Literacy Activities Handbook - Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres

A literacy activity that can be successful with learners with intellectual / developmental disabilities is setting up e-mail accounts for them. This can be done quickly, easily and inexpensively through a web-based e-mail provider, such as Hotmail, Canada.com, Yahoo, and others. With only one machine with Internet capabilities, several learners can take turns accessing their accounts.

Learners can compose messages to their tutor or to other learners, or they can write others in the community and beyond, such as friends and relatives. Rehabilitation Centres, Associations for Community Living, and/or literacy programs may want to set up “pen pal” arrangements with each other, too. Try the following web site: [www.penafriend.com].

The tutor can help learners with salutations, closings, correct message format, and which buttons to click.

Expanded Options: Learners are able to expand their writing options by recounting their experiences using a new format. Learners will be able to communicate with others whom they may not otherwise reach.
Practical: Instead of practising writing in isolation, learners are using their skills for a real reason.
Motivation: Learners will be motivated to practice writing simply because they are using the computer.
Immediacy: E-mail allows learners to send messages and receive responses in a much shorter time period compared to surface mail. This will keep them interested in the activity and in practising their writing.
Added Learning: Through learning how to compose an e-mail message, learners will learn and practise other computer skills, such as keyboarding, using the mouse, and using the spell checker.

Activity: E-Mail Accounts