Let’s talk about the Sherlock Adapted Book Library!
Are you a special education teacher who is looking for ways to give your students access to the general curriculum? I have a great solution for you! The Paul V. Sherlock Centers on Disabilities at Rhode Island College has created 425 adapted books using published titles for all grade levels!
There are three different ways you can use the Sherlock Adapted Books:
Interactive Shows
The first way you can use the Sherlock Adapted Book Library is through their Interactive Shows option.
For the Sherlock Adapted Books that include Interactive Shows, there can be two options. The options are show or CVI. With show, the book is presented using PowerPoint. Students are able to click through the pages using a mouse or a switch while the book is being read to them by the computer.
Click here to see how SSE Blogger Stephanie uses switches in her classroom.
The second Interactive Show option, CVI, also uses PowerPoint to display the books on a black background for students with visual impairments who require high contrast, focused images to understand books.
Once you download the book to your computer, you are able to present the book. You then have the option to read the pages to the student or you can have the computer read the pages to them. Also with this option, students are able to use a mouse or a switch to change the slides.
Paper/PDF Books
The second way to use the Sherlock Adaptive Book Library is through their printable/presentable adapted books. These are in PDF format and presented using simple text and picture symbols. You can print these or present using your computer or smart board.
I love the Sherlock Adapted Books for my students!
Extended Literacy Guides
The third way to use the Sherlock Adaptive Book Library is with their Extended Learning Guides.
Most of our students learn best when we provide realia, or real life examples are paired with learning. The Sherlock Adaptive Book Library Extended Learning Guides provide ideas for you to use real life, book-specific objects to support learning and engagement for some of the books in the library.
I love this option from the Sherlock Adapted Book Library!
One factor that is important to note is that not all of the books in the Sherlock Adaptive Library have the Extended Learning Guides. As a result, it can be difficult to find those who do have the guides. An easy way to search and find those that do have them, is to go to the search box and type in “Guide”. Then, look at the Books/Literacy/Guides (pdf) column to see which books have a guide. You are then able to print the guides. Easy!
A Great Way to Learn!
No matter how you choose to use the Sherlock Adaptive Book Library in your classroom, I know you will do so in a way that your students will love and learn!
I look forward to hearing about your experiences with the Sherlock Adapted Book Library. Tell me what you love about them in the comments below or in our Facebook Community Group just for special education teachers, like you!
Be sure to check out the Simply Free Library with tons of free downloads!
