Building on Patterns Prekindergarten A Balanced Approach to

Building on Patterns Prekindergarten: A Balanced Approach to Teaching Braille Literacy to Young Children AR-AER, September 19– 20, 2019

Agenda 1. 2. 3. 4. Brief history of Patterns/BOP Guiding principles for BOP Pre-K development Components of BOP Pre-K Questions and Comments AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019

Brief History of Patterns/BOP • Original Patterns Reading Series published in early 1980 s; written by a professional textbook author, based on research knowledge of the day • Revision of Patterns, requested by teachers, administrators at schools for the blind and APH ex-officio trustees, named Building on Patterns • First edition of Building on Patterns completed in 2012, last component released in 2013 • Building on Patterns expanded to prekindergarten to start the Second Edition due to changes in literacy standards AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR BOP PRE-K DEVELOPMENT

National Early Literacy Panel (NELP) Findings (Review of research, children from birth through age 5) Predictors of later literacy achievement: • Oral language development • Phonological/phonemic awareness • Alphabetic knowledge, including rapid naming of letters • Print knowledge • Writing letters and/or name • Exposure to read-alouds and discussions about books AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019

Standards and BOP Pre-K: A Balancing Act • Same standards for students with visual impairments as for students without visual impairments • Unique needs of braille learners incorporated throughout reading and writing instruction • Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) and other specialized skills • Balance of direct instruction and play-based learning • Theory and research embraced AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

INTRODUCING BOP PRE-K

Feedback from Field Test and Expert Review • A full field test and expert review of BOP Pre-K started in the fall of 2016 and ended in May of 2017. • Revisions were made based on feedback from participants. • When asked, "Did BOP Pre-K help your student move forward to meet the standards for kindergarten entry? " 22 out of 26 teachers answered YES. • When asked, “If you have a student in prekindergarten in the future, would you use BOP Pre-K? ” 26 out of 26 (100%!) of teachers answered YES. AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Comment from an Expert Reviewer “A treasure-trove of material! The program as a whole is well thought-out, beautifully designed, comprehensive, age appropriate, child-centered, and considerate of children AND of preschool teachers (e. g. , it considers different settings and service delivery models). It's also a tad overwhelming. It's a lot of material. Like all comprehensive programs, it requires some investment from teachers to really go through the program thoughtfully and planfully. ” —Frances Mary D’Andrea AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019

BOP Pre-K: A Comprehensive Program • Listening and speaking • Interactive read-alouds using high quality children's literature • Rhymes, poems, and songs • Reading • Braille awareness – braille cell, alphabetic wordsigns • Phonemic awareness and phonics • Word study – word cards, games, short worksheets • Tactile storybooks – engaging, meaningful stories using tracking lines and simple vocabulary AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

BOP Pre-K: A Comprehensive Program (cont. ) • Writing • Braillewriter mechanics • Letter and word writing • Supported writing of connected text: child-generated sentences, stories, and ideas • Progress Monitoring and Assessment • And lots more … • Concept development – shapes, directional vocabulary, numbers, background knowledge • Simple tactile graphics, arts & crafts, songs and poems • Suggestions for parent involvement AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Pre-K Teacher Kit Components • Quick Start • Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments Booklet • Teacher's Manual, Volumes 1– 6 (free download for braille) • Reading Roundup Booklet (Assessment) • Reference Volume AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Pre-K Student Kit Components • Preschool Teacher Booklet • Parent Booklet • Set of Print Children’s Books • Student Set of Braille Children’s Books • Student Workbooks and Tactile Storybooks • Worksheets • Parent Letters • Manipulatives Pack • Monitoring Charts and Reading Roundup Consumables AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Interactive Read-Alouds AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Interactive Read-Alouds (cont. ) • 28 Trade Books! • Concept Development • Tactile Object • Vocabulary • Comprehension • Rhymes, Poems, and Songs AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Parent Letters AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Phonological Awareness and Reading • Phonemic Awareness • Letter Recognition and Phonics • Number Recognition AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Word Recognition and Continuous Text do you like that dylt will you do it more wydxm you can go do more ycgdm more mmm I will not do it more , i w n d x m I do not like that , i d n l t AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Word Recognition and Continuous Text (cont. ) popcorn I have popcorn , i h popcorn I like my popcorn , i l my popcorn do you have popcorn d y h popcorn you can have my popcorn y c h my popcorn you will like it ywlx AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Writing • Practice • Warmups • Letter and Number • Child’s Name • Word and Sentence • Modeled/Interactive AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Tactile Storybooks • One per lesson, usually related to theme. • Allow children to read connected text from the beginning • Build tracking skills in a meaningful context • Provide practice with introduced words and letters • Include some uncontrolled high interest words • Read multiple times with decreasing teacher support • Leveled progression • Include tactile graphics • Promote motivation and enjoyment of reading – Fun! AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Tactile Storybooks AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

More Tactile Graphics AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

More Tactile Graphics AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

PETE THE CAT - LESSON 9 Examples of BOP Pre-K Components

Pete's Buttons: BOP Pre-K Lesson 9 AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019

My Buttons Worksheet Activities Integrating the lesson theme with tactile graphics, concept development, number reading/writing, sentence writing, and reading Shirt Pictures • Explore tactile graphic • Find top, middle, bottom buttons • Sequence cards • Match to braille number cards AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019

My Buttons Book Making • • Write name Write sentence on each page, sharing the braillewriter: • I have 4 (3, 2, 1, 0) buttons. • Pop! Assemble pages & bind book Read to friends and family members again and again! AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019

Pre-K Website • Scope and Sequence • Electronic versions of • Parent letters • Ongoing Monitoring Charts and Reading Roundup Charts • Samples of filled-in charts • FAQ • Videos and photos • Recordings of songs with more uncommon tunes • Braille files so teachers can make labels for print books AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

Important Considerations for Teachers • Challenges • Children's diverse developmental levels • Variation in service delivery models • Individualization • Pacing; exposure vs. mastery • Meeting kindergarten entry standards • Flexibility • Pull-out vs. inclusion • Lesson plan vs. teachable moments • Sharing BOP Pre-K activities with the class AR-AER. September 19– 20, 2019.

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS