This session will focus on how Clicker supports early literacy development and acts as a springboard for children to become independent readers and writers. John and Ann Crick will look at the practical application of Clicker in the classroom, including a range of activities designed to meet the needs of individual learners, while targeting appropriate learning objectives.  This will include speaking and listening and pre-reading activities, as well as frameworks for first attempts at reading and writing.

John and Ann Crick are both former teachers with extensive experience of teaching children with a wide range of special needs. Professionally they complement each other with their strong interests in technology and literacy, to head Crick Software in its provision of reading and writing tools, assistive technology and curriculum content. In 1993 John established Crick Software, releasing the first version of Clicker the following year, while Ann worked in the classroom incorporating early versions of the software into her teaching. Since then, they have worked together to develop high quality software that is both innovative and practical and makes a real difference to teaching and learning in schools all over the world. Ann and John maintain a strong commitment to the principles of Universal Design for Learning, demonstrated by the widespread use of their software not only in special needs environments, but also in mainstream settings. The company’s products have won many awards, and recently John and Ann were honoured with the Outstanding Achievement Award at the UK’s annual Education Awards.