ELR-News

June 2007

Newsletter of ELR Software Pty Ltd

ABN 67 090 738 702
http://www.elr.com.au
news@elr.com.au

ELR Software produces a range of computer programs designed by speech pathologists for speech, language & literacy intervention. Our programs may be used interactively within therapy sessions, to increase efficiency in service delivery, and to improve access to the Internet for people with special needs. We are also available as consultants to clinicians and research projects in the fields of literacy and accessibility issues associated with the Internet.

The aim of this newsletter is to inform you of developments and changes to our major products eLr (Extra Language Resources), Rude Readers, Word Meanings and EIA (Enhancing Internet Access). We welcome the opportunity for feedback and questions, and will be pleased to consider including reader contributions and announcements.

This Newsletter (and previous editions) as well as a "print-ready" PDF version of the current edition is available online at www.elr.com.au/news. An email version is also sent monthly to members of our mailing list (See Subscribing/Unsubscribing).

In this issue -

  1. New eLr Materials
  2. eLr Workshops in the UK
  3. Other Independent Developers
  4. Free Downloads
  5. ELR 2007 Calendar

  1. New eLr Materials

    176 new tasks have been added to "Reading and Spelling - Short Vowel Sounds Longer Words" and "Long Vowel Sounds". As was described in last month's newsletter, we are completing an extensive review of the vowel sections in "Reading and Spelling". The aim is to provide specific sections for each of the vowel sounds, and then to provide most of the spelling options for each sound. The vowel sounds are divided into Long Vowel Sounds, Short Vowels Sounds, and Diphthong Vowel Sounds. There are a total of 18 vowel sounds, and 52 spelling options. Within each vowel sound, there are 3 levels of difficulty. Level 1 words have sound letter correspondance (apart from the spelling of the vowel sound). This means that as the student sounds out the word, each sound is represented by a letter. Level 2 has words that don't have sound letter correspondance, so the words will contain consonant digraphs, such as "ph", "ck", "th" etc. Level 3 words are multisyllabic. This makes it easier to have students achieve error free learning at their appropriate level. By assessing their phonological awareness, you are then able to teach word patterns, based on their mastery of sound letter relationships.

    In previous newsletters we have highlighted the main models used in the "Reading and Spelling" sections, as they work so well together. The models are LookThenCover, WordSearch, SmileyMan and ConnectWords. I have found that the LookThenCover is a good model to introduce each word set, because the student gets a chance to focus on each word. The word is presented on screen. By clicking the "cover" button, the word is hidden, and the student is encouraged to write the word, and/or type the word, using the onscreen alphabet buttons or the keyboard. Following this activity, a WordSearch seems to always motivate children. And I have found they tend to 'sound out' the word as they click on the letters. SmileyMan is also fun, and encourages them to recall the words they have just written, and to use the onscreen alphabet to spell the words. ConnectWords is based on Connect 4, and is a good game, which encourages decoding of the words as they play the game.

    There is still more to add to the vowel sections in "Reading and Spelling", so give us feedback about the current models and the restructure of the Directory.

  2. eLr Workshops in the UK

    During May we will be in the UK - and will most likely be quite exhausted. We have about 9 workshops in the UK between 1st and 18th May. They range from Cornwall, to London and as far north as Lancashire and Sheffield. See below to find out more about the workshops, and send an email if you want any other information.

  3. Other Independent Developers

    As an occasional feature of this Newsletter, we include simple, unpaid announcements of products developed by other small, independent developers, who, like ourselves, are practising clinicians who have put their ideas and experience into resource materials for general distribution. Links and brief information about these sites may be found at www.elr.com.au/links/developers.htm. To date we have listed -

    If you would like your materials listed on this page (at no charge), please contact us.

  4. Free Downloads

    ELR has a number of free or evaluation files available for downloading directly from our website. Please see www.elr.com.au/downloads.htm for specific details. For other supporting materials and documents available for free download, please see www.elr.com.au/support.htm.


     
  5. ELR 2007 Calendar



Subscribing/Unsubscribing to this Newsletter

You are receiving ELR-News because you are an eLr subscriber, or have expressed an interest in either eLr, Rude Readers, Word Meanings or EIA. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au

Copyright ©2007 ELR Software Pty Ltd

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