Hence, if you are thinking of some games to teach sight words to first graders, let me help you with a few effective strategy-based ones. 

Games to learn sight words – What do these offer?

The game list that I intend to share with you in this post is curated while keeping a few factors that are essential for the concept-building process in kids. When we choose to teach anything, including sight words, in a gamified way, the idea is to bring quality to the learning process^[2]. Thus, the very first thing these games ensure is that the kids don’t meander away from the basic idea, which is – learning.

Other objectives that teachers or parents can achieve from these games are:

• Teaching usage of the word in sentences
• Focus on building spelling efficiency
• Helping first graders understand the use of sight words in daily life situations
• Be quick in identifying the sight words
• Improving learning progress

All that sounds interesting, isn’t it? So, let’s take a look at some of the fun games that can help the first graders get well-acquainted with sight words and their use in daily-life conversations.

Popular games to teach sight words to first graders

Often the little students who have just entered the primary level search for a break from learning through books or practice charts. It is where the games step in and provide a more indulgent way of teaching sight words to little learners in first grade. Let’s take a look at some of the engaging games that you can play to have a collaborative learning environment in the sight word classroom session.

1. Spot the sight words

Arrange words in a matrix in a jumbled-up manner and mix the sight words in this mesh. The students can indulge in a competition to spot the sight words circle them and try to beat each other on the parameter of time and number of sight words they can spot. 

This game is a rip-off of the word spotting games that kids love to play in their free time. Not only does it check the knowledge gained, but it also helps the first graders affirm the correctness of the spelling of the sight words they have learned. By making different matrices containing sight words, you can allow kids to enrich their collection of these commonly occurring components of a sentence. It is certainly a good break from the process of mugging up sight word books!

2. Make the sentences Buzzer game

There are several story books and sight word books that demonstrate the use of sight words in sentences. So, if you want to give an innovative solution other than those books to the first grader, why not allow them to be the sentence-builder?

As a game jockey, your task will be to give a cue sight word to two students competing against one another. The challenge is to keep making sentences on the given word. The side that makes more sentences using the sight word wins the rounds as they are announced during the gameplay. The next round starts when either side fails to recollect or make correct sentences. The sentences that are formed in a manner semantically incorrect also lead to the next round. 

It is played in four to five rounds so that the enthusiasm stays alive. Also, it becomes possible to fit the game into a restricted time schedule. Thus, improvement in memory recall, as well as correct use of sight words, are the two main benefits you achieve from this game.

3. Sight word spellathon

This game will require you to have letter cubes and a table. Kids will pick the letter cubes to make as many sight words as possible. This simple game serves the purposes of learning spellings, speeding up word formation, and also boosting recognition of sight word spellings. The use of letter cubes is suggested to enhance motor skills and improve hand-eye coordination.

You can add more to the challenge by asking kids to make longer sight words and the qualifying words will only be those that contain at least four letters. Possible to play in groups, you can make this game more portable by simply asking participants to play this game orally. 

4. Sight Word Bingo

One of the most popular games – Bingo – gets a linguistic twist when you replace the numbers on the Bingo cards with sight words. You, as a game jockey, will distribute Bingo cards to the students. One clue card containing numbers will be with you. 

The gameplay is simple. You speak out the sight words and the students locate that on the Bingo card and place the color-coded coin on that. If the row or column is filled with coins, the student will announce ‘Bingo’ and win the game. The game can enhance listening comprehension, and sight word recognition, to quote a few benefits. Also, you can add an additional task by asking the learner to make sentences with all the sight words that helped him earn a Bingo.

You can develop customizable Bingo Cards with the help of an online card generator or use our printable sight word learning chart for the gameplay.

5. Sight word Swatting 

It is a quick game where you create some sight word flashcards. Give the child a fly swatter or something similar to it. Spread the flashcards in front of the child and start speaking out the sight words one after the other. The child has to listen to the sight word and swat it. Every correctly swatted sight word will be removed and may be introduced again later in the game to reinforce learning. 

This game can be played while making pairs. The one who swats all words faster is declared the winner. Thus, you can achieve sight word recognition, better word recall rate, and sight word vocabulary strengthening with this game.

6. Sight Words Treasure Hunt

It is an interesting game that can be played both in school and at home. The game requires you to hunt the things in a given area of the house or in the classroom. You give a sight-wordy twist to the game by telling them to read the sight word written on the object they hunt and make a sentence using that word. The one who collects all objects and makes sentences the fastest is the winner.

Various strategies to maximize learning from sight word games

During the course of gameplay, the challenge is to not let the focus waver from learning. Also, kids may need to first open up before they participate in the game. I would like to share a few strategies that worked for me while homeschooling my child in his first-grade days to give him additional training on sight words; these include:

• Keep the process simple: The fewer steps and easy process make the little learner more interested in participating.
• Talk about the outcome in advance: Give a heads-up to the child to let him imbibe the idea behind playing the game
• Use rewards as a motivational tool: You can share the reward that kids will get on completing the game; it engages them better and keeps them motivated to perform sincerely.

To sum up,

Playing sight word games is a participatory way of teaching these elementary language concepts to first graders. The games allow you to reduce learning anxiety and replace it with the ease of grasping new concepts. All Engish Language beginners feel more included when gamified ways of teaching are adopted.

Take the help of the games listed above to achieve the teaching objectives and share with us any new observations that you found in student performance or in their interest in learning sight words.

References

1. Cheung, S. Y., & Ng, K. Y. (2021). Application of the Educational Game to Enhance Student Learning. Frontiers in Education, 6, 623793. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2021.623793
2. Gozcu, Emine & Caganaga, Cagda. (2016). The importance of using games in EFL classrooms. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences. 11. 126. 10.18844/cjes.v11i3.625.

Pratiksha Bhatt

I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.

The post 6 Engaging Sight Word Games For First Graders appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

As a teacher or a child caretaker, you are required to teach several skills so that the child is prepared for the world beyond their comfort zones. Social skills are one such skill. It becomes easier to guide when you have access to a lot of learning materials.

Books that can help improve social skills in kids are one of the valuable goldmines of knowledge. These offer engaging solutions to teach several aspects of sociability through pictures, stories, and activities to do. In this post, let’s explore some of the most popular books that can help inculcate essential social skills.

Why is it important for kids to be socially responsive?

Kids, based on contextual factors^[1], have varying needs to develop an awareness of the needs of the self, of the people around them, and of feelings that they experience in different situations to produce appropriate responses. In essence, social competence^[2] helps kids in the following ways:

• They learn how to get along with others 
• Virtues of self-advocacy and self-assurance are developed that help them express their needs and thoughts convincingly
• They become capable of making friends
• They inculcate humane values like sharing, caring, supporting, and helping
• They demonstrate good behavior examples like saying, ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You’, etc. It makes them socially amicable.
• They learn to respect people’s personal spaces and never invade them. It helps nurture healthier relationships.
• They display appropriate behavior in happy and sad situations

By developing such skills in kids, we as mentors, do a great service to them. They utilize these skills all through their lives. The research says that kids with LDs need additional effort to build such skills. Their tendency of social withdrawal needs a continual and cumulative nudge to not let it overcome their need to interact, respond, communicate, and self-advocate.

But, how do develop such skills? 

Well, the answer lies in providing training^[3] and resources. A study emphasizes activities like game hours, organizing competitions, and educational trips to impart social skills. In addition to these, you can become more resourceful by knowing about some social skills books. 

So, let’s take a look at some of the best-selling books that can help traverse kids to different aspects of building social skills.

List of books helpful for building social skills in kids

1. Social Skills Activities for Kids

A child needs scaffolding in developing social skills, just like they need guidance in learning math or other subjects. This book follows this principle quite effectively and offers a collection of life lessons and activities. One cannot sit and fill up the kids with a rule book on how to behave in school, among friends, and in public places. The teaching yields sustainable results when they are asked to role-play. With the help of about 50 activities offered in this book, the kids can learn and practice behavioral cues apt for several situations.

By simple actions like talking, listening, and following the social rules as applicable to life situations, kids are given much-needed practice. Interactive activities promote collaborative ways of learning social behavior; also, the discussion on topics like social media, bullying, etc. promoted as activities in this book provide a wholesome coverage of how to build social skills.

2. Henry and the Gym Monster

Henry and the Gym Monster is a storybook that teaches skills like taking responsibility for one’s actions. It also throws light on the issue of bullying. The book is the story of Henry, the boy, who is distracted by a Monster whenever he wants to follow instructions at the gym. He is given contrasting instructions to get confused, but his ability to pick right from wrong allows him to stick to the right activities despite the interference.

