My students with disabilities from Durham, NC amaze me all the time. I started sharing novels with my classes in spite of their intellectual and learning disabilities by using the novel and audiobooks a few years ago. We have since been building a better classroom library.
By exposing the kids to novels, we have increased their reading levels.
They are starting to talk about characters like they are their friends. They are able to connect to the high school curriculum like their non-disabled peers. They are finding joy in reading.
My Project
I use novels with audiobooks to help my students access state standards. These students have significant intellectual and reading disabilities. By reading books with the audiobook, I give them opportunities they may not otherwise experience in reading.
Reading along with the audiobook helps improve their reading skills as they can access vocabulary they may otherwise struggle with.
Their reading skills are also improved by increasing their comprehension of complex storylines. The students learn about characterization, plot elements, how to make inferences and predictions which are all important reading skills.
Having novels for class makes learning fun for my students. The grammar dragon book makes the dry and boring but critical teaching of grammar a little more palatable.
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