Modifications for learners who are exceptional

One of the things that I have been able to observe are the different computer programs that the children in Kindergarten have. They spend a half an hour each day in the computer lab. Monday through Thursday the students work on a program called Waterford. It has two applications to help with Reading and Math. What is really nice about this program is that the student advances as fast or slow as learning and knowledge permit. These modifications help each student with his individual needs. At the beginning of the year all the students start at the beginning of the alphabet in the reading section. They go through all their letters, capital and lowercase, and activities that emphasize that letter. Activities like writing, matching, nursery rhymes with music, and picking out sight words. This gradually leads into reading.With the math application it begins with the number one and moves through all the numbers. Then it advances on to counting, addition, and subtraction. It even throws in science. Activities like a calendar, weather, whether something is real, alive, or not. Our Special Class Kindergarten also works on this same program and it adapts nicely to their needs.

Another program that the students use every Friday, and can also use at home, is called RAZKIDS. It is a reading program that can adapt to a students individual reading level. It begins with the teacher placing the students reading level, after testing, in the program. The program then sets up books for each students appropriate level. As they open the screen there are numerous books for them to go through. Under each book there are 3 icons for the students to click on. One is a book with an ear, another is a book with an eye, and the last is a question mark. With the ear they click to have the story read to them. With the eye they go through the story again and read it themselves. With the question mark they take a short 5 question quiz. As they complete each activity under the book a green checkmark will appear and they also get stars as rewards when they complete each part of reading the book. This program is very individualized and meets the needs of all students from exceptional to special needs. One of the nice things about this program is that they can get the passwords and usernames from the teacher and continue to read and advance at home. I have seen a lot of happy parents who love this program!

Why I like this activity so much in Kindergarten is that it is a time for individualized learning to help each student with their individual needs. The teacher can then go into each program to see how their students are progressing. What a great tool!