Natural Reader - Free Software

What: Natural Reader is an electronic reader with several versions. The free version that can read from the internet and read .txt or .doc files. It comes with one voice, and highlights speech.

The upgraded version can do the following:
1) read .pdf files
2) read scanned documents
3) read text from digital photos (e.g., taken with your iPhone)
4) translate text into .mp3 files, for listening

Why? This software is not as robust as programs such as Read: OutLoud or Kurzweil 3000. However, it would be great for trying out text reading, and documenting the need. It would also be a good transition tool, while trying to get funding for the more specialized software.

http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.htm

LA Dept of ED: Literacy Access Guide

The Significant Disabilities team in the Literacy Division at the Louisiana Department of Education has been busy!

That website is a repository for literacy supports for students with disabilities including:
• Tipsheets
• Documents such as assessment tools
• Videos of literacy best practices
• Webinars on topics including:
- Alternate Pencils
- Literacy Assessment
- Including Literacy in the IEP

Go to the literacy section, and be sure to click on the link on the top right, if you're a Mac Foxfire user.

Here's the link:
http://sda.doe.louisiana.gov/Site%20Pages/LiteracyView.aspx

Follow the CAR:Learn It / See It

The CAR strategy (Notari‐Syverson, Maddox, and Cole, 1999) encourages adults to support students during shared reading by ‘following the car’:

• Comment on what the student is doing (then wait 5 seconds)

• Ask questions (then wait 5 seconds)

• Respond by adding more

That strategy is equally successful for older students who are building their interactive language, to support communication and literacy.

For more information about the CAR strategy, follow this link:

http://www.walearning.com/products/language-is-the-key/car-strategies/

A video set, Language is the Key is available from Washington Learning Systems, to support training for parents, parapros, teachers, and therapists. This set includes two videos, available in Mandarin, Vietnamese, English, and Spanish. The videos are

Talking & Play and Talking & Books (which includes demonstration of the CAR strategy).

http://www.walearning.com/products/language-is-the-key/

Washington Learning Systems, LLC
2212 Queen Anne Ave. North #726
Seattle , WA 98109

Phone 206-310-7401 Fax 206-283-9243 Email info@walearning.com

SWITCH!!

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

by Chip Heath, Dan Heath

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Thanks to the team at Don Johnston for telling me about this book. I'm not such a great nonfiction reader, but this book has been really life-changing for me. I'm trying to use their principles in my workshops, consulting, and work with students. The authors review decades of research from a range of disciplines, to give strategies for making change . . . and making it stick!

Sounds pretty boring, right? Let me say that:
• I was embarrassed on an airplane for frequent LOLs - funny stuff!
• I was embarrassed on a subway in NYC when I realized that everyone else had left the train, and we were at the 'end of the line' - I'd missed it because I was so engrossed!

Find it on Amazon, or my fave used books site, www.abebooks.com

Hope others enjoy it as much as I did! Below is an image, and a quick 'heads up'!

IPEVO Point to View Document Camera

Many of you have asked about the mini document camera that I use at workshops. I'm using the IPEVO Point to View document camera, also called P2V. I love it because it's:
- portable
- lightweight
- durable
- small

It allows me to easily show items to a large group, and is truly plug and play (okay, after a 1-time software install or download!)

Here are a few ways I use P2V (just as teachers use Elmo):
a) for presentations, showing small materials (e.g., for my workshop of 800 + last month in Los Angeles)
b) reading books, with no one whining, 'I can't see!'
c) showing student work as we discuss it, such as engaging in T.A.G. conferences (tell what you like, ask questions, give advice)
d) showing a sample art project

Please share other uses you're finding, and other portable doc cameras that you like.

Now, for the where: I got mine at a local Big Box store (Staples?) but you can order online:
http://www.ipevo.com/prods/Point-2-View-USB-Camera/IPEVO

Musselwhite Bingo!

Musselwhite Bingo

Teachers often use bingo for activities such as developing quick recognition of sight words (knowing that students need to read those high frequency words in ¼ second to enhance comprehension). Here’s a new twist on bingo, to keep students engaged.

First, as many others recommend (e.g., Cheryl Sigmon, http://www.cherylsigmon.com/, Word Wall Activities, www.teachingfirst.net ), it’s better if students write their own words, instead of just handing them a bingo board. That connects the reading and writing, and gives an authentic purpose for writing Word Wall words. Also, that ensures that students have the words in different locations.

Now, for the fun, Musselwhite:

1st bingo = Bingo

2^nd bingo = Tingo

3^rd bingo = Thringo (are you getting the pattern here?)

4^th bingo = Fingo

5^th bingo = Pingo (why? Because a pentagon has 5 sides)

You’ll find that students stay on task far longer, and respond more quickly, trying to get to that next level!

Video Power!!

I'm trying to collect favorite youtube videos about AAC. Videos are so powerful in quickly changing minds, debunking myths, and providing models.

What are some videos you have found useful?
Here are a few that I love to share:

Sponsored Silence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9h1DFQoVxU

1Voice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5ZlUnU8Oeo

Many Stories, 1 Voice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpv9E97EA9Q

Language Stealers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vib2__BDCXc

Please give links to YOUR favorite AAC videos. Thanks!