Motivational Monday

Friday "Appy" Hour: Snap & Read Universal for iPad

At the recent Everyone Reading conference, I participated in a product presentation session which highlighted two of the Don Johnston products uPAR and Snap and Read Universal, a glimpse into the vast suite of products offered. This prompted me to create this Friday's "Appy" Hour post...because a resource like this is just too good to not share! 

Until recently, Snap and Read was only available as a Google Chrome extension on a PC or Mac. With it's recent release, now iPad and iPhone users will have the same access as PC and Mac users, to listen to printed text read aloud in high quality voices alongside the ability to dynamically level, take images of and listen to worksheets read aloud using OCR (Optical Character Recognition), highlight text and create outlines and notations with citations on webpages and documents alike. Additionally, translations are available in over 100 languages, making this an ideal tool for ELL students.

This brief video provides a comprehensive overview of the features available through Snap and Read Universal for iPad.

To learn more about Snap and Read Universal or any of the other amazing products made by possible by Don Johnston, visit the Don Johnston website. On the website, you can view videos that highlight the specific features available within Snap and Read, such as dynamic text leveling or study tools and outlining in more depth. I am unable to share pricing as it varies on the number of subscribers and accounts created. However, you can request a quote directly on the website if interested. 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers Who Use Technology

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers Who Use Educational Technology Infographic clarifies some of the habits highly-effective educators who utilize learning technologies might possess. In particular, successful teachers that integrated edtech in their teaching...

• always start with the why
• are malleable and can easily adapt
• embrace change
• share
• think win-win
• are thorough and think ahead
• actively care

To download a copy of this infographic click here!

Source: http://blog.alwaysprepped.com/the-7-habits-of-highly-effective-teachers-who-use-technology/

Everyone Reading: Dyslexia - Making it Personal

This week I attended the first day of the 2017 Everyone Reading Conference in New York City. The unpredictable New York weather postponed our second day to a future date, but I can honestly say I am incredibly excited to return for day 2. Along with several of my colleagues and administration, we were presented with conference sessions focusing on a range of topics from selecting the right assistive technology tools, to multi-sensory structured language strategies, to learning about a New York State bill that will promote more training on dyslexia for pre-service teachers, to product demonstrations, to the neuropsychology of reading disorders. This is just a snapshot of the sessions available, and it was so hard to choose which session was the right one to attend.

The session that had a profound impact on me was Dyslexia: Making It Personal - A Simulation & Presentation presented by Learning Ally's, Mark Brugger. Mark openly shared his own personal dyslexia journey and the struggles he encountered and persevered through as he advanced in his educational career. Dyslexia is the largest disability group, yet receives far less attention and has an increased misrepresentation when compared to many other disability groups. 



It is important to understand that dyslexia is a real disability, which has been proven through anatomical and brain imagery studies to show differences in brain development and function. Additionally, dyslexia is not: 

•  rare
• associated with low intelligence or cognitive ability
• a vision problem
• a developmental lag which can be outgrown
• the result of laziness
• reading or writing backwards

The attendees were put through several interactive, hands on, orthographic and  phonemic simulations to enable participants to view learning through the eyes of a dyslexic. Within the session, the attendees shared how these simulations left them feeling "dumb", less confident, and wanting to give up...all real life feelings many of our students experience on a daily basis in the educational setting. If this is how the attendees felt in an isolated simulation, it is incredible to think of how many students sit inside of our classrooms daily feeling the same way. 

After discussing the impact of dyslexia, concurrent conditions, early warning signs, potential indicators, methods of screenings and intervention, the conversation turned towards the critical role of parents and educators to recognize and identify the characteristics of the condition and to provide, if/when possible, early intervention to help "rewire the brain", offset genetic vulnerability and implement life long, permanent strategies. Through the provision of extra time, addition of assistive technology, with specific mention of ear reading eBooks/audiobooks, and an intensive, Multi-Sensory Structured Language (MSL) Instruction program students can access what they know by mitigating areas of deficit.

I am looking forward to incorporating this knowledge in all future practices and reading the two books Mark shared...

                            

Fundraising Event - Long Island, NY

For anyone local to the Long Island or tri-state area, there will be a family friendly, local event taking place on April 1, 2017 to help raise awareness and funding for The International Dyslexia Association (I.D.A.) and Campaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic Disease (C.U.R.E.D.). Event and contact information can be found in the flyer below. To learn more about I.D.A. and C.U.R.E.D., click on the hyperlinks or on the images below.  

Motivational Monday

Great things happen with acceptance...

How Audio Promotes Literacy Infographic

If you've been following my blog over the past few months, you probably have read many posts regarding the effectiveness of audiobooks or eBooks. However, if not, I welcome you here and have provided links to several of the articles and infographics previously posted. Click on each title to view the posts. 

Listening Isn't Cheating: How Audio Books Can Help

Assistive Technology At A Glance

Why Audio Books Work Infographic

Overcoming Print Disabilities with eBooks

Friday "Appy" Hour: Epic! 

To add to my expanding resources in support of audio or eBooks, I wanted to share this incredible infographic created by APA (Audio Publishers Association). The APA is a not-for-profit trade association which focuses on advocacy for audio publishers. APA's goal in creating the infographic was to address the question that arises often:

Have you ever wondered just how much audiobooks can improve early literacy skills? 

Through the visual representation viewers can see at a glance through statistics and researched facts how audiobooks or eBooks can make an impact on vocabulary skills, articulation, reading accuracy, reading fluency and more.

To download or copy this infographic click on the link here. 

Source: APA