The Maryland Common Core Frameworks for Braille: Identifying the Next Generation Grade Level Braille Literacy Needs of Students Lisa Wright & Heather Johnson 1

 Grade level standards for braille aligned to the Common Core  Prekindergarten through grade 12  English/Language Arts  Literary Braille  Readiness: Hand movements, use of braille writer  Alphabet  Contractions  Textbook formats  Mathematics  Nemeth Code  Tactile graphics 2

 Aligned to the Common Core, can be used by any State  Identify grade level standards for areas not previously aligned  Formats  Nemeth  Tactile graphics  Includes standards, checklists, and resource list  Can be used for formative assessments and IEP goals 3

Do YOU need to align your IEP Goals and Objectives for Braille to content standards? 4

 MD has PreK standards that are not part of Common Core  MD did not add any other additional unique standards  Only grade-level standards for braille, not instructional strategies for teaching braille  It does not include any other skills beside braille 5

 Introduction, References  Standards  ELA by strands  Math by grades  Appendix A  ELA: Literacy Braille code and Formatting  Mathematics: Nemeth Braille code and tactile graphics  Appendix B: Acronyms and Definitions  Appendix C: Resources  Appendix D: Instructional Materials  Appendix E: ELA: Tactile Editing Marks 6

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 Range of Reading  Informational Text - biographies, speeches, letters, newspaper articles  Functional text: forms, procedures, directions, and information displayed in graphs, charts, or maps  Complexity of Reading – word/sentence/passage length, higher levels of meaning/ purpose, and higher vocabulary/language and knowledge demands  Reading fluency – reading text with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. 9

 Knowledge of all literary contractions by the end of grade 2  Knowledge of all punctuation and braille signs of composition by the end of grade 3  Knowledge of some computer braille code (websites, addresses)  Grade level reading skills: vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, reading speed  Access to text and multimedia  Common Core Standards Appendix B Text Exemplars:

 Print features – table of contents, index, glossary, appendix, pronunciation guide  Organizational aids – bold/colored print, italics, bullets, titles, headings, subheadings, captions, labels, sidebars  Graphic aids – diagrams, graphs, figures, maps, charts/tables, timelines  Illustrations – photographs, drawings 11

 Need to know “Braille Formats” web/index.html web/index.html  Need to know “Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics (2010) – diagrams, maps, graphs, tables, timelines manual/index.htmlhttp:// manual/index.html 12

 Primarily nonfiction: argument, opinion, informative/explanatory  Research (Grade 6 – bibliography)  Cite evidence, analyze content, record and analyze data  Prepare product for publication/presentation  Integration of technology 13

 Keyboarding skills – type pages within a single sitting  Grade 4: 1 page, Grade 5: 2 pages, Grade 6: 3 pages  Presentation software, word processing, and spreadsheets  Mainstream devices (iPad, laptop/desktop)  Collaboration and shared writing  Digital Texts  Internet skills  Web navigation  Contribute to a learning community  Using online resources  Accessible web tools 14

What do YOU need to learn more about to ensure braille readers meet grade level English/Language Arts standards? 15

 Narrow scope and deepen understanding  Procedural skill and fluency – quickly and accurately  Application: to real world and apply skills  Rigor of skills 16

 Learn Nemeth Code numerals and symbols beginning in Prekindergarten  New Nemeth Code introduced at every grade level through high school  Emphasis on reading and creating Tactile Graphics 17

 Pre-K through grade 5 – focus is computation of whole numbers, fractions, and decimals. Measurement and geometry tied to numbers and operations  Middle school – ratio, proportions, statistics, algebra, foundations of geometry  High School – functions, statistics, geometry, algebra 18

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 Expectations for participation by all in higher level mathematics (Algebra 1 and 2 and Geometry)  Strong knowledge of Nemeth Code  Strong skills in reading tactile graphics  Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics (2010) – diagrams, maps, graphs, tables, timelines manual/index.html manual/index.html 21

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What do YOU need to learn more about to ensure braille readers meet grade level Mathematics? 24

 Same content.  High expectations.  Identified needed braille skills. 25

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