2/6/13

Today I observed the instructor working with the high school student. The student lived only a few blocks from the school.  The student graduates this May and hopes to gain employment at a nearby Walmart that is only a few blocks south of her home. The objective of todays's lesson was to use determine a route that was best for the student to walk from her home to the Walmart. We began at the student's home. The instructor asked her to identify landmarks and clues on the route as we walked as well as give cardinal directions. After leaving her house the student was able to identify neighbor's home on her street and identify when at the end of her street that it was a T-intersection. We made a right turn heading west and she was able to locate the sidewalk after a brief break. When coming to the next crossing  the sidewalk- it was an entrance into a subdivision, the student had some difficulty identifying the curb. The curb was rounded, slanted incline, and covered in stones with a telephone centered in the middle so  i can see how it would be difficult. The instructor addressed the issues of the corner with the student and we continued the route. The next corner was a lighted 4 way intersection with crosswalk signal. They also had truncated curbs for easier detection. The student had obviously traveled through the intersection before because she was comfortable and seemed to know it well. The instructor commented that they have traveled the route in past lessons. The student pushed the indicator for the light change and the instructor reminded her to wait for when she was comfortable and ready. As we were waiting, a voice comes from a taxi cab in the turn lane caddy corner to us screaming " don't go yet!  I can tell you when it is safe!". It was hilarious! The light changed and the student traveled safely through the intersection. We continued heading south on the sidewalk passing driveways into the ballpark and a church. The final intersection we came to was a very busy, large 4 way intersection. The student pushed the necessary light change signal and crossed when she felt safe and comfortable. Unfortunately, drivers traveling from her right turning north were not patient nor did they wait. The instructor had to stop her once she got the middle of the intersection because of the crazy drivers! Once she made it across safely through the entire intersection she was able to continue to her destination of the Walmart with little assistance. The instructor then reviewed the lesson asking the student what she felt were her biggest challenges. She replied- she felt very uncomfortable at the last crossing and thought it would be better to try an alternate route. We all agreed and came up with alternate routes to try in future lessons. During this lesson the student was able to independently identify landmarks such as the ballpark, dog park, church and elementary school on the route. The only suggestion the instructor made to the student was to remember to take time when traveling and possibly slow down so she can use her auditory clues to assist her.