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WOW! NEW SOFTWARE PROGRAMS FROM SOFTTOUCH AND EXCITING EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

JO MEYER
SOFTTOUCH/KIDTECH
4182 PINEWOOD LAKE DRIVE
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93309

Web Posted on: December 12, 1997


SoftTouch has three new pieces of software which have just been released. Another dynamic piece will be released late this summer.

Thematic teaching is common throughout the preschool curriculum. One of the new software offerings, Fall Fun, meets some of the themes which teachers everywhere use. It starts with 'The Pledge of Allegiance'. Whether the student be included in the regular class or in a classroom of his own, 'The Pledge' can be used. Pumpkins, witches, owls, and cats adorn classroom walls in October. 'Five Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate' is the most familiar song, but the children will also enjoy the scary sounding voice in 'Ten Little Witches, and the fun of the cat and the owl. November rolls around and the turkeys need to hide from that butcher. 'Five Fat Turkeys' sing their song while the butcher, the Pilgrims, and the Indians wait for their dinner. Activities help children learn. Finding the correct picture or identifying concepts (big, little, first, second, third and others) are rewarding with a song. Fall Fun ends with Happy Birthday sung four different ways. The graphics are absolutely stunning. Is guaranteed to delight the children everywhere.

A second offering was developed to meet the needs of the single switch user of any age. It is called Switch Basics. Beautiful graphics, fun sounds, cute animations make this piece a MUST for any student learning to use a switch or learning scanning. The variety of skills in switch use which are addressed are by the nine in different activities

  • Simple cause and effect (Fishy Colors)
  • Hold the switch down to play the animation and sound,
  • Build the Picture Step by Step--press the switch a specified number of times to build pictures and get the reward.
  • Step by Step. Press the switch a variety of times to complete the picture and get the reward.
  • Two switch game --take turns to finish the jigsaw puzzle. (Must use two switches)
  • Regular scan with timing selection
  • Simple Match scan with timing selection
  • Step Scanning

The third software offering is entitled more SoftTouch Favorites. Yes, as in Best of kidTECH, a verse was selected from twelve of the latest SoftTouch offerings. (no repeats from Best of kidTECH). The adult can choose whether the songs presented to the student are for

  • preschoolers
  • preteen, Teenage, Adult populations
  • all of the songs mixed together.

There are twelve songs and animations in all. This one is a MUST if your student

  • has trouble attending
  • needs colorful animations
  • likes variety
  • enjoys different types of sounds

Teach Me To Talk is scheduled to be released late summer.REAL PICTURES -- REAL PICTURES -- REAL PICTURES-- One Hundred in all

Activity #1: Many students have a difficult time learning to speak. Some will need to hear the sounds over and over before they can produce the word. Others need a reinforcer to engage their interest before they can listen to the word. Some need REAL pictures. Still others will need augmentative communication devices. This program addresses all three of those issues. The teacher may turn on or off any of these features 'on the fly', thus reducing or adding prompts as needed:

  • Musical introduction to the word to get the students attention
  • Movement of the picture to keep the students attention
  • English or Spanish spoken word
  • Text of word on screen
  • Distinctive voice
  • Excited voice
  • Morphing to the MAYER-JOHNSON symbol

There are 100 real pictures divided into a variety of categories which include animals, food, transportation, household objects, clothes, simple beginning sounds, early words. Choose from 1, 4, 6, 9, 20 on-screen choices.

Activity #2: Puzzles: Have you ever tried to find a 2 or 3 piece puzzle? Well, this section has 100 puzzles starting with 2 piece puzzles climbing to 16 piece puzzles. It uses the one hundred real pictures and offers 20 puzzles in each category.

Activity #3: Learn language through Rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. This activity presents one page rhymes as well as longer stories using the 100 real pictures as the graphics. Let the student listen to the stories over and over. Print the book and let them read the stories. Companion Activities You asked for it. It will soon be yours. Four CD's which have activities and instructions ready for you to print and use. Did you want a book entitled 'Monkeys Jumping on Bed' for the children to hold and read? Or would you like to teach beginning board games? Perhaps magnetic lotto cards are what your students love. Now, you can have it all and more. Here they are! Print out your own books, work sheets, flash cards, board games, matching games, Bingo games, card games and much much more.

Each CD has many many activities which are companion pieces to the software. Teaching strategies go with many of the activities. These range from very easy to difficult. All the above are great for reinforcing the concepts. Use the work sheets in the inclusion class.

In addition to the above activities, the Teach Me To Talk CD has 'Mini Books' which can be used for home use, teaching, or for your test kit. Other Mini Books include Beginning Words, Colors, Big/Little, Functions, Plurals, Animals. All use REAL pictures.

In summary, SoftTouch remains committed through the software to the young child, the student (preteen and teenager) with multiple disabilities, and the teacher who gives his/her all to the students.