Focus on Literacy

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• Focus on Literacy

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Categories of Software

• Reinforcement Software
• Literacy
• Interactive Books
• Content-free Software
• Writing
• Exploratory Software
• Reference Software
• Assessment Software
• Access Tools / Software

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Reinforcement Software

• Used to reinforce basic skills through repetition
  and practice.
• Literacy Software
• Numeracy Software
• Attending / Responding
• Stimulation

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Reinforcement Software

• Benefits
• Helps to develop skills and reinforce concepts
  and knowledge
• Provides repeated practice on previously learned
  skills
• Gives immediate, consistent feedback in
  non-judgemental fashion
• Concerns
• Should be used to complement teacher instruction,
  not replace it
• Skills are often presented in isolation

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Early Literacy Skills

• Early Literacy - focuses on pre-reading skills
  such as
• Listening
• Visual Discrimination
• Visual memory
• Auditory Discrimination
• Auditory Memory

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Early Literacy Skills

• Examples include
• Animal Match
• Jigsaw
• Jumble Fun
• Leaps and Bounds 1,2,3
• Musical Leaps and Bounds
• Sequences

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Early Literacy Skills

• Examples contd
• Microworlds 2000
• Making Tracks to Literacy
• Teddy Games
• Tizzys Toy Box ()
• React (older students)
• Denotes a title that is generally classified in
  another category but can also be used to support
  this skill area.

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Letter Recognition Software

• Examples include
• From A to Z ()
• ABC Talking Animated Alphabet CD
• Big ABC
• Percys ABC
• A to Zap

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Keyboard Skills Software

• Examples include
• First Keys to Literacy ()
• Animated Typewriter
• Type to Learn

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Sight Vocabulary Software

• Examples include
• All my Words ()
• Speaking for Myself ()
• Flashcard

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Phonics/Phonological Awareness Software

• Examples include
• Rhyme and Analogy
• Sound Stories
• Sounds Great 1 and 2
• Sound Start- Phonics
• WordWork 1 and 2 ()

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Spelling Software

• Examples include
• All My Words ()
• Lexia ()
• Starspell 2001
• Wordshark
• Spellmate
• WordWork 1 and 2

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Spelling Software

• Software that includes spelling activities
• From Word to Word
• Multisensory Games for the Literacy Hour
• ScanIT Plus
• Word Games for Windows

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Comprehension Software

• Examples include
• Fuzzbuzz ()
• Reading for Literacy
• The Computer Classroom
• Twisted Tales
• Selladore Tales

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Software to Support Handwriting

• Examples include
• Handwriting for Windows
• Maude and Claude
• Sassoon Fonts
• Start Write 2

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Interactive Books

• Animated books that bring stories to life.
• Usually two modes
• Passive- watch and listen as story is read
• Interactive- click and explore
• Cater for a range of levels (non-readers to older
  students with reading difficulties).

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Interactive Books

• Benefits
• Links written word with spoken words (strengthens
  word recognition)
• Improves vocabulary, word attack skills, fluency
  and comprehension.
• Gives students the opportunity to practice
  reading the same text more than one time.
• The use of visual and auditory cues promotes
  interaction and communication as well as holding
  the students attention for longer.
• Concerns
• Edutainment value vs. Educational value

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Interactive Books

• Examples include
• Living Books (e.g. Grandma and Me)
• Naughty Stories Volume 1 2
• Oxford Reading Tree
• Patch the Puppy
• Reader Rabbits Reading development Library

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Interactive Books Contd.

• Spots Busy Day
• Storybook CD
• Storytime Tales
• UKanDu Interactive Reading Series
• UKanDu Little Books
• Wellington Square

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Content-free Software

• Allows teacher/students assistant to enter
  content suitable for the students ability.
• Benefits
• Use in many areas of curriculum
• Develop own materials to meet indiviual needs of
  students
• Helps students to overcome barriers to learning
• Stimulates interest in the students own
  environment.

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Word Processing Programs

• Enables user to produce wide range of
  professional looking products
• Benefits
• Students can express themselves without being
  worried about their writing
• Spellchecker allows students to concentrate on
  content rather than spelling
• Writing can help students develop word
  recognition and reading skills

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Talking Word Processing Programs

• Include an inbuilt speech synthesizer that reads
  back text
• Can be set to read every letter, word, line,
  sentence, paragraph or whole screen
• Benefits
• Allows students to monitor their work
• Auditory feedback assists students in correcting
  their spelling, grammar, syntax

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Talking Word Processing Programs

• Examples include
• Clicker 4
• Granada Writer
• Inclusive Writer
• Textease 2000
• Texthelp! Type Talk
• Write Outloud
• Writing with Symbols