New - Bookbug Picture Book Prize 2023 Clicker Writing Resources

Posted by Gillian McNeill on the 27th September, 2022

Category Symbols Books for All

In today's blog we have information to share on our new accessible Clicker Writing Resources available now for download from our Symbols for All website. These form part of an array of resources created by us for anyone with young children with additional support needs, to provide inclusive communication and learning opportunities through assitive technology. They  accompany the three books announced by Scottish Book Trust last week, as nominees for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize 2023. (Due to arrive in schools in Scotland, for every P1 child, during book week -14th to 20th of November).

Our first two blogs in the Picture Book Prize 2023 series, focussed on our symbolised resources to support communication and shared reading, and on accessible digital books for learners in Scotland who have a print disability. In this and our next blog, we will focus on resources for literacy learning opportunities using the Bookbug book stories as a topic for writing.

What do I need to use the Clicker Writing resources?

You will need...

• one or more of the books either in printed and/or accessible digital format
• Clicker 8 software on a PC with Windows or the Clicker Writer app, on an iPad or a Chromebook

The 3 books are:

• ​Stuck Inside by Sally Garland
• Scaredy Bat by Jonathan Meres and Anders Frang
• My First Book of Sea Creatures, illustrated by Zoe Ingram

Clicker software for Windows devices provides support for learners with a range of special needs including low vision and different access needs, such as eye gaze, switches, touchscreens, rollerballs and joysticks. If your learner uses an iPad or a Chromebook,  they’ll be able to use the writing resources too.

Who are the Clicker writing resources for?

The Clicker writing resources are particularly useful for learners who are an early writing level, who would benefit from supports provided by this child-friendly word processor. Suitable for learners with a range of physical access and sensory needs, as well as those with reading and writing difficulties, they enable learners to write sentences by selecting from whole words and phrases. Symbols are included to support writing and text-to-speech can be used to listen to and review writing. 

What are the Clicker writing resources?

Each book has its own Clicker Grid Set with two activities, which are…

• Early Writing (clicker Sentences) – using a simple sentence writing set, learners can use word banks with various levels of support to create sentences which retell the story. This can be used as both a comprehension and sentence construction activity.
• Book Review (clicker Connect) - using a book review sentence set, learners select and build sentences from clusters of words and phrases to create a set of sentences the review the book.

Settings within Clicker can be changed to provide different levels of prompting for learners when creating sentences. Choose from a visible model sentence for copying, a momentary view of the model, or alternatively, an option to hear to the model sentence read aloud. Completed writing documents can be saved, shared and printed out.

download an information sheet about the Clicker resources

How do I get the Clicker resources?

download the Clicker Sets, scroll down and look for the Clicker icon underneath each book

arrange a free Clicker web demonstration, if you don’t have access to a copy of Clicker software. (A free trial can also be requested by contacting Crick Software.)

Can I see the Clicker Writing Resources in action?

Watch our Quick Guide to Clicker Writing Resources Video to view information on downloading and using our grid sets.