NO bake cake

Happy birthday to ME! Yes, I know many of you are thinking that with my witty writing and youthful good looks I could only be a hair older than a young college girl but the truth is that I am several hairs older and turned 32 this past weekend. My birthday is no excuse for me not to be on the look out for new ideas to blog about so.... Viola! This week's posting! Zebra Cake! 

Why zebra cake? It's an easy cake to make that is tasty (and calorie friendly...) for everyone. In addition, it works on kitchen skills, patterns, and even some spatial orientation skills. Your main ingredients are vanilla, whipped topping and chocolate wafers. The wafers are probably the trickiest thing to find. I find them at our local grocery store in the cookie aisle. They are usually on the top shelf next to some obscure diabetic cookie or something. They run for about $3.89 each. 

It really is as easy as I show in the pictures. The whipped topping acts like a glue and holds the wafers in place. I've actually done this cooking project with students who have multiple impairments several times. I like to keep my whipped topping cold but not yet frozen because it is easier for my MI/VI students to use. I would also suggest a bright red (or yellow) spoon for contrast as the whipped topping can easily take over the spoon. Make sure your spoon is a large one--that helps a lot.  It can be messy and fun and is only a repeated two step sequence! The only thing that might turn a student or two off is that it can be sticky. On the flip side, this is great for younger students because who doesn't like to lick off whipped cream? 

 

I've also included a link to allrecipes.com with a recipe that you can use. There is also one on the box.

 Here's the recipe link: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/zebra-cake-2/

I also have included some pictures of other variations of the zebra cake that you can do. These are all from allrecipes.com.

 

 

Remember, you can also make this a connected experience by going to the grocery store and purchasing ingredients. You an print out the pictures that I posted for this one and use it for a picture symbol for visual learners. You can make this a complete experience by having the student take out the needed materials (pan, bowl, etc.), prepare the cake and then cleaning up. Younger students can have a little contrast fun by adding fun topping like strawberries, chocolate chips, Oreo cookies, etc. 

Just remember the zebra cake requires about 4 hours in the freezer to finish.
 Do it early in the day so you can enjoy it later!

CVI Video Resources

Hi friends,
I received this email from one of my talented colleagues....

She shares these videos about CVI characteristics and how to apply them. They are webcasts from Perkins and they do a fantastic job of explaining everything we try to say, but in a clear and simplistic way. (I know my understanding process sometimes shows CVI characteristics, needing simplicity and one item to truly understand- haha) :) This video does just that for CVI so I thought I’d share it with those who may not have stumbled upon it yet…. Definitely worth watching when you have some time :) (Chapters 1,2,3,4)

http://support.perkins.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Webcasts_Cortical_Vision_Impairment

TSBVI also has some video clips- She likes the last ones best on Task Analysis for Phase 1, 2 and 3 that show specific things to do…http://www.tsbvi.edu/ta/p1c1 

Has anyone else come across good video resources? Email me!

Perkins Early Childhood Conference + ME!

Perkins School for the Blind is having its annual

Early Connections: Taking Care of Our Children....Taking Care of Ourselves

conference for parents of children with vision impairments from birth to 7 years old.

Child care and lunch provided.

Workshop topics include: iPad apps, feeding issues, the ECC, mobility, CVI and more

PLUS.....ME! 

I will be back presenting on the ECC for my 3rd year. I am so excited! I love this conference! I love meeting parents, seeing little kiddos, going to sessions and just being on the campus (huge historical architecture nerd here so I love looking at building itself).

Contact Perkins itself for more information on the conference. Contact person is Marguerite Tyrance,
617-972-7553

I hope to see some of you there!

Wilbur Cross cheerleader inspires teammates

I just had to share this super fun link from CT local news. They did a special on one of my students who is on her school's cheerleading squad. I thought it would be fun to share because it is another example of living a life that is not about what my students see....it's about what they do! And let me tell you one thing about the school that she cheers for, it's not a small school. It's a huge school in New Haven so I think that is just a bonus that my student is getting out there and kicking butt!

