Access Language Arts

A researched and standards-based program for secondary students learning language arts skills.

The eight literature pieces chosen for read-alouds in Access Language Arts iPad App are among those typically used in the middle school curriculum. The adapted stories in the app are Holes, We Beat the Street, The Outsiders, Neighbors, Number the Stars, The Diary of Anne Frank, Dragonwings, and Sadako and a Thousand Paper Cranes.

Lessons follow a five-step sequence: Vocabulary instruction, preview and prediction, read the adapted book, quiz on vocabulary, followed by comprehension questions including a sequencing activity. Software features unlimited student logins, professionally narrated text, and student reports.

Components of systematic instruction embedded in the app's script include: constant time-delay procedure, system of least intrusive prompts, and feedback.

Access Language Arts App was created by Attainment and East Tennessee State University and is based on the curriculum Teaching to Standards: English Language Arts. Research has shown both the app and curriculum to be highly effective in teaching language arts skills, that are directly aligned to the Common Core Standards, to students with an intellectual disability or autism.

Support for research and development of this app was provided in part by Contract ED-IES-13-C-0031 and ED-IES-14-C-0018 of the U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, awarded to Attainment Company, Inc.