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I used Kidspiration as part of a project called the Laptop’s Initiative. I began using Kidspiration first with a learning support group last year. I allowed them one class individually to get accustomed to it, while I worked with the rest of the groups. I based an entire class around using Kidspiration. I introduced some essay titles to the class after that they would be asked to try and plan out an essay using both words and pictures. They would then begin writing the essay the following class. It helped remove the block some students have about essay writing.

This year I began to use the software with my Junior Cert exam group. We first used it to summarise what the students felt were the most important parts of each chapter of the novel. Two thirds of the class was spent reading the novel. When we finished reading a section the children would work together in pairs in summarising the chapters. At the end they had some very colourful sheets to help them revise the novel.

As I mentioned, I also began using the software with students granted reasonable accommodation and with three students who are doing their Junior Cert on tape. I found Kidspiration a brilliant way of showing to the students how planning makes everything easier for them. It was useful for all the students. It also showed clearly the template needed for planning. This was very useful for one with disorganised student. The programme was invaluable in this part.

I have used Kidspiration with Junior Cert English classes to help them in many aspects of their exam paper. They have used it to summarise chapters of a novel "Of Mice and Men". They have used it to plan out the long questions on novels they've studied. It has a good feature to help make a brief description of characters from the novel. I have used it with children who will be doing their Junior Cert by reasonable accommodation. It is an invaluable way of showing them how vital it is to plan out your questions when using a tape recorder. It is very good way of getting children with literacy problems to approach essay writing without any apprehension. It could be used in most subjects to get students to make their personal summary of important areas of whatever topic they have studied.

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