Resources:

From the introduction of books in the home, through classroom strategies for emerging readers and writers to analysing Shakespeare, Pathways to Literacy provides real-life examples of deaf children developing literacy skills in a variety of mainstream settings.

The pack comprises 2 versions of the DVD, one with subtitles and one without. Also included is a CD-ROM containing, in PDF format, 50 pages of training notes to enable current practices to be shared and discussed with colleagues and families.

Duration 48 mins approx

Price: £49

The video and 38-page facilitator's handbook explore the effective use of personal FM systems in a mainstream classroom. The video is organised in three discrete sections that can be selected to meet individual needs. Resources include activity outlines, support materials and separate photocopiable handouts.

The materials are designed for use by teachers of the deaf and related professionals who provide training and awareness sessions for mainstream colleagues.

On the DVD version each section can be directly accessed from the opening menu. Otherwise the content of the DVD and VHS versions is identical.

Section One: "It All Adds Up" (duration 22 mins approx)
The effectiveness of a personal FM system is limited or enhanced by the skills of the class teacher involved, both in relation to the equipment and to the management of the classroom as a learning environment. A Year 6 teacher demonstrates examples of bad practice and then what can be done to ensure that the pupil using an FM system with a hearing aid or cochlear implant gets a good quality auditory input. Presented with and without commentary for flexible use.

Section Two: "Lola's Birthday" (duration 16 mins approx)
A more complex classroom situation is presented as a Foundation Stage teacher organises a team of support teachers and teaching assistants and uses the personal FM system effectively for whole class and small group/individual activities. The importance of planning, teamwork and review is emphasised. Presented with and without commentary for flexible use. Includes contrasting sound track with and without FM, and with the FM system used in different ways.

Section Three: "Louisa is Listening" (duration 12 mins approx)
The benefit of the personal FM system is powerfully supported by the results from a series of speech discrimination tests presented at different distances and with different levels of background noise. The deleterious effects of noise and distance are evident even for Louisa, who is an excellent listener and makes very effective use of her new digital signal processing hearing aids.

Prices:
"Getting it Right"complete pack - DVD or VHS + Facilitator handbook + handouts £49