Practicing Reading High Frequency Words in Braille

Submitted by Gwyn McCormack on Jan 20, 2015

This post offers suggestions for adapting a lesson plan on recognizing high frequency words (such as "the", "and", "a", "said" and "to") for braille readers.

Original Lesson Plan

Adapted Lesson Plan to Enable Access by Braille

Resources

Between five and eight high-frequency words,

written on individual cards

the
and
a
said
to

Resources

- Between five and eight high-frequency words, including de-codable and tricky words, written on individual cards in braille.

- Word board with Velcro to attach word cards too.

- Word sheets with the same word written out three times, e.g.

the the the
and and and
a a a
said said said
to to to

Procedure

Display a word card.
Point to each letter in the word as the children sound-talk the letters (as far as is possible with tricky words) and read the word.
Say a sentence using the word, slightly emphasising the word.
Repeat 1–3 with each word card.
Display each word again, and repeat the procedure more quickly but without giving a sentence.
Repeat once more, asking the children to say the word without sounding it out.

Procedure

Display a word card on word board.
Ask child to sound talk the letters and read the word
Say a sentence using the word, slightly emphasising the word.
Repeat above with each word card.
Ask child to read a line of the specific high frequency word, sounding the word out e.g. the the the
Ask the child to say the words without sounding out.