Measurement & Data Collection

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com

There are many materials available to make measurement, probability and data collection activities accessible to students who are blind or visually impaired. Using real objects and materials can make the experiences more concrete for the student.

Graphing is an great math activity that allows students to relate to numbers both tactually and visually. Graphs can show at a glace what could otherwise take paragraphs to describe. Graphs are also an excellent way to help students relate math to their personal experiences. Have students gather and sort data in response to questions posed (taste test or other comparison charts). Arrange objects in a graph according to attributes,(size, color, shape, etc). Encourage students to read the charts and graphs. When complete, identify category that has the most/fewest in a graph. Identify untrue or inappropriate statements about given data. Create and use charts, graphs, tables to interpret and analyze information and to locate information (e.g. sale prices, sales tax, nutritional information, etc) Depending on the students need for concrete understanding, create graphs using real objects, pictures/tactual graphics, or abstract (using print or tactual X's, circles, etc. for students functioning at a more abstract level).

Orion TI-36X Talking Scientific Calculator

Students in middle school following the standard course of study will need to use a scientific calculator. The Orion TI-36X Talking Scientific Calculator, available through APH, has identical functions to the Texas Instruments TI-36X calculator.

Large print/Large display calculators are available for students with low vision from other vendors. These calculators are sometimes paired with speech output. When selecting a calculator, remember the students need to first gain an understanding of numbers and how to perform operations, older students will be required to use calculators as they enter middle school and perform complex operations.

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1-foot braille ruler

This 1-foot braille ruler is tapered on the edge. A metal caliper slide aids in accuracy. The English measurement ruler has raised lines with braille numbers at each inch. Fourths on one edge, eighths on the other.

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Analog Clock Model ​

The Analog Clock Model from APH helps teach about time-telling concepts. It has braille and raised large print markings and hands that are easily rotated. The hands are synchronized like those of an actual clock.

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​Balance, SAVI/SELPH and FOSS

​Balance, SAVI/SELPH and FOSS is a specially modified balance includes a tactile indicator and holes in the balance pans, allowing use of removable plastic cups. Students use gram pieces and mass sets for weighing.

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Braille or Large Print Yardstick

The Braille/Large Print Yardstick has raised-line markings along one edge in1/4" increments, with braille marking every inch.

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Braille Meterstick

The Braille Meterstick has raised lines every centimeter, and braille every other centimeter; and thick raised lines for decimeters.

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Classroom Calendar

The whole class cab use this large print and braille Classroom Calendar from APH. Unlike many commercially available calendars that are visually cluttered, this calendar is simple and provides uncluttered, high contrast numbers and labels. It is accessible to students with low vision as well as those who are blind. It includes brightly colored and embossed holiday and weather symbols.

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Desktop Stick-On Number Line ​

This Desktop Stick-On Number Line available from APH provides both large print and braille. The self-adhesive number line can be reapplied approximately five times.

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Clock Face Sheets in Braille

Clock Face Sheets in Braille are available from APH. Each sheet contains four embossed braille clock faces. The clock faces are blank allowing you to add the hands.

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Electronic Learning Clock

Electronic learning clock teaches kids to tell time and solve elapsed time problems. The self-checking quiz feature has two skill levels to make mastering time telling easy! Clock measures 10 3/4" high. The 32-page Clever Clock Workbook includes 26 time-learning activities that can be used with any learning clock.

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Slide-A-Round Fraction Line

This Fraction Line, available from Slide-A-Round Math Manipulatives, was developed by Jim Franklin who is a special education teacher. This fraction number line is accessible to students with low vision as well as those who are blind.

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Individual Calendar Kit

The Individual Calendar Kit from APH allows students to create their own individual calendars. The kit includes twelve brightly colored embossed/bold line grid sheets with paper labels for months, days of the week and days of the month. Labels are in large print and braille.

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Large Print or Braille Toss Away Ruler

The Large Print/Braille Toss Away Ruler has markings both in large print and braille and is designed for the classroom or testing and assessment situations where an inexpensive measuring device is needed.

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Math Builders Unit 5: Measurement and Estimation

Math Builders Unit 5: Measurement and Estimation is a supplementary math program. It includes a teacher's guide with lesson plans specific to geometry standards.

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Math Builders Unit 8: Data Collection, Graphing, and Probability/Statistics

Math Builders Unit 8: Data Collection, Graphing, and Probability/Statistics is a supplementary math program. It includes a teacher's guide with lesson plans specific to geometry standards.

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SAVI/ SELPH Thermometer ​

The SAVI/ SELPH thermometer includes both a Braille and large print scale for measuring temperature in degrees Celsius. It is introduced in the SAVI/SELPH Measurement Module to measure the temperature of water. The thermometer can be calibrated. Tabs are included along the rim to mark temperatures for comparison.

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Sight Enhancement Systems

Sight Enhancement Systems, Ottawa, Canada, offers next generation SciPlus scientific calculators designed specifically for persons who are visually impaired.  These new models improve on the popular SciPlus family, incorporating a larger, 4-line backlit graphical LCD display with inverted white/black function and adjustable contrast.  The SciPlus-2200 version is the “non-speaking” model, and the SciPlus-2300 has English/Spanish (selectable) audio output, with additional languages coming soon.

