Final Presentation Low/High Tech Tools By: Jennifer A Stearns

Magnifying Glass Great reading support tool! Enlarges images and text. Assists with attention and focus. Fun alternative to a reading guide. A magnifying glass is a great low tech tool for a student with attention issues or vision issues. A magnifying glass can be used anytime a student needs to follow a text as it is read aloud. It is a great alternative to a reading guide. A magnifying glass can be easier to hold and more fun to use for the lower elementary grades.

Color Filters Visual support This is a color filter! Can you focus on the text better? Visual support Color memory is stronger than text and object memory For students who process text more quickly with color background as opposed to color background. Assist students with ADHD Color filters are proven to assist with students who process color more quickly than plain black text on a white background. Student’s with ADHD respond better with color supports. Color memory is stronger than text and object memory so why wouldn’t I use this tool in my classroom! Color filters work great for any student who is struggling with reading and writing. Transparency folders in different colors are great for color filters and you can also use black text on colored construction paper too. When student’s are producing work you can have them write on colored construction paper.

Timers Assists with transitions Teaches time management/Ownership Optimizes student motivation Auditory/Visual cue Timers are a great low tech tool for so many different things. Timers are great transition tools for students. Timers are also fantastic visual and auditory cues for students who are hearing or visually impaired. A timer can give these students an auditory or visual cue when it is time to transition to the next activity or task. Timers also optimize student motivation. When a student knows they only have a set amount of time to complete a task they are more motivated to complete the task in that block of time. Especially when they can see the timer. This works well along with incentives. Timers also are great for teaching time management skills.

Promethean Board: White Board Tech Innovative classroom technology Assistive features Highlighting Label images/make real-time notes Show video Interactive instructional tool Allows computer images to be displayed Hands on tool for students Elements on board can be manipulated with mouse or pen The Promethean Board is a brand of whiteboard technology. This innovative technology brings so many assistive tools to a whole classroom, as opposed to having a personal computer for every child. The Promethean board allows a teacher to show/read text to a whole classroom. A teacher can make real-time notes on the board and can manipulate images with a mouse or pen. Some assistive features of the technology is highlighting, show video , play audio, and label. These are just some of the assistive features that can help the visually impaired, hearing impaired, and students with other disabilities. There is an endless amount of interactive activities that can be done using whiteboard technology.

Cricksoft’s App: Clicker Sentences Sentence Building App Great for struggling readers/writers and ESL students Contains library of pre-made content sentences or teacher can make their own sentences for students to build. Can be used on PC, Laptop, or IPad Can access this app at : http://www.cricksoft.com/us/products/clicker-apps/clicker-sentences.aspx This sentence building app is one of my favorite discoveries during this course. This high tech tool is great for students who struggle with reading and writing. I will be using this app with ESL students. The app contains a library of hundreds of pre-made sentences organized by content. If you can’t find appropriate sentences for you student to build, a teacher can make their own. There is speech support, picture cues, and model sentences for students who need that extra assistance. This app is an amazing tool!

Don Johnston's Start to Finish Online Accessible Library Great for struggling readers Online library with hundreds of books/leveled Highlighting support Voice narration Vocabulary support Chapter quizzes and data provided to teacher Can access this tool at: http://donjohnston.com/stfonline/#.VYw9zPlViko Don Johnston's Start to Finish Online Accessible Library is a high tech tool for struggling readers. This program really focuses on building comprehension and vocabulary skills. The books all have highlighting, voice narration, and vocabulary support. The books are also leveled and there are chapter quizzes so I can track student progress and point out areas of struggle. It's a fantastic source for readers who struggle with reading comprehension. The students can also move up levels and track their own progress as well.

Imagine Learning Language and literacy software program English Language Learner support Multiple languages such as French, Spanish, Cantonese, mandarin, etc. First language support fades as student progresses Motivating and engaging Activities are game like Built specifically to address Common Core state standards Provides assessments and reports Imagine learning is a fantastic language and literacy software program. My school district recently bought this software program and I will be using it with me ESL students. Imagine learning builds literacy skills through engaging instructional activities that are game like. Because the program is game like it is engaging and motivating for students. The program was built to address Common Core Literacy standards, which has been adopted by many states already. The program has first language support and has many languages and is continually adding on new languages. As a student progressed through the program language support begins to fade. Most importantly the program provides assessment data and reports on student progress. This is great for teachers to use for instruction.

Kurzweil 3000 This is another great literacy software program. Talking word processor Reads text by word, phrase or sentence (speed is customizable) Translation Support for English Language Learners Multiple dictionary options Reads the Internet Highlighting and note-taking tools Talking spellchecker This literacy software program is a great support for struggling readers. This software can be used on Macintosh or Windows computer systems. The assistive tools this software offers is endless. It provides a talking word processor, first language support, talking spellchecker, highlighting and note-taking tools. This high-tech tool is an amazing AT tool!

THANK YOU. This was a very informative and insightful class THANK YOU! This was a very informative and insightful class. I learned about so many AT tools to take to my classroom.