Using such a symbolic presentation of life and various challenges, the book teaches how the virtues of correct behavior, adhering to guidelines, and following norms of different places or situations make a person likable, and ultimately, successful in various endeavors. 

3. What Should Danny Do? On Vacation (The Power to Choose Series)

What Should Danny Do is a series of books. Several real-life situations like Vacation, School Time, Playtime, etc., and the behaviors appropriate to those are explained in this book series. The ‘On Vacation’ edition is full of illustrations and examples that address pertinent actions a child should take when placed in certain settings. 

The book focuses on building virtues like sharing, caring, empathy, taking responsibility, and a lot more. It is the longest book of the series yet engaging enough to help kids learn social skills while having a blast. There are about 9 situations whose endings give a different view of the suitable outlooks the kids ought to have towards people and situations.

4. Oliver West! It’s Time to Get Dressed!

One of the social skills worth teaching kids from an early age is taking responsibility for themselves. The book revolves around the central character Oliver who has a tough time reaching his friends playing outside because – Of his Pajamas! He has to dress up properly to meet friends outside his house and on time.

This trivial hindrance to going and playing outside is a pretext to teach the importance of dressing appropriately according to the place and time. The next challenge is to find the other things that go with his dress, such as shoes, etc. With gentle nudges and lots of appreciation, his mother succeeds in teaching him the skill of management of time and things. How to take care of the self and the importance of self-care are some of the skills children may learn in a relatable manner from this book.

5. Everyone Feels Sad Sometimes

Dr. Daniela Owen, Ph.D., assistant professor of clinical psychology at UC Berkeley, has written this book. It is a beautiful work aimed at normalizing the feeling of sadness. No one wants kids to be sad and almost the whole family starts coming up with over-the-top tricks if a kid at home is sad. This overtly protective approach puts children suffering whenever they encounter feelings of sadness.

The book shows the importance of normalizing sadness and also throws light on the cruciality of keeping a positive attitude. One of the most important social skill is to control behavior and responses and not allows feelings to take over us completely. This book focuses on ways to have positive triggers and teaches how to attract positive vibes from others even when feeling low.

6. Permission to Feel

The author of the book, Marc Brackett, pours his experience earned from working as the director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. He has designed a program called RULER that aims at building emotional resilience in kids and adults. This book talks about the fact that the power to change lies within us. He explains some useful tricks and ways to be aware of emotions and make them the tools for success. 

Social skills emanate from our capacity to identify emotions and use them positively instead of giving in to them. This book guides parents and teachers on how to apply RULER to transform personalities and develop positive interactions.

7. That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me!

One of the essential social skills is to understand responsibility and behave responsibly. There are certain rules for living in every space and the function of those rules is to maintain order and harmony in the place. ‘That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me!’ is the third book of the ‘Responsible Me!’ series written by the author Julia Cook. 

Woven into the story of a boy nicknamed Noodle, this book highlights the chaos that can occur when rules are not followed. There are various tips for parents and teachers provided in the books to turn the despisal of kids towards rules into acceptance. 

8. A Friend Is Someone Who

Friendship is the noblest relation that binds people through emotions. The kids feel attracted to peers who they spend time with and get along well. This ability to connect varies among kids. This book on social skills covers the idea of how to make and grow friendships by showing kindness, and compassion, and being receptive to vulnerability serves as a systematic guide.

The author, through illustrations and texts, elaborates the idea of friendship in an easily palatable and comprehensible manner. Kids can identify with the situations mentioned in the book effortlessly and can confirm in their minds the role friendship plays in their lives. 

9. The Self-Confidence Building Book For Kids

Self-confidence is needed to present yourself with conviction. It is an important skill from where emerge the virtues of self-advocacy, assurance, and thought of being comfortable with the self. The Self Confidence Building Book for Kids takes the readers through myriad tips, tricks, and real-life cases to understand the importance and the impact of being a self-confident person. This book helps develop social skills of being helpful and reliable with the help of easy prompts that parents can use to train kids.

Wrapping up,

Social skills are needed to develop a strong public presence. Not all kids are outgoing or are a product of a safe, secure environment. Their training needs to become sociable differ. That is why adding social skill development activities to the curriculum is a preferred approach in schools. Taking the help of books can allow educators to be vivid in their ways of building these skills.

Also, the kids can be encouraged to self-learn social skills by doing activities or following prompts provided in the books. Share your thoughts on how social skills books gave you a reliable resource to help your child come out of the cocoon and be appropriately attentive and responsive to people and situations.

References

1. Mari-Anne Sørlie, Kristine Amlund Hagen & Kristin Berg Nordahl (2021) Development of social skills during middle childhood: Growth trajectories and school-related predictors, International Journal of School & Educational Psychology, 9:sup1, S69-S87, DOI: 10.1080/21683603.2020.1744492
2. Maleki, M., Mardani, A., Chehrzad, M. M., Dianatinasab, M., & Vaismoradi, M. (2019). Social Skills in Children at Home and in Preschool. Behavioral Sciences, 9(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs9070074
3. Caballo, Vicente & Carrillo, Gloria & Ollendick, Thomas. (2015). Effectiveness of a social skills play-based training program intervention for childhood social anxiety. Behavioral Psychology/Psicologia Conductual. 23. 403-427.

Pratiksha Bhatt

I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.

The post 9 Awesome Social Skills Books For Kids appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Dona Sarkar, the chief engineer at Microsoft, confesses having issues with reading during her school days; she still prefers images over letters and numbers (Source: Microsoft Features)

David Boes, who the New York Times termed as, ‘the lawyer everyone wants, has made his illustrious career despite having dyslexia. (Source: The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity)

All these living examples of success indicate that intelligence has nothing to do with reading and writing abilities; some dyslexics have been exceptionally intelligent and did great work. It is completely possible for people with learning difficulties to learn courses of their choice, no matter how complex or difficult those are. Also, they can join mainstream society with the help of their skills and stand on their feet by gaining the eligibility needed for various jobs.

Types of jobs available for people with learning disabilities

Most of the success stories highlight the ways the talented people ‘worked around’ their difficulties and achieved their career goals. Things are becoming a bit easier with the availability of accommodations. Thus, dyslexia or any other learning difficulty never cuts down the possibilities. 

Let’s take a look at some of the job opportunities available for people having learning difficulties.

1. Counseling jobs

People with learning difficulties can have the opportunity to work in counseling positions, such as School counselor, School psychologist, Addiction Counselor,  Psychology Counselor, etc.

These positions can help you take home pay packages in the range of $30,000 to $60,000 annually.

Vacancies for Counseling Jobs

• Counseling Trainee- Alvarado Parkway Institute (API), Main Campus, La Mesa, CA

The job requires candidates to assess addiction and mental health issues in patients. Be the active provider of patient treatment plans and carry out documentation work. 

Application Link

• Military and Family Life Counselor-HS Counselor at Leidos

The job involves counseling family members of military personnel to adjust to life’s challenges. It involves providing confidential counseling to manage stress, relationships, and work challenges to promote overall mental well-being. You can apply for the job at the site.

Application Link

2. Restaurant jobs

People with learning difficulties show exceptional creativity because of the unique way their brains work. This creativity can be utilized for working as a Chef, Line Cook, Fast food specialist, Barista, and so on. 

These jobs may fetch you an annual income anywhere between $16,000 and $55,000

Job opportunities available to apply in the restaurants and eateries sector are as below

• Restaurant Host at Applebees

The restaurant Host job is open to all at Applebees. This employer welcomes people with special needs. The responsibilities include greeting the host and directing them to the seat. The employee also has access to 50% of wages weekly.

Apply Here

3. Healthcare jobs

By adopting different ways of learning to pursue their passion and working with the help of accommodations, dyslexics can get jobs in the healthcare sector, which include Nursing assistants, Physical therapy assistants, Massage therapists, Doctors, etc. 

Salary packages vary from $40,000 to $70,000 approx.

Vacancies available

• Manager Healthcare Quality Project Management at CVS

CVS Health continually appoints individuals with various disabilities to responsible positions. The manager healthcare quality project management post encompasses possibilities like monitoring and analysis of HEDIS, and CAHPS claims, and taking up supervision of the Chronic Conditions Improvement Project being run by the organization, etc. 

Application Link

• Registered Nurse, Pediatric Intensive Care at Atlantic Health System

Perform all nursing duties and evaluate care plans for patients as per the doctor’s recommendations. 

