We started with other lessons...Mandela? I am a Para and this is my first year
assisting with 'teaching' braille. I will ask my previous TVI (Teacher of the
Visually Impaired) if she knows. We are using Braille Fundamentals with 2 of
our students. It comes in different levels...Upper Elementary and High School
are the two levels we are using.
I will get back to you!
Ginger Webb
From: duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of George Bell
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2018 8:58 AM
To: duxuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [duxuser] Re: Combining grade 1 with grade 2 as contractions are
learned?
Hi Ginger,
How popular is the "Braille Fundamentals" course? I presume it is for UEB also?
Interesting too that I have just returned from a meeting today with a group of
local QTVIs (Qualified Teachers of the Visually Impaired) and had a very
similar discussion.
George
From: duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ginger Webb
Sent: 08 November 2018 14:24
To: 'duxuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
Subject: [duxuser] Re: Combining grade 1 with grade 2 as contractions are
learned?
If I may add....Use the help in Duxbury to find out the contractions that are
taught with each level shown for each Heading in Learning Tables. There, you
can decide which one WILL meet the need you are trying to attain re:
contractions.
We use Braille Fundamentals as a course for a few of our students, what I do is
choose the S.A. Syllabus in Learning Tables, then choose the level closest to
the contractions we have covered. I DO utilize the find/replace feature in
Duxbury as a work around...I type in the contraction that IS used in that level
that we do not yet know, and replace with the uncontracted braille, and vice
versa.
This is only a work-around suggestion. It works just fine for me....but can be
tedious if there is not a level that is as close to the amount of contractions
your student(s) already know.
I hope this is applicable and helpful. I do not mean to speak against anything
which George Bell replied...I agree with what he spoke to!
Best of luck,
Ginger Webb
Ellsworth, KS
USA
From: duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of George Bell
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2018 3:55 AM
To: duxuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:duxuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [duxuser] Re: Combining grade 1 with grade 2 as contractions are
learned?
Hi Kathy,
Hopefully there is an acceptable solution already built into DBT, explained in
"Help"
I.e. Help: The Menus: Document: Learning Tables.
These follow existing braille courses which have been developed for teaching
braille.
In DBT all you need to do is open an existing document, create a new one, or
even import one from the likes of Word.
From the Document menu, select Learning Tables, the course you decide to
follow, and the level the student is up to. Translate, and only contractions
up to and including that level with be applied. Everything else will be in
uncontracted or grade 1.
Let me say two things here.
First, if you are already following an approved, popular course, not included
in DBT, please let Duxbury know. I will not make any cast iron guarantees on
their behalf, but it may be possible to include it in later releases.
Second, and I speak from 30 years personal experience here; allowing a user
defined type of system where contractions are (randomly) introduced may seem a
good option. However it can be fraught with issues, not least a change of
staff, and/or the pupil moves school. Far safer to say that he or she is up to
a specific level of a specific course. You can even boost the pupil's morale
with braille certificates for each level the achieve?
Hope this helps.
George
From: duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kathy Salerno
Sent: 08 November 2018 00:33
To: duxuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:duxuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [duxuser] Combining grade 1 with grade 2 as contractions are learned?
Hello,
I hope this is the correct audience for my Duxbury question.
In reading through George's Braille Calendar instructions, I noticed directions
for viewing and inserting codes.
Along these lines, as our students learn braille and move slowly on to
contractions, is there a way for our teachers to insert a newly learned
contraction into a page of Grade 1 braille when they are producing student
tailored braille reading passages ? Is it as simple as highlighting and telling
DBT to produce only highlighted text in Grade 2 braille while non-highlighted
text stays in Grade 1?
Enthusiastically hopeful,
Kathy
Kathy Salerno
Vision AIM Center, ESC Building
Kathysa@xxxxxxxx<mailto:Kathysa@xxxxxxxx> | 484.237.5000
