The Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Unit, and the Easter Seals Outreach Program will present a workshop entitled, “Creative Literacy Strategies for Students with Severe Disabilities,” at six (6) regional locations. This workshop will present strategies and ideas that will allow students with severe disabilities to participate in emergent literacy activities. The training will focus on developing the “concept of word,” a literacy skill identified by the National Reading Panel as crucial in the development of phonemic awareness. Participants will learn creative, interactive ways to adapt books and other learning materials for beginning readers of all ages, using both low and high-tech strategies. Software for creating Talking Books and other literacy activities will be presented, as well as alternate ways for children to demonstrate understanding of literacy instruction.
This workshop is linked directly to the Arkansas literacy content standards. It is intended for teachers in resource and/or self-contained configurations, speech language pathologists, related services personnel, and para-professionals.
Each workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m., with lunch “on your own.” There is a $25.00 fee per person. Please see attached schedule for locations, dates and registration for the training. For further information, please contact: René Whittenburg, Easter Seals Outreach Program, 3920 Woodland Heights Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212, 501-227-3770.