Framework for using iPads to build early literacy skills
Following this instructional framework, a teacher first explains and models the activity, followed by guided and independent practice by the student. This gradually shifts the instruction from teacher-centered to studentcentered and allows teachers to scaffold and guide students’ understanding of the material
Teaching Letter–Name Phonics With iPad Integration
Step 1: Teach the Concept Without the iPad We suggest teaching letter–name phonics concepts by using explicit, direct teaching and progressing through a systematic sequence of phonics that includes initial and final consonants, medial short vowels, mixed short vowels, consonant blends and digraphs, and preconsonantal nasals before moving onto long vowel patterns. One highly effective way to teach phonics concepts is through direct explanation and modeling with word sorts. Step 2: Explain and Model the App Introduce the app as a way for students to practice what they have learned in their word-study instruction. To ensure that students are successful with the app, explain and model how to use the program with the students. First, explain the specific literacy concepts targeted by the app: “Today we are going to practice our initial and final consonant sounds and short vowel sounds using our iPads. We are also going to practice blending the sounds together to form words. Remember that letters make sounds, and if you say those sounds together really fast, you can make a word.” Second, model how to use the app. When modeling, be sure to model both how to use the app and the literacy content within in the app. Here, you may say: “I will show you how to use the app and how you can think about blending letter sounds into words as you use the app. Step 3: Guided Practice With the App Allow students time for guided practice with the app. Here, you check to ensure that students understand not only how to use the app, but also that they understand the literacy content the app is using. For each app, we recommend creating a list of guiding questions that you can use to help students learn the program, as well as to use as a quick check to ensure that students understand how to use the app. To offer guided practice, move to the next word, which is sat. To guide students on the literacy content, you may ask questions such as “I hear the sound /s/. What letter makes the /s/ sound?” or “The sound we are looking for is /s/. Can you think of any words you already know that start with that sound? What letter does that word start with?” or “Sip is a word we practiced last week that also starts with the /s/ sound. Can you tell me what letter the word sip starts with?” |
Recommended Apps
|
Cited from A Framework for Using iPads to Build Early Literacy Skills by Laura Northrop & Erin Killeen | Link to Article