Letters and More - fun ways to learn the alphabet

Letters and More is the latest fun program published in the UK by Shiny Learning. Created by LaraMera and Leripa in Sweden, it follows in the footsteps of their other great literacy favourites, Learn More About Words, Reading World, Words and Sentences and Crosswords and More.

Letters and More - twelve activities

It contains twelve different activities and has eighteen different word lists. Beautifully drawn illustrations create a fun and encouraging learning environment. With letter names, letter sounds and words spoken it also has switch and keyboard access.

Letters and More - complete the word

Letters and More - sort words by initial letter

Letters and More - sort pictures by initial letter

"Lost in translation"?

We had a dilemma, some years ago, when working on the English translation of Troll-lek. It was a leap too far for our imaginations that this benign and very cute little creature should ever be called a troll. Aren't trolls a bit wicked, and not nearly so pretty? This little being who lives in the forest at one with nature, who also likes to dress up as a cowboy, a baker or a sailor, plays the electric guitar or settle down with some knitting is not a troll - please. The little chap with the baggy pants and goofy grin who likes to keep his cupboards tidy and collects pine cones? That's not a troll.

Well, actually, he is. But we renamed him a Pixie. Before you tell me, I know - he's not a pixie either - but sometimes these decisions have to be made. It doesn't seem to bother him.

And to be honest, I don't think most trolls are as clever as this guy. He has a lot of thinking to do - and matching and sorting, and working out puzzles.

In my head he lives in Troll-lek (though we call it Pixie Games) where, should you choose to join him, you can inhabit his beautiful world for a little while, watch for funny things happening in his forest, help him sort out his cupboards, dress him up, rock out with him, help him work out which of his many household things belong together and generally help to keep order in his little corner of the forest.

"Beatrix Potter characters remodelled for blind children"

What a fantastic inclusion story this is. An artist has secured the rights to redraw Beatrix Potter's characters so that blind people can enjoy them.

Read about it here, and watch an interview with the artist.

And here's a link to Fieldsman Trails - publishers of all sorts of multi-format information.

Maybe it's because we're snowed in..

...that I've got that "make do and mend" feeling! I can hardly resist the opportunity to take some snowy pictures and make some wintry activities.

For many years I've been considering cycles in SEN software development. Should publishers provide vast quantities of fixed content, or editing features and less content? Of course it depends on the application, but many of our own programs contain both a great deal of content yet are also editable for those occasions where you really must add your own topical pictures, sound, text etc.

Some people never get beyond the provided content - Crosswords and More for example has over 800 ready-made activities yet is still editable. You can also add your own content to Two by Two, Reading World, Words and Sentences, Learn More About Words, Learn More Through Games and HIPP!.

If you're anything like us at the moment - 30cm plus deep in snow with more on the way, the roads impassable and the schools shut - perhaps you'll get the chance to make something seasonal too!