Hello,

I am so glad to have this site for information and support. I am a vision
teacher, and have been for 26 years. Ironially, many years ago I was a part of
the research on Active LEarning, as a teacher mentor for children in EI. I loved
the idea and the results we saw with the children back then...

Three weeks ago my husband and I adopted a little boy from China. Shane is our
second child adopted from China,  and is our sixth child (we have 4 bio
children) Shane is blind (congenital cataracts) and we were given reports that
he was walking, talking in sentences and is a 'normal little boy'. In fact, he
is walking, but would rather not, has lots of stim behaviors, and very little
meaningful speech, if any at all. Even in Chinese. While we were in china, my
thoughts went to active LEarning and I am beginning to research again and look
at the info and materials to implement the program...

HELP! I am calling for therapy for him, but want to wait for pre-school services
until we have some time at home and he can regroup. He will test so low right
now, and we don't know how real those levels are. But in the meantime, I know he
will benefit from Active Learning. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. I
am just getting over jet-lag, so I can use all the help I can get!

Thanks,

MAryAnne

Thank you,

Diane Montgomery
Johnson School
760/393-5424

Hi,
I have a 10 year old that is cognitively in the 18 mos-3 yr level.  He's on
home/hospital school due to medical issues.

I'm putting together a hanging pegboard that I was thinking to put on the wall. 
He is able to scoot over to what he wants, so I hope that he will go over to the
pegboard. So far I have different textured items, a couple that make noise and
some bright colored plastic toys.  He likes to put things in his mouth, so I'm
looking for ideas of things to put on the pegboard that won't be a hazard to
him.

I've not read any of the books, but have been to a few talks on Active Learning.

I would like to incorporate his pegboard into his IEP with a goal.  I haven't a
clue where to start.

Could someone recommend a book to start reading?  His teacher and Vision
therapist are also intersted in reading up on this.   I've also heard that the
Functional Scheme is a good place when trying to figure out goals and levels?


Thank you in advance for any help.
Bridget

Thank you,

Diane Montgomery
Johnson School
760/393-5424

Hi All!
I am so glad to find this forum!
I am a VI Specialist at Blind Babies Foundation serving the South Bay area and
Cal Central Coast.
One of my current projects is setting up a Little Room along with other Active
Learning play in a small space in a Subacute hospital setting the Children's
Recovery Center.

My hope is to have a quiet fun space avail to parents both with teachers and in
their eves/weekends where they can play with their little ones.

Does anyone have specific thoughts/experience on using the large Little Room &
Res Board with a child on a vent?  So far my rule of thumb with folks has been
that if the child is physically comfortable & safe they are welcome to play, but
I'd love to hear any experience.

Thanks for reading,
Mariah Roberts BBF

-----Original Message-----
From: ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of rose26392639
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 8:29 PM
To: ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ActiveLearning] Hi

Hi Everyone
First I have to say Thank you so much Diane for allowing me and
Karleena to come and check out your active learning classroom. It was
very motivating for us! We have finally got some money to spend on a
few active learning things. My problem is I can not decided what to
get? I had already started filling out the order form for a HOPSA
dress and all the parts as well as an esseffs board and some of the
FIELa curriculum stuff. As I am filling this out I started debating
if we should just get a Little Room. As you all know she does have
something like a Little Room but we would like to eventually get the
real thing! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

We have all been doing good and Karleena is really enjoying her
homemade little room as well as the resonance board. She has been
sick a couple of times this winter but nothing too bad. We started
the new year off with no nursing! It has been a nice change.
Karleena got to go to Disneyland and she met Mickey, it was really
cute! I have heard from Karleena's Braille teacher there might be an
active learning play group this spring at a parents house. Hope so!
Take Care
Jessica and Karleena

Hi Everyone
First I have to say Thank you so much Diane for allowing me and
Karleena to come and check out your active learning classroom.  It was
very motivating for us!  We have finally got some money to spend on a
few active learning things.  My problem is I can not decided what to
get?  I had already started filling out the order form for a HOPSA
dress and all the parts as well as an esseffs board and some of the
FIELa curriculum stuff.  As I am filling this out I started debating
if we should just get a Little Room.  As you all know she does have
something like a Little Room but we would like to eventually get the
real thing!  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

We have all been doing good and Karleena is really enjoying her
homemade little room as well as the resonance board.  She has been
sick a couple of times this winter but nothing too bad.  We started
the new year off with no nursing!  It has been a nice change.
Karleena got to go to Disneyland and she met Mickey, it was really
cute!  I have heard from Karleena's Braille teacher there might be an
active learning play group this spring at a parents house. Hope so!
Take Care
Jessica and Karleena

Hi,

I'd like to add just a few points to Diane's response.