Supervise the work of other nurses too, candidate should have the efficiency to handle emergencies and have knowledge of primary aid.

Application Link

4. Managerial and executive jobs

People while working around their learning difficulties and with the help of accommodations, can apply for the jobs such as Marketing Specialist, Human resource manager, Human resource executive, Sales associate, Marketing manager, etc.

The take-home packages of these jobs fall under the range of $40,000 to $60,000 approx. annually.

Available vacancies

• Executive Assistant, Verizon

The candidate is required to assist the MD. Organizing meetings, coordinating travels, handling documentation works, public dealing, etc. are some of the prime responsibilities of the job. Verizon offers Equal Employment opportunities to all.

Application Link

• Project Engineer at Williams

The job requires technical skills and the ability to supervise all phases of engineering projects. Team management, project evaluation, and people management are the core responsibilities of this job.

Application Link

5. Analyst jobs

If you have the zeal to crunch numbers despite the learning difficulties, you can employ your analytical skills in the following jobs:

• Data analyst
• Financial analyst
• Business analyst
• Statistician

You will be scooping an amazing income in the range of $60,000 to $90,000 approx. annually.

Available vacancies

• Analyst, Apple Inc

Designing a financial strategy for Retail and engineering Solutions, collaborating with engineers for resource analysis, etc. are some of the core responsibilities. Apple Inc. offers equal employment opportunities and provides accommodations during the recruitment process on request.

Application Link

• Business Analyst at Amazon Imaging

Take up analysis tasks to make informed business decisions. Track, monitor, and analyze productivity, defect elimination, etc. through root cause analysis, among other responsibilities define the scope of this job.

Application Link

6. Coding jobs

Dyslexics can learn to code and take up jobs, such as Web designer, Computer programmer, UX/UI developer, etc. 

The coding skills are quite in demand and can help you earn annually in the range of $43,000 to $130,000 approx.

Available Vacancies

• Sr. Software Engineer, Microsoft

Cloud computing-based coding using MS Azure stack to help develop scalable solutions as per client expectations. You got to be a coding nerd and have an eye for detail.

Application Link

• Software Developer, S&P Global

Develop digitized products that are of daily use for the clients assigned. Provide mentorship to other new developers and perform roles as allotted from time to time.

Application Link

7. Office jobs

Using expertise in software use, and computer knowledge with the help of work planners, dyslexics, and other people can apply for office jobs too, such as Office Assistant, Office Coordinator, Receptionist, etc. 

Available vacancies

• Training Coordinator, Government of District of Columbia

Coordinating and providing training for first responder activities. Includes research, program designing, and coordinating with trainees and experts as core activities.

Application Link

• Receptionist, Randstad USA

The first contact point at Randstad. Coordinate incoming calls, perform COVID screening on visitors, and direct them to concerned authorities. Organize planned meetings and send reminders to employees and vendors regarding the same. 

Application Link

8. Creative jobs

The different approaches to learning and the ability to do deeper analysis or make brave choices are common to people with LDs. With the help of drawing skills, they can take up jobs such as:

• Concept artist and animator
• Graphic designer
• Editor
• Web designer
• Portrait expert
• Architecture landscaping expert

All these jobs are available in the best companies and offer freelancing opportunities as well. 

Available vacancies

• Interaction Designer, Google

Design experience and interaction with the global population. From conception to execution, participate in the process and develop designs and experiences that appeal to the audiences. 

Application Link

• Landscape Designer, Thomas & Hutton

Put your visualization abilities to work by joining T&H as a landscape designer. You will be required to plan, design, and execute construction plans and make the design compliant with the safety and habitability norms while retaining the aesthetic quotient. 

Application Link

A quick tip: While searching for job opportunities as a person who needs additional support or accommodations, reach out to the companies that are a part of the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) plan. By declaring being an EEO company, the organization confirms that it provides accommodations during the recruitment process and at work.

Schedule a hiring authority for federal jobs – what is it?

The former president of the US, Barack Obama passed Executive Order 13548 which emphasized applying for office jobs and federal jobs despite learning disabilities. As a result, several reforms in the hiring process have been introduced. 

One such arrangement is the Schedule A hiring process. It is a non-competitive hiring process where people with disabilities are considered for federal jobs but with a probation period. During the probation period, they are expected to work with quality at par with general workers. 

Here is how you can prove eligibility for the Schedule A hiring process.

• Have the requisite qualifications for the job you are applying for. Furnish the documents like a degree or diploma certificate to support your candidature.
• Present ‘proof of disability document as asked so that you can get accommodations at work

When and how to disclose a learning difficulty during the recruitment process?

Disclosure in the recruitment context is a formal declaration of the learning disability to seek accommodations for exams, and interviews, and to carry out a normal day at work. 

If you are going through a recruitment agency, the selective placement program coordinator is the authority to whom you should disclose the accommodations needed. 

The right time to disclose a learning difficulty is while applying for a job or a competitive exam. You can also ask for accommodations while appearing for college exams. It helps the coordinators make the requisite arrangements so that you get an equal opportunity to do your best. Hence, disclosing the disability on failing the exam or on receiving the result is not a recommended approach. Authorities don’t consider the request for re-tests if they follow this path.

To disclose the disability, you attach the relevant document along with the application form. You also tick the appropriate columns in the application form meant for furnishing your difficulty when you seek additional support. Learn more about the disclosure process here.

Wrapping up,

Working opportunities are available for those with learning difficulties. The fact that they have the intelligence and creativity needed to perform various tasks requires recruiters to change their mindset and be sensitive to the additional support needs of such people. With the help of accommodations, people with learning difficulties can become active contributors to the country’s economy and live self-sufficiently too.

Pratiksha Bhatt

I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.

The post Top 8 Job opportunities for people with learning disabilities appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

So, adding up to the previous learnings breeds possibilities of confusion. It is why, I suggest teaching pronouns through activities so that kids can have amplified focus on the topic and also get practical examples of how it is used to replace the Noun in sentences.

In this post, I will walk you through:

1. Outcomes you can achieve from pronoun activities
2. 7 engaging activities to teach pronouns to young learners
3. How to make Pronoun activities session effective
4. Wrapping up

Let’s start!

Outcomes you can achieve from pronoun activities

Teaching Pronouns using activities is a sound approach that works on the solid grounds of collaboration and innovative teaching. The educators can get into participative mode instead of dictating one and can make learning Pronouns a lot more fun. Activities can be designed keeping both pedagogical and andragogical approaches in mind and have the potential to bring in improvements in the learning outcomes that include:

• An active learning environment created through participation keeps all students on the same page
• The concept retention span increases^[1] and the learners show remarkable comfort in applying learning 
• Teachers find it easier to follow Universal Design for Learning principles that promote better inclusion
• Gamified activities allow the teachers to blend fun with curriculum^[2] and help them meet the objectives a bit easily
• Activities promote better concentration while studying, it fulfill the very purpose of attending a class, that is, building up linguistic skills.
• Some activities take the students closer to practical examples and train them on using Pronouns in daily life situations; hence, a little bit of conversational skills are built up in the process.

7 engaging activities to teach pronouns to young learners

Searching for some learning-oriented activities to help kids with pronouns? We bring you here the best activities that can make learning Pronouns a fun-filled yet result-oriented activity.

1. Picture-Flashcard matching

You can make flashcards containing pronouns. For example, make flashcards that read He, She, It, They, You, etc. Take a collection of pictures that show a Boy, a Girl, a Team, Two persons talking to each other, and so on.

Demonstrate first the pronoun flashcard that will be applicable to the picture shown. It is one way of performing this activity. The alternative is you can spread out the pictures in a row on the floor mat. Further, ask students to pick the relevant flashcard from the pile and place it below the picture where it applies. 

These two approaches help improve the concept recall and regular repetitions reinforce the idea in the mind sustainably.

2. Make a ‘She’ flower

The pronoun flower activity utilizes your crafting and paper-cutting skills to give you good practice in learning the correct use of this part of speech. 

In this activity, you create a bunch of petals with scissors big enough to put names on them. For example, you can write ‘mother’, her name, and the names of various female characters you are fond of on the petals. Similarly, you can write male names and things as well on other petals.

Now carve three circles from the chart paper and write He, She, It on them. Ask students to paste petals on the relevant circle. It is an interesting activity for grade 3 students who have just started learning Pronouns.

3. Color the Pronouns

Take a big piece of chart paper and make cloud structures on it. Fill these with different parts of speech such as nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and so on randomly. You can divide the class into two groups and assign them rows. All participants come one by one and color the clouds that contain a pronoun. The side that fills the most number of clouds containing pronouns correctly wins. 

