Exploration Classrooms in AT & Special Education

Exploration Classroom – AT Focus

The Assistive Technology Team recently hosted an Exploration Classrooms for Special Education and Assistive Technology.



On February 22, Lisa Sherman welcomed visiting teachers to her HSP Classroom at Allenby P.S. Teachers observed three literacy centres that focused on matching voice to purpose and identifying the author’s point of view.

Guided reading

At the writing centre, students used a SMART Ideas template and Read and Write Gold to plan their first person narrative - written from the point of view of Harriet Tubman. At the SMART Board centre, students viewed a “behind the scenes” video and completed a video response. While students worked independently at those centres, Lisa taught a guided reading activity in which students compared a third person article to a first person narrative text. Visiting teachers were impressed with the facility and independence her students demonstrated with the assistive technology.

Video Response SMART Ideas, Read and Write Gold

In the afternoon, all had the opportunity to debrief the lesson and to review the activities the students had completed prior to our visit. Lisa shared the success her students have had using templates in Smart Ideas to plan and organize their written assignments, as well as how she integrates Read and Write Gold and whiteboard technology into her teaching. Visiting teachers then had the chance to plan a language activity that integrated assistive technology.


We would like to thank Lisa for sharing her knowledge, expertise and challenges using AT in her classroom.


Look on Key to Learn for an opportunity to visit our other Exploration Classrooms in March, April and May.