MEville to WEville: Early Literacy and Communication Supplemental Curriculum
|
MEville to WEville was specifically developed for students with disabilities who have difficulties learning to read and write through traditional instructional methods. Designed to build a classroom community that promotes a sense of belonging, each unit offers students a new and different perspective on themselves, their families and their school.
View interactive demo of MEville to WEville (opens in a new window – if Flash demo does not play, you may need to install the Macromedia Flash player Download and install free Flash player).
A Systematic Approach
Because students with disabilities often have difficulties learning to read and write using traditional instructional methods, the MEville to WEville curriculum provides step-by-step instructions that clearly illustrate how to integrate these important skills into your instructional activities. Plus, the systematic approach and organisational structure of the units allows the educator to spend more time focused on students’ individual needs as the lessons are all planned out.
A Research-Based Curriculum
In 2004, Dr. Karen Erickson from the Centre for Literacy and Disability Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill completed a research study, in special education classrooms, to evaluate the effectiveness of the MEville to WEville program.
Initial results indicated:
- Children initiated more communication and interaction during the program.
- Children developed stronger social relationships with their peers in special and general education.
- Children became more socially responsive.
- Teachers were able to spend more time addressing communication and literacy.
Dr. Karen Erickson called MEville to WEville “the first ever research-based literacy program that meaningfully and systematically integrates reading, writing, speaking, augmentative communicating and listening for elementary students with cognitive disabilities in the moderate to severe range.”
That’s high praise! You are encouraged to read Dr Erickson’s white paper findings at AbleNet’s website:
- MEville to WEville: Early Literacy and Communication Curriculum Research White Paper (pdf)
- Towards Positive Literacy Outcomes for Students with Significant Developmental Disabilities, Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits, Vol. 2, Num. 1, Fall 2005(pdf)
In-Context Life Lessons
Expressly designed to build a sense of belonging through thoughtfully designed literacy lessons that relate to real life, the three units assist students in gaining new and meaningful perspectives on themselves, their families and their schools. Each of the units includes a hard-cover literature book, and each builds on the skills and concepts introduced in the previous units, so you’ll want your students to experience all three units in the program.
Each MEville to WEville unit includes:
- 300-page spiral bound manual in full colour
- 75 lessons and 60 extension activities that focus on
- reading activities
- vocabulary and word wall activities
- writing activities
- creating books
- art projects
- games
- brainstorming
- relationship building
- reading activities
- Action Dictionary with Assistive Technology Guide that offers 3 to 5 ways the action can be completed with assistive technology if a special needs student is unable to do it independently
- One literature book that supports the theme and content of the lesson
- Activity reproducibles created with Boardmaker Symbols
- Data collection tools for collecting and sharing student progress
Click here to learn more from users of MEville to WEville.
For more details, click on an item below...
If you are unsure where to find the product you are looking for, search using the options to the left.