ELR Software produces computer programs designed by speech pathologists for speech, language & literacy intervention. Our programs may be used interactively within therapy sessions, to increase efficiency in service delivery, and to improve access to the Internet for people with special needs. We are also available as consultants to clinicians and research projects in the fields of literacy and accessibility issues associated with the Internet.
The aim of this newsletter is to inform you of developments and changes to our major products eLr (Extra Language Resources) and Word Meanings. We welcome the opportunity for feedback and questions, and will be pleased to consider including reader contributions and announcements.
This Newsletter (and previous editions) as well as a "print-ready" PDF version of the current edition is available online at www.elr.com.au/news. An email version is also sent monthly to members of our mailing list (See Subscribing/Unsubscribing).
In this issue -
This month, 22 tasks have been added to "Phonology - Later sounds" in the blends with "l" and "r" subsections targeting single syllable words. All new tasks use the WordSoundButtons model which presents one word at a time on the screen. The learner is encouraged to click each grapheme, say the corresponding phoneme, and then blend to say the word. For example, in the "bl sound blends - initial position subsection" the learner sees the word "black", clicks on each grapheme "b - l - a - ck", and blends to produce the word; or when targeting this blend in the final position, the word "bold" appears; the learner clicks on each grapheme "b - o - l - d" and then blends to produce the word.
While this model is used extensively in the "Reading and Spelling" sections to encourage sounding out and blending to develop early reading and decoding skills, in the "Phonology - Later sounds" section, the aim is to provide activities to encourage accurate production of target sounds in words as well as develop phonemic awareness within therapy for speech sound disorders. The additions this month complete a process we began earlier this year to add this model for all sounds in this section.
As with all eLr materials, an interactive session with an instructor is essential within interventions for accurate use of target speech sounds. It allows the student to receive feedback about accuracy of sound production, and encourages generalisation to sentences and conversation.
We welcome your feedback about these tasks and any aspect of eLr, as well as your suggestions about additions and modifications to eLr.
As an occasional feature of this Newsletter, we include simple, unpaid announcements of products developed by other small, independent developers, who, like ourselves, are practising clinicians who have put their ideas and experience into resource materials for general distribution. Links and brief information about these sites may be found at www.elr.com.au/links/developers.htm. To date we have listed -
If you would like your materials listed on this page (at no charge), please contact us.
ELR has a number of free or evaluation files available for downloading directly from our website. Please see www.elr.com.au/downloads.htm for specific details. For other supporting materials and documents available for free download, please see www.elr.com.au/support.htm.
ELR Software offers free eLr tutorials over the web. We can provide this sort of support to individuals, or to groups who would like to have an overview of eLr. We are also offering free Coviu sessions to allow clinicians to get a feel for teletherapy, and in particular the advantages of using eLr for Coviu. Please contact us for details.
For a current listing and to register for one of our available, scheduled webinars, please see www.elr.com.au/support/events.htm
You are receiving ELR-News because you are an eLr subscriber, or have expressed an interest in either eLr, Build-a-Sentence or Word Meanings. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an e-mail with details to news@elr.com.au
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ELR Software Pty Ltd PO Box 1456 Bairnsdale VIC 3875, Australia |
| Phone International |
(03) 5156 8309 +61 3 5156 8309 |