I echo her point that learners can stay in equipment as long as they
want to.  My daughter has, at times, stayed in environments for well
over a hour. As Patricia Obrzut, MS OTR, of the Penrickton Center for
Blind Children (who we consider to be a top expert in Active
Learning) has said, "If you are on a schedule then you are not
practicing Active Learning", which I take to emphasize that the
learner should control their time in environments.  I think parents
can distinguish better than most between a child's objections due to
problem-solving frustration and the "I've given up" complaint.  As
Dr. Nielsen has said, never interrupt a child trying to solve a
problem.

Dr. Nielsen has also indicated that more but shorter sessions in
equipment are preferrable to one long session.   So my suggestion
would be to get your child into the Little Room more often, and, as
Diane has suggested, allow her to determine the end of stay.  Of
course, at the end of that play is the time to interact and let your
child tell you all their accomplishments. I get the biggest response
from our daughter by asking, "Are you a good player?". Lastly on this
topic, since our child tends to wear out toward the end of the day,
most of her sessions are earlier in the day.

On the topic of procuring a real Little Room,  LilliWorks does sell
kits, which just require sanding, gluing and finishing. If your child
does not sit up, a LR-1 model (the least expensive) is probably
appropriate.  Also, local public service organizations, such as Elks,
Lions, Mason, etc. may be able to help with both purchasing and
assembly (a local community college or high school woodshop might
also help with the latter)...  At age 3 in California, school
districts are responsible for a child's education, and are required
by law to supply any equipment required by a child's IEP --
LilliWorks has a sample Active Learning IEP available.

You might also consider the Support Bench, if you are not using it
yet.  It is an excellent way to free a child's hands and feet for
play.

It sounds like you and your child are busy exploring through Active
Learning, and we wish you continued success.

  Rand Wrobel, LIlliWorks


--
- Rand Wrobel :-)

--- In ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com, jessica robinson
<rose26392639@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Diane
> Thanks for the response.  Were you the one who does active learning
at a preschool in Indio?  If so I would love to come and check it
out.  I am actually taking a cde class and was wondering if I could
do my last observation at your preschool.  It is actually supposed to
be a guide through the preschool as if I am checking it out for my
child.  I was hoping maybe something this Friday?
> Thanks for the info on the little room.  We have pegboard on the
sides and the top is half plexiglass and half pegboard  with lots of
little wholes everywhere.  I really don't like using our make shift
little room because I feel like it does not compare whatsoever to the
official little room but it is better than nothing.  So, would you
recommend taking the pegboards off the sides?  I have never heard
this before about the carbon dioxide, but it does make sense!  Thanks
> Jessica
>
Jessica,

