Invitation to Collaborate: Expanding Literacy with Teens
At our first international collaboration regarding expanding literacy opportunities for teens who are deafblind or with complex needs, we were introduced to Rene Ambrose, teacher of the deaf and hard and hearing, from Wisconsin. She shared with us the Wisconsin Deafblind Technical Assistance Project’s literacy resources. It is a wonderful resource that provides story boxes on loan.
Inspired by the group
The greatest inspiration is learning from others. Story boxes are full of possibilities, and I wanted to choose a book that could be used with a variety of students on my caseload.
Looking at the Wisconsin Deafblind Technical Assistance Project, I thought I would start with their “Dinosaurs Love Tacos” story box since it lends itself to a variety of age groups, activities, and aligning it with individual student goals.
The Great Expectations Program helps bring picture books to life
Picture Books for Children Who are Blind by the National Braille Press
The Great Expectations Program was created to help parents and teachers bring picture books to life for blind children. Each book is chosen for its unique theme and is supplemented with picture descriptions and free online activities to further explore concepts found within the stories.
The online activities are created especially for blind students and use a multi-sensory approach through song, tactile play, body movement, engaged listening, and word play…all designed to promote active reading experiences for children with visual impairments. This resource has the book, “Dragons Love Tacos” and is excellent to use in conjunction with the story box.
