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Star Reporter™

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The Star Reporter program is an exciting theme-based curriculum developed by AbleNet to provide special education teachers with years of detailed lesson plans that use assistive technology devices to ensure active participation and communication in today's classroom for students with moderate to severe disabilities. Specific elementary and secondary versions are written to focus on age-group needs and interests.

When students step into the roles of newspaper editors, reporters, researchers, writers and photographers, they're learning to socialize, interact and communicate individually, as well as in large and small groups.

Best of all, the Star Reporter program is available in two versions - one for elementary-age students and one for secondary students - both aligned with IEP goals, general education themes and state standards. Plus, students have something tangible to share with administrators, parents, staff and peers.

The lessons are structured around the concept of creating a school or classroom newspaper. This enables the introduction of a wide range of activities and projects linked to a common theme. Teachers receive a complete set of materials with a new theme every month for 9-months. Star Reporter includes training materials.

Download a sample lesson:

• September (Individuality) Building Background Knowledge - Elementary
• September (Individuality) Building Background Knowledge - Secondary

Feature Article:
Students study, learn and interview others about the monthly theme.
IEP goals addressed: Communication, Literacy, Social Studies, Science

Taste:
Students follow recipes, vote and create graphs to interpret and share the results of their Taste Tests.
IEP goals addressed: Literacy, Math, Self-help and Functional Academics

Book Review:
Students read about and then create an informative review of their favorite subject, author or title.
IEP goals addressed: Literacy, Functional Reading, Writing

Social Connections:
One of the favorite sections of the paper, Social Connections, offers students unique opportunities to tell jokes, share brainteasers and get involved in planning and participating in social events.
IEP goals addressed: Communication, Social Interaction, Social Skills

Create It:
Students create craft projects, take photos of the finished creations and write articles to share about the projects.
IEP goals addressed: Hands-on-Learning, Following Directions, Vocational Skills, Fine Motor and Writing

Students in Star Reporter use assistive technology
like the BIG Step-by-Step to conduct interviews.

Star Reporter Program:

• Addresses accountability mandates.
• Provides access to the general education curriculum.

Quotes from Star Reporter teachers

To see the program in action and hear why administrators say Star Reporter is a great value, be sure to view the demo at the top of this page.

California
"We are so excited about this program already! On day one the teachers saw the benefits to it. Two students with severe to profound disabilities are already doing way more than the staff felt they could. So much so they have decided they need to reassess the skill level of these two students, they are already doing so much more than the teacher thought they could."

Florida
"We had an extremely exciting day as 18 teachers were blown away with the depth of the curriculum piece and the nice way the objectives fit into Florida's Sunshine State Standards for Special Needs."

Illinois
"The core team leaders are very enthused. One told me about a teacher that has a daughter with significant disabilities at the high school where they are doing the Star Reporter. Last night the teacher came home and thought her husband was on the couch reading the newspaper. When she got close to the couch she realized that it was her daughter looking through the city newspaper. Although her daughter was holding the paper upside down, she was totally excited to see her daughter's "newfound" interest in literacy, and specifically the newspaper!"

Star Reporter FAQs

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New content added 3/3/06!