Braille During the Elementary Years
During the elementary school years, your braille-reading student will be learning many of the same literacy skill as the rest of your students. The only different will be that they will be using the braille, instead of the print medium. It will be highly important that your braille-reading student has regular and consistent instruction in braille from a qualified teacher of students with visual impairments. The TVI is trained to teach and assess the braille literacy skills that your student will be learning. Your braille-reading student may initially need to be pulled out of your class to receive instruction in braille reading and writing. However, this does not mean that he or she will need the assistance of the TVI at all times. Your braille-reading student should be encouraged and made to practice braille his or her reading and writing skills, hopefully completing similar if not the same assignments as the rest of the students in your class.
Grade One and Grade Two Braille
You may have heard the terms "Grade One Braille" (now called Uncontracted Braille) or "Grade Two Braille" (now called Contracted Braille) There is a big difference between two. Uncontracted braille is similar to print. Letters of the braille alphabet are put together to create words. However, using grade 1 braille not only takes a lot of time to read, but also uses up a lot of space on the page. Contracted braille is made up of short form or sounds or words. Using contracted braille save a lot of space. The abbreviations allow for the braille-user to read with better fluency.
Many teachers think that their braille-reading student learns grade one braille before learning grade two contracted braille. While all braille-reading students need to learn their alphabet, some will skip the grade one braille and start learning to form words using contract braille. It is important to note that almost all brailled books are embossed in contracted braille.
There are many ways in which you can help your student learn and practice the braille code. You can easily learn the braille alphabet in less than a day. Many primary school teachers of braille-reading students find it helpful to have the braille alphabet posted on the classroom wall for reference.
Many of the braille contractions are also sight words, such as but, can, do, every, from and many many more. You could incorporate these contractions into weekly spelling lists or writing activities. Speak to your TVI about many other ways that you can help your elementary braille-reading student use and practice the braille code.