This activity can help the students identify pronouns from a set of given words. Also, they can build the habit of picking the pronouns from the sentences given in the book. It improves identification skills and develops comfort with the pronoun words.

4. Story challenge

In this activity, you will divide the class into two groups. One will read a few passages from a storybook and the other one will listen and keep noting down the pronouns that occur in the passage. The pace of reading has to be kept slow to let the other group pick and write pronoun words. 

Repeat the activity by changing the sides. The group that writes more pronouns in a given time can be awarded a surprise treat. It is useful for memory recall, and quick identification and improves listening comprehension as well while practicing pronouns.

5. Pronoun Dice

Pronoun Dice is a fun activity that can be done in class as well as at home with a group of kids. You can assign numbers 1 to 6 to six kids selected for the game and the other child is appointed as roll master. 

Also, on the dice, you write six different pronoun words on every side. Now the roll master is asked to roll the dice. The number that appears on the dice, the pronoun word corresponding to that number of the dice is announced by the roll master.

Kids who have that number assigned will make sentences from the words that they get with each roll of the dice. Thus, you train students to make sentences with pronoun words with this activity. The roll master can be given the additional responsibility of telling the type of pronoun the word received from the rolling activity.

6. Know your partner

It is a very interesting activity that improves the social skills of a student with practicing pronouns as a backdrop.

In this activity, the teacher can divide the students into pairs. And provide them with a list of areas of interest. For example, write some areas like actors, movies, foods, places, modes of communication, books, games, etc. The paired students will decide who will answer and who will ask questions. The one who gets to question will ask the partner, “ Which is your favorite movie?”

The other student will answer the question and will make a minimum of three sentences describing the movie. The challenge will be to use lots of pronouns while making sentences. The listener will tell the pronouns used after noting those down. This activity will let students understand how pronouns replace the proper nouns. Also, they will learn about the friends in the process.

7. Guess the person

It is a simple activity in which the students are asked to provide hints about a student from their class. Ask students to come one by one and tell the characteristics of the student chosen. For example, they will say, ‘She is blonde, she sits near a window, her name starts with ‘letter’, she plays ‘game name’ and likewise. Other students will try to guess the person. The teacher will write the sentences spoken by the student on the board. Students will tell the pronouns that appeared in those sentences.

The one who makes the most sentences and those who tell the most correct pronouns are given due recognition. This activity works great for practicing pronoun use, knowing the students of the class, and building concentration – all in one!

How to make Pronoun activities session effective

There are a few quick tips that can help you maximize the outcomes of a Pronoun Activity session.

• Keep the choices open as per the learning requirement: It means you may design the activity to focus on a single type of pronoun or may use a mix of it as per the proficiency level.
• Tell in advance the aim of the activity: It makes students attentive to the challenge and helps drive their thinking toward achieving the outcome. Thus, they are focused on learning and don’t get carried away by the informal appeal of the activity.
• Keep rewards for finishing activities: Nothing meets the charm of treats when it comes to motivating the students to participate in an activity. By announcing the reward, the kids are drawn to trying the activity and participating in it with full heart and attention.

Wrapping up,

Mixing activities with Pronoun lessons is an effective pedagogical approach. It delivers quality in terms of concept build-up and makes the learning process more intriguing. The focus on learning can be enhanced with the help of prompts and rewards. And, the fun continues when you choose a variety of activities at regular intervals. All these approaches help them learn and retain the concept of pronouns in a way that stays with the students even when they have grown up.

References

1. Ming, C. S., & Maarof, N. (2009). The effect of C-R activities on personal pronoun acquisition. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 5045-5050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.819
2. DeESRI – Games in the ESL and EFL class (TESL/TEFL). (n.d.). http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Deesri-Games.html

Pratiksha Bhatt

I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.

The post 7 Fun Classroom Activities For Learning Pronouns appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

It is the reformative resource pool to make education easier and educators accessible to all in classrooms or other preferred places. How is UDL changing the situation for Dyslexia-struck students and other people for the better? We will explain in this post through:

• UDL – Laws and their support for Dyslexia
• Role of UDL in a class to support dyslexics
• UDL strategies to apply for accommodating Dyslexia
• Conclusion

So, let’s begin!

UDL –  Laws and their support for dyslexia 

Americans with Disability Act came into force in 1990 and underwent updation in 2008, the year in which fair opportunities to learn and work were proposed for students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. 

The staggering figure of 20% of the US population suffering from some of the other learning difficulties and concentration issues propelled the education reformers to keep working in this direction. The ‘No Child Left Behind’ Act and Every Student Succeeds Act are some of the conscious and sincere laws that have leveled the playing field for enormously talented and gifted learners who cannot come forth and meet the curriculum requirements due to the neurobiological composition of their minds. 

Keeping with the working formulas as proposed in these acts, UDL implementation in classrooms and curriculums has become a fiery movement. The school authorities are working on various levels to make their environment, classroom routines, and instructions for studying collectively suitable for all. 

Not only for dyslexia and learning difficulties but UDL is also needed to add features in the classrooms that are growing more diverse with changing times. According to a paper^[1], a few of the recommendations that see UDL principles in action are:

• Accommodations of time: Allowing extra time to express the learning attained in the class
• Scaffolding: Breaking the lecture into parts to allow better grasping and building skills gradually
• Accommodations of space: Uploading the lectures and instructional videos on YouTube or e-learning platforms to help students learn on devices at the place of preference
• Use of additional media: Voiceovers, video transcripts, text-only sources, etc. to ease imbibing of ideas
• Need-based group learning: Offering scope for discussing the topics and making projects in groups to help students share their understanding and fill the learning gaps.

Laws definitely have provided the framework to implement UDL and make learning a seamless process for all. If you are a teacher or a parent trying to make UDL work for your dyslexic ward, take a clue or two from the roles and strategies as explained below.

Role of UDL in a class to support dyslexics – content review

UDL implementation in the classroom environment gets its support from various educational researchers. The authorities, too, adopt a proactive approach to make the environment ‘ready-to-use’ and effective in delivering a sense of belonging to all incumbents. A few observations made in regard to the role of UDL in a classroom in the works published in various years emphasize learner satisfaction among various other outcomes.

According to CAST, 2020^[2], the UDL stimulates the brain networks of representation, expression, and engagement. Thus, the classroom provides a fostering environment as per the cranial framework that students apply in learning and internalizing new skills.

UDL offers a disruption-free learning environment^[3] with the help of flexible learning spaces. The use of floor mats, bean bags, space for movement, and sitting in homogenous groups (groups of people with common needs) led to a streamlined and distraction-free classroom design.

The use of UDL can help deepen interest in learning as the students get the freedom to take up the instructions in the ways comfortable to them. Also, the flexibility of using different modes of expression like text-to-speech converters means to express through models, projects, etc. provides a sense of ownership of ideas to students, helping them become more confident.

Goal-directed learning is enabled by UDL as the goals posters, reminders, emails, or notices provided as support tools to students make them acutely aware of the lessons to learn and the timeline to follow^[4]. They find it challenging in a positive manner and are constructively driven to reach them. It justifies the enormous learning potential learners with Dyslexia are born with. 

UDL promotes the use of software and digital solutions as well, which can simplify learning complex topics like chemical reactions^[5]. Thus, Dyslexia does not stop avid learners from studying sciences or taking up professional courses at colleges and universities. 

UDL strategies to apply for accommodating dyslexia

UDL strategies are not limited to improving the learners’ mindset towards upskilling only. These strategies encompass the teachers’ requirements and the need to alter pedagogical as well as andragogical approaches too. 

1. Strategies of engagement

• Learn about weaknesses and strengths through informal interviews, observe the tools that attract students, take regular feedback, and prompt students to suggest strategies to solve assignments. 
• Use of cultural references and real-life examples, demonstration methods that are in tune with students’ varying sensibilities, etc. 
• Introducing more relatable resources like applications, games, and manipulatives to beat the phobias of subjects. These resources are to be employed keeping dyslexia requirements in mind.
• The think-pair-share approach is another UDL-enabled engagement strategy where the students apply their previous knowledge and think of the connection with the ongoing lesson, pair with groups or individuals to enrich it further, and then, use the correct sharing method to express to a bigger audience.
  

