PrAACtically December: A Year of Core Vocabulary Words

The recent ASHA 2015 Conference in Denver provided even more  validation that core vocabulary is now a widely accepted practice in supporting language development in AAC learners. Presentation after presentation discussed the rationale, research support, and strategies for implementation.

A few years ago, we suggested that one way to help strengthen learners’ abilities with core words is to take a different set of 12-20 core words each month and focus on them for a few weeks. How? By modeling those words, making resource materials (like word cards with the symbols), creating activities in which those words figure prominently, posting them in the classroom/therapy room, reading books that have heavy use of these words, sharing them with families, write stories using them, etc.

Set 1 (2013): ask, favorite, goodbye, hear, of, please,silly, surprise, these, use, way, work

Set 2 (2014): already, clear, doctor, fix, great, grow, her, high, jump, outside, ride, room, side, straight, wake, wash

Here are some resources that may be helpful as we move on to highlight the December words.

• Templates for you to plug in your own symbols: 2013 words, 2014 words
• Minspeak/Unity version: 2013 words
• PCS versions: 2013 words 
• Lesson Pix: 2013 words 
• SymbolStix: 2013 words 
• Speak For Yourself: 2013 words, 2014 words

The resources listed here available due to the collegiality of Deborah Lesher, Beth Erwin, Bill and Lori Binko, Heidi LoStracco, Alison Wade, Russell Cross, Gail Van Tatenhove, Eric Sailers, Rachael Langley, and others. We are grateful for their contributions.

We can model these powerful core words in sentences, too. (Thanks, Beth Erwin!)

Storybook reading is such a great way to get in some extra modeling and elicitation of core words. Many thanks to Deborah Lesher for this list of books that provide ample opportunities to target our December core words.

• Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do You Hear?
• Snowmen at Night
• Stranger in the Woods and DVD 
• Snowmen At Work
• Tacky the Penguin

Finally, check out all the wonderful activity suggestions in Rachael Langley’s calendar for December.