Click on the link below to watch the video clip:

Wilbur Cross cheerleader inspires teammates: Wilbur Cross cheerleader inspires teammates.

The World According To Jimmy

I am so excited to post a brand new addition to the bee! As you know, most of my favorite colleagues are my students. I love them, love learning from them, am inspired by them, just overall I love my students! I had an idea inspired by a pretty incredible kid named Jimmy. Jimmy is a favorite student and has been since he came onto my caseload in preschool. He's one of the most fearless kids and has a great family that has been right by his side nurturing him right along. Jimmy and his family are pretty open about his vision condition and their life, struggles and love that have happened over the past few years. With all of that being said, Jimmy is our newest blogger! Yay!! His mom, Kristi, has also signed on to share her views and experiences as they navigate life experiencing this crazy beautiful world. Jimmy's going to try out new things, tell us about school, life, whatever floats his way and together we can all learn about the world according to Jimmy!

Dear Blind Students:
Hi I am Jimmy! I am in 2nd grade in Stratford. I am a very low vision student. I read and write in Braille. Oh this might sound funny or weird, so I whacked my eye, right, so then the next day I could see a little better, I think. And just some advise do not try this at home because it is very painful. I like to play outside, dig in the dirt(this is most likely for boys), water ski, climb, run, build, try new things, fight with my dad (playfully of course). I am writing this blog to help Robbin get a young students life better. I am willing to answer any questions you have. I am hoping with this blog I will make a friend who is like me and to show that us blind kids are not any different than sighted kids, we can do anything (for the most part).
Talk to you later, Jimmy

Jimmy at Camp Abilities 2011. He caught a fish!

Jimmy at our Holiday Skills Day 2011. He's snagging an Oreo before our cooking project. 

 Jimmy at our ice skating event. He's on the ice with his cane checking things out.

Jimmy proudly supports our USABA Fitness Challenge.

And an introduction from Jimmy's super mom, Kristi. My editor note: I asked Kristi to also be part of this because she is one of those awesome moms who gets "it". Their family has had to learn a lot and she has done a great job of accepting, learning and empowering Jimmy. If I've got any moms out there reading this and just feeling like the blindness card is just overwhelming, this is a mom that gets it. She's 100% real and down to earth. Happy to have her!

Hi my name is Kristi, I am Jimmy's mother! In 2004 we got the devastating news that Jimmy had something called Retinoblastoma, cancer of the retina. In the years that proceeded we did treatment after treatment: chemo, radiation, enuculation of his left eye, plaque therapy on the right eye, retina reattachment, cataract removal...etc. In the process of all of this Jimmy lost the majority of his vision and is now considered Blind. He has the ability at times to see shadows and forms. In the years since Jimmy has gone blind (he was 3 ½ when he lost it) it has not slowed him down. He plays t-ball for the local team, he is an avid waterskier, he runs around outside our home like any other child and most people who pass by have no idea he actually cannot see them or anything else. Jimmy is now in the 2nd grade learning to read and write in Braille. He loves going to events with other children like him. He also loves music, books, and any excuse to get outside and RUN!

Good deals and steals at Target THIS WEEK!!

This Tuesday blog day I have TWO great posts to share. The first one is about my finds today. I was shopping at Target this evening and found two great deals and steals that I had to share!!

The first one is from the dollar bin section. It's $2.50 for these dip and chip trays aka sorting trays!! Do you love the bright yellow? Hello CVI!! They also have white, pink and blue. When I was a deafblind teacher, I loved sorting trays! These are such a steal at $2.50!

The next one is instantly great because it is 50% off! These are winter sleds. My Target has a ton of these because we have had almost no snow this year (don't get me wrong, I am not complaining!).  The sleds that I am blogging about are the circle disk ones. They are on clearance for $2.98!!

Why are these a steal? Because they are perfect little defined spaces for preschool!! You can sit in them or flip them over and have some fun (so many ideas---hide things under them, put balls in them when sitting in them and let them roll around, I could keep going...).