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), Build-a-Sentence, Word Meanings, Rude Readers 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 -
46 new tasks have been added to "Phonology - Skills and Early Sounds - Phonemic awareness for this sound" in the /p/ /b/ /t/ and /d/ subsections.
Last year we began developing phonemic awareness activities targeting individual speech sounds. We completed all the sounds in "Phonology - Later Sounds", (/k, g, f, v, s, z, sh, zh, ch, dge, l, r, th/, and blends with /s, l, r/). This month and for the next couple of versions, we will complete phonemic awareness activities for the early sounds (/p, b, t, d, m, n, ng, h, w/).
The tasks this month are all picture based, using the MultiPic Slideshow, SpinPics, LadderPics, and Pic sound buttons. These models aim to strengthen the identification of words that start or end with a specific sound, and the ability to segment words (break words into sounds). In the identification tasks (all except Pic sound buttons), there are two levels of difficulty. The easier level provides the child with words that are very different (high contrast). For example, "which one starts with /p/ - pear, cup, dog". The more difficult level occurs when the child is presented with words that are more similar (low contrast). For example, "which one starts with /p/ - pear bear men". In this example of a low contrast choice all of the beginning sounds are produced with the lips, /p, b, m/.
These new sections provide material to work on targeted phonemic awareness skills. This type of intervention has been shown in the research to significantly improve literacy skills, especially for children who have speech sound errors. They are also useful for children who have literacy problems due to confusion with specific sounds or letters.
The role of the clinician or helper is critical in all of these tasks to deliver the verbal stimuli, provide feedback, and encourage strategies to increase auditory processing skills and letter sound knowledge.
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.
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.
ELR Software is now able to offer eLr support and short tutorials over the web. We can provide this sort of support to individuals, or to groups who would like to have an overview of eLr. Please contact us for details.
You are receiving ELR-News because you are an eLr subscriber, or have expressed an interest in either eLr, Rude Readers, Word Meanings, Build-a-Sentence or EIA. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au
Copyright ©2012 ELR Software Pty Ltd
| Postal |
ELR Software Pty Ltd PO Box 1456 Bairnsdale VIC 3875, Australia |
| Phone International |
(03) 5156 8309 1800 018 309 +61 3 5156 8309 |
| Fax International |
(03) 5156 8609 +61 3 5156 8609 |