Yes, I have the preschool in Indio, and you are more than welcome to
come and visit.  Please call Robert Wiese or Mel Surdin at 345-1788
to clear the visit with administration.  We can talk about the little
room on Friday.  I can give you some alternatives that are safe.  I
look forward to seeing you!!  Diane
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: mdmont3 <mdmont@...>
> To: ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, December 7, 2008 3:33:39 PM
> Subject: [ActiveLearning] Re: hi
>
>
> --- In ActiveLearning@ yahoogroups. com, "rose26392639"
> <rose26392639@ ...> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Everybody
> > I am so excited this group is finally going.  Diana I think I
have met
> > you at an active learning play group in Menifee?  We found out
about
> > active learning through a parent who did a presention at a braille
> > meeting.  I think the whole active learning theory is great.  I
do not
> > understand why this is not something that is used throughout the
> > school districts.  We have built a resonance board for our
daughter as
> > well as a little room.  We are saving up for the hopsa dress,
essef
> > board, and official little room.  I have read a few of Lilli
Neilsens
> > books.  I am going to school to be an early interventionist and
would
> > love to eventually have an active learning preschool.  One
question I
> > do have is how often should we be putting Karleena in her little
room?
> >  Right now we are putting her in it once a day for about 20
minutes.
> > Thanks Jessica and Karleena
> >
> Hi,
> I am thrilled that you find Active Learning helpful with your
> daughter.  I would like to encourage you to continue to use the
> principles throughout your daughter's life.  She will benefit from
them
> greatly.  First, allow me to address a concern, and then I would
like
> to offer an answer to your question.
>
> Many pieces of the Active Learaning equipment can be made at home,
and
> Lilliworks sells the plans for these pieces; however, the little
room
> is not one of them.  I would caution you in building this
particular
> piece because carbon dioxide can build up in the little room if it
is
> not properly ventalated.  This can cause your daugther to fall
asleep
> and could be harmful to her.  Allow me to suggest a hanging frame
that
> is open on the sides.  It will not produce the same results as the
> little room, but it will produce good results until you can
purchase an
> official little room.
>
> Aside from the above concerns, she can stay in an appropriately
> designed environment for as long as she wants to.  She may want to
take
> breaks (even naps) and then wake up and be more active than before.
> Observation is the key.  When she tells you that she is finished,
then
> I would take her out.  Likewise, observation will tell you when she
> needs the little room changed to the next developmental level.
>
> When you begin the preschool, you may be able to write or apply for
a
> grant to purchase the equipment and the beam from which to hang the
> HOPSI from.  It will be exciting to have another preschool with an
> Active Learning curriculum available to students with multiple
> disabilities.  I believe it to be a lack of understanding of
chldren as
> well as the program that prevents it from being used more often.  I
am
> hopeful that as the successes are documented, then more programs
will
> surface to serve more children.  Just keep learning, and I wish you
> well.  Diane
>

--- In ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com, "rose26392639"
<rose26392639@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Everybody
> I am so excited this group is finally going.  Diana I think I have met
> you at an active learning play group in Menifee?  We found out about
> active learning through a parent who did a presention at a braille
> meeting.  I think the whole active learning theory is great.  I do not
> understand why this is not something that is used throughout the
> school districts.  We have built a resonance board for our daughter as
> well as a little room.  We are saving up for the hopsa dress, essef
> board, and official little room.  I have read a few of Lilli Neilsens
> books.  I am going to school to be an early interventionist and would
> love to eventually have an active learning preschool.  One question I
> do have is how often should we be putting Karleena in her little room?
>  Right now we are putting her in it once a day for about 20 minutes.
> Thanks Jessica and Karleena
>
Hi,
I am thrilled that you find Active Learning helpful with your
daughter.  I would like to encourage you to continue to use the
principles throughout your daughter's life.  She will benefit from them
greatly.  First, allow me to address a concern, and then I would like
to offer an answer to your question.

Many pieces of the Active Learaning equipment can be made at home, and
Lilliworks sells the plans for these pieces; however, the little room
is not one of them.  I would caution you in building this particular
piece because carbon dioxide can build up in the little room if it is
not properly ventalated.  This can cause your daugther to fall asleep
and could be harmful to her.  Allow me to suggest a hanging frame that
is open on the sides.  It will not produce the same results as the
little room, but it will produce good results until you can purchase an
official little room.

Aside from the above concerns, she can stay in an appropriately
designed environment for as long as she wants to.  She may want to take
breaks (even naps) and then wake up and be more active than before.
Observation is the key.  When she tells you that she is finished, then
I would take her out.  Likewise, observation will tell you when she
needs the little room changed to the next developmental level.

When you begin the preschool, you may be able to write or apply for a
grant to purchase the equipment and the beam from which to hang the
HOPSI from.  It will be exciting to have another preschool with an
Active Learning curriculum available to students with multiple
disabilities.  I believe it to be a lack of understanding of chldren as
well as the program that prevents it from being used more often.  I am
hopeful that as the successes are documented, then more programs will
surface to serve more children.  Just keep learning, and I wish you
well.  Diane

Hi Everybody
I am so excited this group is finally going.  Diana I think I have met
you at an active learning play group in Menifee?  We found out about
active learning through a parent who did a presention at a braille
meeting.  I think the whole active learning theory is great.  I do not
understand why this is not something that is used throughout the
school districts.  We have built a resonance board for our daughter as
well as a little room.  We are saving up for the hopsa dress, essef
board, and official little room.  I have read a few of Lilli Neilsens
books.  I am going to school to be an early interventionist and would
love to eventually have an active learning preschool.  One question I
do have is how often should we be putting Karleena in her little room?
  Right now we are putting her in it once a day for about 20 minutes.
Thanks Jessica and Karleena

