Moon Literacy - Resources

Resources

See also Moon Production and Useful Links
NB Prices may have changed and, where given, are for guidance only.

Alphabet Cards

The Moon Alphabet Card shows the print alphabet, including punctuation, with the equivalent Moon symbol embossed beside it.
Available from RNIB
1-3 cards - Order Number TC20044 - free
4-24 cards - Order Number TC20044 - 5p each
Pack of 25 cards - order number: TC21117 - £1.00 per pack

Alphabet cards are also available from NLB

Books

www.revealweb.org.uk is the national database of available alternative format publications, including books in Moon.

The RNIB National Library Service is the main source of popular fiction and non-fiction books in Moon for loan to young people and adults.
Contacts: Customer Services on 0845 702 3153 or cservices@rnib.org.uk

ClearVision children’s library has a small but growing loans collection of very simple mainstream picture books with a few words of text in print and Moon. Some picture books with several lines of Moon text are also available from ClearVision; these are suitable for competent Moon readers, including adults reading to sighted children. ClearVision also stocks some books from the Oxford Reading Tree in Moon, as well as a few tactile books labelled in Moon.

A photograph of a range of moon library books

Linden Lodge School lends from their collection of simple stories suitable for teenagers and young adults; these books are produced using either swell paper or dotted Moon.

The University of Birmingham sells copies of a Moon Cat Rap for teenagers.

Calendars

RNIB stocks a pocket-sized calendar with one sheet per month giving dates in Moon. It also contains Bank Holiday Information. BB17 - £3.53

Courses and Easy Readers for Adults

Journey Round the Moon (from RNIB)
Journey Round the Moon is a course for learning grade 1 Moon, designed for literate adults. The course assumes no prior knowledge of Moon, and introduces the touch reader to tracking (following lines with your fingers without getting lost), before teaching Moon characters in small groups. Short reading passages accompany each new feature of the Moon code as it is introduced. The pack consists of four volumes of Moon plus an alphabet and sign book. The indispensable “self-study” guide to the course is available in various formats. It introduces each topic and gives a commentary, as well as giving a full transcript of the Moon text; useful hints and information are also included.

TC20325 - Journey Round the Moon - £5.25
TC20328 - Large print guide - £2.55
TC20326 - Tape guide - £2.55
TC20327 - Braille guide - £2.55

Moon Journey Phase Two (from RNIB)
Moon Journey Phase Two is the sequel to Journey Round the Moon, and is a grade 2 course designed for adults. Reading practice is provided as new signs are introduced, and the course takes readers already familiar with grade 1 Moon through the complete grade 2 Moon code. Guides to the course are available in various formats, and enable independent learning, as well as providing useful information for the new Moon reader.

TC20347 - Moon Journey Phase 2 - £5.25
TC20348 - Large print guide - £2.55
TC20349 - Tape guide - £2.55
TC20350 - Braille guide - £2.55
TC20351 - Alphabet, punctuation and sign book - £1.05

RNIB National Library Service lends Journey Round the Moon and Moon Journey Phase Two and although it is recommended that they are used with a teacher, they are sent to individuals if requested. For more information contact contact customer services on 0845 702 3153.

They also also lend Moon easy readers for adults. These are very short stories and articles for practice in grade 1 and grade 2 Moon.

Courses and Easy Readers for Children & Young People

Useful ideas for teaching pre-braille and pre-Moon skills are given in the Feeling Ready to Read pack, as well as in the Braille for Infants Teachers’ Handbook. Although these resources are primarily intended for braille readers, the skills they teach are just as valid for those learning Moon. Both are available from RNIB.

The Moon Cats Teaching Pack (from RNIB)
The Moon Cats Teaching Pack is aimed at developing early literacy through Moon for young children with a visual impairment and other learning and/or physical difficulties, who may be unable to access print or braille. It is an interactive scheme, where the child is asked to read letters and simple words in response to prompts from the teacher. Ten Moon letters are taught in the Moon Cats scheme. The Teaching Guide includes ideas for activities to encourage general tactile exploration as well as ways of introducing the Moon letters.

The teaching pack comprises:

Print teaching guide
The Moon Cats reading scheme books A-D. These books are made of robust card and can be bought separately or as a pack.
6 supporting audio cassettes

TC20732 - The Moon Cats Pack (books A-D) - £25.20
TC20366 - The Moon Cats Teaching Guide - £13.00
TC20367 - The Moon Cats Audio Cassettes - £6.30
TC20362 - A books - £6.30
TC20363 - B books - £6.30
TC20364 - C books - £6.30
TC20365 - D books - £6.30

Over the Moon (from RNIB)
Over the Moon by Jenefer Roberts is the long-awaited sequel to Moon Cats, and introduces the remaining Moon letters through humorous, interactive stories. There are three stories in each book, and the words and phrases for the learner to read gradually increase in difficulty. The Moon is 24 point on swell paper, with print facing pages for the teacher to read. Transparent acetate sheets have been interleaved into the books to prevent the ink from the swell paper sheets from marking the print pages. The books are A5 size.

The Teachers’ Handbook includes useful advice about using Over the Moon, and contains the full text of the booklets, including the Moon content to be read by the young learners.

TC21109 - Over the Moon pack (all eight books); £36
TC21101-8 - Over the Moon Books A-H individually; £4.50 each
TC21112P/B/CD - Over the Moon Teachers’ Handbook in print, braille or on audio CD; £11 each

Games

Lexis: the word game (from RNIB)
A game of strategy, similar to Scrabble, which can be enjoyed by those who read print, Moon or braille. Lexis can also be used for playing a large variety of traditional and new word games, solving anagrams, and supporting literacy activities at school or college.
Full instructions on playing Lexis itself, playing other word games and using the Lexis set for literacy activities are available in Moon, braille and in large print.

