1. Exploration of Apps and other Resources for Supporting Language and Literacy in Young Children
Beth Poss
@possbeth
@dcmcitp

2. Use the chat window and share!
How has technology impacted how you communicate and read over the last 5 years?
Use the chat window and share!

3. Objectives
Explore a variety of developmentally appropriate, interactive apps and other media resources that can be used to develop and support the communication and interactive language skills of young children.
Explore a variety of developmentally appropriate apps and other media resources that support the development of early literacy (reading and writing) skills in young children in alignment with best practices.
Learn the difference between technology for enhancement of learning and assistive technology, in the context of a Universally Designed for Learning early childhood environment

4. Let’s Review: What Makes an Effective Early Childhood App?
Open ended to support play and problem solving
Promotes literacy, language and vocabulary development without drill and kill
Include rich, engaging activities that invite a high degree of interactivity and control by the user
Encourages movement--fine and gross motor
Enhances and encourages interactions with adults or peers, rather than promoting solitary exploration
Culturally diverse/free of stereotypes
Meets a developmental need

5. What we will examine today
Well suited apps that:
Thoughtfully focus on language and literacy skill development
Include rich, engaging activities that invite a high degree of interactivity and control by the user
Offer authentic problem situations that require strategic thinking to resolve
Provide effective feedback and scaffolding so that with repeated use player gets better and are offered new challenges
Make good use of latest technology and have aesthetic merit, free from extraneous/distracting “cute” sound and graphics

6. Using Apps to Build Language
Vocabulary
Turn taking
Expand communicative intent
Initiate language
Encourage expressive output
Support comprehension
Augment oral language

7. Photos and Video Tools Skyping with daddy
Research indicates that activities like Skyping or FaceTime, in which the baby communicates with a live human on the screen positively impacts learning

8. AAC Apps--Focus on Early Communication

9. LAMP--Words for Life https://AAC.apps.com
Click here for an excellent summary of LAMP and how it supports language development

10. Go Talk Now--Attainment

11. Sounding Board--AbleNet

12. 100s of AAC Apps
Jane Farrall has a comprehensive list of apps at
Call Scotlands Wheel of AAC Apps updated-aac-app-wheel/
Work with your early interventionist and speech language pathology professional to determine the best app or other device to meet your child’s needs

13. Apps to Support Beginning Communication

14. This is My Story

15. EPIC!

16. David Weisner’s Spot

17. As Easy as ABC...Metamorphabet

18. Literacy= Reading and Writing Scribble Press

19. In the UDL Classroom Options: Print books, AND technology
Use of low tech and high tech communication supports available for ALL children
Multiple ways to engage in writing and play

20. Discussion
Answer the following questions and respond to at least 2 of your peers:
How can you integrate e-books and other early literacy and language activities using mobile technology into your early learning environment?
How does your early learning policy statement constructed in Session 1 support the integration of these apps and resources in your early learning environment?

21. Instructional Activity
Evaluate and create reviews for 3 apps for how they support communication, language and literacy. Upload your documents.

22. Resources Available from:
Diigo “Swipe Generation” Articles, websites, reviews
Pinterest Pre-K Apps page