Focus on Literacy

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Categories of Software1. Reinforcement Software

• Literacy

2. Interactive Books

3. Content-free Software• Writing

4. Exploratory Software

5. Reference Software

6. Assessment Software

7. Access Tools / Software

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1. 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 fashionConcerns• 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 cont’d

•Microworlds 2000

•Making Tracks to Literacy

•Teddy Games

•Tizzy’s 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• Percy’s 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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2. 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 BooksBenefits

• 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 Rabbit’s Reading development Library

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Interactive Books Contd.

Spot’s Busy Day

Storybook CD

Storytime Tales

UKanDu Interactive Reading Series

UKanDu Little Books

Wellington Square

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3. Content-free Software

Allows teacher/student’s assistant to enter content suitable for the student’s 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 student’s 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