ASBVI Braille Can be Bumpy!

Our future Braille readers are depending on you! You Are Important! Our future Braille readers are depending on you! You can nurture or destroy the hope of learning Braille. You can make a Difference Zolinger, Jan .Teaching Braille Through the Arts, New Mexico School for the Blind 9/23/2010

How Do you teach Braille? Beginning In preschool, teachers begin conducting the Oregon Project, which assess their Braille readiness skills from ages 3 to 7. These lay the foundation for future braillists. Activities on the preschool level include fine motor skills and tactile discrimination, which is a must to reading and writing braille.

How Do you teach Braille? Tactile discrimination Begin with identifying the braille symbols are “the same”, and identifying the one that “is different”, etc. Building on Patterns series incorporates the expanded core curriculum and teaches the braille code in a logical sequence “Read Again” “The Braille Connection”, “The ABCS of Braille” – for adventiously blinded students, begins with the alphabet, then and, the, with, of, then on to dot 5, dots 4-5, and so on.

3 Development Levels of Literacy- (1995- Rex, Koenig, Wormsley, Baker) Emergent •Development of concepts •Preschool -Pre-Braille taught Basic •Experiences during school years •K-12 Functional Experiences involved in daily life Job, filling out job applications, etc. Zolinger, Jan .Teaching Braille Through the Arts, New Mexico School for the Blind 9/23/2010

How Do you teach Braille? Contracted verses uncontracted braille Introduce contractions as they appear in student books and assignments. If the student has a contraction in their name, please teach it to the student using the contraction. Teaching contracted braille as it is introduced in the student’s environment eliminates the reteach of how to write a braille word correctly

How Do you teach Braille? Make it FUN!!!!! Learning to read braille tactually is tough. Building on Patterns- incorporates the expanded core curriculum and teaches the braille code in a logical sequence Use braille labels to braille EVERYTHING! Let your students explore the room to find the braille words Use technology to motivate- Ipads, JAWS, notetakers, games, get them hooked on a really good book

Incorporate fun into Braille learning! Music Drama Art Storytelling Movement

“Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Braille Learning “Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will understand.” -Chinese Proverb

Music- Increases Attention Focus Concentration Releases Tension Improves Short Term Memory Facilitates a Multisensory Learning Experience Establishes a Positive Learning Situation Powerful carrier of signals that activate emotion and long term memory. Zolinger, Jan .Teaching Braille Through the Arts, New Mexico School for the Blind 9/23/2010

Music Select appropriate music for the learning activity in the classroom: Opening music Breaks and transitions Background music for concentration, quiet activities Brainstorming or Creative Problem Solving End of class Music should not be used than 30% of class.

The Braille Rap from APH Making Braille is Fun to Do- Favorite Songs: The Braille Rap from APH Making Braille is Fun to Do- (Hadley School for the Blind) Songs by Jan Zolinger, NMSB

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Hadley School For the Blind- Free Online Course: Braille Methods for Teaching Children- 7 lessons, 2 credits earned Literacy and Essential Early Experience: The Heart (positive attitude) Head (collection of experiences and skills) Hands (reading techniques)

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Developing phonological awareness: Teach the alphabet song Use rhymes for alphabet awareness Make alphabet boxes for each letter of the alphabet. Label each box in print and braille and fill it with items that begin with that letter.

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Ways to give a child opportunities to feel braille in their environment: Label the child’s toy box and other items with their name in braille Point out braille in the community, such as public restrooms, restaurants, elevators Put braille on the calendar Make large labels on the child’s cereals and snacks.

Story Boxes/Bags Allows the student to experience their reading of braille Ex: The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss. Include items like slippers, towels, cotton balls, a toy clown, big and small shoes, and show these to the child as you read. Make a library of story boxes for parents to check out to read to their students.