2. Strategies to encourage the expression of knowledge

• Employing collaborative learning tools, encouraging the use of projects and models, and doing group activities where concepts are employed.
• Giving extra time to write papers or solve assignments or come up with flexible modes of delivering assignments 
• Promoting the use of language translators, etc. to help students express themselves freely and comfortably 
  

3. Motivational strategies to remove psychological barriers

• The role of Dyslexia in developing psychological withdrawal symptoms is adequately covered by various studies. The motivational strategies help manage phobias and learning anxieties.
• The teachers need to follow the principles of empathy, encouragement, normalizing the ways of expressing, and appreciation to move students to try harder and be consistent learners. 
• Inducing the ideas of befriending the environment and adopting ways to make it familiar to the students are some actionable strategies that aim at improving motivational levels.
  

4. Instructional strategies to make the classroom inclusive:

• Use of tools that promote visual learning, such as graphs, organizers, calendars, posters, etc. to offer an engaging replacement for text-based materials.
• Planning course routines and lesson plans and designing instructional PPTs to bring all the students on the same page and encourage them to become proactive learners is a buyable idea that suits dyslexia and the related difficulties like keeping track of time, organizing thoughts and course of action, etc. 
• Pausing in lectures to prevent instructions from overwhelming students. It is also used to monitor the interest level and find difficulty in learning if any. It certainly helps in situations where dyslexia makes it challenging for the students to keep up with the pace.

All these strategies (retrieved from Prince George Community College Instructional Strategies Guide) can provide fair opportunities to learn to students with dyslexia and also help them become active learners.

Conclusion

‘How to make my child driven towards learning even when he is suffering from Dyslexia?’ It is, perhaps, the most important question raised during parent-teacher meetings when parents are aware of their children’s additional needs.

Either they have the option to put them in a special education curriculum, or they need to search for homeschooling options. But, none of these options justify the immense talent and intelligence that dyslexic children might have. With the correct approach, UDL offers the best environment to learn, which is the basic right of everyone including those dealing with dyslexia and other learning difficulties.

References

1. Boothe., et al. (2018). Applying the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the College Classroom. Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1201588.pdf
2. Center for Applied Special Education . (2020). Until learning has no limits. https://www.cast.org
3. Navaitienė, J., Stasiūnaitienė, E. (2021). The Goal of the Universal Design for Learning: Development of All to Expert Learners. In: Galkiene, A., Monkeviciene, O. (eds) Improving Inclusive Education through Universal Design for Learning. Inclusive Learning and Educational Equity, vol 5. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80658-3_2
4. Hartmann, E.(2015). Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Learners with Severe Support Needs. International Journal of Whole Schooling, 11(1), 54-67
5. Baumann, Thomas & Dr, Insa. (2019). Evaluation of a digital UDL-based learning environment in inclusive chemistry education. Chemistry Teacher International. 1. 10.1515/cti-2018-0026.

Pratiksha Bhatt

I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.

The post What role might UDL (Universal Design for Learning) play for Dyslexics? appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Why UDL is considered for improving learner experience

UDL offers guidelines to bring an added inclusion quotient to classroom sessions.  Several attempts have been made over the years to make education easier for all. The application of UDL is a conscious effort to achieve the same.

Education researchers confirmed the existence of learning difficulties that were not as evident as physical challenges. They proposed methods like using visual learning resources, active learning, use of manipulatives, and even, technological interventions to make learning a fun and relatable experience.  UDL offers the complete framework to redefine the teaching methods, assessment methods, and modes of interaction to help learners of a diversified nature stay on the same page as others. 

A study explored the role of UDL and its use in developing blended learning curriculums^[1]. The use of e-learning solutions, restructuring of curriculum as per the learner’s requirements, and other experimental approaches yielded a better learner experience in this research. The learners gained autonomy in their way of learning and could participate better leading to better engagement as well as output.

Flexible seating, individualized ways of receiving and sharing information and delivering responses, and grouping of students that needed the same set of augmentative supports to create homogeneity of a unique kind in a classroom. The change in assessment procedures further helps the students gain confidence and be eligible for their intelligence-appropriate advanced courses.

Thus, better participation, enhanced recognition, individualized attention, appropriate learning outcomes, and a feeling of belongingness are some of the factors^[2] delivered by UDL that collectively enhance the learner experience.

Top examples and strategies to implement UDL

UDL implementation^[3] requires thorough introspection and testing before rolling it out on a full-fledged scale. Some of the practical examples of UDL in action are developed out of the in-depth evaluation of learning requirements, assessment of intellectual disabilities, and studying the scope for fitting in the diversified learners in a common place of interaction. These examples include:

1. Modified seating arrangements: Applied at the infrastructural level, the UDL prompts introducing changes in seating arrangements. Including bean bags, floor mats, standing stools, etc. ensure that the students have a fluid environment at their disposal.
2. Use of different instruction reception tools: Allowing students to learn using tablets, virtual and physical manipulatives, digital pens with recorders, text highlighters, etc. can make the learning environment friendlier for students with different LDs.
3. Prompts and reminders: Posting lesson goals at the start of the class or sending reminders beforehand are some of the inputs from the teachers that induce zeal for better preparation. It is to be done gently to not make it feel stressful.
4. Accommodations: Giving a mental nudge to students by providing them clues asking them to make projects giving oral assessments only instead of writing, or introducing games that apply the learning in the class are some ways to elicit responses. Sometimes, just reminding the students that the time for a particular problem is over and that they should ask for help if feeling stuck, can be an arrangement that puts learners at ease.
5. Designing class routines: To help students with issues like autism and similar difficulties, the teachers can design routines and try to blend them into the learning process. It becomes a definitive guide for students who find it difficult to keep track of time and helps them learn organization and regularity.
6. Organizing activities: It is based on the UDL principle of engagement. The use of activities like role-playing, board games, time management activities, team-building activities, and other proponents of active learning exemplifies UDL.
7. Teacher-parent meetings: Including parents in the concept-building process and organizing interactive sessions to share feedback and apply ideas for improving the learning ability through a better understanding of learning styles 
8. Designing a classroom for the multilingual audience: Using translators and digital directories to allow easier grasping is a UDL application example suitable for classes of students coming from diverse linguistic backgrounds. 
9. Using algorithms and graphical presentations: It is to help recognize ideas learned and further infringe of possibilities to explore. The learners and teachers team together to chalk out the concepts and their applications. It can be applied to all branches of studies ranging from basic mathematical operations to learning the taxonomy of animals.
10. Supply learning software and applications: Again useful for enhancing engagement and expression, students can be introduced to learning apps for maths, reading apps, etc. These divert the mind from difficulties and put it into constructive learning by offering the tools the students feel drawn to.

These are a few of the tried and tested examples of UDL implementation^[4] in class. With the help of an organized approach and active implementation strategy, the UDL can seep into the education sector and make it an enjoyable and learning-centric place for all.

Strategies that can help improve UDL implementation in class

Ideas like introducing active and visual learning provided the template and the UDL offered the solution. The only gap left is how to build the connection between the two. It is where the strategies come into the picture and fill all gaps. A few important strategies^[5] that have been studied for their effectiveness, as well, are:

• Starting a dialogue: A conversation between the teacher and student can fix many things. As a teacher, you will be able to understand the learning requirements and direct the students to use the options available.
• Modifying the classroom environment: With the help of initiators like anchor charts, flow charts, and artworks and by modifying the seating arrangement, the UDL implementation can be made more meaningful.
• Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of students: Observation and summative assessment but without putting the kid on the spot is an active approach useful for implementing UDL in class.
• Mixed instruction methods: Providing a mix of visual, auditory, and textual inputs to accommodate the diverse learning difficulties of students.
• Collaborative learning approach: Learning by acting and involving the self and the students takes away the hesitation and takes entities closer to successful UDL implementation.
• Continuous feedback and assessments: It is important to keep taking feedback through tests, projects, quick quizzes, and assignments to check the learning progress. Provide them the tools through which they express themselves the best to get the information needed as is.
• Unwrap the standard: It is a process where the teacher differentiates clearly what is required to meet the standard and how to help children meet that or be satisfactorily close to that.
• Motivation methods: By acknowledging the ideas and feedback, teachers add to the motivation towards learning. A conscious approach toward making kids aware of their capabilities helps them to try harder and stay glued to the path of learning.
• Redesigning Lesson Components^[6]: Defining clear goal statements, guiding on ‘how to’, applying tools to demonstrate and assessing the learning is applying UDL strategy to the way of teaching a new skill. 

To sum up, 

UDL is a guiding light and the solution as well to make classroom learning more inclusive. The three main principles to apply UDL are Recognition, Expression, and Engagement. Confirming to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), this design philosophy can become easy to apply when the collaborative approach is applied to get better participation as well as feedback. By providing multiple formats to acquire knowledge, present ideas, and enhance motivation, the barriers to learning can be dissolved. It is precisely where the success of UDL lies.

