| Hardware |
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AlphaSmart,
by AlphaSmart, Inc.
An easiest-to-use portable writing tool. The screen displays only
four lines, but when used to create documents, it has a fast scrolling
ability. It's durable and lightweight. Turn it on and start
typing. Turn it off,
everything's saved. No menus, no commands, no warm-up, no cord,
but
also no drag-and-drop, no font choice, no email, and no backlit screen. |
Laptops, by many different companies.
Portable Personal Computers (PCs) that have a full-screen
display.
Can run any programs that run on a regular PC. Word® (word
processing),
Excel® (spreadsheet), and Calculator® have been helpful for
students
with handwriting and decimal point problems. Our members have
found
that the cost of a used Laptop can be
the same as a new Alpha Smart. Your student does not need
the latest multimedia (DVD, graphic card , etc.) enhanced laptop.
Some student need a durable, light weight (under 3 lbs.) laptop, one
with a removable drive (that does not need to carry with around), a
durable hard drive (that is shock mounted) and at least a 12 in.
screen. Here two durable and light weight laptops that were
parent recommended: Lenovo Think Pad X30 or
X40 Notebook, and HP Compaq nc4200 Business Notebook. |
Mimio
Technology, Smart boards
A white board that teacher writes on in class, what is written on the
white board (Smart board), can be printed out for the
students. Teachers class notes are available to students,
without someone having to manually copying them from the board.
Thanks to Concord Ed Fund and our PTG's as of Sept. 2004 we
have 8 of these boards at the high school and 2 at our middle school.
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Time
Management Tools:
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Personal
Timer, by Time Timer LLC
This company makes several versions of a timer that is making the
concept of elapsed time easier to
understand for people of all ages and ability levels. Time Timer has a
visual depiction of elapsed time, that helps solve time perception
problems. They are very easy to use that even young
children and those with learning disabilities can monitor their own
timed activities. They now have two version of the timer.
One that
beeps and that does not and now they have software timer, students can
not close the window,
once set. |
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The Time Tracker, by Learning Resources
A visual timer and clock, has 3 timers in one, the colors indicates
that you are getting close to end of the time. Each level is a
different color coded (green, yellow, red). You
can program each section manually, or you can set automatically (i.e.:
80% green, 15% yellow, 5% red).
It's also a clock (can program time in 12 hour or 24 hour ), it can flashing lights that let you
know when your time is running out. You can o choose one of six
fun sounds (such as a
siren or a buzzer) to go off when the lights switch to the next
level.
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General
Assistive
Technologies |
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Recording for the
Blind and Dyslexic
Books on tape for ages 9 and up.
20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540
(800) 221-4792 or
(609) 452-0606 |
Talking Tapes
Books on tape for all grade levels.
16 Sunnen Drive, Suite 162, St. Louis, MO 63143-3800
(314) 646-0500 or
(314) 646-0555 |
Kurzweil
1000
& 3000 by Kurzweil Educational Systems
Software for a personal computer that works in conjunction with a
flatbed scanner and synthetic speech. This software lets you scan and
read, for
people who are blind, visually impaired, learning disabilities or
reading
difficulties. Reading software that reads any text book that is
scanned.
Printed documents are scanned into your computer and then converted
into
speech using L&H RealSpeak™ and displays text on screen. Words can
then
be broken down into syllables. This program is available at the
Concord
Public Library and Concord Carlisle High School. |
Readingpen by Wizcom
The Readingpen provides users with reading difficultties, learning
disabilities or dyslexia with a protable discreet device that offers
immediate word support to the reader. It allows the user to
achieve a smoother more continuous reading flow and provides quick and
easy comprehension.
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Easy
Reader by Really Good Stuff
Is a card about the size of an index card, which had a yellow strip of
plastic
or stiff cellophane material on one edge. Available in yellow or blue.
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BoardMaker
by Mayer-Johnson
Picture Communication Symbols software. Allows you to make worksheets,
picture instruction sheets, reading books, journals, or posters.
Its graphics database contains over 3,000 Picture Communication
Symbols. This program is available at the Minuteman ARC for use by
parents. |
Naturally
Speaking, by Dragon Systems
Voice recognition software that can recognize phrases rather than
individual words. |
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Assistive
Software |
| Math: |
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Math Pad
by IntelliTools
MathPad allows students
to
do math directly on the computer. The program functions as an
electronic numbers processor that allows students to solve basic
addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems directly on
the computer. Students do all their own calculations. MathPad is the
perfect tool for students who have difficulty doing math with pencil
and paper or who need help organizing or navigating through math
problems. Suggested skill level: first grade through adult.