GB83 - £32.90

Information

RNIB publishes a free factsheet called "Information on Learning, Reading and Writing Moon", which is regularly updated. This factsheet is available in the following formats from RNIB Customer Services:

IP32 - print
IP32B - braille
IP32T - tape
It is also available by email and on the RNIB Website: Click here

For general information about Moon, contact Claire Wilson, RNIB Braille and Moon Literacy Officer claire.wilson@rnib.org.uk

Magazines

DeafBlind UK produces a weekly publication, Snippets, for its members on topics of general interest, and an in-house magazine, Open Hand. These are available in Moon, braille, tape, and large print.

Production Services

It may be possible for RNIB to produce labels in Moon for an individual to meet any household needs, for example, food containers, cassettes, files, medicines, etc. For further details about having Moon labels specially made, please contact RNIB's Customer Liaison Officer (Tel: 01733 375116).

RNIB can also produce small documents in Moon, including sheets of labels, lists of telephone numbers, letters, etc. Birthday and Christmas cards can also have a message in Moon added. For further information contact RNIB's Customer Liaison Officer (Tel: 01733 375116).

RNIB National Centre for Tactile Diagrams will provide Moon labels for its custom-made maps and diagrams.

Pia is a commercial company which produces Moon as well as Braille and large print.

All Formats is a commercial service producing Moon signage www.allformats.org.uk allformats@qac.uk

Promotional material

The University of Birmingham School of Education has produced a DVD/Video with accompanying teaching guide entitled ‘Routes to Literacy Through Moon’. It is available from the University price £20.00.

Picture of the moon promotional card

A free promotional card for general distribution has been produced by the Moon Forum with sponsorship from the Blatchington Court Trust. The card has a few simple words in raised Moon and refers people to this website for further information. To place an order contact Jackie Dickinson at RNIB National Library Service jackie.dickinson@rnib.org.uk

Software

See Downloadable Moon Font

Writing Moon

Moon hand-frame (RNIB)
The Moon hand-frame is a simple and low-cost frame of A5 size for writing Moon. It consists of a grid fixed to a rubber base. Plastic film or self-adhesive labelling material is inserted between the grid and the base. When a Moon letter is firmly written with a biro in one of the squares, the plastic film is marked. The Moon characters can be easily distinguished by touch when the film is removed from the frame.

When using the Moon hand-frame for making self-adhesive labels, the plastic labelling material must be placed face down in the frame (adhesive-side up); the characters are written in reverse, working from right to left so that they appear on the right side of the material. Considerable pressure is needed to ensure the Moon characters are embossed so that they can be felt easily when the material is removed from the frame
ZM03 - £4.86

Plastic (German) film for Moon hand-frame (RNIB)
Pack of 100 A5 sheets for use with the Moon hand-frame (ZM03).
ZM04 - £0.98

Self-adhesive sheets for labelling (RNIB)
A pack of 8 sheets. The self-adhesive sheets measure 280mm x 290mm (approximately 11" x 11.5"). Suitable sized pieces can be cut to fit the Moon hand-frame, and then the labels can be cut out when embossed.
DL10 - Black - £5.86
DL11 - Clear - £5.86

Moon alphabet sheets (RNIB)
These yellow A4 plastic sheets are useful for making Moon labels for all manner of items, such as food containers, games, CDs and important documents. Each self-adhesive sheet is packed with Moon letters and signs that can be cut out and used as required. Characters are available in 3 font sizes; some learners find large characters easier to distinguish at first.
ZM25 - 24 point (standard size) - £6.17
ZM26 - 36 point (one and a half times standard size) - £6.17
ZM27 - 48 point (double standard size) - £6.17

Moon word building kits (RNIB)
The Moon word building kits consist of 144 Moon letter tiles with Velcro backs and a tray on which to line up letters to form words and short sentences. The kit is suitable for both young and adult learners and can also be used for leaving messages. The kit is available in 3 font sizes; some learners find large characters easier to distinguish at first.
ZM06 - 24 point (standard size) - £17.04
ZM16 - 36 point (one and a half times standard size) - £17.04
ZM17 - 48 point (double standard size) - £17.04

StaffsMaths Moon number sheets (RNIB)
This product uses the StaffsMaths Moon number system, developed for children with additional disabilities. Each yellow A4 self-adhesive sheet is packed with Moon numbers and arithmetic signs that can be cut out and used as required. Characters are now only available in 48-point size.
ZM21 - 48 point (double standard size) - £4.57

StaffsMaths Moon number building kit (RNIB)
This product uses the StaffsMaths Moon number system, developed for children with additional disabilities. The kits consist of 144 tiles with velcro backs each displaying a number or arithmetic operator or sign, and a tray on which to line up the tiles to form calculations or number lines. The kit is suitable for both child and adult learners and can also be used for recording important telephone numbers. The kit is available in 2 font sizes; some learners find large characters easier to distinguish at first.
ZM19 - 36 point (one and a half times standard size) - £17.04
ZM20 - 48 point (double standard size) - £17.04

see Moon Production for suppliers of heat fusers, embossers, etc.

Please contact RNIB Customer Service Centre (Tel: 08457 023153 or e-mail: cservices@rnib.org.uk ) for further information or to order any of the above RNIB products.

If you know of any more Moon resources to add to this list, please contact Helen Wythers at wythers.linden-lodge.wandsworth@lgfl.net