Dear Members,

We have had a lot of new members join our group lately.  Please allow
me to encourage you to write about your successes, your frustrations,
what is working for you, and what do you need help with.  Questions
anyone?  Here is the place to ask!!  Let's get some conversations about
Active Learning going so that we all may benefit.  Thanks  Diane

Hi,

My name is Diane Montgomery and I am using Active Learning in Indio,
CA.  I would like to meet all of you!!  I have been using Active
Learning for about four years.  It has transformed my students into
learners!!!  I teach children with develomental delays usually
cognitively functioning under two years reguardless of their
chronological age.  Typically my students do not progress a lot at
school, but by using the active learning curriculum, I am able to
document very specific growth.  Both parents and administrators love
it.  Many of my students acquire one to two hundred skills within one
year.  Many of these skills are difficult to recognize without Dr.
Nielsen's assessment.  I have two students who are actually learning
to
walk now.  I have done extensive work with using the assessment and
curriculum, aligning it to the district standards, writing IEP's,
etc.
I have taught Active Learning at Chapman last year in the teacher
credentially program.  I am open to any questions that you may have.
If I do not have a clue as to the answer, I will look for one.  I
would
like to get this group up and going, so please share your Active
Learning challenges and successes.  Hope to year from you soon.  Diane

Hi All,

No more SPAM from this group.

When I started this email group back in 2006, it essentially got lost in the haze... I didn't get any email from it, eventually due to my yahoo email account being disabled.  I didn't think anyone was joining. 

Finally, Diane Montgomery, a few days ago, let us know through LilliWorks that the messages being posted to the group were, um, very inappropriate.  Those of you who were getting those messages, I deeply apologize - I had no idea.

So, now this group is Moderated. New members must be approved, and currently all messages must be approved.  We may back off on that and just moderate new member messages.  The past messages have been scrubbed.

We are open to others being a Moderator -- I don't know how often I will be able to check for these messages - I'm not normally on yahoo (which is why it was unmoderated previously)... If your new message is not posted within a reasonable period of time, please send me a tickler email to rand.wrobel [at] gmail.com - you can understand why I'm breaking up my email address.

We are here to answer your Active Learning questions and to share thoughts and ideas.  As the group description indicates, more general information on the Active Learning approach can be found at www.LilliWorks.org or by contacting the LilliWorks Active Learning Foundation at 510 814 9111. But this group is here to answer your specific questions, and get your ideas.

We currently have 40+ members, some of which I know are real Active Learning practitioners. Hopefully, not everyone has routed messages from this group to their spam bucket.  So, please, post a message, just to let everyone know that you are "Active".  There is an "Active Learning community" and hopefully, now, this email group can be a lightning rod to allow us to communicate amongst ourselves.

Thanks,

- Rand Wrobel,

Exec. Director, LilliWorks ALF

So there are over 40 members, and

i would like to know how it is going to affect my child as she gets
older

Hi Diane

If you have specific questions I would be more than happy to answer
them. If I don not have the answer Ican consult with the other VI's
in my group. Also, there is an abundance of information on low
incidence disabilites on the University of Colorado's webpage. That
address is www.unco.edu Many of those folks have been in the field
for ever and may be able to offer support to you as well.

Can you tell me what state you are from?

--- In ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com, "vispecialist07"
<vispecialist07@...> wrote:
>
> --- In ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com, DIANNE WOODFORD
> <diannewoodford@> wrote:
> >
> > hi my name is dianne my son is called jamie he has cortical
visual
> impairment and globel development delay and epelespy  i feel that
i
> dont always get the answers to questions at the hospital and get
so
> frustated i just want to help my little boy as much as i can and
would
> love advice on everthing that would help love dianne
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> >  Inbox full of spam? Get leading spam protection and 1GB storage
> with All New Yahoo! Mail.
>
> Hi Dianne..welcome to the group. My name is Sharon but go by
Sonny. I
> am a certified teacher of the visually impaired and have worked in
> Texas public education for the past 20 years. My passion are
students
> with multiple disabilities. I am currently a doctoral student in
> special ed. at Texas Tech University focusing on visual
impairments.
> My dissertation will focus on visual efficiency in students with
> cortical vision impairments and how those skills are developed
using
> sesensory rooms (past experience with sensory rooms and active
> learning techniques) if I could be of assistance to you please
feel
> free to ask.
> >
>

--- In ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com, DIANNE WOODFORD
<diannewoodford@...> wrote:
>
> hi my name is dianne my son is called jamie he has cortical visual
impairment and globel development delay and epelespy  i feel that i
dont always get the answers to questions at the hospital and get so
frustated i just want to help my little boy as much as i can and would
love advice on everthing that would help love dianne
>
> ---------------------------------
>  Inbox full of spam? Get leading spam protection and 1GB storage
with All New Yahoo! Mail.

