Author Archives: chris.bugaj

Indicating Which Words To Model During Shared Reading Experiences

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A strategy to help individuals learn language using augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) is to provide Partner Augmented Input (also known as Aided Language Stimulation). This means the communication partners model language by using the same form of AAC as the student with whom they are communicating. This short video explains the idea. 

When participating in literacy experiences, like reading a book together, it can be difficult to model every word in the story. Focusing the modeling on words which are used most frequently is a way to target meaningful vocabulary. However, for a communication partner who is just learning about AAC, it can still be difficult to know which words to model.

The free webtool UpGoer6 invites users to input text which is then colorized based on how frequently the word is used. Bright green text indicates the word is used frequently. Dark red indicates the word is rarely used. Clicking on a word provides a numerical ranking of how frequently the word is used. Educators can copy and paste the colorized text into adapted books to provide communication partners reading with the student a visual cue of which words are the priority to model. Strategies like these make it easier for someone who is new to modeling on AAC know which words to prioritize when modeling.

Screenshot of the website UpGoer Six with call out pointing to where to type text, where one can select a word to see how frequently it is used, and to model the words in green.

Screenshot of the Up-Goer Six Text Editor

Syllable Markers in Immersive Reader

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Immersive Reader is a literacy support tool from Microsoft. One of its many features is the ability to break words into syllables which can help a user decode, recognize, and pronounce the individual word. This video titled Improving Your Reading With Immersive Reader shows how to activate this feature along with other literacy support options.

Screenshot of words with dots between syllables

Syllable Support in Immersive Reader

Screenshot of Grammar Options in Immersive Reader

Grammar Options in Immersive Reader Including Syllable Support

Symbolized Text Does Not Support Literacy

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Symbols for frequently used words such as like, of, some, and know do not help someone produce a picture in their mind. Look at the examples below. If you covered up the text, could you guess the text below?

symbols for like, of, some, know

When a picture representation of a word is added to a text representation of a word, it tends to add to the complexity of visual information presented in a way that does NOT help an individual learn how to decode, recognize, or comprehend the text. The added image doesn’t actually help students make an association between the printed word and the symbol. A strategy to use instead is to present the text without an added picture. The text itself is the symbol.

Senior at Loudoun Valley High School Creates Videos and Books to Support the Learning of Language Using Augmentative/Alternative Communication

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Ceci Fetterolf was a senior at Loudoun Valley High School during the 2021-2022 school year. For her capstone project she created a series of videos illustrating the multiple meanings of 15 different frequently used words. These videos can be used to help those learning language using augmentative/alternative communication understand how these words are used in everyday interactions. The videos are organized on a virtual poster each linked via a QR code. 

Ceci also authored three online books explaining mathematical concepts using frequently used words. These books can also be used to help any learner explore math concepts using commonly used language. Learn more about her motivation, approach, and what she learned by listening to this audio interview with Ceci and/or reading the transcript of her interview.

Ceci Fetterolf, a senior at Loudoun Valley High School during the 2021-2022 school year, displays a poster featuring QR codes to each of her created videos and books

Ceci Fetterolf, a senior at Loudoun Valley High School during the 2021-2022 school year, displays a poster featuring QR codes to each of her created videos.

Speech to Text Within a Google Slide

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A recent update to Read&Write for Google Chrome has brought with it a new, highly requested feature! The Talk&Type button is a shortcut to activating the Voice Typing feature of Google Docs. Prior to this update, this feature only worked in the Speaker Notes section of a Google Slides presentation. Users needed to turn on the Enable Dictation feature in the Accessibility settings of Chrome to dictate directly into a slide. Now, users can use the Talk&Type button in Read&Write for Google Chrome when using Google Slides to use speech to text, essentially cutting down on navigation and providing a consistent experience between applications. This new feature provides learners with yet another option for how to compose text to show what they know! Watch this short tutorial titled Read&Write in Google Slides Speech to Text Update to see how it works.

Audio Recording and Transcription in Google Keep

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Google Keep is a note taking application available to any student in Loudoun County Public Schools. One way users can take notes using a mobile device is by recording audio. The recorded audio is both saved and transcribed so the user can access the note again in their preferred modality. They can listen to the recorded audio, read the transcribed text, or do both! Watch this video titled Google Keep: Voice Notes and Transcription.

Text Preferences in Immersive Reader

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Immersive Reader is a literacy support tool from Microsoft. One of its many features is the ability to alter text in a variety of ways based on the preferences of the user to customize their experience. The user can increase or decrease the font size, change the font, change the spacing, and change the theme including altering background colors. Anyone can choose the combination that works best for them!

Screenshot of text preferences in Immersive Reader

Text Preferences in Immersive Reader

Organizing Information Using OneNote

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OneNote is a tool included in the Microsoft Office Suite of programs. It acts as a digital binder where a user can keep notes in a variety of formats. Users can include text, audio, or photos and organize them using colored tabs in sections within a binder. Additional tabs and sections can be added and then rearranged as necessary. Every student in LCPS has access OneNote. Watch this short introductory video titled “What is OneNote?” to learn more about OneNote to decide if it might help you or a learner you support.

Screenshot of OneNote

OneNote in Microsoft Office 365

 

Immersive Reader Added to Schoology

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Immersive Reader Button on a Schoology Course Page

Schoology is the primary learning management system used in Loudoun County Public Schools. A recent update added Immersive Reader to all Course pages and Schoology Course Assignments. Look for the Immersive Reader button on the top right corner to activate. The text on the Course page will open in Immersive Reader which provides a variety of functions including all of the following: 

Create Your Own Mandalorian for May the Fourth

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May the Fourth is known as Star Wars day. A fun experience for learners of all ages might be to create their own Mandalorian from the Star Wars universe. Go to https://www.mandocreator.com/ to begin.

Implementation ideas include…

  1. Collaboratively working with peers to design and color the character by giving directions such as, “Put that on”, “Let’s use green”, and “I choose that one.”
  2. Practicing the pragmatic function of commenting on the character such as, “It is big”, “I like it”, and “It has many colors.”
  3. Exporting the picture and adding text to describe the character.
  4. Exporting the picture, importing it into a slide deck using Google Slides or PowerPoint, and adding additional images around it to create a scene.
  5. Telling a story about the character.

The universe is the only limit to how it can be used! Whatever the students’ create will be out of this world! This is the way!

A Mandalorian created using https://www.mandocreator.com/

A Mandalorian created using https://www.mandocreator.com/