PRODUITS

Version française /
French version 

Website for learning English
(language of instruction)

ABRACADABRA is a free English-language reading and writing learning tool for young children. It favours a balanced approach to teaching English in Québec’s English elementary schools. ABRACADABRA combines a syllabic approach with a holistic approach. This consists of learning the links between the language’s basic sounds (phonemes) and the written letters or groups of letters (graphemes) that represent them, and looking at the meaning of an important sentence, then breaking it down to look at the meaning of the words, and memorizing and analyzing the components.

This free tool is available to Québec’s English language elementary schools in two versions:

• The complete version of ABRACADABRA, installed on English school board servers, is accessible by the Internet and includes:
  • a student registration system
  • a database that allows students to record their progress and learnings.
• A version of ABRACADABRA is available for free on the Web (abralite.concordia.ca) but without a registration system or a record-keeping function.

• Goals
• Components
• Clienteles
• Research behind the transfer
• Production Team
• Accompaniment
• Partners
• How to obtain ABRACADABRA
• Information

• Interview with Dr. Philip C. Abrami

 

Goals

• To promote English learning in young children.
• To make anglophone parents aware of the importance of getting young children to learn the written and spoken language.

Components

Instructional module (student)

• 32 interactive activities with visual and auditory cues to help the child develop skills in four areas: alphabet, fluency, comprehension and writing
• Several activities linked to more than 20 stories mostly pulled from children’s books that create an authentic and active learning environment for students
• Friendly characters helps the child throughout the activities
• Several skill levels based on the child’s pace of learning
• An animated demonstration for each activity to show the child how to complete it

Professional development module (teacher)

Enables teachers to increase their academic knowledge of reading and writing. This module consists of:

• Reading development stages
• Suggested lesson plans
• Printable resources
• Videos demonstrating how to use ABRACADABRA in the classroom
• Information on specific abilities (blending of phonemes [sounds], pronunciation of letters, spelling, comprehension) that are developed through ABRACADABRA activities

Assessment module (teacher)

Enables the teacher to monitor the children’s progress. Each child can: :

• record activity results in the database.
• use the link to the electronic ePEARL portfolio.
• preserve reading extracts, use the tools (text editor, audio recording module), set goals, and share his or her work with the teacher or with other students.

Communication module (teacher)

Provides a secure environment (restricted access) to teachers, special education teachers and speech therapists allowing them to:

• exchange ideas and knowledge pertaining to the development of reading and writing skills in children.
• discuss among colleagues from the same school or among schools within the same school board.

Parent module

Helps parents to accompany their child and to build on the work started in class by the teacher*. The module:

• shows parents the different learning stages for reading.
• helps parents to guide the child through the stages.
• guides parents in helping their child practice language sounds through rhymes, the alphabet, separating words into small sounds and finding the relationship between letters and sounds.

* Studies show that practicing reading and writing at home is essential for the child to acquire these skills. The more the child practices, the better he or she becomes.

 

EPEARL (Electronic Portfolio Encouraging Active Reflective Learning)

Most of Québec’s English school boards use ePEARL. This electronic portfolio is designed to encourage constructive and strategic reflection on learning by students, thereby making them active learners who can solve complex problems creatively.

A link between ABRACADABRA and ePEARL is in place to better follow the child’s progress in reading and writing.

 

Teacher’s manual (PDF)

The teacher’s manual explains how to navigate through the various modules and how to use the activities in the instructional module with a view to making learning as effective as possible.

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Clientele

Students

• Kindergarten (4- and 5- year-olds)

• Grade 1

• Grade 2 (with reading and writing disabilities)

Users

• Teachers

• Special education teachers

• Speech therapists

• Parents

Establishments

• Quebec’s English primary schools
• Other organisations (free version on the Web)

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Research behind the transfer

ABRACADABRA is an initiative led by researchers Philip C. Abrami, professor at Concordia University’s Department of Education and Director of the Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP), and Robert Savage, professor at McGill University’s Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology.

The tool’s theoretical underpinnings stem from an exhaustive analysis of the most probing research results on English language learning by young children and on the needs of the academic environment. The ABRACADABRA prototype was designed in 2003 and evolved and was tested in a school setting. Two pilot projects were completed in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. After a 2007-2008 trial run in several classes, the tool was fine-tuned for official use.

Main articles related to this research:

• ABRAMI, P. C., R. SAVAGE, A. WADE and G. HIPPS. “Using Technology to Help Children Learn to Read and Write”, article published in Children's Learning in a Digital World. Brock University, 19-20 August 2006.
• CHAMBERS, B., P. C. ABRAMI, K. McWHAW and M.C. THERRIEN. “Developing a computer-assisted tutoring program to help children at risk learn to read”, P. Abrami (Ed.) Understanding and promoting complex learning using technology [Special issue on Instructional Technology], Educational Research and Evaluation, 7(2-3), 223-239, 2001.
• HIPPS, G., P. C. ABRAMI, R. Savage, N. CERNA and A. JORGENSEN. “ABRACADABRA: The research, design and development of web-based early literacy software” [submitted book chapter], Presses internationales Polytechnique, Montreal (in press).
• LOU, Y., P. C. ABRAMI and S. D’APOLLONIA. “Small group and individual learning with technology: A meta-analysis”. Review of Educational Research, 71(3), 449-521, autumn 2001.

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Production Team

Concordia University

• Philip C. Abrami, professor in the Department of Education and Director of the Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP)

Collaborateurs

• Gia Deleveaux, Project Coordinator, CSLP

• Catherine Lebel, Director, Design and Development, CSLP

CTREQ

• Alain Pednault, Project Manager, CTREQ

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Accompaniment

 

Training

Training is provided by CSLP and LEARN Québec.

Information

IMs Gia Deleveaux
Tél.: (514) 848-2424, poste 5922
gia.deleveaux@education.concordia.ca

 

Technical support

Technical support to ensure optimal tool performance in schools is provided by the Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP), Concordia University.

Information

abracadabra@education.concordia.ca

 

You may also consult:

• The teacher’s manual (consult or download)
• FAQs (frequently asked questions)

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Partners

ABRACADABRA was designed and programmed by the CSLP. They also provided technical support and training for using the tool. Located at Concordia University, the CSLP has spearheaded a large number of innovative projects in research and development which have made a difference for hundreds of elementary, secondary and postsecondary students. Please visit http://doe.concordia.ca/cslp for more information.

One of LEARN’s mandates is to foster cooperation and educational innovation through information technology and the adoption of practices of excellence. Within the framework of the ABRACADABRA project, in addition to its part in developing the tool (member of the advisory committee), LEARN now offers support by providing training to users and by participating in promoting the tool. Please visit www.learnquebec.ca for more information.

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How to obtain ABRACADABRA

• The complete version of ABRACADABRA is installed on English school board servers under the direction of the CSLP.
• A version of ABRACADABRA is available for free on the Web at abralite.concordia.ca.

Information

CTREQ
Alain Pednault, Project Manager
Tel. : 514 529-2842

Version française /
French version 

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