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Allow a pre-reader to “piggy back” their hands on yours as you read across the braille so that they learn the direction and flow of reading a book. Later, assist them in tracking left to right. Use fun illustrations such as Anne Swenson’s games: “Some children l are playing hide and seek with the bus driver = Then reader then tracks the line to find the bus driver in each row. l l = l l l l l = l

Braille Methods for Teaching Children In Beginning Readers: Insist the child keeps their fingers on each word as it is read After the child has read a book several times, select a random page and read it. Always spell the contractions using the letter names, i.e.: t-h-e contraction, a-n-d Keep a list of contractions the child has mastered

How do you teach Braille? Have the child practice writing contractions by either rewriting or extending a story, such as “Green Eggs and Ham” . For example, practice the t-h-e contraction with “I do not like Green Eggs and Ham. I will not eat them in the car, I will not eat them in the floor, I will not eat them in the house.” Have the child read back what they have written. Provide many braille books in the classroom and child’s home Encourage the child to read and reread books frequently to become fluent

How do you teach Braille? Make Reading Meaningful Use Calendar Activities Make a daily schedule for the child to follow Write a letter to the child using words they can recognize Develop word games and flash cards Place letters and words in fun places where the student might find them, such as under the table, to help them explore their environments Have games the child can play alone or with others using braille numbers, words, or letters. Uno, Scrabble, Bingo, Braille BattleShip, etc.

Braille Reading Rates (Taken from the TSBVI Assessment Kit) Grade Braille Reading Rate 3rd- 51 WPM 4th- 58 WPM 5th- 66 WPM 6th- 67 WPM College 115 WPM

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Braille Reading Speed Maintain a light touch, constant left to right and downward motion in the direction of the text Encourage the child to use all four fingers of both hands to read braille, (Pencil test) Two-Hand tracking Method. Split-Hands Tracking Scissors tracking

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Beware of Poor Braille Reading Habits: Slouching Scrubbing Double tracking Backtracking rereading

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Factors that Affect Speed: Practice Silent Reading with Active Listening Using “Sight” Words and Phrases Access to Braille Materials Attitude and Expectations

Braille Writing Journaling Friendly letters Book reports Task completion verses quality Teacher feedback and editing is essential Use it as a way for students to tell their stories

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Braille Writing “Successful braillewriting depends on the child’s ability to use the correct keys for the dots, the press the keys simultaneously and with enough strength to produce accurate uniform braille characters, and their ability to use the different parts of the machine. Fine Motor exercises are important to gain finger strength.”- Hadley School for the Blind

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Braille Writing Swing Cell Braille Art Slate and Stylus Pop A Cell Braille Blocks

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Braille Writing Spelling and Vocabulary Prewriting- Brainstorming Drafting/Revising- Publishing- Produce both print and braille copies, using a computer, printer, and embosser.

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Slate and Stylus ideas: Have students write Valentine’s Grocery Lists To do lists Address Book Homework Short messages

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Tactile Illustrations: Learning to interpret tactile illustrations is not comparable to recognizing and identifying visual illustrations. Tactile illustrations must be well made To understand illustrations, the child must have sensory experiences with real objects and experiences. Give the blind child opportunities to explore their world.

Braille Methods for Teaching Children Have students “scan page” with fingers- Top to bottom to get an over all idea of how big The image is, its overall features, and then allow the student to explore the image closer. Tell the student what the image is and explain the picture so that the student gains a Visual image of the tactile representation.

Braille Methods for Teaching Children APH basic guidelines for a good tactile design: Textures, shapes, lines, are distinctly different from one another Appropriate for the reader’s age and skill level Simple and show only the most important details Not cluttered with fine details Shapes are no smaller than ½ inch of a side Include fill patterns to help the reader tell what is inside and outside the shape APH tactile library: www.aph.org

Ideas for Literacy for Children with Multiple Disabilities : Carefully consider the goals for the child. Label student’s chair, coat hook, and storage area with their name Select a key vocabulary with words that are meaningful to them, family names, friends, favorite toys, food, activities Make experience books- using real objects and braille labels Use mnemonics for memory strategies Use overlearning techniques Teach context clues

Ideas for Literacy and Children with Multiple Disabilities Use Tack Tiles to make a story or sentence, as well as invent games to encourage braille reading. Make communication books using symbols and braille words Model good reading behavior Experiment with keyboards and braille notetakers Provide encouragement and motivating activities. Allow the child to feel success with braille

What is Resource Braille Resource braille provides resources to all braille students to ensure that their educational needs are being met through adequate tools and instruction with regards to braille. Braille resources are also available to teachers to use in their classrooms with braille students.

