Adapted Books for All!

Funded Jan 27, 2023

Thank you very much for your generous donations in fulfilling my Adapted Books for All project. We - me, my students, and my colleagues - all appreciate your thoughtfulness and kindness.

As a preschool speech/language pathologist, I (and my colleagues) work with students ages 3-5 years old. Many of our students are referred to our program from Early Intervention services, but many are also referred from their parents. Our classrooms are comprised of students with and without disabilities. And we are a growing community! In the 7 years I have been with our school, we have added three sessions (i.e., morning or afternoon) and are adding another classroom this fall!

As our program addresses the needs of students who experienced early childhood during the pandemic, we are constantly adjusting our teaching and therapeutic approaches. Adaptable books have been a wonderful way to engage students (without screens), to maximize attention, and to teach new and different concepts. Adaptable books provide additional visual supports, allow students to focus on target words and concepts, as well as actively engage with the book by removing/adhering and matching pictures to the scenes in the book.

The first theme of Adapted books that my colleagues and I used was Transportation. The selected books were a HUGE hit and having removable pictures further engaged the students. The students loved seeing and reading new books, learning new vocabulary, and being given opportunities to engage with the books. Additional themes included Farm, Spring, Summer, and colors; all of which were engaging and exciting. Furthermore, the teachers are enjoying the books and are borrowing from our collection to share with their classes. Repeatedly reading books in different ways is so important for all young learners!”

With gratitude,

Ms. Kathleen