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Administration
The Administration module contains the student tracking and diagnostic programs, along with a timetable tool.
Student Tracking
The Student Tracking section begins with advice on an 'Initial Talk' incorporating techniques that will help the student to engage with the trainer and access the help on offer.
The Diagnostic Tests find the starting 'level' for each student and identify the Personal Study Path that they should follow. These levels equate to stated National Curriculum levels of attainment.
The program also keeps track of each session that the student uses the program and allows for regular feedback to be recorded.
It provides a set of Progress Checks that measure and monitor improvements.
It also stores scanned (e.g. handwritten) and recorded (e.g. speech) samples to enable comparisons between 'before and after' results.
The program contains an easy to understand 'Communications Grid' using the recorded data to illustrate the improvements made in Visual skills (reading and writing) and Sound skills (speaking and listening).
This section includes a 29 page teacher's manual.
Spare Initial Test
This allows schools using the system on a network to use the diagnostic test for different students simultaneously.
Timetable
The Timetable section helps trainers or administrators to manage bookings and resources, and monitor attendance.
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All Levels
The programs in this module use activities and support materials appropriate for all skill levels.
Handwriting Course
The Handwriting Course is designed to help students develop a consistent style of writing of their own that they are comfortable with and like the look of.
Students provide an initial sample that can be scanned in for later comparison. The sample is analysed by the student (with the help of the trainer) using 6 clear and easily identifiable criteria that cause problems with handwriting. The scores indicate priorities for improvement. The student decides what the priorities are and uses 'solutions' exercises to make improvements.
There is also a 'suggestions' section, which helps to solve problems associated with grip, equipment, arm and finger movement, posture, and range of reach.
This section includes a built-in 35 page teacher's manual and a 30 page student's book.
Guided Writing Sheets
The Guided Writing Sheets consist of 16 printable and photocopiable guided sheets that can be adjusted, before printing, to suit the student's needs in terms of size, slope, and degree of guidance.
Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame Portfolio is where all the 'before and after' handwriting samples are stored.
Display Charts
There are 12 colour wall charts to remind trainers of the methodology and frequency principles underpinning the system.
A further 24 colour charts for student reference illustrate
- the Dual Grammar system;
- tense descriptions;
- pronunciation criteria relating to vowels, consonants, power words, and stress syllables.
Students soon develop an understanding of the logical 'mechanical' structure behind the system and become used to self-checking their work against the rules and criteria displayed on the charts.
Power Reading
The Power Reading section is a series of step by step fun exercises that develop a students ability to read and deliver information clearly and confidently.
It begins with an exercise where the student records a set text for later comparison.
They then learn about, and practice using
- 'sound shapes' to identify where the volume changes within a word;
- 'power words' to develop the ability to use stress where appropriate within a sentence;
- 'sense groups' to communicate the message of the clause or sentence;
- 'guided sentences' with pause and power markers to develop fluency.
Students develop their own text, and listen to themselves reading in a controlled and meaningful way. They like what they hear within a few sessions and become keener to read - and read aloud.
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Level 1 Basic
The programs in this module are aimed at complete beginners - native and foreign speakers.
Level 1 equates to National Curriculum Levels 1 and 2, and to Basic Skills Entry levels 1 and 2.
Students learn to describe people and places, give instructions and narrate stories.
They use the Present Simple and Past Simple tenses to communicate simply and clearly.
They listen and record simple, everyday conversations interactively with the computer.
Basic Communications Course - Book 1
Basic Course Book 1 begins the BASIC SKILLS - LEVEL 1 module.
It is for students who need to learn the basics for the first time. It also helps native speakers who have great difficulty with reading, writing or speaking, so that they build ability and confidence to communicate simply and clearly.
The course contains a complete set of interactive exercises linked to the printed Student Book. By lesson 10 they will be able to describe people and places they know, and hold conversations to communicate essential information.
The interactive exercises are organised logically and progression is carefully structured to avoid any confusion. They are designed so that students can repeat them until they are quick, happy and confident. This also ensures that the language skill is learnt and not just half-remembered.
There are 10 lessons with 64 sections and 271 exercises in this module.
Basic 200 Words
This section, targeting Basic Skills - Level 1, is often the best staring point for native speakers who have very poor reading skills even after many years of attendance at school.
The aim is to start the reading process again, keeping within the set vocabulary at all times so that no unknown words upset the rhythm of learning.
