Book Title: Hands-on Reading

Authors: Jane Kelly and Teresa Friend

Publisher: Mayer-Johnson Co.

Reviewed by: Stephanie
Williams, Speech Language Pathologist, DynaVox Systems, USA

Description: This 439-page book includes thematic units that cover food, animals, clothes, and hygiene with 5-6 stories related to each topic. All units are designed to involve both speaking and non-speaking students, while promoting emergent literacy skills.

Target Audience: preschool – elementary

Included within each unit:

• Required literature list
  
• Related literature list
  
• Music resources
  
• Computer resources
  
• Arts and crafts activities
  
• Communication overlays with various layouts and configurations
  
• IEP goals and objectives
  
• Comprehension worksheets

Supplemental Materials Included:

1. Book bulletin is provided to encourage communication between home and school regarding the reading activities that are completed in the classroom.
   
2. Vocabulary Data Sheet can be used to plan other activities.

DynaVox Series 4 Applications:

1. To allow students to independently generate and print their answers for the comprehension worksheets use the print function on your DynaVox Series 4 device. Find detailed printing instructions, go to www.dynavoxtech.com and click on 24/7 Support to find printer specifications.
   
2. Over 90% of the vocabulary needed for Hands-on Reading can be found in Gateway 40, 60, and Pro. To access Gateway on your DynaVox Series 4 device:
   
   1. Select the pull-down menu.
      
   2. Select Setup.
      
   3. Select Page Navigator.
      
   4. Select the directory in the left viewport.
      
   5. Select the Gateway All page in the right viewport.
      
   6. Select Go To Page.
   
   
3. This will bring you to the Gateway to Language and Learning Master page. From here, you can access all levels of the program. For more information on Gateway to Language and Learning, please see the DynaVox Language Applications section in your Quick Start Guide.
   
4. Use the vocabulary listings at the end of each unit to confirm that the words are programmed into the device prior to initiating the activity. You must know the location of needed vocabulary items in order to provide proper modelling and instruction. If items are missing from the system, you will find blank buttons that can be modified to add the necessary vocabulary items.
   
5. Use the book reading page located in the Gateway 20 (time to play tab) to provide the student with “generic” vocabulary that can be used with any book reading activity. In addition to the vocabulary listed below, this page also includes a blank button that can be used to program the repetitive line found in a story.

   Interactive vocabulary provided on the 20read page:

   – Can I see the picture?	– What’s that?	-Turn the page.
   – Can I turn the page.	– That’s funny!	– Oh no!
   – That’s sad.	– I don’t like this.	– Read it again.

6. Many books and poems can be found on the Internet. Copy the text file for the desired reading material into your DynaVox Series 4 device. Load the file, then use the Symbolate behaviour to convert the text to symbols.

Boardmaker Applications:

1. Use the Boardmaker calendar templates to create schedules of events that will occur for each unit.
   
2. Create big books (large graphics and fonts) for students with visual impairments.
   
3. Create symbol-based recipe cards for the cooking activities in each unit.
   
4. Customise your books by adding symbols to help reference words and key concepts.
   
5. Create games and song boards that correspond to each of the units to provide interactive ways to practise new skills.