If you thought that the reading process was complex. The writing process is complex to the power of 10. It is hard to imagine how our brains can learn this process. Understanding where students with writing difficulties are having break down will improve teacher's abilities to match AT to students individuals needs.

Clicker 5

Clicker 5 is a software that enables students to read text using teacher made (or borrowed) ebooks. The variety of students who can benefit from these ebooks is impressive. Teachers are also able to create assessment tools as well. For our AT class we have been making ebooks and assessments. I can easily see the power of using this tool for assisting students in the junior high context. Alternative presentation and assessment using this computer software will increase engagement by making text accessible for those students in need of different representation.

learninggrids.com is a website that has a bank of teacher created lessons(ebooks) and assessments. These are helpful and can be edited or adapted by teachers to meet their situational needs.

A colleague and I have contacted our AT specialist to get access of this software on a more regular basis.

Yeah Clicker 5!

KURZWEIL

Using Kurzweil in our school has been a regular practice for the last few years. at the junior high level it is a powerful software for students at this stage in their language / literacy development. Many students with LD's benefit from the reading aspect of this program, however the literacy skills that are supported by this software help students make connections, organize their ideas, reflect, find reference information. The writing function is a great way to assist students with the writing process. Using pre-selected word list that are tailored to subject they are writing about can support students who struggle with spelling, graphic organizers to assist their organization of ideas, reading aloud helps reinforce the editing process.
In the classroom this software can be challenging to master for students and teachers. I have been lucky to have professional development sessions to learn about the program and I still fumble with it when I start to prep a new assignment. Students who do not mind problem shooting and trying out new things love this software and enjoy doing assignments with the program. We have students who are trained to scan documents and teach students about how to use the program. Like many things in life the software is great when the people using it have the right training to employ it with ease.

http://www.kurzweiledu.com/