[visionrehabtherapist] Re: Slate and Stylus?
- From: Sue Ponchillia <susan.ponchillia@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: preeder@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, marilee@xxxxxxxxxx, Jean.May@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:37:34 -0400
1. When I teach students to use and teach use of the slate and
stylus, I encourage them to think of the "flow going from right to
left, so if one needs to braille the letter N for example, the flow
begins right and moves left, which means dots 1,2,3 are encountered
first, and then dots 4,5,6. N has dots 1 and three, so those would
be brailled first, and then the next dots. I discourage them from
visualizing the letter and then trying to reverse it in their head.
2. Hands on at all times is important, with left hand immediately
beside the stylus, assuming one is holding it in right hand. When
done with a word and leaving a space, gently touch the stylus in the
cell in order to keep track of the blank space.
3. Most importantly, for new slate users, begin "gross", filling
in every dot in every cell from right to left, top to bottom of the
slate in order to develop the kinesthetic feel for where the dots
are and where the stylus goes, keeping the stylus pressed against
the outsides of the cell and bumping it gently along the curved
sides. Once it feels right and the student is good at filling all
cells, then do corners, do columns (dots 1,2,3, or 4,5,6, or
middles, or whatever seems appropriate. When brailling specific
letters, I would highly encourage doing multiples of letters rather
than giving the student words to braille. Once he or she is great
at repetitive letters, then graduate to the next challenging step,
which might be sue space sue space sue space, etc. (of course I let
the student braille his or her own name!)
The slate is so important, I strongly encourage an open mind about
use of it. The people I know who dislike it had poor initial
instruction or didn't get useful practice.
Sue
Susan V. Ponchillia, Ed.D., CVRT
Professor/RT Program Coordinator
Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies
College of Health and Human Services
Western Michigan University
Mail Stop 5218
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
269-387-3450
fax 269-387-3567
>>> Marilee Kenlon <marilee@xxxxxxxxxx> 06/30/08 9:44 AM >>>
I also learned braille late in life and was never given real
instruction in
using the slate and stylus. I use mine for writing down phone
numbers and
quick notes, but prefer the Perkins brailler. I know that some of
you will
cringe when I say this, but I see it as a mirror image of the
braille cell.
Sorry, but that is just how I learned it and it works for me. I am
pretty
good at reversing things in my minds eye, but I know that some
people cannot
do this. I would also be interested in hearing what others say.
Marilee Kenlon
----- Original Message -----
From: "May Jean (DHSS)" <Jean.May@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <preeder@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 8:49 AM
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] Re: Slate and Stylus?
I have struggled with teaching folks how to use the slate and
stylus so
if you get any good ideas I would really appreciate a forward.
Everyone
is intimated by it but is seems extremely useful. And cheap!
Jean May
Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
The Division for the Visually Impaired
Phone: (302)255-9825
Fax: (302) 255-9388
Email: Jean.May@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dvi
-----Original Message-----
From: visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Penny
Reeder
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2008 9:30 PM
To: visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] Slate and Stylus?
Do any of you have tried and true methods for teaching slate and
stylus?
I will freely admit that I love my Perkins and my BrailleNote, and
I am
not very good with the slate and stylus. I understand how to do it
but
somehow don't always get that stylus point into the right groove --
and
besides, using it makes my wrist hurt. However, I do want to be
an
effective teacher of slate and stylus. What resourses, in addition
to
Paul's and Sue's wonderful book, do you recommend?
I guess I should add that I learned braille as an adult, about 10
years
ago, and no one ever provided formal training with the slate and
stylus.
Thanks.
Penny
***********************************
To view archives, edit list settings, subscribe or unsubscribe
from
list:
www.freelists.org/list/visionrehabtherapist
Administrator e-mail: dietz1112@xxxxxxxxx
***********************************
To view archives, edit list settings, subscribe or unsubscribe from
list:
www.freelists.org/list/visionrehabtherapist
Administrator e-mail: dietz1112@xxxxxxxxx
***********************************
To view archives, edit list settings, subscribe or unsubscribe from
list:
www.freelists.org/list/visionrehabtherapist
Administrator e-mail: dietz1112@xxxxxxxxx
BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:2.1
X-GWTYPE:USER
FN:Ponchillia, Sue
TEL;WORK:269 387-3455
ORG:;Blindness & Low Vision Studies
EMAIL;WORK;PREF;NGW:PonchilliaS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
N:Ponchillia;Sue
END:VCARD
Other related posts:
