I cannot emphasize enough the need to follow a curriculum. I am blind and
have been reading Braille for 50 years. I am also a CTVI and I always use a
curriculum when I teach Braille to children or adults. I supplement it with
other materials but it really helps Braille learners. I was in the middle
grades when I learned Braille and I learned using the Illinois Series.
I know this is off topic but I believe it cannot be emphasized enough.
On Thu, Nov 8, 2018 at 10:54 AM George Bell <george@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
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]
*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]
*On Behalf Of *George Bell
*Sent:* Thursday, November 08, 2018 3:55 AM
*To:* 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
<duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>] *On Behalf Of *Kathy Salerno
*Sent:* 08 November 2018 00:33
*To:* 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 <Kathysa@xxxxxxxx> | 484.237.5000*
