You Need
On Track to Learning
This course looks at some popular CD-ROMs designed to provide support for learners in the inclusive mainstream classroom (mainly in the Primary classroom) who may need additional support in developing strategies for acquiring and improving skills for developing literacy, motivation and confidence. The software provides practical and multi-sensory solutions, which can be tailored to a child’s individual need. The day will include hands-on exploration of the software: including looking at suitability for individual needs, additional teaching resources, changing individual options, accessibility options and record keeping. A basic understanding of specific learning difficulties is assumed.
The day is run by publisher Laura Cryer, author of several of the titles, who has joined the Inclusive Technology team.
Programme
Schools are expected to respond to the diverse needs of the individual (actual and anticipatory), which is a challenging task in today’s busy classrooms. This full day course introduces software which helps learners with specific learning difficulties (as well as supporting all learners) to acquire and consolidate literacy skills, develop strategies that work, gain access to the curriculum and help develop self-esteem and confidence. This particular course will not look at assessment software, keyboard software, screen readers, planning tools or hardware – all of which have a part to play when looking at how ICT supports individual learning for reading, writing and independent learning.
Colleagues attending this course will:
- Understand how effective and targeted use of software can support learners with dyslexia and specific learning difficulties in the inclusive classroom and in other settings.
- Explore a range of software and workbooks offering practical support.
- Understand how to use accessibility options to create a learning program tailored to individual need.
This course is ideal for SENCOs and those who teach and/or support pupils with additional educational needs (including dyslexia) in primary mainstream schools.
Each delegate will receive a 1Gb memory stick preloaded with extra material relevant to the course.
Each delegate will have the option to pay an additional £50 plus VAT and receive a single-user copy of an appropriate software title.
Software explored on the day will include:
Eye Track - develops visual discrimination, tracking and visual memory. The range of fun and motivational activities supports learners experiencing difficulties with visual perception – especially associated with attentional, dyslexic or dyspraxic difficulties. A range of printable worksheets and clip art is included in the software.
Phoneme Track CD and workbook – Can you say ‘cup’ without the /c/, ‘teach’ without the /ch/ or ‘swift’ without the /w/? Phoneme Track encourages identification, segmentation, blending and manipulation of phonemes that are representative of the graphemes in the English language, building up skill levels of phonological awareness to increase confidence with reading and spelling.
Letter Olympics CD – differentiated activities help with ‘b’ and ‘d’ letter recognition, discrimination and differentiation, with auditory and visual support. Clipart and a range of printable worksheets for use away from the computer are available.
Alphabet Track CD – supporting learning the names and order of the alphabet through a range of activities using the familiar alphabet ‘arc’ used in dyslexia teaching programmes. Alphabet track aims to improve visual and auditory sequential memory, spatial awareness and the correct orientation of letters.
Spell Track CD and workbook – this program and workbook has been successful in helping learners of all ages with specific learning difficulties to spell with confidence, consistency and accuracy. It trains the learner to look carefully at words and to reinforce correct spellings by tracking the correct letters of a spelling. It encourages proof reading and reinforces ‘look, cover, type, check’ techniques.
Word Track CD and workbook– this program reinforces the correct spelling of words in the context of sentences. It helps those who have difficulty memorising spellings and supports the correct use of punctuation. As with the other programs, full audio support, customisable user settings and printable records are provided.
Two Wise Owls CD – designed to support all those who have not yet enjoyed success in mastering those awkward spellings. Mnemonics can be a useful tool for retrieving information to spell those words that are difficult to remember and users are encouraged to make, record, draw and print their own mnemonics.
10:00 Welcome and Introductions
- Sharing of expectations of the course.
10:10 Session 1
- Overview of the problems experienced by pupils with specific learning difficulties and how ICT can support them.
- Introduction to the software titles to be looked at today, including accessibility and individual login options.
11:00 Session 2
- Explore software supporting auditory and visual discrimination and sequencing – Eye Track, Alphabet Track, Phoneme Track.
12:15 Lunch
A buffet lunch is provided.
Delegates will have the opportunity to look at other hardware and Inclusive Technology software, such as the ChooseIt! Ready-made series and the ReadIt! series.
13:15 Session 3
- Explore software supporting and reinforcing spelling and vocabulary skills – Spell Track, Word Track.
14:30 Break
14:45 Session 4
- Learning correct orientation – Letter Olympics.
- Fun with Mnemonics – Two Wise Owls.
15:45 Plenary and certificates
16:00 Close