VI Program Teacher Standards

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Revised July 10, 2017

Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments have a unique job and will need to develop skills in areas not typically addressed in standard teacher evaluation tools. Listed here are skills specific to being a TVI. No TVI will exceed standards in all areas. We all have areas of strengths and weaknesses but this list is helpful for self-reflection and patting yourself on the back for areas of strength and acknowledging and working on areas of weakness. The printable form (located in the sidebar of this article) can be used as an annual self-assessment tool for professional growth. 

Professional Knowledge

• ​Have accurate, cohesive, and in-depth knowledge of VI laws, policies, and procedures.
• It can effectively explain vision specific concepts, principles, and methodology to teams.
• Know and effectively communicate the areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC).
• Understand the scope and sequence of teaching areas of the ECC.
• Choose the most effective strategies to communicate VI content to teams.
• Understand the issues of low incidence disabilities.
• Are aware of the visual pathologies and implications across the life span.
• Know the developmental patterns of children with VI across all developmental domains.
• Know the relationships between visual impairments and other disabilities.
• Know issues and options for students with progressive eye conditions.
• Know and effectively communicate the role of the TVI, O&M, other vision professionals.

Assessment Strategies

• Observe students informally in the classroom to evaluate skills and accommodation use.
• Update the Functional Vision Evaluation (FVE) to monitor progress and document the current use of vision.
• Use/recommend appropriate evaluations for students with visual impairments.
• Conduct FVE, LMA, and environmental assessments.
• Write professional reports reflecting information from evaluations.
• Know visual impairment specific assessment tools and their intended use.
• Interpret eye reports and understand their contents and implications.
• Use assessments for instructional and programmatic planning and consultation.
• Design unique opportunities for the student to demonstrate proficiency.
• Maintain accurately and up to date data collection

Instructional Planning

• Set clear and specific learning objectives to communicate the intended learning outcome.
• Use IEP objectives to design instructional strategies and learning activities.
• Encourage students to objectively evaluate their progress.
• Use FVELMA and ECC annual needs consideration to plan instruction.
• Plans allow for student choice, flexibility and promote independence.
• Adjust instruction using backward chaining to ensure student success.
• Plan appropriate long-range learning and developmental goals for students.
• Align instruction with areas of the ECC.
• Use Federal Quota Funds to access instructional materials.
• Know transition issues (e.g., secondary to post-secondary, education to rehab, etc.).

Instructional Practice

• Exhibit instructional practice that is supported by current research and best practice.
• Collaborate effectively with classroom teachers and therapists
• Use strategies to enhance student motivation and decrease negative behaviors.
• Match instruction to student’s achievement level and visual needs.
• Adjust the delivery and pacing of instruction in response to student cues.
• Use wait time appropriately.
• Know braille codes and how to teach them, including literary and Nemeth code.
• Know and can teach the use of the Cranmer Abacus.
• Know how and when to adapt environments and materials for a variety of students.
• Train on low vision devices (to students, families, teachers, etc.).
• Know and have skills in using various other assistive technology devices.
• Know the structure and development of reading, especially as it pertains to braille.
• Maximize instructional time.
• Limit disruption and interruptions as possible.
• Carefully link learning objectives and activities.
• Design tasks that are relevant to the student’s life and current events.
• Link instruction to student’s real-life experiences.
• Consider student attention span and learning styles when designing lessons.
• Be supportive and persistent in keeping the student on task.
• Stress student responsibility and accountability.

Differentiated Instruction

• Aware of psycho-social implications of visual impairments for the student/family.
• Design activities appropriate for various ages and abilities.
• Have an understanding of visual impairments and unique learner needs.
• Anticipate possible difficulties the student may have and adjust instruction.
• Adapt instruction to student’s interests, learning abilities, and current skills.
• Vary instructional strategies and activities for students.
• Offer an optimal amount of support to ensure the student is challenged and successful.
• Provide help in potential crises involving psychosocial implications related to vision.
• Use knowledge of cultural and socio-economic factors in strategies and activities.
• Address unique communication issues of children with visual impairments.

Positive Learning Environment

• Observe students informally in the classroom to evaluate skills and accommodation use.
• Update the FVE to monitor progress and document the current use of vision.
• Use/recommend appropriate evaluation for students with visual impairments.
• Conduct FVE, LMA, and environmental assessments.
• Write professional reports reflecting information from evaluations.
• Know visual impairment specific assessment tools and their intended use.
• Interpret eye reports and understand their contents and implications.
• Use assessments for instructional and programmatic planning and consultation.
• Design unique opportunities for the student to demonstrate proficiency

Professionalism

• Demonstrate interest in student’s personal and developmental needs.
• Adhere to legal and ethical guidelines, standards of the profession, and school policies.
• Demonstrate professional demeanor and positive interactions with others.
• Seek and find solutions that will solve the problems encountered.
• Involvement in learning activities in the field of visual impairments.
• Assess and audit the gaps in professional practice.
• Incorporate learning from professional development activities into practice.
• Find, implement, and share new instructional strategies.
• Network, share practices through dialogue, modeling, and demonstration.
• Share practices through mentoring, coaching, team teaching and shadowing.
• Know areas of personal strengths and weaknesses.
• Compare instructional practice to best practice in the field of visual impairments.
• Know organizations in the field of visual impairments.
• Know publications and resources in the field of visual impairments

Communication

• Use a repertoire of communication behaviors appropriate for team/setting.
• Use an effective approach that facilitates team collaboration.
• Document team communications.
• Provide progress reports in a timely and constructive manner.
• Share knowledge and engage in collaborative problem-solving with teams.
• Collaborate and network with teams to reach educational decisions.
• Parent interactions are professional and positive

Teacher Impact

• Consistent involvement as a leader in VI activities and contributes to positive climate.
• Seek out professional growth aligned with the National Agenda and areas of the ECC.
• Engage in professional presentations, mentoring other TVI’s or conducting research.
• Reflect and analyze results of action and share info members and prof. community.
• FVE reports are always of high quality with exemplary accuracy and timeliness.

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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


BONUS!
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.

NEW! Access to TVI's Guide Bonus Membership Pages

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TVI Self Assessment of Teacher Standards

This is checklist style of a Teacher self assessment tool, located on the Printables page for free, that you can use to set goals for your career growth.

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