2017 NOBE Seminar

Welcome to the 2017 annual seminar of the National Organization of Blind Educators (NOBE). We hope that our seminar today gives you an opportunity to learn some useful strategies, network with blind colleagues, and enjoy the many possibilities in this rich profession. We are glad you’ve joined us. As you await the beginning of our meeting, we thought you might enjoy a little classroom-related humor:

Teacher: If I have 5 oranges in one hand and 6 apples in the other, what do I have?
Student: Huge hands.

Teacher: Jenny, I hope I didn’t just see you copying off Jayden’s test paper.
Jenny: I sure hope you didn’t, either!

Teacher: Why are the Middle Ages sometimes called the Dark Ages?
Student: because there were so many knights.

Teacher: Matthew, what is the chemical formula for water?
Mathew: H I J K L M N O.
Teacher: What on Earth are you talking about?
Matthew: Well, didn’t you say it was H to O?

Student: Teacher, would you punish me for something I didn’t do?
Teacher: Of course not!
Student: Great, because I didn’t do my homework!

12:30-1:00 Registration

1:00-1:20 Welcome and Introductions

1:20-1:50 Small Group Networking: Teachers collaborate with their colleagues within grade and subject level groups.

1:50-2:00 Small Group Wrap-Up

2:00-2:15 Learning on the Move: Bringing Active Learning to any Classroom
Cayte Mendez, 1st Grade Teacher, PS 69 - Journey Prep Academy, Bronx, NY; President, National Organization of Blind Educators

2:15-2:30 Adobe Accessibility
Rob Haverty, Senior Product Manager, Document Cloud Accessibility, Adobe

2:35-2:50 Bookshare for the Educator
Lisa Wadors, Bookshare

2:50-3:30 Break Out Sessions: Successful Blind Educators lead demos and discussion groups focused on strategies for blind educators in areas of professional practice.

• Effective Assessment Strategies
  Harriet Go, Special Education Teacher, School District of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Secretary, National Organization of Blind Educators and National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania.
• The Art of Teaching: Strategies for creating classroom visuals
  Cayte Mendez, 1st Grade Teacher,PS69, Journey prep Academy, Bronx NY; President, National Organization of Blind Educators.
• Tech for Teachers
  Arthur Jacobs, Special Education Home Instructor, New York City Department of Education and Valeria Jacobs, Special Education Teacher, Science and Mathematics, Frank Sinatra School for the Arts, Queens NY
• Perspectives on Planning
  Kayleigh Joiner, Board Member, National Organization of Blind Educator

3:30-3:40 Break Out Wrap-Up

3:40-3:55 Business Session and Elections

3:55-4:00 Closing and Adjourn