Super Summer Readers at ESC Region 11, GITWL Dec. 9, 2017 Increasing Literacy for students with Visual impairments through a regional summer reading club and collaborative partnership Super Summer Readers at ESC Region 11, GITWL Dec. 9, 2017

What do you think is the biggest barrier to literacy for your students? Picture of two hands reading braille

Who We are Number of Students with Visual Impairment 2016 Texas: 9900 Region 11: 867 ESC 11 - size of Massachusetts Map of Counties Served by Region 11

Focus on literacy – Texas education agency The State Systemic Improvement Plan, SPP Indicator 17, is focused on implementing strategies to improve reading proficiency rates for all children with disabilities, grades 3 – 8.

Access t0 the Expanded core curriculum IEP for students with visual impairment contains a supplement that requires a detailed description of arrangements to provide instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum. §30.002(c)(4) Compensatory skills Orientation and mobility skills Social interaction skills Career planning Assistive Technology Independent living Recreation and leisure Self-determination Sensory efficiency

Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift. Kate DiCamillo Picture of woman reading to a young girl

our committee Karen Beard, Bookshare.org Deborah Burnette, Arlington ISD Jennifer Hauber, Fort Worth ISD Mary Ivey, Fort Worth ISD Perkie Cannon, ESC 11 Consultant Visual Impairment Morgan Tucker, ESC11consultant digital learning and Stephanie Walker, ESC 11 State Lead for Visual Impairment

Our questions and Our Focus What do students need to encourage and foster reading? What would students need to obtain accessible reading materials over the summer? How can we reach out to teachers or visually impaired students, parents/guardians of students, and community organizations?

Stakeholder Identified needs Awareness of the program for TVIs and families Access to books through local, state and national programs Incentives for reading materials Motivation-connection to other readers through the summer to maintain momentum in reading Access to technology for electronic connection and access to literature Low tech solutions for students without home internet access

Support for Teachers and Families Information on Super Summer reading program disseminated to the following: Teachers via email listserv, webinars and social media Families via teachers of students with visual impairments, through informational program with parent organization, Texas Association of Parents of students with Visual Impairment, TAPVI and through HHSC, Blind Children’s Program activity Webinar Series on Accessible Media Bookshare.org Learning Ally Talking Books/BARD program

Webinars and information on Accessible Media for teachers and Parents Bookshare.org – electronic text for large print, braille and/or audio books Free school and individual memberships https://www.bookshare.org/cms/ Learning Ally – human voice audio books and print-audio downloads Free school memberships. Teachers can download selections of books before end of school year. Individual memberships available for a fee. https://www.learningally.org/

Webinars and information on Accessible Media for teachers and Parents Talking Books/BARD – provides free delivery of large print, print-braille books, braille books and audio books Free individual memberships – registration forms available New registrations of 30 children Local libraries – selections of large print and regular audio books. Some have braille selections Free membership to residents Internet availability Increased access

Ways vision professionals can support summer reading Give applications to students and their families Assist students with enrolling on-line into Canvas Encourage students to attend a kick-off or review the recording of the kick-off. Contact the student to congratulate him Or her on reading log achievements.

Ways vision professionals can support summer reading If using Learning Ally, download books for the student If using Bookshare.org, either download selections and/or help the student obtain an individual membership to Bookshare.org If the student is using Talking Books/BARD, practice ordering on-line or talking to the librarian.

Key Elements of “Super Summer Readers Book Club” A program to encourage students with visual impairment to read books though the summer, June 1 – July 31, 2017 Special activities for students with visual impairments Opportunities to share ideas and books on-line and in-person Incentives for reading books

Students incentives for reading Levels of completed reading to receive an incentive varied by grade level or by individual goals set by students and teachers. To log individual goals, email pcannon@esc11.net . Elementary, Gr. K – 4: 5 books or 50 pages Middle School, Gr. 5 – 8: 50 pages High School, Gr. 9 – 12: 100 pages

Students incentives for reading Incentives such as stickers, assorted items, card games, etc. were mailed to students enrolled in the program upon receipt of logs of books or pages read Students reported their reading progress by Mailing post cards Logging their reading in Canvas on-line Picture of a star

Picture of post card used for tracking reading activity

Super summer Reader special activities Kickoffs for Students at local libraries: Central Library, Fort Worth, May 25, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Lake Arlington Branch, Arlington Library, June 1, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Book reading and activities with librarians Discussion and demonstration of book access through Bookshare.org Learning Ally Talking Books & BARD Local library resources HIMS representative to problem solve with Braille sense note taker download of books Tour of library

Super summer Reader special activities Student Summer Activities to celebrate “Super Reader” fun June 21, Fort Worth Lighthouse for the Blind, Rock Wall Climbing July 19, “Meet a Dinosaur Hunter” at ESC 11 August 12, ESC 11 – End of book club celebration and family literacy activities with TAPVI

Results of first Summer Reading Book Club 24 Students registered 8 students submitted post cards with reading logs 6 students read braille 101 books were read by 8 students 1 Girl read 40 books! 20 students registered with Talking Books program

Did the summer reading program support expanded core curriculum? How?

What were some of the benefits of Super Summer readers Book Club? Students engaged in reading – either braille, print or audio Students had fun reading, which is a great recreation/leisure activity Students used technology Audio books, braille note takers or other refreshable braille devices, or use video magnification Students exercised self-determination through choice making for book selections and/or interacting with librarians on-line or in person Students traveled and learned about community resources (e.g., libraries and Lighthouse for the Blind). Students and families connected with each other through activities. Increased knowledge and awareness of resources for students with visual impairments and increased community involvement.

Next Steps – Questions to consider Increasing numbers of students in the program Outreach to parents Outreach to teachers of students with visual impairments Input from older students regarding interests/needs for a book club Increasing local library access Developing student goals prior to or at the start of the book club Developing ways to increase student connections through student blog or discussion posts Other?

Contact Information Perkie Cannon, pcannon@esc11.net Education Service Center Region 11 White Settlement, Texas Thanks to the Super Summer Readers Book Club Committee: Karen Beard, Bookshare.org; Deborah Burnette, Arlington ISD; Jennifer Hauber, FWISD; Kristen King, FWISD; Morgan Tucker, ESC 11; and Stephanie Walker, ESC 11 State Lead for Visual Impairment