Use of assistive technology at Modoc High

In my current placement at Modoc High School, we serve approximately 25 students who have IEPs and a number of others who are site-based. All of these students are placed in study skills. Incomplete work is tracked closely, written up on the board and crossed off as assignments are finished.
Staff uses a number of low-tech assistive technology tools and strategies to keep students abreast of their work. Highlighters are used to make key points in textbooks stand out. Instructional aides are sent into core classes to assist students and take notes. If they have unfinished notes, students finish copying them once back in study skills. Outlining is another tool used to note main ideas of short stories. Aides will scribe for students who have a hard time writing down their thoughts in a timely fashion.
During exams, students have the option of coming out to test in a quiet room. Instructional aides read tests out loud to students.
The main mid to high-tech tool used at our school is the electronic spell checker accessible on any student computer.
For more information on both low and high-tech technology tools, go to http://www.nsnet.org/atc/tools/lowtohightech.html http://www.ldresources.com/ http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/technology/technology.html

Service Learning Project

My students in Workability and the Transition Partnership Program (TPP) are embarking on an entrepreneurial adventure in the making and selling of dog treats! They’ve selected a recipe, made batches of dough, rolled it out and used cookie cutters to cut out doggie-shaped bones. They’ve baked and packaged the treats and thought up and rehearsed a sales pitch.
This week, they delivered the displays of treats to select businesses. Cash boxes with slits in the top sit alongside each display for customers to deposit their money. Students are responsible for collecting the money earned and keeping the display boxes full. One business called tonight to say they’re almost out of treats after just one day!
Funded by Workability, profits made from selling Doggie Delights will help support the students’ cooking program, field trips and other classroom activities. In addition, this service learning project will help integrate students into the community and give them hands-on job experience.