There are 10 sets of 20 new words which are derived from the most frequent word list for Levels 1 and 2 National Curriculum.
Each set has three exercises that follow the same basic pattern words first appearing by vowel sound based on the phonics system, then in alphabetical order, and then in groups or texts which gradually get longer. There is a revision and a handwriting activity at the end of each set.
Students using this program need to go slowly and at their own speed. The key is to convince them that they are able to learn and retain the words.
Once students overcome the 'block' which has held them back for so long they switch back on and realise that they can learn. As they become more confident the tempo can be stepped up.
New Words 1 Activities
The aim of this section is to build confidence and establish a basic ability to identify words and an understanding of how to use them in sentences and paragraphs, either written or spoken.
It has three parts - the Interactive Exercises, built-in Student Book and Manual for Trainers. There are 11 sets of exercises in which students learn to:
recognise words, use syllables and develop handwriting;
use verbs and tenses, construct sentences and use punctuation;
find information, read for comprehension and create paragraphs;
listen to conversations, record on computer and note information.
For assessment the students take a dictation test, which is scored automatically.
New Words 2 Sports
The aim of this section is to build further confidence and the ability to use more and longer words to develop sentences based on sport.
Students learn different ways of starting sentences and begin using their opinions rather than simple facts.
There are three parts as in New Words 1 - the Interactive Exercises, built-in Student Book and Manual for Trainers. There are 10 sets of interactive exercises in which students learn to:
recognise words, use words with multiple syllables and develop handwriting;
use verbs and tenses, construct sentences and use punctuation;
find information, read for comprehension and create paragraphs;
listen to conversations, record on computer and note information.
For assessment the students take a dictation test, which is scored automatically.
New Words 3 Equipment
This section of the module uses the same format as the previous two but introduces two more basic skills:
- The negative form of the verb "I do not.....
- The '-ing' form as in "I like using...."
This gives the students more variety in the construction of sentences whilst keeping them short and simple.
There are 10 more sets of interactive exercises plus analysis and dictation for assessment.
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Level 2 Elementary
These programs are for students who need to learn or refresh the basics.
Level 2 equates to National Curriculum levels 3 and 4 and to Basic Skills Entry levels 2 and 3.
They learn to communicate simply about the world around them.
They learn to use longer sentences and paragraphs in extended writing.
They develop confidence when speaking in front of others and on the telephone.
Description 1 - Mrs Scott
This is for students who want to write in short clear sentences and put them into paragraphs.
The aim is to demonstrate to students that they can describe people and places.
They will:
- listen for information;
- study 24 target sentences;
- learn and spell 30 target words;
- learn the structure of sentences using the present simple tense;
- pronounce words with up to 5 syllables;
- practise handwriting;
- write and record paragraphs;
- stress words correctly.
Students can assess themselves using a dictation test and see a summary analysis of their achievements.
Description 2 - My World
This program helps students to create descriptions of:
- people;
- places;
- organisations;
- animals;
- anything else they're interested in.
It is important in this program to use information they have or find so that they are communicating about the real world around them.
As they do this they develop control of capital letters, full stops, length of sentence and use of correct tenses.
They develop the confidence to create single statements in the Present Tense.
They learn when to use joining words to make double statement sentences.
They are very impressed with themselves when they merge the sentences into paragraphs. An "I can do it" 'WOW' experience is common.
There is no limit to the number of paragraphs the student can create.
Description Portfolio
This section stores completed paragraphs ready for printing or use in larger assignments.
Narration 1 - A Day Out
Students learn how to construct a story using the Past Simple Tense in chronological order.
They learn how to choose regular and irregular Past Simple verbs.
They learn to separate texts into sentences, and merge sentences into paragraphs.
They will write, record and listen to themselves telling a complete story.
They learn when to use 'when' and 'if' clauses, conjunctions, and single and double statements.
They practise spelling verb endings including double consonants.
There are approximately 30 exercises or stages plus assessment and summary.
Narration 2 - My Stories
A series of guided exercises to help students to produce their own stories about events in the past, developing a solid grasp of the Past Tense.
Students discover, learn and use enough verbs to allow them to recount real events in their own lives and experiences.
There are editable databases of verbs (220+) and other words to support development of sentences and paragraphs.
Students like the drop down menus and mastering the logic of this program.
Narration Portfolio
Stores all the stories created in MY STORIES for editing and printing.
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