Focus on Literacy

Reinforcement Software and

Interactive Books

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1. Reinforcement Software

• Used to reinforce basic skills through repetition and practice.

• Numeracy Software – early numeracy skills, more advanced mathematical skills

• Literacy Software – early literacy skills, sight word recognition, phonological skills and reading comprehension.

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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 fashion

Concerns

• 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:

• A to Zap• ABC Talking Animated Alphabet CD• Big ABC• From A to Z (*) • Percy’s ABC

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Keyboard Skills Software

Examples include:

• Animated Typewriter

• First Keys to Literacy (*)

• Touch Type

• Type to Learn

• Ultra Key

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Sight Vocabulary Software

Examples include:

• All my Words (*)

• Flashcard

• Matchword (*)

• Speaking for Myself (*)

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Phonics/Phonological Awareness Software

Examples include:

• Matchword (*)

• Rhyme and Analogy

• Sound Stories

• Sound Start- Phonics

• Sounds Great 1 and 2

• 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

(excluding Talking Books)

• Fuzzbuzz (*)

• Reading for Literacy

• The Computer Classroom

• Twisted Tales

• Selladore Tales

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Software to Support Handwriting

• Handwriting for Windows

• Maude and Claude

• Sassoon Fonts

• Start Write 2

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Reinforcement SoftwareIntegrated Learning system (ILS)

• Computer-based system that manages delivery of curriculum

• Presents learners with a question, records the response, gives instant feedback and automatically selects new questions

• Provides feedback and detailed records

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Reinforcement SoftwareIntegrated Learning system (ILS)

Results are highly context dependent

• Level of teacher intervention is critical factor

• Teachers’ involvement with system is major factor to student gains

• Where pupils use ILS in isolation from their teacher and from the rest of the curriculum, both learning gains and motivation are likely to be poor.

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Reinforcement SoftwareIntegrated Learning system (ILS)

Examples include:

• The Academy of Reading

• Global Integrated Learning System

• RM Maths

• Tomorrow’s Promise

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2. Interactive Books

• Electronic books that bring stories to life.

• Common features include:

– Lively animations

– Story can be read aloud

– Individual words can be spoken

– Clicking and exploring options

– Comprehension activities

• Cater for a range of levels (non-readers to older students with reading difficulties).

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Interactive Books

Benefits

• 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.

Concerns

• Edutainment value vs. Educational value

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Interactive Books

Examples include:

• Living Books (e.g. Grandma and Me)

• Oxford Reading Tree

• Spinout Stories

• Start to Finish

• Ukandu Interactive Reading Series

• Wellington Square