January 28, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Are you looking for some ways to help your AAC learners become more fluent in using core vocabulary? One approach to boosting practice opportunities is to select a dozen or so core words to focus on each month. Throughout the month, we can then pay special attention to that small group of words by highlighting them with focused language stimulation, aided language input, and specific activities designed to teach or practice those words, In previous years, we shared lists of some core words to help you do just that. You can learn more about that in the posts linked below. Set 1 (2013: 12 words/month) Set 2 (2014: 16 words/month) It’s been a busy January, and now it’s time to prepare the next set of core vocabulary words. Our words for February are listed below. Set 1: again, eat, get, go, happy, here, look, I/me, on, play, put, this Set... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: A Year of Core Words, core vocabulary, download
January 25, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
It’s never too early to start thinking of ways to strengthen the IEP to better support students with AAC needs. Here are some resources that may be helpful. AAC in the IEP by Gail Van Tatenhove AAC Goals, IEP, and Beyond by Margaret Perkins Examples of IEP Goals with Communication Devices by Cara Batema and Sample AAC Goals by the Utah Speech and Hearing Association Writing IEP Goals for Authentic Communication for Children with Complex Communication Needs by Linda Burkhart Implementation in the Classroom by Amy Conover, Julie Packer, and Dan Mills What strategies have you found for building IEPs to support students’ development of AAC skills? We’d love to hear about them.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: goals, IEP, school
January 24, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Here are some posts that you may have missed in your busy week. Monday – PrAACtically Reading: A House for Hermit Crab Tuesday – PrAACtical Ideas: AAC Core Vocabulary Practice for Workshop and Inservice Training Thursday – Video of the Week: Documenting AT in the IEP Thanks for all you do to support children and adults with little or no functional speech.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
January 19, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Doing a training or workshop on core vocabulary? Looking to help a team get more fluent in AAC modeling? Teaching an AAC course to graduate students? There are lots of you out there spreading the word about AAC, core vocabulary, and aided language input. Whether you are doing an informal training, presenting a workshop or teaching a class, you may be interested in giving the participants some hands-on practice with core words. If so, here’s a fun activity to help get them engaged. Get ready for…Battleship, AAC Edition! Battleship is a barrier game in which two players cannot see each other’s game boards. The game boards consist of identical grids, labeled with players placing their battleships somewhere on the board. They take turns calling out coordinates to find and sink one another’s battleship. You can learn more about how to play the game and see the game boards here. Teachers have... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: games, inservice, professional development, Training, workshop
January 18, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Storybook reading is rich with potential for building AAC, language, and literacy skills. An added bonus: It’s an activity that educators, therapists, and families can all use and enjoy. In this post, we explore ways to use A House for Hermit Crab, by Eric Carle, for AAC and language learning. Key Instructional Strategies Having an engaging book gives us a good start on the lesson, but the learning comes from the interaction. Shared reading can be done in therapy one-on-one or as a group in class. Either way, the adult leading the activity will need to be well-versed in instructional strategies that facilitate AAC learning. These include: Aided language input RAAP Feedback Goal Areas: Language and Communication There are lots and lots of ways to use this book for literacy learning, but in this post we’ll focus more on the development of communication and language skills. Here are some goal... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: reading
January 17, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Time for a new look for PrAACtical AAC. Hope you enjoy it and these posts from earlier in the week. Monday – AAC Assessment Corner with Vicki Clarke: Procedural Resources Tuesday – Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday: 5 Resources for AAC Learners Thursday – Video of the Week: Implementing Visual Supports Thanks for all you do to support children and adults with little or no functional speech.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
January 12, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Here in the US, we are preparing to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and reflect on the civil rights movement in our country. We sometimes struggle to make holidays like this meaningful to our students with AAC needs, and adding visual supports can be helpful in that process. Here are some materials from the wonderful online sharing site, Boardmaker Online, that may be of interest. Note: Anyone may view these but to download and use them, you must have the Boardmaker program. Talking Book by Lori Geist Sorting Activity by Shannon Brown MLK Story and Activity by Erin Murell Fact sheet and cloze sentences with picture word bank by Diana Ree-Reader I Have a Dream Speech and Matching Activity by Mallory Lyall Have you found resources on this topic that you can’t live without? We’d love to hear about them.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: holiday, resources
January 11, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
The new year is bringing some changes to PrAACtical AAC, and one that I am most excited about is a regular monthly article by SLP Vicki Clarke. Vicki is a phenomenal clinician with a private practice in Georgia who has been specializing in AAC since 1991. Her practice, Dynamic Therapy Associates, averages around 50 AAC evaluations a year, so she was the perfect choice to write about AAC assessment practices. Vicki’s assessments are for both for individuals and school districts, and include clients of all ages (peds through adults) who have a variety of challenges and etiologies (e.g., motor disorders, memory, attention and learning difficulties, sensory impairment, neurological differences, syndromes and seizure disorders, congenital and acquired difficulties). Click on these links to learn more about Vicki’s life as an AAC therapist and the kinds of supports provided at Dynamic Therapy Associates. I know you will appreciate the resources, ideas, and tips that Vicki... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: assessment, download, resources
January 10, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
The New Year is a perfect time to give your clinical and educational practices a boost of AAC. Here are some posts from the past week that may be useful. Monday – 5 Suggestions for Punching Up the AAC in the New Year Tuesday – Teach Me Tuesday: AlphaCore Wednesday – January Core Vocabulary Calendar by Rachael Langley Thursday – Video of the Week: Developing an AT Implementation Plan Thanks for all you do to support children and adults with little or no functional speech.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
January 6, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
We’ve had lots of requests for the January edition of Rachael Langley’s calendar of core word practice ideas. Many thanks to this wonderful clinician and AAC supporter for her generosity in making these and allowing us to share them. Happy January, all! Thank you, Rachael!
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: A Year of Core Words