Language Arts
As the classroom teacher, it is your responsibility to teach skills and concepts in your language arts class to all of your students, including your braille-reading student. Just like you, many elementary school teacher have a lot of questions in how to teach a braille-reading student concepts learned in the language arts classroom, especially since many general education teachers are unfamiliar with the braille code.
First of all, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you are a trained teacher who has the necessary skills to teach language arts in your classroom. In addition to your general teaching knowledge, you will have the help of your student’s teacher of the visually impaired to help you make decisions on how make learning accessible for your braille reading student. The following information will provide with strategies and tools to help you along the way.
Considerations in Planning for Instruction in Language Arts
When planning for your elementary language art lesson, remind yourself of the unique learning process of your braille-reading student. Consider, for example, how your braille-reading student will complete an activity where the they have to make a prediction on what is going to happen in the story by looking at the picture. Since your braille-reading student may not be able to access the picture, they will need an alternate way to get the same information as the rest of the student in your language arts class. As a teacher, you should be prepared to create lessons that are accessible to your student. While this may initially seem like an uncomfortable task, the adaptation that you make can be as simple as asking one of your students to describe, to the class, what is seen in the picture.
Language Arts Strategies for Learning
The following practical strategies will allow you to give your braille-reading student some of the pieces that he or she will need to put the art puzzle together.
- While planning your lesson, ask yourself, “How will my braille-reading student access the concepts learned in today’s lessons?” Make sure that you have an answer to this question before you teach your lesson.
- Set aside time for your braille-reading student to explore the braille version of a book prior to use in class
- Verbalize all information that is written on the board or on posters. Pair your braille-reading student with a peer who can read allowed the notes from the board while your braille-reading student takes notes.
- Provide an electronic copy of your notes to your braille-reading student if they use high-tech devices, such as a braille notetaker or computer.
- Encourage ample dialogue about concepts that are learned in your language arts class. Pair your student with a peer to discuss concepts.
- Take time from every class to individually touch base with your braille-reading student to ensure concept gaps are being addressed.
Language Arts Tools for Learning
Your braille-reading student will likely use specific tools to access your language curriculum. Your student’s TVI will help you understand how these tools are used. The following is a list of possible tools that may be used by your braille-reading student in the social studies class.
- Slate and Stylus, Perkins Brailler or other electronic braille notetaker for reading and writing.
- Computer with Jaws or other speech program.
- Social Studies textbooks or informational books available in braille.
- Tactile maps, charts or graphs.
Additional Resources
It is likely that you will continue to have questions about strategies and methods of teaching language arts to your braille-reading student. Although you may feel a little hesitant in your skills, remember that you are not alone. Your TVI will provide you with as many resources as you need. You can also find a list of rich resources on-line.