See It, Hear It, Feel It, Read It: A
Multi Sensory Approach to Early Literacy
Presenter
#1
Paula Justice
Alamance-Burlington School System
Day Phone: 336 314-5097
Fax: none
Email: pljustice45@earthlink.net
How can you provide hands-on and computer based materials / activities to
expand learning opportunities when creating a thematic unit based on a
repetitive line storybook as the anchor story? During this session,
participants will have the opportunity see a variety of materials created for a
multi-sensory unit, from tactile items to computer based activities.
All young children, especially children with disabilities should be provide the
opportunity to have repeated exposures to functional, meaningful activities
that address the content and/or skill areas of the concepts we are teaching,
through a multi modal/sensory approach.
Many children need to be provided with, and experience, a variety of different
sensory approaches to learning which may be different than their typically
developing peers. This type of approach allows a child many opportunities to
experience the concepts they are learning in a variety of ways.
One effective way to meet the challenge of providing these opportunities, especially
in inclusive learning settings, is through the use of books and additional
materials that support the emergent reader’s interactions with the repeated
reading materials.
There are multitudes of methods for creating materials that allow a child to be
exposed to all the components of language and literacy related activities that
can be utilized when developing no tech, low tech and even some high tech
adaptations.
Children need the opportunity to be active participants in activities such as:
hearing and retelling stories, reading through pictures and words, manipulation
of materials and objects, pretend play, music, singing and noise making,
playing games, cooking, scribbling, writing, drawing, coloring and painting.
During this session, participants will have the opportunity see materials
created for a multi-sensory unit, using a selected off the shelf book as the
anchor story. This session’s opportunities will include:
Modified print books with physical adaptations for access
Modified print versions of the anchor book in various formats/sizes for
simplified reading Use of created and predesigned picture symbols for printed
words
2 and 3 dimensional props
Modified game materials
AAC
device overlays for reading the story book, repeated lines, choice making and
commenting
Simple single switch activated book on the computer
Methods to incorporate other materials (besides the anchor book) to expand and
enhance the thematic unit
Cooking and music activities
Summary
How can you provide hands-on and computer based materials / activities to
expand learning opportunities when creating a thematic unit based on a
repetitive line storybook as the anchor story?
During this session participants will learn how to develop materials that can
be integrated into all areas of the early childhood classroom curriculum. Using
no tech, low tech, up through high tech, see how a multi sensory approach can
be provided to children/students by incorporating computers, software,
assistive technology devices, and other items to develop a variety of materials
for a multi- sensory thematic unit to create language rich, motivating
materials that address each child’s unique learning styles and sensory needs.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will:
1. learn ways to modify print materials to meet the needs of students with
special needs.
2. learn a variety of ways to adapt curriculum materials to meet their
students’ individual needs.
3. learn why a multi-sensory approach to learning can
benefit all students, not just those with special needs.
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