Exploration of Apps and other Resources for Supporting Language and Literacy in Young Children

Use the chat window and share! How has technology impacted how you communicate and read over the last 5 years?

1.Explore a variety of developmentally appropriate, interactive apps and other media resources that can be used to develop and support the communication and interactive language skills of young children. 2.Explore a variety of developmentally appropriate apps and other media resources that support the development of early literacy (reading and writing) skills in young children in alignment with best practices. 3.Learn the difference between technology for enhancement of learning and assistive technology, in the context of a Universally Designed for Learning early childhood environment Objectives

Let’s Review: What Makes an Effective Early Childhood App? Open ended to support play and problem solving Promotes literacy, language and vocabulary development without drill and kill Include rich, engaging activities that invite a high degree of interactivity and control by the user Encourages movement--fine and gross motor Enhances and encourages interactions with adults or peers, rather than promoting solitary exploration Culturally diverse/free of stereotypes Meets a developmental need

Well suited apps that: Thoughtfully focus on language and literacy skill development Include rich, engaging activities that invite a high degree of interactivity and control by the user Offer authentic problem situations that require strategic thinking to resolve Provide effective feedback and scaffolding so that with repeated use player gets better and are offered new challenges Make good use of latest technology and have aesthetic merit, free from extraneous/distracting “cute” sound and graphics What we will examine today

Using Apps to Build Language Vocabulary Turn taking Expand communicative intent Initiate language Encourage expressive output Support comprehension Augment oral language

Skyping with daddy Research indicates that activities like Skyping or FaceTime, in which the baby communicates with a live human on the screen positively impacts learning Photos and Video Tools

AAC Apps--Focus on Early Communication

LAMP--Words for Life Click here for an excellent summary of LAMP and how it supports language development

Go Talk Now--Attainment

Sounding Board--AbleNet

100s of AAC Apps Jane Farrall has a comprehensive list of apps at Call Scotlands Wheel of AAC Apps updated-aac-app-wheel/ updated-aac-app-wheel/ Work with your early interventionist and speech language pathology professional to determine the best app or other device to meet your child’s needs

Apps to Support Beginning Communication

This is My Story

EPIC!

David Weisner’s Spot

As Easy as ABC...Metamorphabet

Literacy= Reading and Writing Scribble Press

In the UDL Classroom

Discussion Answer the following questions and respond to at least 2 of your peers: How can you integrate e-books and other early literacy and language activities using mobile technology into your early learning environment? How does your early learning policy statement constructed in Session 1 support the integration of these apps and resources in your early learning environment?

Instructional Activity Evaluate and create reviews for 3 apps for how they support communication, language and literacy. Upload your documents.

Resources Available from: Diigo “Swipe Generation” Articles, websites, reviews eneration%22 Pinterest Pre-K Apps page

“Assistive and Instructional Technology Supporting Learners with Disabilities”