1. Engaging Learners
and
Supporting Literacy
using Visual Symbols
High Impact Literacy
Practices
2012
Kimberly Kode Sutton, Ph.D.
2. This session will
explore
the various ways
that teachers can
use
Boardmaker
software
to strengthen their
literacy programs
and
better engage
struggling learners.
3. What is Boardmaker?
Commercial software that combines printed
text with visual supports.
Visual Supports are things that we can see that
enhance the communication process.
Body Movement
Environmental Cues
Written Words Visual Supports
Pictures and Symbols serve as way to
make language and
literacy “visible.”
5. Who are these
Struggling Learners?
EnglishLanguage Learners
Children with Disabilities
Learning Disabled
Intellectually Impaired
Pervasive Developmentally Disordered
Communication Disordered
Emergent and Early Readers
6. English Language Learners
Fastestgrowing subgroup of students in the
United States
Student subgroup with the highest dropout rate
and lowest achievement scores
McCardle, Mele-Mccarthy, Cutting, & D’Emilio, 2005
Predicted that half of the United States’ K-12
population will speak a language other than
English on their first day of school by the year
2002
Eubanks, 2002
7. Children with Disabilities
Approximately 11% of the population ages 6-17 is
identified as having a disability
In a typical classroom of 30 students, there may
be 3 students with disabilities
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is often the
regular education classroom
U.S. Department of Education, 2007
8. Emergent and Early Readers
At the beginning of their literacy development
Could be ELL
Could have an identified disability
Could have an undiagnosed disability
Could be an at-risk learner
Could ???
9. Many of These Students Need
Help With…
Phonemic Awareness
Alphabetic Principle
Fluency
Comprehension
Print Conventions
Concepts of Word
Vocabulary Development
Narrative Concepts
10. How Can Boardmaker Help?
Can pair words with pictures
From embedded visual supports
From personal photo library
Can read print
Computer-generated
Human voice
Can adjust font size, style, and color
Boardmaker can provide
an age-appropriate, nonthreatening approach
to literacy instruction and activities.
11. What Can You Make?
Picture Exchange Visual Word Walls
Communication (PECS) Personal Dictionaries
Communication Boards Vocabulary Focus
Classroom Organization Wordless Books
Behavior Repetitive Phrase
Picture-Letter Matching Stories
Picture-Word Matching Adapted Books
Sequencing Repeated Readings
Sorting Personalized Stories
28. Let’s Get Started!
1. Click on the Boardmaker Plus icon
2. Open a Template
3. Let’s look at the provided templates
4. Open BM Calendar…
29. One More Thing…
www.Boardmakershare.com
Search for Activities
Type of activity (which Boardmaker version)
Grade level
Curriculum/subject
Can view on any computer
Cannot download/use unless computer has
Boardmaker software
Create an account to download activities or create
groups
