students with learning disabilities needed a little for guidance and attention but I did not completely realize how they may process things differently. It reminded me that as an educator, I must exercise patience and remember to encourage the student. It is not their fault, and they are trying! The child just needs a little more support. The video also touched upon why educators should not use sarcasm in the classroom. We must consider the child's feelings and only use positive reinforcement to ensure the student is not discouraged. Many times students with a LD will have a lower self-esteem, so they may be sensitive to certain remarks. One comment can hurt or embarrass a child and cause them to "shut down" or no longer have a desire to participate in classroom activities. We want each student to enjoy learning, so let's uplift them in each and every way possible!

Response 2: Below is a TedTalk video I discovered on youtube. Dr. Torrie Dunlap uses her personal experiences to remind us how we may offend or marginalize a student even if we had good intentions. We must remember to take the child's feelings into account and always give the student an option. We should not exclude or limit the student! They are able and they can learn with help from the community and great educators!

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Isn't it a pity? The real problem with special needs | Torrie Dunlap | TEDxAmericasFinestCity

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FAT City: Haley Deshotels Responses 1 and 2

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FAT City: Haley Deshotels Responses 1 and 2

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Response 1: This video was truly eye opening for me regarding actually conceptualizing how SLDs affect students in the classroom. I've ready plenty of literature on how to work with students with SLDs and have some life experience, but never have I been able to put myself in my students' shoes. In particular the part about not knowing what they did wrong was truly eye opening. Probably 100 times a week I have to ask a child why they did something wrong, and I almost always get "I don't know." I'm definitely going to make more of an effort to be more understanding of the fact that they genuinely might not know, and instead work with them to explain what went wrong and how it can be done correctly in the future. I was also shocked by how drastic the visual motor coordination disabilities can be. It's amazing how someone's perception can be that different from reality, and I probably never would have realized the severity of those issues had I not seen for myself (not necessarily out of wanting to undermine the problem, but by sheer ignorance of what it's like). In general, this video makes me rethink how I perceive some of the issues outside of just learning that affect students with SLDs, and it makes me want to make more of an effort to be more receptive in the future. I will also be sending this workshop to a handful of people I work with who I think would appreciate the new perspective, as we regularly talk about how to modify instruction for students with SLDs during planning period

Response 2: I found this video that I think is a fantastic resource in addition to FAT City. It gives ideas on how to modify your instruction to better fit the needs of students with disabilities. I think her best advice was to set up a learning environment that limits distractions. Something as simple as the layout of a room can either help the student focus or give them endless distractions to attune to instead of the instruction going on.

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Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD

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Uploaded by Heather Ackerman on 2014-03-21.

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This video included many different people including school counselors and parents of students with specific learning disabilities. It provided first hand experience about how a student with a learning disability experiences school compared to a student in the regular classroom. Through this exercise, I learned how incredibly fast SLD can fall behind and how easily teachers can just let them fall through the cracks. The exercise that stood out most to me was the abstract picture of the cow. After the instructor put the template over the picture, the cow was easily seen but to a SLD, it could take many times as long to see the abstract picture of the cow, whereas their peers can make that association in a matter of seconds. This just goes to show that students with learning disabilities are not lazy and “aren’t putting in enough effort” it is that they need help and it is our job as educators to aid them, not hinder them with anxiety.

Below is my second response to FAT City.

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We should never blame the victim, never say the child is not motivated and that is why he or she is not learning. The demonstration showed how difficult it is to function in a classroom if you have a learning disability. While growing up in school I have heard students have difficulty reading aloud and sounded much like the adults did in the F.A.T. video I found out later that the student had a learning disability. You can see why something like reading can be so difficult, much less comprehension.  Everyone attending or working in schools should go through a similar experiment to understand what it is like

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FAT City-Shehryar Valliani  Response 1&2

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FAT City-Shehryar Valliani  Response 1&2

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Response 1
This video brought various different people from all walks of life to place them in a setting that provided a taste for how a student with disability endures struggles in their everyday lives. Key point in this video that were brought to my attention was that anxiety plays a major role in how a response to a question is given. Teachers side comments in which they may mean no harm could hurt a students feelings. In this matter students will begin to lack self esteem and cause them to not participate in class activities. This video allows us as future educators to pause and look at the faces of the students who will enter our classrooms, in order to better provide them with an education they deserve. In the end of this video it proved that we all struggle when placed in a demoting environment, and thrive when given motivation and encouragement.

Response 2
In the video I have posted below is a great look into learning disability through a college students perspective. Normally we think of a learning disability to occur and cured at a younger age, however this may not always be the case. People with learning disabilities may have it for the length of their lifetime.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSz_zjiS3E8

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From watching FAT City and relating it back to the reading and past discussion questions everything began to make sense how a student with a specific learning disorder could be lost in the cracks. There were many times in the video where I related to many of the topics or characteristics of students with SLD. Although I am almost sure I do not have a SLD it makes me feel certain that many children who do have a SLD are not getting the proper instruction and intervention they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. One example of something that really stood out to me in the video was when Dr. Lavoie showed the paragraph containing mathematical logic or reasoning. The only participant who understood it was the participant who had a background in math. It was just proven that he was no brighter or more intelligent than the other participants but because of is math background he was able to understand. This demonstrates to me that students will need a firm background in basic skills in order to succeed in the classroom and if they have issues building those basic skills, intervention may be neccessary.

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by: Thia Green

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Throughout the video, the various methods by which a learning disorder could be demonstrated in an individual were addressed. I created a power point presentation highlighting the disorders addressed in the video and their various signs. I broke down the types into categories and added some guide questions as to how to identify these difficulties within the classroom.

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I felt that this video demonstrated some very important perspectives that many professionals in the education system can benefit from. Sometimes it is extremely easy to get caught up in the myth of the ideal classroom and become frustrated when students do not seem to comply to this narrative. I thought that the video stressed the importance of treating each child according to each child’s learning abilities rather than holding a “one size fits all” expectation over them. I was encouraged by the emphasis on treating children with mutual respect and eliminating derogatory language from the classroom. Our goals as educators should be to find each child’s best road to success, a process which can only be done first by understanding how that child learns, reacts, and interprets information. I found the F.A.T City workshop to be very refreshing response to learning disability perception and the unintentional patterns educators fall into when addressing and interacting with students.

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My second response to F.A.T. City video. Personal take away.