Teacher's Page

teacher

Welcome to Discovering Arizona! This web page is based on the Fourth Grade level textbook "Discovering Arizona" published by Gibbs Smith Publishing. The textbook has been adapted into electronic form in an effort to provide access to all learners.

This site is designed on the Principles of Universal Design to provide an alternative method of teaching the curriculum. Using accessibility features this unit will provide an opportunity for many students with disabilities or English language learners to access a curriculum that they have otherwise been excluded from.

Many of the main accessibility features are not evident as you look at this site. The main accessibility features that have been used are:

Alt tags on pictures that allow text readers to interpret the picture.
Alternative forms of navigation. Students have the option of using the Table of Contents, the Chapter Outline, the Graphic Organizer or the browser back button.
Key vocabulary words are displayed at the beginning of each chapter and are hyperlinked to the glossary.
Pictures, sound, video and links are displayed on separate pages so as not to distract the learner from the text.
Icons are used as well as text to mark all links, pictures, videos and sound.
An electronic journal is available for students to take notes and complete questions and activities. This journal can be saved to the hard drive and opened in a word processing program.
Students have the option of printing journal pages and writing in their answers.
Students are given a choice of activities to complete in each section to determine what they have learned, providing students with disabilities further options than provided in the copy masters that come with the textbook.

This unit may be used by all of the students in the classroom or those who need an alternative form of the textbook. This unit can be read by a e-text reader if it is available. If you do not have an e-text reader you can obtain one from the Center for Applied Special Technologies at http://www.cast.org.

Please take time to go through the unit to familiarize yourself with the layout and navigation structure. If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me at:

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