References:

1. Scott, Laron & Thoma, Colleen & Bruno, Lauren & Temple, Peter & D’Aguilar, Allison. (2017). Implementing a UDL Framework: A Study of Current Personnel Preparation Practices. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 55. 25-36. 10.1352/1934-9556-55.1.25. 
2. Stasiūnaitienė, E., & Navaitienė, J. (2021). Implementing UDL: Development of purposeful and Motivated students. In Inclusive learning and educational equity (pp. 217–240). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80658-3_9
3. La, H., Dyjur, P., & Bair , H. (2018). Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education. Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. Calgary: University of Calgary.
4. Caldwell, B. S. (1994). The Learning-Friendly Classroom: The educational process is enhanced when human factors principles are integrated into classroom design. Ergonomics in Design. https://doi.org/10.1177/106480469400200110
5. Universal Design: Process, Principles, and Applications | DO-IT. (2020). Washington.Edu. https://www.washington.edu/doit/universal-design-process-principles-and-applications
6. Rao K, Meo G. Using Universal Design for Learning to Design Standards-Based Lessons. SAGE Open. October 2016. doi:10.1177/2158244016680688

Pratiksha Bhatt

I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.

The post 10 Examples Of UDL (Universal Design for Learning) To Understand It Better appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Let’s explore the application ideas based on UDL and their pros and cons to understand how successful educational institutes have been in promoting inclusion.

UDL recommendations to apply in the classroom

UDL aims to make assistive technology tools a part of classroom infrastructure. Also, the teachers are supposed to do a lot of bits from their side to give a fair chance to all students learning. Some of the ways as suggested by research^[1] that can help put UDL in action in a typical classroom environment are:

• Using audio textbooks, highlighters, text-to-word converters, etc.: Imagine a class that is fully equipped with translators, text-to-word converters, highlighters, and so on. The students having their specific needs to intake the content through spoken and written means, or having a diversity of language, etc. can pick the accommodations as needed and participate in the classroom sessions without causing disruptions.
• Lesson goals provided in advance: The students who need support in orienting the mind to learning can get the required impetus from lesson goals shared with them in advance through digital reminders and other means. It helps them prepare a bit extra so that they put in the requisite efforts needed from their side.
• Flexibility in assignment submissions: Learning abilities differ from student to student. A few need additional support because of the lack of essential skills like reading and writing through conventional means. Hence, offering suitable reforms^[2] to submit assignments helps such students be active participants. Classroom learning-related anxiety is replaced with fun.
• Creating flexible learning spaces: UDL is applied in creating flexible learning spaces that provide the correct environment to students with varying accessibility needs. Those trying to cope with physical challenges can adjust to the classroom environment effortlessly.

These are a few of the applications of UDL that the institutes, claiming to be in consonance with ADA and IDEA, utilize in designing their learning spaces. Let’s find out how effective these applications prove and where the challenges lie.

Pros of UDL

Universal Design for Learning’s sole purpose is to make the learning environment genuinely accessible for all. The disability-supporting washrooms, parking lots, seats, and communications tools at workplaces are a testament to the UDL in action in public life. UD in learning is simply an extended manifestation of these arrangements in the education sector. 

If we take the intention behind adopting UDL into consideration, the process and the solutions to be adopted seem quite appropriate. Though the outcomes only can tell whether the process was effective or not, UDL has got the nod due to the promises it makes. These positive outcomes include:

• Better participation rate: Students feel driven to attend classes where learning is made hassle-free.
• Increased learning: The students can augment their learning with the use of solutions that ease knowledge dissemination. Consequently, the hesitation towards taking up difficult subjects is also removed and students are able to join the courses of their preference. 
• Better connection between learning goals and methods: UDL as a curriculum reform provides the most apt solutions needed to meet the learning goals. Thus, the IEPs and other such programs deliver better results.
• Promotes learner satisfaction: The students with the help of assistive tools can wield the learning tools^[3] easily, indulge in active learning, and gauge their progress. Since the outcomes are clearly visible to them, they feel better satisfaction in terms of acquiring new skills.
• Removes confusion of any sort; brings better clarity: Since instructions reach a learner precisely as required, they attain more clarity and are able to retrofit newer concepts that were otherwise not possible to include in the knowledge build-up. 
• Helps build confidence: Learners with diverse needs and concept-grasping abilities find favorable conditions in the class to learn with the help of UDL. They display better sustenance of learned concepts. With the help of wieldable means to receive and process information, communicate ideas, and express opinions or raise doubts, the learners feel confident in the knowledge gained. They are able to apply the skills to prove their talent, which leaves a positive impact on their mental framework too.

Cons of UDL

Despite all the benefits offered, the implementation still poses a challenge. UDL has a long way to go before becoming a universal concept. It poses difficulties, like:

• May add to the stress for all in the absence of adequate training
• Distractions may cause disruptions, hence, it raises the need for the proactive introduction of solutions to learners
• The implementation may prove costlier both time and money-wise
• Students who need to change location may not find the same conditions in all cities. It can disrupt their learning flow. The task of searching the schools with UDL implementation adds to the worries of parents.
• Not all entities welcome changes with a positive approach. The ones averse to changes may take more time than expected to adopt UDL solutions. 

Pros and cons of UDL summarized

Effective ways to promote UDL in the classroom

UDL is still in a nascent stage as the technology in education is bringing new variables to deal with. There may be a considerable amount of confusion among the institutions’ management and teachers regarding its implementation; it was established in a study too^[4]. Hence, the very first need to fulfill is to have a clear dialogue about the impending change. A few of the effective solutions to try to make UDL implementation successful are:

• Complete teacher training: Encouraging teachers to join professional learning committees to cope with changing infrastructure and to be conversant with digitally advanced solutions.

• Proper onboarding: Acquainting the teachers, students, and parents with a UDL-enriched learning environment is essential for successful implementation. Proactive onboarding ensures that all stakeholders are on the same page.
• Feedback management: It is important to take feedback on the progress made by students and find the relationship between it and UDL implementation. The feedback recording and sharing with the concerned authorities is a must too. 
• Continuous evaluation of UDL: Evaluation does not cover only the testing part; one has to ensure that the infrastructural changes implemented are functional all the time too. The authorities need to ensure that the equipment is up-to-date and is truly ‘available’ when required by students and teachers.

Wrapping up,

UDL has now got the backing of technological breakthroughs using which the classes can be made ‘smart’ in the actual sense. Hence, while UDL offered food for thought, the technological interventions have offered workable solutions. The changing scene in the classes may garner different responses from the students with diversified learning requirements. Hence, the need is to promote better guidance, continual training, and patient adoption of the transformed infrastructure and curriculum.

References

1. Galkiene, Alvyra & Monkeviciene, Ona. (2021). The Model of UDL Implementation Enabling the Development of Inclusive Education in Different Educational Contexts: Conclusions. 10.1007/978-3-030-80658-3_12. 
2. Hitchcock C, Meyer A, Rose D, Jackson R. Providing New Access to the General Curriculum: Universal Design for Learning. TEACHING Exceptional Children. 2002;35(2):8-17. doi:10.1177/004005990203500201
3. Dean, T., Lee-Post, A., & Hapke, H. (2016). Universal Design for Learning in Teaching Large Lecture Classes. Journal of Marketing Education, 39(1), 5–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/0273475316662104
4. Senechal, M. A. (2016). Implementation of Universal Design for Learning (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26469

Pratiksha Bhatt

I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.

The post Pros and Cons of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

History

Universal Design for Learning was a revolutionary concept introduced in 1984. It was introduced by Dr. David Rose and Dr. Ann Meyer, the Harvard School of Graduate Education researchers. The concept emphasized making changes in architecture to enhance the inclusivity quotient of the learning environments. Though the previous advocates did suggest changes in architecture as standalone ideas, their inability to accommodate the curriculum requirements needed a more practically feasible approach toward designing classrooms to be ‘universally available’. 

The Center for Applied Special Technology in 1984 embraced the idea of UDL and made it the basis for designing technologies, learning accommodations, and the architecture of classrooms. The idea moved from emphasizing on students adjusting to the curriculum and space to modifying the design of the learning environment as per the students’ requirements.

UDL Principles

Applying Universal Design in Learning is governed by three main principles^[1]. These principles collectively contribute to making the classrooms truly inclusive and disruption-free for one and all. 

