Let’s make the Animated Step-by-Steps accessible during
freeplay time!
For a preschool class, the TAPit (Interactive Whiteboard
from TeachSmart; http://www.teachsmart.org/)
is hard to beat. I like the fact that it is adjustable in height thus allowing
Animated Step-by-Steps to be presented at the appropriate height for a seated
preschooler. With a press of a button the screen can adjust up and down; it can
even be tilted into a more horizontal presentation to allow a student in an
upright stander to easily interact with an Animated Step-by-Step poem or song. It has
a feature called ‘intended touch’, that is, it can recognize the difference
between ‘an arm resting upon the screen and a finger … intentionally tapping an
image’. (teachsmart.org website). The fact that the entire unit is on wheels allows it to be moved to different locations within the classroom, e.g., in the Reading area when reviewing a poem, in the large group cooking area when using an Animated Step-by-Step recipe.
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| Student reviewing Five Fat Turkeys on TAPit |
Many children enjoy interacting more independently with the
Animated Step-by-Step poems, especially when ‘playing teacher’ during freeplay
time. An Animated Step-by-Step presented on a TAPit is an excellent (although
not inexpensive) prop, allowing students to play teacher while simultaneously
giving them an opportunity to practice their reading and expressive communication
skills.
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| Teacher sharing Five Fat Turkeys during Circle Time |
The fact that they may have already experienced the poem
numerous times during Circle Time, gives them the confidence to play
teacher, ‘reading’ and animating the poem for their friends.
So if you’re wondering how to spend that money generously donated by the Garden City Ladies Group … think TAPit … and of course Animated Step-by-Steps! : )
’til the next post …
(become a follower; new post every Monday)
© 2015 Carol Goossens', Ph.D.
Augmentative Communication Specialist
Speech-Language Pathologist
Special Educator
http://animatedstepbysteps.blogspot.com
http://teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bloom
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