IntelliTooks has a series of software programs developed under a grant
from
the National Science Foundation. Designed to reinforce essential math
skills
for all students, for students in grades K-8. |
FASTT
Math by Tom Snyder Productions
Fast Math
is an intervention software program uses research-validated methods to
help
struggling students develop math fluency with basic math facts in
addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division. FASTT = Fluency and
Automaticity through Systematic Teaching with Technology. The
software
provides a continuously adaptive program that efficiently increases
math fact fluency in customized, 10-minute daily sessions. Developing
automatic recall of basic math facts enables students to focus on
higher-order math skills such as advanced computation, problem solving,
and algebra. |
SkillsBank4™:
Computation Practice Series by Learning Company
A software program that will help LD students with
mastering fractions, whole numbers, decimals and mixed numbers. |
Cross-TrainerTM: Visual-Spatial by Lexia Learning Systems, Inc.
A software program for students who have
underdeveloped visual-spatial abilities or who could benefit from
enhancing these skills. The software can be effective for students
who need to improve in subjects that emphasize visual and conceptual
learning, such as mathematics and science.
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Time
Telling by Edmark
Designed for students not yet able to tell time, Edmark Time
Telling teaches the basics required to read an analog or digital
clock and to say and write the correct time. |
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Early Reading
Skills Software: |
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Earobics (Phonemic
Awareness program) by Cognitive Concepts, Inc.
Children learn how to think about the sound structure of language and
are given strategies to both process and manipulate the sound structure
to learn reading and spelling. |
Lexia Early Reading
by Lexia Learning Systems, Inc.
Phonological awareness (PA -- the ability to reflect on and manipulate
the sound system of one's language) program. Systematically
addresses core phonological awareness skills: rhyming, first and last
sound identification, segmentation, and blending. (PA has been
found to be correlated to
the acquisition of reading skills.) |
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| Reading: |
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Phonics-Based
Reading Software by Lexia Learning Systems, Inc.
Designed to facilitate the acquisition of decoding skills and to lay
the foundation for the development of more advanced comprehension,
fluency, and critical analysis skills for readers of all ages. |
Reading SOS
(grades 4 - adult) by Lexia Learning Systems, Inc.
(Strategies for the Older Student)
Teaches basic reading skills at a more sophisticated level with harder
material, more involved graphics, and a faster pace. |
Language
Tune-Up Kit® Phonics by JWor Enterprises, Inc.
Remedial reading multimedia phonics software program for children 7 and
older, teenagers and adults. |
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| Writing: |
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Inspiration
(grades 4 - 6) & Kidspiration (grades K - 3) by Inspiration
Software, Inc.®
Helps students read and write by providing a visual tool to help
organize information, understand concepts, and express their ideas. |
Write:Outloud
by Don Johnston
An easy-to-use talking word processor that guarantees writing success.
Simplifies the writing process by reading each word out loud as
students write. Consistent auditory feedback reduces the physical
effort of writing and lets students use a minimum of keystrokes.
The program also reads any electronic text, so students can research
and present reports in class. |
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| Reading Videos: |
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Dyslexia
Training by SoftDesign International, Inc.
SoftDesign has instructional videotape series, and provides a range of
unique books and cassette tapes, along with computer-based software, to
help children and families overcome dyslexia. |
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Typing:
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Type
to Learn by Sunburst
Concord Public schools students, use this computer
software program in grade 3 for a single quarter (3-4 weeks). For
many of our students this is not enough time to learn the skill of
typing.
TypeRight by
Unique Minds
Does not use the traditional home-row
instruction. This program teaches typing in a sequential,
alphabetic approach. This approach, combined with an easy to learn poem as
a memory devise, helps students remember each key location without looking
at the keyboard. Once the keys are memorized, a special cover shields the
keys so that students learn to let their fingers – not their eyes – find
the keys. This is a multi-sensory program that involves
teaching each new information using several senses at once (sight, sound,
touch or kinaesthetic movement). This increases the likelihood that the
memory of new information will be improved. Students are taught to look at
the monitor, say the letters out loud and feel different key surfaces. |
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FREE online typing programs: www.learn2type.com
and www.typing.qcalculus.com |
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