Power of PowerPoint

This is a sample of making your own PowerPoint books. Nevin was NOT interested in reading books, until they were about him. So originally many of the books we used were ones that I wrote and then printed and bound. But now we have discovered the exciting use of PowerPoint. I have uploaded this book to Slideshare so that you can see it. Since it's not actually the Powerpoint.... instead is formatted for Slideshare, it doesn't have sound like the "real" powerpoint book "Brothers" does. Maybe, sometime I will figure out how to post a "real" powerpoint so that you can see it work.

You can easily make your own books. There are nice tutorials on making your own PowerPoint book posted on the web here(8 page tutorial) and here(36 pg tutorial). It is really easy if you start with a template and then all you have to do is insert your pictures and your text......... then, if you want you can make them talking books by recording your voice. Or what's really exciting is to have your child record his/her voice reading the book. This provides great practice...... since it usually takes us a couple of tries before we get it right. It also gives us purpose the enunciate the words carefully.

There are some PowerPoint Books available for download at SET (Special Education Technology) British Columbia. Nevin likes the "My Dog Toby" book.

There are also some PowerPoint Books available for download at NYC Dept. of Education. They don't have sound recorded on them....... but you or your child can add the recordings to the books.

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overwhelmed

Wow, the second day of having a blog and I get to report that I am overwhelmed already.   Not really by the blog, but by the events that inspired me to start a blog.  I have offered to speak (what was I thinking?!?) with our local Down Syndrome Group about some of the strategies that we have used to make reading more accessible, as well as share some of the websites that I have recently discovered that have free online interactive books.

My job tonight was to just come up with a "blurb" for the newsletter about what the next meeting will be about.     Oh, my goodness...... if I struggle this much trying to write a "blurb", maybe I shouldn't have offered to do this.   Although, some of you know that I'm usually ok if you stick me in front of a group and allow me to speak my heart and my passion.  If I try to write a script, I'm usually in trouble.

Sooo....... back to the blurb.  (*note.... rough draft follows... to be reviewed and re-written after some much needed sleep)    Maybe just something along the lines of:

"A Show and Tell Session"  

Laurie will be sharing some of the tips and tricks that she has found useful in making reading accessible for her son, Nevin 18, over the years.  Some things that will be shared include examples of: how to write/make books personal and meaningful for your child;   a variety of ways to publish books in your kitchen with simple household tools; how to turn your digital camera into a teaching tool, as well as a communication tool; how to make your own interactive books with PowerPoint; ............. (and maybe some more things I haven't thought of :)

She will also be demonstrating the Boardmaker software and a few of the many ways it can be used to make learning visual for your child.

We will also go online together and see some of the wonderful free interactive books and activities available.  

Whatever the age of your child, birth to adult, you'll walk away with a new idea to try when you get home.

......... ok......... now I feel better, at least I have SOMETHING written down...... now on to the much needed sleep!!    good night!