Charting the Cs: Cooperation, Communication and Collaboration. Statewide Professional Development to Support the Workforce and Low Incidence Disability Areas. Charting the Cs Conference 2024. Interactive Read Alouds for Diverse Learners Provided by Lowell Buysse, Brittany Escobedo, Becca Morehouse Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices, Switches, and Adapted Materials What We Will Discuss Why do read aloud in a diverse setting? What does engagement look like? Barriers for read aloud Whole group, small group, and individual reading resources How to collaborate related services How to implement Assistive Technology as needed to aid participation Read aloud examples Why is read aloud appropriate? Increases stamina for sitting for a full group lesson Increase language comprehension Increase engagement with text Improves the ability to cue to the speaker Listening comprehension Provides an opportunity for “shared enjoyment” Read Aloud in a DCD/ASD Setting What does a read aloud look like? Students will be sitting or laying in a spot that meets their sensory needs. Students may not look at the book but can still benefit from listening to increase listening comprehension skills. What does engagement look like? Students will need to slowly increase the amount of time they are engaged. The use of switches to increase engagement in books. Repetitive books can record the same phrase. Engagement in Shared Reading Shared Reading is defined as the interaction that occurs between an adult and students as they read a book together with the intention of enhancing the student’s language and literacy skills (Ezell & Justice, 2005). How can we build skills? Labeling objects in the illustrations (e.g., “I see a dog”) Talk about what is going on in the book (e.g., “That dog is making a mess.”) Referring to real-life connections (e.g., “Wow, sometime I make a mess too”) Referencing the print (e.g., “There is a b like in your name.”) CAR as a teaching strategy With earliest emergent literacy learners.. Comment and Wait Ask for participation and Wait Respond by adding a little more If a learner isn’t able to respond, another can model the correct response. Communication objectives related to the use of Communicative Functions Barriers to whole group read aloud Varied academic levels Varied communication needs Physical needs Sensory needs Engagement and ability to attend Turn taking Vision needs Hearing needs Whole Group Resource Novel Effect ($7.99/ month or $79/yr.) Provides multi-sensory soundscapes while book is read Increased engagement Increased comprehension Better concentration Sync with a speaker Create your own related to listening- Communication pages Additional comments of characters Small Group/Individual Resources LessonPix LessonPix is great for: Book Activities Under “In a Story” tab Sequencing activities Make a paper puppet “There Was an Old Lady” books Crafts $36.00/yr. Endless visuals Expectations for read aloud Tar Heel Shared Reader and Gameplay Prompts to the communication partner Emphasis on turn taking Adjustable symbols Words/ symbols per page Simple text / words per page Built in switch access Prompts for “More” etc. Communicative Functions to target during Read Alouds What to say? Wide range of messages types Generic enough to be used across books/ parts of the day Can be easily repeated within the same activity Comments can be errorless- no right or wrong answers Power of Commenting It can gain others attention - “I have something to say” Comments programmed can be generic enough to be used across activities/days If used on a voice output switch- there should be a symbol representation indicating - I am “talking” Possibly recorded in a child’s voice - not adult’s voice A Social Script can be created related to a book read- used later Mid-level AT Tools to increase participation iTalk 4 by AbleNet - allows recording of 4 messages Step by Step with levels AlterNet Spinner - can be set up with questions for the group Quicktalker(s) - with various literacy related questions/comments Talking Brix - can be single or attached (beginning, middle, end) High Level AT Tools to increase Decide Now app on iPad - customized spinners for kids names- short questions or vocabulary Randomizer or GamePlay switches for a modified Bingo related to vocabulary in the book - or “I Spy game”- locating visuals within the book Individual student devices - keep it simple You may want to keep the communication and motor requirements “low” if the goal is participation in a group setting Communication devices and Read Aloud Levels of support available for modeling Pick your priorities - may NOT be the time to teach vocabulary - it IS time to target engagement and participation Are the devices charged and ready? Can you “share” displays between devices - ex. “Airdrop for iPad to iPad or device” Communication devices and Read Aloud, continued Challenges with various kids in the same group using various apps on devices (ex. Proloque2Go, TouchChat, TD Snap) Maybe using the high tech device is targeted during a more individualized time compared to whole group read aloud Can be done as a follow-up or pre-teach or just remain available in the classroom for free choice Remember - the group dynamics have to “keep moving” in order to keep all kids engaged (as best you can) How to Implement Successfully Day 1-Read the book all the way through Days 2-4-Stop throughout the book for discussion. Use switches to increase engagement on these days. Days 2-4- Do activities Based on the needs of the group activities can be whole group or broken up into small groups. Activities Sequencing Story Comprehension Craft Take your time Book Resources Tumblebooks Novel Effect Epic LessonPix Tarheelreader Tarheel Gameplay Book Suggestions Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson Brown Bear Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. & Eric Carle The Little Blue Truck Series by Alice Schertle The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson The Mitten by Jan Brett Sneezy The Snowman by Maureen Wright and Stephen Gilpin Mix it Up by Herve Tullet Maple and Willow Series by Lori Nichols Thank you!