"Can We Do Oreo Reading Now?” # 2 – Making Sentences Activity

The braille words I, cheese, pizza, and like and a period are on small plastic tiles on a black felt board from APH.

This activity is called Making Sentences. The student puts key words in an order that creates a sentence that makes sense. 

Materials: 
  • Key Word Tiles (teacher created)
  • Felt Board (available from APH)
  • brailler
Procedure: 

The student puts key words in an order that creates a sentence that makes sense. The sentence should start with a capital and end with punctuation. The activity can be individualized by changing the number of braille words on the board. For beginning students and when first introducing this activity, start with only the words that are needed to make a simple sentence.

After creating the sentence, the student can braille it on a brailler. My student uses the Mountbatten so she can check her spelling by listening.

All of the student’s braille word tiles are on a black felt board from APH.

Creating the key word tiles:

The word tiles were made by cutting a plastic story page (APH SAM Kit) into tiles and placing Velcro on the back. The words were brailled onto Braillable Label Sheets from APH. Make one tile for each key word. Also, create a Dot 6 tile and at least a period and a question mark.

Storage:

Key Words can be stored on a Felt Storage Panel available from APH or in a zipper bag.

Remember to always have your student read the sentence to you. Use only the student’s key words. New words can be added to the kit as the student learns them.

Variations: 

To increase the difficulty of this activity, add extra words and/or ask the student to make more than one sentence.

making sentences collage

Common Core and Braille Standards
Foundational Skills: 
RF.1.1a Recognize the distinguishing features of a sentence (e.g., first word, capitalization, ending punctuation).
Kindergarten - Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary Development : 
K.1.4 Recognize that sentences in braille are made up of separate words.
K.1.6c Understand that the braille dot 6 preceding a letter capitalizes the letter.
K.1.15b Read simple high-frequency words in contracted braille.
Kindergarten - Mechanics of Braille Reading: 
K.4.9a Students braille words and brief sentences that are legible.