The challenge special education teachers have, is not finding curriculum, it is adapting the curriculum to a wide variation of students placed in the classroom. Most classrooms have a variety of students with many different cognitive levels as well as different physical challenges. Materials and software programs need to be adapted so many skills can taught. This presentation will show how SoftTouch software can present the starting point for a thematic unit. In addition to just enjoying the sounds and animation of the farm animals there are six major modules that have been developed to promote language development, fine motor skills and comprehension.
Students learn to match animal mothers with their babies and with written text.
They are developing fine motor skills as they master early mouse tracking skills. Several activities have additional sounds and animations to attract students who are learning to respond to simple sounds and colors. This will provide the opportunity for teachers to extend the skills being introduced on the computer. The off-line materials are presented on a continuum from easy to more complex. Students begin by matching pictures and progress to matching words to pictures.