audio books Archives - Page 8 of 9

Published July 17, 2013

Anna Martinez Wins Second Place in Technology Olympics for the Visually Impaired

Brenda Szymkowiak, a Teacher of the Visually Impaired for Plano ISD in Texas, is beaming with pride over the accomplishments of her eighth grade student, Anna Martinez. Anna just won second place in the Digital Media Access event at the 2013 Region 10 Technology Olympics. “Anna is quite the reader and competitor,” said Ms. Szymkowiak. The Region 10 Technology Olympics is an annual event held at the Education Service Center in Richardson, Texas. Students in third through twelfth grades compete and demonstrate their skills and knowledge of the latest technology equipment and educational resources for blind or…

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Published July 2, 2013

On the Future of Braille: Thoughts by Radical Braille Advocates… by Betsy Beaumon

On the Future of Braille: Thoughts by Radical Braille Advocates by Betsy Beaumon, VP and General Manager, Benetech’s Global Literacy Program I recently had the honor to speak at the first-ever Braille Summit, hosted on June 19-21, 2013 by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) and Perkins School for the Blind. With the goal of promoting braille literacy, this landmark meeting brought together braille experts from around the world to Perkins’ campus in Watertown, Massachusetts. My biggest takeaway from the summit: the time could not be more urgent, and more hopeful, for the future…

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Published July 1, 2013

Bookshare Celebrates 250,000 Milestone and Members of All Ages!

Bookshare is helping people with print disabilities around the world to read books for school, work, and fun so they can reach their personal goals and more fully participate in society. This summer, we celebrate a very important milestone: we now serve 250,000 members! Did you know that Bookshare members include students, adults, seniors, veterans, and international members in over 40 countries? We could not have achieved this milestone without the help of members, advocates, and partners like you. Your tireless efforts have helped to build Bookshare’s thriving community. And your continued support will help us reach hundreds of millions…

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Published June 23, 2013

Just in time for summer reading…Book recommendations for all ages!

Just in time for the Bookshare summer reading contest, check out our 2013 Summer Reading List! These include fun, fascinating, suspenseful, and inspiring stories recommended by The American Library Association . And, if you are not yet participating in the Bookshare “Catch Up on Summer Reading” contest for individual student members, start today and enter for a chance to win cool prizes like a tablet, gift cards, or Read2Go apps from Bookshare! Many thanks to the Bookshare collection staff for pulling these book recommendations together. Titles for Younger Readers Extra Yarn. By Mac Barnett . Illus. by Jon Klassen.…

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Published May 30, 2013

2013 Summer Reading Contest. Start Now!

Calling all Bookshare U.S. Student Members with Individual Memberships! Are you looking for a fun and rewarding summer reading activity? It’s time for our fifth annual summer reading event…the Catch Up on Summer Reading Contest! It’s hard to read all the books you want during the school year. That’s why we came up with this great summer contest to help you catch up on all your fun reading and you can start now. How does it work? Create a list of all the books you want to read. Read as many books as you can between now and July…

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Published May 28, 2013

Special Education Teacher, Andrew Chalfin, and 34 Educators Champion a Mission—Access for All!

This Teacher Appreciation Month, we salute Andrew Chalfin, a special education teacher in East Rampo Central School District, NY. Mr. Chalfin wrote to us about the amazing educators in his district who now embrace Bookshare. They heard about the benefits the library can provide for students with print disabilities and wanted to be a part of the mission. With Mr. Chalfin’s support and hands-on professional development and training, 34 special education teachers in his district now effectively use the library to find the curricula and tools for students who qualify. “Not only is the Bookshare resource a time-saver (no more…

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Published May 6, 2013

Daisy Audio and MP3 Offer More Choices to Read on the Go!

Recently, an educator stopped by our conference booth with questions about our book formats and how to read books on the go. The educator wasn’t familiar with our newer formats, Daisy Audio and MP3, so we thought this would be a great time to remind our members. Qualified Members can now choose from Daisy Text, Daisy Audio, Braille, or MP3 to read thousands of eBooks (185,000 and counting.) Just select a preference that’s right for you and you’re off reading Bookshare books at school, a library, a park, on the bus…you name the place and you can read there! Daisy…

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Published April 8, 2013

K-12 Assistive Tech Specialist Categorizes eBooks with New Bookshelf

When Donna Schneider, an early technology adopter and AT specialist in Brewster, NY, public schools, was asked to beta test Bookshare’s new Bookshelf feature, she jumped at the opportunity! “I love to try out new resources and technologies,” she said. “I knew that this tool could potentially save me a lot of time and eliminate redundant searches. Bookshelf makes it easy to organize and categorize books by students, grade, subject, textbook, summer literature, and even student-preferred formats.” Donna is a three-year Bookshare Mentor Teacher and was just elected to the 2013 Bookshare Advisory Board. She works with children in grades…

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Published March 25, 2013

Recent New York Times Children’s Bestsellers

Who doesn’t enjoy a bestseller? This round-up of titles from a recent NY Times childrens’ bestsellers list has fun reading for everyone. Picture Books Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, Tom Lichtenheld. As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. This is Not My Hat, by Jon Klassen. WINNER OF THE 2013 CALDECOTT MEDAL! From the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling and award-winning I Want My Hat Back comes a second wry tale. (Ages 4 to 8) Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes,…

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Published February 25, 2013

Bookshare Members: Join Read Across America Day!

Saturday, March 2, is Read Across America Day, an annual event sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA) to motivate students to read. This year, it coincides with Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Schools are celebrating on Friday, March 1. Whether you celebrate on Friday or Saturday, let’s show the NEA that Bookshare students are readers! Add Dr. Seuss’s books to your students’ Bookshelves! It will be so easy to get all the titles to them! Watch this video to learn how to use Bookshelves in schools. Or look at the first-time user guide. Post a picture on Facebook of your students…

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Category: audio books