Talking BooksTalking BooksBy Blair Thallmayer

MCOM 585: InternshipOffice of Disability Services

Talking Books OutlineTalking Books OutlineWhat are Talking Books

Who are Talking Books for

How to Create a Talking Book

My Example of a Talking Book

Summary

References

Talking BooksTalking BooksA Talking Book is a stimulating and colorful literature material designed for students with special needs. Using Talking Books educators can create appropriate books for students of all ages. Using Talking Books students can view complex text with speech support. The range of electronically available books for children is very limited and for exceptional students to develop as readers, they need access to the same range of books as others. Talking Books can be tailor-made to the interests and abilities of the pupils, text can be symbol-supported, and sounds and speech can be included to enable access to those with reading difficulties. Students can develop their own Talking Book, thus opening up more possibilities of creative and imaginative writing (Walter, 2002).

Who uses Talking Books?Who uses Talking Books?

Students with impairments◦Visual Hearing

◦Mobility

◦Language/ Speech

◦Learning/Cognitive

How to Create a Talking BookHow to Create a Talking Book

How to Create a Talking BookSelect a bookScan in pictures from the bookSave all pictures to a folder on the

computerOpen up Microsoft PowerPoint 97 or higherInsert New Photo Album

How to Create a Talking Book How to Create a Talking Book (Continued) …(Continued) …

A Box titled Photo Album will appear Click on File/Disk under Insert picture fromFind your folder of picturesSelect ALL pictures that you plan to use

and click InsertPictures in Album will have the number

and order within the Album; Create pictures in the sequence of the book

How to Create a Talking Book How to Create a Talking Book (Continued) …(Continued) …

Go to Album Layout at the Bottom Part of the Box

Select Picture Layout: 1 Picture 1 TitleSelect a Frame ShapeClick CreateAll of your pictures should be inserted into

the PowerPoint Presentation

How to Create a Talking Book How to Create a Talking Book (Continued) …(Continued) …

Slide says Photo Album & By Your Name You may keep or change that information

Slide has your first picture and a title/text box. In the Text Box type the text from the original book. Continue to do until you reach the end of your Presentation. Do not use quotation marks within text because they will be read aloud.

How to Create a Talking Book How to Create a Talking Book (Continued) …(Continued) …

You may also create ◦Buttons for students to navigate◦Sounds

◦Additional imagesWhen completed, Save Presentation Open Presentation in Power Talk

My ExampleMy Example

Dougherty, B. (2008). Littlest Pilgrim. New York: Cartwheel Books.

The Littlest Pilgrim

Written by Brandi Dougherty

Illustrated by Kirsten Richards

Mini was a Pilgrim. She lived with her family in a small village.

There were many Pilgrims in her village, but Mini was the littlest one.

Even though she was small, Mini tried to help with the village chores.

One day, Mini decided to be extra helpful.

Mini found her big brother by the house. He was stacking wood for the winter. She wanted to help.

Look, brother, Mini said. I am helping to make a woodpile. But Mini’s brother was too busy to notice her.

Mini went inside the house and found her big sister. She was mending a dress.

I am ready to sew, said Mini. Sorry, Mini, said her sister, you are too little to help with mending. Go help Mama. I am busy.

So Mini went outside to help her mother. She was at the oven, baking bread for dinner.

Look, Mama, said Mini. I am helping.

But Mini’s mother was so busy making bread, she didn’t even hear Mini.

Mini went to find her father. Surely he would want some help. He was getting ready to hunt for food in the forest.

Sorry, Mini, you are too little for hunting, Mini’s father said when he saw her. Why don’t you go pick some berries for us to eat?

As Mini walked toward the berry bushes, she spotted her neighbor. He was fixing the door to his house.

I can help… Mini started to say. Sorry, Mini, this is a big job and you are too little.

Mini wandered through the village. She was sad.

Mini just wanted to help, but everyone was too busy to notice. Or they thought the jobs were too big and Mini was too little. It wasn’t fair.

Mini walked toward the water. She spotted some boys from her village. They were fishing.

Can I help you fish? Mini asked one of the boys. He laughed. Sorry, Mini, you are too little for fishing.

Now Mini was very sad. Why would no one let her help? Mini knew there had to be something special she could do.

Even if she was little.

Mini started to walk home, and saw some berries along the way. As she picked them, she heard something rustling in the leaves. Mini moved closer to get a better look.

There, at the edge of the forest, stood a girl.

And she was little! Just like Mini!

Hello, said Mini. What’s your name?

The girl stood still and looked at Mini. She didn’t say a word.

Mini remembered the berries she held in her hand. Do you want one? she asked.

At first, the girl just stared at Mini. But soon she began to smile a very big smile.

Mini was too little for many things. But she was not too little to make a friend.

The End!

SummarySummaryTalking Books are

◦Text to speech support ◦Created by students and teachers

◦Develop reading and writing skills◦Contains

Text Pictures

Buttons Sounds

ReferencesReferencesDougherty, B. (2008). Littlest Pilgrim. New York: Cartwheel

Books.PowerTalk - automatic speech for PowerPoint

presentations. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2009, from http://fullmeasure.co.uk/powertalk/

Shaw, G. (2005). The Incredible, Accessible Presentation. Retrieved October 21, 2009, from www.powerpointmagician.com/articles/accessppt.htm

Walter, R. (2002). Creating Talking Books in PowerPoint. Retrieved October 21, 2009, from http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/Tutorials/talkingBooks/powerpoint.php

Walter, R. (2002). How to create Talking Books in PowerPoint 97 & 2000. Retrieved October 10, 2009, from http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/Tutorials/talkingBooks/ppt_ace.pdf