Kurzweil is a powerful program which can be used to assist students who struggle with reading difficulties in the classroom. Using this program would allow these strudents to read the same texts as their classmates. I can see this being used in the junior high and high school classrooms.
As a grade one teacher I feel the program has its limits. The struggling students can not work independently on the computer to read. They can not follow sticky notes or bubble notes and need someone with them every step of the way. They also need a sound to prompt them to turn the page. Most of the early books have beautiful colored pictures which act as an aid for these students.
I need to further practice with the features of the program to see how I can use it in my classroom. Once I find a way I am sure my struggling students will succeed.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Misunderstood minds PBS special
Millions of children in our school system are struggling daily because of a learning difficulty. The causes are unknown and are to predict. Learning differences can describe cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Attention and the ability to focus are required for success in school. Paying attention refers to the brain's ability to take all of the stimuli around us , immediately categories and organize the information as relevant or irrelevant. Attention deficit is one of the most widely used phrases when it comes to learning problems.
Reading- a complex task which involves a set of processes- physical, neurological, and cognitive. We need to convert print into meaning. Reading is a means to understand the world and a fundamental skill required to succeed. Learning to read is a sequential process; each new skill builds on the mastery of previously learned skills. Each step relates to one of the three components which are decoding, comprehension and retention.
Signs of decoding difficulty are:
-trouble sounding out words and recognizing words out of context
-confusion between letters and the sounds they represent
-slow oral reading rate
-reading without expression
-ignoring punctuation while reading
Signs of comprehension difficulty are:
-confusion about meaning of words and sentences
-inability to connect ideas in a passage
-omission of, or glossing over detail
-difficulty distinguishing significant information from minor details
-lack of concentration during reading
Signs of retention difficulty are:
-trouble remembering or summarizing what is read
-difficulty connecting what is read to prior knowledge
-difficulty applying content of a text to personal experiences
Technology can help accommodate kids differences. Learning disabilities limit a person's potential to learn. Children with writing disabilities will struggle in school but there are ways around them. The following is a short list of computer tools that can help:
-word prediction software- helps kids who struggle with spelling by providing a list of words to choose from once letters are printed.
-voice recognition system- translates speech into written text, allowing a child to say what she/he wants to write.
speech synthesis software- translates written text into speech allowing a child to listen to textual information instead of reading it.
Reading- a complex task which involves a set of processes- physical, neurological, and cognitive. We need to convert print into meaning. Reading is a means to understand the world and a fundamental skill required to succeed. Learning to read is a sequential process; each new skill builds on the mastery of previously learned skills. Each step relates to one of the three components which are decoding, comprehension and retention.
Signs of decoding difficulty are:
-trouble sounding out words and recognizing words out of context
-confusion between letters and the sounds they represent
-slow oral reading rate
-reading without expression
-ignoring punctuation while reading
Signs of comprehension difficulty are:
-confusion about meaning of words and sentences
-inability to connect ideas in a passage
-omission of, or glossing over detail
-difficulty distinguishing significant information from minor details
-lack of concentration during reading
Signs of retention difficulty are:
-trouble remembering or summarizing what is read
-difficulty connecting what is read to prior knowledge
-difficulty applying content of a text to personal experiences
Technology can help accommodate kids differences. Learning disabilities limit a person's potential to learn. Children with writing disabilities will struggle in school but there are ways around them. The following is a short list of computer tools that can help:
-word prediction software- helps kids who struggle with spelling by providing a list of words to choose from once letters are printed.
-voice recognition system- translates speech into written text, allowing a child to say what she/he wants to write.
speech synthesis software- translates written text into speech allowing a child to listen to textual information instead of reading it.
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