Based on assessment, an individual programme is developed for the child, based on areas of need. The programme then uses electronic books, activity books and materials.
Individual programmes and formats for online learning
The child’s programme is implemented through online sessions, together with supporting formats designed to provide an activity-based learning programme focused on the child's needs. As each child’s learning and emotional needs are different, the indlvidual programme is usually based on a variety of different types of activities and methods. These are designed to be implemented in the online sessions as well as in supporting sessions conducted by parents at home.
Electronic books, activity books and materials
Each child’s programme draws on a data-base of electronic books, activity books, materials and methods. As the data-base is extensive, the types of work which can be provided include:
Materials and methods for work with phonic skills and phonic analysis.
Materials and methods for reading fluency development.
Materials for reading comprehension development.
Activities for identifying main ideas and summarising skills based on reading of text and use of the internet.
Cloze activities.
Materials and activities for descriptive and creative writing development.
Materials and methods for word analysis and working memory development.
Materials and methods for sequential working memory development (eg programmes based on phonic analysis and revisualisation techniques).
Materials and methods for developing rapid naming and rapid processing abilities.
Listening skill and auditory processing activities (eg programmes involving use of audible books).
Problem-solving techniques and activities.
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Based on assessment, the child’s individual programme is likely to be based on a number of different types of activities. It is also likely to use a variety of electronic materials and resources.
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Online sessions and supporting learning formats
The online sessions are central to ensuring that the individual programme is both relevant to the child learning needs and at a level of language, reading, writing and spelling appropriate to the child’s basic skills. Supporting learning formats are then developed drawing on electronic materials from the data base, with each activity focused on the child’s learning needs.
Overall, both the online sessions and supporting formats are designed to provide an activity-based learning programme using electronic materials. Manuals are also provided to assist parents, teachers, therapists and tutors in implementing the reading, writing, spelling and working memory activities which form the basis of each child’s programme.
There is a website on the materials used for developing reading, writing and spelling fluency, which are currently being used by others both in South Africa as well as in other countries in the SADEC region. Also by parents in the UK. We also have a presence in East Africa, with one person under training in Nairobi.
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The website is purely informational and the address is http://www.charlespotter.org
Published material on the programme
There is published information about our materials and methods, and how these approaches have been used in working with children.
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A chapter entitled "Using Phonically Based E-books to Develop Reading Fluency" can be reached by clicking on the following link
http://www.intechopen.com/articles/show/title/using-phonically-based-e-books-to-develop-reading-fluency
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A chapter entitled “Developing Automaticity in Children with Learning Disabilities: A Functional Perspective Part One: Theory and Assessment” can be reached by clicking on the following link:
https://www.intechopen.com/books/learning-disabilities-an-international-perspective/developing-automaticity-in-children-with-learning-disabilities-a-functional-perspective-part-one-the
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A chapter entitled “Developing Automaticity in Children with Learning Disabilities: A Functional Perspective Part Two: Programme Methods and Materials” can be reached by clicking on the following link:
http://www.intechopen.com/articles/show/title/developing-automaticity-in-children-with-learning-disabilities-a-functional-perspective-part-two-pro
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Each of the chapters is published open source and can be downloaded free of charge.
In addition, the following chapter was published at the beginning of 2019.
You can view it here:https://www.intechopen.com/online-first/training-reading-writing-and-spelling-fluency-centre-periphery-dissemination-through-interactive-mul
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The pdf's of the above publications can then be downloaded free of charge.
