We notice quite early that reading would be one of the trickiest school skills to deal with in case of our Firstborn. He was always extremely interested in books, he loves to sit and hear someone reading. He adores picture books. He stops often and for a long time thoroughly analyzes every picture, every illustration, and drawing. He wants to hear explanations curiously asking about details included in the storybook.

There are different ways and techniques that ease the reading learning process you can use at home and help individuals on the spectrum and with other learning disabilities.

One of the most common and the cheapest way you can practice at home at any time is reading out loud with read-along modus with your kid seated next to you, read out loud and following the text with your finger.

Next step we used was reading with gaps. Just taking some low leveled books, reading and pausing to let your child read a few words, starting with less complicated of course.

Before there will be an independent reader super exercised and confident, some time will pass and a mountain of books you will have a chance to browse. Reading out loud, making stories, explaining pictures and using your own imagination to spark your kid’s one. For hours, days, weeks. Patience you have to master, dear parent!

After we were stuck a bit with this hard for us independent reading skill, a school German teacher showed up with this brilliant idea. She gave us an option that is super-worth to be shared. Absolutely!

TING!

Ingredients:

• TING Audio Pen
• computer
• Internet connection
• books using the TING technology

This audio pen is an amazing gadget and super smart learning resources helper in sparking the ability and most important boosting the pure will to explore printed publications filled with words waiting to be read.

TING used a great innovation transforming a pen-looking device into a reading helper, adding also player modus to make it more appealing to children.

Once you got the pen, you can start exploring numerous books that use that exact technique. You can find a different kind of books – children books and typical educational books like geography, English, German or astrophysics.

The pen can store the audio you downloaded previously using your computer (numerous books and games) and plays it back when desired. Just remember to switch books by ‘login-in’ through the activation logo that can be found on the back of every book TING-suitable. When you touch with the tip of the pen text or image in a book, it reads for you, even sings songs!

Unfortunately, the pen is only available in some book stores that sell publications that work with the pen system as well. TING is used in schools as an alternative way of teaching and it works well for kids with special educational needs as dyslexia and autism spectrum. There is an option for a headset mode – the pen can use a built-in loudspeaker or you can use an audio output and let the kid work ‘in private’. Anyway, the volume is adjustable so no worries – also those with sensory issues will enjoy!