1. First principle – Multiple engagement methodologies

UDL is to be implemented so as to offer multiple engagement avenues that complement the students’ learning abilities or ways of learning. The classroom must-have solutions for students who learn by listening, or are visual learners. Such a varied pool of instructional supports helps manage the diversified classroom environment comprising students that need to combat various challenges. 

2. Second principle – Multiple means of expression

It is certainly not fair to brand someone incompetent due to an inability to express themself through conventional means. The UDL’s second principle addresses this issue and aims at providing suitable ways using which students can express ideas, ask questions and deliver all that they have learned. Education becomes more meaningful with an unrestricted flow of ideas and that is what, UDL’s 2nd principle aims at achieving.

3. Third principle – Multiple means of motivation

A student should feel driven to come to class, stay attentive and participate in classroom activities. Such a comfort level becomes easier to achieve when the classroom session has active learning at its core. The use of gamified manipulatives, group activities, and rewards are some of the UDL measures that focus on enhancing motivation to learn and explore. The third principle of UDL aims at simplifying learning by the use of attractive means and incentives.

The logic behind UDL implementation

Normalizing the environment as much as possible for special students and creating nil disruptions in class to accommodate their additional needs are the ways Assistive Technology should be introduced in schools and colleges. 

A smooth and seamless learning process becomes possible when the brain networks that participate in teaching and learning processes are stimulated amply. The UDL aims at tapping the potential of these brain networks^[2].

It is the logic behind developing and applying the Universal Design in Learning. The emphasis is on the need to think and apply broader design strategies so that students with different functional competencies can learn and participate with nil to minimal assistance.

The UDL solutions can stimulate the information exchange centers of the brain that comprise:

• Affective network: Absorb and process the information from various sources. The students tend to take the information in different ways. Reading, listening, and watching are some of the inlets through which information reaches us. UDL aims at providing all forms of input methods so that all students understand the instructions and concepts taught to them, as per their learning methods.
• Recognition network: The ability to categorize information and make some sense out of it is due to the recognition network^[3] of the brain. While affective network’s differences call for the need to have a variety in input methods, the stimulation of recognition network requires being experimental in presentation. Hence, UDL is exemplified through infographics, video presentations, highlighters, lexicons, etc. 
• Strategic network: Strategic network of the brain deals with planning and execution. UDL proposes that the learning environments should be enriched with tools and accommodations like writing tools that enable students to express themselves freely. It should allow them to share the knowledge gained as per their comfort with the modes of communication. 

In essence, the UDL recognizes the diversity in learning methods and proposes design elements that complement the status of the brain networks that may differ from person to person. 

How UDL benefits both teachers and students

Universal design for learning has started showing its positive impact on the classroom environment. The classroom structure and design are undergoing transformation to ensure unhindered information exchange between the teachers and students. Thus, the need to arrange for the special instruction methods and apply them before the start of the session is eliminated. It clearly means more time in hand for core learning activities. 

The stakeholders of the educational environment experience positive outcomes^[4] such as:

• Students grasp the concepts at the somewhat same pace with the help of accessibility-centric instructional procedures
• The accessibility embedded in the design offers better space for movements and physical activities in the class
• Better student turn-up rate in classes as a result of improved inclusivity
• Easy and timely completion of a curriculum that helps students have age-relevant skills developed
• Effective implementation of IEPs while ensuring a normal learning environment.

Challenges of implementing UDL

UDL is certainly an innovative solution, but the implementation requires going the extra mile. All stakeholders may have their specific reasons to be not supportive of the program. A few common challenges that are faced usually are:

1. Lack of trained staff to use UDL tools as prescribed
2. Limitation of budget needed to transform the classrooms as per the principles of UDL
3. Inability to receive proper responses or feedback from students having compromised executive function
4. Less time available to transform the learning methods and keep up with the curriculum simultaneously
5. Need to have a low to nil tech-congested environment in the classroom for ensuring easier adjustment

Take Away

Universal Design manifests in the ways technology around us changes over time. Its use in education is to make learning feasible and seamless for all. To make it a success, a collective collaboration between students, educators, and parents is essential. If implemented correctly, UDL can help us improve the education quality and make it accessible to all.

Reference links:

1. Moore, S. L. (2007). David H. Rose, Anne Meyer, Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning. Educational Technology Research and Development, 55(5), 521–525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-007-9056-3
2. Three brain networks of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). (2021, June 17). USC Center for Excellence in Teaching. https://cet.usc.edu/teaching-resources/three-brain-networks-of-universal-design-for-learning-udl/
3. Davis, G. (2020, January 31). Universal Design for Learning: The Recognition Network. Center for Teaching and Learning | Wiley Education Services. https://ctl.wiley.com/universal-design-for-learning-the-recognition-network/

4. Al-Azawei, A., Serenelli, F., & Lundqvist, K. (2016). Universal Design for Learning (UDL): A Content Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Journals from 2012 to 2015. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 16(3), 39–56. 

Pratiksha Bhatt

I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.

The post Everything you need to know about UDL (Universal Design for Learning) appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Teaching math is tough. And when variables enter the scene, the challenge enhances manifold. Educators adopt several ways to ease the learning procedures. Manipulatives, among different pedagogical tools, have got the nod of NCTM too. 

Found to be effective in reducing math anxiety, enhancing concept retention, and scaffolding the concept build-up, manipulatives have proven their utility in teaching complex topics like probability, statistics, etc. 

We have discussed online games for probability in one of our posts. Let’s shift our radar to manipulatives that can be used in classes and homes to make probability learning fun for all.

Manipulatives – adding more meaning to probability

Probability is the measurement of the possibility of the occurrence of an event. We all have rolled dice or flipped coins. Unknowingly, while doing so, we have created conditions that coincide with some principle of probability. As a student in the higher class, you may need to mug up formulas to solve probability problems. But, at an elementary level, you can pick up the concept tad easier way.

Manipulatives serve the need to embrace the idea of probability and understand its practical utility. While numbers drive us to data, operations, and calculations; probability takes us to subitizing observed through a magnifying lens. We can address questions like ‘what are the chances?’ with added confidence when manipulatives provide the learning support.

Probability is an important part of our real life, several examples make this statement quite evident. Manipulatives give you a modular peek into the ‘how’ part of this dictum. 

So, let’s take a look at the best manipulatives that can allow us to smoothly transition into probability learning mode.

List of engaging manipulatives to learn probability

1. Six-Color Spinners

Spinners are research-supported pedagogical tools suitable for exploring the complex problems of probability. These take the sweat out of the learning process and allow one to engage deeply in grasping the probability. A number of probability problems can be understood with the help of spinners and the interactive sessions become easier to carry out.

The best utility of spinners likes in making the probability problems that look challenging, at a glance, more interesting for students. However, the students should be conversed with the factors like force, surface quality, etc. at the very start, to expect some difference in outcomes. Notwithstanding the difference in theory and practical demonstration, spinners have the qualities needed to offer an effective learning intervention to probability students.

2. Dice

Dice are probably the oldest manipulative we know. Its utility in probability is quite evident because the six sides have different numbers. The very first introduction of the concept of probability is made with the help of dice when you are curious to know what number will appear on rolling the dice.

Dice serves as effective math manipulative helping all students having different grasping abilities to reinforce their learning. Its use as probability manipulative is utilized while trying open-ended, frequentist, and classic approaches to learning this math concept. 

3. Virtual Coin Flip Manipulative

Coin flip is an interesting, virtual manipulative available at Toy Theater. It is ideal support for teaching probability to beginners. The users of smart classrooms can employ it in the sessions in class and create activities to help students explore probability deeply. With simple activities like flipping the coin using not more than a click of a mouse or touchpad, you can drive students’ thinking into learning probability concepts.

Coin flip virtual manipulative is a hands-on learning tool for making tally sheets. You can use this classic approach to learning probability by counting the number of times heads or tails appear. The users can record their outcomes of the flips and understand various theories that explain the idea and usage of probability in decision-making, estimation, and other logical reasoning-based activities.

4. Counting Chips

Counting Chips are versatile manipulatives that can be used for probability activities. This manipulative is a great brain-teaser despite it being simple. The best utility of this learning tool lies in designing the probability activities accompanied by creating the head and tails score sheets. As a teacher, you will find it easy to explain the relationship between fractions and probability and to use this relationship in defining the odds of an event.

The counting chips offer the most comprehensive visual learning tool that can make learning probability fun and a lot more interesting. If you aspire to help kids show better participation and engagement in learning probability basics, you can depend on this manipulative.