What is Resource Braille Instruction? Resource braille is for those students who are struggling in the classroom due to a need of increased fluency and accuracy in the literary braille code and/or Nemeth code.

Braille Assessment Oregon Project Minnesota Braille Skills Inventory Brigance Word Recognition, reading comprehension, functional reading Reading Rates John’s Assessment

IEPs and Transition Plans Braille students need goals for the weaknesses that they show in their braille code, skills, or adaptive technology If they will be assigned a adaptive technology, there needs to be a goal or cited on the IEP somewhere.

What Braille Technology is out there? Perkins Brailler JAWS for Windows Notetakers- PacMate, BrailleNotes, BrailleSense, APH Products Refreshable braille displays Bookreaders Jot a Dot Tons more!

What does a braille student need to be using? Whatever technology that fits them and their needs the most. It is our job to teach them how to use braille note takers and braille related technology. It is their job to determine if they want to use a braille device or to use a more main stream device to complete technology related tasks. (email, websites, completing assignments) that is AFTER they have received training on using braille-specific devices

Braille Embossers Romeo Juliet BookMaker Index Gemini (print/braille) Tiger premeire pro (graphics) PIAF (pictures in a flash) Braille Basic

Pros and Cons to Braille Specific Technology Pros: The students can interact with the teachers more readily with screen viewers for the computers.- Quicker feedback Automatically transcribes into word perfect Better writing samples Easier to email assignments to the teacher Can download entire textbooks or books of interest onto a single device. Easier to access the internet Easier to interact with peers during group assignments

Pros and Cons- Continued Cons: They are computers. With computers, typically things go wrong that require troubleshooting. They take time to learn. I do project; however, that we will continue to progress at ASBVI with teaching these students these devices, therefore reducing some of the anxieties that accompany new devices. They are costly.

Solutions and Alternatives More training for students and staff on the braille technology. Strategize a plan for paying for these devices on graduation. Lions Clubs, scholarships, small loan. Meet with transition members to determine student needs.

Braille Programs Braille Pals/Braille Bug- The National Braille Challenge Seedlings Braille Books for Children National Library for the Blind Learning Ally (previously Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic) Bookshare American Action Fund

Braille Statistics What You Should Know Braille is equivalent to print. It is the only system through which children with profound or total loss of sight can learn to read and write. There is a significant relationship between Braille literacy and academic success, higher income and employment. Braille literacy = independence, confidence and success.

Braille Statistics Today only 10 percent of blind children are learning Braille. While audio devices are useful sources of information for blind people, only Braille offers complete command of written language. The number of legally blind US children has increased due to several factors, including advances in medical care for premature infants. Most blind children (85%) attend public schools where few teachers know Braille. America would never accept a 10 percent literacy rate among sighted children.

Braille Statistics (cont) The National Federation of the Blind is initiating a campaign to double the number of Braille readers by 2015. Braille Readers are Leaders is a public awareness campaign to increase support for Braille literacy among blind children and adults. Legislative History With the passing of Public Law 109-247: The Louis Braille Bicentennial-Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act, the President of the United States and the U. S. Congress have recognized the critical role Braille plays in the independence, freedom, and success of the blind and the central role the NFB plays in improving literacy among the blind.

Braille Statistics (cont) Campaign Goals The number of school-age children reading Braille will double by 2015. All fifty states will enact legislation requiring special education teachers of blind children to obtain and maintain the National Certification in Literary Braille by 2015. Braille resources will be made more available through online sharing of materials, enhanced production methods, and improved distribution. The American public will learn that blind people have a right to Braille literacy so they can compete and assume a productive role in society. ©2011 All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2011 NFB

National Certification in Literary Braille Certification (NCLB) The goal of the NCLB, as any other certification process is to: Recognize that a uniform national standard set by professionals in the field has been met. Assure employers, school administrators, colleagues, consumers, families, and other professionals that certificants possess appropriate braille knowledge and skills. Enhance professional credibility. Increase job competitiveness. Contribute to a higher degree of job satisfaction. Provide an opportunity for professional development. Prepare professionals and paraprofessionals to meet current and future needs. Provide essential information necessary for consumers to make informed choices.