[Marian McCarthy]

I like the way this plan is very specific and clear.

[Marian McCarthy]

It is important to assess regularly to see what is working and not and how to proceed.

[Marian McCarthy]

Thank you for mentioning ‘Cloze It’. I must look into that one.

[Marian McCarthy]

This is a very good, concise list of what has been covered.

[Marian McCarthy]

I am thinking about a group of students in 3rd class who have dyslexic tendencies and difficulties in numeracy also.
The following technology resources would be very useful:
Literacy:
• Immersive Reader. I had not come across this before but I can definitely see myself using it. I think it will be of great benefit to my pupils. It can break text into more manageable chunks and allows a student to focus in on their reading without getting distracted. The picture dictionary is an excellent tool to have. Immersive reader encourages independence.
• Typing skills – ttrs.com is a good website which I have used with children in the past. I was interested to learn about the shortcuts, sticky keys and accessibility options. I will explore these further in the new school year.
• Reading Coach – I hope to look into this further as I feel it would be useful in my groups.
• Kahoot – I already use this. The children love it. I find it good for revision and assessment.
Numeracy:
• Maths Duel, Kahn Academy, IXL and tools like ModMath are all very useful.
As a school, we have been more focused on improving our literacy resources in the past few years so I feel we could explore new maths apps this year.

It’s important that ideas are shared as everyone has their own favourites when it comes to resources and how they use them.

[Marian McCarthy]

Part 1:The SETT framework helps identify a child’s needs and make sure support is both complete and personalized. By looking at the Student, Environment, Tasks, and Tools, it gives a full picture of the learner. This approach helps teachers and support teams build on strengths, tackle challenges, and make sure nothing important is missed in giving the child the best possible access to learning.
The SETT framework can be used in conjunction with the Support Plans. It allows the teacher to focus on the individual child and what they need.
To ensure the SETT model and School Support Plan are responsive to student needs, a range of assessment approaches should b be used: teacher observation, Curriculum-based assessments, Input from parents, diagnostic tests etc.

Part 2: SETT Plan – Literacy Support for Student with Dyslexia
S – Student
Student is a 4th class pupil who has dyslexia. They struggle with decoding, blending, and reading fluency, particularly during independent reading tasks. The student experiences anxiety when asked to read aloud. The student enjoys story writing but struggles with spellings. They are receiving support at the School Support Plus.
E – Environment
They are in a mainstream classroom. Receives support in a small group setting three times a week. Can use a laptop and headphones during literacy sessions. Does not have access to a laptop at home.
T – Tasks
Tasks include decoding activities, independent reading, comprehension questions, oral reading in small groups, and written responses to texts. A differentiated spelling programme is already in place in the classroom. Tasks are often challenging due to difficulties in decoding and writing.
T – Tools
• Immersive Reader in Microsoft Word – for text-to-speech and line focus.
• Dictate feature – to support writing through speech-to-text.
• Decodable readers
• Read&Write Chrome extension – for additional reading and writing support.
• Coloured overlays and large print materials as needed.
Reflection:
This SETT plan gave me a structured way to plan for a student with literacy difficulties. It helps to identify the specific needs that the child has and work from there. It’s important to try to boost a child’s confidence and make the curriculum more accessible for them.
I learned about new tools which will be very useful in my support groups in the new school year. I have learned that it is about looking at the child first and break things down to see exactly what they need.

[Marian McCarthy]

I liked the To do tag feature in this activity. I will look into using this in my own teaching.

[Marian McCarthy]

This activity reminded me of an activity that I completed with a student with dyslexia.

We used to book reader app, which I really recommend. The pupil dictated their ideas for their story and it was read aloud to them. We were then able to edit it as needed. It took the pressure off and they really enjoyed this activity.

[Marian McCarthy]

Part 1: I unfortunately do not have access to Immersive Reader as I am working off a very old laptop.
I will be using a new laptop in September so I will put my new learnings to use then.
My idea is to use a preschool book called. ‘The Lion Inside’ to work with a 3rd/4th class pupil, with literacy difficulties who has a younger sibling.
The target is that the older child will be able to read the book to their younger sibling with confidence.
The line focus option will help avoid visual crowding. The picture dictionary is an excellent tool. Spacing and text font and colour can all help in allowing the child to access the text.
Apologies about not being able to add a link.

Part 2:
The COSAN National Framework for Teachers’ Learning helps guide teachers in growing and improving their skills throughout their careers. It shows that teachers are lifelong learners as teaching and society is constantly evolving and changing. We need to keep learning new methods and ways to support students better.
This helps to keep us current and confident in our teaching.
CPD is now widely available in all areas and is more accessible for those with busy home lives whereby courses are offered online and can be completed at your own pace.

[Marian McCarthy]

I agree with Olivia in that I felt embarrassed also that I had not come across many of the high tech options covered in this module.

There are so many helpful tools that can enhance my teaching.

[Marian McCarthy]

Yes, the Immersive Reader can be used in SET, EAL and ASD classes. I look forward to sharing with my colleagues.

The picture dictionary is a great feature.

[Marian McCarthy]

I learned about Immersive Reader in this module. I have not used it before but I think it will be useful in this coming school year. It will be beneficial in my SET classroom. It can make reading less overwhelming for children who are struggling.
The read-aloud voice and line focus are great for children who get distracted or struggle to track words on a page. I also like how you can change the background color and text size. This can make a big difference for pupils.

I have tried dictate before but I find it does some teacher assistance which can frustrate some children who want to be independent.

I liked the Office Lens app. I think this will be a very useful tool. You can differentiate texts easily which will really help my students and make everything more accessible for them.

[Marian McCarthy]

In my school, we have been focusing on the use of digital portfolios. We need to fine tune it but we are hoping it will make assessment streamlined.

[Marian McCarthy]

I agree with Olivia in that the SETT Framework will be very useful when setting up a support plan with new students in particular. It will help in the evaluation process and I look forward to sharing with my colleagues in September.

[Marian McCarthy]

I agree with Aoife in that it is definitely reassuring to hear that we don’t need expensive tools in order to make a difference. Sometimes, there is a temptation to buy something new, just because it’s a new product. Often, the tried and trusted resources are the best.

[Author]

Posts