Hi Dianne..welcome to the group. My name is Sharon but go by Sonny. I
am a certified teacher of the visually impaired and have worked in
Texas public education for the past 20 years. My passion are students
with multiple disabilities. I am currently a doctoral student in
special ed. at Texas Tech University focusing on visual impairments.
My dissertation will focus on visual efficiency in students with
cortical vision impairments and how those skills are developed using
sesensory rooms (past experience with sensory rooms and active
learning techniques) if I could be of assistance to you please feel
free to ask.
>

Hi! 

We are not a very active group but welcome. Have you been to Lillian Nielsen's website?  It has a lot of information about active learning. Also are you hooked up with early intervention for you son?  Another group I belong to that is really helpful is the yahoo birth to three group.

Jenny

DIANNE WOODFORD <diannewoodford@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

hi my name is dianne my son is called jamie he has cortical visual impairment and globel development delay and epelespy  i feel that i dont always get the answers to questions at the hospital and get so frustated i just want to help my little boy as much as i can and would love advice on everthing that would help love dianne

---

Inbox full of spam? Get leading spam protection and 1GB storage with All New Yahoo! Mail.

---

Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.

hi my name is dianne my son is called jamie he has cortical visual impairment and globel development delay and epelespy  i feel that i dont always get the answers to questions at the hospital and get so frustated i just want to help my little boy as much as i can and would love advice on everthing that would help love dianne

---

Inbox full of spam? Get leading spam protection and 1GB storage with All New Yahoo! Mail.

I found this article on Active Learning:

http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060619/NEWS/606190317/1152

Not very detailed, but at least it's out there!

Hi there, I am Lori Dawn, mother of three boys.  My middle son is 3
years old and has CVI and CP.  I have attended 2 AL workshops and we
have used the information to better stimulate William's visin and
motor skills.  I look forward to more information and idea sharing.

Lori Dawn

New photos posted to the "Photos" section.  See album "MG".  I've
always had trouble finding good pictures of equipment with people on
it, so here are some of my daughter with here active learning stuff.
Critiques on our setup are welcome.

Thanks,
Michael

----- Original Message -----

From: Stkamcook

To: ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 9:40 PM

Subject: [ActiveLearning] Re: Active Learning Equipment featured on Extreme Makeover - Home Edition!!!!

I missed the show, but heard it was great.  Did they mention anything about
ALC????? Or LilliWorks?


--- In ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com, "Sue Ellen Holmes" <sholmes1@...> wrote:
>
> LilliWorks equipment looked beautiful on the show!  I only wish they
> would've given more explanation of the equipment tp help families who
> don't know about Active Learning.  The Room was set up
> beautifully....that Active Learning Equipment (namely,the HOPSA-dress
> and the Little Room!) are just what the little girl, Isabella, will
> need to develop and grow!
>
> -Sue Ellen
> Syracuse, NY
>

I missed the show, but heard it was great.  Did they mention anything about
ALC????? Or LilliWorks?


--- In ActiveLearning@yahoogroups.com, "Sue Ellen Holmes" <sholmes1@...> wrote:
>
> LilliWorks equipment looked beautiful on the show!  I only wish they
> would've given more explanation of the equipment tp help families who
> don't know about Active Learning.  The Room was set up
> beautifully....that Active Learning Equipment (namely,the HOPSA-dress
> and the Little Room!) are just what the little girl, Isabella, will
> need to develop and grow!
>
> -Sue Ellen
> Syracuse, NY
>

LilliWorks equipment looked beautiful on the show!  I only wish they
would've given more explanation of the equipment tp help families who
don't know about Active Learning.  The Room was set up
beautifully....that Active Learning Equipment (namely,the HOPSA-dress
and the Little Room!) are just what the little girl, Isabella, will
need to develop and grow!

-Sue Ellen
Syracuse, NY