Cathy Wilson is a dyslexia specialist at Coppell ISD, TX, and a Bookshare mentor teacher. She trains her colleagues and students who qualify how to use the online Bookshare library and reading technologies. Last year, Cathy had nearly 40 youngsters on her Bookshare organizational account. This allowed her and other approved teachers, or sponsors, to find and download books for students who qualify. She has helped more than 90 percent of these students get individual memberships. “Introducing children with print disabilities to technology early helps them to be more independent and eventually find and download books on their own,” she…
Leave a CommentCategory: Inclusion K12 reading resources
Published September 20, 2013
Best Practice from a Bookshare Mentor Teacher — Train Teachers and Students Together!
Lisa Gutheil, a teacher of the visually impaired and early intervention specialist, encourages teachers and students to participate in her Bookshare training sessions together. Why does her dual-training model work so well? “Because kids get the technology!” says Lisa. Co-training may not surprise you, but what will is that Lisa trains younger students, as early as third grade, to use Bookshare and its technology tools. “If you want to ensure lifelong learning then give students resources and tools as early as possible so they don’t fall behind,” she says. This busy Bookshare Mentor now calls New York her home after…
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Published September 9, 2013
Empower Students in the Classroom with Reading Tools and Accessible Books!
With the Labor Day holiday behind us, there’s no doubt that you are in the full swing of back-to-school. Last month, we helped you get your Bookshare accounts up-to-date. Did you find the time to complete the easy steps? If not, check out our August Back-to-School post. This month, our aim is to help you prepare students to get the most out of Bookshare for learning in the classroom. Educators always tell us that their students with print disabilities feel a true sense of empowerment when they can read independently and take part in classroom discussions. Jessica Chandler, a teacher…
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Published August 22, 2013
Educators, Are Your School Accounts Up-to-Date?
In our last blog, we officially launched the Back-to-School season and now want to continue our series with a spotlight on educators. Yes, we all know that once school starts and students enter the classroom, it’s a nonstop race to the holiday break, followed by two sprints to spring and summer. So our time and good intentions can often get the best of us. Lisa Gutheil, a teacher of the visually impaired and early intervention specialist in New York, knows about this situation. That’s why she is already talking with teachers to make sure students who qualify for Bookshare have…
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Published July 29, 2013
Photo Journal: U.S. Official Visits Benetech and High School/College Transition Program Using Bookshare
Michael Yudin, the Acting Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, visited our Benetech headquarters recently. He was on his way to observe a dual-enrollment transition program at Mission Middle College in Santa Clara. This unique collaboration of Santa Clara Unified School District and Mission Middle College offers new opportunities for high school seniors who were not performing well academically to complete high school graduation courses and accumulate college credits. At the technology demonstration, students, parents, and educators shared experiences with Mr. Yudin and Betsy Beaumon, our General Manager and VP. Bookshare student members demonstrated…
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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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