Cindy's Corner

Cindy O’Connell is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired with 36 years of experience working with students who are visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities. She has served as a mentor and a consultant in the field both nationally and internationally.  

Cindy’s Corner shares activities that have been adapted to meet the needs of these students. The activities have been developed to be used by teachers and families alike. Each month, Perkins' Educator Series e-newsletter will present a new hands-on activity that will provide students with a fun way to work on meaningful skills.

Activities

Classroom Organization & Management

Here are some ideas on how to create a predictable environment in the classroom, with tips on classroom organization and management.

Create a Solar Powered Oven out of a Pizza Box

Use a pizza box to make a solar oven that gets hot enough to cook s'mores! (Adapted from Family Fun Magazine)

Charting Behaviors and Desensitizing Strategies

This article offers charting behaviors and desentizing strategies and techniques that are found to be effective in the classroom.

Dr. Seuss Themed Activities

Hands-on Dr. Seuss-themed activities with adaptations and thoughts on how to make them concept-based.

Valentine Cards

Valentine activities provide meaningful ways to work on basic skills and concepts in a functional setting.

Setting Up a Class-Run Pizza Parlor

Start the New Year off with a super motivating activity by setting up a weekly pizza parlor offering “ready to cook” pizza for family or staff.

Choosing Appropriate Holiday Projects

Centering class projects on holidays can be a good way to reinforce seasonal time concepts and create a sense of group.

Cranberry Projects

Cranberries are a good example of how to use seasonal produce as a teaching tool.

Individualized Adapted Calendars

Break the concept of a month down into its components, using simple, meaningful language with concrete supports.

Tactile Timelines

Think of a timeline as an organized alternative to posting things on your bulletin board or refrigerator door!

Shell Matching Game

Bring back memories of the beach as you develop memory skills and work on basic concepts, such as, matching, discrimination and same/different.

Potted Chocolate Pudding

You can easily adapt this fun cooking lesson to teach a wide-range of levels, concepts and hand skills.

Watermelon Themes

There are countless and creative ways to make use of a watermelon for educational purposes.

Ice Cream in a Bag

Making ice cream is a fun way to demonstrate basic scientific principles in a meaningful context (Physical Sciences / Chemistry: States of Matter).

Multi-Class Flea Market

A flea market theme can generate multiple related activities and provides a natural environment to work on classification and money skills.

Winter Sun Catchers

Decorating the schoolyard, or your backyard with winter sun catchers is a fun way to incorporate ELA, Mathematics and Science concepts.

Crayon Hearts

Crayon Hearts is a motivating, holiday-based activity that can be used to teach Mathematics, Science & Technology, basic concepts and more!

Winter Bird Treats

Making bird treats includes a range of basic concepts, action-related vocabulary, and purposeful hand skills.

Apple Cinnamon Ornaments

The simplicity of the recipe makes it a perfect activity for developing memory skills and independence.

Salad on a Stick

Here’s a nutritious idea from Family Fun Magazine, called “Salad on a Stick,” with simple tips on how to adapt it for children with multiple impairments.

Spooky Halloween Hand

This simple activity is a motivating hands-on activity that can be used to teach basic concepts, functional hand skills and introduction to a microwave.

Dog Treats

A hands-on recipe that I have used in my classroom to run a weekly dog treat service. It addresses many skills and concepts on multiple levels.

Beyond Pegboards: A Guide for Teaching...

Many of Cindy's tailored activities can be found in her book Beyond Pegboards: A Guide for Teaching Adolescent Students with Multiple Disabilities. In it, the teacher of 36 years details 23 hands-on activities and lists 101 additional suggestions.