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Press RoomFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Students with Significant Disabilities Find the Resources They Need to Become Early Conventional ReadersStart-to-Finish Literacy Starters include the supports educators need to move students with significant disabilities to become independent readers.
October 15, 2004—Volo, Illinois—
Don Johnston Incorporated is pleased to announce Start-to-Finish® Literacy Starters, the newest addition to the popular Start-to-Finish Books product line of age-appropriate reading materials for struggling students. Developed in collaboration with experts in the fields of literacy, language acquisition and AAC, Karen Erickson, Ph.D., Caroline Ramsey Musselwhite, CCC-SLP, Ed.D. and Jerry Stemach, CCC-SLP, Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters include the supports educators need to move students with significant disabilities to become independent readers. Very often students with significant disabilities get stuck using cause and effect software and don't get the authentic literacy experiences they need to move them toward conventional reading — decoding and comprehension. In the past, the options for providing authentic literacy experiences have not always been the best: 1) educators have had to create their own materials or 2) they are using materials that are not age-appropriate. Both options have their drawbacks — creating materials takes expertise and time, while using materials below a student's interest level causes boredom and ultimately they are not productive. Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters evolved over time to address the barriers educators were experiencing in this critical curriculum area. The first issue of expertise was addressed by bringing industry experts together to develop Don Johnston's Beginning Literacy Framework™, a culmination of research and best practice as it relates to the beginning literacy process for students with significant disabilities. Prior to the release of Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters, this framework was introduced to educators in many venues to help them become familiar with evaluating text, inclusion issues, instructional insights and literacy goals for students with significant disabilities. This got educators thinking about change. Next, the issues of time and lack of age-appropriate materials was addressed by combining The Beginning Literacy Framework and proven Designed-for-Success™ supports. This created Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters, which provide ready-to-use age-appropriate books, teacher planning tools and supplemental resources. Educators who used and previewed the product while it was in development throughout the year now believe they can change the way they approach reading with their students. Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters collaborators, Karen Erickson and Caroline Musselwhite, comment, "We are excited by Don Johnston Incorporated's commitment to meeting the needs of students with the most significant disabilities, first through the Beginning Literacy Framework, and now with the Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters series. Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters will meet an immediate need and will provide solid examples for educators as they seek to follow the Beginning Literacy Framework in creating their own materials." Don Johnston, CEO of Don Johnston Incorporated, says, "From the beginning, we were very optimistic that the reaction to and the results from Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters would be positive, however after extensive classroom testing during development we were pleased to find that reactions to this product exceeded our expectations. Teachers told us that they could tackle higher-level content because concepts and ideas were delivered in a clear and understandable format. Students could finally participate in the curriculum with their peers and both teachers and students now have the confidence to expect that independent reading will happen." The many teachers involved in giving feedback during the development of Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters are excited to use the final product because they know it will make a difference. Johnston adds, "I firmly believe this product will completely change the learning experiences of students with significant disabilities." Don Johnston Incorporated began shipping the first two Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters sets, Sports — Safety & Success and Plants — Science & Surroundings, to kick off this new and exciting addition to the Start-to-Finish family. More sets will be added on a regular schedule, so students will have a variety of books to choose from and an opportunity to build the number of books they read. Find out more about Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters at www.donjohnston.com/products/start_to_finish/literacy. About Don Johnston IncorporatedDon Johnston Incorporated is the leader in learning intervention resources. Since 1980, they have been helping educators expect more from struggling students and students with physical disabilities. They provide a full array of critical intervention products for all components of balanced literacy instruction: reading intervention solutions that build reading skills, award-winning writing intervention software that offers unparalleled writing support and unique word-study products that teach spelling and phonics skills. Don Johnston Incorporated brings tremendous expertise in the development of their products. Their employees are former regular education teachers, special education teachers, speech and language professionals, Occupational therapists and parents of students with disabilities. Don Johnston himself, who as a young student, struggled because of significant learning disabilities, inspires the company's vision. Photos accompanying this Press Release are the property of Don Johnston Incorporated and may only be used and/or published as accompanying photos with the information found in this release or with specific written approval from Don Johnston or members of his marketing staff. Don Johnston Incorporated | |