To date, the English version of ABRA, made possible due to the generous contributions from a variety of partners, has consisted of the design, development and research of the Instructional, Teacher, Assessment, Parent, and Communication modules. Funding has enabled the CSLP to conduct high quality experiments (comparing groups of students using ABRA, to those who don’t) to assess the effectiveness of the activities within the software. The results of the studies in kindergarten and grade one classes have been extremely positive, with ABRA students achieving significantly greater reading skills, then those not using ABRA.

Recently the CSLP received $270,000 from the Max Bell Foundation to help attain the Centre’s goal of integrating ABRA in schools across Canada.  This support is for wide-scale dissemination and training activities for the Learning Toolkit. The impact of this funding will be great as this will ensure there is a Canada-wide network of trained educators and consultants on the use of ABRA and ePEARL, resulting in the development of young Canadians’ literacy skills.

The team is now ready to tackle the design and development of a French adaptation and is pursuing $1 million for the design, development and research project. Led by Dr. Monique Brodeur (UQAM), the CSLP is soliciting funding from a variety of institutions including MELS. To date, funding has been received from the Webster Foundation ($60,000), Morton Brownstein ($10,000), and Commission Scolarie Rive du Nord ($50,000).

• ABRA French Adaptation Funding Proposal (2008)

• ABRACADABRA - Information sur la mise en œuvre lors d’un projet de recherche
• La recherche liée à ABRACADABRA