Graphics in the form of symbols, photographs, pictures or clipart can provide visual information to assist with receptive or expressive language and literacy skills. Graphics can help students to make meaning from text and promote independence. They can also represent words or sentences, concepts or ideas, and enhance expressive communication.
Symbol sets, pictures and graphics
Commercially available symbol sets/picture libraries include:
§ PCS Symbols by Mayer-Johnson. Available with Boardmaker
§ Rebus Symbols by Widgit. Available with Writing with Symbols 2000 and Communicate:Symwriter
§ Softpics
§ Makaton Symbols and signs
Some software programs offer their own picture libraries
Software
§ Clicker5
§ Inspiration and Kidspiration
§ Intellikeys Classroom Suite
Free to download - symbols and graphics available online
Graphic/Symbol based teaching resources
- Askability Symbol supported website containing a range of topicalmaterial for children and young people including news and sports from the UK, jokes, stories and films & music reviews, and contributions from readers.
- Do2learn Symbol based products and activities to purchase and some are free to download.
- Learning Grids by Crick Software. Many downloadable activities for use with Cricksoft programs – Clicker, ClozePro, Jigworks and Wordbar.
- Mayer-Johnson Boardmaker boards to share. Some files will require Boardmaker to open, others are in PDF format.
- News-2-you Symbol based weekly online newspaper (US based) available by subscription.
- Spectronics Symbol Activity Exchange Activities to share including Boardmaker, Communicate in Print, Writing with Symbols, Clicker, Intellitools and more.
- Symbol World From Widgit software
- eLive: a monthly magazine for symbol users – free registration.
- Learning: online learning materials in subject/topic areas.
- Stories: fiction and non-fiction across age ranges.
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