Noel al Khatib
Noel al Khatib
Resource Specialist & Teacher
Mar Vista Elementary, California
Q:What is your background in education?
A: After 13 years as a CPA in the state of California, I realized that helping children is the most honorable work I can do. I have now been a credentialed teacher of special education in Los Angeles for six years, with my masters degree in special education also. I have enjoyed working successfully with children of autism, brain damage, learning disabilities (dyslexia included), language disorders, ADHD, as well as other disabilities. Prior to obtaining my credential, I worked with children at UCLA's autism center (NPI) and several schools in the los angeles area.
Q:What has been your student's reaction to the DVD?
A:The children love the dvd, and ask me often if they can see more of the dvd again...and again.
Q:How do you feel this DVD helps kids with special needs?
A:In my personal experience, this video energizes children to learn and to explore the world. It works to develop their critical thinking skills, and helps develop their capacity for math, reasoning, and phonics, too. This is true for both typically-developing children, as well as children with special needs. It helps children think about things they may not have thought about before, and presents familiar concepts in new and fun ways.
The music in the show is particularly delightful and really keeps children engaged. As an adult, I appreciate the high quality and the high-interest production and content of the program.
Q:How have you incorporated the DVD into your classroom?
A:On different days, I've shown segments to my students to watch. We discuss what we saw, and I then follow up with what I call extension activities. Extension activities start with what they learned in the dvd, then give them additional opportunities to think and explore along the same lines, and then can be taken to higher levels from there, to maximize their learning.
Q:Would you recommend this DVD to your parents or other teachers/schools with Special Ed programs?
A:I already am recommending this dvd to teachers and parents at our school. I am also recommending it for parents with children who are preparing for kindergarten. As part of a parent education seminar, I will be showing this dvd as part of the presentation, explaining how parents can use it to help develop cognitive and/or school readiness skills in their young (3-7 years) children. In this presentation, I will also be showing them what they can do to help their children at home, as well as what materials they can buy to help extend the activities for their children.
Q:How do the DVD lessons compliment your own lessons?
A:The dvd lessons add an exciting visual component that draws children in to introduce concepts. It builds their interest and increases their understanding so that I can easily take over from there. It helps give children a multi-modal learning experience, which scientific research proves is most effective for learning in all people, both children and adults.
Q:Do you feel the combination of liveaction and computer generated visuals is effective? Why?
A:I love the combination of real people and computer animation. It helps hold interest and attention. besides that, my students get to see real children doing these activities, to give them a good picture of what they can do.
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some of our questions.
The Tiny Oaks team