Tactile Demonstration Thermometer ​

The Tactile Demonstration Thermometer from APH allows students to independently read, set, and compare temperatures. It consists of a two textured, two-colored adjustable "mercury column" with an easy-grip tactile indicator. The comparable Fahrenheit and Celsius scales are in large print and braille.

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Talking Tape Measures ​

Talking Tape Measures announce the measured length.

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Textured Sorting Circles and Shapes ​

Textured Sorting Circles and Shapes includes shapes in a variety of textures, sizes, and colors. The accompanying sorting circles are also provided in a variety or colors and textures, and can be used to create Venn diagrams.

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Slide-A-Round Time Line

This Time Line, available from Slide-A-Round Math Manipulatives, was developed by Jim Franklin who is a special education teacher. This number line is accessible to students with low vision as well as those who are blind.

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Transparent CCTV Rulers ​

Transparent CCTV Rulers are flexible, see-through vinyl rulers that make it easier to measure items magnified by an electronic magnifier. Rulers are scree printed with black ink on high-contrast transparent vinyl.

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TVI's Guide Complete Set Bundle + BONUS Resources

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TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC: An Activities Based Curriculum for Teaching Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
The TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC is a digital pdf available for download. It is designed specifically for fellow itinerant Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI’s), and consists of over 400 activities and topic areas of discussion for instructing students in the Expanded Core Curriculum. The activities are age-neutral and multi-sensory and therefore can meet the needs of the broad range of students served on an itinerant caseload serving. The activities can be individualized to the students various learning modalities and scaffold in order to challenge students but ensure success. Select those activities that align with the student’s learning objects based on the student’s unique visual needs and academic and developmental level. In addition to the core activity areas, each of the 32 Thematic Units incorporates additional unique ECC concepts and skills providing you with a years’ worth of activities. These units are cyclical and can be used repeatedly to help students build on prior knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of concepts. Each unit includes suggestions for activity adaptation associated with the unit. These include lists of objects, possible community-based experiences, environmental print, poems, children & young reader books, children's songs, pop culture songs, movies, and websites.


In addition to the book, the following two supplements are included:
·      TVI’s Guide to the ECC Concept Checklist
·      TVI’s Guide to the ECC Activities Checklist


For complete product details and additional images, visit the TVI's Guide product page.


TVI's Guide to the ECC Product details
·      Digital pdf download: 346 pages (11 pt font)
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheets: TVI's Guide to the ECC Grab and Go Supplements
The Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheets is a Grab and Go supplement to the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC. This workbook is a pdf download that can be printed on demand for use with students. It contains five different types of worksheets for developing visual motor skills and near magnifier fluency skills particularly with the use of a video magnifier. As a companion to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to each of the 32 ECC Thematic units. The worksheets, along with a list of environmental print for each thematic unit, are designed to help students refine their visual motor skills while reinforcing ECC concepts presented in the thematic units.  


For complete product details and additional images, visit the Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Product Page.


Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheet Details:
·      Digital pdf download: 210 pages
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Worksheets: A TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC Grab & go Supplement
The Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Grab and Go ECC worksheet packet is a print on demand workbook that contains worksheets in print and simulated braille to use for data collection. Present the student with a hard braille copy and use the worksheets to document accuracy and fluency in reading braille. As a companion to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. These word lists and sentences will help the student refine their keyboarding or braille reading skills while bridging ECC concepts presented in the thematic units. Although the lists and passages can be produced using a manual braillewriter, you may also copy and paste the passages into any braille translation software for quick production on an embosser. They may also be entered into a typing program such as APH’s Talking Typer to build keyboarding fluency.


For complete product details and additional images, visit the Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency & Maintenance Product Page


Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency Worksheet Details:
·      Digital pdf download: 338-page print and simulated braille worksheets
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists: Grab & Go ECC Supplement
The Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists Grab and Go ECC supplement is a 446 page pdf downloadable print on demand workbook that includes 2940 vocabulary card on 3 1/2" x 2" templates divided by each of the 32 Thematic Units along with a checklist of each unit words in print and simulated braille. As a companion to the TVI's Guide to the ECC, the vocabulary cards correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. 


Additional Use:
Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments can have a extremely varied caseloads. It is possible to go several years without having a student on your caseload who requires braille instruction. Like other skills, if you do not practice your braille regularly, it is easy to lose those skills. Use these checklists and cards to maintain your braille skills. Fold the checklist along the line dividing the print from the braille. Choose to either read the print and produce the word in braille using a braillewriter or read the simulated braille and decode it. Finally, these vocabulary cards and checklists may be used with family members or peers who are interested in learning and practicing the braille code.


For complete product details and additional images, visit the Thematic Vocabulary Cards & Checklists Product Page


Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists Details:
·      Digital pdf download: 446-page print on demand resource
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


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Lotto Cards
The LOTTO Cards Grab and Go Supplement includes 37 theme related unit cards along with activity suggestions that support activities within the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC.


On My Way File Folder Cards
Print and use these cards to represent locations the student may visit that are related to the current thematic unit. Use these with the On My Way File Folder Game outlined in the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC p. 27.

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