“A Taste of Olathe” D.E.A.F. Sunday Grant Awards for 2003
- Shared Reading Project Training
The Shared Reading Project is designed to teach parents and caregivers how to read to their children who are deaf/hard-of-hearing, using American Sign Language. Through the project, families learn the different strategies for making book sharing most effective.
-
Deaf Mentor Project Training
The Deaf Mentor Project uses a Deaf Mentor [Deaf adult] who makes regular visits to the home, interacts with the child using American Sign Language, shows family members how to use American Sign Language, and helps the family understand Deafness and Deaf Culture.
- Six Trait Literacy Titles
This project provided each elementary teacher with 18-24 grade level books that are considered to be quality literature and directly impact the teaching of the six traits of student writing: content, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. Each file box contains six hanging files, 3 or 4 books for each trait and a list of additional book titles.
- Reading is Fun!
New books and magazines were purchased to specifically appeal to young teenaged students. This reading material is located in the classroom and used during D.E.A.R. [Drop Everything and Read] time, free time and seminar time.
- Story Book Boxes and Book Bags
These boxes and bags have been created by collecting multi-sensory objects which correlate with popular children’s books. Each “Box” or “Bag” can be transformed into an individualized or group literacy tool. They are available for speech pathologist, occupational and physical therapists, as well as classroom teachers.
- Speech Therapy Restaurant Unit
Students receiving Speech and Language therapy have the opportunity to practice their skills in a real-life social setting. Generalization of skills learned in the therapy setting is an essential component of therapy. This project takes the students out of the therapy setting and allows them to experience what they have learned in various restaurants in the community.
- Family, Fun and Facts Literacy at Home – Children’s Activities
Part of the Children’s Activities planned for the 2004 Family, Fun and Facts Weekend included students making their own Memory Books with pictures and captions.
- Life Studies Social Interaction
Students had the opportunity to develop and participate in a variety of social interaction activities including movie day, party day, dinner day, etc. Students practiced their reading and writing skills connected with planning for, preparing for and being involved in group activities.
- Using Games for Literacy
A variety of board games and card games were purchased to reinforce English reading skills for students in socially active settings.
- Literacy in the Environmental Learning Center
Reference and resource materials about animals and plants were purchased and are being housed in the Environmental Learning Center. Students can work on research skills by utilizing the materials. This also helps students become aware of locating information through means other than that of the internet!
