GUELPH, ON – Did you know that the Terry James Resource Centre (TJRC) is a hub for accessible resources and supports at the Upper Grand District School Board? TJRC empowers educators and staff to learn more about accessibility in theory and practice and provides materials that can be used with students to support equity of access and enrich their journeys as lifelong learners.
Some of the newest acquisitions in the TJRC collection of accessible resources include Playaways and Wonderbooks. Playaways and Wonderbooks are texts in accessible formats which are great for students learning to read for the first time, students learning to read in English, and students who have print disabilities, to name a few.
A Playaway is a pre-loaded audiobook that does not require downloads or internet connectivity. The physical device is roughly the size of an MP3 player and allows students to take the books they’re reading wherever they go. A Wonderbook is a hybrid resource - a full textbook with a Playaway-style audiobook built right in. This allows students to follow along while listening to the text read aloud. There is also a Learning Mode with Wonderbooks that provides further extensions for literacy skills development.
A video about Playaway books and Wonderbooks can be found below:
At TJRC, Playaways and Wonderbooks are available for fiction and nonfiction texts written for a variety of audience and reading levels - they are currently only published in English.
Staff can borrow a Playaway or Wonderbook from TJRC by searching for “Playaway” in Insignia - this will show the titles that are currently available in these formats.
Playaways and Wonderbooks can be borrowed from the Terry James Resource Centre just like regular books - come by in person or place a reserve online and we can send the book to your site via board courier.