Speech and language therapists who work collabo-ratively with teachers or teaching assistants should be able to use, share and recommend resources that use these systems. Interactive Literacy Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 by Smart Learning is definitely worth a men-tion, and offers reasonable value for money if all its options are used.

Each interactive CD-ROM features eighteen il-lustrated texts, with many of the illustrations ani-mated. Texts range from snippets of well-known stories, plays and poetry to texts suitable for Year 6 mainstream pupils that highlight aspects of persua-sion, dilemmas and issues. The quality of texts and graphics is fresh and engaging.

Within each unit of text you can choose from three options - reading, writing and speaking and listening. I shared the use of the resource with a primary class teacher working with youngsters with a wide range of communication difficulties. Usu-ally the teacher focused upon the writing or simpler reading options whereas I used the speaking and lis-tening option most of all.

I was pleased how effectively I could address a whole variety of individual language targets with the same text as the class teacher merely by using a dif-ferent option. All the on screen texts can be heard by clicking on the speech bubble icon - a real plus for the struggling reader. There is also the option to run the speaking and listening screens with or without the soundtrack. This opened up the opportunity for some of the children in the class with better lan-guage skills to make up their own commentaries. I was able to print pictures from the screen to be used for sequencing tasks as well as ‘freeze frame’ screens to focus on other specific language areas. The whole class found the resource enjoyable and motivating.

Each CD-ROM is easy to use. It could be em-ployed at whole class to individual levels and is ideal for facilitating effective collaborative practice. Ac-companying each CD-ROM is a clear and practical Teacher’s Book which offers a helpful guide to each unit of work and suggests additional supportive activities and extension work and cross curricular links.

It does seem possible after all, just by sitting in front of a computer or interactive whiteboard, to engage children in literacy. Susan Hyde Wright is Speech and Language Therapy Coordinator at I CAN Centre with Dawn House School, a specialist school for communication and in-teraction.

WINNING WAYS

SPEECH & LANGUAGE THERAPY IN PRACTICE Winter 2007 23

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As I type, The Byrds are singing ‘Turn Turn Turn’*, a beautiful representation of the Biblical reading from Ecclesiastes Chapter

3 verses1-8. With enormous wisdom, beauty and poetry, this tells us we need to look at all aspects of our life - even the challenging things that cause angst and difficulties - as part of the whole grand picture of the amazing journey.

Chris is at a transition point. Maternity leave is an extraordinary time of life. ‘Leave’ has all the connota-tions of ‘holiday’, yet nothing could be further from the truth. It is hard work emotionally and physically and, especially with a first child, everything has prob-ably been turned on its head. Priorities have changed, sleep patterns are disrupted and relationships are be-ing established and possibly renegotiated. Added to all this is the desired (or undesired) pressure to return to work. Chris is re-embarking on her career but this time there is so much more to be considered. Part-time work seems the ideal solution but Chris does not want her professionalism to be compromised. How does she stop ‘work’ eating into her home life?

At the other end of the spectrum Sonia is prepar-ing to leave the profession but is not ready yet to retire completely. She is not leaving for leisure but to take on other time-consuming responsibilities. Again, chances are these will eat into her home life.

We often hear the phrase ‘Work/Life Balance’. I have come to believe we don’t really need the ‘work/life’ bit - we just need to think about balance. When we feel our lives going out of kilter it is always time to take stock. This can be very simple if we regularly ‘sharpen the saw’ (Covey, 1989). Sadly many people never do that or they wait until things become un-bearable, when the problem is much harder to solve and illness and stress are added to the pile.

OptionsChoosing to look at and explore her options will help Chris get the balance back. She could:

call a meeting with a superior to negotiate how much she is reasonably expected to do at home

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think about how useful that sneaking feeling of resentment is - then shift attitude and language to see what there is in the situation to appreciatesit down with pen and paper to become aware of where things really are.Sonia’s transition has yet to start so she can take time

to prepare and consider tough decisions, making sure she doesn’t get pushed under by the expectations of others. This is about survival not selfishness. Never allow other people to use your life to solve their problems – if you don’t take charge, someone else will.

A coach once asked me to give a metaphor for what was going on in my life. I told him that it often felt like plate spinning or juggling – with plates constantly being smashed or balls dropped! He asked if I could think of an-other metaphor involving coloured balls. After a few mo-ments I thought of snooker. Although I know little about it, I had an instantly calming picture of the smooth green table. My coach led me to understand that all the balls were waiting for me to pot them. They were no longer falling or moving by themselves. If I made a mistake and potted the wrong ball it wouldn’t fall on the floor and roll away, but would be caught in one of the pockets and wait for me to retrieve it. Suddenly my life seemed more manageable. I was back in charge and could choose how much / how little / how often I wanted to get going at the ‘game’.

So, to anyone at one of life’s crossroads I would sug-gest you:

Take time to think out what you really wantReview the situation as it really is

and ask yourself:what you are prepared to do to resolve the situationwhat you are prepared to stop doing to resolve the situationhow you can enjoy the process (without resorting to anger, resentment and disappointment).

To everything (turn, turn, turn)There is a season (turn, turn, turn)…

*The Byrds sing Turn Turn Turn live on this You Tube clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNopQq5lWqQ

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Winning WaysLife coach Jo Middlemiss considers transitions and balance…

Chris has returned from maternity leave (her first child) and is working part-time. Compared with working full-time she finds it difficult to get all the required administration, liaison and prepara-tion done, and is beginning to resent the extra hours put in at home.

Sonia has decided to cut down her workload as she is coming up for retirement and has an eld-erly relative to look after. She has been allowed to job share but is concerned about the balance in her newly designed life.

Jo Middlemiss is a qualified Life Coach with a background in education and relationship counselling, tel. 01356 648329. Jo offers readers a complimentary half-hour telephone coaching session (for the cost only of your call). While all Jo’s work informs ‘Winning Ways’, your contact is confidential and no personal or identifying details will be given.

ReferencesCovey, S. (1989) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. London: Simon & Schuster.

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