Teaching peers about Braille Books
Show sample books to students and explain how tactile learners
begin to read the same way as visual learners. To do this they must
first orient themselves with a book. All learners need to find the
cover of the book, the top of the page, the left/right side of a page
etc… Explain how the books being created will help tactile learners
practice these concepts. Using the concept of the “Roll Along Books”
from American Printing House, students will be placing a Velcro track
to have a ball or a story object (noun) move throughout the story.
This type of story becomes hands-on, interactive learning experience and
teaches concepts such as beginning, middle, end. Tactually following the
velcro track throughout the story reinforces the left to right tracking
motion needed to read braille.
Augmentation:
Different Modalities for Writing: When developing the print or braille for these textured books, several strategies may be used.
1. Enlarge font for low vision readers. (The APH font may be downloaded for free from The American Printing House for the Blind at www.aph.org. This is the preferred font for students with visual impairments.
2. Braille: Teach the students from your partner school how to write braille using a Perkins Braille Writer. Students can braille the title of their book. This will give the students a deeper understanding of the process of writing braille.
1. Talking word processing. When using a talking word processor, students receive constant auditory input on the structure of written words, auditory repetition of letters and in some cases auditory input of letter sounds.
