1. Based on the concept by Ira Socol

2. What is Tool Belt Theory? Tool Belt theory is based on the concept: Humans are tool users Knowledge of and access to tools will foster independence and minimize limitations Encourages choice and individual decision making Equips individuals with an understanding of technology and life skills

3. How do we know which tools to choose? We choose tools based on TEST Task What needs to be done? Break task down into smaller parts Environment Where is the task taking place? How much time can we allow to complete the task? What method will we use to complete task? What challenges does the individual face while interacting with environment? Who is the task being completed for? Skills What are the strengths and weaknesses of the individual? What tools do they already use? What is their comfort level with these tools? Tool What tool will bridge the gap? Does the individual have access or knowledge of this tool? Can they get training for a new tool in time to complete the task if necessary? Is there a back up tool that can be used instead?

4. Student Description Grade 3 student. Strengths: Social skills/friendships Kind natured Developing math skills Loves hand- on building activities ie LEGO Needs/Challenges: Keeping attention/staying focused Fatigue Fine motor (written output) Working memory difficulties Reading: fluency, decoding Self confidence/esteem in achieving academic success The next few slides describe the tools I would use to address the needs of my student. The text in purple describes HOW I will use each tool.

5. Tools to address reading challenges Text to Speech Software: Student highlights text and text is read aloud Speak It App:Free download through Google chrome. Natural Reader: free download for windows or PC Word Talk: includes a talking spell checker Power Talk: add to any power point presentation to make power point talk I see my student using text-to-speech software to complete research assignments, check own responses for language arts assignments, and for many more tasks. Kurzweil 3000 Kurzweil has the same text to speech capabilities as the above mentioned tools along with many more functions including word prediction, spellchecker, voice recording and data organization. This tool would help my student across the curriculum. The organization component would help with attention, the word prediction would help with writing, and the text to speech would help with reading. Tarheel Reader This tool offers many high content, lower difficulty books for students to read. It also allows students to create books of their own. I can see my student using this tool to help develop fluency and decoding skills while staying engaged in content of interest. Readability This tool takes important information and makes it less cluttered. I view this as a UDL tool. Readability would specifically help address my students’ needs in attention and reading support.

6. Tools to address writing challenges Speech to text software: These tools convert the speaking voice into word processed type. Talk Typer VoicenoteII Dictanote My student would use this tool when engaging in responding tasks. Primarily in Language arts for paragraph writing and novel responses. Word Prediction Software: Etype – helps with prediction, corrects spelling, and does translation This is a back up tool to the speech to text software. Often the software has difficulty picking up the correct words my student is speaking. An alternative is for this student to type out thoughts and ideas. This particular student has expressed frustration with a lack of typing skills, so as we develop those, a word prediction tool would be most helpful. Split Screen A free app that allows the user to take notes while on a website. This would help my student with attention ad focus. It would also help to reduce frustration caused by difficulty in working memory because the student could type as they are looking at the web screen.

7. Tools to develop confidence Engagement/ Interest/ Fun Comic Builder Building tools Lego City Comic Builder: Use Lego characters to build comics. Pixton: Comic strip creation tool Scratch: Creates interactive stories I would use this as a product of a language arts lesson about character or plot development. Lego digital designer Users build with virtual Lego blocks. I would use this tool as a motivating choice activity when work is complete.