5. Classroom Probability Kit

You get a complete probability practice kit in this wholesome pack. Comprising spinners, dice, chips, playing cards, dice, etc., you can design several probability activities without running short of resources. The best use of this manipulative kit lies in coming out with newer challenges every day. With some new challenges to solve, the students enjoy learning and look forward to probability sessions.

Great support for inciting curiosity, this probability manipulative can be used in multiple ways and helps bring all discrete basic probability concepts to actionable. 

6. Tri-ominos Game

Tri-ominos offers gamified learning support for mastering the application of probability principles. The game is designed to stimulate thinking with probability at the core of the solution. You are given the challenge of making bridges and hexagons. Using the principles of probability, you can complete the challenges and emerge the winner in this game.

This gamified resource is suitable for probability beginners who want to learn the practical implications of this math concept. Tri-ominos stimulate mental capabilities to easily perform tasks like decision-making, strategy-making, and making patterns while using the learnings from probability.

7. Sequence Board Game

There is a lot of probability that you get to apply in the Sequence Board Game. It offers a palatable premise that helps you appreciate probability and its use in strategy-making. While homeschooling your kid on probability topics, you can employ this game to tease brains and come up with strategies to block opponents, fill options faster, and complete sequence before everybody emerges the winner.

The sequence board game is quite suitable for beginners as well as advanced learners. By driving the learners’ minds to think and apply probability to achieve the sequence, this game offers a practical learning tool while giving a fun-filled break from books.

Major takeaways from probability manipulatives

On closer inspection and thorough thinking, you will realize that probability manipulatives have a lot to offer in terms of learning. These manipulatives offer the best support to accomplish objectives like:

1. Understanding the rationale behind the probability formulas
2. Appreciating the use of probability in devising strategies and laying out the logic
3. Applying probability in decision-making with added confidence
4. Using probability in real life with ease

Wrapping up

Manipulatives for learning probability can be your best bet at simplifying this topic for beginners. These are helpful in adopting a playful approach that takes away the math anxiety and replaces it with added curiosity to learn. 

If you have your success stories where manipulatives helped you master probability, we would love to hear them. Please share the same in the comments!

Pratiksha Bhatt

I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.

The post 7 Engaging Manipulatives For Learning Probability Concepts appeared first on Number Dyslexia.

Sequencing events – being one of the most eminent executive functions helps not only kids but adults too in various areas of life. These traits reflect in organizing what they read and write academically too. Hence, developing these becomes crucial and imperative. 

Learning and boosting sequencing abilities can get easy in the form of engaging activities and games. The same can also be learned through various apps and books. With that idea, we came up with some interesting and free online games that can help learn sequencing events, which is another form of sequencing that comes into use a lot many times in life. 

Event sequencing- Not just about storytelling

By definition, Sequencing skills refer to the capability of the individual to identify the components or events based on their attributes to arrange them as the beginning, middle, and ending. While sequencing of events is one of the interesting approaches for retelling a story, its importance is not just confined to it. 

Here are some other common grounds where event sequencing abilities help the learner:

1. Reading or writing: While reading or writing an essay, story, or information, the child can easily remember the arts/events in order by interpreting them after sequencing. The aptness to correctly identify the beginning, middle, and end of the story comes with sequencing skills. 
2. While solving a math problem: While some math problems can be direct, others can be such that they need a sequence of iterations, and operations to find the solution to the problem. Therefore, sequencing helps largely in solving a math problem, and it is a crucial aspect of becoming well-versed with the subject and its diversities. 
3. In subjects like History: History is one subject that requires the ability to sequence events. For easily remembering the events chronologically, event sequencing is irreplaceable. 
4. Science: Any experiment, life cycle, or process related to science is a combination of many steps and events. Being able to sequence those parts leads to correctly carrying out any experiment or process.

Sequencing events games- Our recommended picks for you

Now that we have established the importance of sequencing events, you might wonder how one can polish them in a fun and engaging way. Hence, here are a few sequencing events games that can help kids and adults get better at the skill: 

1. Picture Sequencing By Turtle Diary

Usually sequencing a set of events is done by interchanging the positions, but this game comes with unique insights. The game includes various steps to many daily life events. The player needs to sequence the events by ranking the pictures given.

There are three levels out of which one can select as per their level of understanding. Student needs to rank the images given by dragging each number board to the respective slot to depict its place in the order of the sequence of that particular event.

Additional edges of this game include audio guidance, an option for help at the right corner. With easy gameplay and multiple sequences to practice, this game can be a good choice for early learners.

2. Jumbled By Images By Splashlearn

Great for elementary learners, this game offers playful sequencing practice sessions. It has various common event images which are all jumbled up, and need to be arranged in the correct order. There are three different parts that can ensure effective learning for little ones.

For the first sequence, the host explains to the user about the gameplay assisting them to form the right sequence. The student needs to press and drag the images to bring them in order. 

The voice cues can add interest to the game. Moreover, after every 9 images, the Player gets a score card that provides feedback of their performance which can act as an improvement guide.  

3. Reception Time by Classroom Secrets

If you are looking for a quick sequencing session for your little one, Reception time is a good option. With 5 images and 5 slots that need to match together, this game with simple gameplay can be fun and full of learning. 

The 5 images need to be dragged in the respective order to form a correct and complete sequence. Once they have completed, they can choose a check button to see if their response is correct. 

This game has no time limit and players can repeat the trails any number of times. Also, if the student has any doubt, there is a provision for the teacher to guide them by showing the solution. This option is a quick access game that can be completed in a few minutes, thereby making it a good brain break or after-school choice.

4. Solar Sequence by RoomRecess.com

This game comes with an interesting solar system theme. The player can learn about sequencing and the solar system, all through the game.

There are five planets floating in space with snippets of different events. The player needs to carefully read and observe the points and then drag the planets in the order of the event occurrence. After placing the planets, One can check the answer by pressing the DONE button. If the order is correct then the game moves forward with the next sequencing event, else a satellite with “Keep Trying” appears as a hint of an incorrect order.

There is no time limit for a sequence to complete. Also, the unique interface gameplay makes it a good sequencing game to choose from.

5. Daily routine Sequencing Events by Sanook English

The game is all about setting a daily routine in sequence. Playing this game, The kids will be introduced to the preposition of time like first, then, next, morning, afternoon, evening, night, earlier, later, before, and after which not only adds to their vocabulary but also helps them understand the usage of these words. 

The user needs to observe these events and arrange them in order carefully. They can drag each of these images to any place to bring it to the right sequence.  Once the sequencing is complete, the user can press the check option to see if their response is correct.

The total time spent on the game and the number of moves are noted below the cards. Also, if they couldn’t solve the sequence, the player can press the Show Solution option to see the answer. 

6. Story Sequencing By TinyTap

Tiny tap offers a unique sequencing learning session. The story-based approach of the game helps in practicing retelling and checks whether the student is able to understand and put the events of the story in the correct order.

Once the player presses the start button, the game would narrate a story with 3-4 lines along with images on one slide. Then, they need to drag each image to respective slots to arrange them in order as per the story narration. 

There are multiple stories that the student can traverse through. With the description of each sequence and audio cues, the game becomes easy to learn and practice sequencing. There is no time limit for this game and can be iterated multiple times if needed.

Learning event sequencing- Other strategies

By now, you have a good idea of how online games are effective in learning event sequencing. There can be multiple other strategies that can be employed along with the above games for better practice. 

• Make a habit of reading Sequencing books. To improve the ordering skills of the little ones, there are some books that come with stories where remembering the sequence of events is important. Check out these books and see a reasonable improvement in the child’s skills.
• Use sequencing apps if you are using a phone or tab. Apps are easy to access from the menu and can be accessed offline.
• Not only games but activities also work. Parents can choose manipulatives like story cards and puppets to create a simple event sequencing activity anytime. 

Which game did you like the most?

Online games for sequencing can prove to be a source of endless practice, with multiple themes and styles just a click away. Each of the games that we suggested here comes with a set of unique traits that make them special. Traverse through these picks and see which of these are best suitable. While you employ these games for your little one, also make sure to traverse through other strategies to add value to the game-based learning session.

Pratiksha Bhatt

I am Pratiksha Bhatt, Bachelor of Life Science, and Masters in Management Studies. I have done certification courses in early education counseling. I am a writer, a mother of a child with spelling difficulties which drove me to alternative resources of education like manipulatives and participatory activities. My areas of expertise are learning difficulties, alternative learning methods, and activity-based learning.

The post 6 Engaging Sequencing Events Games To Play Online appeared first on Number Dyslexia.